Operation device and play machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9875599-B2
Application number	US-201514735458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 11, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

An operation device installed on a play machine has a push button switch having a push button made of a translucent material, a floating image projector that projects a floating image into midair above the push button through the push button from a rear face side of the push button, and a gesture detector in which at least a region where the floating image is projected is set to be a detection region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An operation device installed on a play machine, comprising:
a push button switch comprising a push button made of a translucent material;
a floating image projector that projects a floating image into midair above the push button through the push button from a rear face side of the push button; and
a gesture detector in which at least a region where the floating image is projected is set to be a detection region,
wherein the floating image projector comprises:
a planar liquid crystal device disposed perpendicular to an upper surface of a case, and
a plate that redirects the image from the liquid crystal device disposed on the upper surface of the case so as to form an acute angle with the case, and

wherein the liquid crystal device or the plate is adjustable in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the case.

2. The operation device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the push button comprises a light guide plate, and
wherein the push button switch comprises a light source configured to supply light to the light guide plate.

3. A play machine comprising:
an operation device installed on the play machine, comprising:
a push button switch comprising a push button made of a translucent material,
a floating image projector that projects a floating image into midair above the push button through the push button from a rear face side of the push button, and
a gesture detector in which at least a region where the floating image is projected is set to be a detection region; and

a controller that controls the push button switch, the floating image projector, and the gesture detector,
wherein the floating image projector comprises:
a planar liquid crystal device disposed perpendicular to an upper surface of a case, and
a plate that redirects the image from the liquid crystal device disposed on the upper surface of the case so as to form an acute angle with the case, and

wherein the liquid crystal device or the plate is adjustable in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the case.

4. The play machine according to claim 3 , wherein the controller performs control while correlating the floating image of the floating image projector, a gesture detected by the gesture detector, and a push button pressing operation detected by the push button switch, with each other.

5. A play machine comprising:
an operation device installed on the play machine, comprising:
a push button switch comprising a push button made of a translucent material,
a floating image projector that projects a floating image into midair above the push button through the push button from a rear face side of the push button, and
a gesture detector in which at least a region where the floating image is projected is set to be a detection region; and

a controller that controls the push button switch, the floating image projector, and the gesture detector,
wherein the push button comprises a light guide plate,
wherein the push button switch comprises a light source configured to supply light to the light guide plate,
wherein the floating image projector comprises:
a planar liquid crystal device disposed perpendicular to an upper surface of a case, and
a plate that redirects the image from the liquid crystal device disposed on the upper surface of the case so as to form an acute angle with the case, and

wherein the liquid crystal device or the plate is adjustable in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the case.

6. The play machine according to claim 5 , wherein the controller performs control while correlating the floating image of the floating image projector, a gesture detected by the gesture detector, and a push button pressing operation detected by the push button switch, with each other.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Onitsuka Hiroyuki

Classifications

• G07F17/3211 Primary

  Display means · CPC title

• G07F17/3209

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

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/3216

  Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects · CPC title