Floor Projection System for Gaming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic gaming machine (EGM) display configurations lack the ability to project dynamic content onto the base surface, such as the floor, limiting user experience enhancements and branding opportunities, and face challenges in efficiently storing and transmitting data for projector displays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with image projectors controlled by a video controller that can project images onto surfaces adjacent to the gaming device, using onboard or external controllers to manage projector states and content, allowing for dynamic updates based on trigger conditions without overriding existing displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image projectors are added to EGMs to project dynamic content onto the floor or surrounding surfaces, then user experience and branding visibility are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A video controller is introduced as an intermediary component between the game controller and the image projectors. The video controller receives trigger conditions from the game controller and independently controls the projectors to display appropriate content, thereby adding display versatility without complicating the core game control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system is segmented into separate functional components: the main game display remains controlled by the game controller, while the projector display is controlled by the video controller based on trigger conditions. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently, enhancing overall system versatility without creating complex interdependencies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple display components (main display and projector display) are integrated into the EGM, then user experience is improved, but data transmission and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines which projector content should be displayed based on trigger conditions from the base game. Instead of continuously transmitting all possible projector content, the video controller receives specific trigger signals and displays pre-prepared content accordingly, reducing unnecessary data transmission and storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different display components serve different functional purposes: the main display handles primary game information while the projector display handles supplementary content triggered by specific game events. This local differentiation optimizes data usage by transmitting only the specific content needed for each display's intended function.
3Productivity
If the projector display is updated dynamically based on trigger conditions, then attract mode effectiveness is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The video controller operates by receiving trigger conditions (feedback) from the game controller and responding by updating the projector display accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the projector content to dynamically reflect the current game state and attract mode conditions without requiring complex predictive control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The video controller autonomously manages the projector display based on received trigger conditions, independently determining when and what content to display without requiring direct intervention from the game controller. This self-service capability simplifies the overall control architecture while maintaining dynamic responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
Gaming devices and systems incorporating one or more image projectors capable of displaying under control of a video controller. The video controller may be onboard the gaming device, or can be a video controller server in networked communication with an individual gaming device; wherein some cases both such video controllers may be utilized. The video controller(s) have access to one or more image projectors on a gaming device and may respond to different trigger conditions to exercise control over image projectors of respective gaming devices. An onboard video controller in a first gaming device may communicate with two or more additional gaming devices, such as a bank of gaming devices, for controlling image projectors of such devices.