Display Controller Lighting Extraction for Low-EMI Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines with dedicated lighting controllers face issues such as increased power consumption, electromagnetic interference, and programming complexities, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
Integrate a display controller that extracts lighting data from graphical data, converting pixel values to lighting control parameters, eliminating the need for a separate lighting controller and reducing power draw and electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dedicated lighting controller is used to control lighting assemblies, then lighting control functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases and electromagnetic interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lighting control function with the existing display controller, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated lighting controller. The display controller is modified to handle both display data and lighting data, merging two control functions into a single device and reducing overall system power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The display controller is enhanced to perform multiple functions: controlling the display device and controlling the lighting assemblies. By making the display controller universal, the system eliminates dedicated specialized controllers, reducing power consumption and component count while maintaining full lighting control capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated lighting controller is used to control lighting assemblies, then lighting control functionality is achieved, but electromagnetic interference with other electronic components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By merging lighting control with display control in a single controller, the patent reduces the number of separate electronic components. Fewer components mean fewer sources of electromagnetic interference and reduced overall EMI in the gaming machine environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the lighting control data from the graphical data generated by game logic, separates it into dedicated lighting control parameters, and processes it through the display controller. This extraction and separate processing pathway minimizes interference with other electronic components while maintaining lighting functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a dedicated lighting controller is used to control lighting assemblies, then lighting control functionality is achieved, but programming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges lighting control programming with display programming in the same controller and data flow. By using a unified approach where both display and lighting are controlled from the same graphical data source through a single controller, the system reduces programming complexity despite adding lighting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The display controller acts as an intermediary that receives graphical data containing both display and lighting information, processes it, and distributes appropriate data to both the display device and lighting assemblies. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture and programming by providing a single point of control.
4Productivity
If lighting data is extracted and converted from pixel values to lighting control parameters, then lighting control efficiency is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates lighting data into the graphical data generation process itself, so that lighting control parameters are prepared alongside display data before being sent to the controller. This preliminary preparation of lighting data within the existing graphical data flow reduces the need for separate complex processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The display controller serves as an intermediary that handles the conversion from pixel values to lighting control parameters as part of its normal operation. By integrating this conversion process into the existing display control pipeline, the system improves lighting control efficiency without adding significant processing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Simplifies lighting control coordination, reduces power consumption, and minimizes electromagnetic interference, thereby lowering operational costs and development complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting assembly including at least one light-emitting device
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display device, a lighting assembly including at least one light-emitting device, game-logic circuitry that conducts one or more casino wagering games and generates graphical data, and a display controller communicatively coupled to the display device and the lighting assembly. The graphical data includes display data and lighting data as pixel values. The display controller causes the display device to present display content associated with the one or more casino wagering games. The display controller receives the graphical data from the game-logic circuitry, extracts the lighting data and the display data from the graphical data, converts the lighting data from pixel values to lighting control parameters accepted by the lighting assembly, causes the display device to present the display content based on the display data, and causes the lighting assembly to emit light based on the lighting control parameters of the lighting data.