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WO1997030768A1 - Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement - Google Patents

Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997030768A1
WO1997030768A1 PCT/US1996/002157 US9602157W WO9730768A1 WO 1997030768 A1 WO1997030768 A1 WO 1997030768A1 US 9602157 W US9602157 W US 9602157W WO 9730768 A1 WO9730768 A1 WO 9730768A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
symbols
slot machine
display
wheels
indexed
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/002157
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Randy D. Sines
Steven L. Forte
Original Assignee
Inven Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Inven Corporation filed Critical Inven Corporation
Priority to AU53542/96A priority Critical patent/AU5354296A/en
Priority to PCT/US1996/002157 priority patent/WO1997030768A1/fr
Publication of WO1997030768A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997030768A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
    • G07F17/3211—Display means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/34—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Definitions

  • the field of this invention is slot machines and methods for enhancing their operation.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a typical slot machine ;
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control system;
  • Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the window improvements shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment
  • Fig. 6 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment
  • Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic presentation of optical components which may be used in a further form of the invention. Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention and Disclosure of Invention
  • a conventional slot machine 10 is generally illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • a housing 11 encloses its mechanical and/or electronic components.
  • a coin slot 12 is provided to receive one or more coins as the machine is being activated by a player. Coins paid out as a result of machine operation are discharged by the slot machine 10 into a trough 13.
  • Most slot machines include a plurality of upright cylindrical reels 14 having visual symbols arranged in a series about a transverse rotational axis. A randomly determined set of symbols are displayed to a player at the completion of each operational sequence initiated by the player.
  • the individual reels are angularly indexable to stop the reels and present a stationary set of symbols which are positioned at selected angular positions about their respective relational axes.
  • the indexed reels are presented for viewing purposes through transparent windows 15.
  • Each operational sequence of slot machine 10 is started by pulling upon a handle 16 or otherwise activating play of the machine .
  • Button activation controls can also be used in such machines, but the action of physically pulling a handle 16, the sounds of the reels 14 as they are indexed and fall into line , and the expected jangle of cascading coins dropping into the trough 13 all form part of the mystique or attraction attributed to slot machines in general.
  • the reels 14 are indexed or stopped at randomly selected angular positions under control of electronic circuits and microprocessors.
  • the microprocessors often function as random number generators which randomly select a set of symbols to be assigned to the reels as they are indexed or stopped .
  • the microprocessors also determine the amount of each payout, if any, according to preset combinations of the visual symbols displayed on the reels. Although the random selection of these symbols forms no part of the present invention, an exemplary description of the implementation of this feature can be found in U .S. Patent No . 4,095,795, hereby incorporated by reference .
  • a generalized diagram of the control features for a modern slot machine is provided in Fig. 2.
  • a conventional coin input 17 is provided to send a signal to processor 18 when one or more coins have been inserted through coin slot 12.
  • the processor 18 Upon closing a player-operated switch by use of handle 16 or a button, the processor 18 randomly selects a set of symbols to be assigned to the machine reels 14.
  • the processor also calls for the reels 14 to be spun or otherwise initiates visual operation of the slot machine 10, such as by controlling a suitable display to effect the visual equivalent of or an alternative visual prelude functioning similar to mechanical spinning of the reels.
  • Processor 18 then angularly indexes reels 14 as their rotation is stopped to display the randomly selected set of symbols. This is achieved through operation of a conventional electro-mechanical controller 20. While initiation of the rotation of the individual reels 14 takes place simultaneously, they are normally indexed in a timed sequence which typically precedes from one side of the machine to its remaining side . If the selected set of symbols on the indexed reels 14 results in a monetary payout, processor 18 sends a signal to a coin payout mechanism 21, which then dispenses the coins to trough 13 or increments a credit display (not shown) .
  • the term "visually movable display” shall include any form of display inco ⁇ orated within a slot machine for presenting a series of symbols that can be positionally indexed as a display for selected set of symbols to a player at the completion of an operational game sequence that has been initiated by the player.
  • a visually movable display can be either a physical symbol- bearing member, such as a wheel, cylinder or disk, or can be any form of symbol readout or display device which can be cycled through a sequence of different symbols by electronic means. This definition specifically includes both rotatable reels having symbols displayed about their circumferential peripheries, and rotatable disks or annular wheels or reels having symbols on display faces transverse to their axes. "Symbols" can be alpha-numeric, graphic or blank.
  • Additional forms of displays contemplated for use in some forms of this invention further include liquid crystal displays, flat panel semiconductor display screens, polarized screen displays, or more preferably stereoscopic optical projection displays utilizing a holographic screen which can simulate a three- dimensional image for viewing by the slot machine user.
  • liquid crystal displays flat panel semiconductor display screens
  • polarized screen displays or more preferably stereoscopic optical projection displays utilizing a holographic screen which can simulate a three- dimensional image for viewing by the slot machine user.
  • controller 20 This disclosure is applicable to any conventional form of controller 20. Examples currently in use include individual stepper motors for the symbol-bearing wheels or various combinations of motor and brake assemblies. The physical control of such rotating wheels are well known with respect to slot machine design. Further description of controller 20 is believed to be unnecessary in order to enable one familiar with such equipment to utilize the present improvements in slot machine features and operation.
  • Reordered stop sequencing can be effected by using variable stop sequences, or by remapping a particular symbol set to effect a reordered stop sequence for the symbols.
  • the reordering of the symbol stop sequences by using variable reel stop sequencing is effected by having different stop sequence assignments which cause the reels 14 or simulated reels (not shown) to stop in different orders depending upon the set of selected symbols which are to be displayed to a player. For example , in typical three- reel slot machines the reels are sequentially indexed to stop the left-hand reel first, the middle reel next, and the right-hand reel last .
  • One of the novel concepts of this invention is to vary the indexing operation for the multiple reels so as to effect reordering of the stopping sequence .
  • This reordering is done as a variable dependent upon the specific set of symbols which are to be displayed.
  • This symbol-position-variable or reel-variable stop sequencing allows greater anticipation to be developed because a symbol set combination which includes two or more matching symbols can be indexed to produce a stopping sequence which first stops the similar symbols. This creates greater expectation on the part of the slot machine player that a winning combination of symbols may occur.
  • the reordering may also consider other relationships than just true matching, such as explained below with regard to symbols which are considered related.
  • the reel-variable stop sequencing can advantageously involve an index strategy accomplished by programming the reels 14 or other visually movable displays so that the indexed order in which each symbol of a selected set is displayed to a player becomes a function of which order of presentation results in the most suspense or anticipation
  • indexing of the displayed symbols is sequenced so that the "deciding" symbol is the last to index and therefor be viewable by the player.
  • Matching or otherwise related symbols contained in the set of symbols to be indexed are preferably indexed first, although with machines having more than three reels, the matching might conceivably be done with internal reels which otherwise might form part of a paying symbol combination.
  • the first symbol indexed may even more preferably be a wild card symbol.
  • the reel which has been assigned this wild card symbol could in one form of the invention be stopped, thus providing by definition two related symbols in the first and second reels being indexed.
  • a further alternative method for reordering the apparent stopping sequence of the symbol set is by remapping the symbols from one specific order combination to another slightly different symbol set combination which contains the same symbols but in a different order.
  • the same significance with regard to winning applies in either the original set in its first order, or to the reordered set of the same symbols which are assigned into a second order.
  • Use of this technique can allow the slot machine to be stopped using the same reel stopping sequence, such as the left-to-right stopping sequence now employed.
  • stop-sequence reordering concept of this invention may have still another alternative form in which the reel stopping sequence reordering and the remapping of symbols to alternative reels may be combined to effect some further operational flexibility and advantage. For example, it may be possible to have the player decide whether he or she wants to have the reels stop in different reel-varying sequences to enhance the interest in play. Other players may choose to have the more traditional stopping sequence for the reels because they find the variations distracting or too disordered. Still further it may be possible to have a slot machine programmed to function in one mode part of the time and in the other mode or other modes other parts of the time .
  • the present improvement requires the software for processor 18 to either a) rearrange the order of assigning symbols to the individual reels 14 so that the odd symbol or symbols (or the winning symbol or symbols) is or are directed to the last reel or reels to index or stop, or b) cause the software to rearrange or remap the order in which the reels 14 are indexed or stopped to achieve the same desired result.
  • the present method of operating a slot machine first requires that processor 18 must be programmed to randomly select a set of symbols to be assigned to the visually moving displays, exemplified by the three reels 14 shown in Fig. 1 Processor 18 must then determine whether the selected set of symbols includes a subset of related symbols numbering one less than the number of visually movable displays or reels 14
  • “Related” symbols can include any two or more symbols that form part of an identified combination of symbols associated with identified slot machine payouts This typically includes identical symbols and symbols arranged in a defined sequence Where a winning symbol set includes all identical symbols, there will be several such sets of related symbols within the complete set of different combmations forming the available symbol sets The selected subsets can include any group of the selected symbols within the set, so long as it includes a subset of related symbols that is one less in number than the winning set.
  • controller 20 must assign the symbols of the selected set to individual visually movable displays or reels 14
  • processor 18 is programmed to assign the symbols within a subset of related symbols to all of the visually movable displays or reels 14 but the last reel 14 to be indexed at the completion of an operational sequence of the slot machine The method is completed by the processor 18 then assigning the remaining symbol of the selected set to the last visually movable display or reel 14. As discussed previously, this symbol might be related to the others in the subset to form a winning set of symbols, or it might be unrelated and result in no payout.
  • Another improvement feature of this invention relates to varying the speed at which the last symbol or symbols are indexed.
  • One important purpose is to add increased anticipation and suspense for the player concerning the outcome of each slot machine operational sequence or play.
  • this feature is combined with a novel reordering strategy such as previously described, thereby enhancing the anticipation attached to indexing of the last visually movable display or reel to which the final symbol contained within a set of symbols has been addressed.
  • the last reel is slowed at a more gradual deceleration rate during the period between indexing of other reels and the time the final reel is stopped and fully indexed. It is preferable to not add additional time to a complete operational sequence or play of a particular slot machine . Thus the total time required to stop the last reel preferably remains the same . However, the indexing process for the final reel is accentuated.
  • One form of the preferred methods includes accelerated indexing of the initial display symbols, such as the first and second reels.
  • the quicker stopping or indexing of the initial symbols also allows the deceleration rate of the last reel to be decreased, to give the reel or other similar display an appearance which increases the player's ability to perceive the symbols which are approaching the index position. This significantly builds anticipation in the mind of the player and increases the player's involvement and enjoyment of playing the slot machines.
  • the novel methods preferably include decelerating the angular velocity or apparent angular velocity of the last reel or display at a rate which causes increased deceleration during the period associated with indexing the initial reels or displays, and then having greater amounts of time to view the last reel by itself and at a lower angular velocity and reduced deceleration rate .
  • the first and second reels might be decelerated at a rate which is calculated to occupy only 10-33 percent of the total play period defined as the time period during which the slot machine has spinning or other display movement or play activity. The remaining 67-90 percent of the play period can be used to more gradually bring the last reel to stop.
  • the deceleration rates of the reels during the initial play period may be approximately 2-100 times greater than the average rate of deceleration for the final reel.
  • the final reel and initial reels can be decelerated at the same rate initially, or at differing rates initially. In general the final reel will be decelerated at a deceleration rate which is equal to or less than the deceleration rate of the initial reels.
  • the initial reels are those reels stopped in advance of the accentuated emphasis on the final or last reel or reels.
  • the deceleration rates of the initial and final reels can be linear or demonstrate a deceasing rate over the play period or portion of play period during which the reel is being stopped.
  • the appearance and anticipation developed is better when the novel methods involve decreasing the angular velocity of the last reel at a relatively high rate during the first part or portion of the play period while the initial reels are being decelerated, and then changing the deceleration rate of the last reel to be less than average during the second portion of the play period during which the last reel or reels are being visibly emphasized .
  • the preferred methods include slowing the final reel at a deceleration rate in excess of the average rate of deceleration during the first portion of the play period, coupled with a deceleration rate which is less than the average rate of deceleration during the second portion of the play period.
  • the deceleration rate during the first portion of the play period will exceed 3 times the minimum deceleration rate of the last reel during the second portion of the play period, more preferably 5 times the minimum deceleration rate, even more preferably 6-10 times the minimum deceleration rate .
  • the deceleration rates can be continuously varied from a high rate initially to a lower rate for the final reel during the second portion of the period the reel is decelerated.
  • Figs. 3-7 broadly illustrate physical forms of a slot machine incorporating another feature of the invention that facilitates viewing of an extension of that portion of a physical reel or disk normally seen by a player through a window 15.
  • a wider range of view of the oncoming symbols is provided during indexing of the wheels or reels, thereby adding to the player's ability to perceive oncoming symbols and providing increased interest and excitement for the slot machine player.
  • This increased reel viewing ability provides visible access to preferably greater than 25 percent of the available symbols of at least one of the reels. More preferably, the reel viewing provides visual access to greater than 33 % of the symbols on the reel. Even more preferably, reel viewing provides visual access to greater than 50% of the symbols on the reel.
  • the more extensive viewing area is provided on each of several reels having visual symbols arranged so as to provide a series of symbol images which approach and potentially align with an index marker.
  • the cylindrical reels are individually indexable to present a set of symbols at selected angular positions about their respective axes for viewing purposes.
  • windows 22 are provided for directly viewing a first portion of the symbols at the selected angular position on each reel.
  • An ancillary display 23 is located immediately above each window 22, the demarcation between window 22 and ancillary display 23 being shown as line 24.
  • the ancillary display 23 might be any optical system for transmitting a pictorial representation of a portion of the reel periphery.
  • One example of such an ancillary display is shown in Fig. 4.
  • the ancillary display comprises a reversing lens 25 and an angled mirror 26 that reflects otherwise unviewable portions of the symbol strip 27 to lens 25 for viewing purposes.
  • the result as depicted in Fig. 3, is an image of the reel that is substantially extended in the direction of oncoming symbols during indexing of the reels.
  • a single window can be used for all three reels, perhaps with appropriate framing to identify the individual reels.
  • a single ancillary display can be substituted in place of the individual display elements specified in the drawings.
  • Fig. 5 also illustrates an extended view of the symbol strips on the individual reels of a modified slot machine .
  • the extended view is obtained by an optical system providing visual access to a relatively large angular portion of each reel periphery. As one example, this might be achieved by reflecting light from the reel peripheries to bundles of optical fibers leading to the planes of the individual viewing windows identified at 28.
  • the viewable image of the symbols is preferably structured so that the symbols moving toward the index position are increasing in size .
  • Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modified forms of a slot machine in which at least one of the visually movable displays is a radial wheel 30 having symbols arranged about an annular display face 31 transverse to its axis.
  • the indexed symbols on wheel 30 are viewed through a center window 32, flanked by side windows 33.
  • the symbols shown in windows 33 might be optically accessed from reels or other rotatable devices (not shown) .
  • a large window 34 is provided on the slot machine .
  • Fig 8 shows an alternative form of the invention in a schematic presentation In this view a single cylindrical reel 51 is shown, but it is illustrative of any number of desired reels Alternative reel or display configurations are also possible
  • a plurality of optical fibers 52 are arranged with image input ends 53 adjacent to an image source , which in this form is the symbol-bearing outer surface of reel 51
  • the image input ends 53 form an image collector which is shaped or otherwise configured to gather an image from the reel
  • the image can advantageously be a composite image made from numerous image pixels
  • the optical fibers form an image conveyance which transfers the image or images gathered from the reel, and conveys them to a viewable presentation This is done at optical fiber display ends 54
  • the display ends 54 of the optical fibers are positioned so as to form an image emitter or image emitting array which is either directly visible or passed through one or more lenses or screens 55 in order to focus or otherwise enhance the image viewed by the player
  • the player sees an image, or more preferably a composite of numerous image pixels, which
  • optical fibers can be of various types In one form of the invention some or all of the optical fibers can be tapered to allow the desired degree of magnification or demagnification desired This can be used to reduce the viewing size of the symbol images to observer 56 dependent upon the proximit) of the symbol to an index marker (not shown in Fig 8)
  • the rotational speed of symbols on wheel 30 can be slowed in relation to the rotational speed of the symbols viewed in windows 33 as these symbols approach their indexed positions.
  • the display of symbols in the side windows 33 might be accelerated.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Une machine à sous (10) est modifiée de façon à identifier des sous-ensembles de symboles voisins dans une série de symboles choisis au hasard. Les symboles contenus dans le sous-ensemble peuvent être dirigés vers des roues (14, 30, 51) ou d'autres dispositifs d'affichage mobiles sur le plan visuel (55), dans un ordre tel que les symboles voisins seront les premiers à apparaître aux yeux d'un joueur. Un symbole déterminant sera indexé sur la dernière roue à atteindre une position stationnaire. La diminution de la vitesse à laquelle les symboles sont affichés aux yeux du joueur sur la dernière roue à être indexée ajoute encore à l'attente et au suspense liés au jeu amélioré. On peut améliorer encore le jeu avec la machine à sous en étendant optiquement la zone visualisée d'une ou plusieurs roues rotatives (14, 30, 51).
PCT/US1996/002157 1996-02-20 1996-02-20 Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement WO1997030768A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU53542/96A AU5354296A (en) 1996-02-20 1996-02-20 Slot machine and methods of operation
PCT/US1996/002157 WO1997030768A1 (fr) 1996-02-20 1996-02-20 Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1996/002157 WO1997030768A1 (fr) 1996-02-20 1996-02-20 Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997030768A1 true WO1997030768A1 (fr) 1997-08-28

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/002157 WO1997030768A1 (fr) 1996-02-20 1996-02-20 Machine a sous et ses modes de fonctionnement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5354296A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997030768A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6811485B2 (en) * 2000-07-27 2004-11-02 Igt Gaming device having incremental value disclosure
GB2416712B (en) * 2003-04-30 2006-12-06 Konami Corp Gaming machine
US7361088B2 (en) 2000-07-27 2008-04-22 Igt Gaming device having a game with incremental value disclosure and value modification

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5018737A (en) * 1989-08-23 1991-05-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Slot machine
US5074559A (en) * 1989-04-03 1991-12-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Slot machine
US5429507A (en) * 1994-09-19 1995-07-04 Kaplan; Edward B. Braille slot machine

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5074559A (en) * 1989-04-03 1991-12-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Slot machine
US5018737A (en) * 1989-08-23 1991-05-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Universal Slot machine
US5429507A (en) * 1994-09-19 1995-07-04 Kaplan; Edward B. Braille slot machine

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6811485B2 (en) * 2000-07-27 2004-11-02 Igt Gaming device having incremental value disclosure
US7361088B2 (en) 2000-07-27 2008-04-22 Igt Gaming device having a game with incremental value disclosure and value modification
GB2416712B (en) * 2003-04-30 2006-12-06 Konami Corp Gaming machine
AU2004233660B2 (en) * 2003-04-30 2008-01-31 Konami Corporation Gaming Machine

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Publication number Publication date
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