Game apparatus with rotary indicator and bonus multiplier

• US 7,278,635 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Oltmann, J. Richard, Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu; Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US10/176,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 273/118, 273/123, 273/138.1, 273/142.2 B, 273/118.R, 273/118.A, 273/123.R, 273/123.A, 273/138.2, 273/142.R, 273/142.B, 463/1, 463/7, 463/27
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• 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 game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator

comprising:

a game;

a wheel-shaped bonus indicator associated with said game, said wheel-shaped bonus indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface at least visually providing a plurality of segments;

a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped bonus indicator for selectively rotating said wheel-shaped bonus indicator; and

an absolute position detector including a rotatable member coupled to said wheel-shaped bonus indicator for rotation therewith, said rotatable member having indices corresponding to said plurality of segments.

2. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said indices include multiple notches on said rotatable member.

3. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 2, further comprising an optical detector for detecting said multiple notches.

4. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said indices include visually discernible indicia provided on a surface of said rotatable member.

5. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 4, wherein said indicia include bar code segments for encoding segment position information corresponding to said plurality of segments of said wheel-shaped bonus indicator.

6. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 5, further comprising a bar code reader for reading said bar code segments.

31. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped bonus indicator as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is a multiplier segment.

7. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator comprising:

a wheel-shaped indicator, said wheel-shaped indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface at least visually providing a plurality of segments;

a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for selectively rotating said wheel-shaped indicator; and

a position detector including an index member and an index member detector wherein one of said index member and said index member detector is coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for rotation therewith, said index member having position indices corresponding to said plurality of segments.

8. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 7, wherein said position indices include multiple notches on said index member.

9. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 8, wherein said index member rotates with said wheel-shaped indicator and wherein said index member detector comprises an optical detector adapted for detecting said multiple notches.

10. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said optical detector includes a light source and a light detector.

11. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 7, wherein said position indices include indicia provided on a surface of said index member.

12. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 11, wherein said indicia include bar codes that encode segment position information corresponding to said plurality of segments of said wheel-shaped indicator.

13. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 12, further comprising a bar code reader for reading said bar codes.

32. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is a multiplier segment.

14. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator comprising:

a game having at least an element of chance;

a wheel-shaped indicator associated with said game, said wheel-shaped indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface at least visually providing a plurality of segments;

a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for selectively rotating said wheel-shaped indicator; and

an optical position detector including a light-modulating member coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for rotation therewith, said light-modulating member including a plurality of position indications corresponding to said plurality of segments.

15. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said light-modulating member blocks and transmits light.

16. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of position indications includes a plurality of apertures.

17. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 16, further comprising an optical detector that includes a light source and a light detector.

18. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said light-modulating member modulates light reflected from said light-modulating member.

19. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 18, wherein said plurality of position indications include indicia provided on a surface of said light-modulating member.

20. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 19, wherein said indicia include bar codes that encode position information corresponding to said plurality of segments of said wheel-shaped indicator.

21. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 20, further comprising a bar code reader for reading said bar codes.

22. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to said motor and operative to stop a rotation of said wheel-shaped indicator at a predetermined segment.

23. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 22, wherein said controller causes said rotation of said wheel-shaped indicator to decelerate before coming to a stop at said predetermined segment.

24. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein:

said wheel-shaped indicator comes to a pre-determined stopping position based on an action of a player; and

an award is based in part on said pre-determined stopping position.

25. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said motor is a stepper motor.

26. The game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said motor is a servo motor.

33. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator as recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is a multiplier segment.

27. A game apparatus with rotary indicator comprising:

a game including at least an element of chance and displaying a numeric value;

a rotary indicator associated with said game, said rotary indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface visually providing a plurality of segments, wherein said plurality of segments includes a bonus multiplier segment having indicia specifying an integral amount by which said numeric value, as displayed before said rotary indicator rotates, will be multiplied after said rotary indicator rotates and then stops, when said bonus multiplier segment is aligned with a pointer;

a motor for selectively rotating said rotary indicator; and

a position detector separate from said motor for detecting which segment is aligned with said pointer.

28. A game apparatus with bonus indicator comprising:

a game including a game controller and a display for a numeric value;

a bonus indicator associated with said game, said bonus indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface providing a plurality of segments wherein at least one segment of said plurality of segments is a multiplier segment having indicia specifying an integral amount by which said numeric value will be multiplied, and wherein said game controller provides a multiple of said numeric value as an award when any one of said multiplier segments is indicated by said bonus indicator.

29. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator comprising:

a game displaying a numeric value;

a wheel-shaped indicator associated with said game, said wheel-shaped indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface providing a plurality of segments including at least one multiplier segment having indicia specifying an amount by which said numeric value will be multiplied when said game provides a bonus;

a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for selectively rotating said wheel-shaped indicator; and

a position detection means for detecting positions corresponding to said plurality of segments of said wheel-shaped indicator.

30. An apparatus comprising:

a numerical display;

a body supported for rotation around an axis of rotation, said body being provided with a plurality of indicia including at least one multiplier indicia specifying an integral amount by which a number on said numerical display, which is present before a rotation of said body, will be multiplied, after said body rotates and stops;

a fixed pointer adapted to point to a selected indicia of said plurality of indicia; and

a motor adapted to selectively rotate said body to align said pointer with said at least one multiplier indicia to indicate a multiplied award.

34. A game apparatus with rotary indicator comprising:

a game having at least an element of chance;

a rotary indicator associated with said game, said rotary indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface visually providing a plurality of segments wherein said plurality of segments includes a bonus multiplier segment for multiplying an award provided by said game when aligned with a pointer;

a motor for selectively rotating said rotary indicator; and

an optical position detector including a light-modulating member coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for rotation therewith, said light-modulating member including a plurality of position indications corresponding to said plurality of segments.

35. A game apparatus with bonus indicator comprising:

a game having at least an element of chance and including a game controller;

a bonus indicator associated with said game, said bonus indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface providing a plurality of segments wherein at least one segment of said plurality of segments is a multiplier segment and wherein said game controller provides a multiple of an award when any one of said multiplier segments is indicated by said bonus indicator; and

an absolute position detector including a rotatable member coupled to said wheel-shaped bonus indicator for rotation therewith, said rotatable member having indices corresponding to said plurality of segments.

36. A game apparatus with wheel-shaped indicator comprising:

a game having at least an element of chance;

a wheel-shaped indicator associated with said game, said wheel-shaped indicator being supported for rotation around an axis and having a surface providing a plurality of segments including at least one multiplier segment for multiplying a preexisting value;

a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for selectively rotating said wheel-shaped indicator; and

a position detection means for detecting positions corresponding to said plurality of segments of said wheel-shaped indicator.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a body supported for rotation around an axis of rotation, said body being provided with a plurality of indicia including at least one multiplier indicia;

a fixed pointer adapted to point to a selected indicia of said plurality of indicia;

a motor adapted to selectively rotate said body to align said pointer with said at least one multiplier indicia to indicate a multiplied award; and

an optical position detector including a light-modulating member coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator for rotation therewith, said light-modulating member including a plurality of position indications corresponding to said plurality of segments.