WO1998056473A1 - Machine a sous de type a rouleaux employant un moyen de selection de resultat de jeu temporel aleatoire - Google Patents

Machine a sous de type a rouleaux employant un moyen de selection de resultat de jeu temporel aleatoire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998056473A1
WO1998056473A1 PCT/US1998/012314 US9812314W WO9856473A1 WO 1998056473 A1 WO1998056473 A1 WO 1998056473A1 US 9812314 W US9812314 W US 9812314W WO 9856473 A1 WO9856473 A1 WO 9856473A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
reel
display
game
slot machine
type slot
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/012314
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dale F. Rodesch
Gregory L. Rodesch
Original Assignee
Unislot, Inc.
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
Priority claimed from US08/955,846 external-priority patent/US6003867A/en
Application filed by Unislot, Inc. filed Critical Unislot, Inc.
Priority to AU79646/98A priority Critical patent/AU7964698A/en
Publication of WO1998056473A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998056473A1/fr

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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
    • G07F17/3213—Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
    • 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 present invention relates to reel -type slot machines, and more particularly to reel -type slot machines having multiple display reels each bearing a plurality of different game symbols, wherein the reels are driven to display game symbols corresponding to a game result randomly selected from repetitive sets of potential game results.
  • reel -type slot machines have evolved from mechanical type machines wherein mechanical clutches were relied on to stop spinning display reels at random locations to display a game result, to electronic type machines wherein a microprocessor randomly selects a game result, and the display reels are driven to reel positions wherein game symbols on the reels display the game result.
  • the present invention is directed to an improvement in such an electronic type slot machine wherein a game result is randomly selected from repetitive sets of potential game results, and wherein the number of occurrences of a game result within the set determines the probability of that game result being selected. After selection of the game result, the reels are positioned to display the game symbols associated with the selected result.
  • stepper motors In electronic reel type slot machines the reels are typically positioned by stepper motors, which may be contained in removable modules within the machine.
  • the stepper motors respond to applied signals which are progressively phase-shifted relative to each other such that the stepper motors are caused to turn one element of rotation for each progression of the phase signals.
  • the phase signals are typically generated in motor drive circuits, which respond to applied motor stepping pulses to advance the reels in increments.
  • the motor stepping pulses are generated by a microprocessor, a predetermined number of pulses being applied to the motor drive circuits to cause each motor to be incremented to a selected stopping position wherein the game result is displayed by the display reels.
  • the stopping positions were typically determined by the microprocessor by either counting the number of motor pulses occurring after a "home" marker on the reel had passed a fixed sensor, or by counting markers provided on the reel for each symbol position after the home marker had passed.
  • the present invention is directed to a reel -type slot machine wherein in response to a play command a random game result is selected, and the display reels are rotated to display the game symbols associated with that result. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved reel -type slot machine.
  • the invention is directed to a reel -type slot machine comprising a user-actuated spin switch for providing a play command, at least one display reel having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, the display reel being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of the game symbols, reel drive means responsive to the play command for rotatably driving the display reel, selection means responsive to the play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, the game result having an associated game symbol for display by the display reel, and display control means for causing the reel drive means to position the reel to display the associated game symbol .
  • the invention is further directed to a reel -type slot machine comprising a user actuated spin switch for providing a spin command, a plurality of display reels each having a plurality of different game symbols thereon, the display reels each being rotatably mounted to selectively display one of the game symbols, a plurality of reel drive means each responsive to the spin command for rotatably driving the display reels, selection means responsive to the play command for randomly selecting one game result from a predetermined set of potential game results, the game result having a plurality of associated game symbols for display by respective ones of the display reels, and display control means for causing the reel drive means to position the reels to display the game symbols associated with the selected game result.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reel -type slot machine constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine of Figure 1 with its cabinet open to show the principal components of the machine.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the removable reel assemblies utilized in the slot machine of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the reel assembly of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is an enlarged front view of the reel assembly of Figures 3 and 4.
  • Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the reel assembly taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.
  • Figure 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating the operation of the slot machine of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 8 is an illustration of a representative arrangement of game symbols and game symbol -indicating indicia on the three display reels of the slot machine of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 9 is a simplified schematic diagram partly in functional form illustrating the operation of the slot machine of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figures 10A-10E depict a table showing the association between random numbers and game results in the slot machine of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figures 11A-11E depict a table similar to that of Figures 10A-10E wherein the probability of occurrence of an undesired game result has been reduced to zero.
  • Figure 12 is a simplified schematic diagram partially in functional block form illustrating the method of randomly selecting a game result.
  • Figure 13 is a simplified schematic diagram partially in functional block form illustrating an alternate construction for accomplishing the game selection method of Figure 12.
  • Figure 14 is an enlarged exploded view of an alternate form of the reel assembly of Figure 3.
  • Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the reel assembly of Figure 14 taken along line 15-15 of Figure 14.
  • Figure 16 is an illustration of a representative arrangement of game symbols and game symbol -indicating indicia on the alternate form of reel assembly of Figures 14 and 15.
  • Figure 17 is a simplified schematic partially in functional block form illustrating the operation of a slot machine utilizing the alternate reel assembly of Figures 14-16.
  • Figure 18 is a simplified schematic diagram of a portion of the functional block diagram of Figure 17.
  • Figure 19 is a simplified schematic diagram of the ramp-up circuit utilized in the slot machine of Figure 17.
  • Figure 20 is a simplified schematic diagram of the ramp down-circuit utilized m the slot machine of Figure 17.
  • a reel-type slot machine 20 constructed in accordance with the invention is seen to include a cabinet 21 having a display window 22. Game symbols 23-25 contained on respective reels 26-28 ( Figure 2) of individual plug-in reel assemblies 30-32 are visible on a pay line 29 through the window. It will be understood that the slot machine can be constructed with a greater or lesser number of display reels.
  • slot machine 20 includes a coin slot 33 ( Figure 1) for receiving coins, a tray 34 for dispensing coins, and a user-actuated play handle 35 for initiating game play.
  • slot machine 20 further includes a coin dispensing unit 36 ( Figure 2) of conventional design and an electronic game control module 37 for controlling game operation.
  • this module among its other control functions provides drive signals to reel assemblies 30-32 to cause reels 26-28 to display game symbols corresponding to a particular game result on pay line 29.
  • reel assembly 30 which may be identical to the other reel assemblies except possibly for its symbol make-up, is seen to include a stepper motor 40 having a shaft 41 on which display reel 26 is received.
  • the reel includes an outer rim portion 42 on which game symbols 23 are contained, and an inner rim portion 43 concentric with the outer portion on which symbol -indicating indicia in the form of a plurality of apertures 44 are arranged side-by-side in three columns.
  • the two reel portions 42 and 43 are carried on shaft 41 at a fixed angular position relative to each other.
  • the entire display reel 26 is formed as a single piece which can be conveniently installed on and removed from shaft 41.
  • a flat 45 may be formed on shaft 41 to provide positive rotational coupling between stepper motor 40 and the reel.
  • a generally A-shaped frame 46 is provided to position motor 40 such that one symbol position on the outer rim portion 42 can be seen on pay line 29 through window 22 when reel assembly 30 is installed in cabinet
  • a detector assembly 47 on frame 46 operates in conjunction with the indicia 44 on the inner rim portion 43 to identify the game symbols as they approach window
  • reel 26 includes a hub portion 49 which is received over motor shaft 41.
  • An aperture 50 in the hub portion receives the motor shaft.
  • a spring 51 within the hub portion engages the flat 45 on the shaft to secure the hub on the shaft, and prevent independent reel rotation.
  • a set screw may be provided in the hub portion for the same purpose.
  • Detector assembly 47 is seen in Figure 6 to include a housing having two projecting portions 52 and 53 which form a slot 54 through which the inner rim portion 43 passes.
  • the upper portion 52 includes three light sources in the form of LEDs 55a- 55c and the lower portion 53 includes three photodetectors 56a-56c.
  • LEDs 55a-55c and detectors 56a-56c are aligned with rim portion 43 such that the three columns of symbol -indicating apertures 44 contained thereon pass between respective paired LEDs and detectors with rotation of the reel. In this way, the passage of each set of apertures is sensed, and, in a manner to be explained, the game control circuits determine when a particular game symbol is about to be displayed in window 22.
  • FIG. 7 The basic operation of slot machine 20 is functionally illustrated in Figure 7.
  • a series of potential game results is rapidly repetitively generated at 60.
  • the microprocessor- driven game control circuits upon receipt of a play command, either as a result of the player depositing a coin or actuating a spin switch, select the then existing potential game result at 61.
  • this number is utilized in conjunction with a stored look-up table in an EPROM or similar memory device to provide a game result comprising, in this three reel embodiment, three game symbols SYM1 , SYM2 and SYM3.
  • the first reel 26 continues to spin for a first predetermined free spin period, typically one second, and upon completion of this period at 64 a stopping procedure is initiated at 65 whereby signals developed by the game symbol -indicating apertures 44 passing detector 47 are compared with signals corresponding to the desired game symbol SYM1.
  • a stopping procedure is initiated at 65 whereby signals developed by the game symbol -indicating apertures 44 passing detector 47 are compared with signals corresponding to the desired game symbol SYM1.
  • the application of normal drive signals to stepper motor 40 is interrupted and a stop routine is initiated at 66 to stop the display reel with the desired symbol displayed.
  • the second display reel 27 continues to spin, and upon completion of a second predetermined spin period, also typically one second, at 67 following the stopping of reel 26 the signals generated by the symbol -indicating apertures on reel 2 are compared at 68 with signals corresponding to the desired game symbol SYM2 for reel 27, and upon occurrence of a comparison a stop routine is initiated at 69 to cause reel 27 to stop with the desired game symbol for that reel displayed.
  • a second predetermined spin period also typically one second
  • the third display reel 28 continues to spin through a third one second predetermined free spin period at 70 following the stopping of reel 27 until at 71 a comparison of the signals generated by the symbol - indicating apertures 44 thereon with a signal corresponding to the desired symbol to be displayed on the reel is obtained and a stop routine 72 causes the reel to stop with the intended game symbol displayed through window 22 on pay line 29.
  • the monitoring system signals a spin error at 73, an alarm is sounded and the game is inhibited at 74.
  • each of the three display reels 26-28 has 22 display positions, containing 11 blank symbols and 11 non-blank symbols.
  • the symbols appear on the outer rim portions 42 of the reels in alternation, a blank symbol appearing between each pair of consecutive non-blank game symbols .
  • Indicia comprising a three bit binary code is associated with each symbol by the provision of thin slit- shaped apertures on the inner rim portion 43 of each display reel. These binary codes are unique to their associated symbol or blank, and are arranged in three columns A-C around the reel rim portions 43.
  • the angular displacement of the leading edge of the codes to the symbols may range from 0° to 180°, depending on the location of sensors 47 relative to the pay line, and on the angular rotation required to stop the reel.
  • the stop is essentially instantaneous and the displacement is 115°.
  • the displacement is 155° (115° + 40°) .
  • Game control circuits 37 which typically include a microprocessor and associated memory and input -output circuits depicted functionally in Figure 9 as game circuits 77, receive signals from a conventional coin-in detector 180 and a conventional spin switch 181, which may be either a panel- mounted push button switch or a switch actuated by play handle 35.
  • the microprocessor randomly selects a number from 1-216, representing a selected game result from the 216 game results possible with the three reels configured with symbols as previously described.
  • This number is applied to a memory device 79, preferably taking the form of an EPROM 79, in which a look-up table has been stored.
  • the look-up table contains specific game symbols to be displayed (blank, 7, bar, double bar, triple bar, or cherry) by each reel for the selected game result.
  • the game result display symbols are separately output from the EPROM as three bit binary signals which are applied to a respective ones of three comparators 80-82.
  • stepper pulses generated by a clock 83 and a divider 87 are applied to individual motor phase signal generating circuits 88-90 associated with reel assemblies 30-32, respectively.
  • Circuits 88-90 provide progressively advancing quadrature phase signals in response to the applied stepper pulses to stepper motor drive circuits 91- 93, respectively.
  • the outputs of each drive circuit are applied to the four stator windings of the associated stepper motor 40 in a conventional manner whereby the stepper motor is caused to incrementally rotate in response to each stepper pulse.
  • an inhibit signal is applied by the corresponding comparator through respective ones of AND gates 94-96 and invertors 97-99 to AND gates 84-86, respectively, the application of normal stepper pulses to the corresponding one of motor phase signal circuits 88-90 is interrupted, and the corresponding reel is stopped, either abruptly by force of the motor or by a ramp-down procedure to be described.
  • an appropriate signal indicative of the pay-out amount is generated by EPROM 79 and applied to hopper mechanism 36 to pay out the appropriate number of coins.
  • each of the reel assemblies except for the symbol make-up of their individual reels 26-28, which may or may not be the same, may be identical in construction and operation.
  • each of the three motor drive circuits 91-93 may be identical in structure and operation.
  • game control circuits 77 include three delay circuits 100-102.
  • Delay circuit 100 which is triggered by actuation of spin switch 181 through an inverter 103, may provide a delay, for example, of approximately one second.
  • AND gate 94 is inhibited by the delay circuit, preventing the application of a stop signal from comparator 80 to AND gate 84 through inverter 97.
  • Delay circuit 101 which is triggered by the stop signal at the output of AND gate 94, similarly prevents the output of comparator 81 from inhibiting AND gate 85 through inverter 98 for approximately one second following the stopping of display reel 26.
  • Delay circuit 102 in like manner prevents the output of comparator 82 from inhibiting AND gate 86 for one second following the stopping of display reel 27.
  • an RS flip-flop 104 which is set by the output of AND gate 96 when the third reel 28 comes to rest.
  • the Q output of this flip-flop is applied to an AND gate 106, which inhibits the application of stepper pulses to the motor phase signal circuits.
  • the Q output of RS flip-flop 104 is applied through an inverter 107 to a NAND gate 108, which also receives the output of a delay circuit 109 triggered by spin switch 181.
  • NAND gate 108 produces an output which is applied through NAND gate 110 to an alarm circuit 111 and through an inverter 112 to an inhibiting input of coin hopper 36.
  • an inverter 113 and NAND gate 114 which provide an alarm output through NAND gate 110 if the reels are moved after the reels have stopped and RS flip-flop 104 is set.
  • control circuits 77 have been shown and explained in terms of certain logic components, it will be appreciated that the same functionality can be readily obtained by means of a conventional microprocessor using well known programming techniques. For example, in the present embodiment all the functions of circuits 77 can be accomplished using, for example, a type ATMEL 89C2051 microprocessor in conjunction with an appropriate EPROM and conventional and well known peripheral components. Furthermore, while a three reel machine is shown, one or more additional reels can be provided utilizing the control methods described for reels 26-28.
  • FIG. 10A-10E A table illustrating the 216 potential game results for a representative slot machine having the five different non-blank symbols is shown in Figures 10A-10E. Referring to these Figures, it is seen that 216 different combinations of the symbols on three reels, i.e., 216 different game results, are possible. The probability of selection of each of the different game results is dependent on its time window of availability, which in turn is dependent on its weight, or the number of times it appears within the set of potential game results. In this case there are 268,435,455 game results in the set which may for convenience be sequentially numbered with the repeated game results being designated as subsets.
  • Certain winning combinations of symbols are given a low probability and a high payout.
  • Losing combina- tions may be given a high probability.
  • the first 97 losing game results have the same size subset (2,416,822) and hence the same probability of occurrence (0.009003364) and same zero payout.
  • Winning game results in the table depending on the particular symbols being displayed, have lesser probabilities. For example, game result 143, which displays three cherries, has a subset or weight of
  • Game result 195 the "777" jackpot, has a subset with a weight of 19, a probability of occurrence of 0.000000071, and a payout of 1,000,000 times the bet.
  • Figures 11A-11E it is also possible to completely omit one or more undesirable game results by reducing the occurrence of that game result in the set of potential game results to zero.
  • the 3 blanks corresponding to game result 1 in Figures 10A-10E may be eliminated by reducing the subset from a weight of 2,416,822 to a weight of 0. The weight of this combination is spread proportionately across the other 96 losing combinations.
  • the ability to control the number of occurrences of a particular game result in the generated set of game results provides the game designer a high degree of flexibility.
  • the size of a subset of random numbers which will give a particular game result i.e., a particular set of game symbols
  • the odds of occurrence of that result, and hence the payout which can be assigned to that result can be readily set. Since these selections are contained in a replaceable EPROM, the make-up of the game can be easily changed to provide greater or lesser odds (and hence greater or lesser sized payouts), and more frequent or less frequent payouts.
  • the designer can make the game more exciting to the player.
  • the game result is selected by sequentially opening windows of time for each game result where the total time duration for each event is proportional to the desired probability.
  • An external happening such as the actuating of a start switch by a player, will result in the selection of the event whose time window is open at that particular moment.
  • this method may be implemented by utilizing a high frequency clock circuit 200 to apply clock pulses to a 32 bit counter 201. As the counter counts a 32 bit number is outputted indicating the cumulative count in the counter up to 4,294,967,295, after which the counter returns to zero and begins a new count .
  • the output of counter 201 is applied to an EPROM 202, which provides an 8 bit output indicative of one of the 216 previously described possible game results for each of the 4,294,967,295 counting states of counter 201. This 8 bit output is applied to a latch circuit 203, pending application of the next count from counter 201.
  • a control pulse is applied through a conditioning circuit 204 to latch circuit 203 which causes the latch to output its contents to an EPROM 205.
  • This device associates the eight bit game result with specific symbols to be displayed by the reels, and outputs an appropriate symbol command signal for application to the comparators 80-82 associated with reels 30-32, respectively, causing the reels to display the symbols.
  • Figure 12 would require that EPROM 202 be extraordinarily large in size and capable of very high speed performance.
  • An implementation utilizing a pair of smaller EPROMs operating at a lower access speed is shown in Figure 13.
  • the high-speed clock 200 drives the 32-bit synchronous counter 201. Bits Q4 through Q19 of the counter are used to sequentially address a 64K x 8 EPROM 207.
  • the 65,536 possible EPROM addresses are divided amongst the 215 possible reel combinations (excluding the lowest probability game result, which is discussed later) in proportion to the desired probability previously tabulated in Figures 10A- 10E.
  • the output data (D0-D7) of EPROM 207 is a binary encoding of the 215 line items (8 bits) .
  • line item 2 of Figure 10A 590 different addresses (0.009003364 x 65,536) applied to EPROM 207 will result in a binary output of 00000010 (decimal 2) . It is not necessary that these 590 addresses be contiguous. In one complete cycle through the 65,536 possible addresses, which occurs every 16 milliseconds, the total time duration that each result appears at the output is proportional to the desired probability. The counter is run continuously. The data for each new address is stored in latch 209. When a positive-going transition from SPIN switch 181 occurs, the data currently stored in latch 209 is transferred to, and retained in, a latch 211 as the game result to be displayed.
  • bits Q16 through Q31 of the 32 -bit counter are used as addresses for a second 64K x 1 EPROM 208.
  • the counter 201 has a range of 2 32 and, at a clock frequency of 66 megahertz, the counter will roll over every 65.075 seconds.
  • Each address in EPROM 208 that generates a true output will in turn result in a 15.1515 nanosecond pulse (the clock period) .
  • Figure 10E indicates the 7-7-7 combination has a target probability of
  • an EPROM 212 (with only nine address lines, A0-A8, to cover the 215 possibilities) can provide the specific symbols to be displayed by the three reels and the required payout, if any.
  • Circuits 210 and 214 may be identical. Their purpose is to synchronize events to the clock and overcome any switching transients and delays. They provide an output pulse in response to a positive-going transition of the signal applied to the D-input of the first flip-flop. The output pulse will start with the third clock pulse following the input signal and will have a duration precisely equal to the period of the clock.
  • EPROM 208 could be expanded to include additional output pins which, together with circuitry identical to gate 213, circuit 214 and flip-flop 215, could provide other prioritized payouts.
  • PAL programmable array logic device
  • reel assemblies Further flexibility is provided to the designer by the construction of the reel assemblies.
  • display reels 26-28 can be readily removed from their associated motor shafts 41 without disturbing the sensor assemblies 47, an operator can change reel makeup at the same time he changes EPROM 79, allowing for a completely different game to be installed.
  • stepper motor drive circuits 91-93 for a ramp-up period following a spin command (as when spin button 181 is actuated) and for a ramp-down period following a stop command (as when a comparator generates a stop signal) .
  • an advantageous construction for obtaining a stop initiating command is to provide an additional set of binary coded indicia 130 ( Figure 16) angularly displaced from the symbol -indicating stop indicia associated with the displayed game symbol.
  • This additional stop initiating indicia which preferably utilizes the same 3 bit binary coding as the stop command indicia, is differentiated from the stop indicia by the presence of a fourth bit, contained in a fourth column D in Figure 16.
  • the fourth bit may be represented by an aperture which is shorter than the apertures representing the other three bits so as to act as a strobe bit for greater precision in detecting the passage of the symbol code.
  • An additional LED light source 131 and associated photosensor 132 are provided in a sensor assembly 133 ( Figure 15) mounted on the reel assembly frame to detect the additional bit.
  • the stop initiating indicia are spaced ahead of the stop-indicating indicia by an angular displacement sufficient to allow the display reel to be ramped down to a slow stopping speed prior to the reel reaching the stop position.
  • the application of the slow stepping pulses is interrupted and the reel abruptly stops.
  • three ramp-down circuits 135-137 provide decreasing rate stepping pulses to stepper motor drive circuits 91-93 during the stopping routine, and a single ramp-up circuit 138 provides increasing rate stepper pulses during the starting routine.
  • the operation of the ramp-down circuits is controlled by three RS flip-flops 139-141, which initiate the ramp-down routine, and three RS flip-flops 142-144, which stop the reels.
  • the operation of ramp-up circuit 138 is controlled by spin switch 181.
  • circuit 138 When the ramp-up routine is complete, circuit 138 provides an output to delay circuit 100, which times the free-spin period of reel 26 as previously described. After this free-spin period, AND gate 94 is enabled to allow the output of comparator 80 to initiate a stop routine. As before, comparator 80 is looking for a match with the symbol indicia provided by EPROM 79. However, the Q output of RS flip-flop 139, in its reset state, requires that the fourth bit associated with stop- initiating indicia also be present for a match. This prevents the comparator from responding to stop- indicating symbol indicia passing detector 133, and allows the comparator to respond to stop- initiating indicia on reel 26.
  • RS flip-flop 139 When a match is recognized by comparator 80, RS flip-flop 139 is set, and AND gate 145 is inhibited to prevent stepper pulses from the ramp-up circuit 138 from being applied to motor phase signal circuits 88. At the same time, the Q output of RS flip-flop 139 enables an AND gate 148, allowing pulses from ramp-down circuit 135 to be applied to stepper motor drive circuits 91 through an OR gate 149.
  • the comparator Since the Q output of flip-flop 139 no longer requires comparator 80 to sense the fourth bit, the comparator responds to the next -occurring stop- indicating symbol indicia to provide a signal which is applied through an AND gate 150, upon receipt of a stop enabling signal from ramp-down circuit 135, to set RS flip-flop 142, which inhibits AND gate 148 to prevent further application of pulses to stepper motor drive circuits 91. Lack of the stop enabling signal from ramp-down circuit 135 prevents RS flip-flop 142 from being set by the comparison output which occurs with passage of the stop- initiating symbol indicia or with passage of any stop- indicating symbol indicia prior to the completion of a substantial portion of the ramp-down. Delay circuit 101 is actuated when RS flip-flop 142 is set to initiate the free spin period for display reel 27.
  • Display reels 27 and 28 are controlled in a similar manner by RS flip-flops 140 and 141, which initiate the ramp-down routine, and RS flip-flops 143 and 144, which stop the reels in conjunction with AND gates 151-154 and OR gates 155 and 156 ( Figure 20) .
  • RS flip-flop 104 The function of RS flip-flop 104 is as previously described, except that the device is set by the output of an AND gate 157, which provides a set signal when all three comparators 80-82 indicate a match (i.e., when all three display reels are displaying the game result symbols called for by EPROM 79) and RS flip-flop 144 is set, indicating that the third reel has stopped.
  • AND gate 157 which provides a set signal when all three comparators 80-82 indicate a match (i.e., when all three display reels are displaying the game result symbols called for by EPROM 79) and RS flip-flop 144 is set, indicating that the third reel has stopped.
  • one form of ramp-up circuit 138 suitable for use in slot machine 20 is seen to include three counters 160-162, a comparator 163, and an RS flip-flop 164. While the start signal is false, all three counters are held in reset and RS flip-flop 164 is reset. Upon actuation of spin switch 181, the start signal is true and counter 160 counts applied clock pulses until a count of 16 is reached, at which time the counter produces an output which inhibits further counting by the counter and enables counter 161 to count clock pulses. Counter 161 continues to count from zero until its output, applied inverted to comparator 163, compares to the initial zero count in counter 162.
  • RS flip-flop 164 also resets counters 160 and 161, allowing counter 160 to again count clock pulses. With the next negative transition of the clock pulse, RS flip-flop 164 is reset and counter 162 is advanced one count. When counter 160 again reaches its maximum count of 16, counter 161 is again enabled and begins counting clock pulses. Since there is now a one count in counter 162, counter 161 needs only to count to 62 before its inverted output compares with the non- inverted output of counter 162 and comparator 163 produces an output which resets RS flip-flop 164. As before, this produces a stepping pulse for application to the stepper motor phase circuits, an increment of one count in counter 162, and a reset of counters 160 and 161.
  • stepping pulses are produced with linearly increasing frequency as counter 161 counts to progressively lower counting states to match the progressively increasing counting state of counter 162.
  • the ramp-up circuit may initially produce stepping pulses at 160 hertz, ramping-up in 64 linear steps to a pulse rate of 800 hertz, which it continues to produce until a subsequent start signal is received. With a nominal clock frequency of 12.8 KHz, this results in a ramp-up speed starting at 0.4 RPS and increasing to 2.0 RPS.
  • the functioning of ramp-down circuit 135 is similar to ramp-up circuit 138 except that the outputs of counter 161 are applied to comparator 163 non-inverted.
  • one form of ramp-down circuit 135 suited for use in slot machine 20 is seen to include three counters 170-172, a comparator 173 and an RS flip-flop 174. While the start signal is false, all three counters are held in reset and RS flip-flop 174 is reset. Upon actuation of spin switch 181, the start signal is true and counter 170 counts applied clock pulses until a count of 16 is reached, at which time the counter produces an output which inhibits further counting by the counter and enables counter 171 to count clock pulses. Counter 161 continues to count from zero until its output, applied to comparator 173, compares to the initial zero count in counter 172.
  • RS flip-flop 174 also resets counters 170 and 171, allowing counter 170 to again count clock pulses. With the next negative transition of the clock pulse, RS flip-flop 174 is reset and counter 172 is advanced one count. When counter 170 again reaches its maximum count of 16, counter 171 is again enabled and begins counting clock pulses. Since there is now a one count in counter 172, counter 171 needs to count to 1 before its output compares with the output of counter 172 and comparator 173 produces an output which resets RS flip-flop 164. As before, this produces a stepping pulse for application to the motor phase circuits, an increment of one count in counter 172, and a reset of counters 170 and 171.
  • the ramp-down circuit may initially produce stepping pulses at 800 hertz, and ramp- down in 45 linear steps to a pulse rate of 210 hertz, at which rate it continues to produce pulses until a stop signal is received. With a nominal clock frequency of 12.8 KHz, this results in a ramp-down speed starting at 2 RPS and ending at 0.4 RPS .
  • ramp-up and ramp-down functions have been illustrated using discrete logic components, it will be appreciated that all of the same functions and results can be advantageously performed by a conventional microprocessor using well known conventional programming techniques .
  • a slot machine has been shown and described wherein a game result is randomly selected from a series of potential game results, game symbols are identified for display by each reel, and the reels are spun and stopped by symbol detecting sensors to display the game result.

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine à sous (20) de type à rouleaux, qui comporte un circuit de commande de jeu à microprocesseur en vue d'une sélection aléatoire d'un résultat de jeu. Trois ensembles rouleaux (26-28) comportent chacun un rouleau portant des symboles entraîné par un moteur (4) pas-à-pas, servant à afficher des symboles de jeu correspondant au résultat du jeu. Une série de signaux représentant des résultats de jeu potentiels est produite de manière répétée dans les circuits de commande de jeu. Lorsqu'un utilisateur actionne un commutateur de rotation (35), l'un des résultats de jeu est sélectionné de façon aléatoire en vue d'une application de celui-ci à un tableau de visualisation dans lequel on peut identifier les trois symboles de jeu correspondants. Le nombre de répétitions d'un résultat de jeu potentiel dans la série permet de déterminer une fenêtre de temps de disponibilité du résultat, et par conséquent la probabilité que ce résultat de jeu a d'être sélectionné. Après que les trois symboles de jeu ont été identifiés, les rouleaux d'affichage sont entraînés par leur moteur pas-à-pas respectif pour afficher les symboles de jeu. Des circuits d'accélération et de décélération peuvent être utilisés.
PCT/US1998/012314 1997-06-13 1998-06-12 Machine a sous de type a rouleaux employant un moyen de selection de resultat de jeu temporel aleatoire WO1998056473A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU79646/98A AU7964698A (en) 1997-06-13 1998-06-12 Reel type slot machine utilizing time-based random game result selection means

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87604697A 1997-06-13 1997-06-13
US08/876,046 1997-06-13
US08/955,846 US6003867A (en) 1997-06-13 1997-10-21 Reel type slot machine utilizing time-based random game result selection means
US08/955,846 1997-10-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998056473A1 true WO1998056473A1 (fr) 1998-12-17

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PCT/US1998/012314 WO1998056473A1 (fr) 1997-06-13 1998-06-12 Machine a sous de type a rouleaux employant un moyen de selection de resultat de jeu temporel aleatoire

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Country Link
AU (1) AU7964698A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998056473A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4099722A (en) * 1975-07-30 1978-07-11 Centronics Data Computer Corp. Electronic slot machine
US4448419A (en) * 1982-02-24 1984-05-15 Telnaes Inge S Electronic gaming device utilizing a random number generator for selecting the reel stop positions

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4099722A (en) * 1975-07-30 1978-07-11 Centronics Data Computer Corp. Electronic slot machine
US4448419A (en) * 1982-02-24 1984-05-15 Telnaes Inge S Electronic gaming device utilizing a random number generator for selecting the reel stop positions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7964698A (en) 1998-12-30

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