Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/7207883
Timestamp: 2019-12-16 00:08:57
Document Index: 584731473

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 16', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 16', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 18', 'art 19']

US Patent for Gaming machine Patent (Patent # 7,207,883 issued April 24, 2007) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Suspension Or Restoration (e.g., Power Failure Resumption, Etc.)US Patent for Gaming machine Patent (Patent # 7,207,883)
Oct 31, 2003 - Aruze Corporation
At the front surface of a cabinet 2 entirely forming the gaming machine 1, a panel display unit 2a, a liquid crystal display unit 2b and a fixed display unit 2c, which have substantially vertical planes, are formed. As for the panel display unit 2a, the liquid crystal display unit 2b and the fixed display unit 2c, they will be described with reference to FIG. 2, hereinafter. In the cabinet 2 (at the rear side of the liquid crystal display unit 2b), three reels 3L, 3C, 3R (the first display means comprising the game result display means), on each outer periphery of which symbol line comprising a plural kinds of symbols is described, are rotatably arranged along a horizontal line. The reels 3L, 3C, 3R form the variable display means. Symbols on each reel (rotational drum type display device) can be seen through symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R (shown in FIG. 2 hereinafter). Each reel is constructed so as to be able to rotate at a constant rotational speed (for example, 80 rotations/minute).
The panel display unit 2a comprises a bonus game information display part 16, BET lamps 17a˜17c, a payout display part 18 and a credit display part 19. Here, the bonus display part 16 is constructed from 7-segment LEDs and displays the game information during the bonus game. The 1-BET lamp 17a, 2-BET lamp 17b and MAX-BET lamp 17c are turned on according to the medal number betted to conduct the game. The 1-BET lamp 17a is turned on when the betted medal number is “1”. The 2-BET lamp 17b is turned on when the betted medal number is “2”. And the MAX-BET lamp 17c is turned on when the betted medal number is “3”. The payout display part 18 and the credit display part 19 are constructed from 7-segment LEDs respectively. The payout display part 18 displays the payout medal number when the winning is materialized. The credit display part 19 displays the medal number accumulated (credited).
The effect display area 23 is formed in an area other than the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R and the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R in the liquid crystal display unit 2b. This effect display area 23 displays the image (representing so-called “WIN LAMP”) conclusively indicating that bonus winning is realizable, the effect to increase interest for games and the information necessary for the player to beneficially advance the game.
The fixed display unit 2c is an area to display the images determined beforehand. Concretely, the fixed display unit 2c displays “a part of row houses” which is described on a display plate 33 mentioned hereinafter. By combining the image displayed on the fixed display unit 2c and the image displayed on the effect display area 23, one still image or moving image can be displayed. In the embodiment, one complete image of the row houses can be displayed.
The liquid crystal display device 31 is constructed from a protect glass 32, a display plate 33, a liquid crystal panel 34, a light guide plate 35, a reflection film 36, fluorescent lamps 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b functioning as so-called white light sources (capable of emitting light including light having all wavelengths with a predetermined ratio so that specific colors are inconspicuous to eyes of persons), lamp holders 39a˜39h and a flexible circuit board (not shown) comprising a table carrier package (TCP) mounting an IC for driving the liquid crystal panel, the TCP being connected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal panel 34. The liquid crystal display device 31 is arranged at a more front side than the display areas of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R (more front side than the display planes thereof) so as to spread over the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. And the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and the liquid crystal display device 31 are independently arranged (with a predetermined distance therebetween).
The protect glass 32 and the display plate 33 are made of light transmittable material. The protect glass 32 is provided with an object to protect the liquid crystal panel 34. At the areas corresponding to the panel display unit 2a of the display plate 33 and the fixed display unit 2c, images are described. Here, various display parts positioned at the rear side of the area in the display plate 33 corresponding to the panel display unit 2a and electric circuits for operating the BET lamps 17a 17c are omitted to show.
A part of the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps 38a. 38b is reflected on the reel sheet. And a part of the light emitted from the LED lamps 29 arranged on the LED receiving circuit board 24 penetrates through the reel sheet. Since the above light penetrates through the non-reflection areas 36BL, 36BC, 36BR, the light guide plate 35 and the liquid crystal panel 36 both of which constructs the liquid crystal display device 31, the player can see and recognize the symbols arranged on the reels. Therefore, in a case that the liquid crystal existing at the symbol display areas 12L, 21C, 21R is not driven, the LED lamps 29 and the fluorescent lamps 38a, 38b function as the illumination means for the symbols arranged on the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. On the contrary, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps 37a, 37b and led into the light guide plate 35 penetrates through the liquid crystal panel 34 and enters in eyes of the player. That is, the fluorescent lamps 37a, 37b function as the illumination means for the area in the liquid crystal panel 34 corresponding to the above window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R and the effect display area 23.
FIG. 9 shows a construction of the sub-control circuit 71. The sub-control circuit 71 conducts turning on and off treatment of the LED lamps 29 based on the control command from the main control circuit 41, display control of the liquid crystal display device 31 and output control of sounds output from the speakers 12L, 12R. This sub-control circuit 71 is constructed on a separate circuit board from the circuit board on which the main control circuit 41 is formed and is mainly constructed from a microcomputer (abbreviated as “sub-microcomputer” hereinafter) 72. The sub-control circuit 71 is constructed from a LED drive circuit 77 as the display control means for controlling a plurality of ornamental lamps, the LED lamps 29 and the fluorescent lamps 37a, 37b which are arranged on the cabinet of the gaming machine 1, an image control circuit 81 as the display control means of the liquid crystal display device 31, a sound source IC 78 for controlling sounds output from the speakers 12L, 12R and a power amplifier 79 acting as the amplifier.
(4) backup restoration notifying control means 98 which determines whether any of that the backup restoration means 97 conducts the treatment or that backup restoration means 97 completes such treatment is notified, and has the game information such as the information indicating whether display mode (abbreviated as “restoration pattern” hereinafter) in the liquid crystal display unit 2b corresponds to any of “power supply at power restoration after power failure” or “usual power supply” when power restoration is done, the information of the internal winning combination, the information of bonus carried over and the information indicating whether the decisive information image is displayed or not, and the backup restoration notifying control means 98 controls the liquid crystal display device 31 (backup restoration notifying means) through the sub-control circuit 71 so that the restoration pattern selected (determined) by restoration pattern select means 99 is displayed in the liquid crystal display unit 2b.
Further, since the backup restoration notifying control means 98 controls the liquid crystal display device 31 (backup restoration notifying means) based on the information concerning with games, the player, for example, can get enjoyment to select the gaming machine based on the display mode (notifying mode) of the panel display unit 2a (interest for games can be raised) when the game arcade opens. And the player can select the gaming machine based on the notified information concerning with games (the information of the internal winning combination, the information of the winning combination carried over).
First, the BET operation and start operation are conducted and the internal winning combination is determined to “BB”. Continuously, the stop operation by the player is done. And as shown in FIG. 11 (1), though stop display of the symbols is finished, “BB” is not materialized. Further, as shown in FIG. 11 (2), the decisive information image 101 is displayed at the right side of the right symbol display area 21R and the letters 102 of “” are displayed below the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R. The decisive information image 101 indicates the character who crosses both arms. And after the decisive information image 101 and the letters 102 are displayed, power is cut off. Thereafter, power is restored.
FIG. 12 (1) shows a display mode corresponding to the restoration pattern 3. In the display mode, one word of “” is displayed over the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R and it is notified that the internal winning combination is “BB”. That is to say, the backup restoration notifying means (liquid crystal display device 31) is arranged at a more front side than the display area of the symbol display means (reels) when seeing the front side of the gaming machine, and the backup restoration notifying control means controls the backup restoration notifying means so that the information concerning with games is notified at the area corresponding to the symbol display part (reel sheet). When power is restored, the information concerning with games is notified in the area of the liquid crystal display unit 2b corresponding to the symbol display part (reel sheet), to which the player's eyes are concentrated. Thereby, interest for games can be raised. Further, FIG. 12 (2) shows the display mode corresponding to the restoration pattern 4. In this display mode, the sentence “backup restoration” is displayed over the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R, which notifies that the treatment of the backup restoration means is completed.
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Patent number: 7207883
Patent Publication Number: 20050176493
Inventors: Takashi Nozaki (Tokyo), Tomokazu Nakata (Tokyo)
Assistant Examiner: Matthew D. Hoel
Application Number: 10/697,006
Current U.S. Class: Suspension Or Restoration (e.g., Power Failure Resumption, Etc.) (463/24); Lot-to-lot Combination (e.g., Slot Machine, Etc.) (463/20); Perceptible Output Or Display (e.g., Tactile, Etc.) (463/30); Visual (e.g., Enhanced Graphics, Etc.) (463/31); Three-dimensional Characterization (463/32); Object Priority Or Perspective (463/33); Data Storage Or Retrieval (e.g., Memory, Video Tape, Etc.) (463/43)
International Classification: G06F 11/00 (20060101); A63F 13/00 (20060101);