Patents by Inventor Stewart Thoeni

Stewart Thoeni 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: 10741020
    Abstract: A system which enables a user to log into one or more gaming establishment management systems using both of a biometric identifier capture device of a gaming establishment device and also using a biometric identifier capture device of an identified user's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, James A. Vasquez, Daniel Landry
  • Publication number: 20200126347
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine that provides enhanced physical player interaction by employing a player tactile feedback provider including co-acting ultrasonic transducer array assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Franich, Jerrod Laputz, Stewart Thoeni
  • Patent number: 10515512
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine with a primary bill validator and a separate, auxiliary bill validator in case the primary bill validator either fails or performs less than optimally. The primary bill validator operates as the default bill validator to accept bills (e.g., paper currency and/or cashless ticket vouchers) to fund wagering activities of the EGM and the separate, auxiliary bill validator selectively operates to accept bills (e.g., paper currency and/or cashless ticket vouchers) to fund wagering activities of the EGM upon an occurrence of a bill validator switch event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, James Vasquez, Steven P. McGahn, Brian K. Baker
  • Publication number: 20190197824
    Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for scalable graphical processing unit (GPU) functionality in electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The EGM may include a base component to house an enclosed master gaming controller (MGC). The enclosed MGC may have one or more graphics card expansion ports located externally to the enclosed MGC. The EGM may include a display device, supported by the base component, to display one or more images of one or more games. The EGM may include a graphics accelerator component housed within the display device to enhance one or more images associated with one or more games on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: James W. TIMPERLEY, Jerrod LAPUTZ, Tai ROSANDER, Stewart THOENI
  • Patent number: 9495827
    Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes an inner drive ring defining an annular inner rim, an outer ring, and a support substrate. The outer ring is spaced from and coaxially positioned relative to the inner drive ring, and the outer ring defines an annular outer rim. The support substrate has opposing side edges each coupled to a different one of the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim. The support substrate extends substantially unsupported between the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim in a substantially continuous manner maintaining the annular inner rim spaced from the annular out rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, Franco E. Crivelli, Essam Mikhail, Juan C. Hernandez, Michael T. Garamendi, Margaret A. Jones, Anthony J. Frabbiele, Mark P. Mahaffey, Kyle Kaifesh, Scott H. Jones, John L. Beadell, Scott T. Gowin
  • Patent number: 9030726
    Abstract: A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine (EGM) having a multi-layer display is described. In particular, the EGM can be configured with a display that provides a 3D-like image. An acousto-optical modulator interstitial component can be positioned between two liquid crystal displays to mitigate moiré interference. A piezoelectric transducer can be attached to a glass interstitial component or to a display panel of a multi-layer display in order to control the moiré interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. Griswold, Stewart Thoeni, Jean Pierre LeGras, Charles W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150102557
    Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes an inner drive ring defining an annular inner rim, an outer ring, and a support substrate. The outer ring is spaced from and coaxially positioned relative to the inner drive ring, and the outer ring defines an annular outer rim. The support substrate has opposing side edges each coupled to a different one of the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim. The support substrate extends substantially unsupported between the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim in a substantially continuous manner maintaining the annular inner rim spaced from the annular out rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart THOENI, Franco E. CRIVELLI, Essam MIKHAIL, Juan C. HERNANDEZ, Michael T. GARAMENDI, Margaret A. JONES, Anthony J. FRABBIELE, Mark P. MAHAFFEY, Kyle KAIFESH, Scott H. JONES, John L. BEADELL, Scott T. GOWIN
  • Patent number: 8777758
    Abstract: A computer system includes an enclosure having a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an environment monitoring system therein. The enclosure environment monitoring system includes a temperature sensor, and an air quality sensor. The computer system also has an indicator responsive to certain conditions being sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Nicholas William Anderson, Stewart Thoeni, Kehl Thomas LeSourd, James Michael Gray, Randall Jason Tognoni
  • Publication number: 20130316814
    Abstract: A gaming system including an electronic gaming machine (EGM) having a multi-layer display is described. In particular, the EGM can be configured with a display that provides a 3D-like image. An acousto-optical modulator interstitial component can be positioned between two liquid crystal displays to mitigate moiré interference. A piezoelectric transducer can be attached to a glass interstitial component or to a display panel of a multi-layer display in order to control the moiré interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Chauncey W. GRISWOLD, Stewart THOENI, Jean Pierre LeGRAS, Charles W. JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20130267295
    Abstract: Techniques for removing the parallax effect on multilayer displays in gaming machines. A gaming machine includes a multilayer display, a player sensor, and one or more processors. The multilayer display includes a proximate display and a distal display. The player sensor detects data associated with a person indicating the person's viewing position of the multilayer display. The one or more processors use the data to determine whether a correction for parallax is required. The image on the proximate display, the distal display or both may be modified based on the data to provide a composite image on the multilayer display without the parallax effect for the person at the person's viewing position of the multilayer display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony Frabbiele, Chauncey Griswold, Stewart Thoeni
  • Patent number: 8506378
    Abstract: A gaming system, gaming device, and method providing advertising messages to players based on a determination of a positive winning gaming session. In one embodiment, the gaming system monitors a plurality of plays of at least one wagering game during a designated period. At the end of the designated period, the gaming system determines whether a player of the monitored plays had a positive winning gaming session. If the player had a positive winning gaming session, the gaming system provides at least one advertising message to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, Chauncey Griswold
  • Publication number: 20130196736
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a play field reel glass enhancement on a gaming machine with mechanical spinning reels. A plurality of mechanical spinning reels are configured to indicate a gaming outcome for a wager game played on the gaming machine by a player. A light board located in front of the plurality of mechanical spinning reels lights up individual or groups of the light emitting elements. A graphic element on a reel glass is placed in front of the light board, creating the play field reel glass enhancement that is backlit by the light board to indicate gaming information to a player. A touch screen may be communicatively coupled with the reel glass to receive game input from the player, thereby making the play field reel glass enhancement interactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, Charles W. Johnson, Brian K. Baker, Jacquelyn S. Combs
  • Patent number: 8480474
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a reel assembly and a processor operatively coupled to the reel assembly. The reel assembly includes at least one slot reel including a reel strip having a plurality of symbols positioned thereon. At least a portion of the plurality of symbols includes a plurality of frames. The at least one slot reel is configured to rotate about an axis. The reel assembly also includes at least one light device positioned with respect to the slot reel to selectively illuminate the plurality of symbols. The processor is configured to control the light device to progressively illuminate at least a portion of the plurality of frames to facilitate an appearance of animation within the plurality of frames during rotation of said at least one slot reel about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Julia Janeen Randall, Brian Keith Baker, Jean Pierre Legras, Gene Elvin Powell, Stewart Thoeni, Mark Woodard
  • Publication number: 20130084992
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a digital log book for a gaming machine. In some implementations, a gaming machine may include a controller adapted to communicate with a network server and a memory configured to store digital log book entries in a digital log. The gaming machine may further include one or more processors configured to verify whether a user has access to the gaming machine, verify that the user has access to the digital log book, and allow the user to add an entry into the digital log book if the verifications are successful. In some implementations, the digital log book for the gaming machine may be accessed by a device that is in communication with the gaming machine, such as a wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jamison Frady, Stewart Thoeni
  • Publication number: 20130085001
    Abstract: A computer system includes an enclosure having a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an environment monitoring system therein. The enclosure environment monitoring system includes a temperature sensor, and an air quality sensor. The computer system also has an indicator responsive to certain conditions being sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: International Game Technology
    Inventors: Nicholas William Anderson, Stewart Thoeni, Kehl Thomas LeSourd, James Michael Gray, Randall Jason Tognoni
  • Patent number: D723626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: James A. Vasquez, Julia J. Angst, John L. Beadell, John W. Chamberlain, Russell Chudd, Matthew D. Cloutier, Matthew A. Franich, Khanh Trang N. Hajek, Mark A. Jaillet, Chun J. Jia, Charles W. Johnson, Patrick J. Nohr, Gene E. Powell, Jacqueline M. Ragnone, Tai Rosander, Kirk A. Tedsen, Stewart Thoeni, James W. Timperley, Randall J. Tognoni, Gregory D. Wright, Jared P. Wulff
  • Patent number: D878473
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stewart Thoeni, James Vasquez, Steven P. McGahn, Brian K. Baker
  • Patent number: D889545
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott Jones, Charles Johnson, Julia Angst, Stephanie Humbeutel, Jean Pierre Legras, Tai Rosander, Stewart Thoeni
  • Patent number: D889546
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott Jones, Charles Johnson, Julia Angst, Stephanie Humbeutel, Jean Pierre Legras, Tai Rosander, Stewart Thoeni
  • Patent number: D889547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott Jones, Charles Johnson, Julia Angst, Stephanie Humbeutel, Jean Pierre Legras, Tai Rosander, Stewart Thoeni