Patents Issued in May 14, 2013
  • Patent number: 8439706
    Abstract: A shielded cable connector takes the form of a plug connector that is terminated to a plurality of wires of a cable. The wires are terminated to an edge card and a premold portion is formed thereover. An exterior shielding braid of the cable is extended over the premold and is formed with the connector housing so that a portion of it is exposed on the exterior of the connector housing. This exposed portion contacts an exterior conductive collar that is supported on the connector housing. The sleeve has a plurality of spring contact arms so as to make electrical shielding contact between the cable braid exposed on the connector housing and an exterior metal guide into which the connector is inserted when mating to an opposing connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter H. Sytsma, Bradley C. Schoester, Dennis Lee Doye
  • Patent number: 8439707
    Abstract: A multi-conductor cable connector is provided, the connector including a cable connection portion, wherein the cable connection portion receives a prepared multi-conductor cable having a plurality of conductive strands concentrically sharing a common central axis, and a multi-contact portion coupled to the cable connection portion, the multi-contact portion having a plurality of contacts non-concentrically aligned with the cable connection portion. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: PPC Broadband, Inc.
    Inventor: Noah Montena
  • Patent number: 8439708
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metal shell enclosing the insulative housing. The metal shell includes a top wall defining a pair of slits each extending along a transverse direction, a cutout communicating with the slits and a L-shaped cantilevered arm residing in the slits and the cutout. The cantilevered arm includes a base portion protruding along the transverse direction and situated between the pair of slits and a deformable arm extending into the cutout along a mating direction perpendicular to the transverse direction. The deformable arm comprises a locking protrusion bent upwardly for locking with a notch of a mateable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Colantuono, Terrance F. Little, Yi-Guo Qi, Hung-Yang Yeh
  • Patent number: 8439709
    Abstract: An electrical connector, adapted for electrically connecting an integrated circuit package, comprises a plurality of contacts, a plurality of solder balls disposed on tails of the contacts and an insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a plurality of passageways receiving the contacts. Each contact has a retaining portion, an elastic arm and a soldering portion. The contacts positioned in two adjacent rows of passageways are arranged staggered in a back to back manner. Such arrangement of the contacts of the electrical connector allows much more contacts to be put in the insulative housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 8439710
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a top and a bottom. An upper connector portion is formed at the top of the housing. The upper connector portion has upper contacts. A lower connector portion is formed at the bottom of the housing. The lower connector portion has lower contacts. A card slot is formed between the upper connector portion and the lower connector portion. The card slot is configured to receive a substrate having upper plug contacts and lower contacts. The upper contacts of the upper connector portion are configured to engage the upper plug contacts of the substrate. The lower contacts of the lower connector portion configured to engage the lower contacts of the substrate. A biasing member is coupled to the lower connector portion. The biasing member is configured to bias the substrate toward the upper connector portion to align the upper plug contacts of the substrate with the upper contacts of the upper connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David S. Szczesny
  • Patent number: 8439711
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (11), a terminal module received in the insulative housing and a shielding shell (17) enclosing the insulative housing. The terminal module having an inner circuit board (130) and a number of magnetic coils (132). The inner circuit board defines a groove (1300). Each of magnetic coils includes a core and a number of wires wound on the core and electrically connected with the inner circuit board. Each magnetic coil is at least partially received in the groove to save space for reducing profile of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bing Wang, Yong-Chun Xu
  • Patent number: 8439712
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a power cable having a lead assembly which forms electrical connections between wires in the cable and contacts to one side of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact Development & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Wiest, Gottlieb Oyster, Kevin Walker, John Phillip Huss, Jr., Arndt Schafmeister, Sebastian Schäfer
  • Patent number: 8439713
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a high-power connector having a heat dissipation structure, which includes a cover, a plurality of resilient metal terminals and a plurality of auxiliary metal plates. The cover is made of an insulating material and defines a plurality of receiving spaces therein. The resilient metal terminals are fitted in the receiving spaces respectively. The front section of each resilient metal terminal has an arcuate shape, passes through a lateral side of the cover, and is exposed from the cover. The front section of each auxiliary metal plate is electrically connected to the corresponding resilient metal terminal, and the rear section of each auxiliary metal plate is electrically connected to a circuit board. Since the auxiliary metal plates have relatively low impedance capable of rapidly releasing the heat generated by the connector, the components of the connector are prevented from premature aging attributable to high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Simula Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hsien-Yu Chiu, Shin-Way Lin, Han-Min Chu
  • Patent number: 8439714
    Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a linear-array plural-contact tail of an in-body multi-contact medical electrode device. The connector includes an elongate body member defining an elongate void extending along the length of the body member. An array of electrical conductors are secured in the body member and project into the elongate void to facilitate electrical connection of the contacts on the tail when the plural-contact tail is in the elongate void. A cylindrical carrier member is rotatably contained in the elongate void, the carrier member itself forms a tail-receiving subvoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ad-Tech Medical Instrument Corp.
    Inventor: David A. Putz
  • Patent number: 8439715
    Abstract: A support assembly for a trolling motor is disclosed whereby the trolling motor shaft is clamped into a separate threaded rack unit. A motor driving a gear engaged with the rack unit causes the trolling motor to be raised and lowered vertically. A spring is employed in the breakaway mounting assembly to allow the trolling motor propulsion unit to deflect upon striking an underwater obstacle, and thereby prevent damage to the trolling motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Margaret Clark
  • Patent number: 8439716
    Abstract: A floating marker for marking the location of a line in the water. The marker has a cylindrical shape and includes a pair of clips for attaching to a line while allowing the marker to move along the line. The marker includes a lighting module having a plurality of LEDs for illuminating the marker at during low visibility conditions, e.g. at night. The lighting module also includes a solar collector for charging a power source during the day. Finally, the lighting module includes a light sensor and controller allowing the amount of light emitted from the marker to be controlled either automatically or manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Mandrik
  • Patent number: 8439717
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing an active matrix substrate including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, in which a short-circuit defect in the active matrix substrate is detected and repaired, includes a stage (30a) configured to place a test substrate (19) which will become the active matrix substrate, a defective pixel detector (40a) configured to input a test signal to the test substrate (19) placed on the stage (30a), and electrically detect coordinates of a defective pixel in which a short-circuit defect has occurred, and a defect position identifier (50) configured to input the test signal to the test substrate (19) placed on the stage (30a) to cause the defective pixel detected by the defective pixel detector (40a) to generate heat, and sense the heat generation in the defective pixel using far-infrared thermography, thereby identifying a position of the short-circuit defect in the defective pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Tajima
  • Patent number: 8439718
    Abstract: Method for fabricating an organic EL display panel having an EL region at every cross of first and second electrodes, including the steps of forming a plurality of first electrodes at regular intervals on a transparent substrate, forming an insulating layer in regions other than the EL regions, forming second supplementary electrodes on the insulating layer, forming an electric insulating barrier between adjacent EL regions perpendicular to the first electrodes, forming an organic EL layer in each of the EL regions with a shadow mask, depositing an electrode material on an entire surface inclusive of the organic EL layer, to form a plurality of second electrodes electrically connected to the second supplementary electrodes, and forming a protection film on an entire surface inclusive of the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 8439719
    Abstract: In a method of encapsulating an organic light emitting display device, when a lower substrate and a encapsulating substrate are encapsulated, the encapsulating process can be simplified since a sealant coating process can be performed without a mask aligning process, thereby reducing manufacturing cost. The method comprises the steps of: preparing an encapsulating substrate for encapsulating a lower substrate on which a display unit, which includes the organic light emitting display device, is formed; forming a black mask on a region of the encapsulating substrate, which is not a sealant region, corresponding to outer regions of the display unit; and forming a sealant on the sealant region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Suk Jung, Soon-Ryong Park, Sa-Bang Um, Duk-Jin Lee, Jae-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8439720
    Abstract: A shooting toy used in a game for two or more players capable of allowing an opponent player to reliably receive an infrared ray signal even in an open air, e.g., under a scorching sun. The intensity of light included in a particular wavelength region around a toy is detected by an optical sensor 27. If the detected amount of light included in the particular wavelength region is large, an infrared ray signal generating section 31 increases the intensity of the infrared ray signal to be generated, whereas if the detected amount of light included in the particular wavelength region is small, the infrared signal generating section 31 decreases the intensity of the infrared ray signal to be generated. This prevents the infrared ray signal reception capability from being affected by the light included in the particular wavelength region around the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Inoue
  • Patent number: 8439721
    Abstract: Sport bras having one or more support grooves for lifting, separating, shaping a supporting a wearer's breasts and methods for fabricating these sport bra are described. The support grooves may be pressed into a layer of compressible material such that the support grooves extend from a central region along the wearer's sternum, curve underneath the breasts and extend upwardly towards the underarm region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Andrea J. Staub
  • Patent number: 8439722
    Abstract: A brassiere garment and associated method for dressing is provided contemplating a strap that is operably trained around a user's back and sides, a cup attached at each end of the strap, and an adjustable attachment feature connecting the cups together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Susan Buriak
  • Patent number: 8439723
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical apparatus comprises a polishing platen, a roller pad assembly capable of advancing a polishing pad across the platen, a substrate carrier to press a substrate against the polishing pad, and a heater to heat the substrate to a temperature sufficiently high to provide a rate of removal of material from the substrate that compensates for the wear of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Marks, Christopher Heung-Gyun Lee, Garlen C. Leung, Gregory E. Menk, Jie Diao, Erik S. Rondum
  • Patent number: 8439724
    Abstract: A method of machining a blade retention slot with an abrasive water jet machining. A straight blade retention slot along an X-axis then a at least one side of the straight blade retention slot is abrasive water jet machined to generate a curved side of the blade retention slot defined within an X-Y plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Peter G. Smith, Warren Reynolds, Eugene Ng, Kay V. Adams
  • Patent number: 8439725
    Abstract: With a method for the production of a precise prefabricated concrete part, especially in the form of a sleeper or a plate for a fixed track for rail-guided vehicles, the prefabricated concrete part is ground at the functionally relevant points to the predetermined size by means of a grooved roller. The device for this is a grinding machine with a grooved roller to grind the prefabricated concrete part at functionally relevant points to a predetermined size. The grooved roller is made of a wear resistant material, especially silicon carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Max Bogl Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Bögl
  • Patent number: 8439726
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly (1) generates a jet (9) of water, or abrasive particles suspended in water, for use in an abrasive waterjet-cutting head. The nozzle assembly (1) comprises a nozzle element (5, 80, 84, 86, 91) with a tapering bore (7) therethrough, mounted to a carrier (2, 52) so that the bore (7) is connected coaxially to a passage (4) through the carrier (2, 52), the bore (7) and passage (4) preferably having the same diameter where they meet. The nozzle element comprises a superhard material, such as diamond, in the form of a solid body (5, 81, 83, 86) or a coating (90). The nozzle element is mounted to the carrier (2, 52) by a brazed or soldered joint (6), extending normally to a longitudinal axis of the passage (4) and bore (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Finecut AB
    Inventor: Donald Stuart Miller
  • Patent number: 8439727
    Abstract: A drill bit sharpening system using a typical bench grinder with a removable table for refurbishing a dull or broken drill bit has a bench grinder with a motor, a sharpening wheel, and a generally planar positioning table. The system has a generally planar rigid sharpening table with a securing means for rigidly attaching to the positioning table in a removable manner. The system has a pivotally mounted positioning component on the table top surface. The positioning component has a generally “L” shaped cross-section in a transverse plane. The positioning component has a centrally located pivoting means for mounting to a sharpening table top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Leo F. Woodard
  • Patent number: 8439728
    Abstract: A reticle carrier for a polishing tool capable of accommodating a reticle includes a base plate with an obverse and reverse surfaces, a retaining ring secured to the obverse surface of the base plate forming a recess defined by the obverse surface of the rigid base plate and internal edges of the retaining ring. A reticle pad supports a reticle in the recess. The base plate and the reticle pad having an array of matching, aligned passageway holes therethrough for exhaustion of air from space between the base plate and a the reticle and for supply of air to that space so a vacuum can retain a the reticle in place on the reticle carrier under vacuum conditions and application of air under pressure can eject a reticle from the reticle carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Petrarca, Donald F. Canaperi, Mahadevaiyer Krishnan, Rebecca D. Mih, Steven Steen, Henry Grabarz, Michael S. Hibbs
  • Patent number: 8439729
    Abstract: Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey
  • Patent number: 8439730
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for splitting and cleaning poultry gizzards. A poultry gizzard with proventriculus attached thereto is moved in sequence along a processing path, first along a pair of conveyor rollers that support the gizzard and pull the proventriculus downwardly between the conveyor rollers and then along a pair of engaging cutting spindles which sever the proventriculus from the gizzard. The gizzard is then transferred to a cutting station where a water knife cuts a slit into the gizzard, exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard and loosening ingest contained therein. The gizzard is then spread open by a spreading fin and adjoining rails that enter and enlarge the freshly cut slit. A water sprayer manifold then sprays pressurized water into the exposed cavity to flush and forcibly clean ingest out of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Remington Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Geno N. Gasbarro
  • Patent number: 8439731
    Abstract: A compact inexpensive coin separating and transferring apparatus can separate coins and reliably delivering each one to a rotating transferring body. Coins or tokens are contacted by a holding surface on a pusher unit formed so as to project from an upper surface of a rotary disk to permit the coins to be sorted one by one and stored. The coins are each pushed by the pusher unit along a circumferential-direction of a fixed guiding ledge positioned above the rotary disk. The coin reaches a stationary state at a predetermined delivery position on a delivery support ledge. A holding ledge has a predetermined diameter formed at an outer perimeter edge of the pusher. The coin is removed by a rotary transferring body from the delivery position, and physical properties can be detected by a sensor while moved along a sensor-part guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 8439732
    Abstract: A passive air valve for an HVAC module allows air to flow through a conditioning passage in a single direction. The valve can be disposed on a downstream side of a heat exchanger. The valve can inhibit back airflow from one of the conditioning passages to the other one of the conditioning passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Belanger
  • Patent number: 8439733
    Abstract: Band members use their own performance during a song to reinstate a band member who has failed during the course of the song. Once a band member has failed, options are given to other members of the band who have achieved a predetermined bonus or performance level to save the fallen band member. Once saved, the failed member returns to normal play of the song. In this manner, failure still has the consequence of removing a player from a song at least temporarily, and perhaps permanently if bandmates are unable or unwilling to save the fallen member. However, by providing the option of reinstatement, band members can prevent their friends from long stretches of inactivity following a failure. This may have the added benefit of encouraging band members to perform strongly in order to be able to save their friends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kay, Daniel Teasdale, Chris Foster, Dan Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8439734
    Abstract: An electronic game machine including a central processing unit, a storing device, a display, and an inputting device. The central processing unit serves as a game board displaying unit to display a game board on a display, a game piece deploy controlling unit to initially deploy game pieces, and a game piece movement permitting unit to permit the movement of the game pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kazuhiko Kasai
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kasai
  • Patent number: 8439735
    Abstract: A system and method for adding a bonus round to any poker-style card game on a Nevada-style gaming machine. The bonus round is characterized by the existence of a match card. The match card is not part of the traditional poker hand (the “in-hand” cards) of the player, and only comes into play during a bonus round. The suit and value of the match card may be generated by the game machine or a remote game controller or backend server. The match card is then displayed in a manner visually associating the match card with one of the player's “in-hand” cards. A bonus is determined by evaluating the associated pair. Alternatively a bonus may be determined first, in which case the game machine determines a match card and associated card from the player's in-hand cards that is the equivalent of the predetermined bonus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren R. White, Loren T. Nelson, Dimo D. Ditchev, Russ F. Marsden
  • Patent number: 8439736
    Abstract: Various embodiments of extended play gaming systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises providing a user interface that enables extended play in an electronic game, and providing an opportunity for increased compensation that varies based on when extended play is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cadillac Jack
    Inventors: Bryan Lynn Reed, Marcel Bouffard
  • Patent number: 8439737
    Abstract: A player plays a first round of a casino game. If the player achieves a winning outcome on the first round of play, the payouts for the next round of play of the casino game will be increased. The amount of the increase is based on the category of the winning outcome on the first round of play. Each subsequent round of play continues to have increased payouts if the player continues to achieve winning outcomes. When the player has a losing outcome, the payouts revert to the base level. An extra wager may be required from the player to activate this feature during the play of the casino game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Ernest W Moody
  • Patent number: 8439738
    Abstract: A lottery gaming system utilizes one or more distribution groups of game play records. The gaming system preferably distributes a distribution group of game play records to each of a number of assignment components in the gaming system. Various ones of the game play records are assigned from a distribution group in response to game play requests from respective players. The game play records that remain unassigned after a collection condition is met are collected and used to form a new distribution group available for re-distributing to an assignment component in the gaming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton E. Lind, Jefferson C. Lind
  • Patent number: 8439739
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine calculates a speed of game play, and in turn determines a pay schedule based on the speed of game play. In some embodiments, a count is adjusted throughout a multiple play session based on point values associated with symbols on the reels of a slot machine, and payouts are awarded in accordance with (i) a finishing count, and/or (ii) a “virtual average speed”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Daniel E. Tedesco
  • Patent number: 8439740
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed that include generating a scannable physical gaming component associable with a game. The disclosed method also includes identifying a game structure at a player station through a scan of the gaming component, receiving a game play request from a player at the player station, associating the game structure with the game, and awarding the player based on the game outcome. Further disclosed is a group or community game with which the player may be associated upon game play request wherein a winner may be determined based upon the game outcomes at respective player stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton Lind, Jefferson C. Lind
  • Patent number: 8439741
    Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine has increased versatility, while having reels that are aesthetically similar to traditional mechanical reels. In one embodiment, the slot machine includes a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to a surface of an image display device and seconds ends defining a curved display surface for displaying simulated mechanical reels to a player. In another embodiment, one or more of the mechanical reels has a transparent window at a location where a symbol would normally be present. A video display displays a video symbol in the transparent window. In yet a further embodiment, one of the plurality of mechanical reels has a miniature image display located at selected ones of the symbol regions for providing video symbols for the game. In yet further embodiments, a symbol region can produce more than one symbol in response to exposure at certain wavelengths or polarizations of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Jacob C. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8439742
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adapting a Class II game to provide play characteristics of a Class III game are provided. Plays of the Class III game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class III award. Plays of the Class II game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class II outcome. A Class III award is selected. A Class II outcome having a similar frequency of occurrence to the selected Class III award is selected. An award is defined for the selected Class II outcome according to the selected Class III award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: AGS, LLC
    Inventors: Yi-Chen Chang, Inna Lifchits, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 8439743
    Abstract: A gaming machine is disclosed having indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a first set of reels and indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a second set of reels. A determination is made as to whether the outcomes of the indicia of the plurality of spinning reels in the first and second sets of reels are winning outcomes. Award-multiplier indicia of a first shared spinning base game award-multiplier reel is positioned between the first and second set of reels. The first set of reels, second set of reels, and the base game award-multiplier reel form a contiguous set of reels having a common axis of rotation. The base game award-multiplier indicia modifies the winning outcome on the first set of reels, modifies the winning outcome on the second set of reels, includes a secondary game trigger symbol, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Schultz, Nathanial A. Hammond, Dominic Tiberio, Michael L. Shackelford
  • Patent number: 8439744
    Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a gaming machine and a controller operatively associated with the gaming machine. The controller is configured to temporarily pause a game-in progress on the gaming machine following the occurrence of a pause event. The controller is also configured to reinstate a game-in progress on the gaming machine following the occurrence of an end-pause event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G Englman, Michael G. Feeney
  • Patent number: 8439745
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed wherein a reveal request is initiated through a result reveal station by a person (user) who has previously made some purchase or donation and has been assigned one or more sweepstakes entries in an assignment order from a set of available sweepstakes entries for a sweepstakes game. This reveal request represents a request to reveal one or more of the results associated with the corresponding sweepstakes entries that have been assigned to the user. The reveal station employs a game presentation including various graphics and audio effects to show sweepstakes results in an entertaining fashion. In response to the reveal request, or perhaps even prior to the reveal request, one or more sweepstakes entries are selected to be revealed for the reveal request. The sweepstakes entries are selected in an order different from the order in which the sweepstakes entries were assigned to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton E. Lind, Jefferson C. Lind, Brian A. Watkins, Eric W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8439746
    Abstract: A wagering game account management system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations include presenting a graphical user interface that includes a graphical control associated with a credit account belonging to a wagering game player; detecting a selection of the graphical control that initiates a financial transaction to transfer money from the credit account to a wagering game session account; determining access information stored in a player profile, the access information to access the credit account; determining an amount to transfer from the credit account to the wagering game session account balance; determining one or more rules limiting use of the credit account; and enforcing the one or more limitation rules on the use of the credit account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Erhard W. Rathsack, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8439747
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing game transactions in an online game to acquire virtual currency. One method includes an operation for detecting a request from a player to purchase virtual currency for use in the online game. Cash or credit is received, in an online transaction, to make the purchase of the virtual currency. The virtual currency of the online game is not redeemable for cash or credit so the virtual currency cannot be considered gambling proceeds. The method further includes an operation for crediting the player with an amount of virtual currency based on the amount of the received cash or credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jonathan Pincus, Michael Arieh Luxton, Matthew Adam Ocko, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Stephen Henry Schoettler
  • Patent number: 8439748
    Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Scott T. Friesen
  • Patent number: 8439749
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for conducting wagering games are disclosed. A gaming system for playing a wagering game is disclosed which includes a processor(s) and a memory device(s) storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the gaming system to: store, on at least one memory device, a progressive game having a first set of configuration parameters; store, on at least one memory device, a primary wagering game having a second set of configuration parameters; and compare, via at least one processor, the first set of configuration parameters with the second set of configuration parameters to determine, in accordance with at least a first rule set, if the primary wagering game can be activated and paired with the progressive game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Damon E. Gura, Kyle G. Nyenhuis, Erhard W. Rathsack, Saravanan Saravanan
  • Patent number: 8439750
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a camera, and with this camera, images in a plurality of poses decided in advance are imaged. From the imaged image in the plurality of poses, an image of a game character in each pose is created. In a battle game and a match-up game, the image in the pose corresponding to a motion according to an operation by a player is read, and by utilizing the read image in the pose, a character is displayed on a battle screen and a match-up screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8439751
    Abstract: System and method for running a software application, such as a video game for many users. One embodiment of the invention includes a multi-user computer-controlled video gaming system, comprising: at least one display device for displaying video game motion pictures to an audience of at least two users; a plurality of user input devices, at least one for each user, providing user input data to the computer-controlled video gaming system; a processing unit receiving and processing the user input data from the plurality of input devices to generate control input data for a conjointly control of at least one object being displayed in the video game motion pictures; and at least one computing device executing a game software application controlled by said control input data for providing output to the display device to display the video game motion pictures with said at least one conjointly controlled object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: GFACE GmbH
    Inventor: Cevat Yerli
  • Patent number: 8439752
    Abstract: A system and method of playing a multi-track musical composition during a wagering game in which musical tracks are successively added as bonus triggers occur, starting from an introduction portion of the musical composition and culminating in a main theme or chorus of the musical composition. Upon receipt of a wager input at a gaming terminal, a base wagering game is initiated during which several bonus triggers can occur, satisfying eligibility to conduct a bonus game. As each bonus trigger occurs, the musical composition adds a musical track to the introduction being played through audio speakers of the gaming terminal, increasing its instrumentation density to create a richer and denser sound. When the last bonus trigger occurs during the base wagering game, the music launches seamlessly from the introduction that has just been built up into the main theme or chorus of the music, which serves as the accompaniment music for the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Beerhorst, Benjamin T. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8439753
    Abstract: An operating apparatus for game machine includes a depressing member, and a main body of the depressing member is provided with three engaging protrusions and two depressing protrusions that downwardly protrude. For example, the two depressing protrusions are provided between the three engaging protrusions. In response to a beating operation by a player, the right side of the depressing member is depressed, and then, an engaging portion of the engaging protrusion at the left side is engaged with a rear surface of an upper surface panel. Accordingly, the depressing member is sure to be depressed at the right side without being upwardly actuated, and a rubber switch depressed by the depressing protrusion is brought into contact with a board. At this time, a contact provided on the board and a contact provided on the rubber switch are brought into contact with each other, and an operation signal according to the beating operation is output to the game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd, Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai Namco Games
    Inventors: Noboru Wakitani, Junji Takamoto, Takeshi Nagareda, Kuniaki Ito, Hideo Nagata, Hiroshi Igarashi, Akio Onda
  • Patent number: 8439754
    Abstract: A damage resistant manual controller for manipulating images or symbols on a display is made of impact resistant material such as dense foam rubber to resist damage resulting from accidental or intentional impact caused by throwing, dropping, or other insult. Damage resistance entails maintaining the operational integrity of the electronics and the structural integrity of the manual controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventors: Aaron B. Sternberg, Michael R. Borer
  • Patent number: 8439755
    Abstract: A game controller includes a magnetic field generation unit to be attached to a tongue of a first user, and a control signal output device to be provided outside a mouth of a second user for outputting a game control signal according to a position of the magnetic field generation unit in the mouth when the tongue of the first user to which the magnetic field generation unit is attached is inserted into the mouth of the second user, wherein the control signal output device measures a magnetic field intensity of the magnetic field generation unit, calculates the position of the magnetic field generation unit in the mouth according to magnetic field intensities measured by the magnetic field sensors, generates a game control signal according to the calculated position, and transmits the generated game control signal to the game apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Hye Yeon Nam