JPH01153181A - Pocker machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable increase in the number of combinations of win without changing the number of symbols per reel and the number of reels provided on this machine by using first and second tables which are not equal in return rate. CONSTITUTION: When a contest starting switch is depressed, one random number is selected per reel in one set. Then, a table is selected to determine which of a table A and a table B should be used to generate a different average return to contestants for determining the symbol of the reel to be displayed subsequently. After the selection of the table, the random number generated by a random number generator is converted to a symbol code, which is transmitted to a stepping mechanism controller for control the rotation of reels. As a result, the main mechanical controller gains a notice that the rotation of the reel is completed. Then, when a win is decided in the combination of the reel positions, payment is accomplished to meet the requirement. When the selection of the table A and the table B is made truly at a random, the machine presents a plenty of return to the contestant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION B. Technical Field The present invention relates to machines generally known as poker machines, fruit machines, or slot machines, and more particularly, the present invention relates to machines generally known as poker machines, fruit machines, or slot machines. Do not change the number of reels provided in
To provide a poker machine which is increased and improved over a conventional machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides display means arranged to simultaneously display a plurality of marks selected from a set of possible marks, and a mark to be displayed by the display means from the set of marks. A poker machine having random selection means arranged to select a random number, the random selection means arranged to generate one random number for each mark display position of the display means, and random number generation means arranged so as to generate one random number for each mark display position of the display means. a first lookup table that defines a first set of marks that can be displayed for a mark display position;
a second look-up table defining a set of marks that can be displayed for each mark display position; and selecting either the first look-up table or the second look-up table as the table to be used for a given game of this machine. each mark of the first table is associated with a respective random number within the range of random numbers that can be generated by the random number generating means, and each mark of the second lookup table is also selected by the random number generating means. There exists a machine associated with each one of the possible numbers created.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sets of marks provided in the first and second look-up tables are selected to yield different average player payoffs, and the weighting of the table selection means is such that: The machine is programmable so that the overall payoff of the machine can be changed without changing the machine's artwork, available payout combinations, or the contents of the first and second tables.

In different embodiments of this machine, the selection means may be arranged to give a weighted or unbiased random selection, or alternatively this selection may occur at a predetermined time or a predetermined game. It may be changed to several machines.

C. Embodiments Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, in a poker machine according to the invention, the random number generator is continuously available while the poker machine is in operation, and when a 10% player presses the start switch 11, each reel of the machine is activated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display of the poker machine includes a plurality of stepper motor driven reels, each having a marked strip; When you spin and then stop, you will leave one of the marks in the window and you will notice that this mark is one of the selection of marks that will be used to determine the outcome of this competition. Next, table selection 13 is performed to determine which of the first table and second table (Table A and Table B in FIG. 1) should be used to determine the symbols of the reels to be displayed. After selecting a table, the random numbers generated by the random number generator are converted into symbolic codes 14 according to the selection of tables A and 8 of this Figure 1, and these symbolic codes then control the rotation of the reels. transmitted to the stepping mechanism controller. This main machine controller then waits for notification that the reel rotation is complete, and then if a winning combination of reel positions is required,
Make a Payment 17. Now referring to Figure 3, the reel mechanism controller receives the symbol code selected by the master controller 21 and begins rotating the reels by initiating stepping of the respective stepper motors 22; Wait 23 for each reel's indexed position to pass through the reference point and apply the necessary number of pulses to each reel to stop the reel at its respective selected symbol code or position. This reel advancing procedure is then continued until all reels reach their required mark positions, and when this cycle is completed, it is stopped 25 and the reel stop signal is sent to the main controller 26. The control device holds information in the series of symbols on each reel strip, and as shown in Figure 4, the number to the left of each symbol is the symbol code given from the position at which this mechanical control device indexes the reel. Indicates the number of steps required to progress to.

Although the present invention has been described for a poker machine having a stepper motor-driven reel display, it is understood that a video display or other display device capable of displaying selected symbols or marks may equally utilize the described invention. It will be.

Various methods can be used to select the first and second tables, including the following methods.

(2) Fixed equal time intervals for each table (or a fixed number of games before switching) (c) Equal time (or games) for each table, but table A or table B is selected at random (f) - Switching from one table to another at a random time (or random number of games) - having two tables instead of one doubles the chance of being able to calculate a jackpot.

This plan also offers other advantages not possible with single-table machines. Even if each table pays out the same percentage, the characteristics of the machine can be changed by giving small payouts that occur more frequently than others at -tables.

However, a more attractive concept is to use tables with unequal payoffs, such as the one shown in Figure 1, where table A has a theoretical payoff of 80%,
Table B, with no jackpot, gives a theoretical return of 90% with frequent small payments. If the selection of tables A and 8 in Figure 1 were truly random, then this machine would reward players on average 85% - even if there were times when other tables were selected consecutively. would have given.

The time or number of games before switching from one table to another is controlled by a plug-in circuit board or module, thereby making it easier to combine or create the same machine in markets where the manufacturer demands different rates of return from the machine. Preferably, it can be shipped without having to change the work or rewrite the program, simply by using different modules that give different weights to the selection of the first and second tables.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications can be made to the invention as described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows first and second look-up tables created by a random number generator for determining the symbols on the reels to be displayed for a given random number or result. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for the main controller of a poker machine according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for the preferred embodiment display mechanism controller. FIG. 4 schematically shows a reel strip for the first reel of a poker machine according to the invention.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) A display means arranged so as to simultaneously display a plurality of marks selected from a set of possible marks at a set of display positions, and a mark to be displayed by the display means from the set of marks. a poker machine having random selection means arranged to select a random number, the random selection means arranged so as to generate one random number for each mark display position of the display means; a first look-up table that defines a first set of marks that can be displayed for each mark display position; a second look-up table that defines a set of marks that can be displayed for each mark display position; and a given game for this machine. selecting means arranged to select the first lookup table or the second lookup table as the table to be used for the first lookup table;
Each mark in the table is associated with a respective random number within the range of random numbers that can be generated by this random number generation means, and each mark in the second lookup table is also associated with a respective random number within the range of random numbers that can be generated by this random number generation means. Machines associated with each one. 2. A poker machine according to claim 1, wherein the coarseness of the marks in the first look-up table and the second look-up table are selected to produce different average player payoffs. (3) In the poker machine according to claim 2, the selection means selects the total average player payoff among the total average player payoffs that would occur if only the first lookup table or the second lookup table were used. A machine that randomly alternates between a first look-up table and a second look-up table so as to cause a problem. 4. A poker machine according to claim 3, wherein the random selection of the first table or the second table is weighted to produce a particular overall average player payoff. 5. A poker machine according to claim 4, wherein the weighting is variable to allow the total payoff of the machine to be changed without having to change the design of the machine or its artwork. 6. A poker machine according to claim 2, wherein said selection means is arranged to change the selected look-up table after a predetermined number of games. 7. A poker machine according to claim 2, wherein the selection means is arranged to change the selected look-up table after a predetermined time. (8) In the poker machine according to claims 1 to 7,
A machine in which one of the look-up tables is designed to produce a large number of relatively small payments, while the other is designed to produce a relatively small number of large payments.