Systems and methods for improving a button assembly

• US 8,337,314 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Waxman, Thomas D., Silva, Gregory A., Combs, Jacquelyn S., LaBrosse, Nathan D., Bohling, Brandon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/291,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/032 photographic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/066 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/002 joined to form button rows

Abstract

A button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a light emitting device that emits light. The button assembly further includes a lens cap that protects the light emitting device from being damaged. The lens cap has a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side. The second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane. A first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface. Additionally, a system for increasing life of a pixel is described.

Claims

1. A button assembly comprising:

a light emitting device configured to emit light;

a lens cap configured to protect the light emitting device from being damaged;

the lens cap having a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side;

the second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane;

wherein the plane passes through a portion of the first cap side, a portion of the second cap side, a portion of the third cap side, and a portion of the fourth cap side;

wherein a first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface; and

a button housing configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

2. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top surface is curved.

3. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the top surface is dome-shaped.

4. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a lens cap holder configured to hold the lens cap;

wherein the lens cap extends below an edge of the lens cap holder to prevent a liquid from flowing from outside the lens cap to inside the lens cap.

5. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a gasket configured to surround at least a section of the threaded portion to prevent a liquid from entering the button assembly.

6. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the button housing includes a housing side;

wherein the housing side includes a housing notch configured to allow passage of a liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing.

7. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to be activated to an on state by a user and trigger a change of a information displayed on the light emitting device.

8. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a clamp including a first clamp side further including a clamp notch configured to facilitate passage of a liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp.

9. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the button housing includes a housing side;

wherein the housing side includes a housing notch configured to allow passage of a liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing; and

a clamp including a first clamp side including a clamp notch configured to facilitate passage of the liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp;

wherein the liquid flows via the housing notch and the clamp notch.

10. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the threaded portion includes a first set of threads;

and

further includes a nut having a second set of threads that are complementary to the first set of threads;

wherein the nut has a length configured to prevent a flow of a liquid from outside the nut to inside the nut.

11. A button assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a switch housing including a plurality of switch assembly prongs; and

a button mating component configured to connect to a cable connector connected to a flexible cable;

wherein one of the switch assembly prongs is configured to extend through an opening in the flexible cable to prevent the button assembly from disengaging from the flexible cable.

12. A gaming machine for playing a game, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory configured to communicate with the gaming controller;

a display device configured to communicate with the gaming controller; and

a button assembly configured to display a presentation based on the game code, the button assembly including;

a light emitting device configured to emit light;

a lens cap configured to protect the light emitting device from being damaged, the lens cap having a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side, the second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane;

wherein the plane passes through a portion of the first cap side, a portion of the second cap side, a portion of the third cap side, and a portion of the fourth cap side;

wherein a first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface; and

a button housing configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

13. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 12, wherein the game includes a wagering game.

14. A button assembly for directing a flow of a liquid, the button assembly comprising:

a button housing configured to receive a light emitting device;

wherein the button housing includes a first notch configured to facilitate a flow of the liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing; and

wherein the button housing includes a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

15. A button assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the light emitting device is configured to display information related to a game played using a gaming machine.

16. A button assembly in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a clamp including a clamp notch configured to facilitate a flow of the liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp.

17. A button assembly in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

a gasket;

wherein the button housing includes a polygonal cross-sectional portion and a curved cross-sectional portion;

wherein the gasket is configured to surround the curved cross-sectional portion to prevent a flow of the liquid from outside the button housing to inside the button housing.

18. A system for increasing life of a light emitting element, the system comprising:

a controller including a processor and a memory configured to communicate with the processor;

the processor configured to determine whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to invert a first intensity of a pixel including the light emitting element upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate an inverted intensity upon inverting the first intensity.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to generate a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to restore the pixel to the first intensity upon determining that the event has occurred after generating the inverted intensity.

21. A method for increasing life of a light emitting element, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor, whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window; and

generating, by the processor, an inverted intensity upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window, wherein generating the inverted intensity is performed by inverting the first intensity.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21, further comprising generating a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

23. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory configured to communicate with the gaming controller;

a display device configured to receive information from the gaming controller; and

a processor coupled to the gaming controller and configured to determine whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate an inverted intensity upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate the inverted intensity by inverting the first intensity.

24. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to generate a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

25. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller;

a memory coupled to the master gaming controller;

a button assembly configured to display a function for playing a game executed by the gaming controller, the button assembly being further configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly; and

a flexible cable configured to accommodate a connector to form an electrical connection with the button assembly.

26. A system comprising:

a main power supply configured to supply main power;

a light emitting element; and

a low power detector configured to determine whether the main power is less than a threshold value;

the low power detector configured to generate a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value;

wherein the low power detect signal informs the light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a power storage device configured to supply power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value and until a time power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

28. A system in accordance with claim 26, further comprising:

a button assembly including the light emitting element; and

a dedicated line configured to communicate the low power detect signal to the button assembly.

29. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the power detector is configured to determine whether the main power is greater than the threshold.

30. A method comprising:

determining, by a power detector coupled to a processor, whether a main power is less than a threshold value;

generating, by the power detector, a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value; and

informing, by the power detector, a light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30, further comprising supplying power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value.

32. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory device coupled to the gaming controller;

a display device configured to display a game upon execution of the game code; and

a low power detector coupled to the gaming controller and configured to determine whether a main power is less than a threshold value;

the low power detector configured to generate a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value;

wherein the low power detect signal informs a light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

33. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 32, further comprising a power storage device configured to supply power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value.