JP2003210794A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure communication data between a main control board and a put-out control board, to reduce a processing load of the main control board, to grasp a shooting handle operation condition of a player, to improve backup ability, and to reduce an area of the main control board for lowering a cost. <P>SOLUTION: In a configuration as an one-way communication circuit, communication between the main control board 30 and the put-out control board 31 is carried out through handshake communication, while transmission to control boards such as a pattern control board 32b, a shooting control board 33, a lamp control board 34, and a sound control board 35 excepting the put-out control board is allowed only from the main control board 30. Data reliability can be secured as the communication between the main control board 30 and the put-out control board 31 is carried out through the handshake communication, and problems of fraudulent operations can be eliminated by an equipped security function. Batteries of RAM 80 and 81 in the main control board 30 and the put-out control board 31 are backed up, and prize ball put-out management is carried out only by the put-out control board 31. After detection of a break, detection of a prize ball put-out switch 31a is not carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine provided with a main control board for controlling the progress of a game and a payout control board for payout control of prize balls. Communication system with payout control board, prize ball payout management,
And security check function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional structure of a game machine, for example, a pachinko game machine, has a one-way communication circuit structure in which a main control board 230 and sub-control boards 231-235 such as a payout control board 231, as shown in FIG. The prize ball payout switch 231a is connected to both the main control board 230 and the payout control board 231.
Both the main control board 230 and the prize ball payout control board 231 perform prize ball payout management and battery backup and restoration of data. The battery backup was done not only for the RAM but also for the sensor. Then, the detection process is performed in consideration of the fall distance until the exit of the prize ball payout mechanism section and the prize ball payout switch detect the prize ball payout ball. This process is to detect the falling prize balls when a power failure occurs while the paid prize balls are falling. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the main CPU 258 of the main control board 230 is connected to the output-dedicated port 260 via the bus 259, and the output buffer 262 is connected to the output-dedicated port 260 downstream via the bus 261. Was connected to the input buffers and input ports of the five sub control boards 231-235 (symbol control board, payout control board, launch control board, sound control board, lamp control board) via the connector.

[0003]

However, the conventional pachinko game machine has the following problems. (1) Since the main control board and the payout control board perform one-way communication, communication data may not be guaranteed. (2) Since the payout of prize balls is detected by both the main control board and the payout control board, and the number of unpaid prize balls is stored and held, the processing load on the main control board is heavy. (3) Since the payout control board and the launch control function are separate bodies, the main control board may not be able to input the operation status of the launch handle of the player. (4) Since the RAM (game state, number of unpaid prize balls, etc.) is backed up as well as the prize ball detection sensor, the amount of charge for backup is significantly increased. Moreover, since the falling prize ball is detected when the power failure is detected, extra power for backing up the prize ball detecting sensor is required. In a pachinko machine with a limited space, the backup capability is limited, and there is a problem that the backup time is limited due to insufficient charging capability. Further, there is a possibility that a complicated detection process in consideration of the fall distance until the exit of the prize ball payout mechanism section and the prize ball payout switch detect the prize ball payout ball is required. (5) In the one-way communication connection of the main control board and the sub control board, the input port or the output port is connected via the input buffer or the output buffer, respectively.
The number of parts increases and the board area increases. The ball game machine has a problem that it is difficult to manage the space because the accommodation space of the substrate is regulated. The gaming machine of the present invention has been made for the purpose of suitably solving these problems and providing a more healthy gaming machine.

[0004]

A game machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is advantageous to a player, and a main control board for controlling progress of a game, a payout control board for executing at least payout of prize balls, and a player. In a gaming machine configured to include an image control board for informing execution of a game, communication between the main control board and the payout control board is bidirectional communication, and the payout control board such as the image control board Other control boards are one-way communication circuits capable of transmitting only from the main control board, and the main control board and the payout control board are control boards with a security function for checking the tampering of the control program. Is characterized by.

According to the gaming machine described in claim 1,
The communication between the main control board and the payout control board is bidirectional communication between the main control board and the payout control board instead of the one-way communication from the main control board, so that the reliability of the communication data is guaranteed. Even for two-way communication, both boards have security functions, so there is no problem of fraud. One-way communication between the main control board and other boards other than the payout control board allows for countermeasures against fraud and simplifies the processing of other control boards.

As is well known, the security function is a function of checking whether or not the contents of the ROM in which the one-chip microcomputer has written the progress contents of the game are proper contents.

A gaming machine according to a second aspect is the gaming machine according to the first aspect, wherein control boards other than the main control board and the payout control board do not have the security function. Characterized by a machine. This allows
The same problem as in claim 1 can be achieved, and by omitting the security function, the control relating to the security function can be simplified, and the limited ability can be directed to other control.

A gaming machine according to a third aspect is the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, wherein the main control board is
Detecting the occurrence of prize balls and instructing the payout control board to pay out prize balls, and only the payout control board detects the payout of prize balls and stores and holds the number of unpaid prize balls. And As a result, the same problem as in claim 2 can be achieved, and only the payout control board detects the payout of prize balls and stores the number of unpaid prize balls.
The processing of the main control board can be significantly reduced. All that is required is to connect the prize ball payout switch to the payout control board. Since the communication is bidirectional, the main control board can input the number (total) of unpaid prize balls stored and held from the payout control board. Since the communication is bidirectional, the main control board can input the total number of unpaid prize balls stored and retained. In the unlikely event that the main control board wants to know the prize ball payout management status, since it is bidirectional communication, it may be transmitted from the payout control board.

Detecting the occurrence of prize balls means that the game balls flowing down the game area by the prize detecting means detect the prizes at the respective winning openings on the game board surface. Further, in an arrangement ball game machine or the like, it means that a predetermined combination of winning symbols has been established and a state in which a prize ball should be paid out is detected. The point is that the state in which the prize balls should be paid out is detected. It is sufficient that the winning detection means outputs a winning detection signal when detecting a winning ball to each winning opening on the game board surface, and a switch or a sensor is provided at all of the winning openings on the playing board surface. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the winning spheres are collected by a collecting gutter for each of the winning openings having different payout numbers, and the winning spheres are detected for each difference in the number of prize spheres. The point is that the configuration is such that at least the difference in the number of prize balls can be determined.

The detection of the payout of prize balls as used herein may be that a prize ball detection signal is output when a prize ball discharged from the prize ball driving device is detected, and a switch is provided on the downstream side of the prize ball driving device. Or, of course, a structure for detecting a game ball as a prize ball to be discharged by providing a sensor is included, and a game ball discharged from the prize ball driving device by providing a switch or a sensor on the upstream side of the prize ball driving device. A configuration for detecting a corresponding game ball is also included.

To store and retain the number of unpaid prize balls, specifically, is set for each winning opening based on the winning detection signal in the prize ball data corresponding to the number of prize balls that have not been paid out by the prize ball driving device. The data of the number of prize balls is calculated by addition, and the number of prize balls paid out based on the prize balls detected by the prize ball detecting means from the prize ball data corresponding to the number of prize balls that have not been paid out by the prize ball driving device. It suffices if the corresponding data is subtracted and the number of unpaid prize balls calculated is stored and retained. The calculated prize ball data may be configured not to be lost due to a temporary power outage. A battery-backed configuration is preferable so that prize ball data will not be lost even during a power outage. This battery backup configuration may be a configuration in which a condenser or the like is mounted on the prize ball control board, or a configuration in which a condenser or the like is mounted on another power supply circuit board and power is supplied from this board for backup. Good. In addition to prize balls, it is also possible to manage the payout of loan balls. still,
The number of unpaid prize balls may be stored as the total value of the prize balls,
The number of prizes may be stored for each difference in the number of prize balls, or the number of prizes for each prize hole may be stored. The point is that the memory can calculate the total number of unpaid prize balls.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the payout control board has a function of controlling the launch of a game ball. As a result, the same problem as in claim 1 can be achieved, and since the payout control board also has a firing control function, the configuration can be further simplified. In addition, the main control board can input the operation status of the firing handle of the player, and can flexibly respond to the operation status of the firing handle.

A gaming machine according to a fifth aspect is the gaming machine according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein only data stored in the RAM is stored in the main control board and the payout control board even during a power failure. It is characterized by having a backup function to retain the memory and not detecting the game ball after detecting the power failure. As a result, the same problem as in claim 1 can be achieved, and as in the prior art, since a prize ball that is falling is not detected when a power failure is detected, backup of a prize ball payout switch or the like that consumes a large amount of power can be omitted. Only the RAM that stores the number of unpaid prize balls can be backed up, and the amount of charge for backup can be significantly reduced. Therefore, a capacitor having a small charge capacity can be used, and the cost reduction effect is great, and even with a small capacity, the storage retention time and the backup time can be greatly increased. Even if a power failure occurs while the prize balls are falling toward the prize ball payout switch, the prize ball payout switch does not perform the detection operation, and the fact that the number of prize balls has been paid is not stored in the RAM of the payout control board, and the power failure occurs. Data will not be restored even after returning. Therefore, in the event that the power failure is recovered, the extra amount will be paid out to the player. However, such a phenomenon is basically a rare case, and the number of extra payouts can be suppressed to the number of payouts equivalent to one prize ball, so even if a power failure should occur. Since the player can obtain an extra prize ball, there is no disadvantage to the player and the loss of the hole is small. Further, since the processing considering the fall time of the game ball is not executed, the detection processing can be simplified.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the main control board and the payout control board are directly connected to each other through respective input / output ports to be bidirectional.
The sub-boards other than the payout control board and the main control board are connected by one-way communication by directly connecting the output-only port of the main control board and the input-only port of the sub-board. . As a result, the same problem as in claim 1 can be achieved, and since the bidirectional communication and the one-way communication are realized by the input / output dedicated port without passing through the input buffer and the output buffer, the number of parts is reduced. At the same time, the substrate area can be reduced. Since the main control board does not use the output buffer and connects only with the output dedicated port, if you use the output dedicated port,
One-way communication with the sub-board is guaranteed without the output buffer. Therefore, in the communication method between the main control board and the sub-board (payout control board, symbol control board, voice control board, lamp control board, etc.), connect only the output-dedicated port without using the output buffer on the main control board side. You can Therefore, by deleting the output buffer of the main control board and the input buffer of the payout control board, the number of parts can be reduced and the mounting area of the parts can be reduced, so that the board can be made smaller.
As a result, the development cost of the substrate can be reduced and the mass productivity can be improved. Here, the direct connection means an electrical direct connection, which may or may not be through a connector.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various forms can be adopted within the technical scope of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a roughly rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader (prepaid card unit) 13 is provided on the left side of the outer frame 11. Has been.
The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by a hinge 14 at the upper and lower left ends. An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12, and a lending button 16 is provided on the upper plate 15.
A payment button 17 and a balance display section 18 are provided. When the prepaid card is inserted into the card slot 19 of the card reader 13, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display unit 18,
When the lending button 16 is pressed, the gaming ball is lent out, and the gaming ball is discharged from the payout opening of the upper plate 15.

A window-shaped metal frame 20 is releasably attached to the front frame 12 on the front frame 12. A plate glass 21 is doubly fitted in the metal frame 20. A game board 22 is housed inside the plate glass 21. Plate 1
A lower plate 23 is provided below the front frame 12 of the lower plate 5,
A firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of 3.
A rotating ring (not shown) is provided on the outer periphery of the launch handle 24, and the game ball is rotated to rotate the game ball 22 in the clockwise direction.
Can be fired on. The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected to each other, and are configured to guide the game ball to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 is filled with the game balls.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back side. As shown in the figure, a mechanism board 26 to which the above-mentioned game board 22 is detachably attached is housed in the above-mentioned outer frame 11. The mechanism board 26 is provided with a ball tank 27, a guide gutter 28, and a payout device 29 from above. With this configuration, if there is a prize for a game ball in the prize hole on the game board 22, a predetermined number of game balls are dispensed from the ball tank 27 through the guide gutter 28 by the dispenser 29.
Can be discharged to. In addition, a main control board 30 and a payout control board 31 as a prize ball and a ball rental control board can be attached to and detached from the mechanism board 26, a special symbol display device 32 on the game board 22, and a launch control on the lower left portion of the front frame. The board 33 and the external connection terminal board 50 are attached to the left side of the special symbol display device 32, respectively.

Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 22 has an LCD panel unit (hereinafter, referred to as “LCD”) 32a that constitutes a special symbol display device 32 in the center, and a normal electric accessory as a first-class starting opening at the bottom thereof. 36, the normal symbol display device 37 on the LCD 32a upper part, the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 32a used for starting the fluctuation of the symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 37, the large winning opening 40 on the lower part of the normal electric auditors 36 There are provided an outlet 41 at the bottom of the board, various other winning openings, a windmill, and a game nail (not shown). With this configuration, when the above-mentioned firing handle 24 is rotated, the firing motor 33a (see FIG. 4) driven by the firing control board 33 is driven, and the game balls on the upper plate 15 are guided by the game rails 22 via the guide rails. Fired up. If the launched game ball wins each prize hole, the game ball is taken into the back surface of the board as a safe ball, and if not won, it is taken into the back surface of the board like an out ball through the out opening 41.

Next, the electrical construction of the aforementioned pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Pachinko machine 1
The electric circuit of 0 is, as shown in the figure, the main control board 30, the payout control board 31, the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35 described above.
Etc. The circuit diagram does not include a so-called relay board or the like for transferring signals.

The main control board 30 is a ROM that stores a game control program and a RAM that works as a work area for operations and the like.
It is configured as a logical operation circuit centering on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer with a built-in 80 (see FIG. 7), and also an external input / output circuit for performing input / output with each substrate or various switches and actuators. It is provided.
On the input side of the main control board 30, the first type starting port switch 3
6a, normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as "V switch") 4
0a, a count switch 40b, a replenishment switch 44, a plurality of other winning opening switches 45, an out-of-ball switch 51 and the like are connected. Further, a special winning opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40d, a normal accessory solenoid 36b, an external connection terminal board 50, etc. are connected to the output side.
The count switch 40b is set so as to detect 10 winning numbers, but the detection function of the abnormal state is deleted. Including the count switch 40b of the special winning opening 40, a prize detecting switch is provided in all the winning openings,
We have adopted a system that collectively controls the payout of prize balls by detecting the winning of game balls to individual winning openings. This is because in this method, even if the wiring of the count switch 40b is broken, short-circuited, or the count switch 40b moves, the prize balls are not paid out illegally.

The first-type starting opening switch 36a is in the normal electric auditors product 36 on the game board 22, the normal symbol operating switches 38a and 39a are in the normal symbol operating gates 38 and 39, respectively, and the V switch 40a is the large winning opening. Within a specific area within 40, similarly, the count switch 40b is within the special winning opening 40,
The replenishment switch 44 is attached to the inside of the ball tank 27, the other winning port switches 45 are attached to the respective winning ports on the board surface other than the ordinary electric accessory 36 and the special winning port 40, and the out-of-ball switch 51 is attached to the upstream passage of the payout device 29. Has been. here,
The V switch 40a indicates that the game ball that has won the special winning opening 40 has passed through the special device operating area (hereinafter referred to as "special area"), and the count switch 40b indicates the special winning opening 40.
For all game balls to be won inside, the replenishment switch 44 indicates that the game balls are present in the ball tank 27, and the other prize hole switch 45 is for each of the ordinary electric auditors 36 and the special winning opening 40 on the board surface. The game ball is won in the winning opening, and the out-of-ball switch 51 is for detecting that the award ball or the lend ball is out of ball. Further, the special winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is the big winning opening 40, V
The solenoid 40d is used in a special area in the special winning opening 40, and the normal accessory solenoid 36b is used to open and close the normal electric accessory 36, respectively.

The special symbol display device 32 is the LCD described above.
32a, a symbol display device control board (hereinafter, simply referred to as "symbol control board" (also referred to as "image control board")) 32b for driving and controlling the LCD 32a, and an auxiliary unit such as a backlight and an inverter board. ing. The symbol control board 32b is configured as a logical operation circuit centering on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer like the main control board 30 described above. The output circuit of the symbol control board 32b is connected to the input circuit of the sound control board 35.

The payout control board 31 is constructed as a logical operation circuit using a microcomputer like the main control board 30, and its input circuit has a prize ball payout switch 31a, a ball rental payout switch 31b, a full tank switch 43, and a ball. The pull-out switch 46, the ball cut switch 52, and the error release switch 53 are connected, and the ball cutting motor 31c, the ball lending motor 31d, the firing control board 33, and the error display unit 5 are connected to the output circuit.
4 is connected. The above-mentioned card reader 13 is bidirectionally connected to the payout control board 31, and the CR settlement display board 47 is connected to the card reader 13.
The prize ball payout switch 31a is also connected to the main control board 30. The ball cutting motor 31c and the ball lending motor 31d are
It is provided in the above-mentioned payout device 29 and causes a predetermined number of game balls supplied from the guide gutter 28 to flow downward. The game ball paid out from the ball cutting motor 31c is detected by the prize ball payout switch 31a, and the game ball paid out from the ball lending motor 31d is detected by the ball rental payout switch 31b. The ball drop switch 46 is provided in the vicinity of the payout device 29 and detects that the ball drop operation button has been pressed. The full tank switch 43 is provided in the lower plate 23 and detects that the game ball is in a full state in the lower plate 23. The out-of-ball switch 52 detects the shortage of the payout balls and the lending balls, and the error canceling switch 53 cancels the error of the payout control board 31, the error display section 5
Reference numeral 4 indicates an error of the payout control board 31.

The prize-ball payout switch 31a for detecting the prize-ball payout ball S is detected only by the payout control board 31 as shown in FIG. 4, and the one whose detection state cannot be stored in the RAM 81 (see FIG. 7) is invalid. To do. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the distance from the exit of the prize ball payout mechanism section 31e to the detection of the prize ball payout ball S by the prize ball payout switch 31a becomes invalid due to a power failure because there is only one game ball. The maximum number of prize balls S to be paid out is one. Ball rental switch 31b for detecting the ball rental ball K
5B is detected only by the payout control board 31 as shown in FIG. The distance from the exit of the ball lending mechanism 31f to the detection of the ball lending ball K by the ball lending payout switch 31b is only about one game ball, so the number of ball lending balls K that will be invalidated by a power failure is one at maximum. . As shown in Fig. 6, a power failure occurred (N
After the MI interrupt occurs), the voltage drops, but the detection process by the prize ball payout switch 31a is not executed. The same applies to the ball rental payout switch 31b. The battery backup of the prize ball payout switch 31a and the ball rental payout switch 31b is also not performed. In this specific example, the distance from each of the mechanism portions 31e and 31f to the payout switches 31a and 31b is set to about one game ball, so that the detection time can be minimized.

As shown in FIG. 6, the input detection cycle of the payout control board 31 is a predetermined time interval (here, 2.731 m).
However, since the detection timing is asynchronous, the state of the prize ball payout switch 31a is not detected even after the NMI interrupt has occurred due to the occurrence of a power failure, even if it corresponds to the detection cycle of the payout control board 31.

When the data of the prize ball payout command is transmitted from the main control board 30 according to the above-mentioned configuration, the payout control board 31 which receives this data causes the number of prize balls indicated by the data sent to the unpaid prize ball data. Is added and stored as new award ball data, and after a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as award balls, a subtraction process is executed from the award ball data in which the game balls detected by the award ball payout switch 31a are stored to perform a new process. The prize-winning ball data is set to a value, and the payout process is executed until the value of the prize-ball data becomes zero. On the other hand, if the lending button 16 of the CR settlement display board 47 is pressed, the card reader 1
A signal of 1 pulse is transmitted from 3 to the payout control board 31,
In the case of 500 yen, a 5-pulse signal is transmitted. The payout control board 31 drives the ball lending motor 31d to execute a process of paying out the rental ball until 25 game balls are detected by the ball rental payout switch 31b for one pulse signal.

The firing control board 33 is for driving and controlling the firing motor 33a according to the amount of rotation of the firing handle 24 operated by the player, and when the player presses the firing stop switch 24b, the firing is stopped. Alternatively, it is for turning on the touch lamp 48 when the touch switch 24a built in the firing handle 24 is in the ON state. The touch switch 24a is built in the firing handle 24 and detects that the player is touching the firing handle 24.

The lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of a driving element such as a transistor, and receives a command from the main control board 30, and usually a symbol display device 37, various lamps such as a big hit lamp and an error lamp, and various LEDs, Out-of-ball LED 56, 57 that lights up when out-of-ball is detected
It is for lighting various lamps such as.

The sound control board 35 is composed of a sound source IC, an amplifier, and the like, and is for receiving a command from the main control board 30 to drive and control the speaker 49.

In the conventional game machine, the main control board 30 controls the lamp and the voice, but in order to reduce the load of the program of the main control board 30, the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 are provided on the main control board 30. And is controlled by a command like the symbol control board 32b.

The CR settlement display board 47 is the upper plate 1 described above.
5, a lending button 16, a settlement button 17, a balance display unit 18, and the like. The CR settlement display board 47 may be connected to the payout control board 31. The power supply board 55 supplies power to each unit, and details will be described later.

Although not shown, an output terminal for a pachinko gaming machine test firing test device is added to the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31. As a gaming machine compatible with pachinko gaming machine test firing test equipment, a main control board 30, a special symbol display device 32
Provide a test terminal at.

The error includes a ball out error of the prize ball, a lower tray full error, a prize ball emptying error, a ball lending ball out error, a ball lending empty error, and a prepaid card unit non-connection error.

As shown in FIG. 7, communication between the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 is handshake communication, and sub-control boards other than the payout control board 31 (symbol control board 32).
b), the firing control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35) are configured as a one-way communication circuit capable of transmitting only from the main control board 30. Main control board 3
Since the handshake communication is performed between 0 and the payout control board 31, the reliability of data is guaranteed. Even for handshake communication, both boards have security functions as described below, so there is no problem of fraud. The one-way communication circuit can be embodied using an inverter circuit or a latch circuit to prevent fraud. In FIG. 7, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 outputs the output dedicated port 60, the input / output port 61, and the output dedicated port 6 via the bus 59.
2, 63 and 64 are connected. The output-only port 60 of the main control board 30 is directly connected to the output-only port 66 of the symbol control board 32b through a connector 65 by a one-way communication circuit. Output dedicated port 66 is sub CPU 6
7 and the bus 66a. Input / output port 61 of main control board 30 and input / output port 68 of payout control board 31
Is directly connected via the connector 69 to perform handshake communication. The input / output port 68 is the sub CPU 70 and the bus 6.
It is connected by 8a. The output-only port 62 of the main control board 30 is directly connected to the input-only port 72 of the firing control board 33 via a connector 71 by a one-way communication circuit. The input-only port 72 is a sub CPU 73 and a bus 72a.
Connected by. Output-only port 6 of main control board 30
3 is directly connected to the input-only port 75 of the lamp control board 34 via the connector 74 by a one-way communication circuit. The input-only port 75 is a sub CPU 76 and a bus 75a.
Connected by. Output-only port 6 of main control board 30
4 is directly connected to the input-only port 78 of the sound control board 35 via the connector 77 by a one-way communication circuit. The input-only port 78 is connected to the sub CPU 79 by a bus 78a. The battery-backed RAMs 80 and 81 are the main CPU 58 and the sub CPU, respectively.
70 and buses 82 and 83. As a result, the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 have a backup function of storing and retaining only the stored data even during a power failure. There is no backup function for the detection switch. I / O ports 61 and 68 for two-way communication and one-way communication without using an input buffer and an output buffer,
Since it is realized by the output-only ports 60, 62, 63 and 64 and the input-only ports 66, 72, 75, 78, the number of parts can be reduced and the board area can be reduced. Since the main control board 30 is connected to the sub control boards 32b, 33, 34, and 35 only by the output-only ports 60, 62, 63, and 64 without using the output buffer, it is unidirectional with the sub control board. Communication is guaranteed without the output buffer.

FIG. 8 is a modification of FIG. 7. The payout control board 31 and the firing control board 33 are the payout / launch integrated control board 131, and the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 are the lamp / sound integrated control board 134. Shows that each has been integrated. Discharge / launch integrated control board 131
Has a function of controlling the launch of the game ball, the main control board 1
Since the two-way communication with the main control board 130 is possible, the main control board 130 sends the firing handle 2 via the integrated payout / launch control board 131.
4, touch switch 24a, firing stop switch 24b,
By receiving the operating status data of the firing motor 33a and the touch lamp 48, the firing control status data of the payout / launch integrated control board 131, and the like from the board, the states thereof can be grasped, and the main control board 130 The firing status can be reflected in the control described later in. Note that the description of the part number is the same as the number of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the main control board 30,
To the payout control board 31, the pattern control board 32b, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board 35, and the like,
Various power supplies are supplied from the power supply board 55. The power supply board 55 includes a DC 24V, a DC 12V, and a 24V AC power source.
It is configured to generate a backup power supply of DC5V and a DC5V (VBB) by a capacitor, and supply necessary power to each control board. The DC 5V backup power is supplied to the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, and both the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 perform battery backup and data restoration. The batteries are backed up only by the RAMs 80 and 81, and the various sensors are not backed up. Further, the payout control board 31 is configured not to detect the falling game ball by the prize ball payout switch 31a after detecting the power failure (see FIG. 6). Main control board 30 and payout control board 3
1 has a security function for checking the tampering of the control program. Sub control boards other than the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 (symbol control board 32b, launch control board 33, lamp control board 34, and sound control board 3)
5) does not have a security function.

Here, as shown in FIG.
5 includes a turn-on reset circuit 84, a backup voltage monitoring circuit 85, a timer 1 circuit 86, a timer 2 circuit 87, a cutoff reset circuit 88, and a RAM clear switch 89. The output side of the backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 includes a forced interrupt terminal NMI of the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 and a sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31.
Is connected to the forced interrupt terminal NMI. In the reset terminal RES of the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30,
The interruption reset circuit 88 and the timer 2 circuit 87 are connected via an OR circuit 90. The cutoff reset circuit 88 and the timer 1 circuit 86 are connected to the reset terminal RES of the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 via an OR circuit 91. Sub CPU 6 of the pattern control board 32b
The reset terminal RES of No. 7 has a cutoff reset circuit 88
And the on-time reset circuit 84 are connected via an OR circuit 92. Similarly, in the sub CPUs 73, 76 and 79 of the firing control board 33, the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35, the interruption reset circuit 88 and the closing reset circuit 84 are provided via the OR circuits 93, 94 and 95. It is connected. The RAM clear switch 89 is of a push button type or the like, and responds to the depression of the push button with RA.
It detects the M clear signal, is connected to the data bus DB of the main CPU 58 via the input port 96 of the main control board 30, and is also the data of the sub CPU 70 via the input port 97 of the payout control board 31. It is connected to the bus DB. When the RAMs 80 and 81 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 are cleared, the power switch (on / off switching type) is confirmed to be in the off state, and the power switch is pushed while the RAM clear switch 89 is pressed. When turned on, the main CPU 58 and the sub CPU 70 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 detect the RAM clear signal via the input ports 96 and 97 at the time when the reset signal is released, and the respective board 3
When the RAM clear signal is detected at the time when the control is started, 0 and 31 initialize the contents of the respective RAMs 80 and 81 and start the operation. Details will be described later. As described above, the 5V backup power source is the main control board 30.
Backup terminal VBB of the main CPU 58 and the backup terminal V of the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31
It is connected to BB.

The turn-on reset circuit 84 includes a voltage monitoring IC 8, resistors R38, R39 and R, as shown in FIG.
40, bypass capacitors C22 and C23, and the like. The VS terminal, which is the input terminal of the voltage monitoring IC 8, is supplied with a DC 12V power source divided by the resistors R39 and R40, and the RESET terminal, which is the output terminal, is pulled up to 5V DC by the resistor R38. With the above configuration, the RESET terminal, which is the output terminal of the voltage monitoring IC 8, changes the output reset signal 1 from the high level to the low level when the voltage of the DC 12V power supply drops to 7.20 to 7.75V or less.

The timer 1 circuit 86 outputs the reset signal 2 output after a lapse of a predetermined time (100 ms in this embodiment) from the time when the reset signal 1 output from the turn-on reset circuit 84 is changed from the high level to the low level. It is configured as a delay circuit that changes from high level to low level. The timer 2 circuit 87 outputs the reset signal 3 output from the high level after a lapse of a predetermined time (300 ms in this embodiment) from the time when the reset signal 1 output from the turn-on reset circuit 84 is changed from the high level to the low level. It is configured as a delay circuit that changes to a low level.

The backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the comparator IC2A and the resistors R51 to
It is composed of R55 and the like. The negative input terminal of the comparator IC2A is supplied with the power of DC5V divided by the resistors R53 and R54, and the positive input terminal thereof is
Power of DC12V, which is divided by resistors R51 and R52, is supplied, and the output terminal is pulled up to DC5V by resistor R55. With the above configuration, the comparator IC2A
The output terminal has a DC12V power supply voltage of 8.00-9.
Backup signal 1 to be output when the voltage drops below 23V
Is changed from high level to low level.

The cut-off reset circuit 88 outputs the reset signal 4 after a predetermined time (100 ms in this embodiment) from when the backup signal 1 output from the backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 is changed from the high level to the low level. Is configured as a delay circuit that changes from high level to low level.

With the above configuration, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 when the pachinko machine 10 is powered on,
Sub CPU 70 of payout control board 31, payout control board 31
Other sub-control boards other than, that is, the pattern control board 32
b, the firing control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35, each of the sub CPUs 67, 73, 76, 79
The rising state of the operation or the control operation will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. Pachinko machine 10
When the power is turned on, the power supply board 55 causes the DC 32
V, DC12V, battery backup power (VBB)
DC5V is generated. The generated power supplies are supplied to the control boards, but the power-on reset circuit 84,
By the functions of the timer 1 circuit 86 and the timer 2 circuit 87, each sub-control board including the symbol control board 32b, the payout control board 31, and the main control board 30 perform the operation start-up processing as follows.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the power source board 55 is powered on (point P1), the voltage of the DC12V power source draws a parabola and gradually rises from 0V to 12V.
The voltage of the DC 12V power supply that gradually rises becomes the reference voltage LV2 (7.20 to 7.75V point P2 in this embodiment), and the reset signal 1 that is the output signal of the closing reset circuit 84 is at a low level after a predetermined time elapses. To high level. As a result, each sub-control board such as the symbol control board 32b other than the payout control board 31 releases the reset state and starts an operation related to control (point P3). The turn-on reset circuit 84 does not immediately output the reset signal 1 even when the DC12V power source becomes the reference voltage LV2, but in the present embodiment, the reset signal 84 does not output the reset signal 1 immediately after the backup start timing by the backup power source VBB. After that, the reset signal 1 is output.

In the timer 1 circuit 86, about 200 ms after the voltage of the DC12V power source becomes the reference voltage LV2,
That is, 100 ms after the reset signal 1 output from the turn-on reset circuit 84 changes from low level to high level
After a lapse of time, the reset signal 2 output is changed from low level to high level. The sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 which inputs the reset signal 2 executes a security check of whether or not it is a normal program for about 320 ms from the time when the reset signal 2 becomes high level, and thereafter. Executes control related to payout, etc. Therefore, the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 is DC12V
Approximately 520 ms after the power supply voltage reaches the reference voltage LV2
The operation will be started later (point P4). In the timer 2 circuit 87, the voltage of the DC12V power supply is the reference voltage L.
Approximately 400 ms after the voltage reaches V2, that is, after the reset signal 1 output from the turn-on reset circuit 84 changes from the low level to the high level, 300 ms after the reset signal 1 is output, the reset signal 3 is changed from the low level to the high level.
Main CP of main control board 30 for inputting reset signal 3
U58 executes a security check for a normal program for about 200 ms from the time when the reset signal 3 becomes high level, and thereafter executes control relating to winning detection and the like. Therefore, the main control board 3
The main CPU 58 of 0, about 600 ms after the voltage of the DC12V power supply becomes the reference voltage LV2 (point P
The operation will be started in 5).

From this, the main CPU of the main control board 30
When 58 starts executing the control of the game according to the program written in the ROM, each sub-control board 31, 3
2b, 33, 34, and 35 have already executed game control. As a result, immediately after the power is turned on, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 causes the sub CPUs 70, 6 of the sub control boards.
Even if the data is transmitted to 7, 73, 76, 79, each sub-control board executes the original control, so that the data can be surely received.

Next, the operation when the power to the pachinko machine 10 is cut off will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. When the power supply to the pachinko machine 10 is cut off (point P6), the power supply voltage of DC12V generated by the power supply board 55 is drastically decreased immediately after the cutoff, but thereafter is decreased substantially linearly and after a predetermined time. It becomes 0V. On the way to this linear decrease,
Reference voltage LV1 (in the present embodiment, 8.00 to 9.23)
V) (point P7), the backup signal 1 of the backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 of the power supply board 55 changes from high level to low level. As a result, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 and the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 have the main CPU 58 and the sub CPU 70 when the respective forced interrupt terminals NMI become low level.
Will be subject to non-maskable interrupts.
As a result, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 saves the data indicating the current game state, and then the RAM 8
Access to 0 can be prohibited. The sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 saves the data showing the current prize ball payout state and the ball lending payout state, and then R
Access to the AM 81 can be prohibited.

The cutoff reset circuit 88 changes the reset signal 4 output from the high level to the low level about 100 ms after the fall of the signal when the backup signal 1 output from the backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 changes from the high level to the low level. (Point P8). At this time, the DC12V power supply voltage becomes the reference voltage LV2. Thereby, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30, the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31, the sub C of the symbol control board 32b.
The PU 67 and other sub-control boards stop their operations all at once. Here, as described above, the RAMs 80 and 81 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 are backed up by the battery, and the data stored in the RAMs 80 and 81 are stored for a predetermined time (in the present embodiment, Retained for about 3 days.

As described above, when the power is turned off, the control boards are reset all at once. Moreover, about 100 after the backup signal 1 output from the backup voltage monitoring circuit 85 changes from the high level to the low level.
Always reset after ms. As a result, the control can be unified, and the ball cutting motor 31c or the ball lending motor 3 can be performed even when the main control board 30 stops operating.
It is possible to prevent the adverse effect that 1d is being driven.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described when the power is turned on and when the power is turned off. Since the processing after turning on the power until the power is turned off is the same as the conventional one, detailed description will be omitted. To do. Here, for the sake of convenience, first, the processing of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 when the power is cut off (during a power failure) will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively. These processes are processes executed by the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 and the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31, and each CPU
The processing is executed when the signal of the forced interrupt terminal NMI of (1) falls from the high level to the low level.
What is characteristic here is that the main control board 3
0 and payout control board 31 RAM 80, 81 respectively
The function of backing up is added so that even if the power is restored from the power failure, the game can be played without interruption. A conventional game machine has a power failure, and after recovering from the power failure, the RAM of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31
Since 80 and 81 are initialized, the gaming state, prize balls, and ball lending are not continued. In other words, the state of the symbol and the accessory returns to the state when the power is turned on, the unpaid amount in the middle of the prize ball is not paid out, all the game balls in the safe ball detection device are paid out, and the unpaid ball is not paid out. There was an inconvenience that the amount was not paid out. Therefore, when an NMI interrupt occurs due to a power failure, the processing is resumed from the point of interruption when the power is restored, so the following memory holding processing is performed.

First, in FIG. 15, when the process at the time of power failure in the main control board 30 is started, each register is saved (step S1) and various switch ports are read (step S2). ). Next, the current stack pointer value is stored in the stack buffer (step S3). Next, in order to resume the operation of the accessory when the power is restored, the state of the output port is stored in the RAM 80 and saved (step S4), and all the output ports are turned off to stop the operation of the accessory (step S5). , Built-in RA
Prohibit (not allow) access to M80 (step S
6) A standby process is performed to wait for the reset terminal RES to drop to a low level. The access prohibition process to the RAM 80 in step S6 is performed by the RAM when the power supply voltage is unstable.
This is because by prohibiting writing to 80, the accuracy and certainty of the data to be saved is increased.

The payout control board 31 executes the processing of steps S11 to S16 as shown in FIG. 16, but the description thereof is almost the same as the processing of steps S1 to S6 of FIG. Incorporate.

The specifications of the gaming machine at the time of power failure are as follows. That is, for the state of the accessory, the operation is stopped by the main control board 30, the prize ball payout is stopped by the control of the payout control board 31 for the prize ball payout state, and the payout is made for the loan ball payout state. The rental ball payout is stopped by the control of the control board 31, and regarding the state of the special symbol display device 32, the symbol control board 32b
Does not perform processing at the time of power failure, so that nothing is displayed when the power supply is cut off. Regarding the lamp and LED states, the lamp control board 34 does not perform processing at the time of power failure, so the lamp power is cut off. , LED is turned off, the sound control board 35 does not perform the process at the time of power failure, so that the sound is turned off and the sound is turned off. The state of the launching motor 33a of the game ball is supplied with the power supply. It will stop firing when it runs out.
Regarding communication processing, in the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, the backup function is activated when a power failure occurs, so the communication state is saved, and the symbol control board 32b,
Lamp control board 34, sound control board 35, firing control board 3
In No. 3, since the processing at the time of power failure is not performed, the reception state is not saved.

The saving process of such data is the progress status of the current game on the main control board 30, for example, whether or not it is in high probability, whether or not it is a big hit, and the special symbol display device 32 is changing symbols. RAM 80 for each data indicating the progress status of the game, such as
Is a process of writing in a predetermined area. On the other hand, the payout control board 31 is a process of writing each data indicating the current payout state of the number of prize balls and the payout state of the lent balls into a predetermined area of the RAM 81. In this specific example, the main control board 3
Since 0 does not perform prize ball payout management, it does not receive prize ball payout management data, but if necessary, the main control board 3
Even if 0, by receiving the prize ball payout management data from the payout control board 31, the current payout state of the number of prize balls is stored in the RAM.
A process of writing in a predetermined area of 80 may be executed.

In the present embodiment, when the forced interrupt is executed, the reset circuit 8 at the time of interruption is provided even if the power is restored thereafter.
8, the reset process is always executed after a predetermined time.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the adverse effect that the execution of the forced interrupt and the recovery process are alternately repeated in the state where the power supply is unstable.

The sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 executes the above-described power failure processing routine from when the forced interrupt terminal NMI becomes low level.
Driving of the ball cutting motor 31c and the ball lending motor 31d is also stopped, and the prize ball payout switch 31a and the ball lending payout switch 31.
Neither b is detected. As shown in FIG. 6, the prize ball switch 31a
It is assumed that the payout control board 31 detects the forced interrupt terminal NMI which has not been turned to the low level after turning ON. Incidentally, the power outage may be detected only by the main control board 30, and the payout control board 31 may be informed of the outage by the main control board 30. Similarly, the RAM clear may be detected only by the main control board 30, and the main control board 30 may notify the payout control board 31.

Next, the processing when the main control board 30 is turned on and when the power is restored will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. This routine is set to 1 when the signal at which the reset terminal RES changes from low level to high level rises.
Only executed once. Processing at power-on (step S21
~ S27), the normal process is performed (step S28), and when the backup function is in operation, the process for power recovery (step S30) is performed. First, when the program is started by turning on the power, access permission to the RAM 80 is set (step S21), and then it is determined whether the backup function is operating (step S2).
2). If the backup function is not operating (step S22: NO), the stack pointer is set (step S23), all the work areas of the RAM 80 of the main control board 30 are cleared to zero (step S24), and the normal processing can be started. Initialize the work area (step S2
5), the command for displaying the initial screen is transmitted to the special symbol display device 32 (step S26), and the lamp control board 3
4 to send a decoration display command (step S27),
The normal processing is performed (step S28). On the other hand, if the backup function is operating (step S22: YE
S), determine whether the RAM clear signal is on,
If the RAM clear signal is on (step S31: Y
ES), and the processes of steps S23 to S28 described above are performed.
If the RAM clear signal is off (step S31: N
O), as a process at power restoration, in order to return the state of the program to the state before the power failure, the value of the stack buffer saved at the time of the power failure is set in the stack pointer (step S
32), the normal symbol memory display command is transmitted to the lamp control board 34 (step S33), and the lamp control board 3
The special symbol memory display command is transmitted to 4 (step S34), the probability variation state display command is transmitted to the lamp control board 34 (step S35), and the output port state is restored (step S36). The saved registers are restored (step S37), and the normal processing is performed (step S38).

As described above, the processing of the main control board 30 sends a command for displaying the memory display LED and the probability variation display lamp to the lamp control board 34 to restore the state of each output port to the state before the power failure, Evacuated when a power failure occurred,
The registers and stack pointer are restored, and the program processing is restarted from the point of interruption.

As for the specifications for recovering from a power failure of the gaming machine, the state of the accessory is returned to the state before the power failure, and the state of paying out the prize balls is
Return to the state before the power outage, the state of paying out the rental balls returns to the state before the power outage, the state of the special symbol display device 32 does not become the display state at the time of the power outage, nothing is displayed, the lamp,
The state of the LED informs the player of the state of the symbol and the probability variation state (time saving state), so the states of the memory display LED and the probability variation display lamp are restored (the command is transmitted again from the main control board 30. Return by, L other than the above
The ED is turned off, the speaker 49 is muted, and the firing motor 33a is ready to fire.

Next, the processing when the power of the payout control board 31 is turned on and when the power is restored will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This routine is executed only once when the signal at which the reset terminal RES changes from the low level to the high level rises. Processing at power-on (step S
41 to S45), the normal process is performed (step S46), and when the backup function is operating, the power recovery process (step S50) is performed. First, when the program is started by turning on the power, after setting the access permission of the RAM 81 (step S41), it is determined whether or not the backup function is operating (step S4).
2). If the backup function is not operating (step S42: NO), the stack pointer is set (step S23), all the work areas of the RAM 81 of the payout control board 31 are cleared to zero (step S44), and the normal processing can be started. Initialize the work area (step S4
5) The normal process is performed (step S46). on the other hand,
If the backup function is operating (step S42: Y
ES), it is determined whether or not the RAM clear signal is on (step S51), and if the RAM clear signal is on (step S51: YES), the aforementioned steps S43-.
The process of S46 is performed. If the RAM clear signal is off (step S51: NO), as the process when the power is restored,
In order to return the state of the program to the state before the power failure, the value of the stack buffer saved at the time of the power failure is set in the stack pointer (step S52), and the delay time process of the activation time of the sub CPU 70 of the payout control board 31 is performed (step S52). (S53), the state of the output port is restored (step S5).
4) Then, the registers saved during the power failure are restored (step S55), and the normal processing is performed (step S56).

In step S53, when the power is restored, the program of the main control board 30 is hardware-dependent for a predetermined time (20 m here) than the program of the payout control board 31.
Since it operates after about s), in order to eliminate the error of the prize ball payout ball, the payout control substrate 31 performs the memory restoration process at the time of power failure (steps S54 and S55 in FIG. 18) and the normal process (step S56 in FIG. 18). And FIG. 22), a delay time process is performed to postpone the process in a timely manner, whereby the bead cutting motor 31c is driven (step S in FIG. 22).
(See 93) is delayed. Step S
During the delay time processing of 53, when the command indicating that the normal control is started from the main control board 30 is received, the delay time processing is ended, and the payoff management and payout control board 31 are used for the ball cutting motor 31c and the ball lending motor. The drive control of 31d is started.

In this way, the processing of the payout control board 31 is performed, the state of each output port is returned to the state before the power failure, the registers and stack pointers saved when the power failure occurs are restored, and the prize balls are related from the interruption point. Restart the program.

The communication processing at the time of power restoration will be described. In the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, the backup function restarts the program from the point of interruption, so the communication processing is continued. Also, special symbol display device 3
2. The sound control board 35 and the lamp control board 34 perform the reception processing by continuing the communication processing of the main control board 30.
Since the content of reception is erased due to the occurrence of a power failure, an interface error will occur except when the reception process is performed from the first byte of the data consisting of 1 command and 2 bytes.

RA in steps S31 and S51 described above
The M clear signal has a function of clearing the backup contents of the RAMs 80 and 81 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, respectively, and its specifications will be described.
The RAM clear signal is to be initialized from the factory at the time of power-on without pausing the state of the game machine of the previous day at the pachinko parlor if the contents of the RAM 80 and 81 are to be surely initialized at the stage of shipment from the factory at the time of mass production. It is set for when you want to open a business. The main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 are
The clear signal input to each port is detected only once by the program processing when the power is turned on, and when the RAM clear signal is input, the contents of the RAMs 80 and 81 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 are initialized. To do. When the power is turned on,
When the contents of the RAMs 80 and 81 are held by the backup function, the states of the clear signals of the RAMs 80 and 81 are detected by the input ports 96 and 97. Input port 9
When the status of 6,97 is "H" level, each RA
When the power is turned on to initialize the contents of M80 and 81, and when the state of the input ports 96 and 97 is at the "L" level, the program processing interrupted by the occurrence of power failure is restarted. When it is desired to clear the RAMs 80 and 81 of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, the operations are performed in the following order. That is, (1) confirm that the power switch (on / off switching type) is off, (2) turn on the power switch with the RAM clear switch 89 (push button type) pressed, and (3) Main CPU 58 and sub CPU of main control board 30 and payout control board 31
70 detects the RAM clear signal via the input ports 96 and 97 when the reset signal is released,
(4) When the RAM clear signal is detected at the time when the control is started, each of the substrates 30 and 31 has the RAM 8
The contents of 0 and 81 are initialized and the operation is started.

In this embodiment, the backup power source VBB of 5V DC is approximately 3 by the capacitor as described above.
RAM8 of main CPU58 and sub CPU70 for a day
It is configured to store and hold the data stored at 0 and 81. Therefore, when the power is restored from the power failure or when the power is turned on in the morning in the normal business condition, the RAM 80, 8
The value written in the predetermined area of 1 is stored and held.

Based on the data stored and held in the RAM 81, the bead cutting motor 31c is drive-controlled to execute the payout of prize balls, and the ball lending motor 31d is drive-controlled to execute the payout of rental balls. As a result, if there is unpaid prize ball data when the power failure occurs, the prize balls are paid out based on the data stored and held after the power failure is restored. Similarly, if there is unpaid ball lending data at the time of the power failure, the ball lending is paid out based on the data stored and held after the power failure is restored. As a result, even if a power failure occurs, the player is not disadvantaged.

In the recovery process, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 executes preparations for executing normal processing from the saved data showing the progress of the game, and the sub-control boards are recovered from the power failure. Send the command code to notify. The symbol control board 32b that has received this command code performs processing to display a message such as "execute power failure recovery processing" or "continue from the game contents before the power failure" on the screen of the LCD 32a. Alternatively, the sound control board 35 notifies by voice that there is a power outage. As a result, the main CPU 58 of the main control board 30 can continue the control of the game from the progress state of the game before the power failure when a power failure occurs, and do not give the player any unexpected disadvantage or discomfort. .

Next, the details of the delay process at the time of return (see step S53 in FIG. 18) of the processes at normal times executed by the payout control board 31 will be described. The delay processing at the time of this recovery is the delay processing 1 at the time of the recovery shown in FIGS.
20A and 20B, there are two processes in the delay process 2 at the time of restoration, and any of these processes may be incorporated into a program and executed. The delay processes 1 and 2 at the time of return show processes executed by the microcomputer of the payout control board 31, and are periodically executed by a method such as a hard interrupt. First, the delay process 1 at the time of restoration is shown in FIG.
More specifically, the output of the drive signal to the ball-cutting motor 31c is prohibited (step S571), and it is determined whether the reception flag is ON (step S572).
This reception flag is sent from the main control board 30 to the payout control board 3
1 indicates whether or not a command has been transmitted. If a negative determination is made in step S572, step S572
Returning to, the process is repeated, and if the determination is affirmative, the output of the drive signal to the ball cutting motor 31c is permitted (step S57).
3), the reception flag is set to OFF (step S57)
4) Then, this process ends, and the process proceeds to the next Step S54 (see FIG. 18). By such processing, after confirming that the reception flag is ON, the drive control of the ball-slicing motor 31c is permitted. It is possible to reliably prevent the error.

Reception flag setting process (step S57)
5) will be described with reference to FIG. 19B. When the command is transmitted from the main control board 30, the reception flag turns ON.
Is set (step S576), and the process returns.
In the payout control board command transmission processing (step S69) of the normal processing shown in FIG. If the board 31 determines that the command has been received, the reception flag is turned on.
(Set to "1"). The initial value of the reception flag is OFF
Since it is set to (reset to “0”), it is necessary to set the reception flag in FIG.
The drive control of the beating motor 31c in step S573 of 9 (a) is delayed.

Next, the delay processing 2 at the time of restoration is shown in FIG.
More specifically, the output of the drive signal to the ball-cutting motor 31c is prohibited (step S581), and it is determined whether the time-up flag is ON (step S5).
82). This time-up flag indicates whether or not a predetermined time (here, about 20 ms) has elapsed.
The predetermined time is set in advance by, for example, calculating the period from the start of the process when the power is restored to the time when the command is transmitted from the main control board 30 to the payout control board 31. However, the beginning and the end of the period are not limited to the above, and can be appropriately set within a time range in which the operation of the ball cutting motor 31c is not performed earlier than when the command is transmitted. Step S582
If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S582 and the process is repeated. If the determination is positive, the output of the drive signal to the ball cutting motor 31c is permitted (step S583), the time-up flag is set to OFF (step S584), and the book The process is terminated, and the process proceeds to the next step S54 (see FIG. 18).
By such processing, the output of the drive signal to the beating motor 31c is permitted only after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that the error of the prize ball can be surely prevented.

The process of setting the time-up flag (step S585) will be described with reference to FIG. 20B. The time-up flag is set to ON with the elapse of a predetermined time (step S586), and the process returns. The elapse of the predetermined time is determined by referring to the data of the built-in timer circuit of the payout control board 31 whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the process at the time of power restoration, and the time-up flag is turned ON with the elapse of the predetermined time. (Set to "1"). Since the initial value of the time-up flag is set to OFF (reset to "0"), until the time-up flag is set to ON in this setting process, step S5 in FIG.
At 83, the drive control of the beating motor 31c is delayed.

Details of the normal processing (see step S28 in FIG. 17) executed by the main control board 30 will be described below with reference to FIG. Input process (step S61), random number update process (step S62), special symbol / special electric auditors product process (step S63), normal symbol / normal electric auditors product process (step S64), probability variation determination symbol process (step S65) , Solenoid, information data creation process (step S66), solenoid, information data output process (step S67), special symbol display device command transmission process (step S68), payout control board 31 command transmission process (step S69), Lamp control board command transmission processing (step S70), sound control board command transmission processing (step S71), control timer update processing (step S72), initial value random number update processing (step S73), symbol random number update processing (step S74) is performed. Next, it is determined whether or not the basic time has been updated (step S75). If YES, the process returns to step S61 and NO.
If so, the process returns to step S73 to repeat the process.

Next, the interrupt process (INT process) executed by the main control board 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The basic time is updated (step S81), the interrupt is permitted (step S82), and the process returns.

Next, details of the normal processing (see step S46 in FIG. 18) executed by the above-mentioned payout control board 31 will be described with reference to FIG. Input processing (step S91), command buffer analysis processing (step S9)
2), ball cutting motor drive control process (step S93), lending solenoid control process (step S94), solenoid, motor data output process (step S95), 7-segment LED display data creation process (step S96),
The control timer updating process (step S97) is performed. next,
It is determined whether or not the basic time has been updated (step S9
8) If YES, the process returns to step S91, and if NO, the process returns to step S98 to repeat the process.

Next, the interrupt process 1 executed by the payout control board 31 will be described with reference to FIG. The basic time is updated (step S100), the interrupt is permitted (step S110), and the process returns.

Next, the interrupt processing 2 executed by the payout control board 31 will be described with reference to FIG. Read the command port data (step S200), store the data in the command buffer (step S210),
The interrupt is permitted (step S220), and the process returns.

The main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 are respectively provided with a handshake communication processing program. Here, the main control board 30 is used as the transmission-side board in FIG.
A process in the case where the transmission process of (a) is performed and the payout control substrate 31 performs the reception process of FIG. 23 (b) as a reception side substrate will be described. The main control board 30 determines whether the busy signal is ON from the payout control board 31 (step S300), repeats the determination process as long as the busy signal is ON, and determines that the busy signal is OFF (step S300). : NO), after preparing and outputting the data (step S310), the strobe signal is turned on (step S320). When the payout control board 31 detects that the strobe signal is activated (step S400), it turns on the busy signal (step S41).
0), the data input is immediately started (step S42).
0). During this period, when the main control board 30 detects the busy signal from the payout control board 31 (step S330), it turns off the strobe signal (step S340). In the receiving side substrate, when the data input is completed, the strobe signal from the transmitting side substrate is turned off and the process returns.
After confirming that the strobe signal is turned off (step S430), the payout control substrate 31 turns the busy signal off and returns it to the original state (step S440). The main control board 30 turns off the busy signal from the payout control board 31.
When it is confirmed that it has become (step S300:
No), the process moves to the transmission of the next data (step S31
0), the strobe signal is turned on (step S32).
0). This completes a round of data transmission. According to this procedure, the process can proceed only after waiting for the processing of the other party, so that even if the processing speeds of the other parties are significantly different, the transmission and reception can be performed without any problem, and the reliability of the transmission and reception is improved. The above description is applied to the transmission / reception processing when the main control board 30 is the receiving board and the payout control board 31 is the transmitting board.

FIG. 24 shows the main control board 30 and the payout control board 3
It is a specific example of the above handshake communication performed with the first control unit 1, and shows that the communication content is confirmed between the main control board 30 and the payout control board. The main control board 30 transmits an acceptance status confirmation signal (notice that a command is about to be sent) to the payout control board 31. The return control board 31 transmits a command transmission permission signal (notification of requesting a command) to the main control board 30. Next, from the main control board 30 to the payout control board 31, a payout request command (1
(Notification requesting payout of 5 prize balls) is transmitted. Folding back and payout control board 31 to main control board 3
A reception command content confirmation signal (notification to confirm whether or not 15 prize balls are paid out) is transmitted to 0. Next, the main control board 30 transmits a content acceptance signal (notice of approval of 15 prize ball payouts) to the payout control board 31.
Then, the payout control board 31 executes the payout. Finally, the payout control board 31 transmits a payout completion signal (notification that the 15 prize balls have been paid out) to the main control board 30. Thereby, the main control board 30 to the payout control board 31
It is possible to improve the reliability of communication with respect to.

The main control board 30 detects the generation of the prize balls and instructs the payout control board 31 to pay out the prize balls. Only the payout control board 31 detects the payout of the prize balls and the unpaid prize balls. Store and retain the number. Only the payout control board 31 executes the prize ball number management.
1 outputs a motor drive signal for instructing the ball-slitting motor 31c to perform the prize ball discharging operation. These processes will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 25 shows the processing performed only by the microcomputer of the main control board 30, and FIGS.
Each of the flowcharts shown in FIG. 9 shows processes executed only by the microcomputer of the payout control board 31, and these processes are periodically executed by a method such as a hard interrupt.

The "winning addition routine" shown in FIG. 25 will be described first. When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the main control board 30 shifts to this routine, various prize switches are scanned (step S500) to determine whether or not there is a game ball prize at each prize hole on the game board surface. It is determined (step S510). Specifically, the states of the first type starting opening switch 36a, the count switch 40b, and the other winning opening switch 45 are scanned to determine whether or not there is a winning. If it is determined that there is a prize (step S
510: YES), the addition and update processing of the winning data is executed (step S520), and the winning data is stored in the RAM 80.
The main control board 30 sends these data to the payout control board 31, and an instruction to pay is issued by a pay ball command command, or NO in step S510.
If so, the process exits to return.

When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the payout control board 31 shifts to this routine, the "prize sphere addition routine" shown in FIG. 26 first determines whether or not the winning data is received from the main control board 30. (S530). If it is determined that the prize data has been received (S530: YES), the unfinished data addition update process is performed and the prize ball addition update is executed for each number of prize balls (step S540), or if it is determined that the prize balls have not been received (S530: NO). ), Return to return. In step S540, if there is one award for a game ball in the payout opening with a payout number of 5 as the number of award balls, the value of the payout incomplete data PD1 is incremented (+1), and a payout number of 10 is provided. If there is one winning game ball, the value of the unpaid data PD2 is incremented (+1),
If there is one winning game ball at the payout opening with 15 payouts, the value of the payout incomplete data PD3 is incremented (+
1) is done. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the value of the payout incomplete data PD is the payout incomplete data PD1, 1 representing five prize balls.
It is composed of PD2 representing 0 prize balls and PD3 representing 15 prize balls. In addition, in the present embodiment, the number of prize balls is set to 5 for the normal electric auditors' prize 36 and 15 for the special winning opening 40. Regarding the value of the unpaid data PD, a specific number may be added to each of the data PD1 to PD3, or a specific number may be directly added to the data PD without any problem.

In the "prize sphere subtraction routine" shown in FIG. 27 which is executed by the payout control board 31, first, the payout incomplete data P
It is determined whether each value of D1 to PD3 is not zero (step S550). Any data PD1-PD
When it is determined that the data of 3 is not zero, the beating-off motor 31c is drive-controlled and the payout of the prize balls is instructed (step S560). In this embodiment, if two or more data out of the three data PD1 to PD3 are not zero, the payout of the prize balls is instructed from the one having the larger number of prize balls. When the prize ball payout instruction is executed (step S56)
0), as shown in FIG. 6, the state of the prize ball payout switch 31a is detected every 2.731 ms, and it is checked whether or not the designated number of prize balls has actually been paid out (step S).
570). When an affirmative determination is made that the instructed number of prize balls has been paid out, the values of the corresponding data PD1 to PD3 of the unpaid data PD are decremented (-1) (step S580), and the process returns. Exit to. A motor drive signal is output from the payout control board 31 to the ball cutting motor 31c, and the values of the data PD1 to PD3 of the payout incomplete data PD are all zero by repeatedly executing the processing of steps S550 to S580. Until the prize balls are paid out. In the present embodiment, since the payout of the prize balls corresponding to the next data is executed after the data of the one having the larger number of prize balls becomes zero, it is said that the payout of the prize balls is executed to the player earlier. It has the effect of giving a feeling.

If the payout of prize balls is not detected in step S570 and this undetected state continues for a predetermined time (step S590: YES), an error process is executed because there is an abnormality in the payout system of prize balls (step S600). , Processing returns to return. In the present embodiment, the process of displaying the character "1" on the error display unit 54 and turning on the error lamp is executed. This error display section 5
In the error display processing such as 4, the pachinko hall clerk releases the error cause such as the ball clogging and the error release switch 53.
It is executed until you operate. The error release switch 5
Even if 3 is operated, the value of the payout incomplete data PD is not cleared. If NO in step S590, step S57
Return to 0. Further, when the payout of the prize balls is detected by the prize ball payout switch 31a (step S610: YES), even though the value of the payout incomplete data PD is zero in the step S550 (step S610: YES), the game is broken or is illegal. It is determined that there is excessive prize ball payout processing due to an action, and error processing is executed (step S620), and the processing returns to return. This error processing consists of displaying the character "2" on the error display portion 54, turning on the error lamp, and forcibly stopping the beating-off motor 31c. This error processing is not released until the error release switch 53 is operated. If NO in step S610,
Return to return.

The contents of the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) that have been subjected to the addition update processing in step S540 and the subtraction update processing in step S580 are updated and written and stored in the RAM 81 of the payout control board 31. In the present embodiment, the RAM 81 mounted on each of the payout control boards 31 is backed up by the capacitors of the power supply board 55. Therefore, even if a power failure occurs, the contents of the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) are not erased.

Next, the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD
28. The “payment incomplete data addition update routine” shown in FIG. 28, which is the increment processing of 3) (step S540 in FIG. 26).
The payout control board 31 executes (see). The value of the winning number counter CN is incremented for one winning ball (+1)
(Step S750), the prize ball number code is RAM81.
Is written in the predetermined area (step S760), and the process returns. A 1-byte memory is prepared as the winning number counter CN, and it is stored by this winning number counter CN that a maximum of 256 prizes have been won. The value of the prize ball number code is "01" when it is detected that the prize hole of 5 prize balls is won, and "10" when the prize hole of 10 prize balls is detected. When it is detected that the value of 11 has entered the winning opening of the 15 prize balls, the value of “11” is written in a predetermined area of the RAM 81 of the payout control board 31.
When writing the prize ball number code to the RAM 81, the prize ball number code for one winning ball is written in 2-bit units in the 1-byte memory.

The payout control board 31 executes a "payment incomplete data subtraction update routine" shown in FIG. 29 as a subtraction update process (step S580 in FIG. 27) which is a decrement process of the payment incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3). Run. That is, in the prize ball payout process, the payout control board 3
The microcomputer No. 1 instructs to pay out the number of prize balls corresponding to the code written in the predetermined area of the RAM 81, and the payout control board 31 drives and controls the betting-off motor 31c to pay out the specified number of prize balls. When it is detected by the prize ball payout switch 31a, the value of the prize number counter CN is decremented (-1) and stored as the latest prize number counter CN (step S800 in FIG. 29), and the paid prize number code is erased. Is executed (step S810), and the process returns. In the present embodiment, the payout prize number code is erased by executing the right shift instruction for shifting the data of the memory area in which the prize count code is written by 2 bits from the left to the right twice in the 1-byte memory. Processing is performed.

As described above, the main control board 30 performs the winning process with reference to the inputs from the first-type starting port switch 36a, the other winning port switches 45, the count switch 40b, and the prize ball paying switch 31a. The winning data and the payout command command are transmitted to the payout control board 31. On the other hand, the payout control board 31 receives the data and the command transmitted from the main control board 30 and the input from the prize ball payout switch 31a, and the payout control board 31 performs the unfinished data addition update processing and the unfinished data subtraction update. Processing is done,
Data is battery backed up. As a result, it is possible to perform prize ball payout management only by the payout control board 31.

According to this embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained. (1) Since the handshake communication is performed between the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31, the reliability of the communication data is guaranteed, and since both boards have a security function, there is no problem of fraud, and the main control Substrate 30 and other sub-substrate 32
Since it is one-way communication with b, 33, 34 and 35, countermeasures against fraud can be taken and processing of other sub control boards can be simplified. (2) Since the sub-control boards 32b, 33, 34, and 35 other than the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 do not have a security function, omitting the security function simplifies the control related to the security function. It is possible to divert limited capabilities to other controls. (3) The main control board 30 detects the generation of the prize balls and instructs the payout control board 31 to pay out the prize balls, and only the payout control board 31 detects the payout of the prize balls and pays the unpaid prize balls. Since the number is stored and held, the processing of the main control board 30 can be significantly reduced. The connection structure can be simplified by simply connecting the prize ball payout switch 31a to the payout control board 31. Since it is bidirectional communication, the main control board 30 can input the number (total) of unpaid prize balls stored and stored from the payout control board 31, and the main control board can input the total number of prize balls. In the unlikely event that the main control board 30 wants to know the prize ball payout management status, since the two-way communication is used, the payout control board 3
Since it is only necessary to transmit from 1, the processing of the main control board is reduced and the reliability of prize ball payout management is increased. (4) The payout control board 31 integrates the launch control having the function of controlling the launch of the game balls and the prize ball payout control, whereby the electric configuration of the circuit can be further simplified, and the player's launch handle The operation status can be input to the main control board 30,
It is possible to flexibly respond to the operation status of the firing handle. (5) The main control board 30 and the payout control board 31 have RA
Equipped with a backup function that stores and retains only the data stored in M80 and 81 even during a power outage, and does not detect the game ball after detecting a power outage. Since the backup of the prize ball payout switch 31a and the like that consumes a large amount of power can be omitted without doing so, it is possible to only back up the RAMs 80 and 81 that store the game state, the number of unpaid prize balls, etc. Can be reduced. Therefore, a capacitor having a small charging capacity can be used, the cost reduction effect is great, and even with a small capacity, the storage retention time and the backup time can be greatly increased. Even if a power failure occurs while the award ball is falling toward the award ball payout switch 31a, the award ball payout switch 31a does not perform the detection operation, and the award ball is paid out based on the award ball payout command. It is not stored in the RAM 81 of 31 and the data is not restored even after the power failure is restored. Therefore, the extra one will be paid out to the player when the power failure is restored. However, this is a rare case, and since the number of extra payouts can be suppressed to the number of payouts equivalent to one prize ball, even if a power failure should occur, the player will win one prize ball. Since it is possible to obtain extra pieces, there is no disadvantage to the player, and there is little loss of holes. Since the payout control board 31 does not execute the process in consideration of the fall time of the game ball, the detection process program of the prize ball payout switch 31a can be simplified.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, it goes without saying that the structure of the present invention can be appropriately modified or added without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in a specific example, the detection signal is input only from the various winning switches to the main control board 30, the winning data is generated, and the payout control board 31 is generated.
Although the winning data has been transmitted to the payout control board 31, the detection signals are directly input to the payout control board 31 from the various prize switches, and the payout control board 31 also manages the prize. Increase.

Further, the present invention can be applied to various game machines such as a so-called winged item, a property item, a model called a general electric role, an arrange ball game machine, a model having a time saving function and a probability varying function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a pachinko machine 10 adopting the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board 22 of the pachinko machine 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

5A is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a prize ball payout mechanism unit 31e and a prize ball payout switch 31a, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a ball lending mechanism unit 31f and a ball rental payout switch 31b. .

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of a prize ball payout switch 31a.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an input / output connection configuration of a main control board and a sub control board.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an input / output connection configuration of a main control board and a sub-control board (when a payout / launch integrated board and a lamp / sound control integrated board are used).

9 is a block diagram showing a configuration for supplying power from a power supply board 55. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a power supply board 55, a main control board 30, and each sub control board.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a power-on reset circuit 84.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a backup voltage monitoring circuit 85.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing a state when the power is turned on.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing a state when the power is cut off.

FIG. 15 is a “processing routine at power failure” of the main control board 30.
3 is a flowchart showing the processing in step S4.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing processing in a “processing routine at the time of power failure” of the payout control board 31.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process in a “power-on process routine” of the main control board 30.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process in a “power-on process routine” of the payout control board 31.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a process in a “routine of delay process 1 at return” of the payout control board 31.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a process in a “routine of delay process 2 at return” of the payout control board 31.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “main routine” of the main control board 30.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “main routine” of the payout control board 31.

23 (a) and (b) are flowcharts showing a process performed in a "handshake communication routine" of the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31. FIG.

24 is a table showing an example of handshake communication between the main control board 30 and the payout control board 31. FIG.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “winning addition routine” executed by the main control board 30.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “prize ball addition routine” executed by the payout control board 31.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “prize sphere subtraction routine” executed by the payout control board 31.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a process executed in a “payout incomplete data addition update routine” executed by the payout control board 31.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “payout incomplete data subtraction update routine” executed by the payout control board 31.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a conventional pachinko machine.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an input / output circuit of a conventional pachinko machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Pachinko machine 13 ... Card reader (prepaid card unit) 22 ... Game board 24 ... Firing handle 24a ... Touch switch 24b ... Firing stop switch 30 ... Main control board 31 ...
Payout control board 31a ... Award ball payout switch 31b ... Ball rental payout switch 31c ... Ball cutting motor 31d ... Ball loan motor 32 ... Special symbol display device 32a ... LCD panel unit (LCD) 32b ... Symbol display device control board (symbol control board ) 33 ... Launch control board 33a ... Launch motor 34 ... Lamp control board 35 ... Sound control board 36 ... Ordinary electric accessory (starting opening) 36a ... First kind starting opening switch 37 ... Ordinary symbol display device 40 ... Big winning opening 40a … Battery continuous operation switch (VSW) 40b… Ten count switch (count SW) 45… Other winning opening switch 46… Screw-out switch 47… CR settlement display board 48… Touch lamp 49… Speaker 50… External connection terminal board 55… Power board 84 ... Reset circuit 85 at turn-on ... Backup voltage monitoring circuit 86 ... Timer 1 circuit 87 ... Timer 2 circuit 88 ... Shutdown reset circuit 58,70,67 ... CPU
(One-chip microcomputer) 90, 91, 92 ... OR circuit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shogo Tatsumi             1-3, Taihei-dori, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya-shi Stock             Company Takaouchi F-term (reference) 2C088 BA13 BC45 BC58 CA30 EA10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A structure including a main control board for controlling the progress of a game, at least a payout control board for paying out prize balls, and an image control board for informing a player that a game advantageous to the player is executed. In the gaming machine, the communication between the main control board and the payout control board is bidirectional communication, and the control boards other than the payout control board such as the image control board can be transmitted only from the main control board. A one-way communication circuit, wherein the main control board and the payout control board are control boards with a security function for checking tampering of control programs. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein control boards other than the main control board and the payout control board do not have the security function. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main control board detects generation of prize balls and instructs the payout control board to pay out prize balls. Only the gaming machine is characterized by detecting the payout of prize balls and storing and retaining the number of unpaid prize balls. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the payout control board has a function of controlling the launch of a game ball. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the main control board and the payout control board have a backup function for storing and holding only data stored in a RAM even during a power failure, A gaming machine characterized by not performing detection of a game ball after detecting a power failure. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the main control board and the payout control board are directly connected by respective input / output ports to be bidirectional, and the sub-board other than the payout control board and the main board. A game machine characterized in that one-way communication is established by connecting the output-only port of the main control board and the input-only port of the sub-board directly to the control board.