Emotive Lighting System with Optical Waveguide for Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines face challenges in balancing yield versus randomness and volatility to create a feeling of luck, while also needing improved processing speed and efficiency to handle advanced graphics and multiple random outcome determinations, which can lead to inefficiencies and slow gameplay.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an emotive lighting system with a textured surface and optical waveguide that directs light from light-emitting devices into channels, creating a dynamic and engaging visual experience, coupled with logic circuitry to control light sequences and enhance gameplay interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If advanced graphics and special effects are implemented to make games more entertaining, then game entertainment value is improved, but processing speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light-emitting devices arranged in arrays, with each device capable of selective activation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex visual effects through coordinated control of individual units rather than requiring a single complex light source, thereby improving processing efficiency while maintaining entertainment value
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of light-emitting devices through selective activation and deactivation based on game events and player interactions. The lighting system transitions between different states (e.g., celebratory lighting for wins, ambient lighting for normal play) to adapt to changing game conditions, enabling high entertainment value without sustained high processing demands
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple random outcome determinations per feature are implemented to increase volatility, then player engagement is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system employs periodic illumination patterns that synchronize with random outcome determinations. Lighting sequences are activated in periodic cycles corresponding to game features, with specific lighting patterns indicating different types of outcomes (e.g., progressive lighting for accumulating rewards). This periodic action creates engaging visual feedback without requiring complex continuous processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses color changes in light-emitting devices to communicate different game states and outcome types. Different colors represent different scenarios (e.g., green for wins, yellow for near-misses, blue for information display), providing intuitive visual feedback that enhances player engagement while using simple color coding rather than complex multi-state communication
3Duration of action of moving object
If high quantity and frequency of player-apparatus interactions are implemented to yield negative return, then player participation duration is improved, but randomness and volatility control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system provides immediate visual feedback to players in response to interactions and game outcomes. Feedback lighting sequences confirm player actions, highlight winning combinations, and guide players through game mechanics. This feedback mechanism encourages prolonged participation by creating engaging and rewarding interaction loops while using simple cause-effect lighting responses rather than complex adaptive systems
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
This solution enhances player engagement by creating a balanced sense of luck and excitement, while improving processing efficiency by reducing complexity in light emission and enhancing visual effects, thus improving the overall gaming experience.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide positioned over the first array of light-emitting devices. Each channel is aligned with at least one light-emitting device of the first array, and the optical waveguide guides light from the first array towards the channels in a second direction at an oblique or orthogonal angle relative from the first direction
Implementation Method 2
a first array of light-emitting devices oriented to emit light in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine includes a cabinet, an emotive lighting system coupled to the cabinet the textured surface, and logic circuitry. The emotive lighting system includes a textured surface including a plurality of walls that define a plurality of channels, a first array of light-emitting devices oriented to emit light in a first direction, and an optical waveguide positioned over the first array of light-emitting devices. Each channel is aligned with at least one light-emitting device of the first array, and the optical waveguide guides light from the first array towards the channels in a second direction at an oblique or orthogonal angle relative from the first direction. The logic circuitry causes each light-emitting device of the first array to selectively emit light such that each channel is selectively illuminated with indirect light from the aligned light-emitting device and substantially isolated from indirect light emitted from unaligned light-emitting devices.