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).
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Patent number: 8998714Abstract: A gaming system including a control lever having an operation unit which is rotatable by a player and resembles a reel, a display, a storage unit and a controller is provided. When it is determined that the fishing is failed, the controller obtains the number of rotation of the operation unit until a predetermined time elapses from the timing at which fish is hooked by a fishline in a fishing game, and selects one of a plurality of levels based on the obtained number of rotation. The controller then obtains a set of display state data associated with the selected level and causes the display a failure image representing failure in fishing in one of a plurality of display states, based on the set of display state data.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Gou Miyamoto, Daisyun Okamoto, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20150065225Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Yoichi KATO, Hiroaki KASHIMA, Naoya SHIRAI, Masumi FUJISAWA, Hiroki NAKAMURA, Takeshi AOKI, Kazuo OKADA
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Publication number: 20150057080Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Hiroki MUNAKATA, Gou MIYAMOTO, Daisyun OKAMOTO, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20150045107Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
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Publication number: 20150038217Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2011Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicants: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC., UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATIONInventor: Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 8900050Abstract: The present invention makes players willing to play games next to each other, so as to increase the use ratio. When a game result of a basic game corresponding to a payout occurs, a gaming machine determines whether a battle game condition related to the payout is at least satisfied, and when it is determined that the battle game condition is satisfied, adjacent gaming terminals are set as battle opponents. When battle opponents join the battle game, the battle game in which the battle opponents compete to win is executed, and the battle opponent winning the battle game obtains some profits.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventor: Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 8894488Abstract: A gaming machine includes a control lever 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Gou Miyamoto, Daisyun Okamoto, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20140335945Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Kazuo OKADA, Jun FUJIMOTO, Takao NIREKI, Kunihiro MANABE, Noritoshi KUKITA
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Patent number: 8882600Abstract: A slot machine has a frontward projecting portion which is projected frontward of the slot machine from a lower end of a main display provided in a cabinet. The frontward projecting portion has an armrest, a control panel, etc., each of which serves as a human contact portion which comes in contact with a part of a player's body. The lower end of a display surface of the main display is positioned lower than the human contact portions (armrest and control panel).Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Masaki Matsuno, Jun Hirato, Tetsuya Yokota
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Publication number: 20140287838Abstract: 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 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 of the gaming machine units. Each of the gaming machine units 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Universal Entertainment CorporationInventor: Kazuo OKADA
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Publication number: 20140274293Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that can offer various play patterns and payout patterns without giving the player distrust or uncomfortableness. Upon establishment of a bonus trigger, a main CPU conducts a jackpot challenge lottery; if a jackpot is drawn, conducts another lottery to select either one of the prizes, Credit or Jackpot+Credit; if the prize Credit is drawn, pays out a determined amount to be credited; if the prize Jackpot+Credit is drawn, conducts another lottery for a jackpot prize, and pays out the amount corresponding to the drawn prize and the amount to be credited.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Susumu MIO, Kazuo OKADA
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Patent number: 8834252Abstract: The present invention provides players with fun brought by a moveable component. A gaming machine 1 comprises a game result determination unit, determining a game result; a game execution unit, executing 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, enabling the moveable component to move in a movement pattern corresponding to the game result.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventor: Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 8834270Abstract: A gaming machine includes a bet rate setting device with which a value of game medium per unit bet is set as a bet rate, a setting sound output device outputting a setting sound when the bet rate is set by the bet rate setting device, and a setting sound control device controlling the setting sound, to be outputted from the setting sound output device, depending on the bet rate set by the bet rate setting device.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Kazuo Okada, Masatsugu Kobayashi, Toshiya Ogawa, Mayumi Takeda
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Patent number: 8827797Abstract: In a gaming machine, a speaker outputs music at a predetermined time when it is determined that a result of a game satisfies a predetermined condition. A memory stores a program corresponding to a data sheet including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. The plurality of columns include a reel field being predefined to be associated with the reels and including a command for controlling the reels and a trigger field including a triggering condition for executing a command of a corresponding row in synchronization with the music. A controller determines the result of the game. Each time any one of a plurality of triggering conditions for a plurality of rows is satisfied, the controller controls the reels according to a command of a row having the satisfied triggering condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Aruze Gaming (Hong Kong) LimitedInventors: Kazuo Okada, Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Ryosuke Takahashi, Tatsuya Teranishi
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Patent number: 8821256Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
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Publication number: 20140228092Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Yoichi KATO, Kazuo OKADA, Yuji MIYAGAWA, Hiroki NAKAMURA, Takeshi NARITA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI
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Publication number: 20140221083Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2011Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicants: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC., UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Okada, Kengo Takeda
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Patent number: 8784182Abstract: A part of credits paid by the player is accumulated when a plurality of symbols are displayed by a scrolling display and then rearranged in a prescribed combination, and a stop switch is set active only in a case where a predetermined combination is determined. When a plurality of symbols are rearranged in a combination of jackpot symbols in relation to a timing of an input by a player, a payout of the accumulated credits is made. Consequently, the reels can be stopped by an operation of the player himself, and in a case where a combination of the stopped symbols is a combination associated with a payout, a payout can be received as a reward, so that the player's interest to the game can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventor: Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20140200064Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first display unit that includes a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols thereon; and a controller configured to: determine whether a rendering effect activation is selected; execute a game by spinning and stopping the plurality of reels of the display device; and perform a rendering effect on the spinning and stopping of the plurality of reels when it is determined that the rendering effect activation is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Kazuo Okada, Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio
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Patent number: 8771065Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes: a first memory that stores dealer images of a plurality of dealer characters; a display device that displays the dealer image of one of the dealer characters; a betting unit that receives a bet operation input by a player; a second memory that stores a total amount of game media that are provided to the player as awards in accordance with results of a plurality of rounds of a game that are performed based on the bet operation; and a controller that determines whether the total amount has reached a predetermined amount and controls the display device to change the dealer image of the displayed dealer character to another dealer character when determined that the total amount has reached the predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Universal Entertainment CorporationInventor: Kazuo Okada