1. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim is to provide an active heat balance device that gives good heat conduction property in a comparatively stable solid or liquid state thermo carrier in the nature including stratum, geodetic surface, pond, lake or river, or the active heat balance device is forthwith comprised of a transmission pipeline connected through the accommodation space in the thermo carrier in the nature to cool by absorbing the heat from the fluid flowing through the active heat balance device at comparatively higher temperature, or to heat by releasing the heat to the fluid flowing through the active heat balance device at comparatively lower temperature; so that while the active regulator is discharging the fluid with temperature delta to an externally passive exchange fluid source, or while the externally passive exchange fluid source inputs the fluid with temperature delta into the active regulator, the active heat balance device provided inside the thermo carrier absorbs the heat to cool or release the heat to heat the fluid depending on the relative difference of temperature between the fluid passing through and the active heat balance device thus to complete the heat reclaim by heat absorption or heat release in a system configuration including:
(1) a heat exchange fluid system in direct transmission mode through a one-way flowing passage;
(2) a heat exchange fluid system in indirect transmission mode through a one-way flowing passage;
(3) a heat exchange fluid system in direct transmission mode through a two-way flowing passage; and
(4) a heat exchange fluid system in indirect transmission mode through two one-way flowing passages.
2. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the heat exchange fluid system in direct transmission mode through a one-way flowing passage is essentially comprised of:
a natural thermo carrier 101: relates to a solid or liquid thermo carrier in the nature that is provided with a comparatively larger and more stable thermo carrying capacity including stratum, geodetic surface, pond, lake, river, desert, iceberg, or ocean;
an active heat balance device 102: comprised of material with good heat conduction property and good heat conduction status with the thermo carrier 101, or the space inside the thermo-carrier 101 for the fluid to flow forthwith constituting the function of active heat balance to replace the active heat balance device made of material with good heat conduction property;
an active regulator 103: comprised of a space or structure with a specific function to be subject to pumping by a primary pump 106 during the system operation to directly export internal fluid and import external fluid through the active heat balance device 102; or to indirectly export internal fluid and import internal export internal fluid and import external fluid through a relay heat balancer 202 to execute fluid exchange for heat reclaim;
an external source of passive exchange fluid 104: relates to a natural or artificial gaseous or liquid fluid source of the nature to be subject to pumping by the primary pump 106 to provide external fluid to flow through the active heat balance device 102 into the active regulator 103; or to receive and dilute the fluid discharged by the active regulator 103;
a transmission pipeline 105: comprised of one or more than one pipelines to introduce external fluid or discharge internal fluid, a good insulation structure 107 being provided between the transmission pipeline 105 and the natural thermo carrier 101 contacted by the transmission pipeline 106, or the transmission pipeline being made of good insulation material;
the primary pump 106: comprised of a fluid pump driven by electricity or mechanical power;
a filtration device 108: an optional item comprised of strainer and hazardous fluid filtration element, installed at the fluid inlet or outlet to prevent the pipeline from blocking and to clean the pipeline,
a humidity regulation device or humidity disposal structure 109: an optional item comprised of a humidity detection device or a set of discharge pumps, or a humidity or water accumulation disposal structure that is provided with discharge hole way; and
a control unit 110: comprised of a dynamo-electric or a solid-state electronic circuit and related software to control fluid temperature, volume and humidity including control of fluid volume, valve control and monitor of fluid temperature, control of fluid pumps and safety protection control, detection of hazardous fluid at the import side or each export outlet, triggering off the alarm to cut off the fluid or provide other reaction in the presence of hazardous fluid at a lever challenging the preset value; in a system configuration featuring that:
at least one transmission pipeline 105 being provided to penetrate through the one-way flowing passage for fluid transmission including the active regulator 103, the active heat balance device 102, the primary pump 106, and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104;
at lease one primary pump 106 or an optional divided circuit pump 206 being provided; wherein, the primary pump 106 engaging in cyclic operation to pump the fluid both in positive and negative direction to periodically exchange pumping the flowing direction for the fluid passing through the active heat balance device 102 including the pumping of the internal fluid of the active regular 103 to pass through the transmission pipeline 105 into the active heat balance device 102 provided inside the natural thermo carrier 101, then further through the transmission pipeline 105 and the humidity regulating device or the humidity disposal structure 109 and the filtration device 108 to be delivered to the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 or any other specific space or structure; or the pumping of the external fluid from the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 to pass through the filtration device 108 and the humidity regulation device or the humidity disposal structure 109, and the transmission pipeline 105 into the active heat balance device 102 provided in the natural thermo carrier 101, then through the transmission pipeline 105 to be delivered to the active regulator 103 for the active heat balance device 102 to indicate the cyclic change of heat absorption for cooling purpose and heat release for heating purpose on the fluid flowing through depending on the temperature delta.
3. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the active heat balance device 102 is provided to indirectly transmit thermal energy to one or multiple sets of relay heat balancer 202 to constitute the fluid exchange system for heat reclaim operating in indirect transmission mode through one-way flowing passage essentially comprised of:
at lease one active heat balance device 102 with good heat conduction property being provided in the natural thermo carrier 101 to actively execute heat transmission with the natural thermo carrier 101;
at lease one relay heat balancer 202 made of good thermo reservation and conduction material, at lease one transmission pipeline 105 being provided at where between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 to transmit a heat conduction fluid 209 pumped by an auxiliary pump 207 for bringing the temperature of the relay heat balancer 202 and that of the active heat balance device 102 to close to each other; and at least one unit of another transmission pipeline 105, the filtration device 108, the humidity regulation device or the humidity disposal structure 109, and the primary pump 106 for the primary pump 106 to transmit the fluid flowing between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104; the fluids respectively flowing through both of the transmission pipelines 105 also flowing through the relay heat balancer 202 to balance the temperature delta between both fluids;
the heat conduction fluid 209: comprised of a gas or a liquid with good heat reservation and conduction properties, to be pumped by the auxiliary pump 207 to flow through a flowing passage defined by the humidity regulation device or the humidity disposal structure 109, and the transmission pipeline 105 for both of the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer to provide their functions of heat transmission;
the primary pump 106: comprised of a fluid pump driven by electricity or mechanical power;
the auxiliary pump 207: comprised of a fluid pump driven by electricity or mechanical power;
the temperature balance system between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 including:
(1) a closed loop flowing passage including at least one transmission pipeline 105, at least one fluid auxiliary pump 207, and the optional divided circuit pump 206 being provided between at least one active heat balance device 102 and at least one relay heat balancer 202 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good heat conduction to execute cyclic pumping, so to provide the function of heat balance between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(2) a thermo pipe device 300 with good heat conduction property being directly used to balance the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 by skipping the primary fluid pump 105 or the divided circuit pump 206; or
(3) an open circuit flowing passage comprised of at least one transmission pipeline 105 and at least one primary fluid pump 106 being provided between at least one active heat balance device 102 and at least one relay heat balancer 202 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good heat conduction property to balance the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 in one-way pump of open mode; and
the fluid transmission pipeline 105 being provided on the relay balancer to connect through the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104, wherein, the primary pump 106 engaging in cyclic operation to pump the fluid both in positive and negative direction so that the flowing direction of the internal fluid pumped by the active regulator 103 to the external source of passive exchange fluid 104, or the flowing direction of the external fluid pumped by the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 to the active regulator 103 that flowing through the relay heat balancer to indicate periodical exchange, thus for the relay heat balancer 202 to indicate cyclic change of heat absorption for cooling purpose of heat release for heating purpose depending on the temperature delta of the fluid flowing through the relay heat balancer 202, and finally to constitute the fluid exchange system for heat reclaim by indirectly taking advantage of a natural thermo carrier.
4. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system operating in a direct transmission mode through two-way flowing passage is essentially comprised of:
a natural thermo carrier 101: relates to a solid or liquid thermo carrier in the nature that is provided with a comparatively larger and more stable thermo carrying capacity including stratum, geodetic surface, pond, lake, river, desert, iceberg, or ocean; and
two independent transmission pipelines 105 being respectively between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 for the fluid to respectively and independently flow to the active heat balance device 102 provided inside the natural thermo carrier 101; within, one flowing passage being provided for the primary pump 106 to pump the internal fluid of the active regulator 103 to flow through the humidity regulation device or the humidity disposal structure 109 and the active heat balance device 102, then through the filtration device 108 to be discharged to the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 or any other space or structure with specific function; another flowing passage being provided for the primary pump 106 to pump the fluid of the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 to flow through the filtration device 108 and the humidity regulation device or the humidity disposal structure 109, the through the active heat balance device 102 to be delivered to the active regulator 103; both independent flowing passages being each provided with the primary pump 106 that operates independently to respectively and simultaneously pump in different directions the fluid independently flowing through the respective fluid transmission pipeline 105.
5. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the individual primary pump in the heat reclaim exchange system of direct transmission in two-way flowing passage is replaced by a common set of two-way primary pumps characterized by that:
an integrated two-way primary pump set 1006 to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids independently flowing through the respective fluid transmission pipeline 105, and the integrated two-way primary pump set 1006 is capable of alternatively changing in cycle the direction to pump the fluid; and
the active heat balance device 102 respectively provided in two independently provided transmission pipelines 105 may share the integrated structure, or separately provided or provided next to each other inside the natural thermo carrier 101.
6. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the heat reclaim exchange system of indirect transmission in two-way flowing passage is essentially comprised of:
a natural thermo carrier 101: relates to a solid or liquid thermo carrier in the nature that is provided with a comparatively larger and more stable thermo carrying capacity including stratum, geodetic surface, pond, lake, river, desert, iceberg, or ocean;
at least one active heat balance device 102 made of a material with good heat conduction provided inside the natural thermo carrier 101 for both of the active heat balance device 102 and the natural thermo carrier 101 to provide the heat balance transmission function; and
the relay heat balancer 202: comprised of at lease one relay heat balancer 202 made of a material with good heat conduction, and at least one transmission pipeline 105 being provided to the relay heat balancer 202 to constitute a flowing passage with the active heat balance device 102 for the heat conduction fluid 209 pumped by the auxiliary pump 207 to flow through; at least one transmission pipeline 105 being provided to this system for transmitting the fluid from the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 pumped by the primary pump 106 to flow to the active regulator 103 via the relay heat balancer 202; and at least one transmission pipeline 105 for transmitting the fluid in the active regulator body pumped by the primary pump 106 to be discharged to the external source of passive exchange fluid via the relay heat balancer 202, or to any other space or structure with specific function; fluids respectively flowing through those three transmission pipelines transmitting thermal energy one another by means of the relay heat balancer 202 to constitute the exchange system for heat reclaim indirectly through the natural thermo carrier 101.
7. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the methods of heat balance between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 include:
(1) a closed loop flowing passage comprised of at least one transmission pipeline 105, at least one primary fluid pump 106 and an optional divided pump 206 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good conduction property to engage in cyclic pumping, thus to provide the heat balance function between the active heat device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(2) a thermal pipe device 300 with good heat conduction property is used instead to directly balance the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 by skipping the primary fluid pump 106 or the divided pump 206; or
(3) at least one transmission pipeline 105 and at least one auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one active heat balance device and at least one relay heat balancer 202 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good heat conduction property to constitute an open flowing passage for open one-way pumping in balancing the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(4) a transmission pipeline 105 to allow the heat conduction fluid 209 flowing through and an auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one relay heat balancer 202 and at least one active heat balance device 102 for the auxiliary pump 202 that pumps the heat conduction fluid 209 to execute one way pumping or cyclic pumping in alternative direction periodically to balance the temperature delta between the relay balancer 202 and the active heat balance device 102.
8. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, fluids flowing through two independent transmission pipelines 105 provided between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 are respectively pumped and independently flowing to the active heat balance device 102 or the relay heat balancer 202 and its individual pumping methods include:
(1) multiple primary pumps individually operating and provided to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105; or
(2) at least one integrated two-way primary pump 1006 to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105, and the primary 106 to further periodically change the direction of the fluid it is pumping.
9. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the transmission pipeline 105 is comprised of a material with good thermal reservation property in a specific form and sufficient length to be buried in the natural thermo carrier 101 to respect the active heat balance device 102 in providing the function of heat balance.
10. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the alternatively changed flowing direction in periodically in cycle of the fluid is further provided for one-way pumping by the same primary pump 106 and a pipeline flow valve 400 is provided to control the alternative change of the flowing direction of the fluid pumped by the primary pump 106, or multiple pumps operating to pump the fluids in different directions are used to execute the alternative change of the flowing direction of the fluid pumped by them.
11. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the system is further provided with the following auxiliary control devices as applicable including:
a flow meter: an optional item to count the accumulated flow volume;
a filtration device: an optional item comprised of strainer and hazardous fluid filtration element, installed at the fluid inlet or outlet to prevent the pipeline from blocking and to clean the pipeline,
a flow regulation valve: an optional item to control by manual or by mechanical powers the volume of the fluid to be released
a humidity regulation device or humidity disposal structure: an optional item comprised of a humidity detection device or a set of discharge pumps, or a humidity or water accumulation disposal structure that is provided with discharge hole way; and
a control unit: comprised of a dynamo-electric or a solid-state electronic circuit and related software to control fluid temperature, volume and humidity including control of fluid volume, valve control and monitor of fluid temperature, control of fluid pumps and safety protection control, detection of hazardous fluid at the import side or each export outlet, triggering off the alarm to cut off the fluid or provide other reaction in the presence of hazardous fluid at a lever challenging the preset value.
12. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the fluid includes gas or liquid.
13. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 1, wherein, either or both of the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 is or are comprised of the following spaces or structures with specific function:
(1) an air conditioning object within a fixed building, e.g., a building, greenhouse, or public building;
(2) a space demanding air conditioning in a structure moving on a flowing natural thermo carrier, e.g., a sea vessel, floating working platform, or a building on surface; or
(3) an open space accommodating gas or liquid, e.g., a pond, valley, basin, or desert; or
(4) a closed container for gas or liquid, e.g., air tank or liquid container; or
(5) any manufacturing or processing equipment; or
(6) any mechanical equipment or home electric appliances that requires passive prevention of freezing or active defrosting; or
(7) any open road or airfield runway or surface navigation way that requires passive prevention of freezing or active defrosting; or
(8) any surface and deeper layer provided with temperature delta in a water way of sea port, lake, or river; or
(9) any site with specific geologic features, e.g., a desert and it surrounding environment.
14. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the methods of heat balance between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 include:
(1) a closed loop flowing passage comprised of at least one transmission pipeline 105, at least one primary fluid pump 106 and an optional divided pump 206 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good conduction property to engage in cyclic pumping, thus to provide the heat balance function between the active heat device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(2) a thermal pipe device 300 with good heat conduction property is used instead to directly balance the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 by skipping the primary fluid pump 106 or the divided pump 206; or
(3) at least one transmission pipeline 105 and at least one auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one active heat balance device and at least one relay heat balancer 202 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good heat conduction property to constitute an open flowing passage for open one-way pumping in balancing the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(4) a transmission pipeline 105 to allow the heat conduction fluid 209 flowing through and an auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one relay heat balancer 202 and at least one active heat balance device 102 for the auxiliary pump 202 that pumps the heat conduction fluid 209 to execute one way pumping or cyclic pumping in alternative direction periodically to balance the temperature delta between the relay balancer 202 and the active heat balance device 102.
15. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the methods of heat balance between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 include:
(1) a closed loop flowing passage comprised of at least one transmission pipeline 105, at least one primary fluid pump 106 and an optional divided pump 206 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good conduction property to engage in cyclic pumping, thus to provide the heat balance function between the active heat device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(2) a thermal pipe device 300 with good heat conduction property is used instead to directly balance the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202 by skipping the primary fluid pump 106 or the divided pump 206; or
(3) at least one transmission pipeline 105 and at least one auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one active heat balance device and at least one relay heat balancer 202 to pump the heat conduction fluid 209 with good heat conduction property to constitute an open flowing passage for open one-way pumping in balancing the temperature delta between the active heat balance device 102 and the relay heat balancer 202; or
(4) a transmission pipeline 105 to allow the heat conduction fluid 209 flowing through and an auxiliary pump 207 being provided between at least one relay heat balancer 202 and at least one active heat balance device 102 for the auxiliary pump 202 that pumps the heat conduction fluid 209 to execute one way pumping or cyclic pumping in alternative direction periodically to balance the temperature delta between the relay balancer 202 and the active heat balance device 102.
16. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 4, wherein, fluids flowing through two independent transmission pipelines 105 provided between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 are respectively pumped and independently flowing to the active heat balance device 102 or the relay heat balancer 202 and its individual pumping methods include:
(1) multiple primary pumps individually operating and provided to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105; or
(2) at least one integrated two-way primary pump 1006 to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105, and the primary 106 to further periodically change the direction of the fluid it is pumping.
17. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 5, wherein, fluids flowing through two independent transmission pipelines 105 provided between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 are respectively pumped and independently flowing to the active heat balance device 102 or the relay heat balancer 202 and its individual pumping methods include:
(1) multiple primary pumps individually operating and provided to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105; or
(2) at least one integrated two-way primary pump 1006 to simultaneously pump indifferent directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105, and the primary 106 to further periodically change the direction of the fluid it is pumping.
18. A fluid exchange system of a natural thermo carrier for heat reclaim as claimed in claim 6, wherein, fluids flowing through two independent transmission pipelines 105 provided between the active regulator 103 and the external source of passive exchange fluid 104 are respectively pumped and independently flowing to the active heat balance device 102 or the relay heat balancer 202 and its individual pumping methods include:
(1) multiple primary pumps individually operating and provided to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105; or
(2) at least one integrated two-way primary pump 1006 to simultaneously pump in different directions the fluids respectively flowing through independent transmission pipelines 105, and the primary 106 to further periodically change the direction of the fluid it is pumping.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:
a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
a value input device;
a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;
said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager;
said controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games: video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo;
said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno;
said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo;
said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game; and
said controller being further programmed to compare said value payout to a threshold amount, and to generate a distributed jackpot payout message if said value payout is greater than or equal to said threshold amount.
2. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to display on said display unit a winner’s jackpot amount and a distributed jackpot amount.
3. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to generate a signal indicating whether or not said gaming apparatus is in play.
4. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 1, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.
5. A gaming system as defined in claim 4, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.
6. A gaming apparatus, comprising:
a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
a value input device;
a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;
said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager;
said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game;
said controller being programmed to determine, after said video image has been displayed, a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image, to compare said value payout to a distributed jackpot payout value, and to generate a distributed jackpot payout message if said value payout is greater than or equal to said distributed jackpot payout value.
7. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said controller is programmed to display on said display unit a jackpot amount and a distributed jackpot amount.
8. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 6, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.
9. A gaming system as defined in claim 8, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.
10. A gaming apparatus, comprising:
a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
a value input device;
a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;
said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager;
said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a payline selection;
said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols;
said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols, to compare said value payout to a distributed jackpot payout value, and to generate a distributed jackpot payout message if said value payout is greater than or equal to said distributed jackpot payout value.
11. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to allow a user to select a number of paylines.
12. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to display on said display unit a jackpot amount and a distributed jackpot amount.
13. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said controller is programmed to generate a signal indicating whether or not said gaming apparatus is in play.
14. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 10, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.
15. A gaming method comprising:
causing a video image of a game to be generated, said video image representing one of the following games: video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo;
said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno; and
said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo;
determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;
comparing said value payout to a distributed jackpot payout value; and
generating a distributed jackpot payout message if said value payout is greater than or equal to said distributed jackpot payout value.
16. A gaming method as defined in claim 15, additionally comprising:
displaying a distributed jackpot amount.
17. A gaming method as defined in claim 15, additionally comprising:
determining whether or not a gaming unit is in play.
18. A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:
a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to allow a person to make a wager;
a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on a display unit, said video image representing one of the following games: video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo;
said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack;
said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno;
said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo; and
a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image, to compare said value payout to a distributed jackpot payout value, and to generate a distributed jackpot payout message if said value payout is greater than or equal to said distributed jackpot payout value.
19. A memory as defined in claim 18 wherein said memory additionally comprises a fourth portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to display a distributed jackpot amount.
20. A memory as defined in claim 18 wherein said memory additionally comprises a fourth portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine whether or not said gaming apparatus is in play.
21. A method of operating a gaming system having a plurality of gaming units, comprising:
providing a plurality of electronically linked gaming units;
causing a video image of a game to be generated;
determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;
comparing said value payout to a distributed jackpot payout value; and
paying a portion of a distributed jackpot to at least one of said electronically linked gaming units, regardless of whether a winning outcome was achieved on said at least one of said electronically linked gaming units.
22. A gaming method as defined in claim 21, additionally comprising:
displaying a distributed jackpot amount on each of said electronically linked gaming units.
23. A gaming method as defined in claim 21, additionally comprising:
determining whether or not a gaming unit is in play.