Projection Button

Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a gaming machine that includes a projection button panel. The projection button panel may include one or more projection buttons configured to receive user input. Each projection button may include a projection surface disposed within the button capable of being viewed by a player of the gaming machine. Each projection button may also include a button projector proximate to the projection surface. Further, each projection button may be configured to receive button image information and to project, based on the received button image information, a button image onto the projection surface. Each projection button may also include one or more sensors capable of being activated responsive to activation of the button. The gaming machine may also include one or more controllers in communication with the main display and the button assembly. The one or more controllers may be configured to transmit the image information for display at one or more of the buttons, receive the signal from the button assembly indicating that one or more of the sensors have been activated, and/or process the received signal.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a gaming machine cabinet;   a main display configured to display game play data of one or more games of chance;   an output device configured to output an item of value based on play of the one or more games of chance;   a projection button panel configured to receive user input, the projection button panel including a plurality of projection buttons, one or more of the projection buttons operable to place a wager on the one or more games of chance, each projection button comprising:
 a projection surface disposed on an interior side of the button, the projection surface capable of being viewed from an exterior side of the button by a player of the gaming machine; 
 a button projector proximate to the projection surface, the button projector configured to receive button image information and to project, based on the received button image information, a button image onto the projection surface; 
 one or more sensors capable of being activated responsive to activation of the button, the one or more sensors configured to output a signal indicating that one or more of the sensors have been activated; 
   one or more controllers in communication with the main display and the projection button panel, the one or more controllers configured to:
 output the game play data to the main display; 
 transmit, to the projection button panel, the button image information; 
 receive, from the projection button panel, the signal indicating that one or more of the sensors have been activated; and 
 process the received signal to identify a selection associated with the projected button image. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the button projector is a laser projector configured to modulate one or more laser beams in order to project a raster-based image. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the button projector is disposed on the interior side of the button. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , each projection button further comprising a lens disposed between the projection surface and the button projector, the button projector projecting the button image onto the projection surface through the lens. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , each projection button further comprising a mirror disposed on the interior side of the button, the mirror reflecting the button image onto the projection surface. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the mirror is a two-way mirror and is disposed between the exterior side of the button and the projection surface. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the mirror is a one-way mirror and is disposed on an interior side of the projection surface. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , each projection button further comprising:
 a lens disposed on the interior side of the button and on an interior side of the projection surface; and   a mirror disposed on an interior side of the lens, the mirror reflecting the button image onto the projection surface through the lens.   
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , each projection button further comprising a button cap configured to cover and protect one or more interior components of the projection button. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the button caps are of different shapes or sizes. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the button cap is removably coupled with the projection button. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the button cap is substantially transparent and wherein the projection surface comprises a partially opaque sheet disposed within the projection button beneath the button cap. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the projection surface comprises a partially opaque sheet disposed within the button cap. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein each projection button is a mechanical button having a raised level and a depressed level. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors include a mechanical sensor disposed within the projection button, the mechanical sensor being activated when the button is positioned at the depressed level, the mechanical sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating that the mechanical sensor has been activated to the one or more controllers. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming machine of  claim 15 , the projection button further comprising an upper portion disposed proximate to the exterior side of the button and a lower portion disposed distal from the exterior side of the button, the lower portion being fixed relative to the projection button panel, the upper portion moving between the raised level and the depressed level. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , the projection button further comprising a mechanical plunger disposed within the upper portion, the button projector and mechanical sensor being disposed within the lower portion, the mechanical plunger exerting pressure on the mechanical sensor when the button is positioned at the depressed level. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , the lower portion comprising a plurality of guide pins and the upper portion comprising a plurality of holes fitted to the guide pins, the holes sliding along the guide pins as the upper portion moves between the raised level and the depressed level. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a touch sensor disposed at or near an exterior surface of the projection button, the touch sensor being activated by physical pressure on the exterior side of the button, the touch sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating that the touch sensor has been activated to the one or more controllers. 
     
     
         20 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a gaming machine cabinet;   a main display configured to display game play data of one or more games of chance;   an output device configured to output an item of value based on play of the one or more games of chance;   a projection button panel configured to receive user input, the projection button panel including:
 a plurality of projection buttons, each projection button comprising a projection surface disposed on an interior side of the button, the projection surface capable of being viewed from an exterior side of the button by a player of the gaming machine, and one or more sensors capable of being activated responsive to input, the one or more sensors configured to output a signal indicating that one or more of the sensors have been activated, one or more of the projection buttons operable to place a wager on the one or more games of chance; 
 a button projector proximate to one or more of the projection surfaces associated with the plurality of projection buttons, the button projector configured to receive button image information and to project, based on the received button image information, a button image onto the one or more projection surfaces; 
   one or more controllers in communication with the main display and the projection button panel, the one or more controllers configured to:
 output the game play data to the main display; 
 transmit, to the projection button panel, the button image information; 
 receive, from the projection button panel, the signal indicating that one or more of the sensors have been activated; and 
 process the received signal to identify a selection associated with the projected button image. 
   
     
     
         21 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the button projector is a laser projector configured to modulate one or more laser beams in order to project a raster-based image. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the button projector is disposed beneath at least two of the projection buttons and configured to project a button image onto the at least two projection buttons. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , the projection button panel further comprising a lens disposed within the projection button between the projection surface and the button projector, the button projector projecting the button image onto the projection surface through the lens. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , the projection button panel further comprising a mirror disposed on the interior side of the projection button panel which reflects the button image onto the projection surface. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming machine of  claim 23 , wherein the mirror is a two-way mirror and is disposed between the exterior side of the button and the projection surface. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , the projection button panel further comprising:
 a lens disposed on the interior side of the projection button panel and on an interior side of the projection surface; and   a mirror disposed on an interior side of the lens, the mirror reflecting the button image onto the projection surface through the lens.   
     
     
         27 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , each projection button further comprising a button cap configured to cover and protect one or more interior components of the projection button. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein at least two of the projection buttons are of different shapes or sizes. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the button cap is removably coupled with the projection button. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the button cap is substantially transparent and wherein the projection surface comprises a partially opaque sheet disposed within the projection button beneath the button cap. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the projection surface comprises a partially opaque sheet disposed within the button cap. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein each projection button is a mechanical button having a raised level and a depressed level. 
     
     
         33 . The gaming machine of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more sensors include a mechanical sensor disposed within the projection button, the mechanical sensor being activated when the button is positioned at the depressed level, the mechanical sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating that the mechanical sensor has been activated to the one or more controllers. 
     
     
         34 . The gaming machine of  claim 33 , the projection button further comprising an upper portion disposed proximate to the exterior side of the button and a lower portion disposed distal from the exterior side of the button, the lower portion being fixed relative to the projection button panel, the upper portion moving between the raised level and the depressed level. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming machine of  claim 34 , the projection button further comprising a mechanical plunger disposed within the upper portion, the button projector and mechanical sensor being disposed within the lower portion, the mechanical plunger exerting pressure on the mechanical sensor when the button is positioned at the depressed level. 
     
     
         36 . The gaming machine of  claim 34 , the lower portion comprising a plurality of guide pins and the upper portion comprising a plurality of holes fitted to the guide pins, the holes sliding along the guide pins as the upper portion moves between the raised level and the depressed level. 
     
     
         37 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors include a touch sensor disposed at or near an exterior surface of the projection button, the touch sensor being activated by physical pressure on the exterior side of the button, the touch sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating that the touch sensor has been activated to the one or more controllers. 
     
     
         38 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , the projection button panel further comprising:
 a projection surface layer, the different projection surfaces for each projection button being logical divisions of the projection surface layer;   a touch-screen layer, the one or more sensors for each projection button being logical divisions of the touch-screen layer.