Gaming Bezel Haptic Feedback Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines face challenges in providing haptic feedback, especially when using touchscreens, as high-frequency vibration is difficult to achieve and feedback may not be experienced unless the player is in constant contact, limiting the ability to enhance the gaming experience without using the touchscreen for feedback.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system with a bezel incorporating haptic feedback devices positioned strategically, including sensors to activate feedback based on player interaction, allowing targeted haptic feedback on a discrete region of the bezel, separate from the touchscreen, and enabling virtual input buttons to be repositioned for optimal player comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If haptic feedback is provided via the touchscreen, then the gaming experience is enhanced, but high-frequency vibration is difficult to achieve and player contact must be constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the haptic feedback function from the touchscreen and relocates it to the bezel surrounding the display. This allows the touchscreen to focus on its primary function of displaying game information while the bezel-mounted haptic devices provide feedback without requiring constant player contact with the screen surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The bezel acts as an intermediary structure that transmits haptic feedback from the haptic devices to the player's hand or arm, which is naturally positioned near the display during gameplay. This intermediary approach enables feedback delivery without requiring direct contact with the touchscreen itself.
2Area of stationary object
If haptic feedback devices are distributed across the entire bezel, then feedback coverage is maximized, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly distributing haptic devices across the entire bezel, the patent applies haptic feedback locally at specific strategic positions where the player's hand or arm naturally contacts the bezel during gameplay. This selective placement optimizes feedback effectiveness while minimizing the number of devices required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements haptic feedback at only the critical contact points on the bezel rather than providing full coverage. This partial action approach is sufficient to enhance the gaming experience without the complexity and cost of complete bezel coverage.
3Ease of operation
If virtual input buttons are positioned on the touchscreen, then game control is intuitive, but haptic feedback cannot be provided at the same location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the visual display function (touchscreen showing virtual buttons) with the haptic feedback function (bezel devices providing tactile response) by spatially associating them. Virtual input buttons are positioned on the touchscreen adjacent to corresponding haptic feedback devices in the bezel, creating a combined visual-haptic control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the control interface by extending feedback delivery from the two-dimensional touchscreen surface to the three-dimensional bezel structure surrounding it. This allows virtual buttons on the screen to be paired with physical haptic feedback at adjacent locations on the bezel frame.
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
Enhances the gaming experience by providing haptic feedback without relying on the touchscreen, allowing for more engaging and comfortable gameplay by targeting specific areas of the bezel with haptic feedback, improving player interaction and retention.
Implementation Method 1
the haptic feedback device is configured to vibrate the bezel in response to a game event
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming apparatus includes a processor, a display device with a video display and a touchscreen, and a bezel adjacent to the display device which has regions capable of providing haptic feedback. The haptic feedback can be provided to a specific region of the bezel as well as a transparent overlay which is positioned over a button on the touchscreen. The apparatus may have sensors allowing for haptic feedback to be targeted based on data detected by the sensors. Additionally, virtual input buttons can be displayed and repositioned on the touchscreen in response to sensor data.