Control apparatus for game machines

• US 4,964,638 A
• Filed: 05/16/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Universal
• Inventors: Ishida, Naomi
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Assistant Examiner(s): Small, Dean
• Application Number:
  US07/352,541
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138 A, 273/143 R, 273/, 364/412, 364/410, 364/717
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted

Abstract

In a control system wherein a master control unit controls a plurality of game machines, the master control unit is provided with two calculators and a microprocessor. The two calculators accumultate, at different rates, values each corresponding to the number of coins inserted into each of the game machines for every game. The two different accumulated values are used alternately to set the amount of money to be paid out for a particular hit and one of the values is indicated by an indicator. For every occurrence of a hit, the microprocessor orders that coins be paid out according to the indicated value and that the indicated value is alternately changed from one of the two accumulated values to the other.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a group comprised by a plurality of game machines each of which has pay-out means for paying out coins according to the kind of win, said apparatus being provided with means for indicating a pay-out value for a particular win, said apparatus comprising:

first calculating means for calculating a first accumulation value by accumulating, at a first rate, the value of coins inserted into each of said game machines;

second calculating means for calculating a second accumulation value by accumulating, at a second rate, the value of said inserted coins; and

controlling means for ordering said indicating means to indicate one of said first and second accumulation values as said pay-out value, for ordering said pay-out means of a said game machine in which said particular win occurs to pay out coins of a number which corresponds to said pay-out value, and for ordering said indicating means to indicate the other of said first and second accumulated values as said pay-out value after said particular win occurs.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first setting means for setting an initial value of said accumulation values and for inputting said initial value into the one of said first and second calculating means of which the accumulation value is used as said pay-out value.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising second setting means for setting a maximum value for said pay-out value.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising third setting means for setting said first and second rates.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third setting means comprises total rate setting means for setting a total rate so as to obtain a total insertion value which is multiplied by said insertion value and distribution rate setting means for setting a distribution rate by which said total insertion value is divided into said first and second rates.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second accumulation values are calculated as money.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second accumulation values are calculated as numbers of coins.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first calculating means comprises a first accumulator for obtaining said first accumulation value and a first memory for storing said first accumulation value, and said second calculating means comprises a second accumulator for obtaining said second accumulation value and a second memory for storing said second accumulation value.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first accumulation value stored in said first memory is used as said pay-out value, said second accumulation value stored in said second memory is transferred to said first memory after paying out coins according to said particular win, and an initial value greater than zero is set in said second memory.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling apparatus and said game machines form a looped communication circuit in which said game machines are connected in series and both end game machines of said series-connected game machines are connected to said controlling apparatus, whereby said controlling apparatus receives a message containing data as to the value of coins inserted into each of said game machines for each game, and whereby when said particular win is made in a said game machine, said controlling apparatus orders said game machine to perform pay-out for said particular win.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second rate is different from said first rate.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second rate is a function of said first rate.

13. An apparatus for controlling a group comprised by a plurality of game machines each of which has prize awarding means for awarding prizes according to the kind of win, said apparatus being provided with means for indicating a prize value for a particular win, said apparatus comprising:

first calculating means for calculating a first accumulation value by accumulating, at a first rate, the amounts input into each of said game machines;

second calculating means for calculating a second accumulation value by accumulating, at a second rate, said input amounts; and

controlling means for ordering said indicating means to indicate one of said first and second accumulation values as said prize value, for ordering said prize awarding means of a said game machine in which said particular win occurs to award a prize which corresponds to said prize value, and for ordering said indicating means to indicate the other of said first and second accumulated values as said prize value after said particular win occurs.