Arcade game

• US 5,409,225 A
• Filed: 01/03/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lazer-Tron Corporation
• Inventors: Oltmann, J. Richard, Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/176,862
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138 R, 273/138 A, 273/85 G, 273/118, 273/123, 273/142
• US Class Current: 273/118.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/0052 with a playstation for each participant, each with a separate playing field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/045 using a rotating wheel and a fixed indicator, e.g. fortune wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0058 electric A63F7/027, A63F7/3065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.

Claims

1. A progressive bonus apparatus coupled to a plurality of games of skill comprising:

a plurality of games of skill, each game of skill including a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target;

progressive score accumulating means for accumulating a progressive score;

means for coupling said progressive score accumulating means to said plurality of said games of skill;

input means for receiving input game of skill signals from said games of skill indicating a skilled goal has been accomplished by a player playing one of said games of skill; and

means for signaling a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one of said games of skill when said input receives said information that a skilled goal has occurred.

2. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said progressive score accumulating means includes a visual display for displaying said progressive score.

3. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for signaling said game of skill associated with said bonus award to dispense said bonus award.

4. A progressive bonus apparatus comprising:

a plurality of input means, where each of said plurality of input means is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill including a target receptive to a playing piece guided by a player, each input means being adapted to develop a progressive score input signal and a skilled task input signal indicating that a skilled predetermined task for a game of skill has been accomplished by a player;

digital processing means coupled to said plurality of input means and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon at least one progressive score input signal;

display means coupled to said digital processing means for displaying said progressive score; and

means for signaling a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said skilled task input signal is developed.

5. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of input means include a plurality of latches each having an input adapted to be coupled to said game of skill and each having an output which develops and holds a digital progressive score input signal.

6. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said digital processing means comprises a microprocessor and random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) coupled to said microprocessor.

7. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said ROM includes instructions for said microprocessor to perform the functions of accumulating a progressive score and signaling a bonus award based upon said progressive score.

8. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a communications port coupled to said microprocessor for sending data to and receiving data from said microprocessor.

9. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communications port is an RS-232 communications port.

10. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said display means comprises a multi-segment display having a plurality of digits.

11. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-segment display is coupled to said microprocessor by a multiplexer.

12. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising at least one switch coupled to said microprocessor for setting parameters for at least one function performed by said microprocessor.

13. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising at least one latch coupling said at least one switch to said microprocessor.

14. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for signaling a bonus creates a human-perceptible signal to alert an operator to manually dispense a bonus award.

15. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising an automated bonus award dispenser responsive to said means for signaling a bonus.

16. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said automated bonus award dispenser is provided in each game of skill that is coupled to said progressive bonus apparatus.

17. A method for providing a progressive bonus for a plurality of games of skill comprising:

providing a plurality of games of skill which include a target receptive to a playing piece directed by a player;

providing a plurality of inputs, where each input is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill;

receiving progressive score input signals and a signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved for at least one of said games of skill, said signals being received from said games of skill on said inputs;

accumulating a progressive score based upon said progressive score input signals; and

developing a bonus award derived, at least in part, from said progressive score after receiving said signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved at one of said games of skill.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said steps of accumulating a progressive score and developing a bonus award are, at least in part, computer implemented processes.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of developing a bonus award comprises the generation of a human-perceptible signal to alert an operator to manually dispense a bonus award.

20. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of developing a bonus award comprises automatically dispensing a bonus reward in response to said means for signaling a bonus.

21. A progressive bonus apparatus to be coupled to a plurality of games of skill, where each game of skill includes a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target, said progressive bonus apparatus comprising:

an accumulator operative to accumulate a progressive score;

a plurality of lines operative to couple said accumulator to a plurality of games of skill such that said accumulator can accumulate said progressive score based upon contributions from said plurality of games of skill and such that a skilled goal input signal is received when a skilled goal resulting from a player directing said playing piece along said playing surface is accomplished by a player on at least one of said games of skill; and

a bonus award device operative to signal a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one game of skill when said goal input signal is received.

22. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said accumulator includes a visual display for displaying said progressive score.

23. A progressive bonus apparatus comprising:

a plurality of inputs, where each of said plurality of inputs is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill having a playing surface on which a playing piece is directed by a player, each of said inputs operative to develop a progressive score input signal from said game of skill and an input signal indicating that a skilled goal has been achieved by a player during said game of skill resulting from directing said playing piece;

a digital processor responsive to said plurality of inputs, said digital processor being operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon progressive score input signals produced by said plurality of games of skill;

a display coupled to said digital processor for displaying said progressive score; and

a signaling device operative to signal a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said signal indicating that a skilled goal has been reached is developed.

24. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said digital processor comprises a microprocessor and random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) coupled to said microprocessor.

25. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising a communications port coupled to said microprocessor for sending data to and receiving data from said microprocessor.

26. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said display comprises a multi-segment display having a plurality of digits.

27. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said multi-segment display is coupled to said microprocessor by a multiplexer.

28. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising an automated bonus award dispenser responsive to said signalling device.

29. A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein said automated bonus award dispenser is provided in each game of skill that is coupled to said progressive bonus apparatus.