Slot machine with symbol save feature

Details Slot machine with symbol save feature Slot machine with symbol save feature

1999-11-08

2001-08-07

Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)

Amusement devices: games

Including means for processing electronic data

In a chance application

C463S021000, C273S14300R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270412

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to slot machines and, in particular, to an additional playing feature for a slot machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
illustrates the well known basic circuitry of a modern slot machine
10
which incorporates rotating reels. In such a slot machine
10
, each of the reels
12
,
13
, and
14
has a variety of symbols printed on its periphery. Each of the reels
12
-
14
is driven by a separate stepper motor
16
which rotates in response to pulses from a CPU
18
. When the pulses to a stepper motor
16
are terminated, the reel stops abruptly.
In modern slot machines, the stopping positions of the reels
12
-
14
are predetermined using a random number generator consisting of a random number generator program in the program ROM
20
carried out by the CPU
18
. The required number of pulses to the three stepper motors are then generated to display the symbol combination at the predetermined reel positions.
In one common type of slot machine, the number of pulses after the reel has reached a zero position are counted to determine the final position of the reels. In another type of machine, each of the reels has tabs that are sensed by a photodetector to determine the angular displacement of the reel and thus the final displayed symbol. Other means for detecting the positions of the reels exist and are well known.
A money detector
22
, which may detect coins or other currency, issues a command to the CPU
18
that the slot machine
10
is ready to be played. The player may then pull a handle
24
or press a button to initiate play.
After the reels have stopped, and the CPU
18
determines the final stop positions, the stop positions are then applied to a pay-table ROM
26
, which cross-references the final displayed symbols with a monetary payout to the player. This payout is then conveyed to a payout mechanism
28
which issues coins or credits to the player. A display
30
may also be activated, signaling a win to the player.
The above general description of a modern slot machine would be well known in the art, and such a programmable machine offers great advantages. Slot machines are varied by simply changing the operating program in the program ROM
20
and the award program in the pay-table ROM
26
. The front glass of the slot machine is also changeable to convey particular features of the machine.
Additional detail of such conventional slot machines is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,795 to Saxton et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419 to Telnaes; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,681 to Okada, all incorporated herein by reference.
One well known award criterion for a 3-reel slot machine is the matching of symbols in a horizontal direction. After each game, the player again pulls the handle so that each game is completely independent of all previous games.
Although the slot machine of
FIG. 1
is very successful, even more player appeal would be created by allowing the player additional possibilities for winning.
SUMMARY
A method for operating a rotating reel type slot machine, or a video machine which depicts rotating reels, is described herein which allows a player to save in memory one or more symbols from one or more previous games and use those symbols in a current game to obtain a winning combination. The invention may be implemented by relatively minor changes in the software code in the program ROM and the pay-table ROM of a conventional slot machine.
The display glass of the slot machine contains an area for displaying the saved symbols. If a video slot machine is used to implement the invention, the video screen may display the saved symbols.
In another embodiment, special symbols, such as winning symbols, are saved automatically by the machine. This concept can be extended to a slot machine having multiple sets of reels, where a winning symbol displayed by a primary set of reels causes the corresponding reel in one or more secondary sets of reels to stop on the same special symbol.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4648600 (1987-03-01), Olliges
patent: 5630753 (1997-05-01), Fuchs
patent: 5704835 (1998-01-01), Dietz, II
patent: 5997401 (1999-12-01), Crawford
patent: 0 609 637A1 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 2050 028 (1980-12-01), None
patent: 2243 236 (1991-10-01), None

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