Gaming Machine Haptic Feedback via Electromagnetic Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current entertainment gaming devices primarily provide users with limited tactile feedback, relying mainly on visual and auditory cues, which can distract players from the game and fail to effectively communicate game-related information in a haptic manner.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an electromagnetic device with a touchscreen switching element, featuring a resilient front panel with permanent magnets and excitable coils, generates vibrations that provide tactile feedback to users, allowing for game-related information to be communicated haptically, regardless of the game's status, and can be combined with visual and acoustic cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual and auditory feedback are used to communicate game progress, then information delivery is effective, but user engagement and immersion are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback system is segmented into multiple independent channels: visual feedback through display devices, auditory feedback through speakers, and haptic feedback through vibration devices. Each channel operates independently to convey different aspects of game progress, allowing the system to maintain effective information delivery while enhancing user engagement through multi-sensory stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple feedback modalities (visual, auditory, and haptic) into a unified feedback system. By combining these different sensory channels, the system delivers comprehensive game progress information while significantly improving user immersion and engagement compared to single-modality systems.
2Loss of information
If user attention is diverted to check game progress, then awareness of game state improves, but focus on actual gameplay deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous haptic feedback through vibration devices that are activated based on game events. This provides users with real-time awareness of game state changes through tactile sensations, eliminating the need to visually check the display and allowing users to maintain full focus on the gameplay while staying informed about progress and outcomes.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration device acts as an intermediary between the game system and the user, translating game events into tactile feedback. This intermediary channel conveys game progress information directly to the user's sense of touch, bypassing the need for visual attention and enabling continuous gameplay focus while maintaining awareness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple feedback channels (visual, auditory, tactile) are integrated, then user immersion improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching element serves multiple functions: it acts as a user input device for controlling the game, a visual display element through backlighting, an auditory feedback source through integrated speakers, and a haptic feedback device through vibration motors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall system complexity while providing comprehensive multi-sensory feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple feedback mechanisms into integrated assemblies where visual displays, speakers, and vibration devices are co-located with switching elements. This merging approach creates a compact unified feedback system that delivers multi-sensory information without requiring separate distributed components, thereby managing device complexity.
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 enables players to receive immersive and engaging tactile feedback without taking their eyes off the game, enhancing the gaming experience by providing continuous haptic interaction through vibrations, shape changes, and additional sensory inputs like sound and temperature, thus improving user engagement and immersion.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electromagnetic device coupled to the game sequence control is assigned to the switching element, which generates tactile information for a user in the form of a vibration and/or a change in operating resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
A gaming machine comprises a housing (1), in which a game sequence controller, at least one display device (49) for displaying a gaming unit (3) and at least one switching element (26), actuatable by a user and in contact with the game sequence controller, are arranged. At least one electromagnetic device (27) coupled to the game sequence controller is associated with the switching element (26) and, if the switching element (26) is actuated, generates information that can be detected tactilely by the user in the form of a vibration and/or a change of the actuating resistance depending on the course of the game.