Patents by Inventor Kensaku Yoshikawa
Kensaku Yoshikawa 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: 10186107Abstract: There is provided a gaming machine capable of providing new gaming characteristics: the number of active lines is changeable to vary a winning probability. A slot machine controls a lower image display panel having a symbol display area in which some of symbols arranged in symbol arrays are respectively rearranged in display blocks in accordance with the game. The slot machine rearranges, on a one to one basis, the symbols in the display blocks arranged in a matrix of M columns by N rows. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the slot machine adds display blocks to the matrix in the symbol display area to form a matrix of M columns by N+? rows, and sets additional active lines in the expanded display frame, the number of the additional active lines being calculated by multiplying the number of the added rows ? by a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITEDInventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Yuki Terada, Kensaku Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 10121323Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a terminal device which runs a game, and a storage device which stores a point value generated in games run in the terminal device and a game play count. The gaming machine stores, in a game play count storage area, a total game play count incremented in each game; accumulatively stores a portion of a total point value in a first storage area; accumulatively stores the remaining portion of the total point value in a second storage area of the storage device; adds the point value stored in the first storage area to the point value stored in the second storage area, when the total game play count reaches a certain value; and awards a benefit to the terminal device, when a total point value stored in the second storage area reaches a certain value.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITEDInventors: Hiroki Munakata, Tatsuya Teranishi, Kensaku Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9865131Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Susumu Mio, Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20170330419Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a terminal device which runs a game, and a storage device which stores a point value generated in games run in the terminal device and a game play count. The gaming machine stores, in a game play count storage area, a total game play count incremented in each game; accumulatively stores a portion of a total point value in a first storage area; accumulatively stores the remaining portion of the total point value in a second storage area of the storage device; adds the point value stored in the first storage area to the point value stored in the second storage area, when the total game play count reaches a certain value; and awards a benefit to the terminal device, when a total point value stored in the second storage area reaches a certain value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2017Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: Hiroki MUNAKATA, Tatsuya TERANISHI, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20170092050Abstract: There is provided a gaming machine capable of providing new gaming characteristics: the number of active lines is changeable to vary a winning probability. A slot machine controls a lower image display panel having a symbol display area in which some of symbols arranged in symbol arrays are respectively rearranged in display blocks in accordance with the game. The slot machine rearranges, on a one to one basis, the symbols in the display blocks arranged in a matrix of M columns by N rows. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the slot machine adds display blocks to the matrix in the symbol display area to form a matrix of M columns by N+? rows, and sets additional active lines in the expanded display frame, the number of the additional active lines being calculated by multiplying the number of the added rows ? by a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Yuki TERADA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA
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Patent number: 9520028Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that can entertain a player by developing various game results after entering a feature game mode from a base game mode. The gaming machine progresses the games as follows: in base games, if trigger symbols appearing at rearrangement of symbols complete a specific arrangement pattern, the games are changed from base games into roulette games. In roulette games, the maximum number of lotteries is determined based on the arrangement pattern of the trigger symbols.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Teranishi
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Patent number: 9370716Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Gou Miyamoto, Daisyun Okamoto, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 9361757Abstract: Game qualification time may be set to allow participation in a common game from a basic game. This game qualification time is awarded in accordance with a bet amount stored in a RAM 243, after receiving a bet which is input by means of a 1-bet button 26 and a maximum bet button 27. A winning probability in a quick catch bonus game that occurs when a game result of the basic game is a predetermined game result is increased in accordance with the length of the game qualification time stored in a game qualification time management table in the RAM 243 (i.e., a basic quick catch bonus payout table is replaced with a special quick catch bonus payout table).Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Daisyun Okamoto, Hiroki Munakata
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Publication number: 20160093138Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a terminal controller configured to execute a bonus game on a common screen in accordance with a result of random determination made in a base game on a corresponding gaming terminal; a memory configured to accumulatively store a part of a bet amount bet in the base game as a capital source of a progressive payout; a center controller configured to execute a link game on the common screen; and a timer configured to output time information based on which the center controller makes, at predetermined time intervals, random determination about whether to execute the link game. When execution of the bonus game is triggered in accordance with the result of the random determination in the base game, the terminal controller executes a process of awarding a special payout from the capital source of the progressive payout, on condition that the link game is being executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Hiroki MUNAKATA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Hiroki SAITO, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Yukinori INAMURA
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Patent number: 9299217Abstract: To provide a gaming terminal capable of effectively preventing breakage of a support mechanism of a lever-type operation device or the like and a method of providing notification, when a lever 6100 is rotated by a player during the running of a game, the angle of inclination is detected by an inclination detection mechanism 600a, and history information is updated based on the detected angle of inclination. Then whether the updated history information satisfies a predetermined warning condition is determined. A warning is issued to the player and the number of warnings is updated if the predetermined warning condition is satisfied, and the game being run is invalidated when the number of warnings reaches a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Daisyun OKamoto, Hiroki Munakata
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Patent number: 9208657Abstract: Provided is a slot machine which prevents two continuous symbols from coming to be continuous even by conducting a rewriting process. In a case where the one part of the symbol columns is stopped and displayed in the display frame of a symbol display area 4, when a continuous symbol (CHANCE symbol 403) stopped displayed in the display frame of the symbol display area 4 is present in an upstream direction of the scrolling display outside of the display frame of the symbol display area 4, conducted is a delay process in which the rewriting process is conducted for a portion of the symbol column which is present upstream of a position P1 of the continuous symbol (CHANCE symbol 403) in the scrolling display being present in the upstream direction of the scrolling display outside of the display frame of the symbol display area 4.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 9208638Abstract: A gaming terminal includes: a terminal image display panel; a lever-type operation device configured to receive an operation of a player; a support mechanism which rotatably supports the operation device at one end portion of the operation device and includes a restriction member configured to restrict inclination of the operation device, the restriction member being positioned so that the operation device abuts the restriction member when the operation device is inclined at a first angle; an inclination detecting mechanism which detects an angle of inclination of the operation device; and a controller which causes the terminal image display panel to output a predetermined sound and/or to give a visual indication to give a warning to the player when the angle of inclination of the operation device detected by the inclination detecting mechanism is greater than a second angle which is equal to or greater than the first angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Daisyun Okamoto, Hiroki Munakata, Gou Miyamoto
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Patent number: 9064371Abstract: By rotating a lever, the upper limit of the angle of inclination and the lower limit of the angle of inclination of a movable range are detected by an inclination detection mechanism, and the upper limit of the angle of inclination and the lower limit of the angle of inclination are stored in a storage unit as the upper limit and the lower limit of the movable range. While a game is being run, the angle of inclination of the lever is detected when the lever is rotated. Whether the angle of inclination falls within the movable range is determined. When the angle is larger than the movable range, the upper limit of the angle of inclination is updated with the angle of inclination. When the angle is smaller than the movable range, the lower limit of the angle of inclination is updated with the angle of inclination.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Daisyun Okamoto, Hiroki Munakata
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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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Patent number: 8998713Abstract: A control lever which is included in a gaming machine and rotatable forward and backward includes a grip which is held by a hand of a player and allows the player to fix or rotate the control lever in forward and backward directions and a reel unit including 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 torque increases in accordance with the rotational speed of the rotation of the rotation axis in one direction. The reel unit is formed on a side of the grip such that, while the control lever is fixed as the player holds the grip by one hand, the reel handle can be rotated by the other hand of the player.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: 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: 20150024824Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that can entertain a player by developing various game results after entering a feature game mode from a base game mode. The gaming machine progresses the games as follows: in base games, if trigger symbols appearing at rearrangement of symbols complete a specific arrangement pattern, the games are changed from base games into roulette games. In roulette games, the maximum number of lotteries is determined based on the arrangement pattern of the trigger symbols.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Teranishi
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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: 20140342798Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel assembly including a basic reel and an extra reel for a game, the extra reel including an effect symbol; an image display configured to display an character image related to the game; and a controller configured to: execute a first lottery for the game with the basic reels; execute a second lottery for the game with the extra reel; determine whether the extra reel shows the effect symbol; control the basic reels and the image display; and control the extra reel to move in connection with a movement of the character image on the image display when it is determined that the extra reel shows the effect symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kou KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20140342797Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a reel assembly including basic reels including a plurality of basic symbols and an extra reel including a plurality of extra symbols; and a controller configured to: control the basic reels and the extra reel; execute a first lottery with the basic reels to determine a win or a loss of a game; execute a second lottery to select one of the extra symbols; and control the extra reel to spin and stop to show the selected one of the extra symbols, wherein the plurality of extra symbols include a multiplier symbol multiplying a win prize of the game, an effect symbol used in an effect of the game, a determinant symbol determining a number of free rounds in a free mode of the game, and an adder symbol adding extra free rounds in the free mode of the game.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kou KOBAYASHI