Patents Issued in September 30, 2014
  • Patent number: 8845387
    Abstract: A playset is provided herein the playset having: a structure having a first level and a second level, the second level being located above the first level; a mechanism secured to the structure for moving an object from the first level to the second level; and a collapsible third level located below the first level, the collapsible third level being configured for movement between a contracted position and an expanded position with respect to the first level, wherein a portion of the first level is configured to support the structure on an edge of an elevated surface such that collapsible third level is capable of being moved into the expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Grafton, Glenn Yu
  • Patent number: 8845388
    Abstract: A mass of memory foam or similar elastic material is sized and shaped to fit within a cleavage area to space breasts away from the cleavage area and lift the breasts somewhat. The spacer includes a front surface opposite a rear surface and with a base portion opposite a top portion. The base portion is larger than the top portion. Side portions extend from the base portion to the top portion on opposite sides of the spacer. These side portions act upon the breasts to lift and separate the breasts from each other. A band can optionally be provided girding the spacer. The band can be provided as camouflage or decorations can be placed on the band to decorate the spacer. The bands can be replaceable to switch between appearance options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Darlene S. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 8845389
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a garment is provided having specific supportive panels for providing adequate back and belly support; in a preferred embodiment the garment is an exercise garment. The supportive panels of the garment are made of composites of expandable materials giving structural support to the garment such that the wearer's back is stabilized and the belly is supported to prevent drastic pitch, roll or yaw movements during exercise. The expandable materials are designed to yield such that excessive pressure against the belly is not caused as such pressure, found in garments of the prior art, can inflict pain to the musculature and skin surface of the wearer. The expandable materials provide support and allow for the natural growth of the body during pregnancy, providing a desirable combination of a supportive exercise garment that can be used throughout the gestation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Sarah M. Abrams
  • Patent number: 8845390
    Abstract: A predictive calculation method for calculating the shape of a cross-section of an engagement ridge of an ophthalmic lens obtained by beveling the lens with a beveling grindwheel driven in accordance with an initial path setting. The method includes the following steps: acquiring the initial path setting for the beveling grindwheel relative to the lens; determining at least two approximations (Sii, Sij) of the shape of the cross-section under consideration of the engagement ridge, the approximations being deduced from the intersection between the beveling grindwheel and the ophthalmic lens when the beveling grindwheel is situated at two distinct positions of the initial path setting; determining the intersection between these two approximations; and deducing therefrom the shape (Si) of the cross-section under consideration of the engagement ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Frédéric Dubois, Eric Belloni, David Freson, Richard Kot
  • Patent number: 8845391
    Abstract: An apparatus for polishing a substrate includes a rotatable polishing table supporting a polishing pad, a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate and press the substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad on the rotating polishing table so as to polish the substrate, and a pad-temperature detector configured to measure a temperature of the polishing surface of the polishing pad. The apparatus also includes a pad-temperature regulator configured to contact the polishing surface to regulate the temperature of the polishing surface, and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the polishing surface by controlling the pad-temperature regulator based on information on the temperature of the polishing surface detected by the pad-temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tadakazu Sone, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Toru Maruyama, Katsutoshi Ono, Yoichi Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 8845392
    Abstract: An improved grinding arrangement for grinding a required profile in a body is provided. The arrangement includes a body having at least one channel extending into the body and a grinding wheel adapted to grind the required profile in the side of the channel. In the setup the grinding wheel is arranged so that an axis of rotation of the grinding wheel forms an angle greater than 0° with a radial axis of the channel. A method of grinding a required profile in a body is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Shane Butler, Gordon Lanes
  • Patent number: 8845393
    Abstract: A cutting method by sandblasting in which cutting through of a workpiece and/or formation of a through-hole in the workpiece are/is performed by forming a resist on a plate-shaped workpiece and projecting abrasive against the workpiece to cut a portion of the workpiece where no resist is formed, comprises the steps of: forming the resist in a predetermined pattern on a front surface and a back surface of the workpiece symmetrically between the front and back by inkjet printing, and projecting the abrasive against each of the front and back surfaces of the workpiece to make a cut from the front surface side communicate with a cut from a back side at an approximately intermediate position of a thickness of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Mase, Shozo Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8845394
    Abstract: Flat-surfaced workpieces such as semiconductor wafers are attached to a rotatable floating workpiece holder carrier rotor that is supported by and rotationally driven by a bellows. The wafer carrier rotor is contained by a set of idlers that are attached to a stationary rotor housing to provide support against abrading forces that are imposed on the wafer by the moving abrasive coating on a rotary platen. The idlers allow low-friction operation of the abrading system to be provided at the very high abrading speeds used in high speed flat lapping with raised-island abrasive disks. The system is also well suited for lapping optical devices and rotary seals and for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing of wafers using resilient pads. Pressurized air is injected into the bellows device to provide uniform abrading pressure across the full surface of the wafer. Wafers can be attached to the workpiece carrier with vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Wayne O. Duescher
  • Patent number: 8845395
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for injecting slurry onto the polishing pad surface of a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tool. The disclosed apparatus includes a rectilinear shaped injector bottom, where multiple slots are created in the top surface of the injector bottom, allowing the injector bottom to flex and to conform to the polishing pad profile. CMP slurry or components thereof are introduced through one or more top surface openings, travel through the injector body, and exit through a slit or bottom surface opening. The slurry is spread into a thin film by the injector, and is introduced at the gap between the surface of the polishing pad and the wafer, along the leading edge of the wafer, in quantities small enough that all or most of the slurry is introduced between the wafer and the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Araca Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard John Borucki, Yasa Adi Sampurno, Ara Philipossian
  • Patent number: 8845396
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a polishing pad, a top ring for holding a semiconductor wafer, and a vertical movement mechanism operable to move the top ring in a vertical direction. The polishing apparatus also has a distance measuring sensor operable to detect a position of the top ring when a lower surface of the top ring is brought into contact with the polishing pad, and a controller operable to calculate an optimal position of the top ring to polish the semiconductor wafer based on the position detected by the distance measuring sensor. The vertical movement mechanism includes a ball screw mechanism operable to move the top ring to the optimal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Nabeya, Tetsuji Togawa, Makoto Fukushima, Hozumi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8845397
    Abstract: A surface abrasion tool (12) has a first drive shaft (42) connect a motor (14) to a power transfer assembly (20). The power transfer assembly (20) transfers rotary power from the first drive shaft (42) to a second drive shaft (46) which is spaced apart from and parallel to the first drive shaft (42). A sanding disc (26) is secured to the second drive shaft (46). A linear drive means (16) is mounted in fixed relation to the motor (14) and selectively moves a pressure plate (22) relative to the sanding disc (26). A locating pin (28) extends from the pressure plate (22) in opposed relation to the sanding disc (26) and fits within a hole in a work piece. The linear drive means (16) is actuated to push the sanding disc (26) into a side of the work piece opposite the locating pin (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: AR Tips and Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason O. LeFever, Dave A. Schultz, Richard D. Ferguson, Al Paez
  • Patent number: 8845398
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a chemical mechanical polisher and a polishing pad component thereof. The chemical mechanical polisher comprises a polishing platen having a flat surface, and the polishing platen comprises: an electromagnet disposed under the flat surface and configured to fix a polishing pad base on the flat surface; and a switch configured to control the power-on and power-off of the electromagnet. The polishing pad component comprises a polishing pad base, and the polishing pad base is formed of a ferromagnetic material. The chemical mechanical polisher of this disclosure and the polishing pad component thereof can make polishing pad replacement easy, and can also save polishing pads and thus reduce the consumable cost of the chemical mechanical polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 8845400
    Abstract: An inexpensive rotary grinding tool with reduced noise level of the grinding is provided. The rotary grinding tool comprises a metal disk having a grinding surface on at least a part of its surface and a holder for supporting the metal disk. The grinding surface has hard grains having a Mohs hardness in excess of 9 brazed thereon at a surface density of at least 20 grains/cm2. The holder has at its center a securing means for securing the holder on rotary shaft of a rotary drive unit. The holder and the metal disk are joined together to constitute the rotary grinding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumikin Anti-Corrosion Co., Ltd., Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Atsumi Imai, Takehide Aiga, Masanori Nagai, Takayuki Sato, Kenji Fujimoto, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kihira
  • Patent number: 8845401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing poultry or a part thereof in a processing line, including the step of detaching and/or collecting a cartilage of the poultry's keel bone, whereby during transport of the poultry's carcass in the processing line, a cut is made in the cartilage of the keel bone, which cut is made initially transverse to the transport direction of the poultry and towards the poultry's backbone, and which cut develops from said transverse direction to eventually a direction opposed to the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Meyn Food Processing Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Ferdinand Allard De Vos, Pieter Willem Vonk, Martinus Casper Melchior Balthasar Waasdijk
  • Patent number: 8845402
    Abstract: A device for removing a breast gristle from a poultry breast carcass includes a transport apparatus for moving the breast carcass along a straight motion path in a fixed orientation. A median plane of the breast carcass is oriented perpendicularly to the motion path. A stationary cutting apparatus has a transversal blade, for making a transversal cut passing through the breast gristle, the transversal cut extending in a transversal cut plane arranged perpendicularly to the median plane. The transversal cut plane and a transversal plane of the breast carcass are arranged perpendicularly to the median plane and include an angle up to 30°. A frontal blade is provided for making a frontal cut passing through the breast gristle. The frontal cut plane and a frontal plane of the breast carcass are arranged perpendicularly to the median plane and perpendicularly to the transversal plane include an angle up to 30°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Marel Stork Poultry Processing B.V.
    Inventor: Jörg Janssen
  • Patent number: 8845403
    Abstract: Individually cooling one or more computers in a rack of computers in a data center including an air intake chamber, the air intake chamber having a first opening at a bottom end for receiving air from beneath the data center through perforated tiles in the floor of the data center and a plurality of openings at a top end for providing air into a plurality of flexible air channels; and a plurality of flexible air channels, each air channel having a first end opening into the air intake chamber and having an opening at a second end and having a connector to connect the second end of the flexible air chamber to a particular position in the rack corresponding to the location of a particular computer in the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Archibald, Jerrod K. Buterbaugh
  • Patent number: 8845404
    Abstract: A ventilation system includes a ventilation tile. The ventilation tile has a substantially circular opening to allow air to flow through the ventilation tile and a collapsible damper operable to collapse and expand to alter the size of the substantially circular opening in the ventilation tile and thereby variably restrict air flow through the substantially circular opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cullen E. Bash, David Allen Moore
  • Patent number: 8845405
    Abstract: An external guard for placement over a vent, having front, lateral and bottom sides each formed by a plurality of generally parallel bars or rods spaced apart to block passage of a bird between bars. The bars are shaped and positioned to define a frusto-pyramidal shape for the guard. The rear side of the guard opens toward the vent. The top side of the guard has a cover. There are no cross bars across the bars along the lateral sides, the side front and the bottom side of the guard and none at the intersection of the front and bottom sides of the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Nathan Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8845406
    Abstract: A vent sealing device includes an elongated tubular member having an inner tube with a collar at the upper end of the inner tube, and a cap having an upper interior surface configured to receive the inner tube assembly, a lower interior surface configured to receive said outer tube, and a screen configured to remove debris positioned along the top of the assembly. A vent sealing system includes a roof attachment unit that includes an elongated base structure having an opening that includes a flexible sleeve protruding outward therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Andrew McIver
  • Patent number: 8845407
    Abstract: One object is to provide a game that continuously attracts players. In accordance with one aspect, a server device according to an embodiment provides a game wherein a first entity and a second entity battle with each other, and includes: an identification unit configured to identify first game contents on standby and second game contents on standby; a battle processing unit configured to compare, in an individual battle between first game contents selected from the first game contents on standby and second game contents selected from the second game contents on standby, a first estimation value regarding the selected first game contents with a second estimation value regarding the selected second game contents, thereby to determine an outcome of the individual battle; a point providing unit configured to provide the entities with points; and an exclusion unit configured to exclude a defeated game contents from the game contents on standby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Kojo, Kazuyoshi Shiobara
  • Patent number: 8845408
    Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a gaming system. In one such gaming system, a plurality of real world engine modules are provided for a hybrid game, each real world engine module having a gambling game that is triggered by an element of an entertainment game of the hybrid game. A selection is received, from a player of the hybrid game, of a selected real world engine module of the plurality of real world engine modules, and triggering is enabled of the selected real world engine module's gambling game by the element of the entertainment game of the hybrid game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 8845409
    Abstract: A player is permitted to reinvest winnings to play additional instances of an online game. In one specific example, the player may choose, at a point of sale (POS), a reinvestment option that specifies how winnings are used to automatically purchase additional game instances. In one example game format, the player may be permitted to select a reinvestment option at the point of initial purchase of the game. The player may be permitted, for example, to limit his/her reinvestment as a function of their initial investment. In another example, the primary game result is driven by the result of a secondary game, such as a lottery or casino-based drawing (e.g., a Keno drawing). The secondary game is then played, and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment are also played. Results of the secondary game and the additional games are sent to an online gaming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Steven N. Kane, Mark E. Herrmann, Bijan Sabet, Dow Hardy
  • Patent number: 8845410
    Abstract: A multi-station game machine, including at least two stations that are configured to accept player inputs, a wheel having a plurality of sections including symbols, the wheel being configured to rotate, the wheel being disposed so that a front surface of the wheel can be seen from at least two players, and a controller for controlling a first game performed by the wheel and a second game performed on the stations, wherein the wheel is configured to enable at least two players to simultaneously play the first game respectively using the stations, wherein the stations are configured such that the players bet a game value on the symbols via a bet area displayed on a display provided on each of the stations, and wherein the controller triggers the second game based on a win of the first game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomonobu Ikeya, Keiri Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8845411
    Abstract: A wager gaming machine having software and components allowing for automatic powering on and off (also referred to as remote out-of-band power control) bypassing the need for human operator intervention is described. The gaming machine has a master gaming controller and a network interface. The interface includes an input port supporting a TCP/IP connection which can be used by another network component having the gaming machine's IP address. The gaming machine may also include a Web server operating on the input port. The Web server may receive HTTP messages on the input port even when the gaming machine is powered off. Thus, the machine is capable of receiving an HTTP message at the input port instructing the machine to power on. The gaming machine may also contain a manageability engine processor for executing an active management system software component. This component implements the Web server on the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Xuedong Chen, Binh Nguyen, Brian Underdahl
  • Patent number: 8845412
    Abstract: A mystery-bingo jackpot having increased payout opportunities provides a dynamic bonus game where achievement of a secondary winning outcome initiates an award payout without resetting the jackpot's amount. The secondary winning outcome will typically be configured to have a higher likelihood of occurrence as compared to other winning outcomes of the mystery-bingo jackpot. In this way, the mystery-bingo jackpot provides payouts relatively often while preserving the value of the jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Olsen Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Eric B. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8845413
    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: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Takeshi Iso, Megumi Shimohata, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8845414
    Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing game players an exciting chance to win any of multiple progressive prizes within a free spin bonus round by accumulating different prize segment symbols which are displayed in a meter zone for each possible progressive prize. Various ways are described to add free spins to the bonus round, making it more exciting by giving the player increased chance to fill all the segments associated with a particular progressive prize, thereby winning the prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Watkins, Michael Conway
  • Patent number: 8845415
    Abstract: In various embodiments, players around the casino may predict cards to be dealt in a game of blackjack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Kevin Burman
  • Patent number: 8845416
    Abstract: A method and system for administering and managing promotional gaming vouchers and segregating promotional credits from normal play credit includes a plurality of gaming machines coupled to a back-end controller for monitoring play on the gaming machines and segregating cash and promotional credits of a plurality of promotional gaming vouchers. The vouchers may have only one embedded value (total value) and may be treated as any other cashless gaming voucher, thereby allowing use in older gaming machines that may be unable to read vouchers having more than one embedded value (i.e., cash and promotional values). Accordingly, the back-end controller may keep track of promotional plays and update a voucher database that logs total values and promotional values of the vouchers. Upon cashing out, the database may be interrogated and only a cash value of the voucher disbursed, where any remaining promotional value may be printed on a new voucher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Automated Currency Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8845417
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining bad beats in wagering games are disclosed. If the bad beat is determined to be compensable, some form of compensation is provided to the player. The compensation can include providing a free entry into a second wagering game. The second wagering game can be a site-wide wagering game in which a plurality of player may be simultaneously participating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, James Palermo, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8845418
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling a player to take a tour of a secondary game at a game machine. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee, receiving the fee from the player, and enabling entry of the player into the bonus round. The method further includes receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round, and determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection. In other embodiments, the method includes providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Russell P. Sammon
  • Patent number: 8845419
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system A jackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game and a gambling game in a gambling game portion of the hybrid game is triggered when a player initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the bonus element. It is then determined if the player wins the gambling game triggered by the player's encounter with the bonus element in the entertainment game a payout is provided to the player when it is determined that the player has won the gambling game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Meyerhofer, Caitlyn Ross
  • Patent number: 8845420
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate an autonomous agent hybrid game including a gambling game providing a game of chance and an entertainment game providing a game of skill, where the autonomous agent hybrid game utilizes an agency module constructed to: configure an agent player profile based upon player instructions, where an agent player action during entertainment game gameplay is determined by the configuration of the agent player profile; communicate an agent gameplay gambling event occurrence based upon an agent player action to the gambling game, where the gameplay gambling event occurrence triggers an agent wager in the gambling game; and allocate a payout from the agent wager to a player profile associated with the player instructions based upon the agent player profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gamblit Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Eric Meyerhofer
  • Patent number: 8845421
    Abstract: A method of awarding a bonus for a play session of a user of an amusement device is disclosed. The amusement device has a display, a memory and a controller. The method includes receiving, by the amusement device, an input of currency from the user. A game of chance sequence for determining the bonus is automatically initiated in response to receiving the input of currency. The game of chance sequence and the determined bonus are displayed and the bonus is applied to the play session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Karn
  • Patent number: 8845422
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a login request to an account at a wagering game machine. In response to the login request, the method includes displaying a security token on a display of the wagering game machine. Also in response to the login request, the method includes transmitting the security token to a server, wherein the server is communicatively coupled to the wagering game machine and a mobile device. Also in response to the login request, the method includes receiving, back from the server and at the wagering game machine, authorization for login to the account at the wagering machine, wherein the authorization is based on an earlier login to the account from the mobile device using the login credentials. After receiving the authorization, the method includes logging into the account at the wagering game machine, wherein the logging occurs without inputting of the login credentials at the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin C. Weber
  • Patent number: 8845423
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for entering a viewable location on a gameboard having a virtual media object capable of presenting a media item within a media are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a game state of a player using a virtual gameboard. A graphical user interface displaying an exterior of one or more virtual buildings associated with the game instance is provided. A request to view an interior of a virtual structure is received via a device of the player. In response to the request, the interior of the virtual structure is displayed, including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure. The virtual media object is associated with a media playable to the player upon request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 8845424
    Abstract: A game controller with a communications interface includes a touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry enacts touch pad configuration settings that correlate subsets of the plurality of touch sensitive elements to produce distinct user input locations. The processing circuitry receives touch pad input from the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry processes the touch pad input to determine user input directions based upon the touch pad configuration settings, and then transmits the touch pad input directions via the communications interface for use as gaming input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Sobel, Monika Gupta, Sumant Ranganathan, Pieter Vorenkamp, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8845425
    Abstract: A game system has at least two modes of operation, that is, a monitor game mode and a terminal device game mode. In the monitor game mode, a main game image is displayed on a monitor and a sub game image is displayed on an LCD of a terminal device. In the terminal device game mode, the main game image is displayed on the LCD of the terminal device. The mode of operation can be switched in accordance with a mode switching instruction from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Nogami, Tomoaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8845426
    Abstract: An example input processing system includes a controller device and an information processing device. The controller device transmits data representing an input position on a predetermined input surface and a detection result of an inertia sensor unit to the information processing device. The information processing device calculates an attitude of the controller device based on the detection result of the inertia sensor unit, and sets a predetermined surface in a virtual space so that an attitude of the predetermined surface changes in accordance with the attitude of the controller device. A first image representing an area in the virtual space including a position of the surface is displayed on a predetermined display device. The information processing device calculates, as a position in the virtual space, a position on the surface determined by the input position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Ohta, Kazuhiro Musa
  • Patent number: 8845427
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising: a game controller; and a housing having a display and an enclosure containing a plurality of physical objects capable of movement with or within the enclosure; and a reader that identifies an object from the plurality of objects and communicates data regarding that object to the game controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: David Keith Timperley
  • Patent number: 8845428
    Abstract: Coordinating real-world gatherings to promote an online community, the method including: encouraging participants of the online community to participate in a real-world gathering by providing incentives for the participants; promoting familiarity among the participants by providing and introducing online community titles of the participants at the real-world gathering; and providing online benefits or rewards to the participants for participating in the real-world gathering. Keywords include socializing in the real world, community building and bridging the gap between the game world and the real world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertianment America LLC
    Inventor: Mohammed Khan
  • Patent number: 8845429
    Abstract: An interaction hint is presented with a video segment. Upon receiving a user response to the interaction hint, a message is automatically sent to update information associated with a user profile without interrupting presentation of the video segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Enrique de la Garza, Alexei Pineda, Karen Woessner Smith, Mike Lucero, Shawn Prutsman
  • Patent number: 8845430
    Abstract: On the basis of data based on an attitude and/or a motion of a portable display apparatus body, an action of a player object placed in a virtual world is controlled, and on the basis of a position and/or an attitude of the player object, it is determined whether or not the player object has received an attack. Further, when the player object has received a predetermined attack, an attack effect image representing an effect of the predetermined attack is generated, and a first image is generated by superimposing the attack effect image on an image of the virtual world and displayed on the portable display apparatus. Then, the effect of the predetermined attack in an area in the attack effect image is repaired, the area overlapping a predetermined range whose center is a touch position on a touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yugo Hayashi, Kazuya Sumaki
  • Patent number: 8845431
    Abstract: Gestures of a computer user are observed with a depth camera. A trace gesture of the computer user is identified and an action performable within an interactive interface is selected based on the shape of the trace gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Jethro Langridge, Gary Carr
  • Patent number: 8845432
    Abstract: Disclosed is game technology, and more particularly to a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for a game using touch input, which can more variously control the display, etc. of elements of a game screen, thereby providing games capable of employing various game schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Neowiz Games Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Hwan O
  • Patent number: 8845433
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for configuring gaming machines. Some preferred implementations of the invention provide a portable computing device, e.g., a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), that may be used to configure gaming machines. Some such portable computing devices include software and hardware for displaying graphical user interfaces with which an operator can interact to indicate a desired gaming machine configuration. Some preferred embodiments provide a standardized format for menus and/or GUIs that can be used to configure various types of gaming machines. The portable computing device may have one or more convenient interfaces, such as a uniform serial bus (“USB”) interface, an infrared interface, etc., configured for communication with a gaming machine. For example, the interface can allow desired gaming machine configuration parameters to be transmitted to the gaming machine and actual gaming machine configuration parameters to be received from the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne Nelson, Jamal Benbrahim
  • Patent number: 8845434
    Abstract: A system comprises: an application/game server comprising a central processing unit to process application/video game program code and a graphics processing unit (GPU) to process graphics commands and generate a series of video frames for the application/video game; one or more back buffers to store video frames as the video frames are being created in response to the execution of the graphics commands; a front buffer to receive a video frame for rendering on a display after the video frame has been completed in one of the one or more back buffers, the front buffer outputting the video frame for display one scan line at a time at a designated scan out frequency, a subset of scan lines stored in the front buffer being associated with a vertical blanking interval (VBI); and a frame processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: OL2, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Sim Dietrich, Jr., Nico Benitez, Timothy Cotter
  • Patent number: 8845435
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of distributing toy objects is provided. The method includes: providing a toy object and a task identifier, the task identifier identifying a task; receiving, via a website, task-completion input from a user; associating the user with a profile, the profile being associated with the toy object; updating the profile to indicate that the task had been performed; identifying reward criteria; determining whether the reward criteria was met; and, upon determining that the reward criteria was met, initializing distribution of a physical reward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Bogan, Erin Bogan
  • Patent number: 8845436
    Abstract: A location-based game is provided in which users with mobile devices leave footprints associated with locations they physically occupy, allowing the users to control and interact with physical locations on computerized maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Mendis, Taj Jay Campbell
  • Patent number: 8845437
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are technologies that allow users to create, issue, accept and participate in gaming challenges. A gaming challenge involves participants playing a gaming application to improve their rank on a leaderboard associated with the application until challenge conditions are met or the challenge expires. Challenges can be time-based, objective-based, a tournament or of other type. A challenger can create a challenge by specifying a gaming application to be played, the leaderboard to be used in the challenge, challenge type, challenge duration, and additional challenge criteria. A gaming service can maintain the leaderboard and pass challenge-related notifications between participants. Participants' computing devices can send notices indicating when a challenge has been met or when a participant's relative ranking has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shirlene Lim, Timothy Lee Bui, Andrew C. Haon, J. Spencer King, Jeremiah Whitaker, Michael B. Goulding