Gaming machine having electronic circuit for generating game results with non-uniform probabilities

• US 5,524,888 A
• Filed: 04/28/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Heidel, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/234,141
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/138 A
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• 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 gaming machine uses a time-based method for generating game results having nonuniform probability. The gaming machine employs an addressable memory in cooperation with a counter and a clock. The clock generates a very fast series of pulses, and includes a digital-to-analog converter. The counter holds a number representing one of the possible reel stop positions and counts the clock'"'"'s pulses, so that with each pulse, the value of the counter advances by one. To vary the odds that a particular reel stop position will be selected, the clock'"'"'s pulses do not come at even intervals. Rather, the clock is responsive to a digital input signal to control how long it will allow a particular number to remain in the counter before the next clock pulse. The binary numbers which are used to control the clock are stored in memory. The memory accepts as input the current value of the counter. Thus, when the counter is incremented, the memory provides the binary number associated with the new counter value. By selecting appropriate binary numbers for each possible counter value, the relative amounts of time which the counter holds each value (and, therefore, the probability of selection) can be varied.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a clock having a binary input and generating a periodic timing signal, wherein the frequency of the timing signal depends on the value of the binary input;

a counter having an input coupled to the periodic timing signal, and an output which increments in accordance with the frequency of the timing signal;

addressable memory capable of generating as output one of a plurality of preprogrammed binary values in response to particular values of counter outputs, wherein the memory'"'"'s output is coupled to the clock'"'"'s binary input;

asynchronous means for periodically selecting the counter'"'"'s output as a game result, said asynchronous means being time independent of said clock; and

display means for displaying the game result represented by the selected counter output.

2. A gaming device, comprising:

a periodic signal generator having an analog input and a periodic output signal, the frequency of which varies in accordance with the analog input signal;

a counter responsive to the periodic output signal, the counter incrementing its output in accordance with the frequency of the periodic output signal;

means for periodically selecting the counter'"'"'s output at an arbitrary point in time as a game result, wherein the frequency of the periodic output signal is sufficiently high that a player cannot readily predict the value of the selected counter output;

display means for displaying the game result represented by the periodically selected counter output;

addressable memory having a plurality of addressable locations, each containing a preprogrammed binary value, and having an address input coupled to the counter'"'"'s output; and

means for generating an analog signal in accordance with a binary value contained in the memory at the location having an address corresponding to the counter'"'"'s output, wherein the analog signal is coupled to the analog input of the periodic signal generator.

3. A gaming device, comprising:

an oscillator which includes an analog input, an output and a capacitor, wherein the output is a timing signal, the frequency of which varies in accordance with values of the analog input and the capacitor;

a counter responsive to the timing signal, the counter incrementing its output in accordance with the frequency of the timing signal;

player-actuated means for periodically selecting the counter'"'"'s output at an arbitrary time as a game outcome, wherein the player-actuated means is asynchronous with the oscillator so that a player cannot readily predict the value of the selected counter output at the arbitrary time;

binary memory means for associating possible values of the counter output with preselected values, and for generating as digital output the preselected value associated with the value of the counter output;

a digital-to-analog converter having a digital input coupled to the digital output of the memory, and an analog output coupled to the input of the oscillator; and

means for displaying the game outcome represented by the periodically selected counter output.