Flexible Cable Button Panel for Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design and manufacture of electronic gaming machines with complex button panels are labor-intensive and prone to errors due to customized wiring, and existing button panels lack flexibility and specialized processing components for identifying issues.
Innovation Solution
A flexibly configurable button panel using a flexible cable with multiple circuit lines and connectors allows for reconfigurable button arrangements, along with a dedicated dynamic button panel controller and identification device to streamline manufacturing and repair, and a dynamic display system to alleviate processing burdens on the master gaming controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized wiring is used for each button panel configuration, then the button panel can be tailored to specific machine requirements, but the manufacturing process becomes labor-intensive and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal button panel assembly design where a single standardized assembly can be configured for multiple different machine types and button arrangements. The assembly includes standardized circuit boards, connectors, and wiring harnesses that can accommodate various button configurations through software programming rather than physical reconfiguration, thereby reducing manufacturing labor while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The button panel system is segmented into modular components including separate circuit boards for different functional areas, individual button modules, and detachable wiring harnesses. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of each module that can be easily assembled and reconfigured for different machine requirements, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and labor intensity.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional button panels are used without specialized processing components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to identify and diagnose issues is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through diagnostic circuitry that continuously monitors button panel operations and provides real-time status information to the control system. This includes test modes that can detect faulty buttons, wiring issues, or circuit board problems, enabling easy identification and diagnosis of issues without adding significant complexity to the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary diagnostic controller or microprocessor that acts as a mediator between the button panel components and the main control system. This intermediary handles the complexity of monitoring and diagnosing multiple buttons and circuits, providing simplified issue identification while managing the processing complexity in a centralized manner.
3Loss of information
If multiple display components are added to gaming machines, then the visual information capability is enhanced, but the processing burden on the master gaming controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts display processing functions from the master gaming controller and implements them in separate dedicated display controllers or processors. Each display component has its own control logic and processing unit that handles rendering and refresh operations independently, thereby reducing the processing burden on the master controller while maintaining enhanced visual information display capabilities across multiple screens.
Data Source
AI summary
Flexibly configurable button panels for electronic devices and dynamic display systems for wager based gaming machines are disclosed. Button panels include a flexible cable, surface mount or other cable connectors spaced along and coupled thereto, and button assemblies coupled thereto via the cable connectors to provide electrical access from buttons to circuit lines. Relative physical locations of buttons are then reconfigurable to form different button panel configurations while the buttons remain coupled to the flexible cable. A dedicated dynamic button panel controller for processing button functions and a button panel identification device having an identification code can also be provided. Buttons can be removably coupled to the cable connectors, and can also include dynamic displays thereupon. Other gaming machine dynamic displays can also be provided. Separate dynamic display controllers can be provided to control dynamic displays directly to alleviate processing burdens on the master gaming controller.