Patent Publication Number: US-9899163-B2

Title: Switch unit and game machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-099493 filed with the Japan Patent Office on May 14, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present invention relates to a switch unit and a game machine. 
     Related Art 
     A game machine called a slot machine has hitherto been known. In the slot machine, a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of types of symbols are spun, and a winning combination is determined based on a matching pattern of symbols and the matched symbols at the stopping of the reels. A prize is then given to a player in accordance with the winning combination and the number of bets. 
     Operation such as setting of the number of bets and the start of the spinning of the reels is performed by pressing down a button included in a switch unit provided in the slot machine. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-200343 (published in Oct. 22, 2012) discloses a technique of displaying an image in a switch unit so as to appeal to a player and thereby attract a large number of people. Specifically, in the switch unit disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-200343, lenses are provided between a display part and operation keys to display an image on the operation keys. 
     However, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-200343, a sufficient appeal to a player is not expected due to a limited proportion of the operation keys, on which an image is to be displayed, relative to the entire switch unit. In order to further increase the appeal to a player, it can be considered that a button case and the like surrounding the operation keys are made of a transparent member to make the entire display part usable. 
     In this case, the lens becomes unnecessary, and the operation key can be made thinner, thereby reducing cost. However, because of the smaller thickness, when the operation key is pressed down by a charged finger, a current transmitted from the finger to the button causes occurrence of creeping discharge from the button to the button case. With such discharge, a larger current than usual flows in a circuit inside the button to cause a failure of an electronic component. 
     SUMMARY 
     A switch unit according to one or more embodiments of the present invention and a game machine according to one or more embodiments of the present invention may be capable of preventing a failure of an electronic component caused by static electricity and providing a sufficient appeal to a player. 
     A switch unit according to one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a display part configured to display an image, and an operation part provided on the display part in a stacked manner. The operation part includes a button made of a transparent material except for an edge, a transparent button case having an opening formed in a position corresponding to a display region of the display part and configured to position the button, and a transparent substrate provided below the button case and having an electronic component disposed in a position corresponding to the edge of the button. The button is disposed on the transparent substrate via the opening in the button case. A discharge gap in parallel with the electronic component is provided on a wire in a position corresponding to the edge of the button on the transparent substrate. 
     According to the above configuration, the button which is transparent except for its edge is disposed in the opening in the transparent button case. Hence it is possible to display a display image of the display part inside the button and on the periphery of the button, so as to extend an image projectable range. Further, since the electronic component and the discharge gap are disposed in the positions corresponding to the edge of the button, they do not affect the display of the display part. Hence it is possible to provide a sufficient appeal to the player. 
     Further, when the button is pressed down by a charged finger of the player, creeping discharge may occur. However, providing the discharge gap in parallel with the electronic component can prevent a current higher than usual from flowing in the electronic component, so as to prevent occurrence of a failure of the electronic component. 
     Hence it is possible to provide a switch unit and a game machine capable of preventing a failure of the electronic component caused by static electricity and providing a sufficient appeal to the player. 
     Further, in the switch unit of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the buttons be provided, and a plurality of the openings spaced from each other be formed in the button case. 
     Further, according to the above configuration, an image can also be displayed between the buttons, thereby providing a sufficient appeal to the player. 
     Further, in the switch unit of the present invention, it is preferable that a length of the discharge gap range from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     Further, in the switch unit of the present invention, it is preferable that a height of the button with respect to the transparent substrate be not larger than 12 mm. 
     Further, in the switch unit of the present invention, it is preferable that the electronic component be a light emitting element. 
     According to the above configuration, a light performance can be made by the light emitting element at the edge of the button, thus providing a sufficient appeal to the player. 
     The present invention exerts the effect of being able to prevent a failure of an electronic component caused by static electricity and to provide a sufficient appeal to the player. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a slot machine according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a switch unit; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the switch unit; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of an operation part; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an example of a transparent substrate; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a button included in the operation part; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of the button; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of the button, indicating a route of creeping discharge; and 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating a photo-sensor and an LED provided on the transparent substrate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a slot machine  1  as a game machine according to an embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the slot machine  1  includes a reel part  2  disposed in an upper part of a casing, a bill inlet  4 , a ticket outlet  5 , and a switch unit  6  disposed near the reel part  2 . In the slot machine  1 , a bill is inserted into the bill inlet  4 , and after a play, a ticket is ejected through the ticket outlet  5  when conditions for winning a prize are satisfied during the play. 
     The reel part  2  includes a plurality of reels provided laterally side by side, and repeats spinning and stopping for each play. The reel displays a plurality of types of symbols, and a player can receive a prize in accordance with a winning combination that is specified based on a matching pattern of symbols at the stopping of all the reels. In addition, the reel part  2  may include the reels themselves or may be configured to display an image corresponding to the reels on a display screen  3 . 
     The switch unit  6  accepts operation performed by the player. Specifically, the switch unit  6  includes a button for setting of an increase or a decrease in number of bets during a play, a button for instruction of spinning of the reels which is a play starting sign, and some other buttons. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the switch unit  6 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the switch unit  6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the switch unit  6  includes an operation part  100 , a display part  200  provided therebelow, and a top plate  300 . 
     The display part  200  is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and displays image data concerning a game. For example, the display part  200  displays images of functions of buttons in the operation part  100  disposed thereabove, a game presentation, the characters that appear in the game, and the like. Thereby, the display part  200  can appeal to the player to play with its own device. 
     Each member of the operation part  100  is made of a transparent material except for a part thereof. Accordingly, the player can view an image displayed by the display part  200  through the operation part  100 . Further, the operation part  100  includes various buttons. Specifically, the operation part  100  includes a bet button for inputting the number of bets, and a spin button for instructing the start of the game. 
     The top plate  300  is a cover provided on the upper surface of the operation part  100 . The top plate  300  is provided with openings  301  respectively corresponding to the positions of the buttons so that buttons protrude from the upper surface of the top plate  300 . Further, the top plate  300  is made of a transparent material except for its peripheral edge. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of the operation part  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the operation part  100  includes bet buttons  108  and spin buttons  109  which are made of a transparent material except for edges thereof, and includes a button base part where the buttons  108  and  109  are disposed. The button base part is formed of transparent plastic or the like, for example, and formed by stacking a base frame  101 , a spacer  102 , an insulating sheet  103 , a transparent substrate  104 , an LED control board  105 , and a switch base  106  in this order and fixing them with screws or the like. 
     The switch base  106  is made of a transparent material. A plurality of openings  106   a ,  106   b  for positioning the bet buttons  108  and the spin buttons  109  are formed so as to be spaced from each other in positions corresponding to a display region of the display part  200 . The bet buttons  108  and the spin buttons  109  are fitted into the openings  106   a ,  106   b . The buttons  108 ,  109  are then disposed on the transparent substrate  104  via (through) the openings  106   a ,  106   b  of the switch base  106 . As described above, the buttons  108 ,  109  are disposed on the transparent substrate  104  in a mutually independent manner. Thus, even when a failure, damage, or the like occurs in either the button  108  or the button  109 , that button may only be replaced, thereby facilitating the maintenance. Further, since the plurality of openings  106   a ,  106   b  are formed so as to be spaced from each other in the switch base  106 , the player can view a display image of the display part  200  even between the buttons  108 ,  109 , thereby enabling enhancement of the performance effect. 
     As described above, in the embodiment, the buttons  108 ,  109  which are transparent except for the edges thereof are disposed in the openings  106   a ,  106   b  of the switch base  106  made of the transparent material. It is thereby possible to display the display image of the display part  200  inside the buttons  108 ,  109  and on the peripheries of the buttons  108 ,  109  (i.e., between the plurality of buttons  108 ,  109 ), so as to have the player view a larger image. As a result, it is possible to increase the appeal to the player. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an example of the transparent substrate  104 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the transparent substrate  104  is made of a transparent material. On one surface thereof where the buttons  108 ,  109  are provided, full-color LEDs (light-emitting diodes)  125  and photo-sensors  121  are mounted as electronic components so as to be placed in positions along the peripheral edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109 . Wires (not illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) for feeding electricity to the electronic components are formed. Specifically, a plurality of full-color LEDs  125  and the photo-sensor  121  are provided for each of the buttons  108 ,  109  along the edge (outline) thereof. 
     The full-color LED  125  includes light emitting elements  122  to  124  with colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), respectively. The transparent substrate of the embodiment is configured such that eight full-color LEDs  125  are provided for each of 16 buttons  108 ,  109 . 
     The photo-sensor  121  includes a light emitting part which is a light emitting element and a light receiving part which is a photodiode for receiving light emitted from the light emitting part. By being configured such that a sensing object shields light between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the photo-sensor  121  determines an on-state and an off-state of the operation part  100 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of the buttons  108 ,  109  included in the operation part  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each of the buttons  108 ,  109  has a rectangular shape. A performance part  111 , a diffusion part  112 , a light shielding piece  113 , a button body  114 , and a cover  115  are stacked in this order and provided on the transparent substrate  104 . 
     The cover  115  has an opening  115   a , and the button body  114  is fitted into the opening  115   a . The button body  114  is to be pressed down by a finger. The button body  114  includes a transparent key top  114   b , a rectangular frame-like support  114   c  for supporting the key top  114   b , and an elastomer part  114   d  for coupling the key top  114   b  with the support  114   c . When pressing force is applied to the key top  114   b , the elastomer part  114   d  made of elastomer is bent and transformed, and only the key top  114   b  is pressed downward. Further, when the pressing force to the key top  114   b  is removed, the key top  114   b  is pushed up upward due to elastic force of the elastomer part  114   d , and thereafter returned to its fixed position. Moreover, an attachment part  114   a  for attachment of the light shielding piece  113  is formed on one surface (lower surface) of the support  114   c  where the diffusion part  112  is to be provided. 
     The diffusion part  112  has a substantially C-shape with a cut portion for placement of the light shielding piece  113  formed in a frame body and is provided along the lower surface of the support  114   c  in the button body  114 . Further, the diffusion part  112  diffuses light from the performance part  111  provided therebelow so as to extend the light to the periphery of the button. 
     The performance part  111  has a rectangular shape and is provided along the diffusion part  112 . The performance part  111  is provided above the full-color LEDs  125  and the photo-sensor  121  mounted on the transparent substrate  104  and has a function as a light guiding part for guiding light emitted by the full-color LEDs  125 . The case of providing two full-color LEDs  125  on each side of the performance part  111  is shown here, but the configuration is not limited thereto. 
     Further, in the performance part  111 , a recessed portion  111   a  is formed at a position facing the attachment part  114   a  included in the button body  114 . The light shielding piece  113  is held by being interposed between the attachment part  114   a  and the recessed portion  111   a . Moreover, the light shielding piece  113  has a substantially T-shape and is attached with its vertical portion turning to the inside of the performance part  111 . 
     Furthermore, the performance part  111  has a projection  111   b  for supporting the button body  114  from below on the opposite side to the portion having the recessed portion  111   a.    
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of the buttons  108 ,  109 . As an arrow in  FIG. 7  indicates, when the key top  114   b  of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  is pressed down from the upper surface by the player, the one side of the key top  114   b  having the projection  111   b  is not pressed down, while the other side thereof having the light shielding piece  113  is pressed down due to bending transformation of the elastomer part  114   d . At this time, the key top  114   b  abuts onto the light shielding piece  113  and presses down the light shielding piece  113 . Accordingly, the vertical portion of the substantially T-shaped light shielding piece  113  gets into between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the photo-sensor  121  to shield light from the light emitting part toward the light receiving part. The on-state of the button body  114  is thereby detected. On the other hand, when the button body  114  is not pressed down, the light receiving part is receiving light from the light emitting part, and the off-state is thereby detected. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of the peripheral edge of the buttons  108 ,  109 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cover  115 , the elastomer part  114   d , the support  114   c , the performance part  111 , and the diffusion part  112  are provided at the peripheral edge of the transparent key top  114   b  in each of the buttons  108 ,  109 . The cover  115 , the elastomer part  114   d , the support  114   c , the performance part  111 , and the diffusion part  112  described above constitute the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109 . The full-color LED  125  is disposed in a position corresponding to the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  on the transparent substrate  104 . Hence it is possible to make the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  emit light with various colors, so as to enhance the performance effect. It is to be noted that the player does not view the image of the display part  200  at the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  since a luminescence performance is made by the full-color LED  125 . However, the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  accounts for a very small region of the display screen of the display part  200  and does not affect the display image of the display part  200 . 
     Further, a thick line in  FIG. 8  indicates how creeping discharge is transmitted. The creeping discharge may occur, for example, when the finger of the player which is charged with static electricity touches the operation part  100 . According to the configurations of the recent operation parts, the material for the button case of the operation part is often a metal. Hence transmission of a current between the finger and the button prevents a failure of the electronic component inside the button. 
     In contrast, according to the configuration of the operation part  100  of the embodiment, in order to enhance the appeal to the player, the switch base  106  of the operation part  100 , which corresponds to the button case, and the top plate  300  are made of a material such as transparent resin, the thickness of the operation part  100  is made small (the height of the upper surface of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  with respect to the transparent substrate  104  is not larger than 12 mm), and each of the buttons  108 ,  109  is disposed on the transparent substrate  104  via the switch base  106  and the opening in the top plate  300 . Hence the shortest creeping distance between the finger having touched the upper surface of the operation part  100  and the transparent substrate  104  is a distance along the inside or the outside of the cover  115  as indicated by the thick line in  FIG. 8 . As a result, a current being transmitted from the finger to the button may flow to the transparent substrate  104 . In order to deal with this, the embodiment has a configuration such that an excessive current generated through discharge is not allowed to flow from the button body  114  into the full-color LED  125  or the photo-sensor  121 . This configuration is described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating wires on the transparent substrate  104 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the photo-sensor  121  is disposed above electrodes  131   a ,  131   b ,  132   a ,  132   b . In the embodiment, the photo-sensor  121  is disposed on the transparent substrate  104  such that an input terminal of a light emitting part  131  is connected to the electrode  131   a , an output terminal of the light emitting part  131  to the electrode  131   b , an input terminal of a light receiving part  132  to the electrode  132   a , and an output terminal of the light receiving part  132  to the electrode  132   b.    
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the full-color LED  125  is disposed above electrodes  122   a ,  122   b ,  123   a ,  123   b ,  124   a ,  124   b . In the embodiment, the full-color LED  125  is disposed on the transparent substrate  104  such that an input terminal of the R (red)-colored light emitting element  122  is connected to the electrode  122   a , an output terminal of the light emitting element  122  is to the electrode  122   b , an input terminal of the G (green)-colored light emitting element  123  is to the electrode  123   a , an output terminal of the light emitting element  123  is to the electrode  123   b , an input terminal of the B (blue)-colored light emitting element  124  is to the electrode  124   a , and an output terminal of the light emitting element  124  is to the electrode  124   b.    
     In the embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , on the wires in positions corresponding to the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109  on the transparent substrate  104 , the discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c  are provided in parallel with respect to the light receiving part and the light emitting part of the photo-sensor  121 , and the discharge gaps  122   c ,  123   c ,  124   c  are provided in parallel with respect to the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . Specifically, a discharge electrode  131   d  connected to the electrode  131   a  and a discharge electrode  131   e  connected to the electrode  131   b  face each other, and the discharge gap  131   c  is formed between the electrodes  131   d ,  131   e . Similarly, a discharge electrode  132   d  connected to the electrode  132   a  and a discharge electrode  132   e  connected to the electrode  132   b  face each other, and the discharge gap  132   c  is formed between the electrodes  132   d ,  132   e.    
     Further, the electrode  122   a  and the electrode  122   b , respectively connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the light emitting element  122 , are provided so as to face each other. The discharge gap  122   c  is formed between the electrodes  122   a ,  122   b . Similarly, the electrode  123   a  and the electrode  123   b , respectively connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the light emitting element  123 , are provided so as to face each other. The discharge gap  123   c  is formed between the electrodes  123   a ,  123   b . Similarly, the electrode  124   a  and the electrode  124   b , respectively connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the light emitting element  124 , are provided so as to face each other. The discharge gap  124   c  is formed between the electrodes  124   a ,  124   b . The discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c ,  122   c  to  124   c  are gaps for discharging static electricity so as to prevent it from flowing into the photo-sensor  121  and the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . A length of the discharge gap is from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, for example. The discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c ,  122   c  to  124   c  prompt discharge when a voltage not smaller than a predetermined value is applied to the wires connecting the photo-sensor  121  and the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . 
     As described above, with the discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c ,  122   c  to  124   c  provided, discharge passes over from the input side to the output side of each of the light emitting part  131  and the light receiving part  132  of the photo-sensor  121 , and from the input side to the output side of each of the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . Hence it is possible to prevent static electricity from flowing to the photo-sensor  121  and the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . It is thereby possible to prevent occurrence of a failure of each of the photo-sensor  121  and the light emitting elements  122  to  124 . 
     Further, the discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c ,  122   c  to  124   c  are each provided between the electrodes having relatively large widths as described above. Placement of such electrodes on the display region of the display part  200  may make a display image difficult to view. However, in the embodiment, the discharge gaps  131   c ,  132   c ,  122   c  to  124   c  are provided at the edge of each of the buttons  108 ,  109 , the edge being a region where the full-color LED  125  makes a luminescence performance. Hence it is possible to take countermeasures against static electricity without affecting the display of the display part  200 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope defined in the claims. An embodiment obtained by an appropriate combination of the technical methods disclosed respectively in the different embodiments is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. 
     The switch unit of the present invention is applicable to a game machine such as a slot machine. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.