Patents by Inventor Kazuo Okada

Kazuo Okada 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: 9852577
    Abstract: A peripheral device (sandwiched device) to be installed adjacent to a gaming machine, including an imaging unit (CCD camera) configured to image a player who is playing a game with the gaming machine and output face image data for identifying the face of the player obtained by imaging, and a CPU configured to: obtain information about a game the player played with the gaming machine; determine whether or not an illegality condition is met based on the obtained information about the game; and set whether or not to activate the imaging unit based on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9773368
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine which holds a player's attention until symbols are rearranged by reel actions. The operation of the scroll of symbols of a first scroll line is changed under a condition that predetermined symbols are arranged on a pay line in a state where symbols of at least one first scroll line among a plurality of scroll lines are scrolled and symbols of remaining second scroll lines are stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Motomichi Sato, Kenta Kitamura, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9754440
    Abstract: A game playing information integration system is provided which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, and is capable of effectively making entry into market, based on a result of logical analysis of a gaming machine invoking demands of a player as a user and a manger in gaming facility in a well-balanced manner. The system includes a plurality of gaming machine units and a server connected to enable communication with each gaming machine unit. Each gaming machine unit includes player identification information reading means, number-of-consumptions data output means, and number-of-payouts data output means. Gaming machine unit identification information is individually assigned to each of the gaming machine units. The server stores data storage means for storing each of number-of-consumptions data and number-of-payouts data in association with reception time data, player identification information, and gaming machine unit identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9728044
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display that displays a determined screen including a character, during execution of a game, a touch panel sensor, disposed above the display, that is capable of detecting the contact position, the position of the character contacted by a player, and a CPU that determines the contact position of the character as well as the contact mode, and that displays an image on the display, that is changed based on the result of this determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Hirobumi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9646446
    Abstract: A game system includes: a bill identifying apparatus for identifying bills of different currencies and an amount of the bills and then outputting data representing the identified result; a player tracking device which is integrated with each of gaming machines, for converting data outputted from the bill identifying apparatus to credit data for executing a game, based on an exchange rate; and an information card device which is integrated with the player tracking device, the information card device causing an information card to store data equivalent to an amount awarded to a player in accordance with a game result of the gaming machines and sending out the credit data for executing the game to the gaming machines, based on the data equivalent to the amount read from the information card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
  • Patent number: 9600955
    Abstract: A controller of a gaming machine executes a normal round of a game to spin reels of a first display, and triggers a chance round of the game when a result of the normal round satisfies a predetermined condition. The controller displays a wheel and a plurality of touch areas on a second display, and the wheel includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to a number of free rounds. When any one of the touch areas is touched and slid by a player, the controller spinning the wheel in a direction corresponding to the slid touch area, and randomly determines a number of free rounds. The controller stops the wheel at a position of an area that corresponds to the determined number of free rounds among the plurality of areas, and provides free rounds having the determined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Tatsuya Teranishi, Takeshi Kada, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9589425
    Abstract: Provided is a slot machine capable of reducing unfairness which may result between a player who has made an investment and a player who has not made an investment and allowing a player to proceed with a game by making an investment in expectation of a jackpot at ease. Each money amount which is constant is accumulated independently of a number of bets each time betting is conducted, and upon winning a jackpot, a money amount calculated by multiplying a money amount accumulated until then by a multiplying factor based on the number of bets is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kato, Hiroaki Kashima, Naoya Shirai, Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Nakamura, Takeshi Aoki, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9576432
    Abstract: A game is executed in a normal round, in a first-type free round, and in a second-type free round. The normal round is executed with a first symbol set including a plurality of symbols. The first-type free round is executed with a second symbol set that includes at least one first symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set. The second-type free round is executed with a third symbol set that includes at least one second symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set, the at least one second symbol being different from the at least one first symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZA GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kato, Hiroki Nakamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20170039809
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display that displays a determined screen including a character, during execution of a game, a touch panel sensor, disposed above the display, that is capable of detecting the contact position, the position of the character contacted by a player, and a CPU that determines the contact position of the character as well as the contact mode, and that displays an image on the display, that is changed based on the result of this determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Hirobumi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20160371924
    Abstract: The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuo OKADA, Kengo TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160371923
    Abstract: The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuo OKADA, Kengo TAKEDA
  • Patent number: 9520026
    Abstract: A game system that is capable of performing a game by employing an information card in place of a conventional paper-based system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
  • Publication number: 20160318761
    Abstract: A hydrogen production method and hydrogen production system using the reaction of water and aluminum, the hydrogen production method and system being capable of continuously generating hydrogen for a long period of time without causing a decrease in the total amount of hydrogen generation. A hydrogen generation system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes aluminum sheet placed in a container and calcium hydroxide contained in the same container. In the hydrogen production system having the previously described configuration, water is poured in the container to dissolve the calcium hydroxide so that an aqueous solution is prepared, and the aluminum sheet is immersed in this aqueous solution. As a result, the hydrogen generation reaction begins, generating hydrogen gas. The amount, rate and duration of the generation of hydrogen gas can be controlled by adjusting the area and thickness of the aluminum sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicants: KYOTO UNIVERSITY, AQUAFAIRY CORPORATION, ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRAO, Kohji NAGASHIMA, Hitoshi ISHIZAKA, Kazuo OKADA, Takashi SAEKI
  • Patent number: 9483910
    Abstract: In order to make it easy to change the necessary device specifications when adapted to paper currencies in circulation in a plurality of countries and regions, a paper currency processing device (M1) has: a paper currency slot (M5) which is capable of handling the paper currency (T) of multiple currency circulation regions from the outside of the device; a paper currency transfer mechanism for transferring the paper currency (T) between the paper currency slot (M5) and various locations inside the device; and a plurality of paper currency cases linked to the paper currency transfer mechanism. The paper currency transfer mechanism is controlled in such a manner that the paper currency case associated with a currency circulation area is identified, and the paper currency (T) is transferred into the identified paper currency case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9443375
    Abstract: The present invention provides players with fun brought by a moveable component. A gaming machine includes a game result determination unit, that determines a game result; a game execution unit, that executes a game in such a manner as to reach the game result; a moveable component, disposed at a position visible from outside and configured to be capable of mechanical movement; and a movement control unit, which enables the moveable component to move in a movement pattern corresponding to the game result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9401067
    Abstract: The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kengo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9370716
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a control lever that is gripped by a player, a display configured to display an effect image, and a controller programmed to execute a predetermined process. The control lever includes a rotation axis, a reel handle configured to rotate the rotation axis, a rotation sensor configured to detect the number of rotation of the rotation axis, and a rotation resistance imparting unit configured to impart resistance to the rotation axis such that the torque increases in accordance with the rotational speed in one direction of the rotation axis. In accordance with the game status of the game, the controller causes the rotation sensor to detect the number of rotation of the rotation axis which is rotated as the reel handle of the control lever is rotated, and changes the content of the effect image displayed on the display in accordance with the detected number of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Gou Miyamoto, Daisyun Okamoto, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20160104341
    Abstract: A game playing information integration system is provided which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, and is capable of effectively making entry into market, based on a result of logical analysis of a gaming machine invoking demands of a player as a user and a manger in gaming facility in a well-balanced manner. The system includes a plurality of gaming machine units and a server connected to enable communication with each gaming machine unit. Each gaming machine unit includes player identification information reading means, number-of-consumptions data output means, and number-of-payouts data output means. Gaming machine unit identification information is individually assigned to each of the gaming machine units. The server stores data storage means for storing each of number-of-consumptions data and number-of-payouts data in association with reception time data, player identification information, and gaming machine unit identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20160104354
    Abstract: Provided is a slot machine capable of reducing unfairness which may result between a player who has made an investment and a player who has not made an investment and allowing a player to proceed with a game by making an investment in expectation of a jackpot at ease. Each money amount which is constant is accumulated independently of a number of bets each time betting is conducted, and upon winning a jackpot, a money amount calculated by multiplying a money amount accumulated until then by a multiplying factor based on the number of bets is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Yoichi KATO, Hiroaki KASHIMA, Naoya SHIRAI, Masumi FUJISAWA, Hiroki NAKAMURA, Takeshi AOKI, Kazuo OKADA
  • Patent number: 9286745
    Abstract: A game control method according to the present invention comprises: a downloading step conducted by a server of downloading exchange-ratio changing data for use in determining the currency value of a credit in a gaming terminal to the gaming terminal; an exchange ratio determining step conducted by the gaming terminal of determining the exchange ratio between credits and currency values using the exchange-ratio changing data downloaded from the server, and an exchanging step conducted by the gaming terminal of exchanging a monetary value for a credit and/or exchanging a credit for a monetary value, based on the determined exchange ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada