Patents by Inventor Gene E. Powell
Gene E. Powell 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).
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Patent number: 10068419Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Publication number: 20180114402Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Patent number: 9858753Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Publication number: 20170140609Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Patent number: 9547329Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Publication number: 20130324264Abstract: Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: IGTInventors: Calvin DeCoursey, Gene E. Powell
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Patent number: 7435173Abstract: A gaming device including an apparatus and method for indicating awards in a game, and specifically to an apparatus and method employing an award indicator disk display. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing mounted on a cabinet of a gaming device, a support mounted in the housing and at least one award disk adapted to slideably engage the support. The disks include one or more symbols. The disks move or slide relative to the support to indicate one or more symbols to a player based on a triggering event in the game.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Markus Rothkranz, Gene E. Powell, Brian K. Baker
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Patent number: 7241220Abstract: A gaming device including a mechanical display which includes a housing, a symbol display mechanism rotatably connected to the housing, a plurality of independent symbol display members including at least one symbol rotatably connected to the symbol display mechanism and a pivoting symbol indicator connected to the center of the symbol display mechanism. Upon a triggering event in a game, the symbol display mechanism rotates relative to the housing and each of the symbol display members rotate relative to the symbol display mechanism. The pivoting symbol indicator pivots downward towards one of the symbol display members to indicate the symbol on the symbol display member. The mechanical display may be used in a primary game, a secondary game or any suitable type of game.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: IGTInventors: Markus Rothkranz, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Steve P. McGahn, Gene E. Powell, Randall D. Mead, Joseph R. Hedrick, Karen M. Cregan
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Patent number: 7048631Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device having a refractive light display. The gaming device includes a housing, a refractive light display including at least one refractive surface, and a processor for controlling the refractive light display to indicate a game function. Light is directed into the refractive light display and directed from the refractive surfaces to a player. In one embodiment, the refractive light display and an award display are adjacent to each other on a gaming device and co-act to indicate a symbol on the award display in a game. In another embodiment, the refractive light display includes at least one refractive surface that functions as a payline where the payline refracts light and indicates one or more symbols on the reels. In a further embodiment, a reflective layer is formed on one or more of the refractive surfaces to illuminate specific sections in a game.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: IGTInventors: Jamie J. Goins, Gene E. Powell, Brian T. Riffel, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20040053659Abstract: A gaming device including an apparatus and method for indicating awards in a game, and specifically to an apparatus and method employing an award indicator disk display. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing mounted on a cabinet of a gaming device, a support mounted in the housing and at least one award disk adapted to slideably engage the support. The disks include one or more symbols. The disks move or slide relative to the support to indicate one or more symbols to a player based on a triggering event in the game.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2002Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Markus Rothkranz, Gene E. Powell, Brian K. Baker
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Publication number: 20030064799Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device having a refractive light display. The gaming device includes a housing, a refractive light display including at least one refractive surface, and a processor for controlling the refractive light display to indicate a game function. Light is directed into the refractive light display and directed from the refractive surfaces to a player. In one embodiment, the refractive light display and an award display are adjacent to each other on a gaming device and co-act to indicate a symbol on the award display in a game. In another embodiment, the refractive light display includes at least one refractive surface that functions as a payline where the payline refracts light and indicates one or more symbols on the reels. In a further embodiment, a reflective layer is formed on one or more of the refractive surfaces to illuminate specific sections in a game.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventors: Jamie J. Goins, Gene E. Powell, Brian T. Riffel, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 6315666Abstract: A gaming machine includes main and secondary displays. The secondary display is disposed apart from the primary display and is used for presenting primary, secondary, or even tertiary information. The main display is controlled electronically by a gaming machine controller, which main display presents the results of a play on the gaming machine. In the case of a slot machine, the main display may be the glass display through which the spinning reels of a game play are viewed. In a video poker gaming machine, the main display is usually a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) which displays a video game image to the player and other information directly associated with the game play. The secondary display may be provided at various locations on the gaming machine such as in a top glass portion of the gaming machine or a belly glass portion of the gaming machine, which belly glass portion is located below a main display portion of the gaming machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: International Game TechnologyInventors: Peter J. Mastera, Wesley F. Carmean, Gene E. Powell, James T. McGlone
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Patent number: D723626Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: James A. Vasquez, Julia J. Angst, John L. Beadell, John W. Chamberlain, Russell Chudd, Matthew D. Cloutier, Matthew A. Franich, Khanh Trang N. Hajek, Mark A. Jaillet, Chun J. Jia, Charles W. Johnson, Patrick J. Nohr, Gene E. Powell, Jacqueline M. Ragnone, Tai Rosander, Kirk A. Tedsen, Stewart Thoeni, James W. Timperley, Randall J. Tognoni, Gregory D. Wright, Jared P. Wulff