Patents by Inventor Kazumasa Yoshizawa

Kazumasa Yoshizawa 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: 8152614
    Abstract: Baccarat is executed by placing a bet using a bet screen 70 displayed on a liquid crystal display 10. On the bet screen 70 is provided a bet-with-a-bonus button 201 in addition to an ordinary bet button 75. When the amount of bets is indicated using the bet-with-a-bonus button 201, a card game which is separate from Baccarat is executed as a bonus game subsequent to Baccarat, and the player is awarded a bonus payout based on an outcome of the bonus game. The odds when the amount of bets is indicated using the bet-with-a-bonus button 201 is set to be lower than the odds indicated using only the ordinary bet button 75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8128481
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a plurality of first video reels 31, 31, . . . on which partial pictures of one entire sheet are arranged, respectively; and a plurality of second video reels 32, 32, . . . on which plural types of symbols are arranged, respectively. Operating a start button starts a base game. After the first video reels 31 and the second video reels have been displayed in a rotating manner on a first liquid crystal display panel 11, each of the first video reels 31 is displayed in a stopped state. Completing one entire sheet by the partial pictures displayed in a stopped state starts a second game corresponding to the competed picture. In the second game, like the base game, symbols arranged on the second video reels are employed. Thus, players can intuitively comprehend that a second game associated with the base game is started. Thereafter, an activated area is determined, and a prize is established if specific symbols have stopped in the determined activated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8128482
    Abstract: In a slot machine, once a player indicates the bet amount with respect to a “continuous game”, one or a plurality of “continuous games” including unit games that are executed by the number of times which can be indicated by the player is specified through the bet amount with respect to the “continuous game” indicated by the player and the minimum bet amount with respect to a unit game which can be set by the player. Thereafter, the operation with respect to all buttons corresponding to the “continuous game” thus specified is validated. The player operates any of the buttons thus validated, whereby the “continuous game”, which is constituted of unit games executed by the number of times indicated by the player through the above-mentioned operation, is executed. Then, the bet amount with respect to the “continuous game” indicated by the player is evenly allocated to each unit game constituting the “continuous game” indicated by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8123603
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention displays a dealer image selected from a plurality of types of dealer images to a display, and offers a profit (e.g. a game support advantageous for the player) in accordance with the dealer image to a station where an additional BET has been placed. Then, the gaming machine calculates and compares a total number of BETs in each station over a unit number of games, and accepts a selection of a dealer image at the station where the total number of BETs is the largest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8123611
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which: displays a moving symbol on a main display in a case where a plurality of specific symbols are displayed; displays a plurality of score symbols associated with scores on a second display from one side edge to another side edge of the second display; displays the moving symbol in a direction that intersects with a moving direction of the score symbols displayed on the second display in response to an input from an input device; and, in a case where the moving symbol is determined to overlap any one of the plurality of score symbols, provides an award corresponding to a score of the score symbol being overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8123612
    Abstract: A game system according to the present invention includes a plurality of slot machines and a common game machine. The plurality of slot machines each includes: a display having a symbol display region for displaying plural types of symbols in a matrix form; a memory for cumulatively storing bonus points in the case where the specific symbol is rearranged under a specific condition; and a controller. The common game machine is provided in common to the plurality of slot machines. The common game machine has: a common display device having a symbol display region for displaying plural types of symbols in a matrix form; a common memory for cumulatively storing a part of credit having been bet; and a common controller for selecting a column or row of a matrix displayed on the display device of each of the slot machines and rearranging, on the common display device, the symbol to be rearranged in the column or row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8113945
    Abstract: A method of playing card games, according to the present invention, includes the steps of: (a) accepting participation of players; (b) determining banker's cards and players' cards, the players' cards being dealt to the players having accepted participation, from a first card set consisting of plural types of cards; (c) dealing the players' cards determined at the step (b) to the players having accepted participation; (d) in a case where the number of players having accepted participation exceeds a predetermined number of players, determining the players' cards to be dealt to the players having accepted participation in excess of the number of players, based upon cards excluding the banker's cards dealt based upon the first card set among a second card set that consists of cards identical to those of the first card set; (e) dealing the players' cards determined at the step (d) to the players having accepted participation in excess of the number of players; and (f) determining a winner or loser after comparing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8087986
    Abstract: Pai Gow Poker is played with a card gaming machine. In the Pai Gow Poker, a players' hand and a dealer's hand are compared for winning/losing judgment, and a prize based on the judgment result is awarded. If a side bet is made, a bonus target card group composed of five cards is determined from cards in the dealer's hand, irrespective of winning/losing judgment result. A bonus judgment process is carried out for the bonus target card group and a bonus payout based on the judgment result is awarded to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20110312404
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) increasing a winning probability for a specific combination of symbols according to the point cumulatively added in step (e); and (g) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying an award corresponding to the specific combination of symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110312402
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) if the point cumulatively added in step (e) has reached a threshold, performing a lottery to determine a specific combination of symbols; (g) setting an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award; and (h) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying the larger award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20110312403
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) if the point cumulatively added in step (e) has reached a threshold, performing a lottery to determine a payout rate for a specific combination of symbols prior to the step (d); and (g) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, multiplying an award entitled to the specific combination of symbols by the payout rate determined in the step (f) and paying the resulting amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110306404
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, adding a predetermined point; (f) if the point cumulatively added in step (e) has reached a threshold, performing a lottery to determine a specific combination of symbols; (g) setting an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award; (h) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying the larger award; and (i) if a combination of symbols different from the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, switching the larger award back to the normal award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8057299
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to the present invention includes: a gaming portion where a plurality of main dice roll and stop; a station having an input device with which a player can place a normal BET and a side BET different from the normal BET, based on a prediction of the outcomes of dice, and an image display capable of displaying an image; and a controller programmed to execute the processing of (C) rolling and stopping the plurality of the main dice in the gaming portion, (D) determining the outcome of an N-sided (N being an integer of seven or more) sub die to be displayed to the image display provided in the station, and (E) displaying at least an image showing the state of stopping of the sub die with the outcome determined in the processing (D), to the image display provided in the station where the side BET has been input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8047912
    Abstract: A gaming machine a controller programmed to execute the processing of accepting from an input device an input indicating placement of a normal BET, accepting from the input device an input indicating placement of a side BET, rolling and stopping a plurality of dice in a gaming portion, offering a normal payout based upon the outcomes of the stopped plurality of dice and the normal BET, and offering, in a case where a total value of the outcomes of the stopped plurality of dice stopped is a specific number, an additional payout based upon the specific number on condition that the input indicating placement of the side BET has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8029351
    Abstract: As a result of lottery using the roulette device 3, if the ball 27 enters in the bonus pocket 24 among the pockets formed on the wheel 22, the special bonus game using the WIN lamp 11 occurs and all credits betted to each station 4 in the present game are paid out (S15) to one station 4 which is determined based on the lottery (S123) by the server control CPU 81 that winning is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kosaka, Junichi Kogo, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Yoichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8016661
    Abstract: A gaming system of the present invention is programmed to execute processes of: changing symbols arranged on a sub display in such a way as to scroll symbols in a lateral direction in a display zone comprising sub displays in the respective slot machines, the sub displays being connected laterally to one another; then stopping the changing of symbols at predetermined timing; and at this stoppage, providing an award on a basis of the symbol arranged on the sub display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8007359
    Abstract: A gaming environment is described. When a predetermined time is elapsed, spinning reels are stopped and symbols are displayed on symbol display areas. Then, if it is determined that a winning combination will be newly realized in a case where any symbol is displayed on another symbol display area, the symbol is enlarged displayed over plural symbol display areas. And then, an award corresponding to the realized winning combination will be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7997976
    Abstract: According to a slot machine of the present invention, synthetic symbol images each including a first symbol image and a second symbol image are rearranged to a display. The first symbol image is associated with a predetermined prize. In a case where the first symbol images included in the rearranged synthetic symbols or a combination thereof constitute the predetermined prize, special first symbol images are displayed in place of the synthetic symbols including the first symbol images constituting the predetermined prize. The special first symbol images correspond to the first images constituting the predetermined prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7997977
    Abstract: A card gaming machine determines a dealer's hand and a player's hand for each terminal and specifies a remaining card group. The player's hand and the dealer's hand are compared for winning/losing judgment, and a prize based on the judgment result is awarded. If a side bet is made, a bonus judgment process is carried out for a bonus target card group consisting of a first card group selected and determined from a remaining card group and a second card group selected and determined from the player's hand irrespective winning/losing judgment result, and a bonus payout based on the judgment result is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7963848
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a controller programmed to execute the processing of rolling and stopping the plurality of dice in the gaming portion, cumulatively accumulating, in a case where a normal BET has not been placed on the outcomes of dice satisfying any of plural kinds of predetermined conditions, or in a case where the outcomes of the stopped plurality of dice do not satisfy any of the plural kinds of predetermined conditions, a predetermined ratio of the game media which have been bet as the normal BET in association with respective outcomes of the dice satisfying any of the plural kinds of predetermined conditions, and offering, in a case where the outcomes of the stopped plurality of dice satisfy any of the plural kinds of predetermined conditions, the game media cumulatively accumulated in association with the outcomes of the plurality of dice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa