Continuous Touch Panel for Multi-Display Gaming Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming and entertainment devices with multiple touch screens face design challenges due to the need for exposed touch panels, leading to complex housing embodiments and increased susceptibility to mechanical manipulation, along with issues of eye fatigue from light reflections.
Innovation Solution
A common touch panel is used for multiple display units, with at least one display unit having a concave surface, allowing the touch panel to extend over the boundary region between units, creating a continuously closed device front and enhancing protection and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate touch panels are assigned to each display unit, then each display unit can be controlled independently, but the housing design becomes complex and susceptibility to mechanical manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate touch panels into a single continuous touch panel that spans across multiple display units. This merging approach maintains the independent control capability for each display unit while eliminating the need for complex housing designs with multiple separate touch panel openings, thus reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single continuous touch panel serves multiple functions by providing touch control for all display units simultaneously. It acts as both a protective cover for all displays and a control interface for multiple independent functions, eliminating the need for separate touch panels for each display unit.
2Ease of operation
If separate touch panels are assigned to each display unit, then each display unit can be controlled independently, but protection against mechanical manipulation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple separate touch panels into one continuous touch panel, the patent creates a unified protective barrier across all display units. This single continuous structure eliminates gaps and intermediate spaces between separate panels, thereby enhancing protection against mechanical manipulation attempts such as penetration using tools.
3Loss of information
If multiple separate display units are used, then more information can be displayed simultaneously, but light reflections cause eye fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved display surfaces instead of flat surfaces to reduce light reflections. The curvature of the display units, covered by the continuous touch panel, diffuses reflected light in multiple directions rather than creating concentrated reflection points, thereby reducing eye fatigue while maintaining the ability to display multiple information streams simultaneously.
4Device complexity
If a continuous touch panel extends over multiple display units, then housing design is simplified and protection is increased, but the touch panel must accommodate curved surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the manufacturing challenge of curved touch panels by designing the display units with specific curvature radii that can be accommodated by flexible touch panel materials. The continuous touch panel is manufactured with the necessary flexibility and curvature adaptation capabilities to conform to the curved display surfaces while maintaining touch sensitivity and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming and/or entertainment device, in the form of a coin or token-operated slot machine and/or gambling device, having a plurality of separate display units for displaying game information. At least one of the display units is provided with a touch panel for inputting control commands by touch. The touch panel is of continuous design over, in each case, at least part of at least two different display units, at least one display unit of which has a concave display surface. As a result of the touch panel extending over the boundary region or the intermediate space between two display units, it is possible, despite the use of a plurality of display units, to obtain a continuously closed-off device front. The design of the corresponding device wall is simplified and the protection against penetration into the housing at gap areas is increased.