CPC H01H 36/004 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3209 (2013.01); H01H 13/14 (2013.01); H01H 36/0033 (2013.01); H01F 2007/1684 (2013.01); H01H 2231/008 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. A button deck for an electronic gaming machine (EGM), comprising:
a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
a non-penetrating pushbutton assembly, including:
an upper portion positioned on the upper surface of the substrate, the upper portion including:
a button frame coupled to the upper surface of the substrate;
a button face positioned in the button frame and configured to be pressed such that the button face moves within the button frame toward the upper surface of the substrate; and
a plurality of magnets coupled to the button face; and
a lower portion positioned at the lower surface of the substrate, the lower portion including:
at least one electromagnet positioned such that it is aligned with one or more of the plurality of magnets, and
a control board electrically coupled to the at least one electromagnet and configured to:
drive the at least one electromagnet to create a magnetic field;
identify a fluctuation in power required to drive the at least one electromagnet caused by a magnetic field of the plurality of magnets interacting with the magnetic field of the at least one electromagnet when the button face is pressed by a player; and
send a signal to the EGM that the button face has been pressed.
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