Gaming Machine Reel Band Illumination via Reflective Diffusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines using mechanical reels face inadequate illumination with front lights alone, necessitating the use of a backlight, which complicates the configuration and increases power consumption, while the reel band's light transmission properties limit material selection.
Innovation Solution
A reel band comprising a base sheet, a light reflecting sheet, and a light diffusing sheet, where light from the front surface is refracted and reflected multiple times to spread widely, eliminating the need for a backlight and enhancing illumination, and allowing greater material selection flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a backlight is provided inside the rotating reel to illuminate the reel band, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the device complexity increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the backlight component from the illumination system, extracting the unnecessary element that caused complexity. Instead of having both front light and backlight, the invention uses only the front light combined with the light reflecting sheet and light diffusing sheet to achieve adequate illumination without the additional backlight device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements (light reflecting sheet and light diffusing sheet) between the front light and the reel band to enhance illumination efficiency. These intermediaries redirect and distribute the front light to improve visibility without requiring a backlight, thus resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If a backlight is provided inside the rotating reel to illuminate the reel band, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the backlight component from the illumination system, extracting the unnecessary element that caused power consumption. By eliminating the backlight and relying solely on the front light with reflective and diffusing sheets, the system achieves adequate illumination with reduced power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The light reflecting sheet and light diffusing sheet enable the front light to serve multiple functions - it not only illuminates the reel band directly but also reflects and diffuses light to reach areas that would traditionally require a separate backlight. This self-service approach allows the single light source to perform the work of what would have been two light sources.
3Illumination intensity
If the reel band is made with light transmission properties for backlight illumination, then the illumination effectiveness is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to limited material selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional illumination approach by eliminating the backlight and using only front light illumination. This inversion changes the functional requirements of the reel band - instead of needing to transmit backlight from the rear, the reel band now works with front light that is reflected and diffused, allowing the use of opaque or translucent materials that are easier to manufacture and more versatile in material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination parameters from rear-side backlight transmission to front-side light reflection and diffusion. This parameter change fundamentally alters the material requirements for the reel band, allowing the use of materials with diverse optical properties including opaque, translucent, and transparent materials, thereby increasing ease of manufacture and material selection freedom.
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
The reel band achieves comprehensive illumination using only front light, simplifies the configuration, and increases the freedom to choose materials for the reel band, while also allowing illumination from both the front and rear surfaces for enhanced visibility.
Implementation Method 1
a light reflecting sheet having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from a front surface side
Implementation Method 2
a light diffusing sheet having a light refracting surface, the light refracting surface being for transmitting light and for refracting the light transmitted in multiple directions
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a reel device for a gaming machine capable of increasing a reel illumination effect by varying illumination onto the reel. A reel band which is attached to a rotatable reel of a gaming machine includes a base sheet, a light reflecting sheet which has a reflecting surface reflecting light from a front surface side and is superimposed on the base sheet, and a light diffusing sheet which has a light refracting surface, which transmits light and refracts light to be transmitted in multiple directions, and is superimposed on the light reflecting sheet.