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 Title: |
US4911449:
Reel monitoring device for an amusement machine
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Dickinson, Peter D.; Reno, NV
Bertram, William K.; Reno, NV
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| Assignee: |
I G T, Reno, NV
other patents from INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY (IGT) (663363) (approx. 300)
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| Published / Filed: |
1990-03-27
/ 1985-01-02
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| Application Number: |
US1985000688295
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G07C 3/00;
G07F 9/02;
G07F 17/34;
Core:
G07F 17/32;
more...
IPC-7:
A63F 5/04;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
463/020;
Original:
273/143.R;
273/138.A;
364/411;
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| Field of Search: |
273/143 R,138 A
073/518,490,509,494,499,510,505
364/410-412,559
356/426,25,428
324/173
235/462,464,480,482
360/002
377/017,18,53,3
340/672
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| Priority Number: |
| 1985-01-02 |
US1985000688295 |
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| Abstract: |
A slot machine having three reels and a mechanism for spinning and stopping them after a starting handle is pulled, in response to control signals from a microprocessor. Each reel has a slotted coding ring forming a single track of digital information which may be read by a single optic sensor as the reel rotates. The track has 32 fields of optical information corresponding to the 32 indicia on its reel. Each field has one slot, the slot width alternating between wide and narrow sides about the track, with one sequence of three narrow slots marking a home position. A position counter counts the number of fields that pass each reel's sensor after the home position. Each time a new field is detected, the reel's direction, speed, acceleration and deceleration are checked, and an error signal is issued if the reel is not spinning properly. When the starting handle is pulled, three random numbers are generated. After a brief delay, the first random number is loaded in a counter and decremented once each time a field on the first reel passes its sensor. When this counter equals zero, a solenoid is fired to stop the first reel's rotation. This procedure is then repeated with the second and third random numbers and reels. After the third reel has stopped, the microprocessor determines whether the numbers stored in the three position counters represents a winning sequence, and notifies the player.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Townsend and Townsend ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Coven, Edward M.; Harrison, Jessica J.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 61 claims |
What is claimed:
1. An amusement machine comprising:
- a reel mounted in a frame for rotation about an axis, having a plurality of indicia disposed thereabout;
- said reel comprising a single track positioned on a circumferential path about said axis, for monitoring the rotational position of the reel relative to a fixed reference point;
- said track comprising a plurality of fields corresponding to said plurality of indicia, each field spanning a unique arcuate path at a fixed radial distance from said axis;
- a sensor positioned so as to detect movement of said fields cast a single point at said fixed radial distance;
- wherein said sensor cooperates with said track to output a pattern of signals corresponding to a forward reel rotational direction and a different pattern of signals corresponding to a reverse reel rotational direction;
- means responsive to said sensor for providing a rotational direction error signal in response to one of said forward and reverse rotational patterns;
- means responsive to said sensor for detecting the passage of a home field; and
- reel position counting means for counting the number of fields that pass the sensor after said home field.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 75 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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