JP2001252398A - Prize winning ball detecting switch circuit, and pachinko machine using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To block the acquisition of an illegal prize winning based on a dummy prize winning ball detecting signal artificially prepared by using an external switch or the like. SOLUTION: While using a prize winning ball detecting switch circuit 31 capable of making different a regular prize winning ball detecting signal (periodical prize winning ball detecting signal) and a dummy prize winning ball detecting signal, a main controller 32 can discriminate the dummy prize winning ball detecting signal by receiving a signal from the switch circuit 31 and when the dummy prize winning ball detecting signal is inputted, it is reported to the outside by reporting means 33a, 34a and 35a or following gift ball processing or the like is suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is intended to prevent an illegal operation of a pachinko machine, and particularly to a prize ball detection signal generated based on a game ball (hereinafter referred to as a prize ball) which has won a prize hole. The present invention relates to a pachinko machine capable of eliminating illegal winning acquisition by a signal (pseudo winning ball detection signal).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pachinko machine, a prize ball is detected by giving an output signal from a prize ball detection switch circuit to a main control device (main board) for controlling the entire pachinko machine.
The main controller determines the level of the signal by, for example, 4 msec.
This has been done by periodically monitoring at c intervals.

[0003]

In the conventional prize ball detecting technique, a prize ball is detected only by the level of the output signal level of the prize ball detection switch circuit as described above. Therefore, a false prize ball detection signal is generated and given to the main controller by an illegal act such as disconnecting the prize ball detection switch circuit, connecting an external switch in place of the switch, and turning the switch on / off. There was a problem that was acquired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and includes a pseudo prize ball detection signal used to obtain an incorrect prize, and a prize ball for performing prize ball processing properly. An object of the present invention is to provide a winning ball detection switch circuit which differentiates the detection signal from the detection signal and helps to prevent illegal winning from being obtained by the pseudo winning ball detection signal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pachinko machine which can reliably prevent an illegal prize from being obtained by a pseudo prize-ball detecting signal by using the above-mentioned prize-ball detecting switch circuit.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the first aspect is directed to a detector for detecting a winning ball passing through a winning ball passage and outputting a signal, and a detector for detecting the signal. And a detection signal time regulation circuit that outputs a fixed-time prize ball detection signal that lasts for the specified time from the start of the input even if the input is continued for a predetermined time or more. It is characterized by doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a symbol control device for displaying various symbols on a display device during a game, and various voices are generated from a voice output device during the game. A predetermined prize ball process is performed upon receiving a signal from a voice control device, a lamp control device for turning on / off various lamps during a game, and a prize ball detection switch circuit for detecting a prize ball which is a game ball that has won a prize hole. In a pachinko machine including a prize ball control device to be controlled and a main control device for controlling each of these control devices, the prize ball detection switch circuit detects a prize ball passing through a prize ball passage and outputs a signal. And a signal from the detector is input, and even if the input continues for a predetermined time or more, a fixed-time prize ball detection signal that lasts for the specified time from the start of the input is output. The main control device determines whether or not the duration of the input signal from the winning ball detection switch circuit side has exceeded a specified time. Is determined as a winning ball detection signal abnormality, and an abnormal state occurrence signal is generated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device gives an abnormal state occurrence signal to the symbol control device, and the display device To notify an abnormal state by an image.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the invention described in (1), when the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device sends an abnormal state occurrence signal to the audio control device, and causes the audio output device to notify the abnormal state by voice.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second, third or fourth aspect of the invention, when the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device sends an abnormal state occurrence signal to the lamp control device. The abnormal state is notified by turning on or off the lamp.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any of the second to fifth aspects, when the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device inhibits the operation of the prize ball control device. It is characterized in that the prize-ball processing is not performed by the winning prize-ball that has been determined.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, when the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device controls all of the control devices controlled by the main control device. The operation is suppressed, and the progress of the subsequent control processing is stopped.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the prize-ball detection signal for causing the prize-ball processing to be performed properly is continuously inputted for a predetermined time or more, the fixed time is maintained for the same specified time. The winning ball detection signal was used. Therefore, it can be differentiated from a pseudo-winning-ball detection signal that is always longer than the regular-time winning-ball detection signal, and is useful for preventing illegal winning from being obtained by the pseudo-winning-ball detection signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the switch circuit according to the first aspect is used as a prize ball detecting switch circuit for detecting a prize ball, and the main control device controls the duration of an input signal from the circuit side for a specified time. Is determined, and when it is determined that it has exceeded, it is determined that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, and an abnormal state occurrence signal is generated. According to this, the pseudo winning ball detection signal is reliably determined to be a winning ball detection signal abnormality,
An abnormal condition occurrence signal is generated. That is, the differentiation between the fixed-time prize-ball detection signal and the pseudo-prize-ball detection signal in claim 1 is specifically realized in the form of generation of an abnormal state occurrence signal. The prevention can be specifically addressed.

According to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, a second aspect is provided.
When a winning ball detection signal is abnormal (when a pseudo winning ball detection signal is input), an abnormal state occurrence signal generated by the invention described in (1) is notified to the outside by an image, sound, or a lamp. Therefore, the manager and his / her assistant can know that the pseudo prize winning ball detection signal has been input by their own sight or hearing, and can surely prevent illegal winning.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the prize ball detection signal is abnormal, the prize ball processing is not performed on the prize ball as the determination target, and the subsequent control processing is stopped. Let it. In any of the inventions, the prize ball processing becomes impossible when it is determined that the prize ball detection signal is abnormal.
Illegal winnings cannot be won.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a winning ball detection switch circuit according to the present invention. The winning ball detection switch circuit of the present invention includes a detector 1 and a detection signal time regulation circuit 2.

The detector 1 detects a winning ball passing through a winning ball passage, for example, a winning opening, and outputs a signal. In this example, a detecting coil 1a, an oscillating circuit 1b, a rectifying circuit 1c, and a voltage comparator are provided. 1d.

In the detection coil 1a, the impedance changes depending on the presence or absence (approach, passage) of the winning ball, the amplitude changes in the oscillation circuit 1b due to the impedance change of the detection coil 1a, and the rectification circuit 1c changes the signal from the oscillation circuit 1b. Is rectified and converted to DC. When the signal voltage from the rectifier circuit 1c is high, the voltage comparator 1d outputs an L (low) level pulse signal S1 indicating that there is no winning ball.
When it is low, it outputs an H (high) level pulse signal S2 indicating that there is a winning ball. It should be noted that, instead of the prize ball detection using a magnetic field (magnetism) using the detection coil 1a as described above, a prize ball detection using light using a photocoupler or pressure using a piezoelectric element may be used.

Further, even if the signal S2 from the detector 1 is input and the input signal continues for a predetermined time T1 or more, the detection signal time restriction circuit 2 determines the signal S2 from the start of the input of the signal S2. This is a circuit for outputting a fixed-time winning ball detection signal S3 that lasts for a time T1.

The detection signal time regulation circuit 2 here rises in synchronization with the rise of the signal S2 from the detector 1, and outputs an H level pulse signal (constant time winning ball detection signal S3) for a prescribed time T1. It consists of a stable oscillation circuit (monostable multivibrator). Note that this detection signal time regulation circuit 2 has a predetermined time T from the start of the input of the signal S2.
Any circuit other than the above-described monostable oscillation circuit may be used as long as it can output the fixed-time winning ball detection signal S3 that lasts only one.

The output circuit 3 is a circuit for outputting a signal based on an output format such as an open collector format or a totem pole format. The output circuit 3 outputs a fixed time prize ball detection signal S3 from the detection signal time regulation circuit 2 to a main control device to be described later. Make the signal suitable as the input signal.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the output signal OUT of the winning ball detection switch circuit having the above-described configuration. FIG. 2A shows the output signal of the voltage comparator 1d.
(B) shows an output signal OUT of the output circuit 3 (output signal of the winning ball detection switch circuit of the present invention).

As shown in the figure, even if the output signal of the voltage comparator 1d (the signal S2 indicating that there is a winning ball) continues for a specified time T1, for example, 5 msec or more, the output signal OU is output.
T (fixed time winning ball detection signal S3) lasts only for the specified time T1. The same is true even if the signal S2 continues longer than the example shown in FIG.

According to this configuration, the winning ball detection switch circuit is removed, and an external switch is connected instead.
A pseudo prize ball detection signal used to acquire an incorrect prize and a prize ball detection signal (fixed-time prize ball detection signal S3) for performing prize ball processing are significantly different from each other.

That is, since the false winning ball detection signal is generated by a fraudulent person manually operating an external switch, the signal width (signal duration) due to the signal is shorter than the msec order. become longer. For example, a switch operation for obtaining a signal width of 5 ms (5 ms)
ec ON / OFF operation) cannot be performed artificially, and the obtained signal width is longer than 5 msec, no matter how short.

On the other hand, in the winning ball detection switch circuit according to the present invention, the fixed time winning ball detection signal S3 for performing the winning process can be easily set in the order of msec, and the pseudo winning ball detection signal can be set. A great differentiation can be achieved. This means that the false winning ball detection signal is highly useful for controlling fraudulent acts that are distinguished from the false winning ball detection signal, and is useful for preventing illegal winning from being obtained by such a pseudo winning ball detection signal.

In FIG. 2, the voltage comparator 1d
Is shorter than the specified time T1, the signal is not a pseudo winning ball detection signal. Therefore, this signal may not be used as the fixed-time prize ball detection signal S3 but may be directly provided to a main control device described later. This is effective for processing winning balls that occur continuously in a short time.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of one embodiment of a pachinko machine according to the present invention having the winning ball detection switch circuit shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the pachinko machine of the present invention has a winning ball detection switch circuit 31, a main control device 32, a symbol control device 33 which is a control device for each part,
An audio control device 34, a lamp control device 35, and a prize ball control device 36 are provided. In addition, 37 is a launching device for the player to launch the game ball.

Here, the winning ball detection switch circuit 31 is a circuit for detecting a winning ball, and the details are as described above. The winning ball detection switch circuit 31 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of winning ports (not shown) provided on a pachinko machine board (not shown) (not shown).

The main control unit 32 includes the control units 33 to
36 (all pachinko machines). Here, an input buffer 32a, an input port 32b, a CPU 32c,
It comprises an output port 32d and an output buffer 32e.

Each of the prize ball detecting switch circuits 31... Is connected to the main control device 32. An input buffer 32a of the main control device 32 receives signals from the prize ball detection switch circuits 32 and receives input signals. CP via 32b
Give to U32c. When detecting a winning ball, the CPU 32c outputs a control command to the symbol control device 33, the voice control device 34, or the lamp control device 35 via the output port 33d and the output buffer 33e in order, and performs a game process corresponding to the winning. Further, a control command is also output to the prize ball control device 36 to perform a prize ball payout process corresponding to a winning.

The symbol control device 33 is a display device 3 such as an LCD or CRT provided with various symbols on the board during the game.
The device for displaying on 3a, the voice control device 34, is a device for generating various sounds from a voice output device 34a such as a speaker during a game. The lamp control device 35 is a device for turning on and off various lamps 35a during a game. The prize ball control device 36 is a device that receives a control command from the main control device 32 and performs a predetermined prize ball process.

In the present invention, main controller 32 also has the following functions. That is, the main controller 32 determines whether or not the duration of the signal from each winning ball detection switch circuit 31 side (usually the output signal of the switch circuit 31 and the pseudo winning ball detection signal in the case of fraud) exceeds the specified time T1. Judge,
When it is determined that it has exceeded, it is determined that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, and an abnormal state occurrence signal (including a flag and a command) is generated.

When the main control device 32 determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device 32 gives an abnormal state occurrence signal to the symbol control device 33, the voice control device 34 or the lamp control device 35, and the image is displayed on the display device 33a. Audio output device 34
The abnormal condition is notified by voice or by turning on or off the lamp 35a.

In any of the control devices 33 to 35, in other words, the display device 33a, the audio output device 34a or the lamp 35
It is arbitrarily selected which of a is used to notify the abnormal state. Any one, two, or all three may be used to notify the abnormal state.

When the main control device 32 determines that the prize ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device 32 ignores the prize ball as the determination target, that is, the prize ball control by the prize ball as the determination target. The prize ball processing of the device 36 may not be performed. Specifically, the main control unit 32 supplies an abnormal state occurrence signal to the prize ball control unit 36 to suppress the operation thereof.

Further, the main control unit 32 replaces the control processing when it is determined that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal with the above-described notification of the abnormal state and the operation suppression of only the prize ball control unit 36, and proceeds with the subsequent control processing. May be stopped. This is specifically because the main control device 32
The operation is performed by suppressing the operations of all the control devices 33 to 36 controlled by.

FIG. 4 shows the winning ball detection switch circuit 31 described above.
5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a main control device 32 in a pachinko machine using the above. In the following description, an input signal to main controller 32 is referred to as a switch input.

First, in step S1, an initial state of the pachinko machine is set (initialization processing). In step S2, it is checked whether or not the switch input is abnormal (switch input check processing).

In step S3, a process (ie, a process corresponding to the abnormal switch input) when the abnormal switch input is detected in the step S2 is performed. That is, when the main control device 32 determines that the switch input is abnormal, the main control device 32, the voice control device 34, or the lamp control device 3
An abnormal state is notified to the outside through the display device 33a, the audio output device 34a, the lamp 35a, or the like via the terminal 5. Also,
The winning ball which is the target of the determination of the switch input abnormality may be ignored, or after the determination of the switch input abnormality, the progress of all the control processes may be stopped. This allows
It is possible to prevent illegal winning from being obtained by the pseudo winning ball detection signal.

In step S4, general game processing of the pachinko machine (general game processing) such as input processing and output processing based on the input is performed. In step S5, a process of waiting for a specified time to elapse (a specified time elapse check process) is performed. After the lapse of the specified time, the process jumps to step S2, and thereafter, the same processing (steps S2 to S5) is repeated.

Since the processes in steps S2 to S4 are started at predetermined time intervals in the specified time elapse check process in step S5, the number of process start-ups in each of these processes is counted to substitute for a timer. obtain.

FIG. 5 shows that the main control unit 32 executes the above step S
2 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of determining whether or not a switch input is abnormal, in which (a) is a switch input (input signal to main controller 32), and (b) is a determination result by main controller 32. Is shown. As shown in FIG.
The main controller 32 determines that the switch input is normal when the switch input (H level) is less than the specified time T1, here 5 msec, and determines that the switch input is abnormal when the switch input (H level) is longer than the specified time T1. to decide. In the illustrated example, a signal S51 generated when a switch input abnormality is determined can be used as the abnormal state occurrence signal.

Next, an example of the procedure of the switch input check processing performed by the main controller 32 in the above step S2 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, switch input is ON
The method of making an abnormality judgment during the period is adopted.

First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not the switch input is ON (H level; ball is present). If ON, step S62; if not, step S63
, Respectively. In step S62, it is determined whether or not a switch-on flag (a flag that is set when it is determined that the switch input is OFF to the switch input ON) is set ("1"). If standing, step S6
Move to 4. If not, it is set in step S65 and returns to step S61 via RET (return).

At the start of the switch input check process, even if the switch input is ON, it is always the first switch input ON detection, so that the switch ON flag does not rise and is set in step S65. That is, in the flow of steps S61 → S62 → S65 → RET, the switch input is first turned on after the switch input check processing is started.
Represents a one-time processing route when is determined.

In step 63, it is determined whether or not the switch-on flag is set ("1"). If so, the process proceeds to step S68. If not, the process returns to step S61 via RET.

Regardless of whether the switch input check processing has just started or not, if the switch input is not ON and the switch-on flag is not raised, it indicates that the ballless state has been detected in both the current and previous checks. . in this case,
The switch-on timer (a timer that counts up when the switch input is ON and the switch-on flag is on) does not measure whether the specified time T1 has elapsed. That is, steps S61 → S63 → RE
The flow of T represents a normal processing route when the switch input is OFF (L level; no sphere).

In step 63, if the switch-on flag is set, the process proceeds to step S68. In step S68, the switch-on flag is cleared (set to "0") and the process proceeds to step S69. In step S69, the switch-on timer is cleared (set to "0"), and the process returns to step S61 via RET.

The fact that the switch input has not been turned on but the switch-on flag has been raised indicates that the ball was in the ballless state in the current check but was in the ball check state in the previous check. In this check, the ball is in a state without a ball.
It can be said that the switch input ON state did not continue for more than msec). That is, steps S61 → S63 (Y)
Represents a one-time processing route at the end of processing in a normal state (detection of a normal winning ball). In this case, as described above, the switch-on flag is cleared in step S68, the switch-on timer is cleared in step S69 to prepare for the next check, and then the process returns to step S61 via RET.

In step S62, if the switch-on flag is set, the process proceeds to step S64, and the switch-on timer starts counting up. In step S66, it is determined whether or not the count value of the switch-on timer has exceeded a specified time T1.

If the specified time T1 has not elapsed, the results of the determination in steps S61 and S62 are based on the fixed time winning ball detection signal (regular winning ball detection), that is, it is determined that the switch input is normal. To RE
After T, the process returns to step S61.

If the specified time T1 has elapsed, the determination results in steps S61 and S62 are based on the pseudo winning ball detection signal, that is, it is determined that the switch input is abnormal. 4
(See step S3). Subsequently, step S6
8 clears the switch-on flag and proceeds to step S69
To clear the switch-on timer to prepare for the next check, and then return to step S61 via RET.

In the above-described processing procedure, the switch input O
Since the abnormality determination is performed during the N period, even if a failure occurs in which the switch input remains in the ON state, the switch input abnormality can be reliably determined, and a process corresponding to the abnormality (step 6)
7) is executed.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the winning ball detection signal for performing the prize ball processing is continuously input for a predetermined time or more, the signal is kept for the predetermined time. Since the signal is a continuous fixed-time prize-ball detection signal, it can be differentiated from a pseudo-prize-ball detection signal that is artificially created, such as an ON / OFF of an external switch. It has the effect of helping to prevent it.

Further, according to the present invention, when the above-mentioned winning ball detection switch circuit is used, and the main control device determines that the duration of the input signal from the circuit side exceeds the specified time, it wins it. Since it is determined that the ball detection signal is abnormal, an abnormal state occurrence signal is generated, and external notification is performed with the abnormal state occurrence signal as necessary, or the prize ball processing and the like are suppressed. There is an effect that it is possible to reliably prevent illegal winnings from being obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a winning ball detection switch circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining output signals of the above circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the pachinko machine according to the present invention having the above-mentioned circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a main control device in the pachinko machine using the same circuit.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining an operation performed by the main control device for determining whether a switch input is abnormal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a switch input check process performed by the main control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 detector 2 detection signal time regulation circuit 31 winning ball detection switch circuit 32 main control device 33 symbol control device 33a display device 34 voice control device 34a voice output device 35 lamp control device 35a lamp 36 prize ball control device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Hoshino 2-3014 Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma 8 Heiwanai F-term (reference) 2C088 AA35 AA36 BA03 BC08 BC23 BC47 CA08 CA17 EA10

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A detector for detecting a prize ball passing through a prize ball passage and outputting a signal, and a signal from the detector is input, and the input is continued for a predetermined time or more. And a detection signal time regulation circuit for outputting a fixed-time prize ball detection signal that lasts for the prescribed time period from the start of the input. 2. A symbol control device for displaying various symbols on a display device during a game, a voice control device for generating various sounds from a voice output device during a game, and a lamp control for turning on and off various lamps during a game. Apparatus, a prize ball control device for performing a predetermined prize ball process in response to a signal from a prize ball detection switch circuit for detecting a prize ball which is a game ball that has won a prize port, and a main control device for controlling each of these control devices In the pachinko machine comprising: a prize ball detection switch circuit, a detector that detects a prize ball passing through the prize ball passage, and outputs a signal, a signal from this detector is input, the input is A detection signal time regulation circuit that outputs a fixed-time prize ball detection signal that continues for the specified time from the start of the input even if the input time starts for a predetermined time or more. ,
It is determined whether or not the duration of the input signal from the prize ball detection switch circuit side has exceeded a specified time. If it is determined that the duration has exceeded, it is determined that the prize ball detection signal is abnormal and an abnormal state occurrence signal is generated. A pachinko machine characterized by the following. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the main control device, when judging that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, gives an abnormal condition occurrence signal to the symbol control device, and causes the display device to notify the abnormal condition by an image. The pachinko machine described in 1. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the main control unit, when determining that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, supplies an abnormal state occurrence signal to the audio control unit, and causes the audio output unit to notify the abnormal state by voice. The pachinko machine according to 2 or 3. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the main control unit determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control unit supplies an abnormal state generation signal to the lamp control unit to notify the abnormal state by turning on or off the lamp. The pachinko machine according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. When the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device suppresses the operation of the winning ball control device and does not perform the prize ball processing using the winning ball as a determination target. The pachinko machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5. 7. When the main control device determines that the winning ball detection signal is abnormal, the main control device suppresses the operations of all the control devices controlled by the main control device and stops the progress of the subsequent control processing. The pachinko machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: