Patents by Inventor Marc Mierau
Marc Mierau 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: 7744454Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: IGTInventors: Marc Mierau, Karen M. Cregan, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 7722463Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: IGTInventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan W. Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 7338369Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Marc Mierau, Karen M. Cregan, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20060217183Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Applicant: IGTInventors: Marc Mierau, Karen Cregan, Anthony Baerlocher
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Patent number: 7001278Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: IGTInventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan W. Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20050143170Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2005Publication date: June 30, 2005Inventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan Cuddy, Anthony Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20050130733Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Marc Mierau, Karen Cregan, Anthony Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20050101373Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 12, 2005Inventors: Marc Mierau, Karen Cregan, Anthony Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20050101372Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 12, 2005Inventors: Marc Mierau, Karen Cregan, Anthony Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20050054441Abstract: A gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device including enabling a player to select music to be played during a game. The music selections include music recordings within general music classifications such as genre and style and music recordings within specific classifications such as artist or group, album or song. The game presents the music classification selections for player selection at any point before, during or after the game. In one embodiment, the music recordings within the music classification selected by the player and played by the gaming device are incorporated into the theme of the game.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2003Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Kristopher Landrum, Darren Maya, Marc Mierau
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Publication number: 20040072615Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan W. Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20040048650Abstract: A processor controlled slot machine having a plurality of reels, each of which display a plurality of symbols on a display device. The slot machine provides a plurality of paylines although the slot machine may be adapted to be a single payline machine. The machines may have blanks or ghost symbols. When the player spins the reels, a plurality of symbols stop on the paystops of the display device. The game pays the player for any wins due to the initial spin. If a nudge activator occurs, and the player has accumulated a nudge or the nudge activator itself causes the nudge sequence, the game performs at least one nudge sequence, which at least moves one reel one paystop position. When the nudge sequence stops, slot machine pays the player again for any winning combinations that exist.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Marc Mierau, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Publication number: 20030060259Abstract: A gaming device and method which includes a plurality of reels having multiple symbols on the reels. The symbols include at least one activator symbol. In one embodiment, if the player obtains an activator symbol on the reels, the activator symbol activates the symbols that are adjacent to the activator symbol. Activating the adjacent symbols reveals the awards associated with the adjacent symbols. The player receives an award that equals the activator symbol award plus the awards associated with each symbol that is adjacent to the activator symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Marc Mierau, Karen M. Cregan, Anthony J. Baerlocher