Patent Grant
9349240
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to an inclined input interface for a gaming terminal.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
According to some aspects of the invention, a gaming terminal comprises a first display screen operative to display a wagering game. The first display screen includes a lower section. A second display screen is operative to display images of input buttons. The second display screen includes a touchscreen operative to receive inputs at the input buttons to play the wagering game. The second display screen is smaller than the first display screen. The second display screen is positioned forwardly relative to the lower section of the first display screen such that the second display screen is closer than the first display screen to a player position in front of the gaming terminal. The second display screen is inclined relative to horizontal such that an imaginary plane containing the second display screen intersects the lower section of the first display screen, thereby creating an infinity-pool effect when viewing the first display screen relative to the second display screen.
According to another aspect of the invention, a gaming system includes a first display device for displaying a wagering game. The first display device defines a first imaginary plane. A second display device has a frontal viewing area of height, H, for displaying images associated with the wagering game. The second display device includes a touchscreen for receiving inputs associated with the wagering game. The second display device is smaller than the first display device. The second display device defines a second imaginary plane that intersects with the first imaginary plane within a lower section of the frontal viewing area of the first display device and forms an obtuse angle therewith. A top edge of the second display device is horizontally offset from a bottom edge of the first display device. The horizontal offset distance is in the range of 0.85 H to 1.15 H.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a gaming terminal includes displaying a wagering game on a first display screen that is operative to display a wagering game. The first display screen includes a lower section. Images of input buttons are displayed on a second display screen. The second display screen includes a touchscreen operative to receive inputs at the input buttons to play the wagering game. The second display screen is smaller than the first display screen. The second display screen is positioned forwardly relative to the lower section of the first display screen such that the second display screen is closer than the first display screen to a player position in front of the gaming terminal. The second display screen is inclined relative to horizontal such that an imaginary plane containing the second display screen intersects the lower section of the first display screen, thereby creating an infinity-pool effect when viewing the first display screen relative to the second display screen.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
Referring to
The gaming terminal 10 illustrated in
Input devices, such as the touch screen 18, buttons 20, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device (e.g., inclined touchscreen display area 130), a voice-recognition device, and a virtual input device, accept player input(s) and transform the player input(s) to electronic data signals indicative of the player input(s), which correspond to an enabled feature for such input(s) at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The input(s), once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to a CPU for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
Turning now to
The CPU 30 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 36, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 36 is connected to various input devices 38, output devices 40, and input/output devices 42 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 48 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 48 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external system interface 46 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the CPU 30, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming terminal 10 optionally communicates with the external system 48 such that the terminal operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating a random number, game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) for presenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner. The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gaming terminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external system 48 (“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in any suitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).
The gaming terminal 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving an input indicative of a wager, the reels 52 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 58. The wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activated payline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e., “scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayed array.
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering game outcome is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming terminal 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the CPU (e.g., CPU 30) is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with computer instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 44), the CPU, in accord with associated computer instructions, causing the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc. The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU further, in accord with the execution of the instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 12, other display device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of computer instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by a RNG) that is used by the CPU to determine the outcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least some aspects, the CPU is configured to determine an outcome of the game sequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.
It is contemplated that an improved input interface would be desirable for a gaming terminal 10, such as a an touchscreen-type display (e.g., an inclined touchscreen display) that is smaller than a primary display screen and that allows virtual content to be moved from the touchscreen display (e.g., a tablet, inclined touchscreen display) to a main or primary display screen. The touchscreen display is furthermore coordinated with the game content presented on the primary display screen. For example, some of the game content can be displayed on both the smaller touchscreen display and the primary display screen. The input interface can also desirably include other features to customize a player's experience and reduce player fatigue by promoting optimal body positioning. It is also contemplated that the larger primary display screen can also include a touchscreen.
In some aspects, a gaming terminal 10 includes an inclined touchscreen display and a primary display screen, such as a main video display, where the spacing between the two screens is coordinated and the screens are oriented (e.g., see
In some aspects, an infinity-pool effect at a gaming terminal is accomplished according to the relative position of an inclined display screen (e.g., input interface, tablet, inclined touchscreen display) to a primary display screen (e.g., main display screen). It is a desirable feature for a rear or distal edge (e.g., the upper edge that is highest in elevation) of the inclined display screen to appear higher than the bottom or lower edge of the primary display screen—though, both edges may be at the same height or the distal edge of the inclined display screen may even be lower than the lower edge of the primary display screen when determined relative to the same vertical reference point. Thus, while reference is made to an appearance of being higher, the true dimensionality may indicate the rear edge of the inclined display screen is or is not higher than the lower or bottom edge of the primary display screen though the rear or distal edge of the inclined input screen is positioned to provide the appearance to a player of being higher.
Referring now to
The frontal ledge 442 may include the hatched region 440 along with the portions to the left and right of the hatched region 440 spanning the width of the cabinet. In some aspects, the frontal ledge 442 is connected to or extending from the cabinet of the gaming terminal. The hatched region 440 may be an integral part of the frontal ledge 442. In some aspects, the hatch region 440 can also be a separate unit attached to or connected to the frontal ledge 442. It is also contemplated that the hatched region 440 may be another type of frontal ledge that is connected to or mounted to the cabinet but not spanning the width of the cabinet (e.g., not including the portions to the left and right of the hatched region in
It is contemplated that the frontal ledge 442 (or alternate hatched region 440 on its own) may be desirable in some aspects of the gaming terminal illustrated in
In some aspects of a gaming terminal, the inclined touchscreen display 430 has a diagonal dimension, A, of 12.1 inches or less and the primary display screen 412 has a diagonal dimension B of 21.5 inches or more. In some aspects, the viewable surface area of the inclined touchscreen display 430 has height and width dimensions generally expressed as H2 (e.g., height) and W2 (e.g., width) and the primary display screen 412 has height and width dimensions expressed as H1 (e.g., height) and W1 (e.g., width). In some aspects, the viewable surface area of an inclined touchscreen display is 71 square inches or less based on rectangular dimensions of approximately 7.3 inches or less (H2) by 9.7 inches or less (W2) and the viewable surface area of a primary display screen is 198 square inches or more based on rectangular dimensions of approximately 10.6 inches or more (H1) by 18.8 inches or more (W1).
In some aspects of the gaming terminal, it is desirable to have an inclined touchscreen display 430 that has a viewing screen surface area that is less than or equal to forty percent of the viewable screen surface area of the primary display screen 412. Other desirable aspects of the gaming terminal include the diagonal dimension, A, of the inclined touchscreen display 430 being less than or equal to half of the diagonal dimension, B, of the primary display screen. These relationships can be particularly desirable for the creation of the infinity-pool effect discussed elsewhere in this disclosure.
Referring now to
The creation of the desired effect between the touchscreen display 530 and the primary display screen 512 depends on the eye-level position of a player in front of the gaming terminal display components. A desirable aspect in the arrangement of the inclined touchscreen display 530 can be for the upper edge to appear to the player to be above the lower edge of the primary display screen 512. While the distance of the inclined touchscreen display 530 from the front edge of the cabinet (e.g., from the front of the frontal ledge) and the height of the inclined touchscreen display 530 are factors to consider in creating an infinity-pool effect between the touchscreen and primary display screen, the angle of incline of the input touchscreen display 530 can have a more direct impact on creating the effect. These aspects are discussed in more detail with respect to
Turning now to
The primary display screen 612 includes a lower section 615 and a lower edge 616. A desirable arrangement for the inclined touchscreen display is for it to be inclined relative to horizontal (e.g., dimension line 635) such that an imaginary plane 633 containing the top surface of the inclined touchscreen display 630 intersects the lower section 615 of the primary display screen 612. Another desirable arrangement for the gaming terminal is illustrated in
In some aspects of the screen arrangements of the present disclosure, the viewing surface of a primary display screen (e.g., 612) is at an obtuse angle, D, relative to the viewing surface of the inclined touchscreen display 630. The obtuse angle, D, can be in the range of 99 to 140 degrees. It is also contemplated that the obtuse angle, D, can be in the range of 104 to 130 degrees. In certain aspects, the obtuse angle, D, is at least 104 degrees. In some aspects, the obtuse angle, D, is approximately 120 degrees.
It is further contemplated that in certain arrangements of the screens, the front viewing surface of the primary display screen 612 is tilted back away from the player about its lower edge 616 at an angle, E (see
In some aspects of the screen arrangements of the present disclosure, the inclined touchscreen display maybe set back so that there is approximately one to two inches from the front edge of the frontal ledge of the cabinet to the front or proximal edge of the touchscreen display. The angle of incline (e.g., angle C) of the touchscreen display can be in the range from approximately 14 to 30 degrees where the smaller the touchscreen display (e.g., 8-inch diagonal) the greater the incline angle and the larger the touchscreen display (e.g., 10.5-inch diagonal) the smaller the incline angle. Furthermore, the closer the touchscreen is positioned to the user, a lower incline angle would be preferred for there to be a desirable relationship between the touchscreen display 630 and the primary display screen 612. Similarly, the closer the touchscreen display 630 is to the primary display 612, the greater an angle of incline would be preferred to have a more desirable relationship between the two screens (e.g., screens 612, 630).
It is contemplated that the angle and position of the touch screen display is adjusted or balanced to create the infinity pool effect and to allow nominal size players to have visibility and access to the player tracking features of the gaming terminal. The arrangement of inclined touchscreen displays (e.g., 430, 530, 630) relative to primary display screen (e.g., 412, 512, 612), such as those illustrated in
It is also contemplated that additional factors can describe a relationship for a gaming system regarding the positioning of the primary display screen (e.g., 412, 512, 612) relative to the inclined touchscreen display (e.g., 430, 530, 630). A first display device (e.g., primary display screen 612) can define a first imaginary plane that includes the viewing surface of the first display device. A second display device (e.g., inclined touchscreen display 630) can have a frontal viewing area of height, H (e.g., height dimension H2 in
It is contemplated that there are other desirable relationships between the first display device (e.g., primary display screen 612) and the second display device (e.g., inclined touchscreen display 630). The first display device may have a frontal viewing area of height, h (e.g., height H1 in
Other desirable relationships between the first display device (e.g., primary display screen 612) and the second display device (e.g., inclined touchscreen display 630) are also described for the first display device with a frontal viewing area of height, h (e.g., height H1 in
Referring now to
Turning to
In some aspects, a gaming terminal 10 can include a game-logic circuitry having a central processing unit and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices can store instructions that, when executed by the central processing unit, cause the gaming terminal to transfer an object of the wagering game from a first display screen to a second display screen based on a speed and direction of a touch gesture received on the first display screen or to transfer an object from the second display screen to the first display screen.
Referring now to
In some aspects of the virtual object transfer event, an outcome is determined for the event. The event may be a secondary target-type game where the outcome can be based on the player hitting a certain target with the virtual object. The event can also include other types of games including dice or card games. For example, a virtual object can be a die or dice, or the flipping or flicking of a card.
The inputs indicative of movement attributes that are received by the touchscreen display and interpreted by the processors can include attributes such as the speed and direction of a touch gesture by the player of the game on the touchscreen display. In some aspects, the inputs can be indicative of attributes including a distance and direction from the first position that are also received by a touch gesture associated with the player touch the touchscreen display.
The virtual object transfer event can include certain boundaries defined by the edges of the primary display screen and the touchscreen display. For example, the primary display screen can include a distal edge, a right edge, and a left edge defining virtual boundaries appearing to physically redirect the motion of an in-motion virtual object. The virtual object can then be continuously displayed on the primary display screen following initially being displayed on the primary display screen through being displayed at a final at-rest position. The inclined touchscreen display can also include a proximal edge, a right edge, and a left edge defining virtual boundaries appearing to also physically redirect the motion of an in-motion virtual object. The virtual object can then be continuously displayed on the inclined touchscreen display until immediately it exits from the top or distal edge of the touchscreen display to enter onto the primary display screen. Other boundary edge configurations are also contemplated that may confine and redirect the virtual object or allow it to pass from one screen to the next.
In some aspects, it is contemplated that a physics simulation algorithm may be applied based on the received inputs indicative of the movement attributes to be applied to the virtual object. For example, the applications of the physics simulator according to the movement attributes can be used to simulate the virtual object in motion along an arched trajectory. The simulation may not only include the speed and direction or distance and direction, but may also include an applied force and a simulation of gravitational forces acting on the virtual object moving from the inclined touchscreen display to the primary display screen, or vice versa.
It is contemplated that a desirable aspect of the present virtual object transfer event is to provide a realistic appearance of the transfer of objects from an inclined touchscreen to a primary display screen.
Turning now to
In some aspects, the virtual object can be confined and redirected by certain boundaries. For example, the dice in
In some aspects of the virtual object transfer feature illustrated in
Referring now to
In some aspects, the virtual object can be confined and redirected by certain boundaries. For example, the bird in
In some aspects of the present disclosure it can be desirable for an input interface (e.g., touchscreens 430, 530, 630, 830, 930, 1130, 1230) to include an auto-scale or auto-calibrate feature that is based on the attributes received by the interface through a hand plant by the user of the gaming terminal. The player's hand plant can provide the gaming system information on the player's rough ergonomic size and the player's thumb-to-finger reach. The received physical attributes for the player can then be interpreted and applied to scale the input display interface or to select an appropriate preconfigured interface size (e.g., small, medium, large) based on the received player attribute(s). For example, when a player sits down at a gaming terminal, an initial instruction can be displayed on one of the display screens or on the input interface requesting the player to place one or both of their hands on the input display interface. After the gaming terminal receives and interprets the player hand attributes through the input interface, the system can then calibrate or customize the interface to individualize the player experience.
In some aspects of the present disclosure a player can be provided with options to adjust or move frequently used buttons to different locations on the input interface. This feature can be desirable to minimize or alleviate fatigue from repetitive motion. For example, one or both of the spin button 1140 displayed in the bottom right and bottom left corners of the input display screen 1130 in
It is further contemplated that an input display screen for a gaming terminal can be customized to individual player characteristics by first determining a player's preferred placement of their hand and accordingly adjusting gaming content. The gaming terminal may initially receive an input through the input display screen of attributes of the player's hand in response to the player placing their hand in a preferred position on the input display screen. In some aspects, the input display screen is clear or practically clear without buttons or other objects being displayed that might bias a player's decision of where to place their hand. It is also contemplated that the input display screen for a gaming terminal can be customized to individual player characteristics through information received from over a network and outside of a gaming system. For example, characteristic information may be received by the gaming system that is associated with a player and that information may be used to customize an input display screen according to attributes of an individual player. The characteristic information may be stored or collected through a server associated with website that collects physical player attributes, such as preferred hand placement for a touchscreen. The website may be used to collect information from a player based on game or exercise application executed by the player on a tablet device and based on that information the player characteristic information is then stored and interpreted to determine a preferred layout for later use on an input display screen for the gaming terminal. The player characteristic information (e.g., hand sizing information) is saved on a server or other networked storage device that can send or allow access by the gaming system to retrieve the relevant or desired player characteristics.
It is also contemplated that a touchscreen display, such as the ones described throughout this disclosure, can include an aspect where new user buttons or different button layouts are provided on the display screen as a reward for certain achievements during game play. The addition of new user buttons or the provision of different button layouts can also be time based, which can be a desirable aspect for allowing new players to gradually learn the new input interface and not feel overwhelmed by an immediate introduction of many new buttons on the input display screen until a certain time period is achieved. In addition, infographics such as credit meters or other game state specific data typically presented on the primary display can be displayed on the touchscreen display in addition to or instead of the primary display. For example, credit meter data can be displayed on the touchscreen display instead of the primary display thus allowing the data to be displayed for the ease of concealment by the player's hand for privacy.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
This application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/880,234, filed Sep. 20, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4588187 | Dell | May 1986 | A |
| 5214414 | Levine et al. | May 1993 | A |
| 5327161 | Logan et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5496977 | Date et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5543591 | Gillespie et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
| 5636839 | Oda | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5739814 | Ohara et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5886697 | Naughton et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5963199 | Kato et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5967898 | Takasaka et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5995106 | Naughton et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 6005545 | Nishida et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6020881 | Naughton et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6154209 | Naughton et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6160551 | Naughton et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6244960 | Takasaka et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6319126 | Tamaki | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6323846 | Westerman et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6454649 | Mattice et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6471588 | Sakamoto | Oct 2002 | B2 |
| 6517433 | Loose et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
| 6620044 | Okada | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6626761 | Okada | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6659867 | Kodachi et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6672962 | Ozaki et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 6695697 | Okada et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6699122 | Osawa | Mar 2004 | B1 |
| 6857958 | Osawa | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| 7066813 | Sakamoto et al. | Jun 2006 | B1 |
| 7097560 | Okada | Aug 2006 | B2 |
| 7159865 | Okada | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7281980 | Okada | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| 7294059 | Silva et al. | Nov 2007 | B2 |
| 7322883 | Toyoda | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7338363 | Okada | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7355660 | Ikeda | Apr 2008 | B2 |
| 7390259 | Okada | Jun 2008 | B2 |
| 7409513 | Tanimura | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7413512 | Mattice et al. | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7462798 | Okada et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 7479061 | Okada | Jan 2009 | B2 |
| 7562872 | Okada | Jul 2009 | B2 |
| 7618323 | Rothschild et al. | Nov 2009 | B2 |
| D605231 | Hashimoto et al. | Dec 2009 | S |
| 7628701 | Wells | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| D622782 | Chudek et al. | Aug 2010 | S |
| 7780515 | Okada | Aug 2010 | B2 |
| 7892096 | Rigsby et al. | Feb 2011 | B2 |
| 8016655 | Sato | Sep 2011 | B2 |
| 8057303 | Rasmussen et al. | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| 8087986 | Yoshizawa | Jan 2012 | B2 |
| 8113945 | Yoshizawa | Feb 2012 | B2 |
| 8123603 | Yoshizawa | Feb 2012 | B2 |
| 8123615 | Okada | Feb 2012 | B2 |
| 8137192 | Thomas | Mar 2012 | B2 |
| 8152614 | Yoshizawa | Apr 2012 | B2 |
| 8182344 | Bleich et al. | May 2012 | B2 |
| 8216046 | Ikeya et al. | Jul 2012 | B2 |
| 8226459 | Barrett et al. | Jul 2012 | B2 |
| 8262480 | Cohen et al. | Sep 2012 | B2 |
| 8308561 | Mattice et al. | Nov 2012 | B2 |
| 8371923 | Iremonger et al. | Feb 2013 | B1 |
| 8408991 | Gilmore | Apr 2013 | B2 |
| 8460103 | Mattice et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
| 8475271 | Okada | Jul 2013 | B2 |
| 8535141 | Rommerdahl et al. | Sep 2013 | B2 |
| 8702497 | Chudek et al. | Apr 2014 | B2 |
| 8734232 | Bunch et al. | May 2014 | B2 |
| 8734248 | Greenberg et al. | May 2014 | B2 |
| 8834259 | Rommerdahl et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
| 20040166937 | Rothschild et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
| 20060166728 | Cornell et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
| 20060178205 | Bleich et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20070207861 | Gawel et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
| 20090181769 | Thomas et al. | Jul 2009 | A1 |
| 20090275406 | Bytnar et al. | Nov 2009 | A1 |
| 20100124962 | Chudek et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20100291992 | Greenberg et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| 20110165932 | Rommerdahl et al. | Jul 2011 | A1 |
| 20120122553 | Bunch et al. | May 2012 | A1 |
| 20130079157 | Chudek et al. | Mar 2013 | A1 |
| 20130157751 | Loose et al. | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| 20130217491 | Hilbert et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2238388 | May 1991 | GB |
| WO-9622580 | Jul 1996 | WO |
| WO-9622581 | Jul 1996 | WO |
| WO-9732641 | Sep 1997 | WO |
| WO-9829854 | Jul 1998 | WO |
| WO-9833568 | Aug 1998 | WO |
| WO-9958214 | Nov 1999 | WO |
| WO-0003407 | Jan 2000 | WO |
| WO-0056414 | Sep 2000 | WO |
| WO-2007127258 | Nov 2007 | WO |
| WO-2008045464 | Apr 2008 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150087403 A1 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61880234 | Sep 2013 | US |
