Patents by Inventor Kou Kobayashi

Kou Kobayashi 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: 10972811
    Abstract: An image processing device that includes a highlight extracted video creation unit that creates a highlight extracted video based on extraction of a highlight from each video file of a plurality of video files and a highlight extracted video storage unit that stores the highlight extracted video as one data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9807307
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a recording unit configured to record one of still image data and video image data captured by the image capturing unit on a storage medium in the form of an image file, a generating unit configured to generate a management file used for managing the image file recorded on the storage medium, and a registering unit configured to register an identifier of the image file recorded on the storage medium in the management file on a capture date basis in the order of capture time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Morimoto, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9792775
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reel for a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: forming an opening in a reel strip on which a plurality of first symbols are printed; forming a second symbol on an optical sheet by vacuum forming the optical sheet to form a symbol piece, the second symbol including a protrusion and a depression; attaching the symbol piece to the reel strip such that the second symbol is exposed through the opening of the reel strip; and attaching the reel strip to a reel frame for the slot machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Kou Kobayashi, Motomichi Sato, Takuto Nakayama, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Satoshi Joko
  • Patent number: 9672682
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kou Kobayashi, Takashi Izawa, Masumi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20170150237
    Abstract: An image processing device, includes: a highlight extracted video creation unit creating a highlight extracted video, by obtaining a plurality of video files, obtained by extracting a highlight of each video file; and a highlight extracted video storage unit storing the highlight extracted video as one data file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Takanori MINAMINO, Kou KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9600964
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Takeshi Iso, Megumi Shimohata, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9596523
    Abstract: An image processing device, includes: a highlight extracted video creation unit creating a highlight extracted video, by obtaining a plurality of video files, obtained by extracting a highlight of each video file; and a highlight extracted video storage unit storing the highlight extracted video as one data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9424709
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a lamp body provided with LEDs so that the lighting state thereof is viewable from the outside; a sensor configured to detect a player's gesture with respect to the lamp body 132; and a controller used to start a game, the controller starting the detection of the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game, and causing the LEDs to emit light in a light emission mode in sync with the detected player's gesture while the player's gesture is being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9286749
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes; a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and is a display displaying an effect image regarding a game; a lamp body which is three-dimensionally formed and is a formed object provided on the cabinet to protrude toward the front surface as compared to at least the lower end of the upper image display panel; a sensor configured to detect the player' gesture with respect to the lamp body; a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenji Enokido, Kou Kobayashi, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150332544
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine having a reel strip that enables the player to speedily and easily see whether a wining pattern is completed. The reel strip for the gaming machine includes a symbol area including a winning element symbol based on which winning or not is determined and a blank area including a blank symbol irrelevant to determination of winning; the symbol area and the blank area are disposed adjacent to each other and the blank area is formed seamlessly with the symbol area as a part of the symbol area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kou KOBAYASHI, Susumu MIO, Ai GENDA
  • Patent number: 9143691
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing image, includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, a recording medium for recording moving image data, a data processor for retrieving data recorded on the recording medium and generating display data in response to an input to the input unit, and a display unit for displaying the display data. The data processor selects a frame containing an image of a person's face from a scene as a moving image recording unit recorded on the recording medium, generates a thumbnail image of a face region extracted from the selected frame and displays on the display unit a list of generated thumbnail images arranged in a time-series order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ebato, Kenji Tsushio, Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Kou Kobayashi, Yoshihito Okizaki, Shigeru Masuda
  • Publication number: 20150249789
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a recording unit configured to record one of still image data and video image data captured by the image capturing unit on a storage medium in the form of an image file, a generating unit configured to generate a management file used for managing the image file recorded on the storage medium, and a registering unit configured to register an identifier of the image file recorded on the storage medium in the management file on a capture date basis in the order of capture time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Morimoto, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9105149
    Abstract: A cylindrical reel for a slot machine, which includes a plurality of symbols having different patterns is provided. A reel according to an embodiment includes: a reel frame configured to receive rotational force from a rotational axis of a motor; a reel stripe disposed on an entire circumference of the reel frame and having a front surface including a group of the symbols thereon; a symbol piece including: a first surface having a flange shape; and a second surface protruding from the first surface and including one of the plurality of symbols thereon, wherein the reel stripe has at a least one opening exposing the second surface of the symbol piece, and the first surface of the symbol piece is attached to a rear surface of the reel stripe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9066016
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a recording unit configured to record one of still image data and video image data captured by the image capturing unit on a storage medium in the form of an image file, a generating unit configured to generate a management file used for managing the image file recorded on the storage medium, and a registering unit configured to register an identifier of the image file recorded on the storage medium in the management file on a capture date basis in the order of capture time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Morimoto, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9033800
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and displays an effect image concerning a game; a lamp body unit which includes a lamp body which is a formed object and a sensor configured to detect the player's gesture with respect to the lamp body and is provided at a position different from the upper image display panel when viewed from the front surface of the cabinet; and a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido, Keita Shimura, Kou Kobayashi, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150133220
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes; a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and is a display displaying an effect image regarding a game; a lamp body which is three-dimensionally formed and is a formed object provided on the cabinet to protrude toward the front surface as compared to at least the lower end of the upper image display panel; a sensor configured to detect the player' gesture with respect to the lamp body; a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenji Enokido, Kou Kobayashi, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8968106
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes; a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and is a display displaying an effect image regarding a game; a lamp body which is three-dimensionally formed and is a formed object provided on the cabinet to protrude toward the front surface as compared to at least the lower end of the upper image display panel; a sensor configured to detect the player' gesture with respect to the lamp body; a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenji Enokido, Kou Kobayashi, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140370963
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jun HIRATO, Takeshi ISO, Megumi SHIMOHATA, Kou KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140342797
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kou KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140342796
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a reel assembly including a plurality of reels that includes basic reels and an extra reel including a plurality of symbols; and a controller configured to: execute a first lottery with the basic reels in a game round; execute a second lottery to determine whether the extra reel spins in the game round; execute a third lottery to select one of the symbols on the extra reel when it is determined that the extra reel spins in the game round; control the basic reels to spin and stop in the game round; and control the extra reel to start spinning before the basic reels stop spinning in the game round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Hiroki SAITO, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kou KOBAYASHI