Reel type slot machine utilizing time-based random game result selection means
First Claim
1. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
- a user-actuated spin switch for providing a play command;
at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols;
reel drive means responsive to said play command for rotatably driving said display reel;
selection means responsive to said play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, said game result having an associated predetermined game symbol for display by said display reel, said selection means providing a display control signal indicative of said predetermined display symbol; and
display control means responsive to said display control signal for causing said reel drive means to position said reel to display said predetermined game symbol, wherein at least one undesirable game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having each of the undesirable game result'"'"'s probability set to zero.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reel-type slot machine includes a microprocessor driven game control circuit for randomly selecting a game result. Three reel assemblies each include a symbol-bearing display reel driven by a stepper motor for displaying game symbols corresponding to the game result. A series of signals representing potential game results is repetitively generated within the game control circuits. Upon user actuation of a spin switch one of the game results is randomly selected for application to a look-up table wherein the corresponding three game symbols to be displayed are identified. The number of repetitions of a potential game result in the series establishes a time window of availability for the result, and hence the probability of that game result being selected. After the three game symbols have been identified, the display reels are driven by their respective stepper motors to display the game symbols. Optional ramp-up and ramp-down circuits provide improved stopping accuracy.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user-actuated spin switch for providing a play command; at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols; reel drive means responsive to said play command for rotatably driving said display reel; selection means responsive to said play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, said game result having an associated predetermined game symbol for display by said display reel, said selection means providing a display control signal indicative of said predetermined display symbol; and display control means responsive to said display control signal for causing said reel drive means to position said reel to display said predetermined game symbol, wherein at least one undesirable game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having each of the undesirable game result'"'"'s probability set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user actuated spin switch for providing a play command; at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols, and including indicia fixedly positioned thereon indicative of each game symbol thereon; reel drive means responsive to said spin command for rotatably driving said display reel; selection means responsive to said play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, said game result having an associated predetermined game symbol for display by said display reel, said selection means providing a display control signal indicative of said predetermined game symbol; indicia detection means fixedly positioned relative to said display reel for providing a tracking signal indicating the passage of each of said game symbols thereon as said display reel rotates; and display control means responsive to said display control signal and to said tracking signal for causing said reel drive means to position said reel to display said associated game symbol, wherein at least one undesirable game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having a probability of the at least one undesirable game result set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user actuated spin switch for providing a play command; at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols; reel drive means responsive to said play command for rotatably driving said display reel; means for generating a time sequential series of signals each representing a potential game result from a predetermined set of potential game results each having at least one associated predetermined game symbol for display, said entire set of potential game results being repetitively generated; a selector circuit responsive to said play command for selecting one of said sequential series of signals; a memory device containing a look-up table for providing predetermined a game symbol associated with said selected game result; and display control means for causing said reel drive means to position said display reel to display said predetermined game symbol, wherein at least one undesirable game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having a probability of the at least one undesirable game result set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user actuated spin switch for providing a play command; at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols, and including indicia fixedly positioned thereon position-indicative of said game symbols thereon; reel drive means responsive to said play command for rotatably driving said display reel; means for generating a time sequential series of signals each representing a potential game result from said predetermined set of potential game results, said series being repetitively generated; a selector circuit responsive to said play command for selecting one of said sequential series of signals; a memory device containing a look-up table for providing a predetermine game symbol associated with the game result corresponding to said selected signal, and for further providing a display control signal indicative of said predetermined game signal; indicia detection means fixedly positioned relative to said display reel for providing a tracking signal indicating the passage of each of said game symbols thereon with rotation of the reel; and display control means responsive to said display control signal and said tracking signal for causing said reel drive means to position said display reel to display said predetermined game symbol, including at least one undesirable game result in said predetermined set of game results, and wherein said series of signals excludes a signal corresponding to said undesirable game result by having a probability for the at least one undesirable game result set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user actuated spin switch for providing a spin command; a plurality of display reels each having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reels each being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols; a plurality of reel drive means each responsive to said spin command for rotatably driving said display reels; selection means responsive to said play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, said game result providing a plurality of associated predetermined game symbols for display by respective ones of said display reels, said selection means providing a plurality of display control signals indicative thereof; and display control means responsive to said display control signals for causing said reel drive means to position said display reels to display said predetermined game symbols associated with said selected game result, wherein at least one undesirable potential game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having a probability of each undesirable game result set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A reel-type slot machine comprising:
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a user actuated spin switch for providing a spin command; a plurality of display reels each having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, said display reels each being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of said game symbols thereon; a plurality of reel drive means each responsive to said spin command for rotatably driving said display reels; means for generating a time sequential series of signals each representing a potential game result from said predetermined set of game results; a selector circuit responsive to said play command for selecting one of said sequential series of signals; a memory device containing a look-up table for providing predetermined game symbols for display by respective ones of said display reels in accordance with said selected game result, said memory device providing a plurality of display control signals indicative of said predetermined game signals; and display control means responsive to said display control signals for causing said reel drive means to position said reels to display said predetermined game symbols associated with said selected game result, wherein at least one undesirable potential game result is eliminated from said predetermined set of potential game results by having a probability of each undesirable game result set to zero. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification