Patent EP0070613A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0070613A2
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Video gaming or amusement machine
Assignee: ACE COIN EQUIPMENT Ltd
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Filing: 1982-05-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A video fruit machine has a display screen 5 constituted by the screen of a cathode ray tube. Electronic circuitry of the machine operates to provide video signals to the cathode ray tube to produce on the screen an image of four columns 1 to 4 of symbols, each column having a plurality of symbol positions 6 and representing the visible periphery of a fruit machine reel rotatable about an axis parallel to the screen. During a game the electronic circuitry of the machine changes the displayed image in such a way that the symbols of a column travel up or down the column to disappear at the top or bottom of the column and be replaced by new symbols added to the bottom or top of the column, thereby simulating the rotation of reels in a mechanical fruit machine employing rotatable reels. At the end of a game, the movement of the symbol is stopped and the combination of symbols in the resulting final static image normally determines whether or not a player has won. Various measures are taken to simulate accurately the appearance and performance of mechanical reels. However, the parameters of the simulated reels, particularly the apparently visible reel periphery, are made variable by electronic means.
Inventors
- 👤 William Keith Arnold
- 👤 Michael Francis Henry Earle
- 👤 Richard Thomas Cox
- 👤 David Roderick Lloyd
- 👤 Kyle Fields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3202; G07F17/3204; G07F17/3211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end, in which machine the number of symbols in the column is variable to simulate different visible portions of the periphery of a mechanical reel. In the case of a plurality of symbol columns, the number of symbols in each column is variable independently of the other columns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end, in which machine the number of symbols in the column is variable to simulate different visible portions of the periphery of a mechanical reel. In the case of a plurality of symbol columns, the number of symbols in each column is variable independently of the other columns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, in which machine the visual appearance of a curved mechanical reel is simulated in the column of symbols by altering the dimension of a symbol in the longitudinal direction of the column in dependence upon the distance of the symbol from the centre of the column, while maintaining constant the dimension of the symbol transversely of the column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, in which machine the visual appearance of a curved mechanical reel is simulated in the column of symbols by altering the dimension of a symbol in the longitudinal direction of the column in dependence upon the distance of the symbol from the centre of the column, while maintaining constant the dimension of the symbol transversely of the column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, the movement of the symbols being stopped at the end of the game, in which machine the visual appearance of the mechanical bounce exhibited by a reel is simulated by causing the symbols to oscillate within decreasing limits relative to a fixed datum line extending transversely of the column. Each movement of the symbol longitudinally of the column may be performed as a series of discrete steps, giving the illusion of continuous motion. A mechanical noise may be generated upon stopping of the progressive symbol motion along the column, for example by a relay or by an electronic noise generator, to simulate the sound produced upon stopping of a mechanical reel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, the movement of the symbols being stopped at the end of the game, in which machine the visual appearance of the mechanical bounce exhibited by a reel is simulated by causing the symbols to oscillate within decreasing limits relative to a fixed datum line extending transversely of the column. Each movement of the symbol longitudinally of the column may be performed as a series of discrete steps, giving the illusion of continuous motion. A mechanical noise may be generated upon stopping of the progressive symbol motion along the column, for example by a relay or by an electronic noise generator, to simulate the sound produced upon stopping of a mechanical reel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols starting from an initial static condition at the beginning of a game and progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, in which machine the rate of movement of each symbol is increased progressively from the initial static condition to simulate the acceleration characteristics of a mechanical reel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols starting from an initial static condition at the beginning of a game and progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end of the column, in which machine the rate of movement of each symbol is increased progressively from the initial static condition to simulate the acceleration characteristics of a mechanical reel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end in a predetermined sequence, in which machine the symbol at any given poisition in the symbol sequence is variable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end in a predetermined sequence, in which machine the symbol at any given poisition in the symbol sequence is variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end, in which machine any displayed symbol can be flashed against the background to draw the attention of the player to a certain occurence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A video fruit machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a column of symbols, the symbols progressing during play along the column to disappear from one end thereof while fresh symbols appear at the other end, in which machine any displayed symbol can be flashed against the background to draw the attention of the player to a certain occurence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A video gaming or amusement with prizes machine a display screen on which is formed an image of a symbol array in which the symbols change at random during a game, the combination of symbols in a static condition of the array determining whether or not the player has won a prize according to the predetermined rules of the game, in which machine storage means are provided for storing details of the current status of the machine and of past events and means are provided for reading out information from the storage means and displaying it on the display screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A video gaming or amusement with prizes machine a display screen on which is formed an image of a symbol array in which the symbols change at random during a game, the combination of symbols in a static condition of the array determining whether or not the player has won a prize according to the predetermined rules of the game, in which machine storage means are provided for storing details of the current status of the machine and of past events and means are provided for reading out information from the storage means and displaying it on the display screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A video gaming or amusement with prizes machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a symbol array in which the symbols change at random during a game, the combination of symbols in a static condition of the array determining whether or not the player has won a prize according to the rules of the game, in which machine means are provided for generating instructions and/or information during a game and displaying such instructions and/or information on the screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A video gaming or amusement with prizes machine having a display screen on which is formed an image of a symbol array in which the symbols change at random during a game, the combination of symbols in a static condition of the array determining whether or not the player has won a prize according to the rules of the game, in which machine means are provided for generating instructions and/or information during a game and displaying such instructions and/or information on the screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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