The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1988
Martin A Keane, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Bally Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
In order to provide a reel type gaming apparatus with the capability to pay out winnings having a higher value than an apparatus where the reels have an equal probability of stopping at each reel stop, a table is created in memory having pairs of lower and upper numerical limits which define groups of subintervals that in turn correspond to reel stops. A random number is generated and the subinterval which includes the number is identified and the reel is stopped at the corresponding reel stop. The interval between the upper and lower limits for each subinterval defines the relative stopping probability for the corresponding reel stop. In another approach probability factors are assigned to each reel stop and a microprocessor subtracts the value of each probability factor from a randomly generated probability value and increments a reel stop index until the probability value is less than the probability factor for the current stop index. Upon a player activated event the current stop index is used to stop the reel in a predetermined position. The relative values of the probability factors correspond to the relative stopping probability of each reel stop.