Gaming machine with configurable button panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
- a physically configurable button panel;
a mechanical button, comprising an assembly of components including an actuator, a button cap disposed in a substantially fixed relation to the actuator, a rigid button body being removably attached to the button panel, and a biasing element, the actuator and button cap being disposed to move together relative to the rigid button body and against a biasing force of the biasing element;
a touch screen input panel having a minimally flat surface comprising a touch screen configured to produce a change in a voltage signal or electrical signal responsive to a contact or near contact of the mechanical button actuator with a surface of the touch screen input panel, the touch screen input panel being disposed beneath and spaced apart from said button panel and said mechanical button, the touch screen input panel being configured to produce an output signal in response to a predetermined movement of the mechanical button actuator to a predetermined position on the touch screen input panel sufficient to change a voltage or electrical signal of said touch screen input panel at said position on the touch screen input panel; and
a controller programmed to initiate a function associated with the wagering game in response to the output signal from the touch screen input panel.
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Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising a physically configurable button panel and at least one mechanical button removably disposed in the button panel. The gaming machine also comprises an input panel disposed adjacent to the button to produce an output signal in response to a predetermined movement of the button and a controller for initiating a function in response to the output signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
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a physically configurable button panel; a mechanical button, comprising an assembly of components including an actuator, a button cap disposed in a substantially fixed relation to the actuator, a rigid button body being removably attached to the button panel, and a biasing element, the actuator and button cap being disposed to move together relative to the rigid button body and against a biasing force of the biasing element; a touch screen input panel having a minimally flat surface comprising a touch screen configured to produce a change in a voltage signal or electrical signal responsive to a contact or near contact of the mechanical button actuator with a surface of the touch screen input panel, the touch screen input panel being disposed beneath and spaced apart from said button panel and said mechanical button, the touch screen input panel being configured to produce an output signal in response to a predetermined movement of the mechanical button actuator to a predetermined position on the touch screen input panel sufficient to change a voltage or electrical signal of said touch screen input panel at said position on the touch screen input panel; and a controller programmed to initiate a function associated with the wagering game in response to the output signal from the touch screen input panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of configuring a gaming machine, the method comprising:
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incorporating a physically configurable button panel into the gaming machine, the physically configurable button panel including at least one mechanical button assembly removably disposed in the button panel, the mechanical button assembly comprising an actuator, a button cap disposed in a substantially fixed relation to the actuator, a rigid button body being removably attached to the button panel, and a biasing element, the actuator and button cap being disposed to move together relative to the rigid button body and against a biasing force of the biasing element; disposing a touch screen input panel beneath and spaced apart from said mechanical button assembly and said button panel, the touch screen input panel having a minimally flat surface comprising a touch screen configured to produce a change in a voltage signal or electrical signal responsive to a contact or near contact of the mechanical button actuator with a surface of the touch screen input panel, so that the touch screen input panel produces an output signal in response to a predetermined movement of the actuator toward a predetermined position on the touch screen input panel; and configuring a controller in communication with the touch screen input panel to initiate a function relating to the wagering game, the function being initiated in response to the output signal from the touch screen input panel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A physically configurable button panel for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the physically configurable button panel comprising:
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a mechanical button assembly removably disposed in the button panel, the mechanical button assembly comprising an assembly of components including an actuator, a button cap disposed in a substantially fixed relation to the actuator, a rigid button body being removably attached to the button panel, and a biasing element, the actuator and button cap being disposed to move together relative to the rigid button body and against a biasing force of the biasing element; and a touch screen input panel having a minimally flat surface comprising a touch screen configured to produce a change in a voltage signal or electrical signal responsive to a contact or near contact of the mechanical button actuator with a surface of the touch screen input panel, the touch screen input panel being disposed beneath and spaced apart from said button panel and said mechanical button, the touch screen input panel being configured to produce an output signal in response to movement of the mechanical button actuator toward a predetermined position on the touch screen input panel sufficient to change a voltage or electrical signal of said touch screen input panel at said position on the touch screen input panel, the touch screen input panel being proximate to the button panel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification