Game machine pushbutton, illumination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11069176-B2
Application number	US-202016799197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Mar 14, 2019
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A game machine pushbutton configured for mounting to a game machine, the game machine pushbutton including: an input key configured to accept a depression thereof; a plurality of light sources arranged along a peripheral part of the input key; and a light guide including a lighting surface; the light guide provided to surround the peripheral part of the input key and configured to direct light radiating thereon from the plurality of light sources and emit the light from the lighting surface; and the plurality of light sources is arranged with light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in a direction that is different from the direction toward which the lighting surface is oriented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A game machine pushbutton configured for mounting to a game machine, the game machine pushbutton comprising:
an input key configured to accept a depression thereof;
a plurality of light sources arranged along a peripheral part of the input key;
a light guide including a lighting surface; the light guide provided to surround the peripheral part of the input key and configured to direct light radiating thereon from the plurality of light sources and emit the light from the lighting surface; and
the plurality of light sources is arranged with light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in a direction that is different from the direction toward which the lighting surface is oriented; and
a reflective component for returning light exiting from the light guide into the light guide, the reflective component arranged at a reverse surface of the light guide which is opposite the surface where light from the light sources enters the light guide.

2. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged with the light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in the press direction of the input key.

3. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 2 , wherein the light guide includes a reflective structure at locations where light is incident from the light sources, and the reflective structure reflects a portion of the light radiating thereon from the light sources toward a different adjacent light source.

4. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 3 , wherein the reflective structure is a V-shaped groove provided in the reverse surface of the light guide at locations where light is incident from the light sources.

5. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective component includes a diffusion function that diffuses the light exiting from the light guide and returns the light to inside the light guide.

6. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 5 , wherein the light guide includes a reflective structure at locations where light is incident from the light sources, and the reflective structure reflects a portion of the light radiating thereon from the light sources toward a different adjacent light source.

7. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 6 , wherein the reflective structure is a V-shaped groove provided in the reverse surface of the light guide at locations where light is incident from the light sources.

8. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide includes a reflective structure at locations where light is incident from the light sources, and the reflective structure reflects a portion of the light radiating thereon from the light sources toward a different adjacent light source.

9. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 8 , wherein the reflective structure is a V-shaped groove provided in the reverse surface of the light guide at locations where light is incident from the light sources.

10. An illumination device comprising:
a plurality of light sources; and
a light guide including a lighting surface and directing light radiating thereon from the plurality of light sources for the light to exit from the lighting surface;
the plurality of light sources arranged with the light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in a direction different from the direction toward which the lighting surface is oriented; and

the light guide includes a reflective structure at locations where light is incident from the light sources, and the reflective structure reflects a portion of the light radiating thereon from the light sources toward a different adjacent light source.

11. A game machine pushbutton configured for mounting to a game machine, the game machine pushbutton comprising:
an input key configured to accept a depression thereof;
a plurality of light sources arranged along a peripheral part of the input key; and
a light guide including a lighting surface; the light guide provided to surround the peripheral part of the input key and configured to direct light radiating thereon from the plurality of light sources and emit the light from the lighting surface;
the plurality of light sources is arranged with light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in a direction that is different from the direction toward which the lighting surface is oriented;
wherein the light guide includes a reflective structure at locations where light is incident from the light sources, and the reflective structure reflects a portion of the light radiating thereon from the light sources toward a different adjacent light source; and
wherein the reflective structure is a V-shaped groove provided in the reverse surface of the light guide at locations where light is incident from the light sources.

12. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged with the light emitting surfaces thereof oriented in the press direction of the input key.

13. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 11 , further comprising: a reflective component for returning light exiting from the light guide into the light guide, the reflective component arranged at a reverse surface of the light guide which is opposite the surface where light from the light sources enters the light guide.

14. The game machine pushbutton according to claim 13 , wherein the reflective component includes a diffusion function that diffuses the light exiting from the light guide and returns the light to inside the light guide.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Sumi Masaaki
• Onitsuka Hiroyuki
• Kishimoto Jun

Classifications

• G07F17/3209 Primary

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title