James R Stelzer

US Patent:

8353758, Jan 15, 2013

Filed:

Sep 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/212196

Inventors:

James R. Stelzer - Holland PA, US
Colin Higbie - Reva VA, US
Nathan Weyer - Trevose PA, US

Assignee:

AMI Entertainment Network, Inc. - Bristol PA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

463 25, 463 16, 463 20, 463 43, 463 44

Abstract:

An amusement device has a display, an audio output, and an input component. The display includes a touchscreen. The input component receives at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards. The amusement device also includes a common controller. The common controller is configured to select and play at least one electronic game and to select and retrieve for playing a music data set from a plurality of music data sets. The electronic game and the music data set may optionally be played simultaneously. In certain embodiments, a reward based on one of either the electronic game or selection of the music data set is applied to the respective other of the electronic game and the selection of the music data. In further embodiments, a content of the electronic game is based on the music data set.

US Patent:

8506373, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

May 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/381379

Inventors:

James R. Stelzer - Holland PA, US
Nathan E. Weyer - Trevose PA, US
Malcolm J. Harwood - Bensalem PA, US

Assignee:

AMI Entertainment Network, Inc. - Bristol PA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00
G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

463 9, 463 21, 463 23, 463 25

Abstract:

An amusement device that awards prizes has a display and an input device. The amusement device includes a memory that stores at least one electronic game and a system control program. The at least one electronic game has a plurality of play scenarios and is at least partially skill-based. The amusement device also includes a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play the at least one electronic game and determine at least one of an optimum series of requisite moves that will result in an optimal achievable score for a particular play scenario selected from a plurality of play scenarios.

US Patent:

20040192443, Sep 30, 2004

Filed:

Feb 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/789467

Inventors:

James Stelzer - Bensalem PA, US
Scott Ferguson - Levittown PA, US
Michael Abbate - Vineland NJ, US

Assignee:

Merit Industries, Inc.

International Classification:

A63F013/00

US Classification:

463/042000

Abstract:

Amusement device communication system includes a communication link, a first amusement device and a second amusement device. The communication link has a communication medium and a power line communication subsystem. The first amusement device has a video touchscreen, and the second amusement device has a controller and a memory. The second amusement device is coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, and the first amusement device communicates with the second amusement device using the communication medium. The power line communication sub-system includes a local power grid and first and second power line adapters. The local power grid is configured to supply electrical power to local devices. The first power line adapter is coupled between the first amusement device and the local power grid. The first adapter superimposes communication signals onto the local power grid and decodes superimposed communication signals from the local power grid.

US Patent:

20050059484, Mar 17, 2005

Filed:

Sep 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/937681

Inventors:

David Logan - Washington Crossing PA, US
James Stelzer - Bensalem PA, US
Robert Mills - Huntingdon Valley PA, US
Thomas Kane - Bensalem PA, US

International Classification:

A63F013/00

US Classification:

463029000

Abstract:

An amusement device has a display and an input device and includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores a plurality of games and a system control program. The controller is operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device; permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time.

US Patent:

20050143157, Jun 30, 2005

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/003995

Inventors:

James Stelzer - Holland PA, US
Michael Canepi - Bensalem PA, US
Augustus Russo - Conshohocken PA, US

International Classification:

A63F009/24

US Classification:

463012000

Abstract:

An electronic blackjack variation card game playable in a gaming machine having a display includes an electronic shoe of cards having a deck of cards. The electronic card game includes a playing area and five card receiving zones. The electronic card game has rules which include allowing the player to place a wager; turning over a top card on the shoe, so that the top card is face-up; selecting the face-up card from the shoe and directing it to one of the five zones; adding up the face value of the cards in each of the five card receiving zones to form individual card receiving zone totals; adding the values of all of the individual zone totals that are twenty-one or less to form a total score; and paying out a multiple of the wager when the total score is equal to or greater than a winning amount.

US Patent:

20070060388, Mar 15, 2007

Filed:

Sep 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/531782

Inventors:

James Stelzer - Holland PA, US
David Logan - Washington Crossing PA, US

Assignee:

MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC. - Bensalem PA

International Classification:

A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463043000

Abstract:

An amusement device has a display and an input device. The amusement device includes a memory that stores at least one electronic game and a system control program and a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The electronic game has at least one virtual character, and the at least one virtual character has animated character traits. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to (i) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play the at least one electronic game and (ii) modify the animated character traits being exhibited by the at least one virtual character as determined by an intelligence algorithm located in the control program based at least in part on the play of the game.

US Patent:

20080045336, Feb 21, 2008

Filed:

Aug 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/840937

Inventors:

James Stelzer - Bensalem PA, US
Augustus Russo - Conshohocken PA, US
Adam Smith - Philadelphia PA, US
David Logan - Washington Crossing PA, US
Colin Higbie - Rena VA, US

Assignee:

MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC. - Bensalem PA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463030000

Abstract:

An amusement device having interactive advertisements includes a display, an input device, an attract mode, and a game play mode. The amusement device includes a memory that stores a plurality of electronic games. The amusement device also includes a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device, and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to (i) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play one of the plurality of electronic games and (ii) display an interactive advertisement during at least one of the attract mode and the game play mode.

US Patent:

20080200257, Aug 21, 2008

Filed:

Feb 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/033534

Inventors:

James R. Stelzer - Holland PA, US

Assignee:

MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC. - Bensalem PA

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 42

Abstract:

A portable amusement device has a display and is configured to operate at least one electronic game. The portable amusement device is operated by a touchscreen and includes a battery and a currency input. The portable amusement device is operable by a user upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). An amusement system includes a portable amusement device configured to operate at least one electronic game and having a display, a touchscreen, and a battery. The system also includes a docking station configured to receive the portable amusement device. The docking station includes a currency input. The portable amusement device is removable from the docking station only upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a PIN.