SEPARABLE BACKLIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20090104989A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Silva, Gregory, Williams, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133604 with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming machine may have an optical module having a first display screen configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal, and a lighting module having light film on a first surface, a plate on a second surface, and a plurality of light sources positioned in an interior region formed by the light film and plate, wherein the plurality of light sources provide light to the optical module, and wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a cabinet defining a first interior region of the gaming machine, the cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components;

an optical module positioned within or about the first interior region, having;

a first display device configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal and including one or more controllably transparent portions; and

a second display device, arranged relative to the first display device such that a common line of sight passes through a portion of the first display device to a portion of the second display device;

a lighting module positioned within or about the first interior region, having;

an enclosure defining a second interior region, the enclosure having;

a light film defining a first surface;

a plate defining a second surface; and

a plurality of light sources positioned between the light film and plate to provide light to the optical module; and

a cooling component adapted to flow a cooling medium within the lighting module to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources,

wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a gaming controller configured to execute instructions, from memory, that

a) result in a display of data for a game of chance on the second display device;

b) result in a display of data on the first display device that includes a transparent portion and a non-transparent portion, where a common line of sight passes through each transparent window on the first display device to the game of chance displayed on the second display device; and

c) permit game play of the game of chance displayed by the second display device.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling component further comprises:

an airflow plenum coupled to the plate, the airflow plenum having a first plurality of channels on a first side and a second plurality of channels on a second side;

a first plurality of fans disposed between the plate and the air flow plenum to direct the cooling medium through the first plurality of channels;

a plurality of heat sinks coupled to the free surface of the airflow plenum, each plurality of heat sinks having a bottom portion and a top portion; and

a plurality of fans coupled to each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein the cooling medium is directed from the first plurality of channels to the second interior region to flow onto a surface of the plurality of light sources to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the cooling medium is re-circulated air.

5. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the heated cooling medium is directed through the second plurality of channels to the bottom portion of each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein heat from the heated cooling medium is transferred to an ambient air source that is directed through the top portion of each of plurality of heat sinks by the second plurality of fans.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling component further comprises:

an airflow plenum coupled to the plate, the airflow plenum having a first plurality of channels on a first side and a second plurality of channels on a second side;

a first plurality of fans disposed between the plate and the air flow plenum to direct the cooling medium through the first plurality of channels;

a plurality of heat sinks coupled to the free surface of the airflow plenum, each plurality of heat sinks having a bottom portion and a top portion; and

a plurality of fans coupled to each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein the cooling medium is directed from the first plurality of channels onto a surface of the plate to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light source is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps, an array of light emitting diodes, and at least one incandescent lamp.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources further comprises a plurality of redundant light sources.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the lighting module is removable from the gaming machine without removing the optical module.

10. A gaming machine, comprising:

a cabinet defining a first interior region of the gaming machine, the cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components;

an optical module positioned within or about the first interior region, the optical module having a first display device configured to output a visual image in response to at least one control signal; and

a lighting module positioned within or about the first interior region, having;

a light film;

a plate;

a plurality of light sources positioned between the light film and plate; and

at least one conduit positioned between the plurality of light sources and plate, the conduit designed to receive a cooling medium to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources,

wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, further comprising:

a second display device, arranged relative to the first display device such that a common line of sight passes through a portion of the first display device to a portion of the second display device; and

a gaming controller configured to execute instructions, from memory, that

a) result in a display of data for a game of chance on the second display device

b) result in a display of data on the first display device that includes a transparent portion and a non-transparent portion, where a common line of sight passes through each transparent window on the first display device to the game of chance displayed on the second display device; and

c) permit game play of the game of chance displayed by the second display.

12. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the cooling medium is a liquid or a gas.

13. The gaming machine of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of fans coupled to the at least one conduit to direct the cooling medium through the at least one conduit;

a plurality of heat sinks coupled to the at least one conduit to transfer the heat from the heated cooling medium to an ambient air source.

14. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light sources is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps, an array of light emitting diodes, and at least one incandescent lamp.

15. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the lighting module further comprises a plurality of redundant light sources in communication with the at least one logic device.

16. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light sources is removable from the gaming machine without removing the optical module.

17. A display device, comprising:

an optical module having a first display screen configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal; and

a lighting module, having;

a light film on a first surface;

a plate on a second surface; and

a plurality of light sources positioned in an interior region formed by the light film and plate,

wherein the plurality of light sources provide light to the optical module, and

wherein the lighting module is removably coupled to the optical module such that the lighting module may be replaced or serviced without disturbing the optical module.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a cooling component adapted to flow a cooling medium onto the plate to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources.

19. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a second display device, arranged relative to the first display device such that a common line of sight passes through a portion of the first display device to a portion of the second display device; and

a gaming controller configured to execute instructions, from memory, that

a) result in a display of data on the second display device; and

b) result in a display of data on the first display device that includes a transparent portion and a non-transparent portion, where a common line of sight passes through each transparent window on the first display device to the data displayed on the second display device.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the cooling component further comprises:

an airflow plenum coupled to the plate, the airflow plenum having a first plurality of channels on a first side and a second plurality of channels on a second side;

a first plurality of fans disposed between the plate and the air flow plenum to direct the cooling medium through the first plurality of channels;

a plurality of heat sinks coupled to the free surface of the airflow plenum, each plurality of heat sinks having a bottom portion and a top portion; and

a plurality of fans coupled to each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein the cooling medium is directed from the first plurality of channels to the second interior region to flow onto a surface of the plurality of light sources to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the cooling medium is re-circulated air.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the heated cooling medium is directed through the second plurality of channels to the bottom portion of each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein heat from the heated cooling medium is transferred to an ambient air source that is directed through the top portion of each of plurality of heat sinks by the second plurality of fans.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the cooling component further comprises:

an airflow plenum coupled to the plate, the airflow plenum having a first plurality of channels on a first side and a second plurality of channels on a second side;

a first plurality of fans disposed between the plate and the air flow plenum to direct the cooling medium through the first plurality of channels;

a plurality of heat sinks coupled to the free surface of the airflow plenum, each plurality of heat sinks having a bottom portion and a top portion; and

a plurality of fans coupled to each of the plurality of heat sinks,

wherein the cooling medium is directed from the first plurality of channels onto a surface of the plate to transfer heat generated from the plurality of light sources.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light sources are selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps, an array of light emitting diodes, and at least one incandescent lamp.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of light sources further comprises a plurality of redundant light sources in communication with the at least one logic device.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the light enclosure is removable from the device without disturbing the optical module.

27. A method for displaying a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:

outputting a first visual image to play a game of chance on a first display device in response to a control signal from a logic device, the first visual image including one or more controllably transparent portions;

outputting a second visual image to play the game of chance on a second display device such that a common line of sight passes through a transparent portion of the first display device to a portion of the second display device, the first and second display devices forming an optical module;

emitting light from a lighting module to the optical module to view the first and second visual images, the lighting module having a plurality of light sources;

flowing a cooling medium through the lighting module to transfer the heat generated from the plurality of light sources; and

servicing the lighting module without disturbing the optical module.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of an external airflow, a re-circulated airflow, and a liquid cooling medium.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising positioning the plurality of light sources between an optical film and a plate.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising flowing the cooling medium through a conduit positioned between the plurality of light sources and the plate.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising flowing a cooling medium on a surface of the lighting module to transfer heat generated by the plurality of light sources.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising directing the cooling medium onto a surface of the plate to transfer the heat generated by the plurality of light sources.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising detecting, by a logic device, when one of the plurality of light sources no longer emit light.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting a signal from the logic device to one of a plurality of redundant light sources to emit light.

35. An apparatus to display a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:

a first display to output an image in response to a control signal from a logic device, the first visual image including one or more controllably transparent portions;

a second display to output a game of chance, the second display arranged such that a common line of sight passes through a transparent portion of the first display device to a portion of the second display device, the first and second display devices forming an optical module;

means for emitting light from a lighting module to the optical module to view the first and second visual images, the lighting module having a plurality of light sources;

means for flowing a cooling medium through the lighting module to transfer the heat generated from the plurality of light sources; and

means for servicing the lighting module without disturbing the optical module.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of an external airflow, a re-circulated airflow, a liquid cooling medium, and a gaseous cooling medium.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for positioning the plurality of light sources between an optical film and a plate.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for flowing the cooling medium through a conduit positioned between the plurality of light sources and the plate.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for flowing a cooling medium on a surface of the lighting module to absorb heat generated by the plurality of light sources.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for directing the cooling medium onto the plate to absorb the heat generated by the plurality of light sources.

41. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for detecting, by the logic device, when one of the plurality of light sources no longer emits light.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising means for transmitting a signal from the logic device to one of a plurality of redundant light sources to emit light.