Game Machine With Improved Lighting Arrangement

Abstract

A gaming machine includes a cabinet frame, a display, and an emotive lighting area. The cabinet frame has a cabinet surface visible to and facing a player position in front of the gaming machine. The display is mounted to the cabinet frame and is configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game. The emotive lighting area is integrated with the cabinet frame on the cabinet surface, proximate the display, and is separate from the display. The emotive lighting area includes a light source and a reflective surface, each of the light source and the reflective surface being concealed within the cabinet frame such that they are not viewable from the player position, the reflective surface configured to receive light directly from the light source and to reflect the light to a viewable area.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a display mounted to the cabinet and configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game, the randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input; and   at least one emotive lighting area integrated with the cabinet and positioned alongside the display, the emotive lighting area including a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, a lens, and an external reflective diffusing surface, the external reflective diffusing surface being adjacent to the lens and being visible from a player position in front of the cabinet, the LED light source being concealed within the cabinet and configured to emit light through an air medium prior to being directed through the lens and onto the external reflective diffusing surface that, in turn, reflects the light toward the player position.   
     
     
         28 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the emotive lighting area further includes an interior reflective surface adjacent to the lens and concealed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming machine of  claim 28 , wherein the LED light source is configured to emit light onto the interior reflective surface that, in turn, reflects the light through the air medium prior to being directed through the lens and onto the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming machine of  claim 29 , wherein the interior reflective surface is concave relative to the incoming light. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming machine of  claim 29 , wherein the interior reflective surface has a surface finish that diffuses less light than the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the lens includes one or more of a transparent chrome material and a coating of up to 75% of mirror-reflective material. 
     
     
         33 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the lens is perpendicular to the direction of the light directed through the lens. 
     
     
         34 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the external reflective diffusing surface includes a reflective metallic finish material selected from a group consisting of a satin chrome material and a coating applied to a cabinet surface. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming machine of  claim 27 , wherein the light passes through another air medium between the lens and the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         36 . An emotive lighting arrangement for a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a cabinet and a display device mounted thereto, the display device configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game, the emotive lighting arrangement being integrated with the cabinet and positioned alongside the display, the emotive lighting arrangement comprising:
 a light-emitting diode (LED) light source;   a lens; and   an external reflective diffusing surface adjacent to the lens and visible from a player position in front of the cabinet;   wherein the LED light source is positioned within the cabinet such that light is emitted along an indirect path toward the player position, the indirect path (a) starting at the LED light source, (b) continuing through an air medium prior to, (c) passing through the lens, and (d) reflecting off the external reflective diffusing surface toward the player position.   
     
     
         37 . The arrangement of  claim 36 , further including an interior reflective surface adjacent to the lens and concealed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         38 . The arrangement of  claim 37 , wherein the indirect path includes reflecting light off the interior reflective surface prior to passing through the lens. 
     
     
         39 . The arrangement of  claim 38 , wherein the interior reflective surface is concave relative to the incoming light. 
     
     
         40 . The arrangement of  claim 38 , wherein the interior reflective surface has a surface finish that diffuses less light than the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         41 . The arrangement of  claim 36 , wherein the indirect path includes continuing through another air medium after passing through the lens and prior to reflecting off the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         42 . The arrangement of  claim 36 , wherein the lens includes one or more of a transparent chrome material and a coating of up to 75% of mirror-reflective material. 
     
     
         43 . The arrangement of  claim 36 , wherein a segment of the indirect path between the LED light source and the lens is perpendicular to a segment of the indirect path between the lens and the external reflective diffusing surface. 
     
     
         44 . A computer-implemented method in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a cabinet, a display device, and at least one emotive lighting area, the display device being mounted to the cabinet, the emotive lighting area being positioned alongside the display device and integrated with the cabinet, the emotive lighting area including at least one light-emitting diode (LED) light source, a lens, and an external reflective diffusing surface adjacent to the lens and being visible from a player position in front of the cabinet, the LED light source being concealed within the cabinet, the method comprising:
 receiving, via an input device, an input indicative of a wager to play a wagering game;   displaying, on the display device, a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and   emitting light from the LED light source along an indirect path (a) starting at the LED light source within the cabinet, (b) continuing through an air medium prior to, (c) passing through the lens, and (d) reflecting off the external reflective diffusing surface toward the player position.   
     
     
         45 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising directing the light to reflect off an interior reflective surface prior to passing through the lens. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising directing the light through another air medium after passing through the lens and prior to reflecting off the external reflective diffusing surface.