Patent Publication Number: US-2023154274-A1

Title: Method and system for a gaming system user interface

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 17/107,526, Nov. 30, 2020, which is a divisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/498,638, filed Sep. 26, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This description relates to gaming machines, and, more particularly, to a method and system for enhancing player comfort and ergonomics in gaming machines. 
     Gaming machines have evolved to a substantially consistent form due to interchangeability and standardization considerations. For example, button layouts follow a standard linear arrangement in which players&#39; must adjust their reach to accomplish different actions. Rather than assuming a more ergonomic configuration that is less fatiguing to players, buttons of gaming machines are arranged at consistent intervals in a straight line pattern. Additionally, gaming cabinets have a footprint at floor level that is either similar to and that exceeds the dimensions of the game itself. Often, gaming machines are placed on box stands to elevate them to a consistent height. However, the box stands also extend to a footprint that meets or exceeds the dimensions of the game. Players at such gaming machines are constantly at odds of being near enough to the machine to comfortably reach the game buttons, but far enough away from the gaming machine to have room to place their feet in front of them. Placement of the button panel or button deck is generally fixed on the front of the cabinet and is not adjustable to facilitate game play or player comfort. 
     Such discomforts and poor ergonomics affect player satisfaction with the gaming machine and the gaming experience and may affect revenues of the affected machines. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In an aspect, a gaming machine includes a base, a columnar pedestal extending vertically from the base, the pedestal having a cross-sectional area, a width, and a depth that are less than each of a corresponding cross-sectional area, width, and depth of the base, and a button deck adjustably coupled to the pedestal. The button deck includes an upper surface including a transparent touchscreen element, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a button deck body extending therebetween. At least one of the lower surface and the body including one or more transparent display elements, the one or more transparent display elements configured to generate one or more images of gaming machine control actuators viewable on the upper surface, the transparent touchscreen element configured to receive from a user at least one of touches and gestures indicating control inputs to the gaming machine, the at least one of touches and gestures corresponding to the generated images. The gaming machine also includes a player tracking card reader positioned within the button deck and accessible through a slot in a front edge of the button deck, the player tracking card reader communicatively coupled to a player tracking display area of the gaming machine. 
     In another aspect, a gaming machine includes a pedestal configured to support one of a plurality of interchangeable game cabinets through a pedestal mating flange configured to engage a complementary game cabinet flange, one or more mating plugs configured to engage a complementary one or more mating plugs positioned proximate the mating flanges, the mating plugs configured to join respective signal and power conduits between the pedestal and the game cabinet. The gaming machine also includes a button deck adjustably coupled to the pedestal. The button deck includes an upper surface including a transparent touchscreen element, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a button deck body extending therebetween. At least one of the lower surface and the body including one or more transparent display elements, the one or more transparent display elements configured to generate one or more images of gaming machine control actuators viewable on the upper surface, the transparent touchscreen element configured to receive from a user at least one of touches and gestures indicating control inputs to the gaming machine, the at least one of touches and gestures corresponding to the generated images. 
     In a further aspect, a gaming machine pedestal includes a button deck adjustably coupled to the pedestal, the button deck including one or more extendable arms, each arm coupled at one end to the pedestal and at a second end to the button deck, the button deck extendable away from and towards the pedestal, and a player tracking card reader positioned within the button deck and accessible through a slot in a front edge of the button deck. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 - 4    show example embodiments of the method and apparatus described herein. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a lower portion of the game cabinet in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of the button deck shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an illustration of embodiments of connections of the button deck to the column. 
     
    
    
     Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided herein are meant to illustrate features of embodiments of the disclosure. These features are believed to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As such, the drawings are not meant to include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill in the art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that the disclosure has general application to gaming machine embodiments providing player comfort and ergonomic considerations in industrial, commercial, and residential applications. 
     The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which, in the absence of a contrary representation, the same numbers in different drawings represent similar elements. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a gaming machine  100  in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example embodiment, gaming machine  100  includes a base  102  and a column  104  supported by base  102 . A game cabinet  106  is coupled to an upper portion  108  of column  104 . Game cabinet  106  includes one or more video display panels  109 , a plurality of auxiliary devices, such as, but, not limited to a first user interface  110 , a first side panel  112 , and a second side panel  114 . Gaming machine  100  also includes a button deck  122  adjustably coupled to column  104 , game cabinet  106 , and/or first user interface  110 . 
     In the example embodiment, base  102  is configured to rest on or be coupled to a lower horizontal surface such as, but, not limited to, a floor  124 . Base  102  includes one or more vertically upwardly extending sidewalls  126 , which may include straight panels, and/or curved and contoured panels, such as, but, not limited to a circular, oval, oblong, and/or irregularly curved cross-section. Base  102  includes an upper surface  128  configured to fair base  102  by producing a closed smooth outline, support column  104 , and/or provide a resting place for a user&#39;s feet. 
     Column  104  is a rigid, relatively slender, upright support, composed of relatively few components that extends vertically between base  102  and game cabinet  106 . In various embodiments, column  104  includes a cylindrical or polygonal shaft  132 . Column  104  houses various components and conduits that are configured to support the operation of gaming machine  100  and its integration into a larger operation and control network (not shown), in which gaming machine  100  is in communication. 
     In various embodiments, button deck  122  is mounted to column  104  and is controlled through a gaming machine  100  controller (not shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). In one embodiment, button deck  122  is configured to translate with respect to column  104  in a single direction, for example, towards and away from column  104 . In some embodiments, the translation is controlled manually by the user, automatically by a motor, or combinations thereof. For example, when gaming machine  100  detects a user entering a proximity of gaming machine  100 , button deck  122  may be commanded to translate in either direction to indicate to the user that button deck  122  is movable. The user may then adjust button deck  122  manually by hand, manually through operation of a switch controlling the button deck motor, or allow button deck  122  to be controlled automatically by gaming machine  100 . The user may also turn off the automatic translation feature using an override switch (not shown). Button deck  122  may be configured to translate in a plurality of directions and/or rotate around a plurality of axes to suit the user&#39;s comfort and ergonomic control. 
       FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a lower portion of game cabinet  106  in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of button deck  122 . In the example embodiment, button deck  122  includes an upper input surface  602  that may be embodied in a touchscreen surface or may be embodied in a combination of touchscreen elements  604  and mechanical input devices  606 . For example, upper input surface  602  may include touchscreen elements for inputting various wager amounts, a “service” call button, a “cash-out” button, and other input requirements and also include a mechanical “spin” button  606 . Touchscreen elements  604  may be isolated to certain areas of surface  602  and may be fixed in their function. However, in some embodiments, touchscreen elements  604  may be relocatable on surface  602  and may be reconfigurable to perform different functions during different portions of a game or for different games, such as when game cabinet  106  is interchanged. In one embodiment, button deck  122  is at least partially transparent or translucent, which permits a user to see through button deck  122 , permits light from sources below button deck  122  to be seen by the user, and gives an appearance of mechanical “spin” button  606  and touchscreen elements  604  floating in front of the user. 
     Upper input surface  602  also may include an element  608  configured to control an opacity of button deck  122 . Element  608  may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) element or other element configured to be electrically controlled to alter its transmissive properties. Element  608  may be configured to control opacity of button deck  122  as a whole or may be configured to control smaller regions of button deck  122  to present graphical objects to the user. 
     Button deck  122  also includes a card reader  610  for player tracking and communication. Card reader  610  is a part of a player tracking system that receives a player tracking card inserted and removed by the user. Card reader  610  transfers information stored on a player card to gaming machine  100 . Gaming machine  100  is configured to provide player information on a player information portion (not shown in  FIG.  6   ) of video display panel  109 . In one embodiment, the player information portion is a reserved area that can be observed during game play. In other embodiments, the player information portion is overlaid onto a game screen during play or between games. When the player information portion is reserved, player information may only be displayed during predetermined times or when activated by the user. In other embodiments, the player information is dimmed or grayed out so as not to detract from the appearance of the game during game play. 
       FIG.  4    is an illustration of embodiments of connections of button deck  122  to column  104 . In a first alternative embodiment, button deck  122  is pivotally coupled to column  104  through a pivot point  802  located along a rear edge  804  of button deck  122 . In the example embodiment, pivot point  802  is positioned in a corner of button deck  122 , however pivot point  802  can be located at any position along rear edge  804 . A second alternative embodiment includes a first support arm  806  and a second support arm  808 . In the example embodiment, support arms  806  and  808  are telescoping in that one of first support arm  806  and second support arm  808  may be extended at different rates and/or distances to permit button deck  122  to be angled with respect to column  104 . Such an orientation may be beneficial to, for example, a user that is not positioned directly in front of gaming machine  100 . To support such movement, a connection point  810  between first support arm  806  and second support arm  808  and button deck  122  is pivotable about connection point  810 . A third alternative embodiment is illustrated where a track  812  along an underside  814  of button deck  122  is configured to receive a pivotable knob  816  coupled to an arm  818  extending from column  104 . During operation, button deck  122  can be translated laterally along track  812  in a first direction  820  or a second direction  824  and/or rotated about knob  816  at any point along track  812 . 
     This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.