Matthew R Fitzsimons from East Dundee, IL, age 59

Us Patents

Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels
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US Patent:

8096878, Jan 17, 2012
Filed:

Jun 29, 2007
Appl. No.:

12/306510
Inventors:

Timothy J. Durham - Oak Park IL, US
Mark B. Gagner - West Chicago IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Vladimir I. Arezina - Chicago IL, US
Stephen A. Canterbury - Antioch IL, US
Victor Mercado - Berwyn IL, US
Samuel D. Ralston - Chicago IL, US
Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00
G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00
US Classification:

463 31, 463 20, 463 30, 463 32
Abstract:

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels.

Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels
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US Patent:

8128477, Mar 6, 2012
Filed:

Jun 29, 2007
Appl. No.:

12/306586
Inventors:

Timothy J. Durham - Oak Park IL, US
Mark B. Gagner - West Chicago IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Vladimir I. Arezina - Chicago IL, US
Stephen A. Canterbury - Antioch IL, US
Victor Mercado - Berwyn IL, US
Samuel D. Ralston - Chicago IL, US
Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming, Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 9/24
US Classification:

463 17, 463 20
Abstract:

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels.

Suspending Wagering Game Play On Wagering Game Machines
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US Patent:

8197338, Jun 12, 2012
Filed:

Feb 23, 2007
Appl. No.:

12/280139
Inventors:

Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Steven J. Lee - Naperville IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 13/12
US Classification:

463 29, 463 25, 463 39, 463 40, 463 42, 2731382, 2733171, 273460, 273461, 348553, 348608, 348636, 348706, 455 412, 4551512, 4552262, 455513, 714 471, 714 472, 714 48, 714 49
Abstract:

Systems and methods for suspending wagering game play on wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a content signal associated with regulated operations. The method can also include determining whether an enable signal is detected. Additionally, if the enable signal is not detected, the method can call for prohibiting performance of the regulated operations.

Gaming System Having Configurable Mechanical Reels
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US Patent:

8235798, Aug 7, 2012
Filed:

May 14, 2008
Appl. No.:

12/599997
Inventors:

Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Eric T. Ryan - Crest Hill IL, US
Steven J. Lee - Naperville IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegen IL
International Classification:

G06F 17/00
US Classification:

463 20
Abstract:

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game, and a controller operatively coupled to the display and the wager input device to operate in a plurality of selectable game modes of which a selected one is a current game mode. The display has an array of reel strips. Each of the selectable game modes is respectively associated with a subset of the reel strips of the array. A first game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of a second game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes. The second game mode has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of the first game mode. The controller is operative to cause the display to selectively conceal all of the reel strips other than that subset of the reel strips associated with the current game mode, for example, by causing movement of a reel window or reel strips with respect to the other, or by adjusting the opacity of one or more controllable-opacity segments.

Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels
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US Patent:

8251795, Aug 28, 2012
Filed:

Jun 29, 2007
Appl. No.:

12/306507
Inventors:

Timothy J. Durham - Oak Park IL, US
Mark B. Gagner - West Chicago IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Vladimir I. Arezina - Chicago IL, US
Stephen A. Canterbury - Antioch IL, US
Victor Mercado - Berwyn IL, US
Samuel D. Ralston - Chicago IL, US
Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 9/24
US Classification:

463 20
Abstract:

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels.

Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels
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US Patent:

8403743, Mar 26, 2013
Filed:

Nov 13, 2008
Appl. No.:

12/270701
Inventors:

Larry J. Pacey - Chicago IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Timothy J. Durham - Oak Park IL, US
Mark B. Gagner - West Chicago IL, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Vladimir I. Arezina - Chicago IL, US
Stephen A. Canterbury - Antioch IL, US
Victor Mercado - Berwyn IL, US
Samuel D. Ralston - Chicago IL, US
Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 13/00
US Classification:

463 20, 463 21
Abstract:

A method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols.

Gaming System Having Banking And Redemption Of Progressive Award Enhancements
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US Patent:

8591324, Nov 26, 2013
Filed:

Jan 9, 2009
Appl. No.:

12/863155
Inventors:

Matthew R. Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Steven J. Lee - Elmhurst IL, US
James M. Rasmussen - Chicago IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

A63F 13/10
US Classification:

463 27, 463 25, 463 26
Abstract:

A method of operating a wagering game comprises displaying the wagering game and at least one progressive award, receiving a wager to play the wagering game, and upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, offering the at least one progressive award. The method further comprises determining whether or not the at least one progressive award has been accepted, and if the at least one progressive award has not been accepted, banking a progressive enhancement. The method further comprises, upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, applying the progressive enhancement to the at least one progressive award.

Proximity Based Game Customization
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US Patent:

8602885, Dec 10, 2013
Filed:

Dec 22, 2005
Appl. No.:

11/275295
Inventors:

Vladimir Arezina - Chicago IL, US
Matthew Fitzsimons - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Ryan S. Mak - Chicago IL, US
Samuel D Ralston - Chicago IL, US
Vikram Swamy - Chicago IL, US
Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL
International Classification:

G07F 17/32
US Classification:

463 29, 463 16, 463 20, 463 25
Abstract:

Potential player proximity to a gaming machine is sensed, and used to customize the gaming machine. The potential player position may be sensed in different manners including via an ID card carried by the potential player with triangulation sensors, a cell phone, or via biometrics. The identity of the player is also associated with the ID card, and is used to access a database containing information about the potential player or type of player. Based on that stored information, the proximate gaming machine may be customized with a game or various attract modes that are more likely to attract the potential player. In further embodiments, information known to be desired by the potential player, such as sporting results may also be displayed to attract the potential player. In still further embodiments, various profiling techniques may be utilized to identify desired customizations of proximately located gaming machines.