Patents by Inventor Erick T. Ching

Erick T. Ching has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10854044
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) may present first visual effects on a display system, including game play items, corresponding to one or more instances of a base game and determining instances of game play items that correspond to feature credits towards an automatic award of a feature comprising one or more bonus games. The EGM may present second visual effects corresponding to an accumulation of feature credits towards the automatic award of the feature, receive an indication of a player's initiation of an attempt to trigger an award of the feature, at a time during which less than a number of feature credits necessary for an automatic award of the feature has been accumulated, determine whether an award of the feature will be triggered and control the display system to present third visual effects corresponding to whether an award of the feature has been triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Lane Alan Shapiro, Erick T. Ching, Chad La Guardia, Hanna Lee Sanborn, Arlen Avakian, Brittany Nyberg Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200327779
    Abstract: A method may involve determining which slot symbols will be presented on a display system for an instance of a slot game. The symbols may include one or more mystery symbols and one or more trigger symbols. The method may involve controlling the display system to present first visual effects corresponding to the instance of the game. The first visual effects may include moving symbols and landing of the one or more mystery symbols and the one or more trigger symbols. The method may involve controlling the display system to present second visual effects corresponding to the one or more mystery symbols. The second visual effects may include a first revealed mystery symbol image corresponding to a first mystery symbol. The first revealed mystery symbol image and the trigger symbols, taken together, may correspond to a feature award. The method may involve presenting third visual effects corresponding to the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: 10789812
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) or another type of gaming device may be configured to provide games that involve “WYSIWYG” (what you see is what you get) symbols or “prize on” symbols. The gaming device may be configured to provide the value of all “prize on” symbols that land during a single instance of a game if a prize on trigger symbol, which also may be referred to herein as a blast symbol, lands during the same instance of the game. In some examples, the game may be a base game. According to some examples, a feature does not need to be triggered during the instance of the base game for the value of all prize on symbols that land during the instance of the base game to be awarded. In other examples, the game may be a feature game, such as a “hold and spin” game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Erick T. Ching, Chad La Guardia
  • Publication number: 20200279452
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gaming device may involve controlling, via a control system of the gaming device that includes one or more processors, a display system of the gaming device to present a plurality of wagering game images. Each of the wagering game images may correspond to a different game theme. The method may involve controlling the display system to present a plurality of metamorphic images. Each metamorphic image may correspond to a wagering game image. Each metamorphic image also may correspond to an award of a game theme corresponding to the wagering game image. The method may involve receiving an indication of a selected game theme and controlling the display system to present first visual effects corresponding to an instance of the selected game theme and to present a metamorphic image corresponding to the selected game theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching
  • Publication number: 20200279456
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) may present first visual effects on a display system, including game play items, corresponding to one or more instances of a base game and determining instances of game play items that correspond to feature credits towards an automatic award of a feature comprising one or more bonus games. The EGM may present second visual effects corresponding to an accumulation of feature credits towards the automatic award of the feature, receive an indication of a player's initiation of an attempt to trigger an award of the feature, at a time during which less than a number of feature credits necessary for an automatic award of the feature has been accumulated, determine whether an award of the feature will be triggered and control the display system to present third visual effects corresponding to whether an award of the feature has been triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Lane Alan Shapiro, Erick T. Ching, Chad La Guardia, Hanna Lee Sanborn, Arlen Avakian, Brittany Nyberg Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200279451
    Abstract: A local electronic gaming device may include a display system, an interface system and a control system that includes one or more processors. The control system may cause the display system to present visual effects corresponding to a metamorphic image, which may correspond to an award. The visual effects may include changes to the metamorphic image in response to local game event data corresponding to one or more games presented on the local gaming device and in response to networked gaming device game event data corresponding to one or more games presented on one or more other gaming devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Chad La Guardia, Hanna Lee Sanborn, Erick T. Ching, Arlen Avakian, Brittany Nyberg Nelson, Lane Alan Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20200273293
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) or another type of gaming device may be configured to provide games that involve “WYSIWYG” (what you see is what you get) symbols or “prize on” symbols. The gaming device may be configured to provide the value of all “prize on” symbols that land during a single instance of a game if a prize on trigger symbol, which also may be referred to herein as a blast symbol, lands during the same instance of the game. In some examples, the game may be a base game. According to some examples, a feature does not need to be triggered during the instance of the base game for the value of all prize on symbols that land during the instance of the base game to be awarded. In other examples, the game may be a feature game, such as a “hold and spin” game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Erick T. Ching, Chad La Guardia
  • Patent number: 10380831
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes a plurality of different predefined wager packages. Each predefined wager package is associated with a wager amount or value and includes one or more of a plurality of different game play features. In operation, the gaming device enables players to wager an amount equal to one of the plurality of predefined wager packages available to the player. The game play features associated with the wagered on predefined wager package are activated for one or more plays of a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adrian Wotton, Karen M. Cregan, Peter Gerrard, Erick T. Ching, Dov L. Randall, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9852580
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: 9747744
    Abstract: A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Erick T. Ching, Benjamin D. Menesini
  • Publication number: 20170193741
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes a plurality of different predefined wager packages. Each predefined wager package is associated with a wager amount or value and includes one or more of a plurality of different game play features. In operation, the gaming device enables players to wager an amount equal to one of the plurality of predefined wager packages available to the player. The game play features associated with the wagered on predefined wager package are activated for one or more plays of a game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Adrian Wotton, Karen M. Cregan, Peter Gerrard, Erick T. Ching, Dov L. Randall, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9607467
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes a plurality of different predefined wager packages. Each predefined wager package is associated with a wager amount or value and includes one or more of a plurality of different game play features. In operation, the gaming device enables players to wager an amount equal to one of the plurality of predefined wager packages available to the player. The game play features associated with the wagered on predefined wager package are activated for one or more plays of a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adrian Wotton, Karen M. Cregan, Peter Gerrard, Erick T. Ching, Dov L. Randall, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9600968
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Yuliya Hungate, Christina Evans, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: 9483903
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes a plurality of different predefined wager packages. Each predefined wager package is associated with a wager amount or value and includes one or more of a plurality of different game play features. In operation, the gaming device enables players to wager an amount equal to one of the plurality of predefined wager packages available to the player. The game play features associated with the wagered on predefined wager package are activated for one or more plays of a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adrian Wotton, Karen M Cregan, Peter Gerrard, Erick T Ching, Dov L Randall, Anthony J Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20160098895
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, James A. Vasquez, Tonja M. Ferry, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: D895644
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching
  • Patent number: D895645
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching, Peter Wasielewski, Philip Wanardi
  • Patent number: D895646
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching, Peter Wasielewski
  • Patent number: D895647
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Lee Sanborn, Chad La Guardia, Erick T. Ching, Peter Wasielewski
  • Patent number: D898044
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Chad La Guardia, Hanna Lee Sanborn, Erick T. Ching