JP2001038021A - Control system for game machine and game machine using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dissolve the complication of a signal line system and to simplify electric constitution by improving the transmission system of signals between a main control part and a peripheral control part, especially from the main control part to the peripheral control part. SOLUTION: Command signals are transmitted from the main control part 140 to the peripheral control parts 150, 160, 170 and 180 in a state capable of specifying the peripheral control part to be an operation command object. Thus, a signal transmission route 500 to the plural peripheral control parts 150, 160, 170 and 180 is made common. As a result, the number of signal lines is substantially reduced compared to the form of forming the transmission route of the command signals for each individual peripheral control part. Also, the output port of the command signals on the side of the main control part 140 is integrated. Thus, the complication of the signal line system is dissolved and the electric constitution is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for a game machine such as a fever machine, a blade machine such as a winged object, a right thing or an arrangement ball, and a game machine such as a coin-type game machine such as a slot machine. And a gaming machine using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine has a main controller for controlling the basic progress of a game, and a peripheral controller for controlling various peripheral devices provided in the gaming machine based on a command signal from the main controller. There is. For example, the main control unit includes a main control unit-side control command entity such as a CPU mounted on a main control board and means for storing at least ball entry information from a specific ball entry detector (= starting port detector). , Means for storing a determination result based on a numerical value obtained from a random number generation counter for proceeding with the game. However, an image storage unit, an image processing unit, a special winning opening opening / closing control device, or a device having other functions may be incorporated in the main control board.

On the other hand, the peripheral control section includes a peripheral control section-side control command entity such as a CPU that issues individual peripheral control commands based on a command signal from a main control board. The peripheral control unit-side control command main body is provided on the peripheral control board, and the peripheral control board includes various devices that operate based on control commands from the peripheral control unit-side control command main body, for example, as will be understood by a player. A device that displays the progress of the game, a device that controls a device that specifically realizes the interests and interests of the player, and the like are also mounted. The latter includes, for example, an image storage unit, an image processing unit, a winning opening opening / closing control device, a lamp control unit, a voice control unit, a prize ball discharge processing unit, a ball removal processing unit, a ball count management unit (including the number of shot balls, (Including the number of returned balls and the number of ejected prize balls). An ordinary pachinko gaming machine has a plurality of peripheral control boards.

[0004]

In recent years, the progress of the game has been complicated in order to enhance the interest of the gaming machine, and accordingly, the control system for controlling the progress of the game has also been complicated. In such a situation, in order to prevent unauthorized remodeling, alteration, or remodeling, or to change the design of a model, a great deal of labor and time is required. The burden and cost of design and development have been reduced by making it possible to share each model collectively for each model, and by switching only the changed parts to new boards.

[0005] For example, while the control relating to the basic progress of the game is entrusted to the main control unit, means for displaying the progress of the game to the player along with the progress of the game, for example, turning on a lamp corresponding to the situation or displaying the progress of the game It has become common practice to distribute the means for performing the game and the means for realizing the interests of the player, for example, the control of the prize ball payout means, to a plurality of peripheral control units to perform distributed control. In this case, the main control unit and the peripheral control unit are formed on the main control board or the peripheral control board together with the related electric devices.
However, since a large number of signal lines for connecting between the main control board and the peripheral control board and connectors for connecting the signal lines to each board are required, a pachinko machine equipped with these devices and components is required. The backside is complicated, so the cost is high, and it is also difficult to detect unauthorized modification.

On the other hand, in spite of the complexity of the electric configuration of the gaming machine, the division of the power supply system to each section of the gaming machine is not sufficiently considered. Is performed, the power supply to the entire gaming machine must be cut off. For example, such as a lamp,
When exchanging frame parts that are not related to the interest in winning prize balls,
The prize ball payout mechanism was shut off and the power was cut off, which could cause trouble with the player.

A first object of the present invention is to improve the signal transmission system between the main control unit and the peripheral control unit, in particular, by improving the signal transmission system from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine control method capable of solving the above problem and simplifying the electrical configuration, and a gaming machine using the same. Further, a second problem is that a control method of a gaming machine that can integrate a control board irrespective of an interest in winning a prize ball and can simplify an electric configuration, and a game using the same. Machine to provide. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which a power supply system is devised so that parts can be replaced without affecting a prize ball acquisition interest.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems and Actions / Effects In order to solve the first problem, a first control method of a gaming machine according to the present invention comprises a main control section and a command signal from the main control section. And a plurality of peripheral control units that perform corresponding processing operations by receiving the peripheral control units, wherein all or some of the peripheral control units are connected to a common signal transmission path from the main control unit. And the command signal is transmitted by the common signal transmission path in a state where the peripheral control unit as the operation command target can be specified, and the peripheral control unit sets itself as the operation command target. Only when a command signal to be received is received, processing based on the command content of the command signal is performed.

A first aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine that employs the first of the above-described control methods.

That is, by transmitting a command signal from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit in a state where the peripheral control unit to be the operation command target can be specified, a signal transmission path to a plurality of peripheral control units is established. It is possible to standardize. As a result, the number of signal lines can be significantly reduced as compared with a mode in which the transmission path of the command signal is formed for each peripheral control unit, and the output port of the command signal on the main control unit side can be integrated. Therefore, complication of the signal line system can be eliminated, and the electrical configuration can be simplified.

The main control section includes a main control section-side control command entity constituted by, for example, a CPU or the like. The main control unit-side control command entity can be provided on a main control board together with a semiconductor storage means such as a RAM or a ROM, and other auxiliary circuits. On the other hand, the peripheral control section includes a peripheral control section-side control command entity constituted by, for example, a CPU or the like. The subject of the peripheral control unit-side control command is:
It can be provided on a peripheral control board together with semiconductor storage means such as RAM or ROM, and other auxiliary circuits.

When the command signal received via the common signal transmission path is not the one targeted for the operation command, the peripheral control section ignores the command signal or uses the common signal transmission path to perform downstream operation. It can be forwarded to other peripheral control units on the side. When a command signal that is not particularly required by a certain peripheral control unit is sent via a common signal transmission path, the command signal is required if the command signal is caused to flow downstream by the common signal transmission path. When there is a peripheral control unit on the downstream side, the command signal can be used immediately, so that retransmission of the command signal from the main control unit becomes unnecessary, and the processing can be simplified. It should be noted that a plurality of peripheral control units can be designated as operation command targets by one command signal issued from the main control unit.

When the command signal received via the common signal transmission path is not intended for the operation command, the peripheral control unit does not change the content of the command signal and transmits the command signal to the downstream side. If you transfer to the peripheral control unit of
Since the peripheral control unit only needs to receive or transfer the command signal, the processing load is reduced. However, it is possible to perform some processing on the command signal and transfer it to the downstream side, for example, when a plurality of peripheral control units are designated as operation command targets, it is possible to identify that each of the peripheral control units has already received the signal. In addition, it is possible to process the command signal. This may be the addition of new information to the command signal, the deletion of information, or a combination of both.

The common signal transmission path may be used only for one-way signal transmission from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit. In this way, the signal transmission system between the main control unit and the peripheral control unit can be further simplified, and, for example, the time and labor required for the test operation of the gaming machine can be greatly reduced. In fact, according to the current game inspection standards, when a plurality of control units are provided in a game machine in a distributed manner, the main control unit may use other control units (that is, peripheral units) in order to easily track the signal transmission path. Although only one-way signal transmission to the control unit) is permitted, the above-described method has an advantage that it can cope with this immediately.

Various modes are possible as a method of transmitting a command signal in a state where the peripheral control unit to be the operation command target can be specified. For example, a plurality of command signals are defined corresponding to each of a plurality of operation command contents, and these command signals are uniquely associated with a peripheral control unit to which the processing indicated by the command signal is executed. Having a relationship, the peripheral control unit determines whether the received command signal corresponds to itself, and if it corresponds, performs a process based on the command content of the command signal. . According to this method, since the command signal itself includes information for specifying the peripheral control unit to be the operation command target, for example, when a design change to add the peripheral control unit is performed, the generation of the command signal is performed. In addition, there is an advantage that it can be dealt with only by changing the software content related to identification.

In this case, the peripheral control section is provided with reference command signal pattern storage means for storing a reference command signal pattern for identifying a command signal corresponding to the peripheral control section. The above-described determination can be performed by collating with the use command signal pattern. In this case, command data composed of a plurality of data bit strings (for example, ones in an arrangement order) is transmitted as a command signal, and one or more specific data bits constituting the command data are selected by the peripheral control unit selection. If it is used as a signal and at least a part of the remaining data bits is used as a command content specifying signal for specifying the command content, the command signal corresponds to itself only by checking the specific bit. Whether or not there is can be easily identified.

Along with the command signal transmitted from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit, a peripheral control unit selection signal for selecting a peripheral control unit to be an operation instruction target is transmitted via the common signal transmission path. It can be transmitted to the target peripheral control unit. By using the peripheral control section selection signal, the same command signal can be used by multiple peripheral control sections to indicate different command contents, and a small number of command signals can be used to multiplex multiple peripheral control sections. It can respond to various control modes.

In this case, in response to the command signal transmitted from the main control unit to the signal transmission path, a peripheral control unit selection signal for selecting a peripheral control unit to be an operation instruction target is set to a common signal transmission path. If the signal is transmitted to the peripheral control unit to be actuated by the peripheral control unit selection signal transmission path provided separately, the bus width of the common signal transmission path for transmitting the command signal can be made constant. Also, it is possible to easily cope with an increase in design change of the peripheral control unit. Further, the transmission path of the command signal has a fixed bus width (for example, 8 bits),
When the transmission of the peripheral control unit selection signal is performed by another path, the processing efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where the bus width is increased in consideration of the number of transmission bits of the peripheral control unit selection signal.

The peripheral control section selection signal transmission path can be shared between the peripheral control sections, or another peripheral control section selection signal transmission path may be provided for each peripheral control section. In the former case, command data including a plurality of data bit strings are transmitted as command signals from the main control unit via a common signal transmission path (for example, a data bus), while the peripheral control unit selection signal is different from the command data. It can be transmitted in the form of a data signal of one or more bits of the system (for example, an address signal).

In the latter case, command data composed of a plurality of data bit strings is transmitted from the main control unit to the signal transmission path via the common signal transmission path as a command signal, while the peripheral control unit selection signal is , Can be transmitted to the corresponding peripheral control unit by a strobe signal individually issued for each peripheral control unit. As a result, the port for command signal output can be shared between the peripheral control units on the main control unit side, and the peripheral control unit selection signal becomes a strobe signal having one bit. The circuit configuration for signal output is also simplified.

In this case, it is possible to provide a strobe signal generating means for transmitting a strobe signal only to the peripheral control unit which is an operation command target in response to a command from the main control unit.
By doing so, the port for strobe signal generation can be unified on the main control unit side, and the circuit configuration is further simplified. Further, when the command signal is transmitted by a separate path for each peripheral control unit, it is necessary to assign an independent address to each peripheral control unit, so that the configuration of the address decoding circuit on the main control unit becomes extremely complicated. However, in the above configuration, it is sufficient to select the command signal common output port and the strobe signal generation port, so that the configuration of the address decoding circuit can be extremely simplified. When the main control section is formed on the main control board, the strobe signal generating means can be provided on the main control board.

Next, in order to solve the above-mentioned second problem, a second control method of the gaming machine of the present invention is an auxiliary control object which is a control object which is not related to a prize ball acquisition interest of a player. And two or more sets of auxiliary control means for controlling the operation of each set of auxiliary control objects are provided corresponding to one peripheral control unit, and the two or more auxiliary control means are provided by the peripheral control unit. The control operation is performed according to a command from a common control command entity provided in the control device.

A second embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine employing the second of the above control methods.

By adopting this method, it becomes possible to integrate peripheral control units irrespective of interest in obtaining award balls,
The electrical configuration can be simplified. In this case, those auxiliary control means can be mounted on a peripheral control board on which a corresponding peripheral control unit is mounted.
The auxiliary control target includes, for example, a lamp lighting mechanism and a sound output mechanism provided in the gaming machine, and includes a lamp control means and a sound control means for controlling the operation of the lamp lighting mechanism and the sound output mechanism. , Corresponding to the same peripheral control unit. This eliminates the need to separately provide a peripheral control unit (or a peripheral control board) for lamp control and voice control, which contributes to cost reduction.
The second control method of the gaming machine of the present invention (or the gaming machine using the same) can be combined with the first control method (or the gaming machine using the same).

Next, in order to solve the third problem, a third aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention is that a power supply system to each section of the gaming machine is connected to a first type operating section including at least a driving control section. A first power supply system and a second power supply system to a second-type operation unit that is an operation unit including a part or all of a passive control unit that performs a processing operation in response to a command signal from the main control unit. At least 2
The second power supply system is configured to be able to cut off the power while maintaining the state of power supply to the first power supply system. For example,
The first power supply system is, for example, a power supply system to an operating unit related to a player's interest in obtaining a prize ball, and the second power supply system is an operating unit not related to a player's interest in obtaining a prize ball. The power supply system can be exemplified, but it is not always necessary to strictly classify the system from the viewpoint of the interest in obtaining the prize balls, and the viewpoint of the classification is not limited to this.

According to this, even when exchanging frame parts (parts related to the second-type operation unit) which are not related to the interest in obtaining the prize ball, the prize ball of the player such as the payout mechanism of the prize ball is exchanged. Since the state of power supply to the first-type operating unit that is involved in the interests in acquisition can be maintained, the first-type operating unit is shut off and the power is shut off, causing troubles with the player It can be avoided beforehand. In addition, if the first-type operation unit includes first-type control information storage means for storing control information relating to a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball, the power of the second-type control object is shut off. However, as the power-on state to the first-type operating unit is maintained, information necessary for controlling the gaming machine involved in winning a prize ball is stored and held.
Using this, the required operation of the gaming machine can be continued without any problem.

The third configuration of the gaming machine can be combined with the first or second configuration.
Further, it is also possible to combine the first to third configurations with the following fourth configuration of the gaming machine. That is,
The fourth configuration is a prize ball detection unit that detects a prize ball, prize ball number information generating means that generates prize ball number information that is information on the number of prize balls to be paid out based on the prize ball detection signal,
Prize ball payout control means for causing the prize ball payout mechanism to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls based on the generated prize ball number information, and payout prize ball detection for detecting payout of prize balls by the prize ball payout control means. Prize ball payout that manages the payout of prize balls by the prize ball payout mechanism based on the mechanism, the prize ball number information generated by the prize ball count information generation means, and the payout prize ball detection information by the payout prize ball detection mechanism. Management means.

In the configuration of the above-mentioned ball game machine, each prize port for paying out a prize ball is provided on the gaming board, and a prize ball from a prize ball detection unit provided corresponding to each prize port is provided. Based on the ball detection signal, the number of prize balls to be paid out is generated as information. A predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to each winning opening are paid out according to the prize ball number information, and the number of the prize balls paid out is detected, and the prize ball number information and the actually paid out prize ball number are detected. I am trying to confirm.

In conventional ball game machines, the check of payout of prize balls is performed as follows. That is, a safe ball collecting gutter is connected to each of the winning ports, and the lower ends of these safe ball collecting gutters are gathered in a safe ball large collecting gutter formed in a funnel shape. At the lower end, a unitized winning re-detection processing means such as a winning ball discharging solenoid, a winning ball detecting lever, and a winning ball detecting switch is provided. The winning balls entering each of the winning ports are guided to the safe ball large collecting gutter, and when the winning ball number data of a predetermined number of payout balls are transmitted, the winning balls are paid out, and with the completion of the winning ball payout. Upon receiving the payout completion signal, the winning ball discharge solenoid is deactivated / excited to discharge one winning ball.

On the other hand, according to the above-mentioned ball game machine,
Since the number of prize balls can be paid out based only on the input of the prize ball detection signal from the prize ball detection processing means provided corresponding to the prize port provided on the game board, the above-described conventional prize ball payout system The winning ball re-detection processing means constituting one device becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Since the winning ball re-detection processing means is constituted by a mechanical mechanism having a large number of components as described above, the occurrence of a failure can be reduced by omitting the mechanism. Further, the third-party inspection organization can relatively easily inspect the ball-and-ball game machine, and can shorten the inspection time. For example, according to the above-described ball game machine, the mechanism of the prize ball re-detection processing is not required, so that the prize ball detected by the prize ball detection unit in response to the ball entering the prize port is detected again thereafter. It can be collected with the out ball without being caught. The prize ball payout management means may be configured to determine that the payout of prize balls has been completed when the detected number of payout spheres reaches the number of prize balls to be paid out. This is reasonable as a reliable prize ball payout confirmation process in place of the above.

More specifically, the prize ball payout management means includes a total prize ball number storage means for storing the total number of prize balls to be paid out, and every time a prize ball is detected, a corresponding prize ball number is totaled. The prize ball number adding means for adding to the total prize ball number stored in the ball number storage means, and the paid out prize balls number is stored in the total prize ball number storage means based on the detection information of the payout prize balls. Prize ball number subtraction means for subtracting from the total prize ball number, and manages whether or not the payout of the prize ball is completed based on the total prize ball number stored in the total prize ball number storage means. Things.

In an actual gaming machine, a prize ball often occurs continuously instead of spontaneously (especially at the time of a big hit, etc.), and before the payout of the prize ball to the previous prize ball is completed, the next prize ball is not completed. Often occurs.
In this case, as described above, the number of prize balls of the prize balls for which the prize ball payout has not been completed is stored in a pooled form as the total number of prize balls, and when a new prize ball is generated, this is handled. While the number of awarded balls is added to the total number of awarded balls, the number of paid out award balls changes every moment if the number of awarded balls is subtracted from the total number of awarded balls based on detection information of the awarded balls. A) The total number of prize balls can be accurately grasped, and delays in paying out prize balls due to troubles such as clogged balls can be quickly detected.

The above-mentioned gaming machine has a main control section functioning as prize ball number information generating means and a prize ball payout managing means, and a frame control section functioning as a prize ball payout control means (this is one of peripheral control sections). The prize ball number information from the main control unit is transferred to the frame control unit in one direction, and the frame control unit sends a prize ball payout mechanism to the prize ball payout mechanism based on the prize ball number information. While the payout of the ball is performed, the detection information of the payout prize ball from the payout prize ball detection mechanism attached to the prize ball payout mechanism may be transmitted to the main control unit.

In a conventional gaming machine, with respect to the generation of a payout prize ball generated upon detection of a prize, fundamental factors that require a prize ball re-detection process for confirming a prize ball payout are as follows. Depends on the background. In other words, in many gaming machines, a command for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls by receiving a prize detection is performed by a main control unit that controls the operation processing of the entire gaming machine, but in order to reduce the processing load, The frame control unit different from the main control unit is configured to control the execution operation of the prize ball payout by actually performing the prize ball payout mechanism in response to the instruction of the winning ball payout. That is, the control subject of the prize ball payout command and the control subject of the execution of the prize ball payout are formed separately.

In this case, in order to check whether or not the instructed prize ball payout has actually been executed, a system in which the frame control unit returns a payout completion signal to the main control unit as the prize ball payout is completed. Is the most rational and straightforward method.
However, if such a two-way communication between the main control unit and the frame control unit is performed, the signal transmission system becomes complicated, and it becomes difficult to find unauthorized control. According to the standard, only one-way signal transmission from the main control unit to the peripheral control units including the frame control unit is permitted. Therefore, the method of returning the payout completion signal from the frame control unit to the main control unit as described above may not be practically adopted.

Therefore, conventionally, the operation of the winning ball discharge solenoid included in the above-mentioned winning ball re-detection processing mechanism is controlled by the frame control unit, and when the payout of the winning ball is completed, the frame control unit operates the solenoid. Encourage the prize balls to be discharged. And
When the winning ball is discharged, the winning ball detection switch connected to the main control unit is activated, and the main control unit confirms the payout of the winning ball. That is, instead of performing direct signal transmission from the frame control unit to the main control unit, the main control unit was made to recognize the completion of the prize ball payout through the mechanical movement of the winning ball by the operation of the solenoid. is there. However, it has already been mentioned that this mechanism has a complicated mechanism of the re-detection processing of the winning ball, which leads to a rise in the price of the gaming machine. In addition, the direct confirmation of the prize ball payout can only be performed by the frame control unit, but this is incorrectly confirmed by the influence of noise or the like, and if the solenoid malfunctions, the main control unit There is no way of recognizing the prize ball, and as a result, there occurs a problem that the prize ball is not normally paid out.

Therefore, when the control sharing is divided between the main control section and the frame control section, as described above,
The detection information of the payout prize ball from the payout prize ball detection mechanism (not controlled by the frame control unit) is transmitted to the main control unit. Since the payout prize ball detection mechanism itself only needs to detect the spatial movement of the ball accompanying the payout, for example, as described later, a prize ball payout sensor provided on the payout cam, or a limit switch, a proximity sensor, or an optical sensor. It can be easily configured by a known sensor such as a sensor. The main control unit can more directly detect the flow of the prize ball payout based on the signal from the payout prize ball detection mechanism, so that the prize ball payout can always be accurately grasped. In addition, if the first aspect of the present invention is adopted as a signal transmission method between the main control unit and the peripheral control unit including the frame control unit, even if the number of the peripheral control units increases, the signal line system And the circuit configuration can be greatly simplified.

In the above-mentioned ball game machine, preferably, a specific number of prize balls is defined as a unique prize ball number corresponding to each winning opening, and the prize ball payout control means comprises: A prize ball number command output means for outputting a prize ball number setting signal corresponding to the winning ball detection signal in the input order of the detection signal, and corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal in the input order of the prize ball number setting signal. Unique prize ball number data storage means for storing and storing the unique prize ball number data to be read, and read out the unique prize ball number data stored and stored in the unique prize ball number data means in order from the one stored first. The payout mechanism pays out a corresponding number of prize balls in the reading order.

In the above configuration, the prize ball payout control means sequentially determines the number of corresponding prize balls (the number of unique prize balls) to the prize ball payout means in accordance with the detection order of the winning balls finally entering each winning port. Since the payout control is performed, the player can easily know how many prize balls have been obtained. Therefore, the transparency of the game to the player can be secured.

In the electronic control device of the ball-and-ball game machine, when the ball enters each winning port, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out in accordance with the prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detector is stored in the main controller. The data is temporarily stored and transmitted to the frame control unit as prize ball number data. For this reason, the main control unit needs a buffer for storing a certain number of winning balls in the order of winning. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of award ball number data corresponding to each winning opening is temporarily stored in the order of winning, and each time, the frame control is performed. The storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) is released each time a prize ball is paid out in the section.

However, usually, the main control unit secures a work area for the current main program, and an area for supplying a buffer area other than the work area to a buffer area is limited. Therefore, when the frequency of the winning prize balls entering the winning prize increases, for example, the large prize winning prize is a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10).
For example, when the game ball is released until the game ball enters, the amount of prize ball number data to be stored increases and the storage capacity of the buffer becomes insufficient.

Therefore, the unique prize ball number data corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal includes a fixed number of data bits, and the combination of the data bits corresponds one-to-one with the number of prize balls to be paid out. It may be stored in the form of a set of bits. Since the prize ball number data corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal is stored and stored in the prize ball number data storage means for each preset bit unit,
You can use a relatively small amount of memory,
The effect on other memories can be minimized.

As one of the preferred embodiments, the unique prize ball number data storage means stores a set of bits from one side of a column of bit storage cells formed in series in an input order. When extracting a predetermined number of data bits from the other side of the stored bit string,
This can be a bit set indicating the number of unique prize balls to be paid out.

By setting the bit set to less than 1 byte, for example, the number of bits to any one of 1, 2, and 4 which is a divisor of 8, a plurality of bit sets can be stored in a 1-byte buffer. Can be stored without occurring. In this case, the unique prize ball number data storage means stores, in the order of input, a bit set from one side of the column of bit storage cells formed in series, and the other side of the stored bit sequence. When a predetermined number of data bits are extracted from the data bits, this becomes a bit set representing the number of unique prize balls to be paid out. The number of bits included in the bit set is preferably 2 bits, and the storage capacity in the 1-byte buffer is quadrupled by using these 2 bits as the number of prize balls to be paid out. Will be usable.

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Here, the structure of the first-type pachinko machine (ball game machine) of the so-called fever machine type will be described as an example of the ball game machine with reference to FIGS. The front part of the pachinko machine 1 includes a main body frame 2, a middle frame 3, a front frame 4, an upper plate 5,
It comprises a lower plate 6 and a locking device 7. The main body frame 2 is formed by assembling and fixing a wooden plate-like body into a substantially rectangular frame shape. The middle frame 3 is entirely made of plastic and has a frame body (not shown) and a lower plate (not shown).
Are fitted and attached to the inner peripheral side of the.

In this case, the frame portion is approximately two-thirds downward from the upper end.
It is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape, and has a prize ball display LED (not shown) and a prize ball display LED board 4d on the left side at the upper end corresponding to the frame decoration lamp lens 4b of the front frame 4.
(See FIG. 16), a stop display LED (not shown) and a stop display LED board 4f (see FIG. 16) are provided on the right side.

Further, the lower plate portion is approximately 1/3 upward from the lower end.
A speaker 400 (FIG. 16) for generating a sound effect or other sound (hereinafter referred to as audio information or the like) according to the game state in order to correspond to the speaker surface 5a formed on the upper plate portion 5 at the left end. ) Is disposed, and approximately at the center, a firing plate unit 8 (see FIG. 5) for firing game balls is provided with an upper plate portion 5.
A supply device (not shown) for supplying the game balls stored in the game device is provided. Further, a lower plate 6 is provided below, and a locking device 7 is provided at the center of the right end.

The lower tray portion 6 is provided with an ashtray, a ball-drawing lever, and the like, is provided with a discharge port 6c for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1, and has a firing handle 9 for operating the firing unit 8 at the right end. Is provided. A touch switch 9a for detecting that the player is touching is mounted on the firing handle 9, and a fire stop switch 9b for temporarily instructing a stop of the fire is arranged near the touch switch 9a. The locking device 7 has a substantially rectangular shape provided with a keyhole when viewed from the front, and is used for locking when the front frame 4 is closed.

The front frame 4 is entirely made of plastic, and has a substantially arc-shaped upper side corresponding to the shape of the game area 11 formed on the game board 10 so that the game board 10 can be visually recognized from the front. Has an opening 4a formed in a substantially bullet shape. A substantially rectangular glass frame (not shown) in which a glass plate is fitted according to the opening 4a is mounted on the back surface. The front frame 4 occupies ２ of the entire front of the pachinko machine 1 and is pivotally mounted on the left end of the middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. Further, a frame decoration lamp lens 4b is provided at the upper end, and a plurality of gaming effect lamps 601 to 6 are provided on both sides of the lens 4b.
04 is provided.

The upper plate 5 is pivotally attached to the left end of the middle frame 3 below the front frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. Dish outer edge 5
In d, a ball removal button, a game ball lending / returning button, and the like are provided. Further, an outlet 5c for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1 is provided. A speaker surface 5a having a plurality of long holes is formed on the left end, and a volume switch board 12 (see FIG. 16) is provided on the back surface. On the left end side of the pachinko machine 1, a prepaid card unit 13 is mounted.

Next, the surface structure of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The game board 10 is a substantially rectangular wooden plate-like body, held by a back mechanism board 100 (see FIG. 5) described later, and provided with an outer rail 1 provided on its surface.
In the game area 11 formed in a substantially circular shape by the 4 and the inner rail 15, a special symbol display device 16, a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17, a variable winning device 18, and an upper left winning port 19, upper right winning opening 20, lower left winning opening 21, lower right winning opening 22, a large number of obstacle nails 23, and a pair of lamp windmills 2
4, 25, a pair of windmills 26, 27, etc. are arranged and configured.

The special symbol display device 16 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the game area 11 and includes a center accessory 28 and a liquid crystal display panel 29. Here, the liquid crystal display panel 29 is for variably displaying a plurality of types of special symbols (not shown) and the like, and its video screen has a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the liquid crystal display panel 29 has a game ball having a first-class starting port (ordinary electric accessory).
By entering the ball 17, each special symbol displayed on the video screen is changed and stopped and displayed. Then, for example, when the symbols are stopped and displayed with the same three-digit symbol of “7, 7, 7”, a large winning device 30 described later provided in the variable winning device 18 is opened. Also,
The center role object 28 is mounted on the periphery of the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel 29 so as to protrude in a frame shape, and includes a normal symbol display device 31, wing portions 32 and 33, and a stage 34.

The normal symbol display device 31 is the center accessory 2
8, a 7-segment display 31a arranged at the upper center,
And a normal symbol hold display LED 31b. Also,
On both sides of the ordinary symbol display device 31, wing portions 32, 33 extending in a substantially wing shape are provided. further,
On the lower side, special symbol holding display LEDs 35 are provided, which are constituted by four round green LEDs and are arranged horizontally in a row. In this system, the number of game balls that have entered the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is held up to four, and each ball is sequentially turned on and shifted to the left. Then, each time the next special symbol starts to fluctuate on the liquid crystal display panel 29, the number of unstarted times is exhausted, and one special symbol hold display LED 35 is turned off.

The 7-segment display 31a displays odd numbers 1 to 9 in a variably manner, and fluctuates when a game ball passes through one of the left and right ordinary symbol operating passages 36, 37 described later. After a lapse of a predetermined time, one kind of odd number is stopped and displayed. Then, when the stop is displayed at, for example, “7”, the first-type start port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second).

The normal symbol hold display LED 31b is composed of four round red LEDs, and is a seven-segment display 31.
The two parts are arranged on both sides of a. this is,
The number of game balls that have passed through the left and right ordinary symbol operation passage openings 36 and 37 is held up to four, and each time they pass, they are sequentially lit and shifted and displayed. Each time the next 7-segment display 31a starts to display the fluctuation, the number of times of non-start is exhausted, and 1
The ordinary symbol hold display LEDs 31b are turned off.

As described above, the wings 32 and 33 are formed in a hollow shape from the upper part to the side part of the center role 28, and a plurality of game effect lamps 38 (FIG.
See also). In addition, at the upper end of each outer portion, there is provided a normal symbol operation passage opening 36, 37 for a game ball on each of the left and right sides. , These passages 3
A not-shown passage cylinder is provided between each of the passages 6 and 37 and the passage outlet. Then, the game balls entered from the respective passage openings 36 and 37 are left and right normal symbol operation passage opening passage detection switches 36s and 37s (see FIG. 4).
, Passes through each passage cylinder, jumps out of each passage outlet, and rolls on the stage 34. The stage 34 is disposed below the center role 28, and is formed in a partly inclined shape so that the game balls from the respective exits are gathered toward the center and flow down on the game board 10 surface. In addition, the normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 36s of the game ball, 3s,
The 7-segment display 31a of the ordinary symbol display device 31 is variably displayed by any passage of 7s.

The first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is disposed immediately below the center of the stage 34 of the center accessory 28 in the special symbol display device 16. Are formed to open and close. Inside, a first-class start-up port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s for detecting the passage of a game ball (see FIG. 4)
Is provided. When this pair of wing pieces open left and right,
When the game ball enters the easily opened state and the pair of wings closes, the game ball enters the normal state easily.

The variable winning device 18 is disposed below the first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 and has a large winning device 30 and a left side on a substrate 41 having a substantially inverted trapezoidal front surface. A ball entrance 42 and a right ball entrance 43 are provided. Here, the special winning device 30 is formed substantially in the center, and has a large winning opening 44 opened in a belt shape, an opening / closing plate 39 for opening and closing the large winning opening 44, and an opening / closing plate 39 for opening and closing the opening / closing plate 39. A special winning opening solenoid 45 (see FIG. 4), an interlocking rod (not shown),
It includes a specific area opening / closing shutter (not shown), an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for operating the specific area opening / closing shutter, a specific area (not shown), and an area outside the specific area (not shown).

The left entrance 42 is disposed diagonally above and to the left of the special winning device 30, and a left entrance passage detection switch 42s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. Further, the right entrance 43 is disposed diagonally above and to the right of the special winning device 30, and a right entrance passage detection switch 43s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. The out port 46 is disposed immediately below the center of the big winning device 30 in the variable winning device 18. The back ball preventing member 47 is provided below the out port 46, and prevents a game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the firing position. The foul ball prevention member 48 is attached to the tip of the inner rail 15, and the return rubber 49 is located on the right half side of the game board 10, substantially opposite to the position of the foul ball prevention member 48, and It is attached along the rail 14 in a fitting manner.

A pair of lamp windmills 24 and 25 are respectively
The special symbol display device 16 is disposed diagonally upward and downward from left to right. The upper left winning opening 19 and the upper right winning opening 20 are respectively disposed on the left and right sides from the special symbol display device 16.
The lower left winning opening 21 and the lower right winning opening 22 are respectively disposed diagonally below left and right from the special symbol display device 16.

The pair of windmills 26 and 27 are located on both left and right sides of the special symbol display device 16 and between the special symbol display device 16 and the upper left winning opening 19 or the upper right winning opening 20. The pair of side lamps 50 and 51 are disposed at both left and right ends of the game area 11 symmetrically in a vertical band. In addition, a large number of obstacle nails 23 are provided in the game area 11 so as to be suitable for the pachinko game in consideration of the positional balance with the above-described devices.

Next, various LEDs and lamps located on the game board 10 of this embodiment and their substrates will be described with reference to FIG. In the game area 11 of the game board 10, a normal symbol display device 31 provided in the center character 28 is provided.
, A substantially rectangular substrate 31f for four round ordinary symbol holding display LEDs 31b is provided. Under the board 31f, around the left and right wings 32, 33, four round special symbol holding display LEDs 35 and four game effect lamps 38 board 35f are provided. I have. The position of the pair of lamp windmills 24 and 25 is 2
Substantially circular substrates 24f, 2c provided with a plurality of round game effect lamps 24r, 25r on both sides of each lamp windmill shaft, respectively.
5f is provided. Also, a pair of side lamps 5
At the positions of 0 and 51, three round game effect lamps 50 are provided.
r and 51r are arranged in a column, and side lamp substrates 50f and 51f in a substantially vertical band shape are provided.

At the position of the upper left winning opening 19, a substantially V-shaped upper left winning opening substrate 19 f provided with a round game effect lamp 19 r substantially at the center, and at the position of the upper right winning opening 20. A substantially V-shaped upper right winning opening board 20f having one round game effect lamp 20r substantially at the center is provided respectively. Further, at the position of the lower left winning opening 21, a substantially U-shaped lower left winning opening substrate 21 f provided substantially at the center with one round game effect lamp 21 r is located, and at the position of the lower right winning opening 22,
A substantially U-shaped lower right winning opening board 22f having a single round game effect lamp 22r substantially at the center is provided respectively. Further, at the position of the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17, a substantially U-shaped first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) provided with two round game effect lamps 17r in parallel. Substrate 17
f is provided.

Next, the arrangement of a game ball path, switches, and the like on the back side of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the center of the game board 10, there is provided a substantially horizontal elliptical through hole 28h for attaching a center role, and a diagonally upper right and left side of the center role mounting hole 28h is provided for mounting a circular lamp windmill. On the left and right sides of the through holes 24h and 25h, a substantially Darman-shaped upper left winning opening mounting through hole 19h and an upper right winning opening mounting through hole 20h are provided diagonally below the left and right sides.
A substantially elliptical lower left winning opening mounting through hole 21h and a lower right winning opening mounting through hole 22h have a substantially inverted truncated conical first type starting opening mounting through hole 17h immediately below the center. Each is provided. In addition, outside the upper left winning opening mounting through hole 19h and the upper right winning opening mounting through hole 20h, respectively, there are vertically elongated side lamp mounting through holes 50h and 51h.
h is provided. Further, a substantially inverted trapezoid-shaped variable winning device mounting through hole 18h is provided below the first type starting port mounting through hole 17h.

Also, the first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17
A first-type start port (normally-powered accessory) solenoid 52 is disposed on the back side of the vehicle, and a first-type start-up port (normally-powered accessory) winning detection switch 17s is disposed therein as described above. It is established. As described above, the normal symbol operation passage opening detection switches 36s and 37s are disposed inside the left and right ordinary symbol operation passage openings 36 and 37, respectively.
Furthermore, the special winning device 30 formed in the variable winning device 18
A large winning opening solenoid 45 for opening and closing the opening / closing plate 39 and an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for operating the specific area opening / closing shutter are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the large winning opening 44. A count passage detection switch 53 and a count detection / specific region passage detection switch 54 are also provided in the region outside the specific region and in the specific region. As described above, the left entrance opening passage switch 42s and the right entrance opening passage detection switch 43s are provided inside the left entrance opening 42 and the right entrance opening 43, respectively.

Further, on the back side of the gaming board 10, an upper left winning opening 19, a lower left winning opening 21, a first-type starting opening (ordinary electric accessory) 17, and a left entrance opening 42 are provided in a mechanical panel 100 to be described later. Connected left safe ball collecting gutter 55 and upper right winning opening 2
0, a right safe ball collecting gutter 56 connecting the lower right winning opening 22 and the right ball entrance 43 is connected. In addition, out mouth 4
6, an out-ball collecting gutter 58 is disposed in a funnel shape from the back side.

Next, the back surface structure of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The front frame 4 is in the middle frame 3 and is supported by a pair of hinges 101 provided at the upper and lower ends of the front frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. The mechanism board 102 is supported by a pair of hinges 103 provided at the upper and lower ends of the mechanism board 102 in the middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. On the left side when viewed from the position of the hinge 101 on the upper end side, a tank ball out detection switch 10 is provided.
A prize ball tank 105 having a tank No. 4 at the tank bottom and a tank rail 106 connected to the prize ball tank 105 are attached. A ball release lever 107 is provided on the right side of the tank rail 106, and on the downstream side thereof,
The supply ball exhaustion detection sensor 108 is further provided with a prize ball payout device 109 (prize ball payout mechanism) downstream thereof.

Subsequently, a game ball distribution unit 110 is provided downstream of the prize ball payout device 109. On the downstream side of the tank rail 106, a back case 111 with a lid storing the liquid crystal display panel 29 in the special symbol display device 16 is provided.
Below the back case 111, a main control unit 14 described later is provided.
Main control board cases 112 each storing a main control board 340 where 0 (see FIG. 16) is formed are provided. On the left side of the main control board case 112, a launcher control board case 11 containing a launcher control board (not shown) is stored.
3. A touch sensitivity adjustment knob 114, a ball flying strength adjustment knob 115, and a launch control collective relay board 116 are provided.

In the lower left portion of the mechanism panel 102, the above-described firing device unit 8 is also provided. 7-segment LE for abnormalities, prize ball motor abnormalities, etc.
A frame control board case 118 provided with a frame status indicator 117 for displaying D is provided. Here, the frame control unit 150
A frame control board 350 (first peripheral control board) on which a first peripheral control base (see FIG. 16) is formed is stored. Also,
A special symbol control board 360 (second peripheral control board) on which a special symbol control section 160 (see FIG. 16: second peripheral control section) for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal display panel 29 of the special symbol display device 16 is provided. A lamp control board 370 (third peripheral control board) on which a lamp control section 170 (see FIG. 16: third peripheral control section) is formed, which controls the lamps, and controls sound output control from the speaker 400. Voice control unit 180
A lamp audio board 380 (third peripheral control board) on which a fourth peripheral control section (see FIG. 16) is formed is also attached.

On the other hand, at the upper right end of the mechanical panel 102, there are a fuse box 119, a power switch 120, a power terminal board 121 and a gaming machine such as a jackpot, a launch device control, a ball out, a door open, a prize ball, and a ball rental. A terminal board 122 provided with a frame external connection terminal is provided. Further, a main power cable 123 for receiving supply of electric power from the outside is also provided below the terminal board 122. The connection cable 12 is connected to the frame control board case 118 in which the frame control board is stored.
4 extends upward and is connected to a prepaid card unit 13 having a power cable 125. A ball passage member 12 for the lower plate portion is provided at a substantially central lower end portion of the mechanism panel 102.
6 are provided.

Next, the back mechanism board 100 of the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. At the upper part of the back mechanism panel 100, a winning ball tank 105 provided with a tank ball detecting switch 104 at the bottom of the tank, and a tank rail 106 connected to the winning ball tank 105 are mounted. Further, a supply ball exhaustion detection switch 108 is provided at an intermediate position of the tank rail 106, and a prize ball payout device 10 is provided downstream thereof.
9 are provided. Subsequently, the game ball distribution unit 11
0 is provided on the downstream side of the prize ball payout device 109. A lower plate full switch 127 is provided on the downstream side of the tank rail 106, and the guide rail 131 is
Ball passage member 1 for the lower plate portion provided substantially at the lower end of the center of the ball 00
26. An amplifier board 128 is attached to the lower right part of the back mechanism panel 100, and a reset switch 129 is provided outside the amplifier board 128.

Next, the flow path of the safe ball of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the left safe ball collecting gutter 55 and the right safe ball collecting gutter 56 has a flow path of a safe ball whose lower end portion is formed in a gentle downward slope or a step shape, Further, their lower portions are opened, and are communicated from the back side of the out port 46 to out ball collecting gutters 58 arranged in a funnel shape. FIG.
The upper right winning opening 20 and the lower right winning opening 22 are formed on a passage 57 formed in a stepwise manner at the lower end of the right safe ball collecting gutter 56.
And the safe ball that has entered the right entry opening 43 is flowing down to the out ball collecting gutter 58 while rolling. FIG. 9 shows the passage 5 formed in the out ball collecting gutter 58.
7 shows a form in which a safe sphere flows down.

Next, the prize ball payout device 109 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 10, the prize ball payout device 109 receives a prize ball flowing down on the guide rail 223, and drives a cam 210 for paying out one prize ball and a cam shaft 211 of the cam 210. The motor 212 and the camshaft 2
11, a rotating disk 213 having a plurality of slits formed in parallel with the cam 210;
3, a prize ball payout sensor 214 that detects the rotation angle of the cam 210, a prize ball payout device sensor board 215 to which the prize ball payout sensor 214 is attached,
It is composed of a case main body 217 for storing these parts and a case lid 216 thereof.

In this embodiment, the cam 210 is provided with four convex portions 210a at predetermined angular intervals, for example, every 90 degrees in a direction perpendicular to the cam shaft 211, and FIG.
As shown in (c), the prize sphere is temporarily placed in the recess formed between the convex portions 210a, and when the camshaft 211 is rotated 90 degrees, the prize ball in the concave portion between the convex portions 210a of the cam 210 is formed. The ball will be paid out. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, two rows of ball passages 218 are provided in parallel so that the guide rail 223 is provided with a partition wall to allow the prize balls to flow down in order to enhance the payout ability of the prize balls. Therefore, the camshaft 211 receives a winning ball to be paid out, and two cams 210 change the mounting angle in a direction orthogonal to the camshaft 211 in order to pay out one winning ball (this embodiment). (In the example, 90 degrees).

Each of the ball passages 218 is formed in a meandering state in front of the camshaft 211 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and is formed between the projection 219 of the ball passage 218 and the cam 210 formed thereby. At intervals, the payout of one prize ball is regulated. In this embodiment, the camshaft 2
11 includes two cams 210 in parallel as described above.
Are mounted at different mounting angles, so that the camshaft 2
11 is rotated by 90 degrees, two prize balls, one in each ball passage 218, and one camshaft 211
If rotated, a total of eight prize balls will be paid out, four each.

The motor 212 is driven according to the winning ball to be paid out, and the rotation of the camshaft 211 is controlled based on this driving. The number of rotations of the cam shaft 211 is determined by the prize ball payout sensor 214 photoelectrically detecting slit positions formed on the rotating disk 213 at predetermined angular intervals (for example, 45 degrees). The obtained number of rotations is fed back to the motor 212 and counted as the number of payouts of the prize balls as described above. For example, in the case of paying out 15 prize balls, seven prize balls shaded in one ball path 218 shown in FIG. 13A and the other ball path 218 shown in FIG. In, the eight awarded balls with diagonal lines are to be paid out, and the camshaft 211 rotates by one rotation and 7/8,
At this time, the prize ball payout sensor 214 has counted the slit 15 times. After the rotation of the camshaft 211, seven prize balls are paid out in one ball passage 218 shown in FIG. 14A, and the next prize ball to be paid out is a projection of the cam 210 and a protrusion of the ball passage 218. 219 is regulated. In the other ball passage 218 shown in FIG. 14B, eight prize balls are paid out, and the next prize ball is put in a recess formed between the convex portions 210a of the cam 210 (see FIG. 14B). See also FIG. 12).

As the prize ball payout sensor 214, in addition to the above-described mode of photoelectrically detecting the slit, a groove 220 is formed on the circumference of the rotating disk 213 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to detect the groove 220 in a non-contact state by the proximity switch 221 or to detect the groove 220 in a contact state by the micro switch 222 as shown in FIG. Instead of detecting the rotation of the camshaft 211, the prize ball to be paid out can be directly detected by a limit switch, a proximity sensor, a photoelectric tube, or the like provided in the prize ball passage.

Next, the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the electronic control unit 130 includes a main control unit 140 and a frame control unit 150, a special symbol control unit 160, and a lamp control unit serially connected to the main control unit 140 by a shared bus 500 that is a common signal transmission path. Unit 170 and voice control unit 18
0 is included. The four control units 150, 160, 170, 180 other than the main control unit constitute first to fourth peripheral control units as described above.

The main control unit 140 is provided with the CPU 141 and the RA
The M142, the ROM 143, and the input / output port 144 are mutually connected by a bus 145. And
The CPU 141 uses the control program stored in the ROM 143 to control the operation of the entire pachinko machine 1 using the RAM 142 as a work area (that is, the basic progress control of the game).
Govern In addition, the CPU 141 plays a leading role in performing a win / fail determination control based on a signal from the winning detection switch 17 s of the first type start-up port by a win / fail determination program stored in the ROM 143. The above-mentioned shared bus 500 is connected to the input / output port 144, and the peripheral control unit 15 is connected to the shared bus 500 from the input / output port 144 as described later.
Command data as command signals for instructing processing contents are transmitted to 0, 160, 170, and 180. The main control unit 1
From 40, each peripheral control unit 150, 160, 170, 180
Is transmitted in a one-way format. The power supply terminal board 121 is connected to the main control unit 140. It is apparent that the main control unit 140 is itself a first-type operation unit that is concerned with a player's interest in acquiring prize balls.

On the relay board 200, a right normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 37s, a left normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 36s, a count detection switch 53, a count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, a left ball entrance Passage detection switch 42s, right entrance opening detection switch 4
3s and the like are connected, and the output terminal of the relay board 200 is connected to the input / output port 144. In addition, a first-type start-up port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17 s is also connected to the input / output port 144. Touch switch 9
a, firing stop switch 9b, volume switch 20
2. The tank out-of-ball detection switch 104, the supply ball out switch 108, and the like are connected to the frame terminal board 200a, and the input / output terminals thereof are connected to the frame controller 150.

The frame control unit 150 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 151 to 155 as the main control unit 140.
The input / output port 154 is connected to the shared bus 500. In addition, the input / output port 154 includes a normal symbol display device substrate 31f, various solenoids 40 for controlling the operation of the accessory,
45, the prize ball payout device 109, the launching device control board 201, and the like are connected. The frame control unit 150, the normal symbol display device board 31f (and the ordinary symbol display device 31 connected thereto), various solenoids 45, 5
2. The prize ball payout device 109, the launching device control board 201 (and the launching device connected thereto) and the like constitute a passive control unit. In addition, the RAM 152 forms a first-type control information storage unit that stores control information related to a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball.

The special symbol control unit 160 includes a main control unit 140
, And are connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 164. The input / output port 164 has a liquid crystal display panel 2
9 is connected.

The lamp control unit 170 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 171 to 175 as the main control unit 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 174. The input / output port 174 includes a frame decoration lamp board 4g, various lamp boards 17f, 20f, 21f, and 22.
f, 24f, 25f, 50f, and 51f, and various LED boards 4d, 4f, and 35f are connected. One or more lamps or LEDs are connected to each of these boards. In the present embodiment, for example, 32 lamps and LEDs (hereinafter, simply referred to as lamps and represented by reference numeral 410) are arranged in front of the gaming machine (for example, the game control shown in FIG. 1). Lamps 601 to 604 are also included). Some of these lamps always turn on and turn off a plurality of lamps at the same time, but here, a set of these lamps is regarded as one each.
These 32 lamps will light up as the game progresses.
Turns off or flashes. In addition, the lamp control unit 170 and various boards (and, by extension, lamps) connected to the lamp control unit 170 are all second-type operation units that do not contribute to the player's interest in acquiring prize balls.

The audio control unit 180 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 181 to 185 as the main control unit 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 and the volume switch board 12 are connected to the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 includes an LS (not shown).
Based on the audio data and the audio output module stored in the I or the like, various audio outputs corresponding to the progress of the game are performed from the speaker 400 connected thereto. The volume switch board 12 is operated by operating a volume switch (not shown).
The output volume is set for the sound generator 203. Note that the sound control unit 180 and the sound generator 203 and the like connected thereto are all second-type operation units that do not contribute to the player's interest in acquiring prize balls. Note that, in addition to the above, the launching device control unit and the like formed on the launching device control board correspond to the peripheral control unit.

Next, the prize ball operation is executed in the following order. When the game ball passes the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, the main control unit 140 outputs the fifteen prize ball number data to the first-class start-up port (normal electric accessory) prize detection switch 17s. When the ball has passed, six pieces of prize ball number data, otherwise, for example, the passage detection switches 42s of the left and right entrances 42, 43,
For example, when the passage of 43s is detected, the 10th winning ball number data is sent to the frame control unit 150 in the order of detection as a command signal for setting the frame control unit 150 as an operation command target, and the shared bus 500 is used. (That is, the number of unique prize balls is 6, 10, or 15 here).
Individual). The transmission form will be described later in detail. The frame control unit 150 receives the winning ball number data from the main control unit 140 and operates the winning ball payout device 109 by transmitting a winning ball payout signal.

The main control unit 140 determines the game state based on the outputs of the various detection switches described above, determines whether or not the game is valid based on the game state, and displays a corresponding symbol according to the content of the determination. Data for performing image display control in an aspect is created. For example, the main control unit 140
First-class starter (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17
s, using the detection results of the count detection switch 53, the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, etc., and the acquired value of the special symbol pass / fail judgment random number, etc. It is also determined that there is no start prize (variable preparation state), a start prize has been won, a special game state, and the like. In addition, when the start opening winning is detected, a win / no-go determination is made based on the random number value, and based on the determination result, data for controlling a display mode such as a change or confirmation of a special symbol is created. This data is transmitted via the above-described shared bus 500 as a command signal for setting the special symbol control unit 160 as an operation command target.

Further, various lamps such as the frame decoration lamp board 4g and the sound generator 203 are provided with a special symbol change / stop display mode controlled by the special symbol control unit 160,
The mode is controlled according to the presence / absence of reach, the reach display mode (full rotation, frame advance, reversal, pattern enlargement / reduction, etc.), the special game mode, and the game mode (probability fluctuation, time saving, etc.). You. The command signal of the control command is transmitted via the above-described shared bus 500 as a command signal for setting the lamp control unit 170 or the voice control unit 180 as an operation command target.

Next, the main controller 140 and the special symbol controller 1
The main jobs among the various jobs executed by the processes 60 and 60 will be described below. First, a main job executed by the main control unit 140 will be described with reference to FIG. This is executed by the CPU 141 based on a program stored in the ROM 143 of the main control unit 140. That is, the stack pointer is stored in RAM
After setting to the predetermined address of 142 (S10), the end of initialization is determined (S20). If the initialization is completed (S20: YES), the jobs from the LED job (S30) to the switch job (S70) are executed. If the initialization has not been completed (S20: N
O), an initialization job (190) is executed.

In the LED job (S30), the display mode data of the normal symbol and the normal symbol unstarted number, the display mode data of the special symbol unstarted number, and the like are output. In the constant speed random number job (S40), a special symbol hit / failure random number memory and a general-purpose count memory (not shown) in the RAM 142 are updated. In the non-constant-speed random number updating process (S50),
The out-of-ordinary symbol determining random number memory (not shown) is updated.
The general-purpose count memory (not shown) is used for creating values of “0” to “255” for each user reset, executing a command job, a decoration job, and the like. In the music creation job (S60), data relating to music and voice is created, and in the switch job (S70), various detection switches are read. That is, various signals such as a firing stop detection signal, a touch detection signal, a volume detection signal, a count detection signal, a specific area passage detection signal, a normal symbol operation passage opening detection signal, and a left and right entrance opening passage detection signal are transmitted through the relay board 200. Via the main control unit 140
In addition, a first-type starting port winning detection signal is received from the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s.

Further, it is determined whether or not the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54 has an abnormality (S80). If there is no abnormality (S80: YES), the special symbol main job (S90)
To the voice job (S110) are executed. If there is an abnormality (ball clogging, disconnection, etc.) (S8
0: NO), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the special symbol main job (S90), a job relating to data necessary for the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 to operate in cooperation is executed. This job will be described later. In the ordinary symbol main job (S100), display mode data of the ordinary symbol and the number of times the ordinary symbol has not been started is created. In the voice job (S110), voice data corresponding to the game state is output.

Thereafter, the count detection switch 53 is again activated.
Or count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54
It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (S120). If there is no abnormality (S120: YES), each flag state is set in the backup memory (S140), a prize ball signal job (S150), and an information signal job (S160). ), Command job (S170), and remaining time job (S180)
Is executed. If any of the switches are abnormal (S
120: NO), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the prize ball signal job (S150),
Data relating to payout of award balls is created and output. In the information signal job (S160), data necessary for outputting information to another control unit is created. Further, in the command job (S170), a command for special symbol management is input and output. In the remaining time job (S180), non-constant random numbers are called and a general-purpose random number memory (not shown) is used.
Is updated.

Next, the flow of the award ball total number storage job, which is executed in a series of the main job, will be described with reference to FIG. In S200, it is checked whether or not there is a winning ball in each winning opening, and if a positive determination is made (YES),
The winning prize ball payout number of the winning prize in S210 is 15
It is determined whether it is for individual use. If the determination is affirmative (YES),
Proceeding to S220, the remaining ball number counter indicates "1" as the number of prize balls.
5 "and skip to S270. Also, S21
If a negative determination is made at 0 (NO), the process proceeds to S230, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be paid out for the winning prize port is six. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S240, and “6” is added to the remaining ball number counter as the number of prize balls.
Skip to 270. Further, if a negative determination (NO) is made in S230, the process proceeds to S250, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be paid out of the winning prize port is ten. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S260, and "10" is added to the remaining ball counter as the number of winning balls.

Next, in S270, a prize ball number signal is transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150.
If a negative determination (NO) is made in S200 or S250, the process skips to S280. S280
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball is detected by the prize ball payout sensor 214 in the prize ball payout device 109. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S290, and “1” is subtracted from the remaining ball counter of the main control unit 140.

Next, a description will be given of a preferred embodiment of the prize ball number data storage job which is executed in a series of flows of the main job. Normally, in the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1, when the ball enters each winning port, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out in accordance with the prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detection unit is stored in the main control unit 140. , And send it to the frame control 150 side. For this reason, the main control unit 140 needs a buffer for storing a certain number of winning balls in the order of winning. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of award ball number data corresponding to each winning opening is temporarily stored in the order of winning, and each time, the frame control is performed. The storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) is released each time a prize ball is paid out in the section.

FIG. 22 shows a case where the winning order of the winning balls that have entered each winning opening is, for example, 6 paying wins → 15 paying wins → 15 paying wins → 6 paying wins → 6 paying wins. Thus, the storage of the number of prize balls to be paid out is sequentially accumulated. On the frame control unit 150 side, payout of prize balls is performed in the order in which the number of prize balls is stored. If the number of prize balls stored in the buffer and the storage capacity released along with the payout of the prize balls are processed in a well-balanced manner, the storage capacity of the buffer does not become insufficient, but the ball enters the winning opening. When the frequency of the winning balls increases, for example, when the large winning opening 44 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls, the memory is stored. A situation occurs in which the amount of prize ball number data to be increased becomes large and the storage capacity of the buffer becomes insufficient.

In the following, assuming that the large winning opening 44 has been won, the required storage capacity of the buffer is calculated based on specific numerical values. For example, the firing interval of the game balls is set to 0.
If 6 seconds / 1 time, one round is 8 seconds (10 counts + 2 seconds interval), the time during the big hit is 128 seconds for 16 rounds. On the other hand, the payout speed of the prize balls is set to 1 second per 15 payouts of the prize balls, so that 128 prize balls can be paid out. Since the number of prize balls during the big hit is 160 (16 rounds × 10), at the end of the big hit, 32 (160-128) prize balls are required as the storage capacity of the buffer. However, this calculation assumes that the prize balls are paid out normally, and in actuality, there is a possibility that the payout of the prize balls may be delayed due to ball exhaustion, ball clogging, ball lending processing, etc. Buffer is required.

However, when the work area of the main control unit 140 is about 256 bytes in total, it is necessary to secure a work area for the current main program. 30-50
Limited to a range of bytes. Accordingly, if payout balls are paid out in the winning order to each winning opening, it is considered that a buffer overflow frequently occurs in the above-described method.

Therefore, the concept that the minimum unit of the storage capacity stored in the buffer is 1 byte is wiped out, and a 2-bit unit set in advance as storage means for the award ball number data is used as the minimum unit of the storage capacity. If you use it with the storage capacity of the limited buffer area greatly increased,
Even if the award ball number data amount to be stored temporarily increases, the storage capacity does not become insufficient. In other words, by using 2 bits as the number data of prize balls to be paid out, the storage capacity in the buffer can be expanded and used four times. If these two bits are the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of prize ball number data is represented by two bits.
For example, if the number of payout balls is 6, "01b"; if the number of payout balls is 10, "10b"; if the number of payout balls is 15, "11b"; In this case, it becomes “00b”.

For example, the winning order of the winning balls entered into each winning opening is, as described above, 6 pay winnings → 15 paying winnings → 1
5 pay prize → 6 pay prize → 6 pay prize,
The buffer requires only 10 bits of storage capacity. FIG. 23 shows the winning order of these winning balls in chronological order, and the mode shown in this chronological order schematically represents a preferred embodiment of the prize ball number data storage job shown in FIG. It is. That is, the payout number of the prize balls is stored in the buffer in units of 2 bits, and is shifted to the left each time the next payout number data is stored. The shifted bit string is carried and stored every 8 bits (1 byte).

As described above, the storage capacity of the buffer is limited to 40 bytes as the area that can be provided as the buffer area is almost 40 bytes.
00 (50 bytes × 8 bits / 2 bits) award ball number data can be written. FIG. 24 (a), (b)
20 schematically shows the flow of the award ball number data storage and retrieval job shown in FIG. FIG. 24 (a) shows a state at the time of storage, in which the prize ball number data is sequentially added to the head of the data string without performing memory shift of the already stored prize ball number data. The winning order of the winning balls is stored.

On the other hand, FIG. 24 (b) shows the state at the time of memory retrieval, and the head (ie, the oldest) prize ball number data is always the head position of the buffer 0 (ie, offset 0 = 0, offset 0). 1 = 0), and the remaining bit string after extracting the two bits is right-justified memory-shifted in 2-bit units. As a result, the prize ball number data (“11”: 15 payouts) of the winning order is moved to the storage and retrieval position of the buffer 0, and the information on the number of prize balls to be paid out in 2-bit units is again arranged without gaps. Become. Instead of transferring the bit string every two bits, a storage area is separately set in the buffer,
It is also possible to temporarily save the bit string remaining in this area and transfer it for each block.

Hereinafter, a specific processing flow in FIGS. 23 and 24 will be described with reference to FIG. The offset in the description of the prize ball number data storage job and the prize ball number data storage and retrieval job shown in FIG. 20 means the following. In the main control unit 140,
An area other than the work area secured for the main program is used as a buffer area, and a storage buffer is allocated to this buffer area (or a buffer memory may be provided separately from the RAM 141). As shown in FIG. 21, this storage buffer has a storage capacity of 0 to 49 for each byte (8 bits). Are represented as a matrix-like offset table, with the arrangement direction of the offsets as offset 1. The minimum unit of storage capacity is 2
If it is a bit, the offset 0 is represented by “0” to “3”. The offset counter has a routine so that the position of the next vacant cell at the head where data is written becomes the offset number.

First, in S700 of FIG. 19, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal has been received. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S710. Proceed to S710 and offset 1
Is checked to see if the value is “50”. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the value of offset 1 is out of the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S720. If the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that there is data written in all of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and the winning prize ball is invalidated and skipped. In S720,
The value of offset 1 is added to the address of storage buffer 0, any one of storage buffers 0 to 49 is selected, and the address of the storage buffer to which data is to be written is selected.

In subsequent S730, the value of offset 0 is added to the selected storage buffer, and any one of the storages a to d is selected. In subsequent S740, it is determined whether or not the award ball number signal is “15”, and an affirmative determination (YES) is made.
If so, the process proceeds to S750, and “03h” is displayed in the selected area.
Is set. That is, data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is written in the selected storage area. In S760, “1” is added to the value of offset 0, and in S770, the value of offset 0 is “4”.
It is determined whether or not the above is true. If the determination is affirmative (YES), S
Proceed to 780. In S780, “0” is set to offset 0, and “1” is added to offset 1. That is, carry of the storage buffer is performed.

A negative determination (NO) in S740
If so, the process proceeds to S790 to check whether or not the award ball number signal is "6". If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S800, where “01h” is set in the selected area, and S76.
Skip to 0. That is, in the selected storage area,
Data “01h” (16) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “6”
(Corresponding to a binary number "01b"). Also,
If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S810. S810
It is checked whether the prize ball number signal is "10" or not, and if affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S820, where "02h" is set in the selected area, and the process skips to S820.
That is, the prize ball number signal “1” is stored in the selected storage area.
Data “02h” (corresponding to hexadecimal number and binary number “10b”) corresponding to “0” is written.

FIG. 20 shows an award ball number data storage and retrieval job. In S900, it is checked whether or not the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0". If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S910. In S910, the value of the storage a in the storage buffer 0 is obtained, and in S920,
The value is shifted right by 2 bits in the order of the storage buffers 49-0. Proceeding to S930, it is determined whether or not the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is, the cell position of the offset number, that is, the position of the offset pointer is obtained by referring to the offset counter, and it is confirmed whether the position of the offset pointer is the head of the storage buffer. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S940,
"1" is subtracted from offset 1. That is, in order to return to the head cell position where data is written, the carry buffer is digitized. Proceeding to S950, "3" is set for offset 0, and the offset pointer is moved to the leading cell position of the storage buffer that has been shifted down. Note that S93
If the determination is 0 (NO), the process proceeds to S960, and the offset 0 is subtracted by "1" to return to the top cell position where data is written.

Next, in the award ball number data storage job, a memory shift is performed at the time of storage to create a blank memory cell at the head of the data string as shown in FIG. While new data is written at the memory cell position, as shown in FIG.
The data may be read while the memory cell position is moved backward in order from the head side. This flow is shown in FIG.
5 and the flowchart of FIG. S
At 300, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal has been received. S
At 310, it is determined whether the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is, the cell position of the offset number (next to the head where data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. It is checked whether or not the cell position in the head column of the offset table in the vertical direction (across the storage buffers 0 to 49) is an empty area of data.
Proceeding to 320, it is checked whether the value of the offset 0 is "3". That is, it is determined whether or not the last (fourth) cell position in the vertical direction (across the storage buffers 0 to 49) of the bit string of the offset table is an empty area.
If the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S330.

In S330, "1" is set for offset 1.
Is added to clear the value of offset 0. That is,
The carry of offset 1 is performed, and the value of “3” of offset 0 is cleared. In subsequent S340, the storage buffers 0 to 49 are shifted to the left by 2 bits. Thus, a write area is provided in the first column of the storage buffer 0. In S350, the prize ball number signal is “1”.
5 ”, and if affirmative (YES), S3
Proceeding to 60, OR the storage buffer 0 with "03h". That is, the data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is stored in the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0.
(Hexadecimal notation: equivalent to "11b" in binary). If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S370.

In S370, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is "6". If the judgment is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S380, where the logical sum of the storage buffer 0 and "01h" is obtained. That is, data “01h” (hexadecimal notation: equivalent to binary “01b”) corresponding to the winning ball number signal “6” is written into the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S390.

In S390, the prize ball number signal is “10”.
It is confirmed whether or not the determination is affirmative.
And OR the storage buffer 0 with "02h".
That is, in the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0,
Data “02h” (1) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “10”
Hexadecimal notation: Equivalent to binary "10b").

It should be noted that a positive determination is made in S310 (YE
If S) (that is, if the cell position at the head of the storage buffer is not an empty area), the process proceeds to S410 and offset 1
Is checked to see if the value is “50”. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the offset 1 is outside the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and if the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S420. If the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that there is data written in all of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and the winning prize ball is invalidated and skipped. If a negative determination (NO) is made in S320, it means that the head cell position of the storage buffer is an empty area, so "1" is added to the value of offset 0 in S420, and the offset pointer is set to the next cell. Set.

FIG. 26 shows the flow of the job of storing and taking out award ball number data. In S500, it is checked whether the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0", and an affirmative determination (YE
If S), the process proceeds to S510. In S510, it is checked whether the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is,
The cell position of the offset number (next to the head where the data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. First, it is determined whether or not the value of the offset 0 is “0”. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S520, and the offset 1 is subtracted by “1”. That is, in order to return to the head cell position where data is written, the carry buffer is digitized. Then, the process proceeds to S530, where "3" is set to offset 0, and an offset pointer is set to the last (fourth) cell position of the storage buffer after the digit shift.

In S540, the value of the offset 1 is added to the address of the storage buffer 0, and the storage buffers 0 to 4 are added.
9 is selected, and the stored data therein is obtained. That is, the process returns to the address of the storage buffer having the data to be read and acquires the storage data. In S550, it is confirmed whether or not the offset 0 is “0”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S560 to acquire the storage value a (see FIG. 21) of the corresponding storage data, and then proceeds to S5.
At 70, the corresponding storage area is cleared to "0". If a negative determination (NO) is made in S550, S580
Then, the process proceeds to step S590 to confirm whether the offset 0 is “1”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to step S590 to acquire the storage b of the corresponding storage data, and skips to step S570. If a negative determination (NO) is made in S580, S6
Proceeding to 00, it is determined whether or not the offset 0 is “2”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S610 to acquire the storage c of the corresponding storage data, and skips to S570. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to step S620 to acquire the storage d of the corresponding storage data, and proceeds to step S570.
Skip to.

A negative judgment (NO) in S510
If so, the process proceeds to S630, and the offset 0 is subtracted by “1” to return to the top cell position where data is written.

Hereinafter, the peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, and 1 are sent from the main control unit 140 via the shared bus 500.
The transmission form of the command signal to 80 will be described in detail in relation to the operation flow of the gaming machine 1. For example, a gaming machine 1
When the player is not touching the firing handle 9 while the power is on, no sound is output, and the game effect lamps 601 and 604 and the game effect lamps 602 and 603 in FIG.
Are alternately turned on and off (this lighting pattern is called lighting pattern 1). At this time, the command signal for the mode 2 is transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the lamp control unit 170 (third peripheral control unit).

When the player touches the firing handle 9,
The touch switch 9b mounted on the firing handle 9 is activated, and the signal is transmitted to the firing device control unit which is one of the peripheral control units. When the game is started by turning the lever of the firing handle 9, a signal corresponding to the rotation amount is transmitted to the firing device control unit. In response to this, the launching device control unit activates the launching device, and the hammer hits the ball and strikes the ball in the game area.

When the launched game ball enters the starting port 17, it is detected by the winning detection switch 17 s (FIG. 4) that the game ball has entered the starting port 17. Sent to. The CPU 141 incorporated in the main control unit 140 receives the detection signal and obtains a random number, determines whether or not the obtained numerical value satisfies a predetermined condition (that is, whether or not there is a winning). Command data based on the peripheral control boards 150,
160, 170, and 180 via the shared bus 500.

The command data (command signal) from the main control unit 140 to the plurality of peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, 180 is provided on the main control board 340 and shared bus (common signal transmission path) 500. Are output from a single connector 341 that forms the base end of. On the other hand, on the peripheral control boards 350, 360, 370, and 380, an input connector for receiving a command signal from the main control section 340 or another peripheral control section disposed on the shared bus 500 on the upstream side of itself is provided. 342 and its input side connector 34
And an output connector 343 for relaying the command data received in 2 to another peripheral control unit downstream of the own device. Then, the connectors 342, 3
43, the peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, 18
0 is connected to the shared bus 500. According to this,
The shared bus (common signal transmission path) 5 for the main control unit 140 is based on a principle similar to the so-called daisy chain connection.
It is possible to simply realize connection of the peripheral control unit via the 00. And, regardless of the number of peripheral control units, at least one connector 341 is provided on the main control board.
And at least two connectors 34 on the peripheral control board.
2,343, the command data is transmitted from the main control unit 140 to all the peripheral control units 150, 160,
170, 180 can be transmitted by the same bus,
For example, a complicated process for specifying a bus is not required, and a design change of a gaming machine accompanying an increase or decrease in the number of peripheral control units (substrates) can be handled very easily.

In the example shown in FIG. 29B, the connectors 341, 342 and 343 are connected to the bus cable 500e.
Side first connector element (for example, a pin plug) 341a,
342a, 343a, and a second connector element (for example, a pin socket) 341 on the board side that engages with each of them.
b, 342b, and 343b, and each second connector element is connected by a bus cable 500e having a first connector element formed at both ends. On the other hand, FIG.
In the example shown in (c), the connector 342 on one side of the board is integrated with the board by a terminal 342c that cannot be separated from the board, and the bus cable 500e is integrated with the board to form a board unit. In FIG. 29 (e), the second connector element 341 on the board side is provided by a bus cable 500f including a plurality of first connector elements 341c, 342c, 343c.
e, 342e, and 343e are connected.

Here, the peripheral control units 150, 160, 17
Since the operation content (or processing content) to be instructed is different for each of 0 and 180, a different command signal must also be individually transmitted to each peripheral control unit. Then, the plurality of command signals can be transmitted through the shared bus (common signal transmission path) 500,
The content of the command signal is devised as follows.
That is, FIG. 30 shows an example in which a command signal is transmitted in parallel by using an 8-bit command data signal. (When the (Low) signal level is set, the L level is defined as active ("1") and the H level is defined as non-active ("0").) Two specific bits of the 8-bit data, here the upper two bits, function as peripheral control unit specifying information for specifying the peripheral control unit. In this example, “00b” is the lamp control unit 170, “01b” is the frame control unit 150,
“10b” specifies the voice control unit 180 and “11b” specifies the special symbol control unit 160.

In the case of winning in the starting port 17, the frame control unit 15
Since the operation shared by 0 is the payout of six prize balls as described above, in FIG. 30, the unique prize ball number data as the command data, that is, the mode q1: “01000001”
b "(41h) is output. This data is supplied on supply bus 5
00, the peripheral control units check the upper 2 bits which are the above-mentioned specific bits of the data, and if the contents correspond to their own, As long as the data is fetched as long as it does not correspond to itself, for example, processing is performed to ignore this. Since the upper two bits of the data of the mode q1 are “01b”, the frame control unit 1
Only 50 will capture the data.

For example, as shown in FIG. 29A, the shared bus 500a on each peripheral control board is connected to the branch bus 500b.
When the signal is guided to the control unit by using the shared bus 500a
In the upper part, the flow of data is not interrupted, and so to speak, it is in a state of flowing. Then, the peripheral control unit uses the CPU
However, by setting the data input / output terminal connected to the branch bus 500b to a writable state, the data on the shared bus 500a is fetched. On the other hand, even if the command data does not correspond to itself, the peripheral control unit only takes in the data and transfers it to the downstream peripheral control unit via the shared bus 500 without doing anything. You may. In this case, as shown in FIG. 29D, the input side bus 500c to the peripheral control unit and the output side bus 500d are set as different ports.

In each peripheral control unit, the main control unit 1
Whether the upper two bits of the received command data from the H.40 identify itself or not is determined by comparing each with the reference bit pattern stored in the ROM (153: 163, 173, 173, 183). , CPU of peripheral control unit
Can be performed by software processing mainly performed by the user.
That is, due to the presence of the bit serving as the peripheral control unit specifying information, a unique correspondence is formed between the command data as the command signal and the peripheral control unit from which the command data is taken.

By using a specific bit for specifying the peripheral control unit, the collation processing in the CPU of the peripheral control unit can be simplified, and since the type of command data can be specified by referring to the specific bit, verification and debugging are performed. In this case, advantages such as an advantage arise. Also, as described below,
The selection of the peripheral control unit by the main control unit 140 can be performed by transmitting a strobe signal. In this case, as shown in FIG. 32, the specific bit is used as an input, and Strobe signal generation circuit 50 that outputs a strobe signal only when
By providing 3, the peripheral control unit can be selected in a hardware manner. FIG. 32 shows the frame control unit 150.
, The output of bit 7 of the shared bus 500 is input as it is, and the output of bit 6 is inverted and input.
By using the input AND circuit 501, the strobe signal STB is output only when the upper two bits are “01b”.

The unique prize ball number data specifies the unique prize ball number using the lower two bits as described above.
As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, assuming an 8-bit parallel input to the storage buffer, all bits except the lower two bits become “0” so as not to interfere with the previously stored unique prize ball number data. Need to be. In this case, the upper two bits of the received command data may be forcibly set to “00b” by software processing (or hardware processing capable of obtaining an equivalent processing result) and then loaded into the storage buffer.

Returning to FIG. 29, the main control section 140 also transmits command data (command signal) in a predetermined mode to the special symbol control section 160, the lamp control board 170, and the voice control section 180, respectively. 30 is transmitted to the lamp control unit 170 in any one of modes 1 to n, for example, mode 3 representing a predetermined lighting pattern. Since the upper two bits of the command are “00b”, only the lamp control unit 170 among the plurality of peripheral control units fetches the command data and performs the corresponding lighting pattern control processing. Subsequently, any one of modes m1 to mn in FIG. 30, that is, command data representing a specific voice pattern, for example, mode m3, is transmitted to the voice control unit 180. Since the upper two bits are “10b”, only the voice control unit 180 among the plurality of peripheral control units fetches the command data and performs a process of outputting the corresponding voice pattern from the speaker 400. Further, command data in one of the modes p1 to pn in FIG. 30, that is, for example, a mode p2 representing a specific special symbol variation pattern is transmitted to the special symbol control unit 160. Since the upper two bits are “11b”, only the special symbol control unit 160 among the plurality of peripheral control units fetches this command data and performs a process of outputting the corresponding special symbol variation pattern to the liquid crystal display panel 29.

In the above embodiment, the bits for specifying the peripheral control unit are the upper two bits (7, 6). However, the present invention is not limited to this format. When outputting an instruction to five or more peripheral control boards, three or more bits may be set for identifying the peripheral control unit, and a specific peripheral control board may be set for each specific mode. May be determined. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 31, the above-mentioned identification may be performed by comparing the entirety (all bits) of the received command data with the reference command data (bit pattern). In this case, for example, by setting the same command data so as not to be allocated to a plurality of peripheral control units, it is not necessary to determine a bit dedicated to specifying the peripheral control unit.

In the above embodiment, 8-bit parallel transmission is used. In this case, the amount of information is limited to a maximum of 256 in one transmission to all the peripheral control boards.
When a large amount of information to be transmitted is required, a parallel / serial system in which the number of transmissions per command is a plurality of times may be used. For example, by transmitting two times per command, 256 × 256 types ( (Equivalent to a 16-bit width), and the amount of information to be transmitted can be dramatically increased.

As shown in FIG. 33 (a), by composing the command data with a pulse train of a predetermined number of bits, it is possible to transmit command data in a serial system (that is, 1-bit serial). . In this case, a serial port is used as an input / output port for command data of each control unit, and the shared bus 500 also uses a serial bus. This method has the advantages that the number of signal lines constituting the shared bus can be greatly reduced and that the design change of the data bit length can be very easily handled. In this case, as shown in FIG. 33 (b), by adding a start identification unit to the beginning of the data as command data,
The head of the data pulse train should be identified. The main body of the data includes a peripheral control unit specifying unit (for example, the same 2 bits as in the above-described parallel system) and a command unit (6 bits as in the above-described parallel system, but may include more). Include it. In addition,
The end of the data pulse train can be identified by the end identification unit, but the end identification unit can be omitted by keeping the data length constant.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 33, the peripheral control unit specifying unit designates only a single peripheral control unit. However, as shown in FIG. 34, a plurality of peripheral control units can be specified. You may. In this case, the same command (hereinafter, referred to as a common command) in a plurality of designated peripheral control units.
, Respectively, but the only thing that is the same is the description content of the command, and the corresponding processing differs for each peripheral control unit. By doing so, it becomes possible to link (eg, synchronize) the processes of the plurality of peripheral control units specified by the common command to each other. For example,
In FIG. 34, the lighting control unit and the voice control unit set the lighting pattern content and the voice pattern content in association with each other with respect to the common command. For example, the lamp control unit is specified by the peripheral control unit specifying unit. When a certain common command is transmitted by designating the lamp control unit and the voice control unit, the command is taken into the lamp control unit and the voice control unit, and the corresponding lighting pattern and voice pattern can be synchronously executed.

Next, FIG. 35 (a) shows the periphery of the common bus 500 (common signal transmission path) from the main control unit 140, which is composed of a signal line of a different system from the signal line of the command data (command signal). An example in which a control unit selection signal line is incorporated is shown. Each of the peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, 180
The output of the peripheral control unit selection signal line in the common bus 500 is referred to, and the command data is taken in only when the output specifies the self.

FIG. 35 shows a peripheral control section selection signal line.
As shown in (b), for example, of the signal lines of the address bus from the main control unit 140, the required number of bits can be branched and incorporated into the shared bus 500. However, signal lines other than the data bus and the address bus are used. A system may be separately formed for selecting a peripheral control unit. In addition, the main control unit 140 outputs, from among signal lines (for example, 16 bits) constituting the address bus, an address line incorporated in the common bus 500 to a peripheral control unit to be selected as shown in FIG. Set to be specific. On the other hand, for data transmission to the common bus 500 for the other address lines, the peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, 180
The output is fixedly set so that the address space allocated to is selected.

FIG. 36 shows an example of the configuration of a shared bus in this case, and an 8-bit parallel bus is used as a data signal.
A 1-byte signal was transmitted, and the peripheral control section selection signal was a 2-bit address signal. With the 2-bit signal, four peripheral control units can be selected, and when the number of peripheral control units is eight or more, three or four bits are used. It can be a number. That is, 8, 16, 32 bits each having 3 bits, 4 bits, 5 bits, 6 bits, 7 bits, and 8 bits
, 64, 128, and 256 substrates can be specified.
When the amount of data to be transmitted is large, the data bus width may be changed from 8 bits to 16 bits or 32 bits, or a parallel-serial system in which the number of times of transmission in one command is increased may be used.

In the case of this system, the width of the shared bus 500 is increased by at least the amount of incorporating the peripheral control unit selection signal, as compared with the system of FIG. For example, in FIG. 36, the number of pins of the connection connector of the shared bus 500 is 12 bits for command data of 8 bits, peripheral control section selection signal of 2 bits, 1 bit of strobe signal used for another purpose, and 1 bit of ground line. Has become. Otherwise, basically the same connectors 341 to 343 as in FIG. 35 can be used.

FIG. 37 shows an example of a mode for selecting the lamp control unit 170, the voice control unit 180, and the special symbol control unit 160, and a combination of peripheral control unit selection signals. FIG. 38 shows an example of the content of command data corresponding to each operation command mode when the lamp control unit 170 is selected. Here, unlike FIG. 30, 8
Since the command data can be transmitted by making full use of the bit data width, it is possible to substantially increase the amount of information that can be transmitted.

FIG. 39 shows still another example in which the peripheral controller is selected by an individual strobe signal. Here, the output port circuit 51 of the command data (command signal) is sent to (the CPU 141 of) the main control unit 140.
0 and a strobe signal generation circuit 512 (strobe signal generation means). Note that these circuits 5
The device addresses of 10, 512 are incorporated in the address space of the CPU 141, and the address of the device to be selected is output from the address terminal of the CPU 141, and is input to the address decode circuit 511, which corresponds to the input address. A selection signal for selecting a device is output.

The command data output port circuit 510 is connected to the input side of the shared bus 500, for example, configured as an 8-bit data bus from the CPU 141, and is connected to the branch bus branched from the shared bus 500 from the output side. 500k are individual driver ICs 513
(However, a circuit constituted by individual components may be used instead of the IC), and the connection extends to the input port 515 of each peripheral control unit. On the other hand, another branch bus 500j from the shared bus 500 is connected to the input side of the strobe signal generation circuit 512, and the circuit 512
The signal line 550 of the strobe signal generated by the above is connected to the input port 51 of each peripheral control unit via the driver IC 513.
It extends in a way that leads to 5.

The circuit shown in FIG. 39 operates as follows. The CPU 141 first selects the strobe signal generation circuit 512 to determine the peripheral control unit to which the command data is to be transmitted. That is, the device address of the strobe signal generation circuit 512 is output from the CPU 141, and the address decode circuit 511 outputs the strobe signal generation circuit 512 based on the signal input of the device address.
And outputs it from the corresponding terminal. As is well known, the address decode circuit 511 is constituted by a group of logic ICs or a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), receives an address signal, performs a logical operation according to a predetermined sequence, and outputs a selection signal corresponding to the input address. Individual output is performed from output ports formed in one-to-one correspondence with selectable devices.

When the strobe signal generation circuit 512 is selected, the CPU 141 needs to send command data (specific bits (for example, upper 2 bits)) from the data terminal as information reflecting the type of the peripheral control unit. ),
Alternatively, it outputs data for selecting a peripheral control unit different from the command data (hereinafter, both are collectively referred to as selection data). The strobe signal generation circuit 512 is, like the address decode circuit 511, a logic IC group or a PLD.
And performs a logical operation according to a predetermined sequence with selection data as an input, and outputs a strobe signal from an output port to a corresponding peripheral control unit in accordance with the content of the input data. The strobe signal output port is switched from non-active (H level in this embodiment: not high impedance (open)) to active (L level in this embodiment) in accordance with the strobe signal output so that an assert edge appears. To be something. Thus, the strobe signal generation circuit 512 transmits the strobe signal to the corresponding peripheral control unit via the driver IC 513 by receiving the selection data. The CPU of the peripheral control unit detects the asserted edge of the received strobe signal and enters a command data reception waiting state.

Next, the CPU 141 of the main control unit 140
The device address of the command data output port circuit 510 is output. The address decode circuit 511 generates a selection signal for the command data output port circuit 510 based on the signal input of the device address, and outputs it from the corresponding port. Thus, the command data output port circuit 5
When 10 is selected, the CPU 141 outputs command data from the data terminal. This command data is transmitted / distributed to all the peripheral control units via the driver IC 513 by the branch bus 500k, and among the plurality of peripheral control units, only the one which has received the strobe signal first has the command data. Will be taken.

According to this method, there are the following advantages as compared with a method of individually transmitting command data to the peripheral control unit, for example. That is, in the case of individual transmission, since all of the peripheral control units are selected devices on the main control unit side, the number of output ports of the address decoding circuit is required by the number of peripheral control units. For example, when there are eight peripheral control units as shown in FIG. 39, logic for selecting and determining eight devices and outputting a selection signal to individual ports is required. as a result,
A logic circuit configuration for generating a device selection signal rapidly becomes complicated. However, in the above configuration, the number of devices selected by the CPU 141 is reduced to two, the command data output port circuit 510 and the strobe signal generation circuit 512, regardless of the number of peripheral control units. The configuration can be greatly simplified.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, a set of control objects (a set of auxiliary control objects) irrelevant to the interest in obtaining award balls is a lamp 410 composed of various lamps and LED groups (described later). A lamp lighting mechanism is formed together with the lamp control circuit), a sound output mechanism (sound generator 203 in FIG. 16 and a speaker 40 connected thereto).
0). Also, each of these sets of auxiliary control objects is individually
Is formed. If each peripheral control unit is arranged in the form of, for example, an independent board, there is an advantage that the appearance inspection and the function inspection can be easily performed for each board.

On the other hand, recently, with the improvement of the performance of the CPU, it has become possible for one CPU to fulfill various roles. In addition, various functions have been added to gaming machines, and the number of electric components attached to gaming machines has increased. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to integrate functions that are somewhat similar to each other and that do not directly bring advantages / disadvantages in obtaining a prize ball to a single control unit (for players who have direct advantages / advantages).
In some cases, components that do not cause disadvantages are not subject to fraud.)

A specific example is shown in FIG. Here, the lamp control unit and the sound control unit are integrated into a single peripheral control board 390 whose main control command is the CPU 391. In addition,
Although not shown in FIG. 16, the direct operation control of the lamp 410 is performed by the lamp control circuit 4 mounted on the substrate 390.
09 (lamp control means) is controlled by a hardware sequence in response to an instruction from the CPU 391. In FIG. 40, the lamp control circuit 409 is mounted on a substrate 390. Further, the speaker 400 is a voice control circuit 203.
The audio control circuit 203 is the above-described sound generator, which is also mounted on the board 390. Normally, the lamp control and the voice control are often changed for each model. By mounting both on the same board, it becomes possible to appropriately cope with the model change. In addition, for the player, these functions are related to the excitement of the entertainment, etc., but have little involvement in practicality, so that they are not illegally remodeled, and furthermore, the performance that can cope with the control of both. By using the general-purpose CPU, the effect of cost reduction can be achieved.

Lastly, a description will be given of a desirable configuration of the power supply system of the gaming machine in which the plurality of peripheral control units are provided as described above. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 41, the power supply system to each part of the gaming machine has a driving control unit that presides over the progress of the game that is performed based on a game ball entering a specific winning opening or passing through a passing gate. Power supply system 61 for supplying power to main control board 340
0, and a second-type operation unit that is a control unit other than the main control unit, including a part or all of the passive control unit that performs a processing operation in response to a command signal from the main control unit, for example, the frame control board 35
0, a special symbol control board 360, a lamp control board 370, and a second power supply system 620 for supplying power to the voice control board 380 (or its vicinity). Here, the driving control unit includes a CPU that controls the progress of a game that is performed based on a game ball entering a specific winning opening or passing through a pass gate, and a ROM that stores a program for operating the CPU, In addition to the function as a work area of the program, the main control unit 140 generally includes a RAM for temporarily storing the progress of the game and the like, and the main control unit 140 generally corresponds to this. On the other hand, the peripheral control units 150 to 180 generally correspond to passive control units. Then, the power supply to the first power supply system 610 is maintained, and the power supply to the second power supply system 620 can be cut off. Note that any of the power supply systems receives power directly from the main power supply 600 (for example, 24 VAC) or in a form of being stepped down by a step-down circuit provided as necessary. The main power supply 600 is configured by a known power supply circuit that receives an AC input from an external AC power supply (for example, AC 100 V) and converts this into a predetermined voltage output.

More specifically, the power supply systems are located at the base positions of a first power supply path 611 toward the first power supply system 610 and a second power supply path 621 toward the second power supply system 620. First and second power switches 601 and 602 for independently turning on and off the power supply to 610 and 620 are provided. Thus, the first power supply system 610 (that is, the first type operating unit) and the second power supply system 620 (that is, the second type operating unit) can be powered off independently of each other.

That is, a board in which a state that is profitable for the player regarding the progress of the game is canceled by turning off the power, that is, information that is profitable for the player regarding the progress of the game is stored. It is possible to perform inspection, repair, replacement, and the like by turning off the power of the electric devices other than the first-type operation unit while the power supply of the substrate (= the first-type operation unit) having the means is kept ON. Conventionally, all power supplies are turned off, inspection of electrical equipment and replacement of parts are often performed, and each time a state that is profitable for players such as during high probability or during working hours is eliminated, Had a great disadvantage. But,
In the above configuration, even if the second power switch 602 of the gaming machine is turned off to cut off the power to the second power supply system 620, the first power supply system 610 (unless the first power switch 601 is turned off). Type 1 operating section) is in the power receiving state,
In this state, inspection, repair, replacement, and the like of the electric device of the second power supply system 620 (second-type operating unit) can be performed. Actually, the main control unit 140, the frame control unit 150, the prize ball payout device 109, and the like related to the first-type operating unit rarely break down, and the failures are caused by other than the first-type operating unit. They are parts, and there are many opportunities for inspection and repair, and the actual effect is great.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 42, a first power switch 601 for turning on / off the power supply to the first power supply system 610 is provided in a first power supply path 611 toward the first power supply system 610. On the other hand, on the second power supply path 621 that branches off from the first power supply path 611 toward the second power supply system 620, the power supplied to the second power supply system 620 downstream of the first power switch 601 is provided. A configuration in which a second power switch 602 for turning on / off the supply may be provided. This also achieves the purpose of shutting off the power supply of only the second-type operation unit while ensuring the continuation of the operation of the first-type operation unit. However, in this case, if the first power switch 601 is turned off, the first power supply system 610
At the same time, the power supply to the second power supply system 620 is also cut off. Further, as shown in FIG. 43, the power supply system of the gaming machine can be further subdivided by three or more switches so as not to extend over the first-type operation unit and the second-type operation unit. Here, the control boards 340, 350, 360,
For each of 370 and 380, by the corresponding switch 603,
The power supply can be turned on and off independently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of substrates of each accessory on a game board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a game ball path on the back of the game board and a mounting arrangement of switches and the like.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a back mechanism board of the pachinko machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a part of a structure of a flow path of a safe sphere.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a flow path of the safe sphere of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the flow path of the safe sphere of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another mode of the winning ball payout sensor.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of the electronic control device of the pachinko machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job in the electronic control device of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball total storage job.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball number data storage job.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of a winning ball number data storage and retrieval job.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a winning ball number data storage buffer.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing storage of the number of award balls to be paid out and retrieval of the storage in the related art.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage state of the number of prize balls to be paid out in the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the retrieval of the stored number of prize balls.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of another mode of the award ball number data storage job.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of another mode of the award ball number data storage and retrieval job.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage state of the number of winning balls corresponding to FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing extraction of the stored number of winning balls corresponding to FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing a transmission form of command data in FIG. 18 and some connection forms of each board.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of command data.

FIG. 31 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of a collation process of command data in a peripheral control unit.

FIG. 32 is a circuit diagram showing a mode of generating a strobe signal for selecting a peripheral control unit from data bits specifying the peripheral control unit of command data.

FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the concept of serial transmission of command data.

FIG. 34 is a view showing a modified example thereof.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mode in which a peripheral control unit selection signal is transmitted via a shared bus in association with command data.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a position of a connector pin corresponding to FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a peripheral control unit selection signal.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory view showing an example of one corresponding command data of the peripheral control unit selection signal of FIG. 38;

FIG. 39 is a circuit diagram showing a mode in which a peripheral control unit selection signal is transmitted as an individual strobe signal in association with command data.

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a peripheral control board that integrates a lamp control unit and a voice control unit.

FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit configuration example in which power supply to a first power supply system and a second power supply system of a gaming machine can be turned on and off independently.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit configuration example in which on / off of power supply to a second power supply system of a gaming machine is dependent on on / off of power supply to a first power supply system.

FIG. 43 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit configuration example in which power supply can be turned on / off independently for each control board.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 140 Main control unit 141 CPU (main control unit-side control command) 150 Frame control unit (peripheral control unit) 151 CPU (peripheral control unit-side control command main unit) 160 Special symbol control unit (peripheral control) Unit) 161 CPU (mainly for control commands on the peripheral control unit side) 170 Lamp control unit (peripheral control unit) 171 CPU (mainly for control commands on the peripheral control unit side) 180 Voice control unit (peripheral control unit) 181 CPU (control on the peripheral control unit side) 203) Voice control circuit (voice control means) 340 Main control board 350 Frame control board (peripheral control board) 360 Special design control board (peripheral control board) 370 Lamp control board (peripheral control board) 380 Voice control board ( Peripheral control board) 409 Lamp control circuit (lamp control means) 500 Shared bus (common signal transmission path) 512 Strobe No. generating circuit (strobe signal generating means) 610 first power supply system 620 second power supply system

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Aizawa 125-Yoryocho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Yoelek Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C088 CA02 CA13 CA31

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine control method comprising: a main control unit; and a plurality of peripheral control units that perform a corresponding processing operation by receiving a command signal from the main control unit. All or a part of two or more are connected to a common signal transmission path from the main control section, and the command signal can specify a peripheral control section to be an operation command target by the common signal transmission path. The peripheral control unit performs a process based on the command content of the command signal only when receiving a command signal for itself as an operation command target. Game machine control system. 2. The peripheral control unit ignores a command signal received via the common signal transmission path when the command signal is not an operation command target of the command signal or ignores the command signal. 2. The control system for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is transferred to another peripheral control unit on the downstream side using a route. 3. When the command signal received via the common signal transmission path is not intended to be an operation command target, the peripheral control unit does not change the content of the command signal. 3. The control method for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control information is transferred to another peripheral control unit on the downstream side. 4. The game according to claim 1, wherein the common signal transmission path is used only for one-way signal transmission from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit. Machine control method. 5. The main control section is formed on a main control board, and a command signal from the main control section to the plurality of peripheral control sections is provided on the main control board and transmits the common signal. While being output from a single connector forming the base end of the path, the peripheral control section is formed on a peripheral control board, and the main control section or the common signal transmission path is provided on the peripheral board. An input connector for receiving a command signal from another peripheral control unit disposed on the upstream side of the input connector, and the command signal received by the input connector,
The control method for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: an output-side connector for relay-outputting the signal to another peripheral control section downstream of the game apparatus. 6. A plurality of command signals are defined corresponding to each of a plurality of operation command contents, and the command signals are unambiguous between the command signal and a peripheral control unit to which a process indicated by the command signal is executed. The peripheral control unit determines whether the received command signal corresponds to itself, and if the received command signal corresponds to the received command signal, based on the command content of the command signal. The control method for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processing method performs a process. 7. A command data composed of a plurality of data bit strings is transmitted as the command signal from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit via the common signal transmission path, and a specific data constituting the command data is transmitted. 7. The one or more data bits are used as a peripheral control unit selection signal, and at least a part of the remaining data bits is used as a command content specifying signal for specifying a command content.
The described signal transmission method. 8. A peripheral control unit selection signal for selecting a peripheral control unit to be an operation instruction target is transmitted along with the common signal transmission along with the command signal transmitted from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit. 7. The control system for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control is transmitted to a peripheral control unit to be the operation instruction target by a route. 9. A peripheral control unit selection signal for selecting a peripheral control unit to be an operation instruction target in response to the command signal transmitted from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit, and transmitting the peripheral control unit selection signal to the common signal transmission unit. The control method for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation command is transmitted to a peripheral control unit to be an operation instruction target by a peripheral control unit selection signal transmission path provided separately from the path. 10. While the command data including a plurality of data bit strings is transmitted as the command signal from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit via the common signal transmission path, the peripheral control unit selection signal is The signal transmission method according to claim 9, wherein the command data is transmitted in the form of a data signal of one or more bits different from that of the command data. 11. The command data including a plurality of data bit strings is transmitted as the command signal from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit via the common signal transmission path, while the peripheral control unit selection signal is 11. The control system for a gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the strobe signal is individually transmitted to each peripheral control unit and transmitted to the corresponding peripheral control unit. 12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein said main control section is formed on a main control board, and said strobe signal generating means is provided on said main control board. 13. A game machine control system comprising a main control unit and a plurality of peripheral control units that perform a corresponding processing operation by receiving a command signal from the main control unit. There are two or more sets of auxiliary control objects, which are control objects not involved in the interest in obtaining the ball, and two or more auxiliary control means for controlling the operation of each set of auxiliary control objects are provided in correspondence with one peripheral control unit. A control method for a gaming machine, wherein the two or more auxiliary control means are controlled and operated by a command from a common control command entity provided in the peripheral control unit. 14. The auxiliary control object includes a lamp lighting mechanism and a sound output mechanism provided in the gaming machine, and a lamp control means and a sound control mechanism for controlling the operation of the lamp lighting mechanism and the sound output mechanism. 14. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the use means are provided corresponding to the same peripheral control unit. 15. A gaming machine employing the signal transmission method according to claim 1. 16. A power supply system to each part of a gaming machine, comprising: a first power supply system to at least a first-type operation unit including a driving control unit; and a processing operation in response to a command signal from the driving control unit. And a second power supply system to a second type operation unit, which is an operation unit including a part or all of the passive control unit that performs the power supply state to the first power supply system. A gaming machine characterized in that the power supply of the second power supply system can be interrupted while maintaining the same. 17. Supplying power to the power supply systems at base positions of a first power supply path toward the first power supply system and a second power supply path toward the second power supply system. 17. The gaming machine according to claim 16, further comprising first and second power switches that are independently turned on and off. 18. A first power supply path for turning on / off the power supply to the first power supply system is provided in a first power supply path toward the first power supply system, while the first power supply is provided. In a second power supply path that branches off from the road and heads toward the second power supply system, power supply to the second power supply system is turned on downstream of the first power switch.
2. A power switch according to claim 1, further comprising a second power switch that is turned off.
6. The gaming machine according to 6.