Gaming Light Tower Adapter for Programmable LED Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming machines require labor-intensive and costly methods to change lighting arrangements on light towers, as different venues need distinct lighting configurations, and current methods involve physical changes or inefficient protocol conversions.
Innovation Solution
A light tower with an adapter and controller that can receive and convert control signals from different protocols, allowing for programmable and configurable lighting arrangements without physical changes, enabling flexible and efficient lighting configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical plastic inserts are changed to configure lighting arrangements, then different venue requirements can be met, but labor intensity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physically changing plastic inserts with an electronic/software-based system. The light tower includes a controller that can be programmed with different lighting arrangements through software, eliminating the need for manual physical changes. This substitution reduces labor intensity and production costs while maintaining the ability to meet different venue requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting arrangement is made dynamic and reconfigurable through software programming rather than being fixed with physical inserts. The controller can be reprogrammed to create different lighting patterns and arrangements, allowing the system to adapt to different venue requirements without physical modifications. This dynamic approach reduces both labor and production costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different control protocols are used for different gaming machines, then compatibility with various machines is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary device that sits between the gaming machine and the light tower. The adapter contains a controller that can be programmed to handle different control protocols. It receives signals from the gaming machine, converts them according to the appropriate protocol, and transmits them to the light tower. This intermediary approach maintains compatibility with various gaming machines without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller in the adapter can be reprogrammed to change its operational parameters and support different control protocols. By modifying the software configuration rather than the hardware architecture, the system achieves compatibility with multiple gaming machine types without requiring complex hardware modifications for each protocol variation.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface for a peripheral device. The interface may be for a light tower (15) of a gaming machine (100). The interface has a first input (L1) to receive first control signals and a first output (L2) connected or connectable to components of the peripheral device, for example stage drivers (50, 51) for LEDs (71). The interface includes an adapter (41) having a second input to receive second control signals and a controller (61) connected to the second input (60) and a second output. The controller (61) is operable to convert second control signals received at the second input (60) into control signals and output the converted signals onto the second output.