Rotating Light Guide Plates for Dynamic Gaming Machine Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination devices in gaming machines have a fixed configuration of light guide plates, resulting in a uniform and unvarying illumination effect, making it difficult to create distinctive and varied presentations.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device features light source units, light guide plates, a holding unit, a rotational drive unit, a base portion, and a control unit, allowing the light guide plates to be rotated and adjusted in terms of rotation speed, direction, and duration, enhancing the illumination effect and enabling a wider range of presentations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If light guide plates are fixed in place, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the illumination effect is always the same and difficult to make distinctive
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plates are made rotatable by a rotational drive unit, transforming the static illumination structure into a dynamic one. The holding unit can rotate the light guide plates to different positions, enabling the illumination effect to vary and become distinctive while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guide plates are rotated, then a wide range of presentations are possible and illumination effect is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational drive unit is integrated into the housing, and the holding unit that holds the light guide plates is combined with the rotation mechanism. This merging of functions allows the light guide plates to be rotated for varied presentations while keeping the overall device structure compact and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding unit serves multiple functions: it holds the light guide plates in place and simultaneously provides the rotation capability. The rotational drive unit is controlled by the control unit to achieve different illumination presentations, making the mechanism multi-functional rather than adding separate complex systems.
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 allows for a more dynamic and varied illumination effect, enhancing the overall presentation capabilities of gaming machines and increasing their visual appeal.
Implementation Method 1
light source units that emit light... a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) is incident from an end surface
Implementation Method 2
light emitted from a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) is incident from an end surface, reflected in the interior, and emitted from another surface
Data Source
AI summary
A illumination device 10 is attached to a housing 41 of a gaming machine 40, and comprises LEDs 21a that emit light, light guide plates 20, a rotating body 23, a plate-shaped member 24, a motor 31, a lower case 13, and a control unit 44. A plurality of light guide plates 20 are attached to the plate-shaped member 24. The light guide plates 20 each have an end surface 20a on which the light emitted from the LEDs 21a is incident, and a flat surface 20b from which the incident light is emitted. The plate-shaped member 24 holds the light guide plate 20. The motor 31 rotates the rotating body 23 in the desired direction. The lower case 13 is provided with the motor 31, the rotating body 23 and the like are connected thereto in a state of being incapable of relative rotation, and the lower case 13 is installed in the housing 41 of the gaming machine 40.