Pivoting Button Deck with Integrated Signal Connector for Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) face challenges in quickly and easily installing and removing button decks, which complicates the process of updating or changing games, and requires complex electrical connections that are not straightforward to manage.
Innovation Solution
A button deck design that includes locking pins, alignment pins, and signal connectors, which can be pivotally or flexibly connected to the main cabinet, allowing for easy installation and removal, and electrical coupling through signal connectors to facilitate quick updates and changes in games.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If button decks are permanently fixed to the gaming device, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of updating games deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The button deck is separated from the main gaming device body into an independent removable module. This segmentation allows the button deck to be easily detached and replaced without affecting the stability of the main device, while enabling quick updates to game interfaces by swapping button decks.
Solution Approach 2:
The button deck transitions from a fixed permanent connection to a dynamic removable connection. The coupling mechanism allows the button deck to be easily attached and detached multiple times, providing adaptability for game updates while maintaining structural integrity during each operational state.
2Reliability
If complex electrical connections are used for button decks, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of installation and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection components are integrated directly into the coupling mechanism between the button deck and main device. This merging ensures that proper electrical contact is automatically established when the button deck is attached, maintaining connection reliability while simplifying the installation process to a single coupling action.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism automatically establishes and secures electrical connections when the button deck is attached to the main device. The system self-secures the electrical contacts through the mechanical coupling action, eliminating the need for separate manual wiring steps and ensuring reliable connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming device may include a main cabinet that defines an opening for receiving a button deck. The button deck may include a button deck enclosure and one or more buttons protruding from or otherwise defined along a button surface of the button deck enclosure. A coupling tab may include a signal connector operable to connect to a signal connector of the button deck to electrically couple the button deck to a game controller of the gaming device. The gaming device may further include a locking pin locator operable to receive a locking pin to mechanically (e.g., physically) couple the button deck to the main cabinet of the gaming device. The coupling tab may be pivotally or flexibly connected to the main cabinet such that when the signal connectors are connected, the button deck moves into the opening and the locking pin is inserted into the locking pin locator.