Slot machine

• US 5,074,559 A
• Filed: 04/02/1990
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Universal
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/502,877
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/138 A, 364/410, 364/411, 364/412
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A slot machine has a memory in which first judgment data and second judgment data are stored. These first judgment data show for any first random number, whether any one of a group of prize-winning symbols can be selected, and the second judgment data show, for any second random number, the particular prize-winning combination to be displayed. A judgment is thus performed twice, using random numbers sequentially sampled from a random number generator, using the first and second data. According to the result of these two judgments, the stopped position of each reel is controlled such that the symbol combination of this specific winning combination will be displayed.

Claims

1. A slot machine having a plurality of reels for sequentially displaying a plurality of series each comprised by a plurality of symbols, said slot machine comprising:

random number generator means for generating a first random number and a second random number;

memory means for storing first judgment data and second judgment data, said first judgment data indicating a relation between said first random number and a group comprises of a plurality of predetermined combinations of symbols, said second judgment data indicating a relation between said second random number and a particular symbol combination included in said group;

judgment means for making a first judgment to determine said relation of said first random number by reference to said first judgment data, thereby to determine whether any combination from said group is to be displayed, and a second judgment to determine said relation of said second random number by reference to said second judgment data, thereby to determine which one of said combinations of said group is to be displayed; and

control means for controlling the stopped position of each of said reels such that said one of said combinations determined by said first and second judgments is displayed.

2. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said group of symbol combinations includes a plurality of prize-winning symbol combinations.

3. A slot machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the symbols of said prize-winning combinations are hit symbols, and the value of each said prize-winning symbol combination varies as the number of hit symbols in said combination.

4. A slot machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hit symbols are each a numeral "7".

5. A slot machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said group of symbol combinations includes a big hit symbol combination consisting only of symbols "7" and a plurality of loss symbol combinations which include a said symbol "7".

6. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first judgment is performed first and, in case the result of said first judgment has revealed that said selection of said group can be made, said second judgment is performed.

7. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second judgment is performed first to decide on one of said symbol combinations included in said group, and thereafter said first judgment is performed and, in case the result of said first judgment has revealed that said group can be selected, said symbol combination decided on by said second judgment is displayed.

8. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first random number is an integer in the numerical range from "1" to "100".

9. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of reels are at least three in number.

10. A slot machine as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a plurality of stop buttons each corresponding to a respective one of said reels, and wherein the actuation of each said stop button selectively actuates the stopping of the corresponding reel.

11. A slot machine having a plurality of reels for sequentially displaying a plurality of series each comprises by a plurality of symbols, said slot machine comprising:

random number generator means for generating random numbers;

memory means for storing first judgment data and second judgment data, said first judgment data indicating a relation between a random number which is taken from said random number generator means by a first trial and a group comprises by a plurality of predetermined combinations of symbols, thereby to determine whether any combination within said group can be displayed, said second judgment data indicating a relation between a random number which is taken from said random generator means by a second trial and particular combination, corresponding to the last-named random number, from said group which is to be displayed;

judgment means for making a first judgment using said first judgment data to determine whether any combination of said group can be displayed and for making a second judgment using said second judgment data in order to select a specific combination from said group if said first judgment has determined that a said combination from said group can be displayed; and

control means for controlling the stopped position of each of said reels such that said reels display said specific symbol combination.

12. A slot machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said group of combinations includes a plurality of prize-winning combinations.

13. A slot machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plurality of prize-winning combinations include a middle hit in which two hit symbols "7" are aligned and a big hit in which three hit symbols "7" are aligned.