Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-02
2001-05-08
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S016000, C463S017000, C463S018000, C463S021000, C463S025000, C463S029000, C463S030000, C273S138100, C273S139000, C273S14800B, C273S14900R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227970
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slot machine comprising a sub-display device provided apart from a main display device for displaying game images.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one type of slot machines, there is known a slot machine in which a sub-display device for displaying information, such as histories of past games, is provided above a main display device for displaying game images (for example, refer to Australian Patent No. 640198).
In the typical slot machine, an operation panel is provided below the main display device, that is, at a position near the hands of a player facing the game image on a screen of the main display device. The player inserts coins, tokens, or slips into a slot provided on the operation panel, and then operates buttons provided on the operation panel while paying attention to the game image to thereby enjoy the play of the game. Accordingly, if the sub-display device is disposed above the main display device, the sub-display device is out of the range in which the viewpoint of the player moves during the game, thereby causing difficulty watching the sub-display device.
Also, the screen of the sub-display device disposed above the main display device is far away from the player. Thus, it is difficult to read the details of the information displayed on the screen thereof. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to restrict the volume of the information displayed in the sub-display device, or to enlarge the screen of the sub-display device. However, the upper portion of a front side of the slot machine is usually provided with a title panel for decoration or the like. Therefore, if the screen of the sub-display device is enlarged, the area of the title panel is reduced and the decoration effect thereof is spoiled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine improved in an arrangement of a sub-display device to facilitate observation thereof.
According to the present invention, there is provided a slot machine comprising a housing provided with an operation panel on a front side thereof; a main display device disposed above the operation panel; a sub-display device disposed on the operation panel; a main input device capable of issuing information corresponding to an operation of a player; and a game controller for controlling a process of a game performed on a screen of the main display device with based on the information issued from the main input device; wherein the main input device comprises a first input device provided on the operation panel and a second input device provided on the screen of the main display device or a periphery thereof.
In the above slot machine, the player plays the game by operating both of the first input device and the second input device and the viewpoint of the player moves between the main display device and the operation panel. Therefore, the sub-display device disposed on the operation panel is included within the view range of the player during the game. Accordingly, the player can confirm contents displayed in the sub-display device easily. Also, since the second input device is provided on the screen of the main display device or a periphery thereof, it is possible to distribute a part of input members which cannot be arranged on the operation panel due to lack of space for the input members caused by the arrangement of the sub-display device. Therefore, the player can play the game without feeling inconvenience caused by a shortage of input members. Further, it is not necessary to provide a sub-display device above the main display device. Therefore, it can be possible to enlarge the area of the title panel disposed above the main display device to thereby enhance the decorative effect thereof.
In the above slot machine, the second input device may be put on the screen of the main display device and may comprise a coordinate readout device formed as a transparent panel and capable of issuing signals for specifying coordinates of a position touched by the player. In this case, it is not necessary to reduce the area of the screen of the main display device due to the arrangement of the second input device.
The game controller may be capable of displaying an image representing an operation button to which a predetermined function is assigned in a predetermined area on the screen of the main display device, and of distinguishing operation of the player on the basis of the signals issued from the coordinate readout device in association with contents displayed in the predetermined area on the screen of the main display device.
The game controller can change the contents displayed in the predetermined area on the screen of the main display device. Also, the game controller can change images to be displayed in at least a part of the predetermined area between the image of the operation button and an image representing a message to the player. In these cases, it is possible to use efficiently the limited area of the screen of the main display device to provide various input means thereon.
The first input device may comprise a push button switch.
The slot machine can further comprise a sub-input device provided on a screen of the sub-display device or a periphery thereof and capable of issuing information corresponding to an operation of the player thereto. In this case, it is possible to constitute input means for inputting information, instruction or request, regarding the process of the game or an purpose unrelated thereto by associating the contents displayed on the screen of the sub-display device and the operation of the sub-input device.
The slot machine may comprise a sub-image display control device for controlling contents displayed on the screen of the sub-display device based on the information issued from the sub-input device. In this case, it is possible to constitute an input system apart from the input system constituted by the main display device and the main input device.
A push button switch capable of being depressed by the player may be provided on an outside of the screen of the sub-display device as the sub-input device, and the sub-image display control device can display an image for representing a function assigned to the push button switch on the screen of the sub-display device in such a manner that a relationship between the push button switch and the image for representing the function is visually expressed. In this case, the player can easily grasp the function assigned to the sub-input device.
The operation panel may be provided, at one end thereof, with an insertion portion for receiving a medal and/or a slip to be bet on the game, the screen of the sub-display device may be disposed at another end of the operation panel and the first input device may be disposed between the insertion portion and the screen of the sub-display device.
An operation of relatively high frequency among a plurality of operations necessary for the game may be assigned to the first input device, and another operation of relatively low frequency among the plurality of operations may be assigned to the second input device.
The slot machine can further comprise a sub-input device provided on a screen of the sub-display device or a periphery thereof and capable of issuing information corresponding to an operation of the player; a set-up device for setting up stop condition for limiting continuation of the game to a predetermined degree in accordance with an instruction inputted by the player through the sub-input device; a memory device which stores data of the stop condition set up by the set-up device; a detection device for detecting an actual degree of the continuation of the game; a judging device for judging whether or not the game is continued until the stop condition is satisfied on the basis of the data of the stop condition stored in the memory device and the actual degree detected by the detection device; and an alarm device issuing a predetermined alarm when it is judged that the s
Aida Eiji
Shimizu Toshiaki
Harrison Jessica J.
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
Nguyen Binh-An D.
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