Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120119660 | LIGHTING COMPENSATION FOR APPLIANCES - Apparatus and methodology is provided to control lighting associated with an appliance. Ambient light proximate the appliance and/or light from one or more lighting devices associated with the appliance is monitored and used to control the energization of the appliance lighting devices. Lighting device may include illumination devices as well as indicia display devices. The controller is configured to compensate lighting levels over the lifetime of the lighting devices to provide consistent lighting from the appliance lighting under all operating conditions. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120386 | WATER COLOR SENSING HARDWARE AND METHODOLOGY FOR APPLIANCES - Apparatus and methodologies are provided to selectively activate a liquid usage option in a washing apparatus based on the color of the liquid. Light from different light sources is passed through a liquid to be tested and the intensity of the light passing through the liquid is measured. The measurement is adjust based on a measurement of the turbidity of the liquid and the measurement compared to a reference value derived from measurements of a clear liquid. A decision is made based on the adjust measured color of the liquid regarding retention of the liquid for further use in the washing apparatus. The liquid tested may correspond to grey water from a previous wash cycle. | 05-17-2012 |
20120125910 | VOLTAGE SWITCHING MICROSWITCH FOR HOT SURFACE IGNITER SYSTEM - A voltage switching microswitch is provided for supplying power to a hot surface igniter in a gas burning system. The microswitch is configured to operate concurrently with manual operation of a gas control valve such that rotation of an operating stem of the gas control valve produces rotation of a cam within the microswitch. The cam is configured to operate a pair of reed switches so that a relatively high voltage from a power supply is applied to the hot surface igniter following a first predetermined amount of rotation of the cam and a relatively lower voltage is applied to the hot surface igniter following a second predetermined amount of rotation of the cam to maintain the temperature of the igniter. | 05-24-2012 |
20120152290 | PORT ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device includes a cap assembly having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture. The cap assembly is configured to couple to a lip of the storage container. A sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly, and an outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly. The outlet assembly is coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container. | 06-21-2012 |
20120285946 | UTENSIL QUALITY FEEDBACK FOR INDUCTION COOKTOP - Methodology, apparatus and computer programming are provide that permit an induction cooking appliance to evaluate a utensil for use with the appliance. A user may manually initiate an evaluation that will prompt the user to place a utensil on the appliance for evaluation. An evaluation is made based on differences between the expected energy and actual energy delivered. A score related to suitability for use of the utensil may then be displayed to the user. | 11-15-2012 |
20120285948 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING VESSEL PRESENCE AND CIRCUIT RESONANCE FOR AN INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS - Systems and methods for detecting vessel presence and circuit resonance for an induction heating apparatus are disclosed. A detector circuit generates an output signal based on a feedback signal corresponding to a signal, such as current, flowing through an induction heating coil. The output signal has a duty cycle corresponding to the proximity of operating frequency of the induction heating apparatus to resonance. Changes in the duty cycle of the output signal can be monitored to determine the presence or absence of a vessel on the induction heating coil. | 11-15-2012 |
20120305546 | INDUCTION COOKTOP PAN SENSING - An induction heating system includes a heating coil operable to inductively heat a load with a magnetic field, a variable high frequency power source supplying a high frequency current to the heating coil, a detector for detecting a current through the coil and providing a current signal representative of the current, a controller for controlling the frequency of the current to the heating coil and responsive to the current signal from the detector to capture and analyze a current signature, the controller being operative to sweep a current operating frequency across an operating frequency spectrum, and to combine a sum of the current signature with a two-sample swing of the current signature, and determine a presence of a load on the heating coil and control the frequency of the current to the coil based on a signal resulting from the combined signal. | 12-06-2012 |
20120312804 | AUDIBLE NOISE MANIPULATION FOR INDUCTION COOKTOP - A method for operating an induction cooktop having multiple induction heating coils includes monitoring a characteristic of the heating coils indicative of audible noise generated by simultaneous operation of multiple induction heating coils. Upon indication of audible noise from the monitored characteristic, an operating characteristic of at least one of the induction heating coils is varied so as to change the audible noise into a pre-defined, stored audible noise pattern that is desirous to a consumer or user of the cooktop. | 12-13-2012 |
20130030552 | OPTICALLY-PROJECTED USER INTERFACE FOR APPLIANCES - An apparatus comprises a front projection system operatively mounted as part of an appliance and configured to optically project a virtual user interface; an optics system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to direct the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system onto a given surface; a user input system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to receive one or more input selections made by a user in correspondence with one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system on the given surface via the optics system; and a controller operatively coupled to the front projection system and the user input system, and configured to control operation of one or more components of the appliance in response to the one or more input selections made by the user in correspondence with the one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface. | 01-31-2013 |
20130175259 | INDUCTION COOKING ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCED REJECTION METHODS - An induction cooking system and method that prevents a valid key touch from being rejected is provided. A noise rejection apparatus can prevent noise from influencing the determination of a valid key touch. | 07-11-2013 |
20130200069 | CONTROL METHOD FOR AN INDUCTION COOKING APPLIANCE - A system and method of controlling an induction cooking appliance based on a feedback signal. A feedback signal sampling time interval may be triggered when a power control signal has a magnitude of zero. The feedback signal sample may be used to calculate a status factor and the appliance may be controlled based on the calculated status factor. | 08-08-2013 |
20130320000 | METHOD TO DETECT A POSITION OF A COOKWARE UTENSIL IN AN INDUCTION COOKTOP SYSTEM - An induction cooktop appliance system and method for controlling the induction cooktop appliance based on a cookware position is provided. A variable power signal can be applied to an induction coil from an inverter. The power signal can be driven at a test frequency and an operating frequency. An electrical signal can be detected across a shunt resistor based on the test frequency and a cookware position can be determined based on the electrical signal. The operating frequency supplied to the induction coil can be modified based on determined cookware position. | 12-05-2013 |
20140014647 | INDUCTION COOKTOP PAN SENSING - An induction heating system includes an induction heating coil operable to inductively heat a load with a magnetic field; a detector for detecting a current through the coil and providing a current signal representative of the current; and a controller with a memory in communication with a processor. The memory includes program instructions for execution by the processor to detect a presence of the load on the induction heating coil based on a characteristic of the current signal; determine a resonant frequency of the system with the load from a characteristic of the current signal; determine operational performance characteristics of the system; and output an indication of the operational performance characteristics of the system. | 01-16-2014 |
20140197160 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING SWITCHING ELEMENTS IN AN INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEM - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for protecting switching elements in an induction heating system. A switching power loss associated with a switching element of the induction heating system can be calculated and an operating frequency of the induction heating system can be adjusted based upon the switching power loss. According to one aspect, the switching power loss can be classified into one of a plurality of threat zones based upon the magnitude of the switching power loss and the operating frequency can be adjusted based upon the threat zone into which the switching power loss is classified. According to another aspect, the switching power loss can be calculated based at least in part on a duty cycle of an output signal. The duty cycle of the output signal can provide an indication of the proximity of the operating frequency of the induction heating system to resonance. | 07-17-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110147102 | OBJECT DETECTION DEVICE - A device for detecting the presence of an object is provided. The device includes a light source, a current controller coupled to the light source, a sensor and a pattern detection engine. The current controller sets to provide the light source with a drive current having a pattern. The sensor is operable to receive light, notably light reflected from an object at the detection area and subsequently generates a signal in response to the light received. The pattern detection engine receives the signal from the sensor and subsequently reports the presence of the object upon determining the presence of the pattern in the signal. The object detection system is further configured to provide a navigation operation when an object is detected at the detection area. | 06-23-2011 |
20120110662 | User Indentification with Capacitive Touchscreen - Disclosed herein are various embodiments of means and methods for verifying or authorizing one or more verified or authorized users to operate or use an electronic device containing a capacitive or other type of touchscreen or touch panel. Images are acquired from the touchscreen or touch panel and processed to determine first characteristics corresponding to fingers, hands or hand portions placed thereon. If the first characteristics match stored second characteristics with a sufficient degree of similarity, the user is identified as an authorized or verified user and then permitted to operate or use the electronic device. | 05-03-2012 |
20120182225 | Detection of Predetermined Objects with Capacitive Touchscreens or Touch Panels - Various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods of detecting the presence of at least one predetermined object held against a capacitive touchscreen by a user's finger or hand are disclosed. The predetermined object is held or placed against a touchscreen or touch panel, and sensed mutual capacitance signals are routed to a processor. The processor determines whether the sensed signals correspond to the at least one predetermined object on the basis of one or more predetermined ranges of mutual capacitances corresponding to the predetermined object, where the predetermined range of mutual capacitances does not correspond to a user's finger or hand. Other characteristics of the predetermined object may also be determined, such as the object's shape, orientation or electrical resistance. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182252 | Differential Capacitive Touchscreen or Touch Panel - Various embodiments of differential cells for touchscreens or touch panels in capacitive sensing systems are disclosed. The differential circuit topologies of individual cells forming an array of such cells in a touchscreen or touch panel are configured to cancel common mode noise appearing on the multiple sense lines contained in each cell, and can result in lower power consumption, enhanced touch or near-touch sensitivity for a touchscreen or touch panel, and increased immunity from noise. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182253 | Capacitive Touchscreen or Touch Panel with Fingerprint Reader - Various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen or touch panel having dual finger or hand navigation and fingerprint reading capabilities. In one embodiment, fingerprints are read and processed by the same capacitive touchscreen controller that reads and processes capacitively-sensed finger or hand touches made across the touchscreen or touch panel. A small portion of the capacitive touchscreen or touch panel is dedicated to reading an authorized user's fingerprints, while a larger or main portion of the capacitive touchscreen or touch panel is dedicated to sensing a user's finger or hand navigation across the touchscreen or touch panel. | 07-19-2012 |
20120293445 | Noise Blanking for Capacitive Touch Displays - Disclosed are various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen or touch panel system comprising a controller operably connected to a first plurality of drive electrodes and a second plurality of sense electrodes. The controller includes a noise disruption detector circuit, a user noise source detector/anticipator circuit, clock control logic circuitry operably connected to the noise disruption detector circuit and to the user noise source detector/anticipator circuit, at least one static-clocked digital filter circuit operably connected to and controlled by the clock control logic circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) operably connected to the clock control logic circuitry, firmware operably connected to the CPU; and touch position circuitry configured to deliver signals indicative of touch positions on the touchscreen to a host controller. The controller is configured to employ at least one of the CPU and the firmware to cause the clock control logic circuitry to inhibit operation of the digital filter circuit in response to a signal representative of excessive noise levels being provided by either the noise disruption detector circuit or the user noise source detector/anticipator circuit. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293446 | Automatic Gain Control for Capacitive Touch Panel Sensing System - Disclosed are capacitive touchscreen or touch panel systems, devices and methods which increase the dynamic range of touches that may be detected on a capacitive touch screen or touch panel. Increased dynamic range is provided by employing automatic gain control methodologies and circuitry to process signals corresponding to individual mutual capacitance cells in a touch screen or touch panel. | 11-22-2012 |
20130135245 | On-Chip Power Down Generation for LDO-Based Touchscreen Controllers - Various embodiments of methods and devices are provided for a mutual capacitance touchscreen controller comprising a first on-chip low drop out regulator (LDO) configured to receive and regulate as a first input thereto an input supply voltage (VSUPPLY), and to provide as an output therefrom a first regulated output voltage (VDDA). A first comparator in the controller is configured to receive as first and second inputs thereto VSUPPLY and VDDA and to provide as an output therefrom a signal EN, EN being provided to the first LDO as a second input thereto. The first LDO is configured to operate in a first off mode and is turned off by signal EN when the difference between VSUPPLY and VDDA is less than a predetermined threshold. | 05-30-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080260366 | IMAGE STABILIZATION WITH ADAPTIVE SHUTTER CONTROL - An apparatus to facilitate image stabilization with adaptive shutter control is described. An embodiment of the apparatus includes an image sensor, a movement detector, and a shutter controller. The movement detector is coupled to the image sensor. The shutter controller is coupled to the movement detector. The image sensor is configured to obtain image data. The movement detector is configured to obtain movement measurement information during a shutter period having a predetermined duration. The shutter controller is configured to adjust the shutter period of a shutter based on the movement measurement information. The shutter controls the time the image sensor is responsive to light incident on the image sensor. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a smaller and less costly implementation for image stabilization. | 10-23-2008 |
20090040318 | IMAGE STABILIZATION WITH USER FEEDBACK - An apparatus to facilitate image stabilization with user feedback is described. An embodiment of the apparatus includes an image sensor, a movement detector, and a digital processor. The image sensor acquires an image of a scene over an exposure period. The movement detector is coupled to the image sensor. The movement detector computes a movement measurement of the image sensor during the exposure period. The digital processor is coupled to the movement detector. The digital processor provides feedback to a user during the exposure period. The feedback is based on the movement measurement. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a simpler and less costly implementation for image stabilization. | 02-12-2009 |
20090059018 | NAVIGATION ASSISTED MOSAIC PHOTOGRAPHY - An imaging apparatus for producing a mosaic image of a scene, including: an imager operable to capture a plurality of images of the scene; a motion sensor coupled to the imager; a transformation processor electrically coupled to the imager and the motion sensor and a mosaic processor electrically coupled to the transformation processor. The motion sensor is adapted to determine a pitch parameter and a yaw parameter of the imager associated with each captured image of the scene. The transformation processor is adapted to transform each captured image into a mosaic coordinate system using the associated pitch parameter and yaw parameter of the imager. The mosaic processor is adapted to produce a mosaic image of the scene from the transformed images. | 03-05-2009 |
20100182601 | OFFSET ILLUMINATION APERTURE FOR OPTICAL NAVIGATION INPUT DEVICE - An optical navigation input device with an offset imaging aperture. The optical navigation input device includes a light source, an illumination aperture structure, and an image sensor. The light source directs a light beam toward a substantially specular illumination surface. Scattered light reflects off of a surface reflection feature along a scattered light path which is offset from a specular reflection path. The illumination aperture structure at least partially defines an illumination aperture interposed between the light source and the illumination surface. The illumination aperture produces a diffraction pattern that includes a diffraction discontinuity which is substantially free from diffracted light within a sector area outside of the light beam. The image sensor is disposed within the scattered light path at a location corresponding to the diffraction discontinuity. The image sensor receives the scattered light from the surface reflection feature and generates a navigation image of the surface reflection feature. | 07-22-2010 |
20110074676 | Large Depth of Field Navigation Input Devices and Methods - Disclosed are various embodiments of a navigation input device, and methods, systems and components corresponding thereto. According to some embodiments, the navigation input device has a large depth of field associated therewith and employs time- and/or frequency-domain processing algorithms and techniques. The device is capable of providing accurate and reliable information regarding the (X,Y) position of the device on a navigation surface as it is moved laterally thereatop and thereacross, notwithstanding changes in a vertical position of the device that occur during navigation and that do not exceed the depth of field of an imaging lens incorporated therein. According to one embodiment, the navigation input device is a writing instrument that does not require the use of an underlying touch screen, touch pad or active backplane to accurately and reliably record successive (X,Y) positions of the writing device as it is moved across and atop an underlying writing medium such as paper, a pad or a display. | 03-31-2011 |
20110108713 | OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH ILLUMINATION OPTICS HAVING AN IMAGE OUTSIDE A DETECTOR FIELD OF VIEW - An optical navigation device includes an image sensor, a light source, and illumination optics. The image sensor generates images of a tracking surface. The image sensor has a field of view via imaging optics interposed between the image sensor and the tracking surface. The light source generates light to illuminate a portion of the tracking surface. The illumination optics are interposed between the light source and the tracking surface to direct the light from the light source toward the tracking surface. The illumination optics include an output surface with a primary region illuminated above a threshold intensity. The illumination optics are located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the output surface excludes the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor. | 05-12-2011 |
20120105353 | Method and Device for Reducing Noise Interference in a Capacitive Touchscreen System - Disclosed herein are various embodiments of means and methods for reducing noise interference in a capacitive touchscreen system. Second noise signals related to first noise signals generated by an external noise source are provided to a touchscreen controller, which determines fundamental and harmonic frequencies associated with the first noise signals. In response to determining the fundamental and harmonic frequencies associated with the first noise signals, the touchscreen controller may shift the frequency at which drive signals generated thereby are provided to a capacitive touchscreen. As a result, undesired interference between the first noise signals and the drive signals is minimized or avoided. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105356 | Capacitive Coupling of a Capacitive Touchscreen to a Printed Circuit and Controller - Disclosed herein are various embodiments of circuits and methods for capacitively coupling touchscreen electrode terminals to terminals of a flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board, without physically attaching the touchscreen electrode terminals to the flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals by means of conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder. The flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals are spaced apart from, or placed in physical contact with, corresponding ones of the touchscreen electrode terminals, but are not soldered or otherwise physically attached to the touchscreen electrode terminals by conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder. The flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals are positioned with respect to the touchscreen electrode terminals such that the flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals are spaced part from, or in physical contact with, the touchscreen electrode terminals by gaps ranging between about 0.0 mm and about 1 mm. The gaps are sufficiently small to permit capacitive coupling of drive and sense signals provided by the touchscreen electrode terminals to the flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals. | 05-03-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090096607 | POINT OF SALE SECURITY SYSTEM - A system for confirming security of personal items belonging to a shopper during a point of sale transaction includes a central processing unit (CPU) interconnected functionally via a system bus to at least one memory device thereupon stored a set of instructions. The set of instructions when executed by the CPU, causes the system to automatically extend a retractable hook from an opening inset within a point of sale checkout device in response to a beginning of a point of sale transaction, sense a signal of a weight sensor indicative of a weight of personal items belonging to a shopper placed upon the retractable hook and activate an alarm in response to sensing a change in the signal of the weight sensor indicative of a removal of the personal items belonging to the shopper during the point of sale transaction. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096626 | CONFIRMING SECURITY OF PERSONAL ITEMS DURING A POINT OF SALE TRANSACTION - Confirming security of personal items belonging to a shopper during a point of sale transaction includes sensing, via a processor responsive to executable code, a signal of a weight sensor indicative of a weight of the personal items belonging to the shopper placed upon an interface of a security monitor of a point of sale checkout device and, in response to sensing a change in the signal of the weight sensor indicative of a removal of the personal items belonging to the shopper during the point of sale transaction, activating an alarm. An alarm is also activated in response to sensing a continued state of the signal of the weight sensor following the point of sale transaction. | 04-16-2009 |
20130117498 | SIMULATED NVRAM - Embodiments of the invention relate to leveraging disk controller cache memory to simulate non-volatile random access memory. At least one logical block address in cache memory of the disk controller is designated and set aside as permanently dirty. Read operations may be supported with data in the cache memory; including data retained in any block address designated as permanently dirty. Write operations may also be supported by storing the write data in the logical block address designated as permanently dirty. | 05-09-2013 |
20130159425 | Display of user relationships - Information regarding each recipient of a selected group of users is retrieved, such as each recipient of a number of recipients of an email, and such as responsive to a request made in relation to the email. One or more relationships among the users are determined, based on the information retrieved regarding each user. Such relationships can include job groups, job titles, locations, and/or family relationships, among other types of relationships. The one or more relationships among the users are displayed. | 06-20-2013 |
20130282460 | MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN A TRANSACTION SESSION - In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, methods and systems disclosed herein provide for management of multiple electronic devices in a transaction session. An example method includes associating a user identifier of a first shopper with a transaction session. The method may also include receiving, from a second shopper, a request to join the transaction session. Further, the method may include processing the transaction session based on the request. | 10-24-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080214258 | Wins of Restricted Credits in a Gaming Machine - Disclosed is a gaming system and method designed or configured to provide wins of restricted credits. Restricted credits may be awarded according to the same or a different pay table than cashable credits on the same machine or at the same gaming property. Where separate pay tables are used for restricted and cashable credits, the invention may be implemented with a machine that accepts and pays only restricted credit according to a single, fixed internal payout schedule (“pay table”). Alternatively, the invention may be implemented with a machine that pays restricted credit according to one fixed internal pay table and cashable credit according to another fixed internal pay table. Or, a machine may pay restricted credit according to an external pay table provided by a host system to which the machine is connected. | 09-04-2008 |
20090036190 | Game Result Graphical Verification on Remote Clients - Methods an apparatus are described for verifying a game of chance is displayed correctly on a remote client. The verification may include storing game history information associated with a game of chance presented at a remote client. The server can provide a game outcome associated with the game of chance, and the game outcome can be presented visually on the remote client. A sample game outcome can be generated on a remote client and a user may be asked one or more questions about the sample game outcome to verify that the sample game outcome is correctly displayed on the remote client. In addition, the remote client can then generate a hash of the 1 game outcome and send the hash to the server. The server can store the client-generated hash and game history. If a dispute arises, this client-generated hash can be compared to a server-generated hash. A comparison of these hashes can be used to verify that the correct outcome was displayed on the remote client. | 02-05-2009 |
20090054149 | MULTIPLE MONETARY TYPE GAMING MACHINE WITH CASH CONVERSION FUNCTIONALITY - A gaming machine connected in a gaming network or operating as a stand-alone machine, is capable of accepting two or more currencies for wager game play. The machine operates internally using a native monetary type and converts non-monetary bills to native amounts in the form of restricted or cashable credits. The multiple currency capability of the machine is utilized to encourage the use of restricted credits by adjusting conversion rates, payback tables, and the like. These features, combined with the use of restricted credits, also enable ways to monitor abuse and illegal activity on the gaming machine and implement ways to limit losses by a player. Certain post-conversion processes are used to ensure that the player is returned non-converted amounts. The gaming machine has additional hard and soft meters to process multiple monetary types. | 02-26-2009 |
20090069094 | Open architecture communications in a gaming network - Open architecture communication systems and methods are provided that allow flexible data transmission between gaming machines and other devices and nodes within a gaming machine network. The gaming machine and other devices employ a communication interface that sends and receives data via a common communication protocol and via common communication hardware. The communication interface and common communication protocol allow data transfer between gaming machines and other network nodes such as gaming service servers, despite the presence of different proprietary gaming machine functions and proprietary communication protocols and despite the presence of various proprietary hardware and proprietary communication protocols relied on by the servers. | 03-12-2009 |
20090156303 | Bonusing Architectures in a Gaming Environment - A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming machines may be configured to provide bonus games with persistent. The gaming machines may be configured to allow a player to enroll in bonus game with persistence and generate a record locator, such as printed ticket that allows a record of a state in the bonus game with persistence to be accessed at a later time. A server coupled to the plurality of gaming machines may maintain records of various states in the bonus game with persistence. When a valid record locator is presented at a gaming machine, these records may be checked out and updated via game play at the gaming machine. | 06-18-2009 |
20110165929 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 07-07-2011 |
20110165930 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 07-07-2011 |
20110165931 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 07-07-2011 |
20120094748 | MULTIPLE MONETARY TYPE GAMING MACHINE WITH CASH CONVERSION FUNCTIONALITY - A gaming machine connected in a gaming network or operating as a stand-alone machine, is capable of accepting two or more currencies for wager game play. The machine operates internally using a native monetary type and converts non-monetary bills to native amounts in the form of restricted or cashable credits. The multiple currency capability of the machine is utilized to encourage the use of restricted credits by adjusting conversion rates, payback tables, and the like. These features, combined with the use of restricted credits, also enable ways to monitor abuse and illegal activity on the gaming machine and implement ways to limit losses by a player. Certain post-conversion processes are used to ensure that the player is returned non-converted amounts. The gaming machine has additional hard and soft meters to process multiple monetary types. | 04-19-2012 |
20120184354 | OPEN ARCHITECTURE COMMUNICATIONS IN A GAMING NETWORK - Open architecture communication systems and methods are provided that allow flexible data transmission between gaming machines and other devices and nodes within a gaming machine network. The gaming machine and other devices employ a communication interface that sends and receives data via a common communication protocol and via common communication hardware. The communication interface and common communication protocol allow data transfer between gaming machines and other network nodes such as gaming service servers, despite the presence of different proprietary gaming machine functions and proprietary communication protocols and despite the presence of various proprietary hardware and proprietary communication protocols relied on by the servers. | 07-19-2012 |
20130072304 | ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE TROUBLESHOOTING AND LOGGING - A method and system for electronic gaming device troubleshooting and logging includes detecting an error condition of an electronic gaming device, an electronic game device having a processor, memory and an interface; generating a reference link for a detected error condition; and conveying a reference link. A system includes an electronic gaming device having a processor, memory and an interface. An electronic gaming device may include a detector configured to detect an error condition of an electronic gaming device; a reference link generator configured to generate a reference link characterizing a detected error condition; and an interface configured to convey a reference link. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079087 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE, AND METHOD CHANGING AWARDS AVAILABLE TO BE WON IN PENDING PLAYS OF A GAME BASED ON A QUANTITY OF CONCURRENTLY PENDING PLAYS OF THE GAME - Gaming systems, devices, and methods configured to change winnable awards of a pending play of a game based on a quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game are provided. The gaming system enables a player to sequentially initiate multiple plays of a game such that a plurality of plays are concurrently pending. Each play of the game includes one or more awards available to be won in that play. When a quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game is greater than or equal to a designated quantity of plays of the game, the gaming system changes one or more of the awards available to be won in one or more of those concurrently pending plays of the game, and they remain changed as long as the quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game is greater than or equal to the designated quantity of plays of the game. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079115 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MODERATING REMOTE HOST INITIATED FEATURES FOR MULTIPLE CONCURRENTLY PLAYED GAMES - The gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to simultaneously or concurrently play a plurality of games at a gaming device regardless or independent of if the gaming device accounting system in communication with the gaming device is configured to support such simultaneous or concurrent game play. The gaming system disclosed herein additionally or alternatively enables a player to simultaneously play a plurality of games wherein certain of the games are eligible to operate with a remote host and certain of the games are ineligible to operate with the remote host. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079116 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MODERATING REMOTE HOST INITIATED FEATURES FOR MULTIPLE CONCURRENTLY PLAYED GAMES - The gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to simultaneously or concurrently play a plurality of games at a gaming device regardless or independent of if the gaming device accounting system in communication with the gaming device is configured to support such simultaneous or concurrent game play. The gaming system disclosed herein additionally or alternatively enables a player to simultaneously play a plurality of games wherein certain of the games are eligible to operate with a remote host and certain of the games are ineligible to operate with the remote host. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079124 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REPORTING FOR MULTIPLE CONCURRENTLY PLAYED GAMES - The gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to simultaneously or concurrently play a plurality of games at a gaming device regardless or independent of if the gaming device accounting system in communication with the gaming device is configured to support such simultaneous or concurrent game play. The gaming system disclosed herein additionally or alternatively enables a player to simultaneously play a plurality of games wherein certain of the games are eligible to operate with a remote host and certain of the games are ineligible to operate with the remote host. | 03-28-2013 |
20130165211 | RECOVERY OF GRAPHICAL GAME HISTORY AFTER GAME SOFTWARE PACKAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE - Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for saving game history data and package identification information for software packages used to provide a game cycle on a wager gaming machine. The game cycle may later be re-created using the game history data and software packages. For scenarios where some or all of the software packages used are no longer present on the gaming machine at the time of re-creation, the package identification information may be referenced to determine which software packages are missing and need to be provided to enable full game cycle re-creation. | 06-27-2013 |
20140011559 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE, AND METHOD CHANGING AWARDS AVAILABLE TO BE WON IN PENDING PLAYS OF A GAME BASED ON A QUANTITY OF CONCURRENTLY PENDING PLAYS OF THE GAME - Gaming systems, devices, and methods configured to change winnable awards of a pending play of a game based on a quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game are provided. The gaming system enables a player to sequentially initiate multiple plays of a game such that a plurality of plays are concurrently pending. Each play of the game includes one or more awards available to be won in that play. When a quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game is greater than or equal to a designated quantity of plays of the game, the gaming system changes one or more of the awards available to be won in one or more of those concurrently pending plays of the game, and they remain changed as long as the quantity of concurrently pending plays of the game is greater than or equal to the designated quantity of plays of the game. | 01-09-2014 |
20140031097 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 01-30-2014 |
20140038677 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 02-06-2014 |
20140038705 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REWARDING MULTIPLE GAME PLAYERS FOR A SINGLE WIN - A gaming apparatus and method is provided that is capable of rewarding a distributed jackpot to players using gaming units that are electronically linked to one another. The distributed jackpot may be shared among non-winning players when a winning result is achieved by a winning player. | 02-06-2014 |
20150187163 | TRAJECTORY-BASED 3-D GAMES OF CHANCE FOR VIDEO GAMING MACHINES - Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring. | 07-02-2015 |