Gaming machine and reel device thereof

• US 9,053,614 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technological Group Limited, Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/), Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Tanimura, Tatsuhiko, Kukita, Noritoshi, Ike, Hiroatsu, Sasaki, Yoshitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US14/283,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20140287813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 463/22, 273/142.R, 273/143.C, 273/143.R, 341/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which a plurality of symbols are lined up;

a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the plurality of symbols;

a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel;

a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output magnetic force detection signal values;

a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the plurality of symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal values and arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols;

an external control unit which outputs an operation instruction signal in response to an external operation of setting a reel home position after a reel band is attached to the reel; and

a reel setting unit which, when the operation instruction signal is output, sets the magnetic force detection signal value, which is detected at the timing of the output of the operation instruction signal by the external control unit, as the home position of the reel.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the magnet is disc-shaped,

the reel has a rotational axis, and

the magnet has a rotation center coaxial with the rotational axis of the reel, and has north and south poles which are symmetrical with each other about the rotation center.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the magnetic force detection signal values and the arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols are associated with one another by the reel setting unit.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the reel setting unit stores a table associating the magnetic force detection signal values with the arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols.

5. A gaming machine comprising:

a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which a plurality of symbols are lined up;

a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the plurality of symbols;

a magnet which changes an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel;

a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field changed by the magnet so as to output magnetic force detection signal values;

a reel setting unit which associates the magnetic force detection signal values with arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols;

a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the plurality of symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal values and the arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols; and

an external control unit which outputs an operation instruction signal in response to an external operation,

the reel setting unit obtaining the magnetic force detection signal value which is detected at the timing of the output of the operation instruction signal, as the magnetic force detection signal associated with the home position of the reel.

6. A reel device comprising:

a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which a plurality of symbols are lined up;

a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the plurality of symbols;

a magnet which changes an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel;

a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field changed by the magnet so as to output magnetic force detection signal values;

a reel setting unit which associates the magnetic force detection signal values with arrangement positions of the plurality of symbols; and

an external control unit which outputs an operation instruction signal in response to an external operation;

the reel setting unit obtaining the magnetic force detection signal value which is detected at the timing of the output of the operation instruction signal, as the magnetic force detection signal associated with the home position of the reel.