SLOT MACHINE

Abstract: A slot machine of the type having a plurality of rotatable reels, (5, 6, 7), each bearing an annular row of various symbols on the outer surface thereof, which selects com­ binations of symbols at random during each game and awards prize coins when predetermined prize-winning com­ binations of symbols occur on prize-winning rows (13, 14, 15) previously assigned. For selectively assigning prize-winning rows, the slot machine is provided with push buttons (16, 17, 18), and these push buttons are also effective for actuating rotation of the reels.

Description: "SLOT MACHINE" The present invention relates to slot machines of the type which selects combinations of symbols at random during each game and awards prizes when predetermined prize-winning combinations occur on prize-winning rows which are previously assigned. As is well known in the art, slot machines of this type have a plurality of rotatable reels each of which is provided with an annular row of various signs or symbols on the outer surface thereof. During a game, they are made to rotate and stopped at random in one of several possible stop positions in each of which they display a corresponding symbol to a player through a window. Recently, there have been known slot machines of a type which use a simulated video display of a plurality of rotating reels. In both types, the slot machine is provided with a starting lever or button for starting the reels to rotate all at once, a stop button for subsequently stopping the respective reels, preferably at different moments, and detector means for detecting the occurrence of prize-winning combinations on the assigned prize-winning rows. In general, slot machines are adapted to become ready for starting a game by dropping a coin or coins into a slot after the previous game has ended. However, it is usual for a player to play several times in succession so it is troublesome to drop coins into the slot for each game In order to avoid this, there have been developed slot machines of the type which allow insertion of a number of coins at once before playing several games and which count down the number of coins used every game. Such slot machines bring about operational convenience, the primary one being that a game can be played many times without dropping in coins for each game. On the other hand, in order to excite interest in games, there have been provided slot machines of the type which allow players to selectively assign prize-winning rows. Slot machines of this type have, for example, three reels each of which, during a game, is started to rotate and stopped at random at one of its possible stop positions, in each of which it displays corresponding three symbols arranged vertically in a window. Therefore, the slot machine selects three combinations of symbols, arranged in three horizontal or transverse rows in the window, and awards prizes when predetermined prize-winning combinations occur on the transverse row assigned by the player as the prize-winning row. In slot machines of this type, the number of prize-winning rows is selected corresponding to the number of coins dropped into the slot machine. For example, the slot machine assigns the center row as prize-winning row for one coin, the upper two rows for two coins and the three rows for three coins. After the completion of assigning prize-winning rows, the operation of the starting lever or button is permitted to start rotation of the reels. However, slot machines of the type which allow insertion of a number of coins at once, as well as allowing selective assignment of prize-winning rows make it difficult to assign prize-winning rows corresponding to the number of coins inserted immediately before each game. Such slot machines, therefore, require the provision of means which is operated to selectively assign prize-winning rows before the operation of the starting lever for starting the rotation of reels. The provision of assigning means, which obliges a player to operate a starting lever for starting the rotation of reels every time the assignment of prize-winning rows is made, also adds a troublesome operation to playing a game. The starting lever has to be operated many times, corresponding to the number of games played. It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a slot machine of the type having means for selectively assigning prize-winning rows in which the operation of starting the rotation of the reels is simplified. According to the present invention, there is provided a slot machine of the type having a plurality of movable lengthwise arrangements of symbols, which selects combinations of symbols at random during each game, and awards prizes when predetermined prize-winning combinations occur on prize-winning rows, the machine having means for assigning one or a plurality of rows as prize-winning rows for each game or games and characterised by means for starting the lengthwise movement of said arrangements in response to the operation of said assigning means. With the invention, therefore, there is provided a slot machine in which the reels are simultaneously started to rotate by the operation of one of a plurality of manually operable means for selectively assigning prize-winning rows. Thus, the slot machine is of the type having means for selectively assigning prize-winning rows in which the starting mechanism for the rotation of reels comprises a reduced number of parts and the facilitated operation of playing a game is realized. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the following description is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the slot machine according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a game circuit applied to the slot machine of Figure 1. Referring now to Figure 1, shown herein is a slot machine 1 which has a set of rotary reels 5, 6, 7, mounted side by side on a common shaft so as to be individually rotatable. Each one of the reels 5, 6, 7 is provided with an annular row of various signs or symbols on the outer surface thereof and, during a game, is stopped at random at one of its possible stop positions in each of which it displays corresponding symbols to a player in one of windows 8, 9 and 10 formed in the front panel. As seen in Figure 1, each window, which is formed in rectangular shape, is large enough to display three symbols in a row. The slot machine 1 is adapted to allow a player to insert a number of coins, or tokens (which are hereafter referred to as coins) through a slot 11 prior to playing games. The number of coins inserted is indicated on a digital display unit 12, each elemental digit comprising seven segments of a light emitting diode. Three transverse rows of combinations of symbols on the reels 5, 6, 7 which are visible through the windows 8, 9, 10 are associated with winning prizes when combinations of symbols occur corresponding to predetermined prize-winning combinations. In practice a player is entrusted with the selection of the prize-winning position or positions. For this selection, the slot machine 1 is provided on its operation panel with push buttons 16, 17, 18 for respectively assigning the upper transverse row 13, the upper and middle transverse rows 13 and 14 and all transverse rows 13 to 15 as prize-winning rows. The number of coins spent per game corresponds to the number of transverse rows assigned as prize-winning rows, that is, three coins for three transverse rows, two coins for two transverse rows and one coin for a single transverse row. Consequently, in response to the pushing operation of one of the buttons 16 to 18, the number of coins is reduced by the number of coins to be spent and the number of remaining coins is indicated on the digit display unit 12. On pushing one of the buttons 16 to 18 for assigning prize-winning rows, the reels 5 to 7 are started to rotate simultaneously while the value of the number of coins is counted down. After a certain time has elapsed, the reels 5 to 7 are stopped at random, based on random numbers at certain of their possible stop positions and display corresponding symbols to the player through the windows. Referring now to Figure 2, shown therein, in block diagram form, is a control circuit for the slot machine described above with reference to Figure 1. In Figure 2, the section 21 enclosed with the dotted line is a microcomputer. When inserting a number of coins through the slot 11 prior to playing games, sensing means 19 senses the coins inserted therein so as to provide pulse signals corresponding to the number of the coins which are transmitted to and counted up by a pulse counter 20. The value counted by the counter 20 is indicated on the digital display unit 12. For assigning prize-winning rows, the button 17, for example, is pushed to provide pulse signals which in turn are directed toward the counter 20. The counter 20 counts down two counts and causes the digital display unit 12 to indicate the number of remaining coins. Simultaneous with the operation of the push button 17 for activating the counter 20, the motor control 22 is actuated by receiving a signal gated by the OR gate 25 to derive a clock pulse signal from a clock generating circuit 24 and deliver it to motor driving circuits 25 to 27 so as to cause pulse motors 28 to 30 to rotate. Counters 34 to 36 commence counting up at the clock pulse rate from the clock generating circuit 24. The pulse motors 28 to 30, thus caused to rotate, make the respective reels 5 to 7 rotate and take positions corresponding to counts of the respective counters 34 to 36. The reels 5 to 7 are provided on their periphery with projections 5a to 7a which cooperate with photosensors 37 to 39, respectively. Every time the projections pass the photosensors, they provide signals, each of which in turn is directed to the corresponding counter and to count it down and/or reset it to an initial value, for example zero. It should be noted that the numbers of pulses counted by each counter have one to one correspondence to the respective symbols arranged on the peripheral surface of each reel relating to the counter. Thus, it can be determined, based on the content of counter, which symbols are displayed in the window. When a certain time has elapsed after starting the rotation of reel, a random number generator 23 is actuated to provide signals which in turn are directed to the motor control 22 to make it stop the rotation of the respective pulse motors 28 to 30. At this time, symbol discriminating circuits 40 to 41 derive the contents of the respective counters 34 to 36 as signals which indicate which symbols are displayed in the respective windows 8 to 10. A set of signals which represent a combination of symbols is transmitted to a judging means 32, wherein various of prize-winning combinations of symbols are memorized and compared therein with each of the combinations of signals obtained. The decision whether there is a prize-winning combination of symbols is made based on agreement between them. When the upper and middle transverse rows 13 and 14 are assigned as prize-winning rows by pushing the button 17, a signal is delivered to the judging unit 32 which causes it to compare two sets of signals with each prize-winning combination of signals memorized therein. The second set of signals is made based on the first set of signals, which consists of the signals from the symbol circuits 40 to 42, because of the fact that counted numbers of pulses have one to one correspondence to the respective symbols arranged on the peripheral surface of each related reel. When predetermined prize-winning combinations occur on prize-winning lines, a prize signal is applied to a controller 44 which causes a coin hopper 45 to pay out coins corresponding to types of combination of symbols. Instead of applying the prize signal to the coin pay out controller for paying out coins every game, pulses to a number corresponding to the prize signal may be directed to the counter 20 for counting up. In that case, coins corresponding to the counted number of pulses are paid out by operating a pay out button (not shown) after all the games paid for are completed. Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, the invention is not limited to the embodiment. Various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to assign diagonal rows as prize-winning rows and to provide stop buttons for the respective reels. The push buttons 16 to 18 may also be used for stopping the reels. The present invention is, of course, applicable to slot machines of the type which allows use of a particular card instead of coins.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A slot machine of the type having a plurality of movable lengthwise arrangements of symbols, which selects combinations of symbols at random during each game, and awards prizes when predetermined prize-winning combinations occur on prize-winning rows, the machine having means for assigning one or a plurality of rows as prize-winning rows for each game or games and characterised by means for starting the lengthwise movement of said arrangements in response to the operation of said assigning means. 2. A slot machine according to claim 1, characterised by means for sensing the insertion of a coin there into and for providing signals, a counter for counting said signals and a display for indicating the content of said counter. 3. A slot machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said assigning means is able to selectively assign three transverse rows as prize-winning rows. 4. A slot machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that said assigning means comprises three push buttons for respectively assigning center, center and upper and all transverse rows as prize-winning rows. 5. A slot machine according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that said counter is adapted to count down by the number-equal to the number of assigned rows.

Inventors: OKADA, KAZUO
Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA UNIVERSAL
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G07F17
IPC codes: G07F17, A63F5, A63F9