Gaming Machine Button Panel with Optically Restrictive Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Known gaming machines lack the ability to provide lighting effects that accentuate selected groups of buttons and create dynamic display patterns, relying solely on backlighting from LEDs positioned beneath the buttons.
Innovation Solution
A button panel with a front surface featuring an optically restrictive material, such as metallic substances or polarized glass, and a controller to manage the illumination of light devices, allowing for selective energization and de-energization to generate various lighting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs of various colors are positioned beneath each button to provide backlighting, then the buttons are illuminated with multiple colors, but the ability to create dynamic lighting effects and accentuate selected groups of buttons is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the button panel into multiple independently controllable light zones by positioning individual LEDs at specific locations (corner buttons, center buttons, edge buttons) rather than using a single multicolored LED per button. This segmentation allows selective illumination of different button groups to create various lighting effects while maintaining color variety through multiple LED types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic lighting effects by enabling independent control of each LED's illumination state through a controller that can selectively energize or de-energize specific LEDs based on game events, creating moving patterns and accentuating selected buttons rather than providing static backlighting.
2Device complexity
If a single multicolored LED is embedded within each button, then the structure is simple, but dynamic display patterns and selective group accentuation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of embedding a single multicolored LED in each button, the patent segments the lighting function by positioning multiple individual LEDs at specific locations around and beneath the button array. Each LED can be controlled independently, enabling dynamic patterns while keeping each button's physical structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary device that manages the illumination states of multiple LEDs. This controller enables complex dynamic lighting effects and selective group accentuation without requiring complex structures within each button itself, centralizing the control functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If LEDs are positioned directly beneath buttons to provide backlighting, then assembly is simple, but the ability to create attractive lighting effects that draw attention to specific buttons is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning LEDs at specific strategic locations (corner buttons, center buttons, edge buttons) rather than uniformly beneath all buttons. This allows different regions of the button panel to have different illumination characteristics, creating attractive lighting effects that draw attention to specific buttons while maintaining simple assembly procedures.
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
Enables the creation of attractive lighting effects that draw attention to specific buttons, display patterns, and celebrate winning outcomes, reducing assembly and maintenance costs while allowing dynamic modifications based on game titles.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the front surface having an optically restrictive material
Implementation Method 2
one or more LEDs of various colors positioned directly beneath the buttons or embedded within a body of each of the buttons
Implementation Method 3
The light devices are configured to be selectively energized and de-energized to facilitate presenting a lighting effect
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine includes a button panel having a front surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface is an optically restrictive material, and a plurality of light devices aligned relative to the optically restrictive material. The gaming machine also includes a controller coupled to the plurality of light devices, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of an order of illumination for at least a portion of the plurality of light devices and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of the plurality of light devices.