JP2001259134A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize effect sound and vibration of higher production effect regarding a game machine controlling the vibration of an electrical vibrating means of an operating part according to the moving result of a shot game ball in a game board. SOLUTION: A frame 216 of a speaker 214 is engaged with a step part 363 formed at the end part of a vibrating member 36, and the speaker 214 is positioned in a cavity part 300 formed by a front cover 34. The speaker 214 is mechanically connected to the vibrating member 36. A high rigidity material is used for the vibrating member 36. The front cover 34 is so structured that the vibrating member 36 comes in contact with a player's hand and fingers when the player is seated and puts his or her hand and fingers on an operating knob 30. Cushioning members 37 are disposed around the vibrating member 36 so as to be interposed between the vibrating member 36 and the cover member 38. A material of high elasticity such as urethane resin or foam rubber is used as the cushioning members 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly, to a gaming machine that controls the vibration of an electric vibrating means of an operation unit in accordance with the movement of a fired game ball in a game board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of pachinko machines are known which use a vibrating member to enhance the effect of a game.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-7791 discloses an operation knob for launching a game ball (hereinafter abbreviated as an operation knob) or a vibration member using a solenoid provided on a seat, and an electric signal is applied to the solenoid. A technique for causing a player to experience a big hit by a stimulus according to this signal is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-191925 discloses an electric knob provided on one or both of an operation knob and a seat.
A technique for stimulating a player's perception with this vibrator is disclosed.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-252356 discloses a technique for enabling visually impaired persons to perceive a game state even when playing with a pachinko machine, and having the same enjoyment as a healthy person.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-99137 discloses a method in which a plurality of electric elements (speaker, vibration generator, light emitting display member) capable of providing an electric notification or effect are provided inside an operation knob, and these elements generate sound. A technology for generating and displaying vibration is disclosed.

Further, in addition to the techniques disclosed in the above publications, an operation knob as shown in FIG. 5 is known. In FIG. 5, the operation knob 51 fixed to the pachinko machine main body 50 is roughly divided into a rotation operation section 52 for adjusting ball jump of a game ball, a base section 53 for fixing the rotation operation section 52 to the pachinko machine main body 50, and a rotation operation. The front cover 54 covers a rotation mechanism (not shown) of the section 52.

The pachinko machine shown in FIG.
And a vibrating body 56 provided in a gap in the front cover 54. The vibrating body 56 is disposed on the pachinko machine main body 50 in proximity to the operation knob 51 when the internal space of the front cover 54 is small.
The two vibrators 55 and 56 employ an electromagnetic drive system using a solenoid (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing an example of vibration by the electromagnetic drive system. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 60 denotes a driving waveform of the solenoid, and 61 denotes a vibration waveform obtained by driving the solenoid.

[0010]

The above prior arts have the following problems, respectively.

That is, in the techniques of the first and second publications, only a monotonous vibration can be generated. In addition, the technique disclosed in the third publication does not provide a sense of reality that can be provided to a visually impaired person.

Further, according to the technique disclosed in the fourth publication, since a plurality of electric elements are provided inside the operation knob, the size of the speaker is limited, and thus the generated sound is also limited, and the sound which is not powerful is lacking. Could only be offered. Similarly, in the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 5, the size of the vibrating body provided in the front cover is limited, so that the generated vibration is also limited, and only the monotonous vibration (see FIG. 6) can be provided. could not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine which can solve the above-mentioned problems and obtain a vibration effect with a higher effect. To provide.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation unit having an operation unit for operating a game ball launching unit, an operation unit having an electric vibration unit, and the operation unit. Control means for controlling the vibration of the electric vibrating means in accordance with the result of the movement of the game balls fired from the operated game ball firing means in the game board, wherein the operation unit comprises: Electro-acoustic conversion means as a mechanical vibration means, and the electro-acoustic conversion means so as to mechanically vibrate according to the acoustic output of the electro-acoustic conversion means.
A game machine comprising: a vibration member fixed to a sound conversion means and arranged near the operation means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the operating section includes a fixing member fixed to the game machine main body, and a rotating member mounted on the fixing member as the operating means. An operating unit, a lid that covers a rotating mechanism of the rotary operating unit, wherein the vibrating member forms a part of the lid, and the operating unit further includes the vibrating member of the lid. A game machine provided with a buffer member interposed between the vibration member and another portion to suppress transmission of vibration from the vibration member to the other portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the electro-acoustic conversion means is directly attached to the vibrating member and is located in a gap of the lid-like body. -To provide a gaming machine that vibrates the vibrating member by a change in air pressure between a sound converting means and the vibrating member.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention. Since the overall mechanical structure of the pachinko machine can be the same as that disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-319252, the detailed description will be limited to only the components related to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 has a frame 11 as a housing, and a game board 14 is provided in a frame 13 of the main body 12. The game board 14 has a special symbol display device 1
00 is provided, and the game board image pattern is variably displayed here. The game board image pattern is the operation knob 30
By operating a game ball launching device (not shown), the game balls launched are displayed in a fluctuating manner in accordance with the movement result within the game board 14, ie, the winning result. At the same time,
The lighting of the indicator lamp 113 is controlled.

The game board 14 has a variable winning device in which a winning opening is opened when an image pattern is a combination of predetermined specific numbers, that is, when a special prize state is set, and a game ball is won during the special prize state. A special symbol display device (both not shown) is provided in which a special area (not shown) in which a special prize state is continued, a different symbol is displayed while a different number fluctuates when a game ball wins in a specific winning opening, and the like. I have.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of a control system of the gaming machine.
The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a CPU that functions as a main control unit. The CPU 200 uses a CPU chip including a ROM 201 and a RAM 202,
The ROM and the RAM may be connected by a bus.

The ROM 201 stores various programs for controlling the gaming machine. The program includes a display control and a sound / vibration control program for enhancing the effect according to the various winning states according to the movement result of the game ball. In the ROM 201,
Although the values of various parameters for controlling the gaming machine are stored, they are not relevant to the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The RAM 202 stores input / output data for the CPU 200, data for arithmetic processing, and the like.

Reference numeral 203 denotes an input port, which inputs a signal from each circuit described later and transfers it to the CPU 200. 204
Is a special symbol start switch, which is installed at a specific winning opening. When the number of the image pattern displayed on the special symbol display device 100 becomes a specific combination of numbers when the game ball wins the winning opening, the CPU 20
By the instruction of 0, the winning opening of the variable winning device is opened.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a normal symbol operation switch. When a game ball wins a specific winning opening, the normal symbol display device is activated, and a prize device, for example, a tulip is opened by an instruction from the CPU 200. Reference numeral 206 denotes a specific area switch, which is provided in the above specific area and operates when a game ball wins in the specific area.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a conventionally well-known other group of switches for operating each part of the gaming machine according to the gaming state.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a power supply circuit for supplying power to the entire circuit of FIG. Reference numeral 209 denotes a variable input device, which is a CPU.
The winning opening is opened / closed by an instruction from 200. 210 is a device (including a circuit) installed in a conventionally known game machine.

Reference numeral 211 denotes an indicator light control unit for performing control for selectively turning on / off the plurality of indicator lights 113 as an effect related to the game. The indicator light control unit 211 is a CPU
The control may be performed by the instruction of 200, or another CPU may be built in, and the control may be performed by the instruction of the built-in CPU.

Reference numeral 212 denotes a sound effect control unit that drives and controls a speaker 214 for outputting sound and vibration as effect effects related to the game. The sound effect control unit 212
The control may be performed according to an instruction from the PU 200, or another CPU may be built in, and the control may be performed according to an instruction from the built-in CPU.

Here, returning to FIG. 1, the operation knob 30 will be described in detail.

The operation knob 30 is roughly divided into a rotation operation portion 32 for adjusting ball jump of a game ball, a base portion 33 for fixing the rotation operation portion 32 to the pachinko machine main body 12, and a rotation mechanism (shown in the figure) of the rotation operation portion 32. And a lid-shaped front cover 34 that covers The rotation operation unit 32 is provided with a plurality of finger hooks 35 formed of protrusions. When a player puts his / her finger on the rotation operation unit 35 to perform a rotation operation, the player operates a game ball launching device (not shown) in accordance with a rotation adjustment position. A game ball is fired.

The front cover 34 includes a vibrating member 36, a cushioning member 37, and a cover member 38 which integrally form a curved surface.
And has a void therein.

Here, the internal structure of the operation knob 30 characteristic of the present invention will be described with reference to a partially cut-away side view of FIG. 3, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In FIG. 3, the frame 216 of the speaker 214 is engaged with a step 363 formed at the end of the vibration member 36, and the speaker 214 is located in the gap 300 formed by the front cover 34. Thereby, the speaker 214 is mechanically connected to the vibration member 36. As the speaker 214, for example, a cone type speaker is used. Vibration member 36
Use a highly rigid material. The front cover 34
When the player sits down and puts his finger on the operation knob 30,
The structure shown in the drawing is such that the vibration member 36 touches the fingers of the player.

On the other hand, a buffer member 37 is disposed around the vibration member 36 so as to be interposed between the vibration member 36 and the cover member 38. As the buffer member 37, a highly elastic material such as urethane resin or foamable rubber is used. Thereby, the vibration member 36 can have a degree of freedom mechanically with respect to the cover member 38.

In the pachinko machine having the above-described configuration, when a game is reached by operating the operation knob 30, for example, when a reach is achieved, the speaker 214 is driven and controlled under the control of the sound effect control section 212, so that the sound effect and vibration are reduced. Generated. That is, when the speaker 214 is driven by the control signal from the sound effect control unit 212, a sound effect is generated, and the vibration of the speaker 214 due to the sound effect is transmitted to the frame 216, the step 363, and the vibration member 36. , Vibrating member 3
6 vibrates mechanically. In addition, the vibration member 36 also vibrates due to a change in air pressure between the speaker 214 and the vibration member 36. This vibration is felt by the fingers of the player.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a sound effect and a mechanical vibration are generated by using the same control signal, and the mechanical vibration is generated according to the sound effect. The vibration can be matched.

Further, since only one speaker 214 is provided in the space 300 in the operation knob 30, a speaker as large as possible can be provided as far as the space allows. Therefore, more powerful and high-quality sound effects can be reproduced.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a reproduced sound waveform according to the above configuration, and shows a state in which a wide band sound from a low frequency to a high frequency can be reproduced. As a result, a variety of sound effects and vibrations full of a sense of reality can be transmitted to the player to enhance the effect.

Further, the vibration level is changed at the same time as the level of the sound effect from the speaker 214 is changed, so that the adjustment of the vibration level is easy.

By providing the buffer member 37, the propagation of the vibration of the vibration member 36 to other parts can be suppressed. Therefore, the cover member 3 of the operation knob 30
8, no rattling or the like occurs in the rotation operation unit 32 or the rotation mechanism, and the vibration by the sound effect from the speaker 214 can be efficiently transmitted to the vibration member 36.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the operating section having the operating means for operating the game ball launching means and the electric vibrating means comprises the electric-acoustic converting means as the electric vibrating means, and the electric-acoustic converting means. A vibrating member fixedly attached to the electro-acoustic converting means so as to vibrate mechanically in accordance with the acoustic output of the means, and a vibrating member disposed in the vicinity of the operating means, so that the electro-acoustic converting means conventionally used And mechanical vibration can be generated at the same time as generating sound from the operation unit. That is, there is an effect that an effective effect in which the sound and the mechanical vibration are harmonized according to the movement of the game ball can be realized with a simple configuration that does not require a special additional mechanism or the like.

Further, a vibrating member constitutes a part of the lid that covers the rotating mechanism of the rotary operation part, and a cushioning member for suppressing transmission of vibration from the vibrating member of the lid to other parts is provided. Since it is interposed therebetween, the operation unit itself does not vibrate and rattle due to the vibration of the vibration member. further,
Since the vibration member is located near the vibration member so that the player touches the vibration member when operating the operation means, there is an effect that vibration can be efficiently transmitted to the player.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a gaming machine (pachinko machine) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control system of the gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural view of a main part of an embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing an example of a reproduced waveform according to an embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural view of a main part of an example of a conventional gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing an example of a reproduction waveform of a conventional gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Pachinko machine main body 30 Operation knob 32 Rotation operation part 33 Base part 34 Front cover 36 Vibration member 37 Buffer member 38 Cover member 214 Speaker

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operation section having an operation means for operating a game ball launching means and an electric vibration means, and a game board of a game ball fired from the game ball launching means operated by the operation means. A game machine comprising: control means for controlling the vibration of the electric vibration means according to the movement result of: (a), the operation section comprises: an electro-acoustic conversion means as the electric vibration means; And a vibrating member fixed to the electro-acoustic conversion means so as to vibrate mechanically in accordance with the sound output of the operation means and disposed near the operation means. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a fixing member fixed to the game machine main body, a rotation operation unit mounted on the fixing member as the operation means, and the rotation operation. A lid that covers a rotation mechanism of the lid, the vibrating member forms a part of the lid, and the operating unit is further provided between the vibrating member and another part of the lid. A gaming machine, comprising: a buffer member interposed therebetween for suppressing transmission of vibration from the vibration member to the other portion. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein said electro-acoustic conversion means is directly attached to said vibrating member, located in a gap of said lid, and said electro-acoustic conversion means and said vibration. A gaming machine wherein the vibrating member is vibrated by a change in air pressure between members.