DE3912641C2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

In a gaming machine with win output, one of a plurality of visible symbol representations can be triggered according to a random function by means of a game-initiating unit (5) actuable as a function of the insertion of money or the like. Predetermined symbol representations, namely the win-symbol representations, are each assigned a predetermined win. When a win-symbol representation detector (11) detects a win-symbol representation, a digital win representation assigned to it by a win allocator (15) and, as a function of this, the output of the win assigned to it can be triggered in a win output unit (19). To persuade a player to play more often, the gaming machine contains a device (17, 20-39) which selectably blocks the win output and which increases the win possibility with an increasing number of wins stored intermediately during a blockage of the win output. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a gaming machine, at which can be triggered by a cash game one of several visible symbol representations triggerable according to a random function and predetermined Profit symbol representations each have a predetermined one Profit is associated with a profit symbol lungsdetektor, a profit allocator who upon detection a profit symbol display a digi assigned to it tals signal for the profit and thus the output of the profit assigned to it through a profit distribution prompted, and one selects the winning unit blocking cash and the profit opportunity with increasing during at least one lockout on winnings accumulated sum of profits increasing Facility.

In a known gaming machine of this type (DE 31 39 585 A1) the player has one in his hand caching the profit once made ("to stand let ") or cash it out. If the profit is cached and the player continues to play, the player can be granted an additional win. The player will then usually strive to continue pass on his profit over the already achieved  Increase profit beyond. Alternatively, its Chances of winning by temporarily storing a profit be increased.

However, the profit increase is effected with every game, at which during a blocking of the profit distribution Profit is made. This is the content of a bonus save an additional prize for every competition increased. In addition, at least when reached a predetermined cached profit sum the content of the bonus memory by the same additional amount winning unit can be increased. As long as with a game Interim storage or reserve of a profit none further profit is made, no further profit will be made Bonus granted. On the other hand, if a Profit of the bonus provided the cached Ge winnings exceed the predetermined value, all if doubled. The incentive for the player, more Playing games is therefore only proportionate low.

In another known gaming machine (DE 33 34 474 A1) is entered regardless of the outcome of a risk game separate counter then increases when the risk offered game was actually played. Thus a additional incentive to play created for him "Point wins" after a min a certain number of special games is granted. This solution is intended to give the player to do so games won that are offered for risking to really risk it. A direct motivation for more frequent or longer play is also not realized with this.

The invention is therefore based on the object Gaming machine of the generic type to specify that the player by increasing his chance of winning automatically tempted to do so, more often with the money game device to play.  

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the device to increase profits a dial scarf switchable forwarding of the digital profit signals to the winning unit or a profit storing accumulator memory, the one Display unit for the totalized winnings tet is that the accumulator memory an additional gain is connected downstream, after exceeding a Minimum values in the accumulator memory becomes active the additional winner a display unit for display the additional profit is downstream that additional profit encoder and accumulator memory on the output side with the Inputs of an adder are connected and that the output of the adder to which the sum is applied, via an output counter with the profit distribution unit communicates.

With this gaming machine, the chance of winning is reduced too if the player after reaching the minimum value the total winnings left without calling them up, continued playing. Still, the player has it in his hand after each game by operating the dispensing switch retrieve the total profit so far.

It is preferably ensured that the additional profit provider a pulse generator is connected upstream, its pulse frequency depending on an increase in profits increases and its output with the counting input one on the Input side of the additional winner lying pulse count lers is connected, and that the additional winner one Has additional gain signal generator, whose Zusatzge winnsignal a depending on an increase in Count value of the pulse counter increasing additional profit represents. This is a simple training it allows the player an even higher additional win to achieve the more profits they "stand", d. H. by can accumulate the accumulator memory. This increases  the incentive to continue playing without the one achieved so far Retrieve profit for an even higher additional profit to achieve. This training also represents a simple one Realization for the allocation of an additional profit which is disproportionate to the increase in the accumulator memory saved profits increases.

A further development can do the best hen that the pulse generator depending on the Triggering a game triggerable pulse generator unit with multiple outputs, at each release the pulse generator unit a different number of pulses occurs, one at the output of the accumulator Memory connected multi-range comparator several each have a different size range of profits assigned outputs, the number of which is equal to the number the outputs of the pulse generator unit and at which an output signal occurs when the profits in the relevant output of the multi-range comparator assigned size range, and a gate circuit has at the outputs of the pulse generator unit and multi-range comparator is connected and one one output each of the multi-range comparator ordered output of the pulse generator unit on occurrence  an output signal of the multi-range comparator, with connects the pulse counter input of the pulse counter, where the outputs of the multi-range comparator and pulse generator unity each other in ascending order of height the profits and the number of impulses sent to the Outputs of the pulse generator unit occur per triggering assigned. This results in a gradual increase the frequency of the pulses supplied to the pulse counter depending on the increase in the accumulator memory accumulated profits.

The linking of the output signals of the Zusatzge winning signal generator and the pulse counter for overpro proportional increase in additional profit depending of the accumulated profits in the accumulator memory can be designed in a simple manner that the additional gain signal generator has multiple outputs and the pulse counter has the same number of outputs as the additional gain signal generator has that at the Outputs of the pulse counter one after the other depending on an output signal based on the number of input pulses that occurs at the outputs of the addition profit signal generator different additional profits representative output signals occur and that at the Outputs from pulse counter and additional gain signal generator Tor a gate circuit is connected, each one because assigned to an output of the pulse counter gear of the additional profit signal generator with the adder connects when the pulse counter has an output signal generated, the outputs of pulse counter and addition win signal generator each other in ascending rows follow the number of times by an output signal of the pulse represented input pulses and the size of by an output signal of the additional gain signal genes rators shown additional profit are assigned.  

It is also possible that the profit opportunity increasing device has a microprocessor. This can be programmed to use the ones mentioned Functions.

So that the player can check how high they are left profit and, if applicable, its additional profit is also a display unit for the content of the accumulator memory and for the additional profit be seen. This makes the decision easier for the player to continue playing or to stop.

The invention and its developments are next based on the drawing of a block diagram of a coin-operated gaming machine according to the invention Winning issue described.

The illustrated gaming machine has three independently rotatable discs 1 , 2 and 3 (Wal zen or wheels), on the circumference at the same angle different symbols are shown visibly. The disks are simultaneously rotated by a random drive 4 and stopped again at different times after a random function, the random drive 4 being triggered by a pulse from a game trigger unit 5 . The game trigger unit 5 contains a cash input unit 6 , a DC voltage source 7 , a key switch 8 , a monostable multivibrator 9 and an AND gate 10 . If after entering a predetermined amount of cash or the like, e.g. B. coins, a bank note, chips or credit cards, the push button 8 is actuated, the monostable multivibrator 9 receives a voltage jump triggering it from the DC voltage source 7 , so that it in turn supplies a pulse to the AND gate, which previously a from the cash input unit 6 Received the input signal. The then generated output pulse of the AND gate 10 in turn triggers the random drive 4 .

The symbol representations on the disks 1 to 3 or the rotation angle positions of the disks corresponding to the symbol representations are scanned by a symbol display detector 11 , which in turn has three sensors 12 , 13 and 14 , which each angular position corresponding to each scanned symbol or a symbol Slices 1 to 3 generate a corresponding signal which is fed to a profit allocator 15 . In dependence on predetermined profit symbol representations, which are simultaneously detected by the symbol representation detector 11 or its sensor 12 to 14 at the end of the rotation of the disks 1 to 3 , the profit allocator 15 generates a digital signal assigned to the profit symbol representation, which via a multiple line 16 and a selector switch or switch 17 which can be actuated by the player can be fed via a multiple line 18 to a profit output unit 19 or via a multiple line 20 to an accumulator memory 21 . If the player selects the position of the selector switch 17 shown , the profit presented by the profit allocator 15 is output by the profit output unit 19 in the form of cash. If, on the other hand, the player selects the other position of the selector switch 17 in which the profit allocator 15 is connected to the accumulator memory 21 , the profit represented by the profit allocator 15 is stored in the accumulator memory 21 . At the same time, the content of the accumulator memory is displayed by a display unit 22 . With this storage of the profit in the accumulator memory 21 , the profit is therefore not necessarily output by the profit output unit 19 . Rather, a multi-range comparator 23 connected to the output of the accumulator memory 21 checks in a pulse generator 24 whether the profit S, possibly the summed profit S of several games, if the player has not called up the profits of several games, lies in one of several profit areas, e.g. B. is between 100 to 200 monetary units, between 200 to 400 monetary units, between 400 to 800 monetary units or is greater than 800 monetary units. An output b ₁ , b ₂ , b ₃ or b _{4 is} assigned to each of these profit areas. If the gain S is in one of these profit ranges, an output signal occurs at the associated output of the multi-range comparator 23 , which leads to a gate circuit 25 in the pulse generator 24 . The gate circuit 25 contains a number of AND gates 26 , 27 , 28 and 29 corresponding to the number of outputs b ₁ to b _{4 of} the multi-range comparator 23 , the outputs of which are connected by an OR gate 30 to the output of the pulse generator 24 . The pulse generator 24 further includes a pulse generator unit 31 with a number of outputs c ₁ to c ₄ corresponding to the number of outputs b ₁ to b _{4 of} the multi-range comparator 23 . Furthermore, the pulse generator unit 31 is connected on the input side to a sensor 32 which, when a predetermined symbol, which is shown on one of the disks, here the disk 3 , passes a pulse to the pulse generator unit 31 and triggers it. The pulser unit then generates at its outputs c ₁ to c ₄ are each a different number of Impul sen, namely on output ₁ c an impulse at the output c _2, two pulses at the output c ₃ four pulses and the off transition c ₄ eight pulses . The outputs c ₁ and b ₁ are with the AND gate 26 , the outputs c ₂ and b ₂ with the AND gate 27 , the outputs c ₃ and b ₃ with the AND gate 28 and the outputs c ₄ and b ₄ with the AND gate 29 connected. The higher the gain S determined by the multi-range comparator 23 in the accumulator memory 21 , the greater the number of pulses that are switched through by the pulse generator unit 31 via the gate circuit 25 to the output of the pulse generator 24 . Although it may be the case due to the random drive 4 that the sensor 32 does not detect the trigger unit 31 triggering the symbol at all, only once or several times during a game, because the disk 3 does not rotate one full turn, only one turn or several turns during one Executes game so that the pulse generator unit 31 and thus the pulse generator 24 altogether no pulse during a game, the associated output b ₁ to b _{4 of} the multi-range comparator 23 assigned number of output pulses of the pulse generator unit 31 only once or more, but it will the several games in the statistical mean by the encoder unit 31 to which the be taken output b ₁ to b ₄ associated output c ₁ to c ₄ generated number of pulses, the effect to compensate for that, in the statistical average, is 1, 2, 4 or 8 will be. Instead of triggering the pulse generator unit 31 by a symbol sensor, such as the sensor 32 , it is also possible to omit the sensor 32 and its connection to the pulse generator unit 31 and instead to connect the output of the game trigger unit 5 to the trigger input of the pulse generator unit 31 , as is the case is shown by the dashed connection between the output line of the game trigger unit 5 and the pulse generator unit 31 . The pulses P of the pulse generator 24 are fed to an additional gain generator 33 , which generates an increasing digitally represented additional gain Z as a function of the number P of the pulses supplied to it by the pulse generator 24 and thus as a function of the content of the accumulator memory 21 . For this purpose, the additional gain generator 33 contains a pulse counter 34 , an additional gain signal generator 35 and a gate circuit 36 . The pulse counter 34 has three outputs p ₁ , p ₂ and p ₃ . If the number P of the pulses from the pulse generator 24 supplied to the counting input of the pulse counter 34 is greater than 100 but not greater than 200, an output signal occurs at the output p ₁ if the number P is greater than 200 but not greater than 300, an output signal occurs at the output p ₂ , and if the number P is greater than 300, an output signal occurs at the output p ₃ .

The additional gain signal generator 35 has as many outputs Z ₁ , Z ₂ and Z ₃ as the pulse counter 34 . The output signal occurring at output Z ₁ represents an additional profit of five additional profit units, the output signal occurring at output Z ₂ represents an additional profit of 20 additional profit units and the output signal occurring at output Z _{3 represents} an additional profit of 50 additional profits, whereby the additional profit units are monetary units or a corresponding number of free special games. If an output signal occurs at the output p _{1 of} the pulse counter 34 , the additional gain signal representing the lowest additional gain will be supplied from the output Z ₁ via the gate circuit 36 to the one input of an adder 37 . If an output signal occurs at the output p _{2 of} the pulse counter 34 , the additional gain signal representing the higher additional gain is switched through from the output Z ₂ to the adder 27 . If an output signal occurs at the output p _{3 of} the pulse counter 34 , the additional gain signal representing the highest additional gain is switched through from the output Z ₃ to the adder 37 . By a display unit 38 connected to the output of the additional profit generator 33 , the additional profit Z connected through the gate circuit 36 is displayed. The other input of the adder 37 is connected to the output of the accumulator memory 21 . At the output of the adder 37 , therefore, the sum of the gains S and the additional gains Z stored and accumulated in the accumulator memory 21 occurs. This sum (S + Z) can be supplied by the player by closing a normally open switch 39 instead of the profit presented by the profit allocator 15 of the profit output unit 19 , whereupon the latter outputs the corresponding total profit.

The additional profit is higher, the greater the sum of the undisclosed profits transferred in the accumulator memory 21 by switching the selector switch 17 (from the position shown to the other position), the amount of a win in a game using a display unit which is usually provided 40 can be checked by the player before he decides whether he "leaves" this profit, that is, transfers it to the accumulator gate 21 by switching the selector switch 17 or can immediately output it in the position of the selector switch 17 shown . Furthermore it also has to make switch 39 at any time pay off by operation of the output at the end of a game stored in the battery mulator memory 21 including a profit which may be obtained additional profits over the profit output unit 19 of the players in the hand.

If the selector switch 17 is switched to the accumulator memory 21 and the profit S in this buffered te after one or more competitions is not higher than 100 winning units, the multi-range comparator 23 also generates no output signal at any of its outputs b ₁ to b ₄ , so that no additional profit is granted. On the other hand, if the sum of the winning units or winnings S is e.g. B. greater than 400 but less than 800, an output signal occurs at the output b ₃ , so that, if necessary, four pulses from the output c _{3 of} the pulse generator unit 31 through the gate circuit 25 for counting input of the pulse counter 34 are passed. The pulse counter 34 nonetheless generates an output signal at none of its outputs p ₁ to p ₃ because the number P of pulses supplied to it is still less than 100. Only when the number P of the pulse counter 34 supplied by the pulse generator 24 is greater than 100, but not yet greater than 200, after a number of competitions, does an output signal appear at the output p _{1 of} the pulse counter 34 . As a result, the additional profit signal, which represents five additional profit units, that occurs at the output Z _{1 of} the additional profit signal generator 35 is passed through the gate circuit 36 to the adder 37 . However, the player can trigger another game without retrieving the sum (S + Z) now shown at the output of the adder 37 by closing the output switch 39 . If then in the course of further games further re winnings are transferred to the accumulator memory 21 and the number P of the pulses supplied to the pulse counter 34 by the pulse generator 24 is greater than 200 in total, but not greater than 300, the player will no longer receive the additional profit of five profit units, but the higher additional profit of 20 profit units by the now from the output Z _{2 of} the additional profit generator 35 through the gate circuit 36 let pass additional profit signal. If the player triggers more games and "leaves" more winnings, ie transfers them to the accumulator memory 21 without closing the output switch 39 , the number of pulses P may even exceed 300, so that the player instead the additional profit of 20 is now an additional profit of 50 units. Basically, however, after each game, the player has the option to call up the total win (S + Z) by pressing the output switch 39 .

In this way, the player is rewarded for continuing to play in the form of the additional prize, so that this reward also stimulates him to continue playing. Since the additional profit increases disproportionately due to the staggering caused by the additional profit signal generator 35 to the accumulated profits S in the accumulator memory 21 , the incentive to continue the games increases, the more games the player plays in succession without his interim Retrieve profit. The degree of utilization of the gaming device is correspondingly high and the profit which can be achieved by the owner of the gaming device is correspondingly high.

Although shown only as a single line, the output lines of the additional gain signal generator 35 or the additional gain generator 33 , the accumulator memory 21 and the adder 37 are multiple lines, since the gains S or the additional gains represented by the additional gain signals are bit-parallel are digital representations. Accordingly, not only the three illustrated AND gates and the one OR gate shown, but three times as many AND gates and as many OR gates are provided in the gate circuit 36 as individual lines in one of the multiple output lines of the Additional profit signal generator 35 are present.

The units 21 , 24 , 33 and 37 shown can also be realized by a suitably programmed micro processor.

Instead of increasing the possibility of winning by granting additional winnings to the player for repeated games without retrieving the previously achieved profit, it is also possible to increase the possibility of winning by using a random generator 4 provided by the case generator to be temporarily stored in the accumulator memory 21 Wins S, ie with increasing number of games in which no winnings are withdrawn, is influenced in such a way that the chances of winning are increased from win-win to win-win or after a predetermined number of win games.

Claims (6)

1. A gaming machine, in which a cash triggerable game trigger unit ( 9 ) triggers one of several visible symbol representations according to a random function and predetermined profit symbol representations each have a predetermined profit, with a profit symbol display detector ( 11 ), a profit allocator ( 15 ) on detection of a winning symbol display a digital signal assigned to it for the profit (S) and thus causes the output of the profit assigned to it by a profit output unit ( 19 ), and one selectively blocking the profit output unit ( 19 ) and the profitability increasing with increasing Sper at least one of the gain output unit tion (19) zwischengespeicher ter sum of gains (S) enhancing means (17, 20-39), characterized in that the Einrich device (17, 20-39) th to increase profits a Wählschal (17) for switchable forwarding of the digital profit nals (S) to the profit output unit ( 19 ) or a profit-storing accumulator memory ( 21 ), which is followed by a display unit ( 22 ) for the accumulated profits (S) that the accumulator memory ( 21 ) has an additional winner ( 33 ) is connected downstream, which becomes active after exceeding a minimum value ( 100 ) in the accumulator memory ( 21 ), that the additional profit generator ( 33 ) is connected to a display unit ( 38 ) for displaying the additional profit (Z), that additional profit generator ( 33 ) and The accumulator memory ( 21 ) is connected on the output side to the inputs of an adder ( 37 ) and that the output of the adder ( 37 ) to which the sum (S + Z) is present is connected via an output switch ( 39 ) to the profit output unit ( 19 ) is connected. 2. Gambling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional winner ( 33 ) is preceded by a pulse generator ( 24 ) whose pulse frequency increases in dependence on an increase in profits (S) and whose output with the counting input on the input side of Additional profit generator ( 33 ) are connected to the pulse counter ( 34 ), and that the additional profit generator ( 33 ) has an additional profit signal generator ( 35 ), the additional profit signal of which represents an increasing additional gain depending on an increase in the count value of the pulse counter ( 34 ). 3. Gambling device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pulse generator ( 24 ) a triggerable as a function of the triggering of a game pulse generator unit ( 31 ) with a plurality of outputs (c ₁ -c ₄ ), at each triggering the pulse generator unit ( 31 ) a different number of pulses occurs, a multi-range comparator ( 23 ) connected to the output of the accumulator memory ( 21 ) with several outputs (b ₁ -b ₄ ), each with a different size range of the gains (S), the number of which is the same is the number of outputs (c ₁ -c ₄ ) of the pulse generator unit ( 31 ) and at each of which an output signal occurs when the gains (S) are in the size range assigned to the relevant output (b ₁ -b ₄ ) of the multi-range comparator ( 23 ) lie, and has a gate circuit ( 25 ) which is connected to the outputs (c ₁ -c ₄ ; b ₁ -b ₄ ) of the pulse generator unit ( 31 ) and multi-range comparator ( 23 ) and one output each (b ₁ -b ₄ ) of the multi-range comparator ( 23 ) associated output (c ₁ -c ₄ ) of the pulse generator unit ( 31 ) when an output signal of the multi-range comparator ( 23 ) occurs with the pulse counting input of the pulse counter ( 34 ) connects, the outputs (b ₁ -b ₄ ; c ₁ -c ₄ ) of the multi-range comparator ( 23 ) and pulse generator unit ( 31 ) in an ascending order of the amount of the gains (S) and the number of pulses applied to the outputs (c ₁ -c ₄ ) of the pulse generator unit ( 31 ) occur per trip are assigned. 4. Gambling device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the additional profit signal generator ( 35 ) a plurality of outputs (Z ₁ -Z ₃ ) and the pulse counter ( 34 ) have the same number of outputs (p ₁ -p ₃ ) as the additional profit signal generator ( 35 ) has that at the outputs (p ₁ -p ₃ ) of the pulse counter ( 34 ) successively depending on the number (P) of the input pulses, an output signal occurs that at the outputs (Z ₁ -Z ₃ ) of the additional gain signal generator tors ( 35 ) output signals representing different additional profits occur and that at the outputs (p ₁ -p ₃ ; Z ₁ -Z ₃ ) of pulse counter ( 34 ) and additional profit signal generator ( 35 ) a gate circuit ( 36 ) is connected, each one an output (p ₁ -p ₃ ) of the pulse counter ( 34 ) associated output (Z ₁ -Z ₃ ) of the additional gain signal generator ( 35 ) with the Addie rer ( 37 ) connects when the pulse counter ( 34 ) generates an output signal, the outputs (p ₁ - p ₃ ; Z ₁ -Z ₃ ) of the pulse counter ( 34 ) and additional gain signal generator ( 35 ) each other in ascending order of the number of input pulses represented by an output signal of the pulse counter ( 34 ) and the size of the signal generator ( 35 ) additional profit shown are assigned. 5. Gaming machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the profit-increasing device ( 17 , 20-39 ) has a microprocessor. 6. Gaming machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a display unit ( 22 ; 38 ) for the content (S) of the accumulator memory ( 21 ) and the additional winner ( 33 ) is provided.