Translucent Game Machine Switch Unit with Inclined Button Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panel operations in game machines, such as slot machines, lack an intuitive operational feeling compared to push-button switches, leading to increased game time and difficulty in maintaining a clear display during input operations.
Innovation Solution
A switch unit with a translucent rectangular parallelepiped operating button featuring inclined side walls that widens outwardly toward the bottom, allowing for physical button pressing while displaying images on the button and surrounding areas, providing an intuitive operational feeling without obstructing the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a touch panel is used for input operations, then the display is maintained unobstructed, but the operational feeling and click feeling become inferior compared to push buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of both touch panels and push buttons by combining a translucent operating button (providing push-button tactile feedback) with a backlight unit (providing touch-panel-like visibility). The button is made translucent so that when backlit, it allows light to pass through, maintaining display visibility while the physical button structure provides intuitive operational feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent operating button acts as an intermediary between the user's finger and the display screen. It transmits light from the backlight unit through itself to the display, enabling visual confirmation of the button position and operational state without requiring the user to look away from the display, thus bridging the gap between tactile operation and visual feedback.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional push button is used, then intuitive operational feeling is provided, but the display becomes obstructed during input operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the principle of optical property changes by making the operating button translucent and incorporating a backlight unit. The button's material properties are changed to allow light transmission, and the backlight unit dynamically illuminates the button area, changing the optical characteristics from opaque to translucent during operation, thus resolving the display obstruction issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the operating button from opaque to translucent, and controls the illumination parameter through the backlight unit. This allows the button to be visually integrated with the display when not in use, and provides enhanced visibility and tactile feedback when activated, dynamically adjusting the system's optical parameters based on operational state.
3Measurement precision
If visual confirmation is required for each touch operation on a touch panel, then operational accuracy is maintained, but the time required for each operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements immediate visual feedback through the backlight unit that illuminates the translucent operating button upon contact or proximity detection. This feedback mechanism confirms the user's input action instantly, eliminating the need for delayed visual confirmation and reducing operation time while maintaining accuracy through tactile and visual dual-feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight unit is positioned and configured to automatically illuminate the operating button area in anticipation of or immediately upon user interaction. This preliminary illumination action ensures that visual confirmation is already available when the user touches the button, eliminating the need for additional visual checking steps and reducing overall operation time.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch unit is provided, comprising: a display part configured to display an image in at least one input area; an input part provided above the display part, the input part comprising a contact, wherein when the input part is pressed toward the at least one input area displayed on the display part, the contact corresponding to the input area is conducted; and an operating button configured to cause conduction of the contact of the input part, the contact corresponding to the input area, by a press-down operation toward the input area of the display part, wherein the operating button is made of a translucent rectangular parallelepiped member, and at least one side wall of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member is formed into an inclined surface widening outwardly toward bottom of the operating button.