Operation button for a gaming machine and operation deck for a gaming machine equipped with the same

Abstract

To provide an operation button for a gaming machine with which the cost of the gaming machine can be reduced as compared with the conventional art, as well as an operation deck for a gaming machine comprising the operation button.SOLUTION: A push button 20 includes a base 21, a key top 22, an LED 30, and a light guide plate 31. The key top 22 is supported by the base 21 in a state of being operable by a player, has a front surface 22a that is visible to the player and a back surface 22b on the opposite side thereof, and allows light to pass therethrough. The LED 30 is provided on the back surface 22b side of the key top 22 and emits light in a desired direction. The light guide plate 31 has a lower surface 31a that is provided on the back surface 22b side of the key top 22 and on which the light emitted from the LED 30 is incident, and an upper surface 31b that emits light toward the key top 22 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation button for a gaming machine and an operation deck for a gaming machine provided with the same.

Background Art

[0002] A plurality of gaming machines such as slot machines manufactured by various gaming machine manufacturers are installed in gaming facilities such as casinos. A player who enters the gaming facility selects a preferred gaming machine from among the plurality of installed gaming machines and plays the game. Therefore, it is important for the gaming machine to have an appeal that makes the player more likely to want to play compared to other models. In such a gaming machine, the game is played by the player directly operating an operation unit provided on the front of the gaming machine facing the player. For this reason, the operation unit is an important part that generates an appeal to the player.

[0003] The operation unit includes a push button (push button for a gaming machine) that is pressed by the player during the game of the gaming machine. And, as a configuration for giving an appeal to the operation unit including the push button, a transparent push button is installed on a display device or a light emitting unit provided on the operation unit, and symbols or the like may be displayed through the push button according to the state during the play of the gaming machine. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a gaming machine including a push button switch arranged on the right side as viewed from the player in an operation deck installed on the front of a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and a touch panel type liquid crystal display device (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)) arranged on the left side thereof.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional push button for a gaming machine has the following problems. That is, in the push button for a gaming machine disclosed in the above publication, as a display device for displaying symbols or the like to generate an appeal of the push button switch, a liquid crystal display device arranged adjacent thereto extends into the space below the push button switch.

[0006] With such a configuration, the liquid crystal display device becomes large-sized, which has been a factor increasing the cost of the gaming machine. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation button for a gaming machine capable of reducing the cost of the gaming machine more than before and an operation deck for a gaming machine including the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the first invention includes a base, a main body portion, a light source, and a light guide plate. The main body portion is supported by the base in a state operable by a player, has a first surface visible to the player and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and has light transmissivity. The light source is provided on the second surface side of the main body portion and emits light in a desired direction. The light guide plate is provided on the second surface side of the main body portion and has an incident surface on which the light emitted from the light source is incident and an emission surface that emits light toward the main body portion side.

[0008] Here, it is an operation button for a gaming machine provided on an operation deck of a gaming machine such as a slot machine. The main body portion operated by the player has light transmissivity and is supported by the base. And below the main body portion (on the second surface side), a light guide plate that emits light toward the main body portion side and a light source that makes the light incident on the light guide plate are arranged. Here, the operation button for a gaming machine is, for example, a push button type switch, and operations such as display of symbols (letters, numbers, illustrations, etc.), application of vibration, lighting and flashing of light are performed according to the situation during the play of the gaming machine.

[0009] In addition, the light guide plate provided below the main body (on the second surface side) emits light toward the main body side so that different patterns are displayed according to, for example, the direction in which the light emitted from the light source enters. The light source is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and emits light toward the lower surface or the side surface (incident surface) of the light guide plate.

[0010] As a result, compared with a configuration in which a liquid crystal display device is provided below the main body (on the second surface side), a simple configuration can be used to display a pattern or the like on the surface of the main body of the operation button for a gaming machine. As a result, it is possible to provide an operation button for a gaming machine that can reduce the cost of the gaming machine more than before.

[0011] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the second invention is the operation button for a gaming machine according to the first invention, wherein the light guide plate further has an upper surface facing the second surface of the main body and a lower surface on the opposite side of the upper surface. The light source is disposed on the lower surface side of the light guide plate. Here, the light source is disposed on the lower surface side of the light guide plate disposed at a position facing the main body on the lower side (second surface side) of the main body operated by the player.

[0012] As a result, since light can be made to enter the lower surface of the light guide plate from the light source, the dimension in the width direction of the operation button for a gaming machine can be made smaller compared with a configuration in which the light source makes light enter from the side surface of the light guide plate. As a result, for example, it can be disposed closer to a liquid crystal display device or the like disposed at an adjacent position on the operation deck of the gaming machine.

[0013] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the third invention is the operation button for a gaming machine according to the first or second invention, wherein the light guide plate has a plurality of prisms arranged along a predetermined pattern on one of the upper surface and the lower surface, and reflects the light emitted from the light source to the incident surface in a predetermined direction. Here, in order for the light guide plate to display a pattern or the like on the surface of the main body portion, the light guide plate has a plurality of prisms formed in a predetermined pattern so as to reflect the light emitted from the light source to the incident surface in a predetermined direction. As a result, the light incident on the incident surface from the light source is reflected by the plurality of prisms inside the light guide plate and emitted from the emission surface, so that a pattern or the like can be displayed on the surface of the main body portion.

[0014] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the fourth invention is the operation button for a gaming machine according to the third invention, and the plurality of prisms have a plurality of patterns so as to switch the pattern displayed on the first surface of the main body portion according to the incident direction of the light emitted from the light source.

[0015] Here, different patterns are provided for each direction in which the light enters the prism. As a result, for example, by switching the light source that emits the light incident on the light guide plate, the direction of the light incident on the light guide plate is switched, and different patterns can be displayed on the surface (first surface) of the main body portion of the operation button for a gaming machine.

[0016] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the fifth invention is the operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, and the light guide plate is formed along each side of the upper surface, and further has a chamfered portion that reflects the light emitted from the light source and guides the reflected light to be diffused between the upper surface and the lower surface. Here, for example, in the case of a substantially rectangular light guide plate, the chamfered portion is provided along the four sides of the upper surface, so that the light incident from the lower surface side is diffused inside the light guide plate. As a result, in a configuration in which a light source is arranged on the lower surface side of the light guide plate, the light can be sufficiently diffused inside the light guide plate, and substantially uniform light can be emitted from the upper surface.

[0017] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the sixth invention is an operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, and is disposed between the lower surface of the light guide plate and the light source, and further includes a lens portion that guides the light emitted from the light source from the lower surface side of the light guide plate to the chamfered portion.

[0018] Here, a lens portion that guides the light emitted from the light source disposed on the lower surface side of the light guide plate toward the chamfered portion formed along the four sides of the substantially rectangular light guide plate is provided between the light guide plate and the light source. Here, the lens portion is, for example, a collimator lens that converts incident light into parallel light. Thereby, the light traveling toward the chamfered portion formed on the light guide plate by the lens portion is reflected inward of the light guide plate by the inclined surface of the chamfered portion, diffused inside the light guide plate, and then can be emitted from the emission surface (upper surface) in a substantially uniform state.

[0019] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the seventh invention is an operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, and further includes a substrate having a first surface on which the light source is installed and disposed so as to face the lower surface of the light guide plate. Here, the light source disposed on the lower surface side of the light guide plate is provided on a substrate disposed so as to face the lower surface of the light guide plate. Thereby, since the substrate on which the light source is provided is also disposed on the lower surface side instead of the side of the light guide plate, the dimension in the width direction of the operation button for a gaming machine can be reduced.

[0020] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the eighth invention is an operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, and the main body portion is supported by the base in a state where it can be shifted from the initial state to the depressed state when depressed with respect to the base. Here, as the operation button for a gaming machine, a push button that shifts from the initial state to the depressed state when depressed with respect to the base is used. Thereby, even when the operation button for a gaming machine is configured using a push button, the above-described effects can be achieved.

[0021] The operation button for a gaming machine according to the ninth invention is the operation button for a gaming machine according to the eighth invention, and further includes a spring member provided between the base and the main body portion for returning the main body portion pushed down with respect to the base from the pushed-down state to the initial state.

[0022] Here, in the push-button type operation button for a gaming machine, a spring member for returning the main body portion pushed down with respect to the base from the pushed-down state to the initial state is provided between the base and the main body portion. Thereby, by returning the main body portion pushed down with respect to the base to the initial state by the biasing force of the spring member, the operability of the push button by the player can be improved.

[0023] The operation deck for a gaming machine according to the tenth invention includes the operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of the first to ninth inventions and a display device disposed adjacent to the operation button for a gaming machine. Here, in the operation deck for a gaming machine provided at a position facing the player, the above-described operation button for a gaming machine is disposed at a position adjacent to a display device that performs various displays for the player.

[0024] Thereby, since the above-described effect of being able to reduce the dimension in the width direction of the operation button for a gaming machine can be obtained, the operation button for a game can be disposed at a position close to the display device. Therefore, in the operation deck for a gaming machine, since the display device and the operation button for a gaming machine are disposed adjacent to each other, the space of the operation deck for a gaming machine can be effectively utilized.

[0025] The operation deck for a gaming machine according to the eleventh invention is the operation deck for a gaming machine according to the tenth invention, and the display device is a liquid crystal display device (LCD). Here, a liquid crystal display device is provided as a display device disposed adjacent to the operation button for a gaming machine in the operation deck for a gaming machine. This allows the liquid crystal display device and the gaming machine operation buttons to be positioned close to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the operation button for a gaming machine of the present invention, the cost of the gaming machine can be reduced compared to conventional cases. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

[0028] The operation deck 10 equipped with the push button (operation button for a gaming machine) 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention and the gaming machine 1 will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 9(b). In the following description, expressions related to directions such as "up" and "down" refer to "up" and "down" in the drawings used in the description, and do not limit the content of the invention. (1) Configuration of the gaming machine 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a slot machine, and includes a housing portion 2, a display monitor 3, and an operation deck 10.

[0029] The housing portion 2 forms the outer shell of the gaming machine 1 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction. A display monitor 3 is provided at a position corresponding to the height of the player's line of sight on the front face facing the player who plays the game on the gaming machine 1. Further, an operation deck 10 for the player to perform operation inputs is provided at a position below the display monitor 3 at the front position facing the player on the housing portion 2.

[0030] The display monitor 3 displays, for example, a plurality of reels that rotate and stop by the operation of the player, and the combination of symbols shown on the reels when stopped by the operation of the player determines the winning combination. Thereby, the gaming machine 1 awards a prize according to the winning combination determined by the combination of symbols shown on the stopped reels. Note that the display of the reels may be such that an image corresponding to the reels is displayed on a liquid crystal display screen or the like, or the reels themselves provided as rotating bodies may be arranged on the display monitor 3. The operation deck 10 is provided on the upper surface of a portion provided to protrude toward the player side at the lower part of the housing portion 2. As shown in FIG. 1, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) (display device) 11 and a push button 20 are provided on the operation deck 10. Further, a transparent plate 4 is provided on the upper surface of the operation deck 10.

[0031] (2) Configuration of the operation deck 10 2, the operation deck 10 has a rectangular upper surface in a plan view, and the upper surface is covered with a transparent plate 4. An LCD 11 is disposed from the center to the left side of the upper surface of the operation deck 10, and a push button 20 is disposed on the right side.

[0032] The transparent plate 4 covers the surface of the LCD 11, and the push button 20 is fitted into an opening formed in accordance with the installation position of the push button 20. 3, the LCD 11 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and receives operation inputs from a player playing the gaming machine 1. In this embodiment, for example, an operation to specify the number of bets, an operation to rotate the reels, etc., from a player playing a slot machine are input to the LCD 11.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the LCD 11 is disposed in the space below the transparent plate 4 at a position close to the push button 20 disposed adjacently on the right side. The push button 20 is an example of a gaming machine operation button included in the operation deck 10 of the gaming machine 1, and is pressed by a player playing the slot machine, for example, to start the rotation of the reels displayed on the display monitor 3. The detailed configuration of the push button 20 will be described later.

[0034] (3) Configuration of push button 20 The push button 20 is a push button switch having a substantially triangular outer shape in a plan view, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the push button 20 is configured by arranging a button unit 41 at the top and a display unit 42 at the bottom in the vertical direction. The button unit 41 is a unit that functions as a push button switch for the push button 20, and is provided at a position exposed on the surface of the operation deck 10 of the gaming machine 1. The display unit 42 has a display function of displaying symbols and the like on the surfaces of the push buttons 20, and is fixed by being fitted into the underside of the button unit 41. The display unit 42 switches between various displays, such as displaying symbols on the surfaces of the push buttons 20 and turning on or off lights, depending on the state of play of the gaming machine 1.

[0035] The configuration of the push button 20 will now be described in more detail. First, the configuration of the button unit 41 will be described below. 5 and 6, the push button 20 includes, as components on the button unit 41 side, a base 21, a key top (main body) 22, a bezel 23, an elastic body 24, a pressure sensor 25, a back cover 26, and a return spring 27. The push button 20 also includes, as components on the display unit 42 side, an LED (light source) 30, a light guide plate 31, a prism 32, a collimator lens (lens portion) 33, a front cover 34, a back cover 35, and a spacer 36, as shown in FIGS.

[0036] The base 21 is a member having a substantially triangular opening in the center, and supports the key tops 22 and the bezel 23 on its upper surface side, and is attached to the upper surface of the operation deck 10, as shown in FIGS. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the key top 22 has a surface (first surface) 22a visible to the player and a back surface (second surface) 22b on the opposite side, and is attached between the base 21 and the bezel 23 in a state in which it can be pressed down on the base 21. The key top 22 is a substantially triangular member, and is arranged so as to be fitted inside the substantially triangular ring-shaped base 21. The key top 22 is made of a visible resin member that is light-transmitting, so that patterns, lit or blinking lights, etc., to be displayed on the display unit 42 side, which will be described later, can be displayed on the surface 22a.

[0037] The bezel 23 is a substantially triangular-ring-shaped decorative member as a metal-tone bordering component, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is attached to the upper surface side of the base 21 so as to surround the outer peripheral portion of the key top 22. Then, the bezel 23 is fixed to the base 21 by screws (not shown) in a state where the outer peripheral portion of the key top 22 is sandwiched from above and below together with the base 21.

[0038] The elastic body 24 is a flange-shaped portion integrally formed with the key top 22 on the outer peripheral portion of the key top 22, and when the surface 22a of the key top 22 is pushed down by a player, it elastically deforms to move the key top 22 downward. The pressure sensor 25 is provided between the base 21 and the key top 22 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and detects the depression of the key top 22 with respect to the base 21. The pressure sensor 25 is provided, for example, on each of the three sides of the substantially triangular-ring-shaped base 21.

[0039] The back cover 26 is a substantially triangular-ring-shaped member, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is attached to the base 21 so as to cover the lower surface (back surface) side of the base 21. The display unit 42 is inserted and held in the substantially triangular-ring-shaped central opening portion of the back cover 2 VI. The return spring 27 is provided, for example, near each of the three vertices of the substantially triangular key top 22, and as shown in FIG. 6, it applies an upward biasing force to return the key top 22 pushed down with respect to the base 21 from the depressed state to the initial state.

[0040] Next, the configuration on the display unit 42 side will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of LEDs (light sources) 30 are arranged on the upper surface of a substantially square-ring-shaped LED substrate (substrate) 30a, and irradiate light upward (toward the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31) in the figure. The light irradiated from the LEDs 30 is guided from the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31 into the light guide plate 31 by a collimator lens 33 described later, diffuses within the light guide plate 31, and travels from the upper surface 31b toward the key top 22 of the button unit 41.

[0041] Here, regarding the configurations such as the light guide plate 31, the prism 32, and the collimator lens 33, a detailed description will be given using FIG. 8, which schematically shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line P-P in the plan view of the push button 20 shown in FIG. 7, and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), which schematically show the configuration of the light guide plate 31. The light guide plate 31 is, for example, a plate-shaped member formed of a transparent resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, cycloolefin polymer, or acrylic resin. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light guide plate 31 is provided below the key top 22 (on the back surface (second surface) 22b side) and at least a part of it is exposed on the upper surface on the display unit 42 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (refer to the two-dot chain line arrow), the light guide plate 31 diffuses the light incident from the lower surface (incident surface) 31a inside and emits it from the upper surface (emission surface) 31b, thereby emitting substantially uniform light from the upper surface 31b.

[0042] Also, on the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), a plurality of prisms 32 that reflect the light incident inside in a predetermined direction are formed as a predetermined pattern according to a pattern (in this embodiment, the character "A") or the like to be displayed by the display unit 42. Furthermore, at the outer edge portion where the upper surface 31b and the side surface of the light guide plate 31 intersect, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), a chamfered portion 31c composed of a surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the upper surface 31b is provided.

[0043] 9(b), the chamfered portion 31c is an inclined portion formed so as to slope downward from the inner periphery side toward the outer periphery side of the light guide plate 31. As a result, light incident on the light guide plate 31 is reflected by the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 31c and is diffused within the light guide plate 31 as shown in FIG. 9(a) and 9(b), the prisms 32 are micro-machined parts on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31, and reflect light that has entered the light guide plate 31 in a predetermined direction. The prisms 32 are arranged so as to cover the area of a pattern ("A") to be displayed as the display unit 42 when the LEDs 30 are lit.

[0044] As a result, the display unit 42 can display desired symbols and the like when viewed from the light-emitting surface side (top surface 31b side) by a control unit (not shown) controlling the LEDs 30 to emit light toward the light guide plate 31 according to the state of play of the gaming machine 1. As a result, since the key tops 22 of the push buttons 20 are optically transparent, the symbols and the like can also be seen on the surfaces of the push buttons 20.

[0045] In addition, the display unit 42 can control the LED 30 so that it does not emit light toward the light guide plate 31, depending on the state of the gaming machine 1 during play, thereby preventing the desired pattern, etc. from being displayed when viewed from the emission surface side (top surface 31b side). Note that the light guide plate 31 may be provided with prisms 32 in a plurality of patterns that reflect light incident from different directions.

[0046] In this case, the pattern of the prisms 32 that reflect light varies depending on the direction of light incidence, so that the patterns and the like visible from the top surface (exit surface) 31b can be switched appropriately. In other words, of the multiple LEDs 30 that irradiate light toward the light guide plate 31, by turning on only the LEDs 30 that irradiate light from a desired direction, it is possible to control so that the desired patterns and the like are displayed on the top surface 31b.

[0047] For the switching control of the pattern or the like to be displayed on the light-emitting surface side of the display unit 42, for example, in the case of the light guide plate 31 that is substantially rectangular in plan view, it may be performed by switching the incidence of light from the LEDs 30 disposed opposite to each of the four side surfaces. The collimator lens (lens unit) 33 is a lens that converts the light emitted from the LED 30 into parallel light, and as shown in FIG. 8, it is provided between the LED 30 and the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31. The collimator lens 33 makes the light emitted from the LED 30 parallel and guides it toward the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 31c of the light guide plate 31 described above. The collimator lens 33 has an incident surface provided at the lower end portion in the figure where the light emitted from the LED 30 enters, and an exit surface provided at the upper end portion in the figure that emits the light made parallel in the lens toward the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31.

[0048] As a result, the light emitted from the LED 30 enters the light guide plate 31 from the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31 in a parallel light state, is reflected by the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 31c, and then diffused inside the light guide plate 31. Therefore, most of the light emitted from the LED 30 can be diffused and effectively utilized inside the light guide plate 31. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front cover 34 and the back cover 35 have the LEDs 30, the light guide plate 31, the collimator lens 33, the spacer 36, etc. installed in the internal space formed between the front and back covers 34 and 35. As shown in FIG. 4, the front cover 34 has a substantially triangular opening 34a formed in accordance with the shape of the key top 22 on the button unit 41 side.

[0049] As a result, the light emitted from the upper surface 31b of the light guide plate 31 can be emitted toward the button unit 41 side through the opening 34a. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spacer 36 is provided between the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31 and the upper surface of the LED substrate 30a, and has a thickness corresponding to a predetermined gap so that the upper surface of the LED substrate 30a is mounted at a predetermined interval with respect to the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31.

[0050] <Push button 20 arrangement structure> As described above, the push button 20 of this embodiment includes a base 21, a key top 22, an LED 30, and a light guide plate 31, as shown in FIG. 5 and other figures. The key top 22 is supported by the base 21 in a state in which it can be pressed down by a player, and is optically transparent. The LED 30 is provided below the key top 22 and emits light in a desired direction. The light guide plate 31 is provided below the key top 22 and has a lower surface 31a onto which light emitted from the LED 30 enters, and an upper surface 31b from which light is emitted toward the key top 22.

[0051] This allows a design or the like to be displayed on the surface of the key top 22 of the push button 20 with a simpler configuration than when a liquid crystal display device is provided below the key top 22. As a result, it is possible to provide a push button 20 that can reduce the cost of the gaming machine 1 compared to conventional ones.

[0052] In the push button 20 of this embodiment, the light guide plate 31 further has an upper surface 31b facing the key top 22 and a lower surface 31a opposite to the upper surface 31b. The LED 30 is disposed on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31. This allows light to be incident from the LED 30 toward the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31, thereby making it possible to reduce the widthwise dimension of the push button 20 compared to a configuration in which the LED 30 incidents light from the side of the light guide plate 31.

[0053] As a result, for example, it can be arranged at a position closer to an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 11 arranged at an adjacent position on the operation deck 10 of the gaming machine 1. In addition, in the push button 20 of this embodiment, the light guide plate 31 further has a plurality of prisms 32 arranged on the lower surface 31a in a predetermined pattern, which reflect the light emitted from the LED 30 to the lower surface 31a in a predetermined direction.

[0054] As a result, the light incident on the lower surface 31a from the LED 30 is reflected by the multiple prisms 32 inside the light guide plate 31 and emitted from the upper surface 31b, thereby allowing patterns or the like to be displayed on the surface of the key top 22. In addition, in the push button 20 of this embodiment, the multiple prisms 32 have multiple patterns so that the design displayed on the surface of the key top 22 is switched depending on the incident direction of the light emitted from the LED 30.

[0055] This allows, for example, by switching the LED 30 that emits light to be incident on the light guide plate 31, the direction of the light incident on the light guide plate 31 to be switched, and different patterns to be displayed on the surface of the key top 22 of the push button 20. In addition, in the push button 20 of this embodiment, the light guide plate 31 is formed along each side of the upper surface 31b and further has chamfered portions 31c that reflect the light emitted from the LED 30 and guide the reflected light so that it is diffused between the upper surface 31b and the lower surface 31a.

[0056] As a result, in a configuration in which the LEDs 30 are arranged on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31, the light can be sufficiently diffused inside the light guide plate 31, and substantially uniform light can be emitted from the upper surface 31b. In addition, the push button 20 of this embodiment further includes a collimator lens 33 that is arranged between the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31 and the LED 30 and guides the light emitted from the LED 30 from the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31 to the chamfered portion 31c.

[0057] As a result, light directed toward the chamfered portion 31c formed on the light guide plate 31 by the collimator lens 33 is reflected toward the inside of the light guide plate 31 by the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 31c, and after being diffused inside the light guide plate 31, can be emitted in a substantially uniform state from the exit surface (upper surface 31b). The push button 20 of this embodiment further includes an LED substrate 30a on which an LED 30 is mounted and which is disposed so as to face the lower surface 31a of the light guide plate 31.

[0058] As a result, the LED substrate 30a on which the LEDs 30 are provided is also disposed on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31, rather than on the side thereof, and therefore the dimension of the push button 20 in the width direction can be reduced. In the push button 20 of this embodiment, as described above, the LED 30, light guide plate 31, collimator lens 33, etc. are arranged in the space below the button unit 41, so that the dimensions of the push button 20 in the width direction can be made smaller than conventional ones.

[0059] Here, in the case of a gaming machine 1 such as a slot machine, there are greater restrictions in the width direction than in the depth direction of the operation deck 10. For this reason, as in this embodiment, by arranging the components on the display unit 42 side vertically along the up-down direction of the button unit 41, the outer size of the push button 20 in the width direction can be reduced, and the push button 20 can be arranged in a position close to the display device such as the LCD 11 on the operation deck 10.

[0060] [Other embodiments] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. (A) In the above embodiment, the push button type operation button (push button 20) has been described as an example of the operation button for the gaming machine of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0061] For example, operation buttons for gaming machines are not limited to push-button type buttons, and operation buttons employing other methods such as rotary operation type, cross key type, touch panel type, vibration transmission type, etc. may also be used. Furthermore, the shape of the operation button is not limited to a substantially triangular shape, but may be other shapes such as a substantially circular shape, a polygonal shape including a substantially rectangular shape, or the like.

[0062] (B) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the LEDs 30 serving as light sources are disposed on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a configuration may be adopted in which an LED (light source) 130 is disposed on a side surface (end surface) 131a of a light guide plate 131.

[0063] In this case, the control unit (not shown) of the gaming machine switches on / off the multiple LEDs 130 arranged to allow light to enter each side (end face) 131a of the light guide plate 131 for each direction, and switches the incident direction of the light entering the light guide plate 131 through the collimator lens (lens unit) 133, so that the multiple patterns of prisms provided on the light guide plate 131 reflect the light in a predetermined direction, thereby switching the pattern displayed on the surface of the push button 120.

[0064] (C) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which chamfered portions 31c are provided along the four sides of upper surface 31b of substantially rectangular light guide plate 31 in order to diffuse light incident from lower surface 31a inside light guide plate 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light guide plate may have a substantially rectangular shape and be configured such that chamfered portions are provided along only one, two, or three of the four sides of the upper surface thereof.

[0065] (D) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the light guide plate 31 having the substantially rectangular upper surface 31b was used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the upper surface of the light guide plate is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, but may be a polygon or a substantially circular shape. In this case, the chamfered portion formed on the light guide plate may be provided at a predetermined position according to the position of incidence of light.

[0066] (E) In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the light emitted from the LED 30 is reflected by the prism 32 provided on the light guide plate 31 to display the desired pattern "A" on the surface of the key top 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the pattern displayed by the reflection of the prism, various patterns such as the figure of a character appearing in a gaming machine other than characters such as "A" may be used.

[0067] (F) In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the collimator lens 33 is provided to guide the light emitted from the LED 30 into the light guide plate 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a configuration in which the LED allows light to enter from the side surface (end face) of the light guide plate, a configuration without a collimator lens may be used.

[0068] (G) In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the LED substrate 30a with the LED 30 fixed as the light source is arranged on the lower surface 31a side of the light guide plate 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the substrate on which a light source such as an LED is arranged may be arranged on the side of the light guide plate instead of the lower surface side of the light guide plate.

[0069] (H) In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the LCD (liquid crystal display device) 11 is used as the display device arranged adjacent to the push button 20 on the operation deck 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the LCD, a configuration in which another display device such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device is installed may be used.

[0070] (I) In the above-described embodiment, the slot machine was given as an example of the gaming machine 1 to which the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0071] For example, as a gaming machine to which the present invention is applicable, in addition to a slot machine, it may be a pachinko machine, a poker game machine such as a trump game machine, a mahjong game machine such as mahjong, or the like.

Industrial Applicability

[0072] The operation button for a gaming machine of the present invention has an effect of reducing the cost of the gaming machine more than before, and thus can be widely applied to various gaming machines such as slot machines, pachinko machines, and various game machines.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0073] 1 Gaming machine 2 Housing part 3 Display monitor 4 Transparent plate 10 Operation deck 11 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display device) 20 Push button (operation button for gaming machine) 21 Base 22 Key top (main body part) 22a Front surface (first surface) 22b Back surface (second surface) 23 Bezel 24 Elastic body 25 Pressure sensor 26 Back cover 27 Return spring 30 LED (light source) 30a LED substrate (substrate) 31 Light guide plate 31a Bottom surface (incident surface) 31b Top surface (exit surface) 31c Chamfered part 32 Prism 33 Collimator lens (lens part) 34 Front cover 34a Opening 35 Back cover 36 Spacer 41 Button unit 42 Display unit 120 Push button (operation button for gaming machine) 130 LED (light source) 131 Light guide plate 131a Side (end face) 133 Collimator lens (lens part)

Claims

1. A base, A main body portion that is supported by the base in a state operable by a player and has a first surface visible to the player and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and has light transmissivity, A light source provided on the second surface side of the main body portion that emits light in a specific direction, A light guide plate provided on the second surface side of the main body portion and having an incident surface on which the light emitted from the light source is incident and an emission surface that emits light toward the main body portion side, An operation button for a gaming machine comprising the above.

2. The light guide plate further has an upper surface facing the second surface of the main body portion and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, The light source is disposed on the lower surface side of the light guide plate, The operation button for a gaming machine according to claim 1.

3. The light guide plate has a plurality of prisms arranged along a predetermined pattern on one of the upper surface and the lower surface, and reflects the light emitted from the light source to the incident surface in a predetermined direction, The operation button for a gaming machine according to claim 2.

4. The plurality of prisms have a plurality of patterns so as to switch the symbol displayed on the first surface of the main body portion according to the incident direction of the light emitted from the light source, The operation button for a gaming machine according to claim 3.

5. The light guide plate is formed along each side of the upper surface, and further has a chamfered portion that reflects the light emitted from the light source and guides the reflected light to be diffused between the upper surface and the lower surface, The operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. A lens portion is further provided between the lower surface of the light guide plate and the light source, and guides the light emitted from the light source from the lower surface side of the light guide plate to the chamfered portion, The operation button for a gaming machine according to claim 5.

7. A substrate having a first surface on which the light source is installed and disposed so as to face the lower surface of the light guide plate is further provided, The operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

8. The main body portion is supported by the base in a state where it can be shifted from an initial state to a depressed state when depressed with respect to the base, The operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Further provided is a spring member that is provided between the base and the main body portion and returns the main body portion pushed down with respect to the base from the pushed-down state to the initial state. The operation button for a gaming machine according to claim 8.

10. The operation button for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a display device disposed adjacent to the operation button for the gaming machine, and an operation deck for a gaming machine provided with the same.

11. The display device is a liquid crystal display device (LCD). The operation deck for a gaming machine according to claim 10.

Images