Pattern variably displaying device, game machine, and pattern variably displaying method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12573258-B2
Application number	US-202318461490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2023
Priority date	Oct 11, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A pattern variably displaying device includes: sphere reels, in which patterns are described on a surface of a sphere; a sphere driving device, driving each of the sphere reels; and a reel control part, controlling the sphere driving device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pattern variably displaying device comprising:
a plurality of sphere reels, in which a plurality of patterns are described on a surface of a sphere; a sphere driving device, rotating each of the sphere reels; and a control part, controlling the sphere driving device, wherein the control part comprises a power transmitter, wherein the sphere reels each comprise:
a detection part, detecting a posture of the sphere reels, wherein the detection part comprises a sensor;
an output part, outputting the posture to the control part, wherein the output part comprises a coil; and
a power supply, supplying power to the detection part and the output part,
wherein the control part
acquires a stop pattern which is a pattern at a time when the sphere reels stop rotating,
determines a rotation direction of the sphere reels from a history of the posture,
drives the sphere driving device so that the rotation direction corresponds to the stop pattern, and
drives the sphere driving device to stop rotation of the sphere reels at the stop pattern.

2 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power transmitter using a coil, wherein the power supply is a power receiver using a coil.

3 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the output part uses communication in a wireless tag.

4 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply is a battery.

5 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the sphere driving device comprises: a first drive, bringing a first roller into contact with the sphere reels and rotating the sphere reels about a first axis; and a second drive, bringing a second roller into contact with the sphere reels and rotating the sphere reels about a second axis different from the first axis.

6 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 5 , wherein
the first roller has a constant radius along a circumferential direction; and the second roller comprises a large diameter portion with a large roller diameter and a small diameter portion with a small roller diameter along the circumferential direction.

7 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 5 , wherein
the second drive comprises a retreat portion that prevents the second roller from contacting the sphere reels.

8 . The pattern variably displaying device according to claim 7 , wherein
the second drive further comprises a separation detection part that detects that the second roller is not in contact with the sphere reels, wherein the separation detection part comprises a sensor.

9 . A game machine comprising:
a pattern variably displaying device, variably displaying a plurality of patterns; and a game machine processor, determining display content of the pattern variably displaying device, wherein the pattern variably displaying device comprises: a plurality of sphere reels, in which a plurality of patterns are described on a surface of a sphere; a sphere driving device, driving each of the sphere reels; and a control part, controlling the sphere driving device, wherein the control part comprises a power transmitter, wherein the sphere reels each comprise:
a detection part, detecting a posture of the sphere reels, wherein the detection part comprises a sensor;
an output part, outputting the posture to the control part, wherein the output part comprises a coil; and
a power supply, supplying power to the detection part and the output part,
wherein the control part
acquires a stop pattern which is a pattern at a time when the sphere reels stop rotating,
determines a rotation direction of the sphere reels from a history of the posture,
drives the sphere driving device so that the rotation direction corresponds to the stop pattern, and
drives the sphere driving device to stop rotation of the sphere reels at the stop pattern.

10 . A pattern variably displaying method comprising:
acquiring a stop pattern of a plurality of sphere reels having a plurality of patterns described on a surface of a sphere, the stop pattern being a pattern at a time when the sphere reels stop rotating; determining a rotation direction of the sphere reels from a history of a posture of the sphere reels; driving a sphere driving device that rotates the sphere reels so that the rotation direction corresponds to the stop pattern; and driving the sphere driving device to stop rotation of the sphere reels at the stop pattern.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Ono Takahiro
• Sumi Masaaki
• Kudo Takuya
• Agata Takehiro
• Adachi Tatsuya
• Kato Shun

Classifications

• G07F17/3216

  Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects · CPC title

• G07F17/3223 Primary

  Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title