Button panel and light assembly for use with gaming machines
A gaming machine includes a button panel having a front surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface is an optically restrictive material, and a plurality of light devices aligned relative to the optically restrictive material. The gaming machine also includes a controller coupled to the plurality of light devices, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of an order of illumination for at least a portion of the plurality of light devices and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of the plurality of light devices.
1. A gaming machine comprising:
a button panel comprising a front surface, at least a portion of said front surface comprising an optically restrictive material, the optically restrictive material prevents external visibility into an interior of the button panel from the front surface;
one or more first openings extending through the button panel;
one or more buttons respectively inserted through the one or more first openings;
a plurality of second openings in the button panel, the plurality of second openings positioned around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more first plurality of openings, the plurality of second openings extending from a back surface of the button panel and extending partially through the button panel such that the plurality of second openings do not extend through the front surface;
a plurality of light devices aligned relative to said optically restrictive material, the plurality of light devices positioned within the plurality of second openings and around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more buttons such that the plurality of light devices are configured to display patterns on an area of the button panel not occupied by the one or more buttons; and
a controller coupled to said plurality of light devices, said controller configured to control at least one of an order of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices.
2. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a film applied across at least a portion of said front surface.
3. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said film comprises a metallic substance applied via a vapor deposition process.
4. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said film comprises an adhesive-backed laminate.
5. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the plurality of second openings extend at least partially through said film without extending through the front surface.
6. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second openings is formed by removing a portion of said film using at least one of a laser cutting process, a water jet cutting process, a photo etching process, and a punching process.
7. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of color filters, each of said plurality of light devices is positioned relative to a respective filter.
8. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a polarized glass.
9. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said button panel is fabricated via an in-mold decorating process.
10. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises an optically reflective material which is at least partially mirrored.
11. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises an optically opaque material.
12. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to present an attract sequence to potential players.
13. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to present an announcement to a player related to one of a base game and a bonus game.
14. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to present prompts to a player related to game play.
15. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control an intensity of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices.
16. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a gaming machine controller and a lighting controller coupled to said gaming machine controller and to said plurality of light devices, said lighting controller configured to control at least one of an order of illumination, an intensity of illumination, and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices.
17. A display panel assembly for use with a gaming machine that includes a gaming machine controller, said display panel assembly comprising:
a display panel comprising a front surface, at least a portion of said front surface comprising an optically restrictive material, the optically restrictive material prevents external visibility into an interior of the button panel from the front surface;
one or more first openings extending through the display panel;
one or more buttons respectively inserted through the one or more first openings; and
a plurality of second openings in the display panel, the plurality of second openings positioned around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more first plurality of openings, the plurality of second openings extending from a back surface of the display panel and extending partially through the display panel such that the plurality of second openings do not extend through the front surface;
a plurality of light devices aligned relative to said optically restrictive material, said plurality of light devices positioned within the plurality of second openings and around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more buttons, said plurality of light devices configured to be selectively energized and de-energized to facilitate presenting a pattern on an area of the display panel not occupied by the one or more buttons.
18. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a film applied across at least a portion of said front surface.
19. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said film comprises a metallic substance applied via a vapor deposition process.
20. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said film comprises an adhesive-backed laminate.
21. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the plurality of second openings extend at least partially through said film without extending through the front surface.
22. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of color filters, each of said plurality of light devices is positioned relative to a respective filter.
23. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a polarized glass.
24. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said display panel is fabricated via an in-mold decorating process.
25. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises an optically reflective material which is at least partially mirrored.
26. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises an optically opaque material.
27. A display panel assembly in accordance with claim 19 , further comprising a lighting controller coupled to the gaming machine controller and to said plurality of light devices, said lighting controller configured to control at least one of an order of illumination, an intensity of illumination, and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to facilitate presenting the lighting effect.
28. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, at least some of the gaming machines comprising:
a button panel comprising a front surface, at least a portion of said front surface comprising an optically restrictive material, the optically restrictive material prevents external visibility into an interior of the button panel from the front surface;
one or more first openings extending through the button panel;
one or more buttons respectively inserted through the one or more first openings;
a plurality of second openings in the button panel, the plurality of second openings positioned around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more first plurality of openings, the plurality of second openings extending from a back surface of the button panel and extending partially through the button panel such that the plurality of second openings do not extend through the front surface;
a plurality of light devices aligned relative to said optically restrictive material, the plurality of light devices positioned within the plurality of second openings and around a perimeter of at least one of the one or more buttons such that the plurality of light devices are configured to display patterns on an area of the button panel not occupied by the one or more buttons; and
a gaming machine controller coupled to said plurality of light devices; and
at least one server coupled to said plurality of gaming machines via a network, said at least one server configured to initiate a lighting effect by controlling at least one of an order of illumination, an intensity of illumination, and a duration of illumination for at least a portion of said plurality of light devices.
29. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a film applied across at least a portion of said front surface.
30. A gaming system in accordance with claim 29 , wherein said film comprises one of an adhesive-backed laminate and a metallic substance applied via a vapor deposition process.
31. A gaming machine in accordance with claim 29 , wherein the plurality of openings extend at least partially through said film without extending through the front surface.
32. A gaming system in accordance with claim 29 , wherein said film comprises a plurality of color filters, each light device of said plurality of light devices aligned relative to a respective filter.
33. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises a polarized glass.
34. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said optically restrictive material comprises one of an optically reflective material which is at least partially mirrored.
35. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said at least one server is configured to:
detect that a particular gaming machine of said plurality of gaming machines is unoccupied; and
cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices of said particular gaming machine to present an attract sequence to potential players.
36. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said at least one server is configured to:
detect a trigger during play of a base game; and
cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to present an announcement to a player related to one of the base game and a bonus game initiated in response to the trigger.
37. A gaming system in accordance with claim 30 , wherein said at least one server is configured to cause at least a portion of said plurality of light devices to present prompts to a player related to game play.
38. A gaming system in accordance with claim 28 , wherein said at least one server is configured to initiate the lighting effect across at least a portion of said gaming machines.