Patents by Inventor Robert W. Crowder

Robert W. Crowder 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: 10483694
    Abstract: A lock-in adapter having a locking arm ending in a latch contained within a ground pin for securing the adapter into a wall outlet via the ground pin receiver. Internal locking arms similarly lock and retain a plug inserted into the opposite end of the adapter, thereby securing the plug to the adapter and the adapter to the wall. The adapter can be further secured to the outlet faceplate via screws through tabs located on both the top and bottom ends of the adapter. A button secures the various latches to secure the plug and adapter, and which can be selectively operated to release both the adapter from the outlet and the plug from the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20190134489
    Abstract: A ski pole having a pole formed from anodized aluminum or other non-toxic material having an internal reservoir for storing liquid such as drinks. The pole passes completely through the handle portion and the tip portion of the pole providing superior structural integrity. The handle includes a strap which passes through a loop on the handle to secure it and includes an adjustable clasp for adjusting size of the strap. A cap is threaded to a top end of the handle portion for sealing the internal reservoir and allowing for refilling of the reservoir and pouring liquid therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20190140397
    Abstract: A lock-in adapter having a locking arm ending in a latch contained within a ground pin for securing the adapter into a wall outlet via the ground pin receiver. Internal locking arms similarly lock and retain a plug inserted into the opposite end of the adapter, thereby securing the plug to the adapter and the adapter to the wall. The adapter can be further secured to the outlet faceplate via screws through tabs located on both the top and bottom ends of the adapter. A button secures the various latches to secure the plug and adapter, and which can be selectively operated to release both the adapter from the outlet and the plug from the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20160011739
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for presenting both primary content and secondary content on a single display. The system includes: a touch screen display configured to display content, a primary controller configured to generate primary content, and a secondary controller configured to generate secondary content. The display manager alters at least one of the primary content and the secondary content, enabling the primary content to be rendered with the secondary content on the touch screen display. The system also includes a coordinate transformation device that receives coordinates from an input on the touch screen display and accommodates any scaling or shifting performed on at least one of the primary content and the secondary content to determine transformed coordinates corresponding of the rendered content prior to routing the transformed coordinates to the proper primary controller or secondary controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen Patton, Kiran Brahmandam, Robert W. Crowder, Vijay Kompella, Jeffrey Lee Allen
  • Patent number: 9076284
    Abstract: A method is described for presenting video signals from a first video source and one or more second video sources on a single touch screen display. The method includes: enabling display of primary content from a first video signal and secondary content from a second video signal on the touch screen display, using a display manager, in an adjacent or overlapping condition by scaling or shifting one of the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s) to alter the size and to render the first video signal with the second video signal(s); and calculating a coordinate transformation, using a touch router device, on coordinates received from the touch screen display that correspond to the presentation at the touch screen display of the video signals and to accommodate any scaling or shifting performed on the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen E. Patton, Kiran Brahmandam, Robert W. Crowder, Vijay K. Kompella, Jeffrey L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8851988
    Abstract: An architecture for an electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes multiple processors that separate game logic from game presentation. The multi-processor architecture includes a dedicated game logic engine and a dedicated presentation engine. A first processor having the game logic engine is adapted to handle the input/output (I/O), peripherals, communications, accounting, critical gaming and other game logic, power hit tolerances, protocols to other systems, and other tasks related to operation of the EGM. A second processor is adapted to running a presentation engine. The second processor receives commands from the first processor to present game-oriented outcome and results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20140243070
    Abstract: Gaming machines having video depictions of one or more mechanical reels on a curved display are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a liquid crystal display having an opening in which the curved transparent material extends through the opening of the opening of the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Crowder, John R. Vallejo, Vernon H. Bernard, Karl E. Wudtke, Frank R. Anderson, Lawrence C. McAllister
  • Publication number: 20140155167
    Abstract: A method is described for presenting video signals from a first video source and one or more second video sources on a single touch screen display. The method includes: enabling display of primary content from a first video signal and secondary content from a second video signal on the touch screen display, using a display manager, in an adjacent or overlapping condition by scaling or shifting one of the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s) to alter the size and to render the first video signal with the second video signal(s); and calculating a coordinate transformation, using a touch router device, on coordinates received from the touch screen display that correspond to the presentation at the touch screen display of the video signals and to accommodate any scaling or shifting performed on the first video signal(s) or the second video signal(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen E. Patton, Kiran Brahmandam, Robert W. Crowder, Vijay K. Kompella, Jeffrey L. Allen
  • Patent number: 8647188
    Abstract: A system provides a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. The system further includes at least one gaming device having a base game. The player tracking system and system gaming apparatus includes a player tracking user interface. The player tracking user interface provides a player with an opportunity to select and play a non-base game that may be promotional-funded or player-funded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Robert W. Crowder, Dennis Lockard, Robert A. Luciano, Jeffrey Talcott
  • Patent number: 8429224
    Abstract: A browser manager server is able to initialize and configure one or more browser windows on a gaming device display screen. The browser manager has the ability to configure specific URLs for each browser window, configure and Z-order depth for each window, set window size and position, and call functions on the browser pages. A browser client side application on a gaming device is capable of creating multiple windows on an electronic gaming device and responding to said server configuration or browser message commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Pravinkumar Patel, Robert W. Crowder, Bryan M. Kelly, John E. Link, Anthony E. Green, Mettu R. Reddy
  • Publication number: 20130040732
    Abstract: An architecture for an electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes multiple processors that separate game logic from game presentation. The multi-processor architecture includes a dedicated game logic engine and a dedicated presentation engine. A first processor having the game logic engine is adapted to handle the input/output (I/O), peripherals, communications, accounting, critical gaming and other game logic, power hit tolerances, protocols to other systems, and other tasks related to operation of the EGM. A second processor is adapted to running a presentation engine. The second processor receives commands from the first processor to present game-oriented outcome and results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Patent number: 8266213
    Abstract: An architecture for an electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes multiple processors that separate game logic from game presentation. The multi-processor architecture includes a dedicated game logic engine and a dedicated presentation engine. A first processor having the game logic engine is adapted to handle the input/output (I/O), peripherals, communications, accounting, critical gaming and other game logic, power hit tolerances, protocols to other systems, and other tasks related to operation of the EGM. A second processor is adapted to running a presentation engine. The second processor receives commands from the first processor to present game-oriented outcome and results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20120220374
    Abstract: The system and method allows a casino operator to re-configure one or more electronic gaming machines as part of a multicast. Where any reconfiguration requires a software package A and any dependent package B, a server is configured to combine as part of the multicast both packages A and B. The system and method also provides for scheduling reconfiguration though multi-casting. In the event any data packages are lost, corrupted or not received, those packages are repackaged and the data packets are re-sent as a multicast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher P. Arbogast, Travis William Green, William K. Jones, Dale M. Shepherd, Ronald A. Cadima, Thomas E. Buckeyne, Anthony E. Green, Pravinkumar Patel, Robert W. Crowder, Joshua D. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8065394
    Abstract: A local game-area network includes a plurality of gaming devices and local game-area servers. Each local game-area server is associated with a corresponding gaming device. Each local game-area server in the local game-area network is operatively associated with every other local game-area server in the local game-area network. Additionally, one of the local game-area servers is a host local game-area server while the remaining gaming devices and associated local game-area servers are clients. Furthermore, the host status of the host local game-area server moves dynamically to an available local game-area server in the local game-area network in response to the host local game-area server becoming non-operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Crowder, Pravinkumar Patel, Joshua D. Larsen
  • Patent number: 7736227
    Abstract: A device for dispensing prizes includes a housing having a plurality of compartments, a door attached to the housing for coving the compartments, and a lock for limiting access to the compartments. The contents of the compartments are visible from the outside. Each compartment contains a prize, such as a diamond. The housing may be part of, or linked to, a gaming device. When a player wins a game, which entitles the player to select a tangible award, the device signals this fact to the player. The player then selects a compartment by pressing an input device located on the housing. An attendant opens an external door, and inserts an electronic key into a receptacle associated with the selected compartment, and enters a required code into the key. The compartment then opens, and the player obtains the prize. The device may also include an inventory control system which preferably uses an RFID apparatus for monitoring the contents of each compartment, and for keeping records of an inventory of prizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Robert W. Crowder, Michael Souza
  • Publication number: 20100124990
    Abstract: An architecture for an electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes multiple processors that separate game logic from game presentation. The multi-processor architecture includes a dedicated game logic engine and a dedicated presentation engine. A first processor having the game logic engine is adapted to handle the input/output (I/O), peripherals, communications, accounting, critical gaming and other game logic, power hit tolerances, protocols to other systems, and other tasks related to operation of the EGM. A second processor is adapted to running a presentation engine. The second processor receives commands from the first processor to present game-oriented outcome and results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Robert W. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20080318686
    Abstract: A local game-area network includes a plurality of gaming devices and local game-area servers. Each local game-area server is associated with a corresponding gaming device. Each local game-area server in the local game-area network is operatively associated with every other local game-area server in the local game-area network. Additionally, one of the local game-area servers is a host local game-area server while the remaining gaming devices and associated local game-area servers are clients. Furthermore, the host status of the host local game-area server moves dynamically to an available local game-area server in the local game-area network in response to the host local game-area server becoming non-operational.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Crowder, Pravinkumar Patel, Joshua D. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20080214307
    Abstract: A method for configuring an EGM from a remote terminal thereby providing improvements in operational efficiency when configuring EGMs. For example, operational efficiencies are possible by providing direct access to configure an EGM without the technician traveling to the physical machine, which may be miles away. For local EGM's, there will be efficiencies obtained by the number of EGM's configured per hour/per technician. For extremely remote EGM's, there are additional efficiencies by the reduction of travel and lodging expenses for the technician. Additionally, remote configuration of an EGM reduces security overhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher P. Arbogast, Travis William Green, William K. Jones, Dale M. Shepherd, Ronald A. Cadima, Thomas E. Buckeyne, Anthony E. Green, Pravinkumar Patel, Robert W. Crowder, Joshua D. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20080171602
    Abstract: A browser manager server is able to initialize and configure one or more browser windows on a gaming device display screen. The browser manager has the ability to configure specific URLs for each browser window, configure and Z-order depth for each window, set window size and position, and call functions on the browser pages. A browser client side application on a gaming device is capable of creating multiple windows on an electronic gaming device and responding to said server configuration or browser message commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Pravinkumar Patel, Robert W. Crowder, Bryan M. Kelly, John E. Link, Anthony E. Green, Mettu Ramakrikshna
  • Publication number: 20080172557
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device, system, and method for a ROM BIOS based trusted encrypted operating system for use in a gaming environment. The gaming device includes a ROM storing a BIOS, a secure loader, an encrypted operating system, and a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted operating system. The decryption key is partitioned and scattered about the secure loader. The method includes initializing the BIOS, locating the decryption key, decrypting the encrypted operating system with the encryption key, verifying a plurality of check codes, and transferring control to the operating system. The check codes are verified responsive to decrypting the encrypted operating system. The check codes are dispersed about the operating system and are unrelated to the operating system. Control is transferred to the operating system responsive to verifying the check codes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Crowder, Ronald A. Cadima, Anthony E. Green, Thomas E. Buckeyne, Pravinkumar Patel