Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-01-16
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S017000, C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174234
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly, to a microprocessor-based matching jackpot device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The entertainment industry continues to flourish as the public ceaselessly demands an increasing array of talent and innovation to help relax from the tumultuous reality, or simply to satisfy their specific wants. Particularly in today's technological computer era, arcade games and other electronic devices have become very popular. Entertainment centers have responded accordingly by installing new gaming devices, including casino-type games, and also converting classical amusement devices, such as pinball and poker, into digital counterparts.
Casino-type games and other entertainment forms that combine chance with skill have achieved a significant niche among a subset of society, both in the technological and traditional realm. Jackpot machines and other casino-type devices in their original form, however, rely almost entirely on chance to the extent that those who would otherwise have enjoyed the game concept are reluctant to subject themselves to these devices as they utilize no significant input from the player. Despite the advent of similar gaming devices that incorporate an element of skill into the game, there is still a need for a device that maintains the proper balance between user input and the inherent randomness of many casino games.
Moreover, even with the awe-inspiring profusion of such arcade games, the public, unsurprisingly, desires new forms of entertainment devices to spark its interest and excitement.
Thus there is a need for an amusement device that enables players to operate a casino-type arcade game utilizing different skills and offering a new type of entertainment from prior art in this field. In addition, this device would successfully incorporate an element of skill without significantly sacrificing the casino-type element of chance that many desire.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide a player activated matching jackpot device for play in amusement arcades, gaming casinos and homes.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a player activated matching jackpot device which inputs player's selections and which in turn provides a prize or award to the player.
It is another object of the invention to provide a microprocessor-based player activated matching jackpot device that is configured to provide a prize or award to the player based on a combination of characters selected by player from a plurality of flashing character lamps.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a player activated matching jackpot device is provided and which comprises a plurality of unique character displays and a plurality of character lamps mounted in a visible pattern on the jackpot device, each character lamp corresponding to one of the unique characters. In one embodiment the character displays may each display a distinct character, while in another embodiment more than one character display may exhibit the same character. During game play the character lamps corresponding to each character display activate and deactivate one at a time in a predetermined pattern until the player presses a stop button, which selects a character corresponding to the character lamp being illuminated the instant the stop button was pressed. The player's objective is to select a winning combination of characters based on stop button signals from multiple rounds of game play. This winning combination may be predetermined in accordance with the game rules. In an alternative embodiment the winning combination may be modified while the game is in progress.
The game may also include a “slot machine” style mechanical reel device that displays at the start of game play a randomly selected “object” character. One of the objectives for a winning combination is to match successfully the user selected characters with this object character. Structurally, the reel device contains a reel band displaying all of the aforementioned unique characters and can be signaled by a control device, such as a microprocessor, to spin. In addition there may also be, alone or in combination with the above reel device, a plurality of other similar reel devices that are configured to spin to each of the game characters that the player selects during game play. In response to activation of the stop button, the reel band spins until the selected character is displayed via the reel device. These reel devices act both as an output mechanism, enabling the player to track his or her game, and as a display element, to partially simulate the appearance of a traditional jackpot machine.
Further, the game can be configured to operate only after receiving a predetermined quantity of coins from a coin entry mechanism. Also, as a reward for selecting a winning combination of characters, tickets are dispensed to be accumulated and traded in for a prize. Alternatively, the device of the present invention may be configured to award coins for additional games in lieu of tickets.
One or more LED displays may also be provided to display the current score, number of tickets earned, the “jackpot” value, or number of jackpot characters selected. In one embodiment the character “7” represents a jackpot character, the highest scoring character, whereas the LED display outputs the characters “7” each time the player successfully obtains this jackpot character during game play. Alternatively, the LED display can output the jackpot value, rather than the actual jackpot character selected. Also, other output devices, such as speakers and ornamental lights, are added to increase enjoyment of game play.
The game of the present invention is advantageously microprocessor-based, and is provided with various input and output ports to configure a lamp control board and a plurality of reel assemblies, among other devices. The lamp control board is coupled to each of the character lamps and possibly other lamps, such as reel lamps that illuminate their respective reel devices, allowing the microprocessor to signal each character lamp or reel lamp individually to activate or deactivate them.
With reference to the reel assemblies, each are coupled to one reel device. Each reel assembly includes a stepper motor to incrementally spin the characters on the reel band and an optic sensor to identify a marked position on the reel device to enable the microprocessor to calculate which character is currently being displayed on that particular reel device.
The above description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4618150 (1986-10-01), Kimura
patent: 4813675 (1989-03-01), Greenwood
patent: 5584763 (1996-12-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5697611 (1997-12-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5752881 (1998-05-01), Inoue
patent: 2191030 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 2218558 (1989-11-01), None
Betti Robert C.
Seibert, Jr. William E.
H. Betti Industries Inc.
Layno Benjamin H.
Sofer & Haroun LLP
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