Patents by Inventor Kenta Kitamura
Kenta Kitamura 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: 10510212Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to avoid monotonous game play is provided. At the start of each game play, gaming machine executes processes of: randomly selecting one of symbol random determination tables in which a probability of rearrangement of each symbol on each reel is defined, based on a symbol random determination table determination table in which a probability of random selection of one of the symbol random determination tables for each of the random determination tables; a symbol random determination process of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged based on the selected symbol random determination table; and displaying the determined symbols on a display device by rearranging the reels.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITEDInventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Yukinori Inamura, Kenta Kitamura
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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: 9892598Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that offers wider applicability and more enjoyment. To this end, a slot machine 1 configured to run a normal game and a free game which develops from the normal game, includes a storage device storing a free game payout table and a normal game payout table, wherein a maximum payout obtainable in the normal game is higher than a maximum payout obtainable in the free game, and a chance of winning the maximum payout in the normal game is higher than a chance of winning the maximum payout in the free game.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Kazunori Ohtsuka
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Patent number: 9881463Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine which does not bore the player through reel actions until completion of rearrangement of symbols. Under the condition where predetermined symbols are aligned on a payline when the symbols of a first scroll line of at least one of a plurality of scroll lines are being scrolled and symbols on the remaining second scroll lines are stopped, the gaming machine changes scrolling motion of symbols of the first scroll line.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Hidekazu Suzuki, Kazuo Okada
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Patent number: 9875601Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine capable of changing a symbol when a predetermined condition is satisfied even though the gaming machine is a type of gaming machine that mechanically drives real reels. The gaming machine drives the reels to show a second symbol and drives the reels to show consecutive first symbols when the second symbol is shown.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Ryosuke Takahashi
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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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Patent number: 9824538Abstract: A slot machine 1 executes the following processes of: (D1) receiving an input of betting of a game medium, (D2) reading, from a RAM 73, coin reels corresponding to the number of game media having been received in the process (D1) and setting the coin reels to be rearrangeable on the lower image display panel 141, (D3) as a game, randomly determining symbols and a coin 161 which are to be rearranged on the lower image display panel 141, (D4) executing an effect of scrolling the video reels 3 and the coin reels and visually changing the coin 161 during the scroll, and (D5) rearranging the symbols and the coin 161 determined in the process (D3) on the lower image display panel 141 and awarding a benefit or a special bonus based on a combination of the rearranged symbols and coin 161.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Takeshi Narita, Bungo Matsumura, Shinichi Kawashima
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Patent number: 9818263Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that develops games from base games to various types of games and further allows easy pre-estimation of the benefit to be provided to the players. The gaming machine changes games from the first type in the first mode to the second type in the normal mode when a first trigger is completed in a game of the first type in the first mode, changes games from the first type in the first mode to the first type in the second mode when a second trigger is completed in a game of the first type in the first mode, and changes games from the first type in the second mode to the second type in the special mode when a third trigger is completed in a game of the first type in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido, Hiroki Saito, Ai Genda
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Patent number: 9786118Abstract: A gaming system comprises a control unit quipped with a controller. The control starts the reception of bets from a plurality of stations, displays, on a dealer display, termination order images from the plurality of the stations in accordance with a lapse of a predetermined period of time from the start of the bet reception, and advances the game on the condition that a bet termination order signal is received from an operation input button.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Katsuhiro Kido, Kenta Kitamura
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Patent number: 9773368Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2013Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jun Hirato, Motomichi Sato, Kenta Kitamura, Kazuo Okada
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Publication number: 20170200345Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to avoid monotonous game play is provided. A gaming machine executes: (1A) a symbol random determination process of randomly selecting a symbol to be rearranged from symbols on a predetermined reel, based on a predetermined symbol random determination table; (1B) a process of selecting one of the symbol random determination tables, with reference to the symbol selected in the symbol random determination process and the symbol random determination table selection table; and (1C) a symbol random determination process of randomly selecting a symbol to be rearranged from symbols on a reel which is to be rearranged after the predetermined reel, based on the symbol random determination table selected in the process (1B).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori Inamura, Kenta Kitamura
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Publication number: 20170200346Abstract: A gaming machine which relieves the monotony of the game is provided. The game machine executes the processes of: (1A) randomly determining symbols for a normal mode, which will be rearranged on the display device based on a predetermined symbol random determination table; (1B) rearranging and displaying the symbols determined in the process (1A) on the display device; (1C) in cases where the symbols rearranged on the display device form a specific symbol combination, randomly determining symbols for a high-probability mode, which will be rearranged on the display device based on a symbol random determination table which specifies a higher probability of rearrangement for a predetermined symbol than that specified in the symbol random determination table used in a previous game; (1D) rearranging and displaying the symbols determined in the process (1C) on the display device; (1E) repeating the processes of (1C) and (1D).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori INAMURA, Kenta KITAMURA
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Patent number: 9691231Abstract: Probability of prize occurrence is easily controlled without provision of a blank between symbols on a reel. A gaming machine 300 includes a lower image display panel 141 configured to variable-display symbol arrays 170 each including a plurality of normal symbols 501 and a plurality of crest symbols 502 arranged among the normal symbols 501, and then rearrange the normal symbols 501 and the blank symbols 502 in a symbol display region 150 having a matrix of cells. The gaming machine 300 generates a line win or a scatter win when the normal symbols 501 are rearranged on the lower image display panel 141 in a predetermined manner, and generates a crest win which is lower than the line win and the scatter win when a predetermined number or more of the crest symbols 502 are rearranged.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Hiroki Saito
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Patent number: 9672682Abstract: Provided is a presentation effect device capable of providing a new presentation effect in which it is possible to change the state where a player can visibly recognize an object to be visibly recognized to the state where a player can visibly recognize the object without any movable member. A presentation effect device is provided with a plate-like panel, an accommodation space partitioned by the plate-like panel, the accommodation space for accommodating an object to be visibly recognized, and an illumination device for illuminating the object to be visibly recognized by a signal from the outside, wherein the plate-like panel is composed of a beam splitter for dividing incoming light into reflection light and transmitted light.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kou Kobayashi, Takashi Izawa, Masumi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 9672695Abstract: A gaming machine stores a plurality of notification patterns of the backlight unit displayable at least in the symbol rearrangement regions of the reel unit including the regions where the symbols are rearranged, a notification pattern being assigned to each of the notification patterns. The gaming machine randomly determines the symbols to be rearranged on the reel unit. The gaming machine determines a combination formed by the determined symbols. The gaming machine selects a notification pattern based on the determined combination. The gaming machine executes a selected notification pattern by the backlight unit, at a notification timing which is before the rearrangement of the symbols on the reel unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Akira Osawa, Kenji Enokido
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Patent number: 9633524Abstract: A gaming machine stores an effect combination table in which each of predetermined combination conditions of symbols has probabilities associated with respective effect combinations each constituted by one or more indication effect. The gaming machine executes a process of randomly determining the symbols to be rearranged on the reel unit. The gaming machine executes a process of determining to which one of the combination conditions the combination of the determined symbols corresponds. The gaming machine executes a process of selecting an effect combination table based on the corresponding combination condition and randomly selecting one effect combination from a plurality of effect combinations based on the probabilities in the selected effect combination table. The gaming machine executes a process of executing an indication effect indicated by the selected effect combination, by means of the notification device.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Akira Osawa
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Patent number: 9633517Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine employing a free game system which provides an enhanced game element. The gaming machine determines the number of adding free game based on a game number lottery table under the condition that a first symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game, and adds a preset number of free game under the condition that a second symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Masumi Fujisawa
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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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Publication number: 20170092045Abstract: To provide a gaming machine that can realize a new gaming characteristic in which effective lines are variable so that the winning probability can be changed. A slot machine 1 executes games and controls, according to the games, a lower image display panel 141 having video reels 151 to 155 each including a symbol array in which symbols 501 that are rearranged in display blocks 28 are arranged. When a predetermined number or more of symbols 501 of the same type are located on any of effective lines, the slot machine 1 awards a line dividend. The slot machine 1 determines whether or not to expand the video reels 151 to 155 to add the display blocks 28 before the rearrangement of the symbols 501, and arrange top symbol 503a with the highest line dividend in the display blocks 28 irrespective of the symbol arrays when it is determined that the display block 28 are added, and determines the line dividend according to effective line based on all the display block 28 including the display block 28 added.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Hiroki SAITO, Bungo MATSUMURA
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Patent number: RE46738Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine having a cabinet. Between the back as a back face and the right side face of the sides of the cabinet, the gaming machine has a right end side, which is formed by cutting a plane parallel to the gravitational direction in a manner to join lines spaced at predetermined distances in the individual directions of the back and the right side face from a line of intersection, on which the back and the right side face intersect when extended. The gaming machine also has a left end side between the back and a left side face. Moreover, the right end side and the left end side are symmetric with respect to a plane dividing the cabinet equally to the right and left.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Yoshitomo Sasaki, Akira Shimizu, Katsuhiro Kido, Kenta Kitamura, Hideaki Kishi, Hiroatsu Ike