GB2230463A

GB2230463A - Object detecting apparatus for pachinko games

Info

Publication number: GB2230463A
Application number: GB9008823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto; Kazunari Kawashima
Original assignee: Ace Denken KK
Current assignee: Ace Denken KK
Priority date: 1989-04-20
Filing date: 1990-04-19
Publication date: 1990-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-19
Also published as: GB2230463B; KR950010505B1; GB9008823D0; KR900015777A; HK44994A

Abstract

To prevent illegal operation of a pachinko game there is provided a transparent object detecting unit. This is disposed in a parallel manner in between a front transparent plate and a parallel vertical base plate. The object shown is a steel ball and the change of impedance is detected by a matrix 220 formed between sheets of glass. In operation of the game, balls are impinged on to nails 12 and fall to target and out-holes 14, 15. The locus of each ball may be detected by use of an appropriate density of matrix 220. The detection unit may count the balls for exchange for prizes or for examination. <IMAGE>

Description

OBJECT DETECTING APPARATUS FOR PACHINKO The present invention relates to an object detecting apparatus for the pachinko, or the Japanese pinball machine, the object detecting apparatus detecting an object such as a pachinko ball and a magnet used for illegal operation of the pachinko.

Pachinko balls are made of steel which is a magnetic material, and hence a pachinko ball can be illegally guided to a target hole by placing a magnet on the front glass of the pachinko in the vicinity of the target hole. By such an illegal operation, some amount of pachinko balls are often stolen.

To prevent this kind of illegal operation, conventionally a high sensitivity reed switch is provided at a rear portion of a pachinko to correspond to each target hole. When an illegal operation is attempted, the corresponding reed switch is closed by a magnet to generate an alarm signal.

However, even high sensitivity reed switch can fail to detect such a magnet since the reed switch at the rear of the pachinko is considerably away from the front glass.

Particularly when a magnetic material is used in the pachinko in the vicinity of a target hole, the magnetic path of the magnet is changed so that the reed switch deteriorates in sensitivity. Thus, the reed switch can fail to detect the illegal operation. Moreover, it is laborious to attach and wire the reed switches in the pachinko.

For profit and client management of pachinko houses, it is the most important information to exactly know the number of entered pachinko balls, which are entered by a player into each pachinko, and the number of prize or pay-off pachinko balls which are given as a reward to safe balls which have entered into target holes.

A prior attempt in which pachinko balls are detected in a passage in a pachinko is disclosed in Japanese Patent (examined) Publication 64(1989)-3506. In the publication, a pair of upper and lower sheets are provided in the passage, and when a pachinko ball passes over the upper sheet, an electrical contact of the upper sheet is electrically connected to a contact of the lower sheet by the weight of the pachinko ball to thereby detect the pachinko ball.

This publication does not teach any detecting means which is capable of detecting pachinko balls falling into target holes and an out hole formed through the substantially vertical base plate of a pachinko. Thus, it is not possible to monitor how the game is proceeding and hence to appropriately control the pachinko.

According to the prior art, it has also been proposed to count pachinko balls supplied to an upper container of a pachinko and to previously input the number of the pachinko balls as the number of prize pachinko balls to a microprocessor. Then, the supplied pachinko balls are given to the player as the prize pachinko balls for a safe ball which has fallen into a target hole. In this prior attempt, the number of the prize pachinko balls are inputted to the microprocessor before the safe ball falls into the target hole. Thus, decision as to whether or not the pachinko has given a predetermined total amount of prize balls and hence the pachinko should be stopped is not exactly made.

Another prior attempt is that a safe pachinko ball sensor is provided to each discharge port at the rear portion of a pachinko to detect safe balls. Although the sensors enable exact counting of both the prize pachinko balls and the pachinko balls entered into the pachinko, it is laborious to attach sensors to various kinds of pachinkos which require different attachment positions and different sizes of the sensors.

Accordingly, it is a problem of the present invention to provide an object detecting apparatus for a pachinko which apparatus is capable of positively and exactly detecting an object, such as pachinko balls and magnets used for illegal operation, with simple attachment to the pachinko.

The problem of the present invention is solved by an object detecting apparatus for a pachinko of the type which includes a casing having a base plate, mounted to a rear portion thereof, and a first transparent planar member mounted to a front portion of the casing in parallel with the base plate. In the object detecting apparatus, there is provided transparent object detecting means for electrically detecting the object, the object detecting means being arranged in a parallel manner between the first transparent planar member and the base plate.

In a preferred mode of the present invention, the object may be a magnet placed outside the first transparent planar member. The first planar member is preferably a glass plate.

The object detecting means preferably comprises first planar electrode means, supported on the inner surface of the first planar member, and second planar electrode means arranged in the vicinity of the first electrode means. In this preferable mode, the second electrode means is placed to face the first transparent planar member through the first electrode means, and the second electrode means is movable to make an electrical contact with the first electrode means when the second electrode means are magnetically attracted by the magnet. With this construction, illegal operation of the pachinko, using a magnet, is positively detected.

The first and second electrode means may be electrically connected to electrical alarming means for alarming when the first and second electrode means make an electrical contact.

The object detecting means detects an attempt at illegal operation with a magnet and provides an alarm by the alarming means. Thus, the illegal operation is prevented.

Preferably, the first electrode means comprises rows of linear electrode members; and the second electrode means comprises columns of linear electrode members crossing the rows of linear electrode members to form a switch matrix.

In another preferred mode of the present invention, a second transparent planar member is mounted to the casing between the object detecting means and the base plate in a parallel manner. In this preferable mode, the object to be detected is a pachinko ball placed between the second planar member and the base plate. The object detecting means may comprise first planar electrode means, supported on the inner surface of the second planar member, and second planar electrode means interposed between the first electrode means and the first planar member to face the second planar member through the first electrode means. The second electrode means is movable to make an electrical contact with the first electrode means when the second electrode means is magnetically attracted by the pachinko ball. With such a construction, a pachinko ball detecting unit is provided.

The pachinko ball detecting unit enables to detect safe pachinko balls, and out pachinko balls at the front portion of the pachinko, and hence attachment of sensors becomes less laborious.

In a still another preferred mode of the present invention, the object detecting means may comprise rows of transmitting coil members and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members being made of a transparent electrically conductive material and being arranged in parallel with the base plate. Each transmitting coil member may include a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series whereas each receiving coil member may include a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series.Each receiving unit and a corresponding transmitting unit may be arranged to make an inductive coupling to form a pachinko ball detecting unit such that when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of the pachinko ball detecting unit, the pachinko ball detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in impedance, whereby the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members form a detecting matrix. With the pachinko ball detecting unit of such a construction, the positions of the pachinko balls in a game zone are exactly detected. It is possible to follow the locus of each pachinko ball by using an appropriate density of the detecting matrix and this enables monitoring of the pachinko in detail.

An transparent inner protecting planar member may be interposed between the object detecting means and the base plate in a parallel manner. The transmitting units and the receiving units are preferably in the shape of an open loop and made of a transparent electrically conductive film. The object detecting means may comprise a glass substrate. The transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members are preferably supported on opposite surfaces of the glass substrate to form the detecting unit. The detecting unit may be adapted to be sandwiched between the first planar member and the inner protecting planar member.

Each of both the transmitting units and the receiving units preferably include a substantially rectangular coil having two pairs of open ends, each pair of open ends defining an open portion. Two adjacent coils of each row of the transmitting coil member may be electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof whereas two adjacent coils of each column of the transmitting coil member may be electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof.

The rows of the transmitting coil members and the columns of the receiving coil members are preferably arranged to perpendicularly cross each other.

The columns of receiving coil members preferably are placed between the first transparent planar member and the rows of the transmitting coil members. There may be provided transparent shielding means interposed between the first transparent planar member and the columns of the receiving coil members for shielding the receiving coil members. The shielding means enables the detecting matrix to be protected from electrical influence from the outside by shielding even if a metal or a human body approaches the first transparent planar member.

In a still another preferred mode of the present invention, the object detecting means is adapted to provide a pachinko ball position signal representing a position of the pachinko ball. The object detecting means preferably may include outputting means for outputting the pachinko ball position signal. The outputting means may be electrically connected to a controller. The controller preferably include entered pachinko ball counting means for counting a total number of safe pachinko balls entered into target holes and a total number of out pachinko balls entered into an out hole according to the pachinko ball position signal. The target holes and the out hole are formed through the base plate.

The entered pachinko ball counting means may be adapted to produce a safe ball signal representing the total number of the safe pachinko balls, an out ball signal representing the total number of the out pachinko balls, and a total entered ball signal representing a total number of the safe balls and the out balls. According to the pachinko ball position signal, prize pachinko ball counting means may be adapted to count prize pachinko balls to produce a prize ball signal representing the number of the prize pachinko balls.

According to the prize ball signal from the prize pachinko ball counting means, prize pachinko ball number storing means may be adapted to add the number of the prize pachinko balls to store a total number of the prize pachinko balls and to provide a total prize ball number signal representative of the total number of prize pachinko balls. The total prize ball number signal may be compared to the total entered ball number signal by comparing means to thereby decide whether or not the difference between the total prize ball number and the total entered ball number exceeds a predetermined number.

The comparing means may be adapted to produce a stop decision signal to stop the pachinko when the difference exceeds the predetermined number. There may be further provided stop decision outputting means for outputting the stop decision signal from the comparing means to the pachinko. According to this preferred mode, it is capable of counting the total number of safe balls and that of out balls by previously storing the positions of the target holes and the out hole.

Thus, the situation of the pachinko is monitored during the operation thereof. According to information thus obtained, it is possible to make decision as to whether or not the pachinko should be stopped. The information may be used in adjusting nails of the pachinko in maintenance.

In another preferred mode of the present invention, the object detecting means may comprise rows of transmitting coil members, and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members. Preferably, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members are made of a transparent electrically conductive material and are arranged in parallel with the base plate. Each transmitting coil member may include a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a coil connected in series while each receiving coil member may a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a coil connected in series.The rows of transmitting coil members and the columns of receiving coil members preferably form a detecting matrix such that each receiving unit makes an inductive coupling with a corresponding transmitting unit registered to the receiving unit, whereby when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of one of the detecting units, the one detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in electromagnetic characteristic thereof to produce an electromagnetic characteristic signal representing the electromagnetic characteristic. There may be further provided an input module and an output module.The input module preferably includes a transmitting driver electrically connected to the transmitting coil members, and a decoder adapted to receive a control signal to control the transmitting driver in such a manner that the transmitting driver sequentially inputs a sequential signal to the transmitting coil members at a predetermined cycle. Preferably, the output module includes a converter, electrically connected to the receiving coil members, for converting the electromagnetic characteristic signal of each receiving coil member to a processable signal.

A multiplexer may be electrically connected to the converter to sequentially output the processable signal from the converter.

A logic sequencer may be provided to operate according to a control signal so as to synchronize the decoder with the multiplexer.

The logic sequencer may be adapted to control the decoder and the multiplexer so that the electromagnetic characteristic signal from one of the receiving coil members is detected for one scan of the transmitting coil members.

Alternatively, the logic sequencer may be adapted to control the decoder and the multiplexer so that the sequential signal is inputted to one of the transmitting coil members for one scan of the receiving coil members.

The base plate may be substantially vertically arranged.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of an essential portion of a pachinko illegal operation preventing unit according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a detection matrix in a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a front view of the detection matrix of FIG.

2; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of an essential portion of a pachinko ball detection unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, in a modified scale, of a detection matrix of the pachinko ball detection unit of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a front view of a detection matrix of a fourth embodiment of the present invention which is directed to a pachinko ball detecting unit; FIG. 7 is an illustration of a fifth embodiment of the present invention which is directed to a pachinko ball detecting unit; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-section of an essential portion of a pachinko ball detection unit of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective view of the detection matrix of FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a front view of the detection matrix of FIG.

7; FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of a transmitting or receiving unit of the detection matrix of FIG. 7; FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of a modified form of the pachinko ball detection unit of FIG. 7; FIG. 13 is a block diagram of part of a signal processing system used for detecting pachinko balls in the present invention; and FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the other part of the signal processing system of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings, various embodiments of the present invention will now be described. Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout views and descriptions thereof are omitted after once given.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pachinko illegal operation preventing unit according to the present invention. The pachinko illegal operation preventing unit includes matrix electrodes provided inside a first glass sheet member 21 which is a front glass of a pachinko. The first glass sheet member 21 is mounted to a window frame 17 (FIG. 7) of a casing 16 in parallel with a vertical base plate 11.

A transparent electrically conductive first electrode 25 is coated over the whole inner surface of the glass sheet member 21. The first electrode 25 may be made of a stannic oxide film or an indium oxide film, for example, and its thickness is typically about 400 A to 2000 A.

A second glass sheet member 22 is provided between the first glass sheet member 21 and base plate 11 in a parallel manner. A second electrode 26 is interposed between the first electrode 25 and the second glass sheet member 22 with a gap of typically about 2 mm to about 3 mm from the first electrode 25. The second electrode 26 may be formed in the following various manners.

Wires, fine wires or elongated spots 26B which are made of an electrically conductive, magnetic material, such as a ferrite and chromium oxide, are mounted on a transparent, resilient, electrically conductive thin film 26A to form the second electrode 26. The thickness of the thin film 26A is typically about 400 A to about 2000 A when it is made of a stannic oxide film or an indium oxide film. This may be made by evaporation, printing, bonding or applying of the magnetic material over the thin film 26A.

A magnetic material may be previously mixed in the conductive thin film 26A. In this case, the conductive thin film 26A may be made of a film which is formed by applying a polyelectrolyte, such as polystyrene, over a surface of a polymer film such as a polyvinylchloride film.

In another mode of production, a group of fine wires 26B are mounted on a transparent and resilient non-conductive thin film 26A in one direction or in the shape of a lattice.

The fine wires may be made of the magnetic material above mentioned and may be mounted to the non-conductive thin film 26A by evaporation, printing, bonding or applying. The nonconductive thin film 26A may be made of a polypropylene, polycarbonate and other known polymers, depending on the method of mounting the group of fine wires 26B to it.

Alternatively, the second electrode 26 may be formed by mounting directly on the second glass sheet member 22 many fine wires made of the magnetic material in a direction or in the shape of a lattice.

The first glass sheet member 21 and second glass sheet member 22 are fitted to a window frame 17 (FIG. 7) of the pachinko with the first electrode 25 and second electrode 26 sandwiched between them to form a front window 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The first electrode 25 and second electrode 26 are electrically connected to an alarm circuit 27 which provides an alarm when an illegal operation of the pachinko is attempted.

When a magnet is placed close to the first glass sheet member 21 from the outside, the group of fine wires 26B which is made of the magnetic material is pulled toward the magnet, so that the a group of fine wires 26B is brought into contact with the first electrode 25 to electrically connect the first electrode 25 and second electrode 26. This results in actuating of the alarm circuit 27, which provides an alarm signal, a stop signal to stop the operation of the pachinko or both the signals. Thus, the illegal operation is promptly detected and can be prevented.

The first electrode 25 and second electrode 26 are provided to the whole surface of the front window 20, and hence a magnet placed close to any portion of the front window 20 can be positively detected.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes a transparent first electrode 30 which is mounted on a rear surface of the first glass sheet member 21. The first electrode 30 consists of rows of wires made of stannic oxide or indium oxide. A resilient transparent thin film 31 is arranged to extend between the first electrode 30 and the second glass sheet member 22. A second electrode 32 which consists of columns of fine wires is mounted on a front surface of the transparent thin film 31 to face the first electrode 30 in such a manner that the columns of fine wires cross the rows of the wires of the first electrode 30. The fine wires of the second electrode 32 are made of the same material of the fine wires 26B previously described.

Crossing points of the first electrode 30 and second electrode 32 constitute contacts 36 which form a switch matrix 37. One end of each wire of the first electrode 30 and second electrode 32 is electrically connected to terminals 33 or 34, which are electrically connected to an alarm circuit 27.

When a magnet is placed close to the first glass sheet member 21, the second electrode 32 is magnetically pulled toward the first electrode 30 to conduct corresponding contacts 36, and thereby the alarm circuit 27 is activated as in the first embodiment. With the switch matrix 37, it is possible to know where in the pachinko the illegal operation is going to be made, which target hole is most likely to undergo such an illegal action, an tendency of such an action and weak points of the pachinko.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, several magnetic members 35 which are easily attracted by a magnet placed outside the first glass sheet member 21 may be arranged at specific points of second electrode 32. In this case, the second electrode 32 may be made of nonmagnetic, electrically conductive material.

According to the pachinko illegal operation preventing units of FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrodes of the alarm circuit 27 are provided close to the front window of the pachinko to cover substantially the whole surface of that window. Thus, the electrodes are positively closed by a magnet. Moreover, it is capable of detecting such an illegal operation at every point of the front glass, and thereby such an operation can be previously prevented.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is directed to a pachinko ball detecting apparatus. In the pachinko ball detecting apparatus, a switch matrix 120 is arranged between the first glass sheet member 21 and second glass sheet member 22 in the vicinity of a vertical base plate 11 for detecting pachinko balls B which impinge upon and pass through nails 12 fixed to the base plate 11.

The switch matrix 120 includes a first electrode 130 and a second electrode 126 facing the first electrode 130. The first electrode 130 consists of rows of fine wires 122 mounted on the outer or front surface of the second glass sheet member 22. The second electrode 126 consists of columns of magnetized fine wires 124 mounted on the rear or inner surface of a transparent resilient thin film member 123, which is arranged to extend substantially vertically in the vicinity of the inner surface of the first glass sheet member 21. The rows of the fine wires 122 are arranged to cross the columns of the fine wires 124. The rows of the fine wires 122 and the columns of the fine wires 124 are registered as described later with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

The rows of fine wires 122 are formed on the outer surface of the second glass sheet member 22 by evaporating or printing the same material as the material of the first electrode 30 of the second embodiment. Alternatively, the rows of the fine wires 122 may be formed by bonding such a material to the outer surface of the second glass sheet member 22. The rows of the fine wires 122 are equi-spaced.

It is preferable to make the interval of adjacent rows of the fine wires 122 as small as possible so that each pachinko ball B is clearly detected.

The thin film member 123 supporting the columns of the fine wires 124 may be made of a polyester, for example. It is preferable that the thin film member 123 is thin enough to fully respond to attracting force of pachinko balls B, and that it is high in both resiliency and mechanical strength.

The columns of the fine wires 124 are formed on the inner or rear surface of the thin film member 123 by evaporating or printing the same magnetizable material as the material of the fine wires 26B of the second electrode 26 of the first embodiment. The columns of fine wires 124 may also be formed by bonding fine wires of the same material to the rear surface of the thin film member 123. The columns of fine wires 124 may be formed by previously mixing a magnetizable material into the thin film member 123 and then by magnetizing the material. The interval of adjacent columns of fine wires 124 is substantially the same as the interval of the rows of fine wires 122.

The rows of fine wires 122 and columns of fine wires 124 are provided at their ends with terminals 33 and 34, respectively. The terminals 33 and 34 are electrically connected to a controller, which will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

In operation, pachinko balls B which have been propelled into the pachinko impinge upon nails 12 while moving and eventually fall into target holes or an out hole. Columns of fine wires 124 on the thin film member 123 are magnetically attracted to pachinko balls B, and thereby make electrical contacts with rows of fine wires 122 at positions which correspond to positions of the pachinko balls B. The rows of fine wires 122 and columns of fine wires 124 are allotted respective line numbers and hence the conducting positions are recognized by the controller as will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Thus, the locus of each pachinko ball B to one of the target holes or the out hole can be recorded.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6, in which columns of fine wires 124 on the thin film member 123 is made of nonmagnetic, electrically conductive material. In this embodiment, small magnets are attached to the front surface of the thin film member 123 at respective positions to correspond to specific positions, such as target holes or an out hole, in the base plate 11.

When a pachinko ball B falls into a target hole or the out hole, a magnet 135 which is located at a position to correspond to the target hole or the out hole is magnetically pulled toward the pachinko ball B, and thereby the switch matrix 120 conducts in that position. The position of each of the target holes and the out hole is registered as one of the positions in the switch matrix 120, and hence the hole into which the pachinko ball B has fallen is immediately known.

In this embodiment, a relatively small number of magnets 135 are used, and the locus of each pachinko ball B cannot be recorded. However, this embodiment provides sufficient information for counting the number of pachinko balls B, entered into the pachinko 100, and the number of prize pachinko balls.

The pachinko ball detecting units of FIGS. 4 to 6 enable to detect safe pachinko balls B, and out pachinko balls B at the front portion of the pachinko, and hence attachment of sensors becomes less laborious.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 11, in which a detecting matrix 220 is provided at a front portion of a pachinko in parallel with the base plate 11. The detecting matrix 220 is communicated to a controller 230.

An inner surface of a guide rail 13 and the front surface of the base plate 11 of the pachinko define a game zone. Many nails 12 are fixed to the base plate 11 within the game zone. Target holes 14 are formed in several locations and an out hole 15 is provided at the lowermost position in the game zone. The pachinko has a double front glass structure including a first glass sheet member 21 and a second glass sheet member 22, which are fitted into a window frame 17 of the casing 16. The second glass sheet member 22 includes three glass sheets, an inner protecting glass sheet 22a, a glass substrate 22b and an outer glass sheet 22c.

The pachinko is provided at its front with a handle 18 and pachinko ball receptacle 19 to which prize pachinko balls are automatically provided. The handle 18 is manually operated to propel pachinko balls into the game zone.

In this embodiment, the detecting matrix 220 is provided to the second glass sheet member 22. The transmitting coil row group 221 is sandwiched between the inner protecting glass sheet 22a and the glass substrate 22b, and receiving coil column group 225 between the glass substrate 22b and the outer glass sheet 22c. A transparent electrically conductive film 228 for shielding the detecting matrix 220 is provided to extend over the outer surface of the outer glass sheet 22c to oppose the receiving coil column group 225 through the outer glass sheet 22c.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, each row of the transmitting coil row group 221 is formed by a pair of wires. Each pair of wires are bent to form transmitting units 222a, 222a, ...

in the shape of a rectangular open loop. The transmitting units 222a, 222a, ... of each row are connected in series in a direction. Each pair of wires are open at one ends thereof for receiving alternating current signals and are grounded at the other ends.

Each of the receiving coil columns 226 also includes a pair of wires and is formed to have many receiving units 226a, 226a, ... similar in shape to the transmitting units 222a of the transmitting coil row group 221 as shown in FIG.

9. The receiving units 226a, 226a, ... of each column are also connected in series in a direction. The transmitting coil row group 221 and receiving coil column group 225 are arranged in such a manner that transmitting coil rows 222 and receiving coil columns 226 perpendicularly cross each other, and that each of transmitting units 222a makes an inductive coupling with a corresponding receiving unit 226a to form a detecting unit 220a. Each of the transmitting units 222a is registered to the corresponding receiving unit 226a with a predetermined gap. The detecting units 220a detect a pachinko ball B by a change in impedance.

The open ends of the transmitting coil rows 222 are provided with a terminal 34 for connecting to the controller 230. Also, one ends of the receiving coil columns 226 are provided with a terminal 33 and the other ends are grounded.

As shown in FIG. 10, one of the detecting units 220a, 220a, ... corresponds to an out hole 15 and the several other detecting units 220a target holes 14, 14 ....

The size of the pattern of the transmitting units 222a depends upon the diameter of the pachinko ball B. FIG. 11 provides a preferable size of the transmitting units 222a end receiving units 226a in mm. The interval between the transmitting unit 222a and receiving unit 226a of each detecting unit 220a has a close relationship with the thickness of the wires thereof. When the transmitting unit 222a and receiving unit 226a of FIG. 11 are used, an interval of about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm provides excellent results.

The patterns of the transmitting units 222a and receiving units 226a are substantially square in FIG. 11, but they are not limited to this configuration. The patterns of the transmitting units 222a and receiving units 226a may be formed of a transparent electrically conductive film such as an indium oxide film or a stannic oxide film.

As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 230 includes a pachinko identifying unit 231 and an entered ball counter 232 electrically connected to the pachinko identifying unit 231.

The pachinko identifying unit 231 identifies one of pachinkos, the one pachinko providing a position signal representing a position of a pachinko ball B in the game zone of the pachinko. According to the position signal, the entered ball counter 232 counts both the number of safe pachinko balls which fall into target holes 14, 14, ... and the number of out pachinko balls which falls into the out hole 15 to thereby provide a safe ball number signal, representing each of the total number of the safe pachinko balls, an out ball number signal, representing the total number of the out pachinko balls. The entered ball counter 232 produces a total entered ball number signal representing a total number of the safe balls and the out balls.

When a pachinko ball falls into one of the target holes 14, according to the position signal, the number of prize pachinko balls which depends on target holes 14, 14, ... is calculated by a prize ball calculating unit 233 to produce a prize ball number signal representing the number of the prize pachinko balls. The prize ball number signal is provided to a prize ball counter 234 which adds the number of the prize pachinko balls according to prize ball number signals from the prize ball calculating unit 233 to store a total number of the prize pachinko balls and for providing a total prize ball number signal representative of the total number of prize pachinko balls.The total prize ball number signal and the total entered ball number signal are compared in a comparison unit 235 to determine whether or not the difference between the total prize ball number and the total entered ball number exceeds a predetermined number. The comparison unit 235 produces a stop decision signal to stop the pachinko when the difference exceeds the predetermined number. The stop decision signal is given to a output unit output unit 236, which transmits the signal to the pachinko to stop.

When various types of pachinkos 10, 10, 10 ... are used, the position of each target holes 14, 14, ... must be registered in the controller 230. In this embodiment, the electrically conductive film 228 is coated over the front surface of the second glass sheet member 22, and hence it is not possible to actuate detecting units 220a of the detecting matrix 220 from the outside of the electrically conductive film 228. For this reason, the first glass sheet member 21 and second glass sheet member 22 are removed, and then the electrically conductive film 228 is pushed at positions corresponding to the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15 with a finger or a metallic piece to activate corresponding detecting units 220a. With this operation, the controller 230 stores position data of the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15 of the pachinko.

When a predetermined signal, such as a sinusoidal wave, is transmitted to the transmitting coil row group 221 of the detecting matrix 220, as described later with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, each of the receiving units 226a, 226a, ...

of the receiving coils 226 makes an impedance coupling with a corresponding transmitting unit 222a of the transmitting coils 222 to generate a predetermined impedance.

When a pachinko ball B passes through one of the detecting units 220a, a corresponding transmitting coil row 222 changes in impedance, and received current or induced current in the corresponding receiving coil column 226 also changes. By detecting both the transmitting coil row 222, having impedance changed, and the receiving coil column 226 with changed received current, the position of the pachinko ball B is given as coordinates which indicate a crossing point of the receiving coil column 226 and the transmitting coil row 222.

In this manner, the detecting matrix 220 detects the position of each pachinko ball B within the game zone to provide a position signal, representing coordinates of the xy coordinate system, to the controller 230.

The position signal includes a code identifying the pachinko, and hence pachinko identifying unit 231 identifies the pachinko according to the code.

The electrically conductive film 228 protects the detecting matrix 220 from electrical influence from the outside by shielding even if a metal, inductive body or a human body approaches the first glass sheet member 21.

A modified form of the detecting unit of FIG. 8 is illustrated in FIG. 12, in which an electrically conductive film 228 is coated over the inner surface of the first glass sheet member 21 instead of the outer surface of the outer glass sheet 22c. The electrically conductive film 228 of this modification is placed further from the detecting matrix 220 than that of FIG. 8 and hence more effectively protects the detecting matrix 220 from influence from the outside.

To register the target holes 14 and the out hole 15, in this modified detecting unit, the electrically conductive film 228 is removed together with the first glass sheet member 21. Then, the target holes 14 and the out hole 15 are pressed through the second glass sheet member 22, and thereby corresponding detecting units 220a are activated, so that the controller 230 stores the data of the positions.

The transmitting coil row group 221 and the receiving coil column group 225 may be coated over respective opposite surfaces of glass substrate 22b of the detecting matrix 220 of FIG. 12 by printing to thereby form a unit of the detecting matrix 220. This unit may be sandwiched between the inner protecting glass sheet 22a and the outer glass sheet 22c. To register the target holes 14 and the out hole 15, in this case, the receiving coil column group 225 of the unit is exposed to the outside by removing the outer glass sheet 22c. Then, a registering coil is placed close to locations, corresponding to the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15, of the receiving coil column group 225, and the registering coil is energized to activate corresponding detecting units 220a. Thus, the positions of the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15 are stored in the controller 230.

The number of entered pachinko balls may also be obtained by counting the number of hitting of pachinko balls by the handle 18. In this case, detecting points a and b, which are located just before the entrance of the game zone as shown in FIG. 7, are registered in the controller 230 in the same manner as the positions of the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15. When a pachinko ball B is detected at the detecting point b and then at the detecting point a, it is counted by the entered ball counter 232.

When a pachinko ball B returns to the starting position without entering the game zone, it is detected only once at the detecting point b or twice at the detecting point b. In these cases, it is determined that the pachinko ball B is returned and is not counted in the entered ball counter 232.

When a pachinko ball B returns to the starting position from the game zone, it is detected at detecting points b, a, a and b, or b, a and b in the described sequence. These detecting patterns are different from the normal pattern, that is, detection at two detecting positions b and a, and hence it is determined the the pachinko ball B is returning to the starting point.

It is possible to follow the locus of each pachinko ball by using an appropriate density of the detecting matrix 220 and this enables monitoring of the pachinko in detail. The detecting matrix 220 may be disposed on the rear side of the base plate 11.

A matrix control circuit may be provided to the glass substrate 22b of the detecting matrix 220 to convert a parallel signal of the detecting matrix 220 to a serial signal to communicate to the controller 230. The matrix control circuit fairly reduces the number of cables communicating the detecting matrix 220 to the controller 230, thereby making connection of the detecting matrix 220 to the controller 230 less laborious and reducing noise.

A signal processing system used in the preceding pachinko ball detecting units is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The signal processing system is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 330. The CPU 330 is connected to a logic controller 331 and an output system which outputs signals from the detecting matrix 220 to CPU 330. The logic controller 331 transmits signals, including control signals, address signal and data signals, from the CPU 330 to a pachinko ball detecting unit. The output system includes an impedance matching driver 332, a DC offset converter 333, a hold unit 334, an analog to digital converter 335, a timing generator 336 and a power source unit 337. The logic controller 331 and the output system are connected to a connector 338.

The pachinko ball detecting unit is provided with an input module 340 and an output module 350. The input module 340 energizes the transmitting coil row group 221 of the detecting matrix 220. The output module 350 outputs signals from the receiving coil column group 225.

The input module 340 includes a decoder 342 which controls a transmitting coil driver 341 for sequential activation according to control signals from the CPU 330 in such a manner that the transmitting coil driver 341 inputs sequential signals to transmitting coil row group 221 at predetermined time intervals. The input module 340 is further provided with a logic sequencer 343, a timing generator 344 and a transmitting coil counter 345.

The logic sequencer 343 is activated according to control signals from the CPU 330 to synchronize the decoder 342 of the transmitting side and a multiplexer 352 of the receiving side. The logic sequencer 343 also controls timing of the start and end of the scanning cycle of the sequential signals of the decoder 342.

The timing generator 344 sets the scanning cycle. It is necessary to have a scanning frequency of at least 10 kHz to follow the movement of the pachinko balls in the game zone.

In the embodiment, the scanning frequency is set to 100 kHz.

The transmitting coil counter 345 counts transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ... according to the scanning cycle.

The output module 350 is connected to the receiving coil column group 225. A converter 351 is connected to the receiving coil column group 225 to convert current signals as electromagnetic characteristic value of each of the receiving coil columns 226, 226, ... to voltage signals. The voltage signals are inputted to the multiplexer 352, which sequentially outputs the signals.

A receiving coil counter 353 is interposed between the logic sequencer 343 and the multiplexer 352. The input module 340 and the output module 350 are synchronized by the transmitting coil counter 345 and the receiving coil counter 353. The synchronization is carried out in such a manner that one of the receiving coil columns 226, 226, ... is detected for one scan of the transmitting coil rows 222, 222, Alternatively, the receiving coil columns 226, 226, may be scanned for a signal transmitted to one of the transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ....

The multiplexer 352 is connected to the connector 338 of the CPU 330 through an impedance transformer 354.

In operation, address signals and control signals are inputted from the CPU 330 to the logic controller 331, from which the signals are transmitted to the pachinko through the connector 338.

In the pachinko, the logic sequencer 343 of the input module 340 generates a sequential signal based on the control signal. The sequential signal is outputted to the timing generator 344, transmitting coil counter 345 and receiving coil counter 353.

The timing generator 344 determines the scanning cycle of the transmitting coil row group 221 of the detecting matrix 220. The transmitting coil counter 345 synchronizes by counting transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ... according to the scanning cycle.

The decoder 342 controls the transmitting coil driver 341 to sequentially operate, so that the transmitting coil driver 341 inputs sequential signal to transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ... at the predetermined cycle.

In the receiving coil column group 225, current as electromagnetic characteristic value is induced in each of the receiving coil columns 226, 226, ... and flows to the converter 351, which converts the current to a voltage signal.

The multiplexer 352 receives the converted signals from the receiving coil columns 226, 226 ... through the converter 351 and sequentially outputs the signal at the predetermined cycle.

The decoder 342 and the multiplexer 352 are actuated in a synchronized manner by the transmitting coil counter 345 and the receiving coil counter 353, respectively, which are activated by the control signal from the logic sequencer 343.

The logic sequencer 343 operates to output information of one of the receiving coil columns 226, 226, ... to the converter 351 and then to the multiplexer 352 for one canning of the transmitting coil row group 221. Alternatively, the logic sequencer 343 controls the input module 340 and the output module 350 so that the receiving coil column group 225 is scanned once for each signal transmitted to one of the transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ....

When a pachinko ball passes through a position on the base plate 11, impedance as electromagnetic characteristic value of the detecting unit 220a changes, and this change appears as a change in induced current in the corresponding receiving coil column 226. The transmitting coil row 222 and the corresponding receiving coil column 226 at the position are detected by the scanning.

More specifically, when a signal, such as a sinusoidal wave, is transmitted to each of the transmitting coil rows 222, 222, ..., the receiving units 226a, 226a, ... and the corresponding transmitting units 222a, 222a, ... make inductive coupling to thereby produce predetermined impedance in the transmitting coil row group 221. As described, when the pachinko ball passes through a transmitting coil row 222, the transmitting coil row 222 changes in impedance whereas the induced current in the corresponding receiving coil column 226 changes. This change appears in the multiplexer 352 through the converter 351.

The output of the multiplexer 352 undergoes impedance conversion at an impedance transformer 354, and then is transmitted through the connector 338 to the impedance matching driver 332, where impedance matching is carried out.

The DC offset converter 333 receives only a reaction wave in the output from the detecting matrix 220 and outputs the wave to the hold unit 334.

The hold unit 334 temporally stores the data inputted at high speed until analog to digital conversion of previous data in the analog to digital converter 335 is completed.

The analog to digital converter 335 converts an analog signal from the detecting matrix 220 to a digital signal in the unit of predetermined bits, for example, 12 bits, and transmits the digital signal to the CPU 330 through a data bus. The hold unit 334 and analog to digital converter 335 are synchronously actuated by a signal from the logic controller 331 or the timing generator 336.

The analog to digital converter 335 may be provided with another output terminal to output position data of all the pachinko balls B in the detecting matrix 220 to a storing unit for storing data of the movement of the pachinko balls B for a long period of time.

The position of each pachinko ball B is given by coordinates of a crossing point of the transmitting coil row 222 with changed impedance and the receiving coil column 226 with a changed induced current.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, it is capable of counting the total number of safe balls and that of out balls by previously storing the positions of the target holes 14, 14, ... and the out hole 15. Thus, the situation of each of the pachinkos is monitored during the operation thereof. According to data obtained with respect to each pachinko, decision as to whether or not the pachinko should be stopped is made or illegal operation of pachinkos is detected. The data may be used in adjusting nails 12, 12, ... in maintenance.

The detecting matrices of the preceding embodiments may be used for the pachinko ball counting device to count pachinko balls for exchanging them for prizes or for the pachinko ball examining device for checking pachinko balls.

By raising sensitivity of the detecting units, it is possible to detect false pachinko balls.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. In an object detecting apparatus for a pachinko of the type which includes a casing having a base plate, mounted at a rear portion thereof, and a first transparent planar member mounted to a front portion of the casing in parallel with the base plate, in which there is provided transparent object detecting means for electrically detecting the object, the object detecting means being arranged in a parallel manner between the first transparent planar member and the base plate.

2. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein: the object is a magnet placed outside the first transparent planar member; the first planar member is a glass plate having an inner surface; and the object detecting means comprises first planar electrode means, supported on the inner surface of the first planar member, and second planar electrode means arranged in the vicinity of the first electrode means, the second electrode means being placed to face the first transparent planar member through the first electrode means, the second electrode means being movable to make an electrical contact with the first electrode means when the second electrode means are magnetically attracted by the magnet.

3. An apparatus as recited in Claim 2, further comprising electrical alarming means, electrically connected to the first and second electrode means, for alarming when the first and second electrode means make an electrical contact.

4. An apparatus as recited in Claim 3, wherein the first electrode means comprises rows of linear electrode members; and the second electrode means comprises columns of linear electrode members crossing the rows of linear electrode members to form a switch matrix.

5. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, further comprising a second transparent planar member mounted to the casing between the object detecting means and the base plate in a parallel manner, the second planar member including an outer surface, and wherein: the object is a pachinko ball placed between the second planar -member and the base plate; and the object detecting means comprises first planar electrode means, supported on the inner surface of the second planar member, and second planar electrode means interposed between the first electrode means and the first planar member to face the second planar member through the first electrode means, the second electrode means being movable to make an electrical contact with the first electrode means when the second electrode means are magnetically attracted by the pachinko ball.

6. An apparatus as recited in Claim 5, wherein the first electrode means comprises rows of linear electrode members; and the second electrode means comprises columns of linear electrode members crossing the rows of linear electrodes to form a switch matrix.

7. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein: the object is a pachinko ball interposed between the object detecting means and the base plate; and the object detecting means comprises rows of transmitting coil members and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members being made of a transparent electrically conductive material and being arranged in parallel with the base plate, each transmitting coil member including a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving coil member including a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving unit and a corresponding transmitting unit being arranged to make an inductive coupling to form a pachinko ball detecting unit such that when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of the pachinko ball detecting unit, the pachinko ball detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in impedance, whereby the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members form a detecting matrix.

8. An apparatus as recited in Claim 7, further comprising an transparent inner protecting planar member interposed between the object detecting means and the base plate in a parallel manner, and wherein: the transmitting units and the receiving units are in the shape of an open loop and made of a transparent electrically conductive film; the object detecting means comprises a glass substrate, the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members supported on opposite surfaces of the glass substrate to form the detecting unit; and the detecting unit is adapted to be sandwiched between the first planar member and the inner protecting planar member.

9. An apparatus as recited in Claim 7 or 8, wherein each of both the transmitting units and the receiving units includes a substantially rectangular coil having two pairs of open ends, each pair of open ends defining an open portion, two adjacent coils of each row of the transmitting coil member being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof, and two adjacent coils of each column of the transmitting coil member being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof and the rows of the transmitting coil members and the columns of the receiving coil members are arranged to perpendicularly cross each other.

10. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein the object detecting means comprises rows of transmitting coil members and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members being made of a transparent electrical conductive material and being arranged in parallel with the base plate, each transmitting coil member including a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving coil member including a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving unit and a corresponding transmitting unit being arranged to make an inductive coupling to form a detecting unit such that when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of the pachinko ball detecting unit, the pachinko ball detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in impedance, whereby the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members form a detecting matrix.

11. An apparatus as recited in Claim 10, wherein the columns of receiving coil members are placed between the first transparent planax member and the rows of the transmitting coil members, and further comprising transparent shielding means interposed between the first transparent planar member and the columns of the receiving coil members for shielding the receiving coil members.

12. An apparatus as recited in Claim 10, further comprising a transparent inner protecting planar member interposed between the object detecting means and the base plate in a parallel manner, and wherein the transmitting units and the receiving units are in the shape of an open loop and made of a transparent electrically conductive film; the object detecting means comprises a glass substrate, the transmitting coils member and the receiving coil members supported on respective opposite surfaces of the glass substrate to form a detecting unit; and the detecting unit is adapted to be sandwiched between the first planar member and the inner protecting planar member.

13. An apparatus as recited in Claim 12, wherein: each of the transmitting units and the receiving units includes a substantially rectangular coil having two pairs of open ends, each pair of open ends defining an open portion, two adjacent coils of each row of the transmitting coil member being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof and two adjacent coils of each column of the transmitting coil member being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof, and; wherein the rows of the transmitting coil members and the columns of the receiving coil members are arranged to perpendicularly cross each other.

14. An apparatus as recited in Claim 13, wherein the columns of receiving coil members are placed between the first transparent planar member and the rows of the transmitting coil members, and further comprising transparent shielding means interposed between the first transparent planar member and the columns of the receiving coil members for shielding the receiving coil members.

15. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein: the object is a pachinko ball; and the object detecting means adapted to provide a pachinko ball position signal representing a position of the pachinko ball, the object detecting means comprising: outputting means for outputting the pachinko ball position signal;; a controller electrically connected to the outputting means, the controller comprising entered pachinko ball counting means for counting a total number of safe pachinko balls entered into target holes and a total number of out pachinko balls entered into an out hole according to the pachinko ball position signal, the target holes and the out hole being formed through the base plate, and for producing a safe ball signal representing the total number of the safe pachinko balls and an out ball signal representing the total number of the out pachinko balls and a total entered ball signal representing a total number of the safe balls and the out balls, prize pachinko ball counting means for counting prize pachinko balls according to the pachinko ball position signal to produce a prize ball signal representing the number of the prize pachinko balls, prize pachinko ball number storing means for adding the number of the prize pachinko balls according to the prize ball signal from the prize pachinko ball counting means to store a total number of the prize pachinko balls and for providing a total prize ball number signal representative of the total number of prize pachinko balls, comparing means for comparing the total prize ball number signal to the total entered ball number signal to thereby decide whether or not the difference between the total prize ball number and the total entered ball number exceeds a predetermined number, the comparing means adapted to produce a stop decision signal to stop the pachinko when the difference exceeds the predetermined number, and stop decision outputting means for outputting the stop decision signal from the comparing means to the pachinko.

16. An apparatus as recited in Claim 15, wherein the object detecting means comprises: rows of transmitting coil members; and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members being made of a transparent electrically conductive material and being arranged in parallel with the base plate, each transmitting coil member including a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving coil member including a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a single turn coil connected in series, each receiving unit and a corresponding transmitting unit being arranged to make an inductive coupling to form a pachinko ball detecting unit such that when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of the pachinko ball detecting unit, the pachinko ball detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in impedance, whereby the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members form a detecting matrix.

17. An apparatus as recited in Claim 16, wherein each of both the transmitting units and the receiving units includes a substantially rectangular coil having two pairs of open ends, each pair of open ends defining an open portion, two adjacent coils of each row of the transmitting coil members being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof, and two adjacent coils of each column of the transmitting coil members being electrically connected at corresponding open ends thereof and the rows of the transmitting coil members and the columns of the receiving coil members are arranged to perpendicularly cross each other.

18. An apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein: the object is a pachinko ball interposed between the object detecting means and the base plate; and the object detecting means comprises: rows of transmitting coil members; and columns of receiving coil members crossing the rows of transmitting coil members, both the transmitting coil members and the receiving coil members being made of a transparent electrically conductive material and being arranged in parallel with the base plate, each transmitting coil member including a plurality of transmitting units in the shape of a coil connected in series, each receiving coil member including a plurality of receiving units in the shape of a coil connected in series, the rows of transmitting coil members and the columns of receiving coil members forming a detecting matrix such that each receiving unit makes an inductive coupling with a corresponding transmitting unit registered to the receiving unit, whereby when the pachinko ball is in the vicinity of one of the detecting units, the one detecting unit detects the pachinko ball according to a change in electromagnetic characteristic thereof to produce an electromagnetic characteristic signal representing the electromagnetic characteristic, further comprising: an input module including: a transmitting driver electrically connected to the transmitting coil members; and a decoder adapted to receive a control signal to control the transmitting driver in such a manner that the transmitting driver sequentially inputs a sequential signal to the transmitting coil members at a predetermined cycle; and an output module including: a converter, electrically connected to the receiving coil members, for converting the electromagnetic characteristic signal of each receiving coil member to a processable signal; and a multiplexer, electrically connected to the converter, for sequentially outputting the processable signal from the converter.

19. An apparatus as recited in Claim 18, further comprising a logic sequencer adapted to operate according to a control signal so as to synchronize the decoder with the multiplexer.

20. An apparatus as recited in Claim 19, wherein the logic sequencer is adapted to control the decoder and the multiplexer so that the electromagnetic characteristic signal from one of the receiving coil members is detected for one scan of the transmitting coil members.

21. An apparatus as recited in Claim 19, wherein the logic sequencer is adapted to control the decoder and the multiplexer so that the sequential signal is inputted to one of the transmitting coil members for one scan of the receiving coil members.

22. An apparatus as recited in Claim 18, wherein the base plate is substantially vertically arranged.

23. A detecting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Fig. 1; or Figs. 2 and 3; or Figs. 4 and 5; or Fig. 6; or Figs. 7 to 12; or these Figs. when using the system of Figs. 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.