Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Silva

Gregory A. Silva 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: 11965828
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are light diffuser devices comprising a sphere having at least two openings, a track, a light source, a cart, and one or more plates, and their methods of use. Also, disclosed here are light diffuser systems comprising a light diffuser device and a portable infrared gas analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Chapman University
    Inventors: Z. Carter Berry, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Fernando Silva
  • Patent number: 10096198
    Abstract: A processor-based gaming machine running wager-based games can include an exterior housing, a master gaming controller, a display device, and an anonymous player tracking device adapted to detect passively biometric information from players to facilitate the anonymous tracking of gaming activities without the use of traditional player tracking instruments. A player tracking system can include multiple such gaming machines, a database storing a plurality of player profiles that include biometric data, and a remote player tracking server configured to receive passively detected biometric data regarding anonymous players, determine whether the received biometric data is associated with existing player profiles, attribute credit for the anonymous gaming activity if it is, and create a new player profile if it is not. Player profiles can include multiple biometrics for each player, and confidence levels can be associated with a given biometric to a profile and a given gaming session to a profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. Griswold, Scott T. Gowin, Steven G. Lemay, Dwayne R. Nelson, Gregory A. Silva
  • Patent number: 9082256
    Abstract: A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine (EGM) having a backlit video display, is described. In particular, the EGM can be configured with a display that allows display elements, such as mechanical stepper reels, positioned behind the display to be either revealed or obscured by using directional lighting. The display assembly can include an edge-lit light guide having different regions that can extract light coming from a particular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. Griswold, Gregory A. Silva, Matthew A. Franich, James Stephen Emslie
  • Publication number: 20140243067
    Abstract: A video display having a window opening includes a graphic display portion configured to display graphical indicia, one or more light sources, and a light guide. The light guide is configured to receive light from the one or more light sources and provide the light as backlighting to the graphic display portion. The light guide also includes a light guide shutter configured to selectably transition between a closed state and a transparent state. The light guide shutter is configured to allow a user to see through the electronic display when the light guide shutter is in its transparent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Gregory A. Silva, Chauncey W. Griswold
  • Patent number: 8758144
    Abstract: A gaming machine may have an optical module having a first display screen configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal, and a lighting module having light film on a first surface, a plate on a second surface, and a plurality of light sources positioned in an interior region formed by the light film and plate, wherein the plurality of light sources provide light to the optical module, and wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David C. Williams, Gregory Silva
  • Publication number: 20130273992
    Abstract: A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine (EGM) having a backlit video display, is described. In particular, the EGM can be configured with a display that allows display elements, such as mechanical stepper reels, positioned behind the display to be either revealed or obscured by using directional lighting. The display assembly can include an edge-lit light guide having different regions that can extract light coming from a particular direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. GRISWOLD, Gregory A. SILVA, Matthew A. FRANICH, James Stephen EMSLIE
  • Publication number: 20130137516
    Abstract: A processor-based gaming machine running wager-based games can include an exterior housing, a master gaming controller, a display device, and an anonymous player tracking device adapted to detect passively biometric information from players to facilitate the anonymous tracking of gaming activities without the use of traditional player tracking instruments. A player tracking system can include multiple such gaming machines, a database storing a plurality of player profiles that include biometric data, and a remote player tracking server configured to receive passively detected biometric data regarding anonymous players, determine whether the received biometric data is associated with existing player profiles, attribute credit for the anonymous gaming activity if it is, and create a new player profile if it is not. Player profiles can include multiple biometrics for each player, and confidence levels can be associated with a given biometric to a profile and a given gaming session to a profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. GRISWOLD, Scott T. GOWIN, Steven G. LEMAY, Dwayne R. NELSON, Gregory A. SILVA
  • Patent number: 8425316
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for improving play of a bonus game on a gaming machine and improving security within a gaming establishment are described. The systems include a gaming machine, which includes an input device that receives an input from a user. The gaming machine further includes a first display device that displays a primary game upon receiving the input, and a second display device including a multilayer display that displays a secondary game. The multilayer display includes a foreground screen and a background screen, with at least a portion of the foreground screen or the background screen being curved and the foreground screen or the background screen displays an image of a wheel. The gaming machine further includes a controller configured to execute the primary and secondary games. The secondary game is played after playing the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Gregory A. Silva, Cari L. Blomquist, Ryan M. Griffin, Jean M. Venneman
  • Patent number: 8337314
    Abstract: A button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a light emitting device that emits light. The button assembly further includes a lens cap that protects the light emitting device from being damaged. The lens cap has a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side. The second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane. A first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface. Additionally, a system for increasing life of a pixel is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas D. Waxman, Gregory A. Silva, Jacquelyn S. Combs, Nathan D. LaBrosse, Brandon J. Bohling
  • Publication number: 20120034975
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for improving play of a bonus game on a gaming machine and improving security within a gaming establishment are described. The systems include a gaming machine, which includes an input device that receives an input from a user. The gaming machine further includes a first display device that displays a primary game upon receiving the input, and a second display device including a multilayer display that displays a secondary game. The multilayer display includes a foreground screen and a background screen, with at least a portion of the foreground screen or the background screen being curved and the foreground screen or the background screen displays an image of a wheel. The gaming machine further includes a controller configured to execute the primary and secondary games. The secondary game is played after playing the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Gregory A. Silva, Cari L. Blomquist, Ryan M. Griffin, Jean M. Venneman
  • Publication number: 20090131168
    Abstract: A button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a light emitting device that emits light. The button assembly further includes a lens cap that protects the light emitting device from being damaged. The lens cap has a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side. The second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane. A first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface. Additionally, a system for increasing life of a pixel is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas D. Waxman, Gregory A. Silva, Jacquelyn S. Combs, Nathan D. LaBrosse, Brandon J. Bohling
  • Publication number: 20090104989
    Abstract: A gaming machine may have an optical module having a first display screen configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal, and a lighting module having light film on a first surface, a plate on a second surface, and a plurality of light sources positioned in an interior region formed by the light film and plate, wherein the plurality of light sources provide light to the optical module, and wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: David C. Williams, Gregory Silva