GB2147510A - Indicating module for gaming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The module comprises a die 1 mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 2-3 extending between diametrally opposite corners, and rotatable by a stepping motor 4. The motor 4 is under control of a device 6 having six windows 7 showing indicia which correspond to respective faces of the die 1 and which are sensed by a detector 8. A computer (not shown) selects a winning indicia and is responsive to signals from the detector 8 to stop the motor when the winning indicia are detected. The die 1 is arranged so that the winning indicia are illuminated by one of a pair of lights 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A playing module for a game of chance The present invention relates to a module for a game of chance which, as a playing element, is formed of a dice. Said module is specially designed to be integrated in slot machines, permitting different games to be played, depending on the number of modules used.

All those games commonly played in society have been exploited in slot machines, with the exception of the dice. Normally, slot machines comprise rollers on which the figures should match, or luminous screens on which flat cards used in playing all kinds of known games appear.

Roulette machines differ completely from the aforegoing machines and form a separate, not-widely extended group, in which the ball is replaced by a movable luminous point.

However, dice are playing elements which have never been used and least of all in a corporeal manner. Undoubtedly, the difficulty resides in the fact that, geometrically, a dice is a cube having six faces and no other way of using dice was found, other than throwing them on a board until, the inertia having been spent, they stop, falling on one face, the opposite face illustrating the position reached.

Under these conditions, it is, if not impossible at least very difficult, to be able to link the dice to a programme integrated in memories which, following a winning programme, can play a game in which chance in fact determines the outcome and the player intervenes.

The invention proportions a module incorporating a dice, in its corporeal form, which module together with another or others can define the rules of the game. The dice in its corporeal form is controlled by very simple means which is integrated in the structure of a conventional slot machine. A conventional machine should be understood as being that which includes, within a winning programme permitted by law, certain playing conditions stored in one or more permanent memories, one or more discriminating elements forming part of or comprised in a microprocessor which determines the prize to be obtained in each game, whether the prize is accumulated or not; in short, a coin operated slot machine which for the first time is not based on the matching of figures (rollers) or the appearance of flat cards illustrating the rear or the face in the machine having a screen.

The use of dice is feasible since they are made to spin according to a vertical or horizontal axis transversal to two diagonally opposed vertices, so that two symmetrical, conic generatrices opposed at the base are formed.

Stopping means, readily controlled according to present day technology in the use of microprocessors, permits the punctuation reached when the dice stops to be established. Therefore, it is rather simple to organize a game on this basis.

The object of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings representing a mode of embodiment which does not limit the practical possibilities of the invention.

The figure, representing a perspective view, illustrates a dice 1 traversed by a diagonal imaginary axis between two opposed vertices 2-3. The dice is precisely spun at these vertices 2-3, which spinning is generated by a step-by-step motor 4 directly pulled by the shaft 5 securely attached to the dice 1.

An optical barrier 6 provided with six windows 7, one for each of the faces of the dice 1, is placed between the- step-by-step motor 4 and the dice 1. A simple optical detector 8 permits the points obtained to be counted, selected and evaluated since the information from the optical detector 8 is received by a microprocessor of the type conventionally used in slot machines.

The dice is stopped by the optical barrier 6 and the detector 7, in a clearly defined position, that is, in a position at which one of the faces of the dice is situated on a plane facing the observer. As illustrated in the drawing, face 9 is situated on an ascending, inclined front plane. However, the dice can be stopped in any other position, for example, with the face 10 in a downward front plane, taking as a reference the point of view of an observer.

In any of the cases, whether the plane is 9 or 10, one of the light emitters 11 will light up, illuminating only the face which, as the punctuation element, is taken into account by the microprocessor evaluating the game.

The dice should necessarily be placed in a body 1 2 which encloses it laterally, preventing dispersion of the luminous beam of the light emitter 11 in operation, so that the illumination only affects the suitable plane or face of the dice. On the other hand, the provision of a compact assembly simplifies the use of various modules in a playing machine.

It is clear from the mentioned drawings, that neither electronic components nor circuits have been represented for the simple reason that the module can be mounted in a conventional machine conserving all its components but only changing the programme and the suitable memories to establish a game. Therefore, a cabinet of a conventional machine provided with a coin selector, a prize pay-off device, component circuits and already existing elements can be used by putting the aforegoing into practice, since in short the invention is exclusively centered in how to make the dice spin so that the six faces thereof take part in the game.

1. A playing module for a game of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   SPECIFICATION A playing module for a game of chance The present invention relates to a module for a game of chance which, as a playing element, is formed of a dice. Said module is specially designed to be integrated in slot machines, permitting different games to be played, depending on the number of modules used.

   All those games commonly played in society have been exploited in slot machines, with the exception of the dice. Normally, slot machines comprise rollers on which the figures should match, or luminous screens on which flat cards used in playing all kinds of known games appear.

   Roulette machines differ completely from the aforegoing machines and form a separate, not-widely extended group, in which the ball is replaced by a movable luminous point.

   However, dice are playing elements which have never been used and least of all in a corporeal manner. Undoubtedly, the difficulty resides in the fact that, geometrically, a dice is a cube having six faces and no other way of using dice was found, other than throwing them on a board until, the inertia having been spent, they stop, falling on one face, the opposite face illustrating the position reached.

   Under these conditions, it is, if not impossible at least very difficult, to be able to link the dice to a programme integrated in memories which, following a winning programme, can play a game in which chance in fact determines the outcome and the player intervenes.

   The invention proportions a module incorporating a dice, in its corporeal form, which module together with another or others can define the rules of the game. The dice in its corporeal form is controlled by very simple means which is integrated in the structure of a conventional slot machine. A conventional machine should be understood as being that which includes, within a winning programme permitted by law, certain playing conditions stored in one or more permanent memories, one or more discriminating elements forming part of or comprised in a microprocessor which determines the prize to be obtained in each game, whether the prize is accumulated or not; in short, a coin operated slot machine which for the first time is not based on the matching of figures (rollers) or the appearance of flat cards illustrating the rear or the face in the machine having a screen.

   The use of dice is feasible since they are made to spin according to a vertical or horizontal axis transversal to two diagonally opposed vertices, so that two symmetrical, conic generatrices opposed at the base are formed.

   Stopping means, readily controlled according to present day technology in the use of microprocessors, permits the punctuation reached when the dice stops to be established. Therefore, it is rather simple to organize a game on this basis.

   The object of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings representing a mode of embodiment which does not limit the practical possibilities of the invention.

   The figure, representing a perspective view, illustrates a dice 1 traversed by a diagonal imaginary axis between two opposed vertices 2-3. The dice is precisely spun at these vertices 2-3, which spinning is generated by a step-by-step motor 4 directly pulled by the shaft 5 securely attached to the dice 1.

   An optical barrier 6 provided with six windows 7, one for each of the faces of the dice 1, is placed between the- step-by-step motor 4 and the dice 1. A simple optical detector 8 permits the points obtained to be counted, selected and evaluated since the information from the optical detector 8 is received by a microprocessor of the type conventionally used in slot machines.

   The dice is stopped by the optical barrier 6 and the detector 7, in a clearly defined position, that is, in a position at which one of the faces of the dice is situated on a plane facing the observer. As illustrated in the drawing, face 9 is situated on an ascending, inclined front plane. However, the dice can be stopped in any other position, for example, with the face 10 in a downward front plane, taking as a reference the point of view of an observer.

   In any of the cases, whether the plane is 9 or 10, one of the light emitters 11 will light up, illuminating only the face which, as the punctuation element, is taken into account by the microprocessor evaluating the game.

   The dice should necessarily be placed in a body 1 2 which encloses it laterally, preventing dispersion of the luminous beam of the light emitter 11 in operation, so that the illumination only affects the suitable plane or face of the dice. On the other hand, the provision of a compact assembly simplifies the use of various modules in a playing machine.

   It is clear from the mentioned drawings, that neither electronic components nor circuits have been represented for the simple reason that the module can be mounted in a conventional machine conserving all its components but only changing the programme and the suitable memories to establish a game. Therefore, a cabinet of a conventional machine provided with a coin selector, a prize pay-off device, component circuits and already existing elements can be used by putting the aforegoing into practice, since in short the invention is exclusively centered in how to make the dice spin so that the six faces thereof take part in the game.

   1. A playing module for a game of chance, characterized in that it is comprised of a dice which spins according to an axis transversal to two diagonally opposed vertices, driven by a step-by-step motor, advantageously by direct pulling, and controlled by an optical detector coupled to an optical barrier provided with six windows corresponding to each one of the faces of the dice, so that each of the stoppages made by the driveing motor places one of the faces of the dice in a plane facing an observer, said plane being inclined, ascending or descending depending on whether the faced plane turns at the lower or upper vertex of the dice, and in that there are two light emitters acting selectively, illuminating the plane which is faced in the stoppage of the motor, pointing out the punctuation reached to the observer.