AU603193B2 - Improvements in or relating to poker machines - Google Patents

Description

603193 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1952 C n M P T. P M iR S P E C I F I C A T I ON

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number PI1020 Lodged 23 March 1987 Complete Specification Lodged Accepted Published This document irtains the alendmnits made tndwr Sectio 49 y and is correct for priji ting.

Priority Related Art Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual Inventor Address for Service AINSWORTH NOMINEES PTY. LIMITED 85-113 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery, New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia Richard Edward Smyth F.B. RICE CO., Patent Attorneys, 28A Montague Street, BALMAIN. 2041.

4 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Improvements in or Relating to Poker Machines The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2_ -2- The present invention relates to poker machines and in particular to poker machines of the kind in which the reels are driven by stepper motors or to machines in which the reels are simulated by a video display.

As is well known essential elements of a poker machine consist of a plurality of reels or video simulations of reels arranged side by side, each reel bearing around its circumference a plurality of symbols. Means are provided to spin the reels and to bring them to a stop in random manner so that a line of symbols, one from each reel, are displayed side by side in a viewing window. A prize is then delivered by the nachine if the combination of symbols appearing in the viewing window is any one of the combinations of symbols that are designated on the face of the machine as attracting a prize.

In a machine having a video display there are no actual reels but the display is such as to simulate the action of reels and in the present specification references to reels are to be taken to include simulations of reels and references to the spinning or stopping of a reel are to be taken to include video simulations of such a spin or stop.

To meet increasing club or casino operating costs over the years, their managements have looked for increasing revenue from their poker machines. As it has not always been possible to increase the player's stake per game, the game cycles have been shortened, the reels spin for a much briefer period so that the machine is ready to accept the player's coin for the next game much sooner than in previous years.

A casualty of this is the pleasurable sense of anticipation experienced by a player as he sees a potential prize winning line-up forming. He has no time with a modern machine to think for example "Is the third Ace coming the next reel has already stopped by the r 3 time the eye leaves the previous reel. As the odds of the machine are such that the next reel does not usually stop on an Ace, the player repeatedly misses the feeling of suspense formerly enjoyed.

The present invention provides a means of overcoming this disability of existing machines and is applicable to any machine in which the stopped position of a reel or its simulation can be determined before stopping rotation of the next reel is effected and in which the normal sequence of operations of the machine can be suspended while a reel is allowed to revolve an extra number of revolutions or for an extra period of time.

The present invention consists of a poker machine having means to cause each reel in turn to stop in a position in which a symbol is exhibited behind a viewing window and means for determining the length of time for which each reel is spun on each operation of the machine characterised in that means are provided whereby on the appearance of a pre-determined combination of symbols exhibited by a plurality of first stopped reels in the viewing window normal operation of the machine is suspended and the time for which the next reel is spun is extended.

In order that the nature of the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a logic diagram appropriate for one form of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the viewing window of a machine in which Aces are displayed by the first and second reels the remaining reels being in motion; Fig. 3 is a similar view in which the third reel has stopped and also displays an Ace; and Fig. 4 is a similar view in which the fourth reel has stopped displaying a ten.

e x n1QW i 04t 44 4, 4 As the application of the invention does not require any modification to the poker machine as such, but merely to the programming of a micro processor controlling the operation of the machine, it is not necessary to describe or illustrate constructional features of a machine.

In the application of the invention to a five reel machine in which a substantial prize is paid out on the appearance of five aces in the viewing window of the machine, the micro processor is programmed so that the first and second reels of the machine are spun for a normal or short time. As shown in the logic diagram, once the second reel is spun, further action will depend on whether or not the first and second reels have stopped on an ace or other jackpot symbol. If they have not then the spinning of the remaining reels will follow the normal procedure, that is to say that they will be spun for a relatively short time. If however the first and second reels have stopped on a jackpot symbol as shown in Fig. 2 the third reel will be spun for a longer than normal time. It may be spun for example for two extra turns.

While this is happening the player is in suspense awaiting the appearance of the third ace. If a third ace appears as in Fig. 3, the fourth reel is spun for a longer period and similarly if an ace comes up on the fourth reel the fifth reel is spun for a longer period. If however no ace or jackpot symbol appears on the third or fourth reels as in Fig. 4 the normal machine sequence is resumed. With the arrangements described, pay-outs from the machine are niormal and the feature is independent of any other feature tfhe machine might have. In the example given the first two reels are given a normal spin on the basis that the appearance of one ace does not generate any high expectation.

The logic diagram illustrated is appropriate to a machine in which the reels are stopped on a random time i basis on to a video display machine in which the movement of the reel is simulated. In an alternative arrangement the stopped position of the reels is -stablished by means of a random number generator before the spin actually takes place. In such an arrangement a master processor controlling the game can be provided with a separate processor to control the rotation of the reels. With such an arrangement the sequence of events will be i. master executes randomnisation routine; 2. master examines resulting stops to determine whether any delays should occur; 3. master transmits data to mechanism controller providing complete information on stop positions and any delays between stops; 4. mechanism controller spins reels and stopz them as instructed; mechanism controller transmits "cycle complete" message to master; 6. master completes pay-out search etc.

Should a single processor control the entire machine, the sequence would be the same but steps 3 and 5 would be omitted.

The detailed programming required to achieve the objects of the invention could be accomplished routinely by a programmer experienced in the field and for this reason it is not considered necessary to give details of a i} specific programme in this specification.

Claims (2)

1. A poker machine having means to cause each reel in turn to stop in a position in which a symbol is exhibited behind a viewing window and means for determining the length of time for which each reel is spun on each operation of the machine characterised in that means are provided whereby on the appearance of a pre-deterained combination of symbols exhibited by a plurality of first stopped reels in the viewing window normal operation of the machine is suspended and the time for which the next reel is spun is extended.

2. A poker machine as claimed in Claim 1 wherein all the said means are controlled by a micro-processor programmed 0 to follow a logic substantially as described with Sreference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings DATED this 2nd day of August 1990 AINSWORTH NOMINEES PTY. SLIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO,