Gaming machine having a distributed mode acoustic radiator

Abstract

A transducer is affixed to the rear side of a display panel of a gaming machine so as to vibrate the glass and transmit sound to the player. In one embodiment, the transducer and panel form a distributed mode acoustic radiator, where sound is produced from the vibration of the panel due to resonant bending wave modes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 at least one display panel in the gaming machine, a front surface of the display panel having printed on it information for a player; and    at least one transducer mounted to a back surface of at least one display panel so as to impart vibration to the display panel and create an acoustic signal audible to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an amplifier coupled to the transducer for applying excitation signals to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate, wherein the at least one display panel sustains and propagates input vibrational energy from the transducer by a plurality of resonant bending wave modes in an area extending transversely of a thickness of the at least one display panel, wherein frequencies of the resonant bending wave modes are interleaved in a predetermined frequency range so that resonant bending wave modes are substantially evenly distributed in frequency, and wherein the transducer is mounted at a location on the at least one display panel for coupling to the resonant bending wave modes so as to vibrate the at least one display panel and excite the resonant bending wave modes in the at least one display panel, the resonant bending wave modes in turn producing an acoustic output.  
 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one transducer and the at least one display panel form a distributed mode acoustic radiator, where sound is produced from vibration of the at least one display panel due to resonant bending wave modes.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one transducer comprises a magnet assembly and a wire coil assembly, wherein the magnet assembly is rigidly affixed to the at least one display panel, and wherein the coil assembly is resiliently affixed to the at least one display panel.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one transducer comprises a magnet assembly and a wire coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is rigidly affixed to the at least one display panel, and wherein the magnet assembly is resiliently affixed to the at least one display panel.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  further comprising a game display for displaying a game to the player.  
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6  wherein the game display comprises a video screen.  
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6  wherein the game display comprises motor driven reels.  
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one display panel is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one display panel comprises one panel.  
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one display panel comprises two panels.  
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein there are multiple transducers mounted on a single display panel.  
     
     
         13  The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one display panel has printed on it information regarding a game played on the gaming machine.  
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one display panel has printed on it pay tables for a game played on the gaming machine.  
     
     
         15 . A method of generating sound in a gaming machine, the machine having at least one display panel, a front surface of the display panel having printed on it information for a player, the method comprising: 
 applying excitation signals to at least one transducer mounted to a back surface of the at least one display panel so as to impart vibration to the at least one display panel and create an acoustic signal audible to the player.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein applying excitation signals comprises applying excitation signals to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate, wherein the at least one display panel sustains and propagates input vibrational energy from the transducer by a plurality of resonant bending wave modes in an area extending transversely of a thickness of the at least one display panel, wherein frequencies of the resonant bending wave modes are interleaved in a predetermined frequency range so that resonant bending wave modes are substantially evenly distributed in frequency, and wherein the transducer is mounted at a location on the at least one display panel for coupling to the resonant bending wave modes so as to vibrate the at least one display panel and excite the resonant bending wave modes in the at least one display panel, the resonant bending wave modes in turn producing an acoustic output.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one transducer and the at least one display panel form a distributed mode acoustic radiator, where sound is produced from vibration of the at least one display panel due to resonant bending wave modes.