IP Library Granted Patent US 7,476,154
Granted Patent B2
US 7,476,154 · App. 11/354,260 · Granted Jan 13, 2009

Cylindrical illumination device and game machine using the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,476,154
App. No.
11/354,260
Granted
Jan 13, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A illumination device comprises a transparent member in which a lenticular lens of a cylindrical shape is disposed in a longitudinal direction; and light emitting members disposed in a vertical direction at prescribed intervals inside the transparent member; in which a visual illusion of existence of light emitting rings, respectively arrayed in a horizontal direction and respectively disposed in a vertical direction inside the transparent member, is created by light emitted from the various light emitting members.

Claims (39)

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a cylindrical illumination device disposed at a side of the cabinet and including a plurality of light emitting members, wherein the cylindrical illumination device creates a visual illusion of light emitting rings from light emitted by the plurality of light emitting members; and

a light emission controller for controlling the light emitting members, wherein the light emission controller comprises:

a first light emission controller that selects at least one of the light emitting members and makes the selected light emitting member emit light in a first light emitting mode in which a light emission position is fixed, according to a current game state;

a second light emission controller that makes at least another of the light emitting members emit light in a second light emitting mode in which another light emission position moves, when the current game state satisfies a prescribed condition; and

a third light emission controller that makes at least one of the light emitting members emit light in a third light emitting mode which is different from the first and second emitting modes, when the light emitting member emitting light by the first light emission controller, becomes a light emission object of the second light emission controller,

wherein the gaming machine performs a typing game, and

wherein the gaming machine further comprises a storage area for storing music data.

2. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the third light emission controller emits with strong intensity.

3. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the third light emission controller flashes.

4. A gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the first light emission controller determines the current game state, based on an input by a player, and

the second light emission controller determines the satisfaction of the prescribed condition, based on a predetermined consecutive number of the inputs by the player.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the emission by the second light emission controller triggers the emission by the third light emission controller, and

the second light emission controller controls the light emitting members until the light emission position moves to a predetermined position.

6. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination device comprises:

a transparent member in which a lenticular lens of a cylindrical shape is disposed in a longitudinal direction,

wherein the plurality of light emitting members are disposed in a longitudinal direction at prescribed intervals inside the transparent members, and

the visual illusion of light emitting rings are respectively arrayed in the longitudinal direction and created by light emitted from the plurality of light emitting members.

7. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination device further comprises:

an optical shield for blocking light from the plurality of light emitting members, disposed inside a transparent member, wherein the optical shield restricts an area irradiated by light from the plurality of light emitting members.

8. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is disposed on a side that radiation on an inside of a transparent member is restricted from the light from the plurality of light emitting members.

9. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination device further comprises an optical shield, wherein the optical shield prevents an area from being irradiated by light from the plurality of light emitting members.

10. The game machine according to claim 4 , wherein the second light emission controller determines the satisfaction of the prescribed condition, based on a predetermined consecutive number of correct inputs by the player.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first light emission controller selects the at least one of the light emitting members and makes the selected light emitting member emit light in a first light emitting mode in which a light emission position, corresponding to a score determined by a score computation device, is fixed, according to a current game state.

12. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second light emission controller makes the at least another of the light emitting members emit light in a second light emitting mode in which light emission position, corresponding to a point determined by a point computation device is moved, if the current game state satisfies a prescribed condition.

13. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the third light emission controller that makes the at least one of the light emitting members emit light in a third light emitting mode which is different from the first and second emitting modes, if the light emission position corresponding to a score coincides with the other light emission position corresponding to a point.

14. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the music data includes an illumination device illumination pattern data for illuminating the illumination device.

15. The gaming machine according to claim 14 , wherein the light emission controller controls the light emitting members based on the illumination device illumination pattern data.

16. The gaming machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein a transparent member is provided with halogen lamps at a top end and a bottom end thereof, and

wherein the halogen lamps adapted to face each other.

17. The gaming machine according to claim, 14 , wherein the illumination device illumination pattern data comprises data for controlling a light emitting mode of a plurality of halogen lamps.

18. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the storage area stores a control table comprising a color data, a number data, and an intensity data, of light emitting from a plurality of light emitting rings.

19. The gaming machine according to claim 18 , wherein the control table is stored in an illumination control circuit.

20. The gaming machine according to claim 18 , wherein the second light emission controller controls light emitting from one of the plurality of the light emitting rings.

21. The gaming machine according to claim 18 , wherein the third light emission controller controls light emitting from one of the plurality of the light emitting rings.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 23, 2009
From: ARUZE CORPORATION (ARUZE KABUSHIKI KAISHA)
To: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023691/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2006
From: KOGO, JUNICHI; HIRATO, JUN; ISHIKAWA, MASATO; TANABE, YASUAKI
To: ARUZE CORP.
Reel/Frame 017878/0229 →