Tokenless slot machine system

• US 4,880,237 A
• Filed: 12/29/1987
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ryutaro Kishishita
• Original Assignee: Ryutaro Kishishita
• Inventors: Kishishita, Ryutaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/139,313
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/138 A, 273/DIG. 28, 273/1 E, 273/85 G, 364/410-412, 283/903, 283/901, 283/82
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

A slot machine requiring no game media at all and comprising a game data processing unit which is provided with an input unit for specific data, a storage unit, an arithmetic processing unit, a printer, and a display; and a slot machine body which is provided with a pattern display mechanism, a starting lever, stopping buttons, a win decision unit, and a display for the input data and the results of arithmetic processing. The game data processing unit printer is operative for printing the input data and an incorrect version of the input data on opposing sides of a card and issuing the card to a player for enhanced security. Data that are the same as the specific data input in the data processing unit are input in an input unit for the specific data on the slot machine side so that a game can be started, and the game is allowed to progress or is stopped by operating the specific data input unit on the machine side.

Claims

1. A slot machine system comprising:

a game data processing unit which is provided with;

an input unit having a keyboard for inserting input data, said input data including a user'"'"'s identification code and number of game media available for wagering,

a storage unit in which said input data is readably stored,

an operation unit for performing arithmetic processing of said input data,

a printer for printing said input data and an incorrect version of said input data on opposing sides of a card, said printer being able to provide the card to a user, and

a first display for displaying said input data and the results of said arithmetic processing; and

a slot machine body which is provided with;

a pattern display mechanism comprising three or more second displays on which patterns are displayed,

a start means for changing said patterns,

a stop means for stopping the changing of said patterns,

a win decision unit for deciding whether a pattern line of said stopped pattern display mechanism wins a game and for supplying the output to said data processing unit,

a write unit for recording said input data and the results of said arithmetic processing performed in said game data processing unit, and

a data entry unit having a keyboard for receiving entered data including a user'"'"'s identification code and a number of game media to be wagered by the identified user, said number of game media to be wagered not being predetermined by said system, whereby said fame can be started when the identification code in said input data corresponds to the identification code in said entered data and the number of game media to be wagered is no more than the game media available for wagering.

2. The slot machine system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second displays comprise mechanical reels.

3. The slot machine system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second displays comprise cathode ray tubes.

4. The slot machine system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second displays comprise liquid crystal elements.

5. A slot machine system for processing wagers of game media on plural slot machines and accounting gains and losses of the game media without using tokens such as coins or balls, and without using portable memory devices such as magnetically encoded cards, the system comprising:

(a) a game data processing unit for coordinating the functions of the system and for initializing the system to allow identified plays to wager game media on the slot machines in the system, said processing unit comprising;

a first keyboard for entering game data including player identification codes and the number of game media credited to the identified player,

a storage unit for readably writing and storing the game data entered at said first keyboard;

a printer for printing game data from said storage unit, said printer having means for printing a false player identification code and a correct player identification code on opposing sides of a paper, said printer being capable of providing said paper to the identified player;

an arithmetic processor connected to said storage unit and to the slot machines in the system, said arithmetic processor having means for;

(1) comparing game data from the storage unit and from the slot machines in the system,

(2) enabling operation of a first one of the slot machine sin the system responsive to said means for comparing game data when the player identification code in said storage unit matches the player identification code in said first one of the slot machines in the system and when sufficient game media are credited to the identified player to meet the number of game media wagered by the identified player, and

(3) updating game media available to identified players based on inputs from slot machines in the system; and

(b) plural slot machines connected to said game data processing unit for wagering game media, each of said slot machines comprising;

a second keyboard for entering play data including player identification codes and the number of game media to be wagered by the identified player, the number of game media to be wagered not being predetermined by the system;

wagering means for making a wager and for determining the game media payoff from a wager;

an operation control unit responsive to said means for enabling operation for enabling operation of the wagering means; and

means for transmitting the payoff from a wager to said means for updating game media.