JP2001293206A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly resume control operation of a display device (a control object apparatus) with simple constitution at power source reclosing time in a game machine having a game control device (a main control device) for storing and holding game control information at power source cutoff time and resuming transmission processing of display command control information to a display control device (a subordinate control device) from a game state of the power source cutoff time at power source reclosing time. SOLUTION: The transmission processing of the display command control information is resumed from a power source cutoff time state on the basis of the stored and held game control information to a display control board 108 (a display control device) from a main base board 105 (a game control device) at power source reclosing time. The display command control information (a command) including no START signal (communication starting information) is not received on the display control board 108 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention stores and retains information relating to a game even when the power is turned off, and executes a process of transmitting command control information to a subordinate subordinate control device (for example, a display control device) when the power is turned on. Strictly related to a game machine such as a pachinko machine equipped with a main control device (for example, a game control device) that restarts from the state at the time of power-off at the time of power-on (when power is turned on again). The present invention relates to a gaming machine whose control operation is smoothly restarted with a simple configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, an arrangement ball gaming machine, a sparrow ball gaming machine, and the like, a gaming machine including a CPU which operates by receiving electric power and performs a game controlling operation in accordance with execution of a program. Control device (main control device)
Are provided to control the progress of the game state in accordance with a predetermined game progress order. In such a gaming machine, the game control device generally manages and controls the operations of a plurality of controlled devices provided in the machine to advance the game, and the game control device A subordinate control device (a subordinate control device of the game control device) that individually controls the operation of a specific device among the controlled devices based on command control information (command) appropriately transmitted according to the state is provided. ing. For example,
Some gaming machines of this type include liquid crystal displays or CRTs.
A display device such as a display is provided at the center of the game board or the like, and the display device (specific device) is a display control device (subordinate control device) based on display command control information from the game control device.
, The display game (for example, a variation display game of identification information) which forms a part of the game, the effect display for producing a game state, and the like are executed. Usually, this type of gaming machine is provided with an electric decoration member such as a decorative lamp for production at various places, and this electric decoration member (specific equipment) also performs decoration control based on decoration command control information from the game control device. Drive control is performed by control processing of the device (dependent control device). In addition, this type of gaming machine is provided with a discharge unit for paying out a game ball or the like as a game medium to a player as a game value, and the discharge unit (specific device)
Also, the drive control is performed by a control process of a discharge control device (subordinate control device) based on game value discharge command control information (information including prize ball data) from the game control device.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned gaming machine, when a power failure or the like occurs during the game and the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off, Information on the game state, such as whether the game state was such, disappears. For this reason, even if the power supply is restarted (that is, the power is turned on again), the game cannot be restarted from the game state that was being executed when the power was turned off, and compensation to the player due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like Inconvenience such as not being able to do In other words, before the power failure etc. occurred, there was a situation where the player was in a state that was advantageous to the so-called jackpot, etc., but was interrupted by the power failure etc., and the game resumed from the non-big hit state after the power was turned on again This can occur, in which case the player suffers irreparable disadvantage. In view of the above, the applicant has been required to provide a storage means (for example, a memory provided with a backup power supply even when the power is cut off) for storing and maintaining information regarding the gaming state of the gaming machine when the power supply is cut off. Provided to the control device (main control device), until the power is turned on again, information about the game state and the like is stored and held in this storage holding means. When the power is turned on again (including when power is restored), There has been proposed a gaming machine in which a game control device resumes control processing from a gaming state at the time of power-off due to a power failure, including a process of transmitting command control information to a dependent control device such as a display control device. Further, the discharge control device is configured to store and retain undischarged game value information (prize ball data information) even when the power is turned off, and to be able to pay out the undischarged game value after the power is turned on again. Are also considering.

However, in such a gaming machine that stores and retains a game state and the like, when restarting the game from the game state when the power is turned off when the power is turned on again, the specific device (via the subordinate subordinate control device) is used. For example, the control operation of the display device has the following problems. (A) That is, how to process command control information (for example, display command control information) whose transmission has been interrupted due to a power failure or the like when power is turned on again has been a problem. As one method, a configuration in which the command control information is re-created (that is, reproduced) in the game control device and the entire command control information is retransmitted can be considered. However, such a configuration that can regenerate or retransmit the command is
There is a disadvantage that it is disadvantageous in countermeasures against fraud, such as unauthorized modification of the game control device and the like, making it difficult to detect, and cannot be adopted. (B) Regenerating the command control information for the slave control device from the game state stored and held when the power is turned on again is a special process separate from the normal control process. This makes it difficult to create a program and design the system itself, and also increases the capacity of a ROM or the like for storing the program, thereby increasing the load on the CPU or the like. In particular, a control device (for example, an emission control device as described above) having a backup function for storing and holding information at the time of power shutoff and performing control based on the information after power is turned on again is provided in the slave control device. In such a case, in the game control device which is the main control device, the command control information should not be regenerated and transmitted for the information backed up by such a control device. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a process of distinguishing command control information that should not be regenerated for each subordinate control device, so that the control process is further complicated.

(C) Command control information whose transmission has been interrupted when the power is turned off is not transmitted at all, and command control information corresponding to a newly generated game state (for example, the next display for displaying the next screen) Command control information) may be used to restart transmission to the subordinate control device. However, if such a configuration is simply adopted, the operation of the controlled device controlled by the subordinate control device when the power is turned on again is blank. There is a problem that a period (a period in which the operation stops meaninglessly) occurs, and the player may feel uncomfortable or untrustworthy. For example, if transmission of a series of display command control information to a display control device without a backup function is interrupted due to a power failure or the like, the series of display command control information is not transmitted at all when the power is turned on again, and a newly generated game state is set. If the transmission process is simply restarted from the next normal display command control information for displaying the corresponding next screen, the display operation of the display device is performed until the next game state is entered. A blank period may occur, and the player watching this may feel uncomfortable or distrustful. (D) Further, even if there is command control information whose transmission has been interrupted when the power is turned off, a configuration in which the transmission of the command control information is started immediately from the time of the power shutdown (that is, the transmission of the interrupted command control information is interrupted) A configuration in which the control is restarted from the point in time (from the middle) can be considered. With this configuration, there is no problem of re-generating the command control information, which is excellent. However, simply adopting such a configuration poses a problem in how the subordinate control device handles command control information whose transmission has been restarted halfway. That is, in this case, incomplete command control information in which a part of the data on the head side is interrupted may be transmitted at the beginning of the transmission process restart. However, since the interrupted command control information at the leading end is unknown, even if the command control information can be received, the entire command control information cannot be read at least accurately. Therefore, at the beginning of power-on, an abnormal or incomplete operation of the controlled device (for example, an incomplete image display on the display device) based on such incomplete command control information is executed, or After all, there is a problem that a blank period (a period in which the operation stops meaninglessly) occurs in the operation of the controlled device, and the player may feel discomfort or distrust. Therefore, the present invention stores and retains information relating to game control even when the power is turned off, and performs transmission processing of command control information to a lower-order slave control device when power is turned on (strictly, when the power is turned on again). A gaming machine having a main control device having a function of restarting from the state of
The ultimate goal is to provide a gaming machine in which the control operation of a specific device via the slave control device is smoothly restarted with a simple configuration, and at least incomplete command control information is received by the slave control device. The main purpose is to avoid abnormal or incomplete operation of a controlled device (specific device).

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention controls a game by comprehensively controlling and controlling the operation of a plurality of controlled devices provided in the gaming machine. A game machine comprising a main control device and a subordinate control device that individually controls the operation of a specific device among the controlled devices based on command control information transmitted from the main control device, The command control information is composed of at least communication start information indicating the start of communication and command content information indicating the content of the command control, and is transmitted by a transmission process performed at a predetermined timing by the main control device. The apparatus includes: a memory holding unit capable of storing and holding game control information related to game control when the power is cut off even when the power is cut off; and, when the power is turned on, the command control information based on the game control information. Transmission state resuming means for resuming the transmission state from the state at the time of power interruption, wherein the dependent control device is restarted when the power is turned on and the transmission state is resumed by the transmission state resuming means. If the transmitted state is during the transmission of the command control information,
When the command control information transmitted during the transmission includes the communication start information, the command control information transmitted during the transmission is received, and the command control information transmitted during the transmission is included in the command control information. When the communication start information is not included, a command control information receiving / selecting unit that does not receive the command control information transmitted during the transmission is provided.

[0007] The information to be stored and held as the "game control information" is information necessary for restarting the transmission process of the command control information from the state at the time of power-off, and includes other information. It may be. The “transmission processing” of the “command control information” may be parallel communication or serial communication. Further, the “communication start information” may be, for example, an interrupt signal of a CPU constituting the dependent control device, or may be, for example, a port input signal of a CPU constituting the dependent control device. Also, when the power is turned off,
At least when the power supply is inadvertently shut down such as a power outage, or when the power is turned off by a normal power-off operation.
It may not be included. Also, "power is turned on" means
This means that the power has been turned on again, and may include at least power recovery from an inadvertent power shutdown such as a power failure (power failure recovery), and may also include power recovery from a power shutdown due to normal power operation. , May not be included.

In a preferred embodiment, the command control information includes command control information as a main command for instructing a basic operation of the specific device. There is command control information as an auxiliary command related to the command, and the slave control device, immediately after turning on the power, the transmission process resuming means or the transmission process,
Even if the command control information as the auxiliary command is received, the command control information as the auxiliary command may be ignored until the command control information as the main command is received.
Here, "ignore the auxiliary command" means that the auxiliary command is not treated as valid (the same applies hereinafter). In addition, when the power supply re-input command control information described later is transmitted prior to the restart of the transmission process, the command control information as the main command in "until the command control information as the main command is received" is received. Does not include this power-on-cycle command control information.

In a preferred embodiment, when the main control unit stores the game control information in the storage unit when the power is turned on, as in a gaming machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, A power-on command for transmitting a power-on command control information for instructing a power-on operation to a specific device to the subordinate control device prior to restarting the transmission process by the transmission state resuming means. A configuration including command control information transmitting means may be employed. Here, the “operation at the time of turning on the power again” is an operation that does not cause a feeling of strangeness of the specific device, and preferably notifies or expresses to the player that the player has normally recovered from a power failure or the like. Is good.

Further, for example, the command control information includes command control information as a main command for instructing a basic operation of the specific device, and an auxiliary command related to the main command. When the slave controller receives the power-on command control information at the time of power-on, based on the information, the power-on and power-down operations of the specific device realize the power-on operation of the specific device. Comprising a power re-supply control means for performing time control, after receiving the power re-supply command control information, the transmission processing resuming means or the transmission processing, by receiving command control information as the auxiliary command Alternatively, until the command control information as the main command is received, the command control information as the auxiliary command may be ignored, and the power-on control may be continuously performed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a pachinko game machine will be described below. A. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming board of a gaming machine for performing a pachinko game. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a game board, and a game area 3 is formed by surrounding a substantially circular area on the front surface with a guide rail 2. The game board 1 has an out ball inlet (located at the rear of the mounting member of the variable winning device 14 and not shown), a special symbol display device 12 as a controlled device or a specific device of the present invention, and an ordinary electric accessory type. Starting winning opening 1
3. Variable winning device 14 (large winning opening)
5, 16, a plurality of general winning openings 17 to 22, special figure starting memory display 23, ordinary symbol display device 24, general figure starting memory display 25, hitting direction conversion member 26 called a windmill (only a part Others are omitted because they are complicated), and a number of obstacle nails (not shown) are provided. Special symbol display device 12
Is provided with a screen G capable of displaying identification information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a special figure) such as an image and a pattern (see FIG. 7), and a plurality of variable display areas can be formed on the screen G. A plurality of special maps can be displayed in each of the display areas. For example, in FIG. 7B, three variable display areas are formed in three horizontal rows substantially at the center of the screen G, and in each variable display area, a special figure made up of numbers, characters, and the like is displayed in a stopped state ( (Stop display) or display (change display) in a change state (for example, a state of scrolling in the vertical direction) (FIG. 7B shows “1”,
The state where the characters “2” and “3” are stopped and displayed in the respective variable display areas is illustrated).

[0012] All of the plurality of winning ports provided in the game board 1, that is, the starting winning port 13 (inside the special figure starting sensor 1).
31), the variable winning device 14 (large winning opening: a count sensor 134 and a continuation sensor 133 described below are disposed inside), and general winning openings 17 to 22 (winning sensors A1 to AN described later are disposed inside). Is a winning sensor for each winning opening (for example, proximity sensor: but omitted in FIG. 1)
Are arranged, and when a prize hole is won, a prize ball corresponding to a prize value (a game value predetermined by each prize hole: for example, the number of prize balls such as 5 prize balls, 15 prize balls, etc.). The data (prize ball number information) is transmitted to the game control device 105 (main board;
2) and transmitted to the discharge control device 104 (payout control board; see FIG. 2). Around the game board 1, a game board decoration member 31 is arranged, and side lamps 32 and 33 are arranged. The side lamps 32 and 33 are illumination members which decorate a game by blinking or lighting at the time of a reach or a big hit, for example. The game area 2 in the game board 1 is, for example, a game belonging to the so-called “first type” or a “third type” provided with a variable display device as long as the game is played using a pachinko ball. It may be of any type, or may be of any other type, and may have any configuration. For example, in the present embodiment, a type belonging to the “first type” is used. Further, in the present embodiment, a card unit 202 (shown in FIG. 2) in which a player can lend a ball by inserting a prepaid card is a card that is integrally provided on a side portion of the main body of the gaming machine. Leading machine (so-called CR
Although a pachinko machine of a type referred to as “machine” is illustrated, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

B. Power supply system Next, a power supply system of the gaming machine will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a power supply system and a control system in the gaming machine. In FIG. 2, AC 24 V is externally supplied to the gaming machine, and AC 24 V, which is an external power supply, is distributed to the power supply board 102. The power supply board 102 is a board that constitutes a power supply unit, and converts a 24 V AC to a direct current to generate various DC voltages and supply the power supply circuit 102 a to each control device;
In this case, a backup circuit 102b for supplying backup power (DC5VBB) to the RAM of the main board 105 constituting the game control device and the payout control board 104 constituting the discharge control device, and a power failure detection signal when the power supply is cut off (including a power failure) And a power failure detection circuit 102c that outputs a reset signal,
It includes a fuse 102d for preventing overcurrent and a power switch 102e for power-on operation. Here, the power supply circuit 1
02a is a DC3 for driving a solenoid.
2V, 24V DC for card unit, DC for lamp drive, sensor drive, backlight drive, etc.
12V is generated as a driving power source, and 5 V DC is generated as a control device power source for operating each control device. Then, 32 V DC and 5 V DC are applied to the emission control board 103 (emission control device).
Discharge control board 104 for 2 V and 5 V DC (discharge control device)
The main board 105 is connected to 32 V DC, 12 V DC, and 5 V DC.
DC12V and DC5V to the sound control board 106 (sound control device).
V is applied to the lamp control board 107 (decoration control device) by DC1.
2 V and 5 V DC are supplied to the display control board 108 (display control device), and 24 V DC is supplied to the card unit 202 and the operation panel board 203 via the card unit connection board 201. The configuration and function of each control board, card unit 202, and the like will be described later. Further, the backup circuit 102b is connected to a power supply terminal to be backed up (in this case, the RA in the microcomputer chip 105a of the main board 105).
M, a capacitor (not shown) as a backup power supply connected to a power supply terminal of a RAM in the microcomputer chip 104a of the payout control board 104, and irreversibly supply 5V DC generated by the power supply circuit 102a to this capacitor. A diode (not shown) is used to supply power equivalent to 5 V DC for a predetermined backup compensation period when the power supply is cut off.
5VBB) is supplied to the RAM of the main board 105 constituting the game control device (main control device) and the RAM of the payout control board 104 constituting the discharge control device (subordinate control device).

The conventional general pachinko machine has a safe unit that collects all the winning balls in one place, detects them one by one, and holds the winning balls until the payout of the winning balls is completed. Even if there was a power failure, the number of undischarged prize balls could be determined to some extent by checking the prize balls retained in the safe unit. However, in the case of the present embodiment, since such a safe unit is not provided and the winning detection is performed for each winning opening as described above, information of undischarged prize balls is stored in software. Therefore, such a backup power supply is supplied. In addition, in order to continuously restart a game interrupted due to a power failure or the like after power is turned on, it is necessary to store and hold information for reproducing a game state or the like at the time of power-off as described above. Also, such a backup power supply is configured to be supplied to at least the RAM of the game control device (in this case, also to the RAM of the discharge control device).

The power failure detection circuit 1 in the power supply board 102
02c detects in advance that the power supply to the DC5V generation circuit (not shown) in the power supply circuit 102a is cut off (that is, power cutoff such as a power failure) (for example, DC32V is reduced to 22V which is a power failure detection voltage). This is a circuit that outputs a power failure detection signal to each CPU of the game control device (main board 105) and the discharge control device (payout control board 104). This power failure detection circuit 10
2c, a reset output unit is provided. From the reset output unit, each control device (main board 105, payout control board 104, emission control board 103, sound control board 106,
CPU for lamp control board 107 and display control board 108)
(For example, in the case of the firing control board 103, a logic circuit) at a time to reset (for example, after a lapse of a predetermined time from a point in time when DC32V falls to a power failure detection voltage), the CPU of each of these control devices is reset. A signal is output. Note that the reset signal is generally C
This signal is for returning the PU or the like to the initial state. However, when the reset signal is input, the CPU or the like substantially stops operating while the reset signal is being input. Then, when the reset signal is released, each CPU and the like are restarted.

The main board 10 receiving the power failure detection signal
The CPU of the payout control board 104 and the payout control board 104 (the game control device and the discharge control device) executes a power failure process by, for example, a forced interrupt (NMI interrupt). In this power failure process, after all the outputs are turned off, a process such as setting a power failure flag or prohibiting access to the RAM is executed, the process finally waits for a reset. With such a configuration, the function of each CPU is stopped at a voltage at which each CPU can operate normally (before the power is completely shut down) at the time of a power failure or the like, and each CPU becomes unstable due to a power failure or the like. Writing an indefinite value to each RAM of the main board 105 or the payout control board 104 can be prevented with high reliability, and the contents stored in each RAM (for example, undischarged prize ball data or a game state described later) , Etc.) can be securely retained. In this case, the main substrate 105
As described above, the CPU of the (game control device) and the CPU of the payout control board 104 (discharge control device) transfer the data of all registers and the stack pointer (including the data of the interruption address due to the power failure or the like) in the power failure process as described above. The process of saving (registering) in a predetermined area of the backed-up RAM is executed before the process of prohibiting access to the RAM. This allows the main board 105 and the payout control board 104 to store information (game control information) of the game state or control state at the time of power shutdown (more precisely, at the time of power failure detection at which the power failure detection signal was output). The memory can be retained even when the power is turned off.
And the control processing by the payout control board 104 can be continuously restarted from the state at the time of the power failure detection when the power failure detection signal is output.

C. Control System Next, a control system of the gaming machine 301 (the configuration and functions of each control board and the like) will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a main board 105 constitutes a game control device (main control device) that performs general control of the game (including control of game progress and direct or indirect control of each controlled device for the game). The game processing device 105a (a game microcomputer: manufactured as a so-called amuse chip IC) comprising a one-chip microcomputer for controlling an accessory required for a pachinko game or the like. The device 105a includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output interface (not shown) for inputting and outputting various signals. RA of the game processing unit 105a
M includes an area for storing prize ball data (for example, data of 7 prize balls and 15 prize balls), information for resuming a game state at the time of power-off (for example, all the registers and the stack pointer described above). Data area),
As described above, the power supply can be backed up even when the power is turned off (including a power failure), and all the data can be stored and held during a predetermined backup assurance period. Is equivalent to In this case, the main board 105 is provided with the test test signal terminal 105b.
(Accurately, a group of terminals) is provided, from which various signals required at the time of a test can be easily extracted.

Detection signals from the special figure start sensor 131, the general figure start gate sensors 132a and 132b, the continuation sensor 133, the count sensor 134, and the winning sensors A1 to AN are input to the input interface of the game processing unit 105a. You. The prize sensors A1 to AN are sensors for detecting prize balls that have won prizes in the general prize port, respectively. If the game board has n general prize ports, n prize sensors are arranged. The special figure start sensor 131 is a sensor for detecting a winning ball that has won the special winning start port 13, and the general figure starting gate sensors 132 a and 132 b are prize balls that have won (passed) the general figure starting gates 15 and 16. The continuous sensor 133 is a sensor that detects a winning ball that has flowed into a continuous winning channel (a channel that passes through a so-called special winning port) in the large winning port of the variable winning device 14, and a count sensor. Reference numeral 134 denotes a sensor that detects a winning ball that has flowed into a general winning channel (a channel that does not pass through the special winning port) in the large winning port of the variable winning device 14. In addition, the input / output interface of the arithmetic processing unit 105a has an odd ball detection switch 141 for detecting whether or not there is a game ball for discharging a prize ball and discharging a ball, and a lower plate provided at a lower front part of the gaming machine. (Not shown)
A detection signal is also input from an overflow switch 142 for detecting a full state of the game machine (excessive accumulation of balls) and a glass frame opening switch 143 for detecting that a glass frame (metal frame) supporting the glass on the front of the gaming machine has been opened. ing. Also,
Prize ball detection sensors 161 and 162 of the discharge unit described later
Is also input.

On the other hand, from the input / output interface of the game processing unit 105a, the special symbol display device 1
A display control board 108 for controlling a display device main body 12a such as an LCD, etc., which constitutes the display device 2, lamps for controlling the lamps 32 and 33 on the game board 1, the special figure start storage display 23 and the general figure start storage display 25, etc. Control board 107, speaker 106
sound control device 1 that drives b to control output such as sound effects
06, the above-mentioned ordinary symbol display device 24, the variable winning device 14
Direction switching lever solenoid 135 for switching the guiding direction of a guiding member (a member for selectively guiding a game ball to either a continuous winning flow path or a general winning flow path; not shown) provided therein, Ordinary electric accessory solenoid (common electric solenoid) 136 for driving the winning opening 13 (ordinary variable winning device), large winning opening solenoid 137 for driving the opening and closing door of the variable winning device 14, external connection terminal board 13 for the panel
8. A signal (including a command) to the test shooting test signal terminal 105b
Is output. From this input / output interface, a command (command control information) such as prize ball data is output to the payout control board 104 (discharge control device) by prize ball parallel communication. That is, when the winning control of the game ball is detected by the winning sensors 131, 133, 134, A1 to AN provided for each winning opening of the gaming board 1, the game control device constituted by the main board 105 detects the winning opening. It has a function of transmitting information (a command including prize ball data) of the number of prize balls set in advance corresponding to the winning value to the discharge control device 104 by parallel communication (prize ball parallel communication). In addition,
The game operation processing device 105a of the game control device (main board 105) has the display control board 10 interrupted when the power is turned off.
8 (a function of restarting the transmission state of the display command control information to the slave controller (transmission state of the command (display command control information) by the display parallel communication) from the power-off state when the power is turned on again (the present invention) And a function of transmitting the power-on command control information to the display control board 108 prior to the restart of the transmission process (the power-on / off command control information transmitting means of the present invention). ) (Details will be described later).

Next, the launch control board 103 constitutes a launch control device, and in this case, comprises a logic circuit.
The driving of the firing motor 103a of the firing device (not shown) is controlled in accordance with the amount of rotation of the firing operation handle (not shown), and control for firing the game ball with the strength corresponding to the amount of rotation of the firing operation handle is performed. In addition, the signal of the touch sensor 103b provided on the firing operation handle and the signal of the firing stop switch 103c are input to the firing control device 103, and the release of the player's hand from the firing operation handle is detected by the touch sensor 103b. Or when an operation signal is input from the firing stop switch 103c, the firing operation of the firing unit is forcibly stopped. Further, the emission control device 103 is configured to receive a firing stop signal from the emission control device 104. This emission stop signal is output when any abnormality is detected on the emission control device (dispensing control board 104) side. A signal for forcibly stopping the firing operation of the firing unit, or enabling the firing operation when the abnormality is eliminated.

Next, the payout control board 104 constitutes a discharge control device, and commands such as prize ball data transmitted from the game control device (main board 105) by prize ball parallel communication, a prize ball detection sensor. Based on the detection signals from 161 and 162, prize ball discharge control is executed, and as described later, ball rental ball discharge control is also performed. In this case, the payout control board 104 includes a payout processing unit 104a formed of a one-chip microcomputer, and the payout processing unit 104a includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output interface. Here, the CPU of the payout arithmetic processing device 104a performs processing necessary for discharging game balls (including prize ball discharge and lending ball discharge), and its ROM stores programs necessary for discharge control. . Also,
The RAM of the payout processing unit 104a has an award ball data memory area for storing award ball data (for example, data of 7 award balls and 15 award balls). Also, this RA
As described above, the power supply of M can be backed up even when the power is turned off (including at the time of a power failure), and all data can be stored and held during a predetermined backup guarantee period. The payout processing device 104a performs card unit communication with the card unit connection board 201 through the input / output interface, and thereby the card unit 202 through the card unit connection board 201.
(Card unit command control information and operation panel signals) are transmitted and received between the control panel board 203 and the operation panel board 203, and control necessary for discharging the lent ball is performed. The operation panel substrate 203
Is a circuit board provided with a connection circuit for an operation member for discharging a ball and a display member (not shown) provided on a front operation panel (not shown) below the front of the gaming machine. For example, the front operation panel It is arranged behind. In addition, the input / output interface of the payout processing unit 104a includes:
Ball lending detection sensors 175, 176 of the discharge unit described later
And signals from the prize ball detection sensors 161 and 162 are input. Also, from the input / output interface of the dispensing processing unit 104a, command control information is output to the ball discharge motor 181, the stopper solenoid 182, and the flow path switching solenoid 183 of the discharge unit, which will be described later, and the external connection for the frame is performed. External information for the frame is output to the terminal board 139.

Here, a discharge unit (not shown)
The discharge control by the discharge control device (payout control board 104) will be described. The discharge unit is controlled by the payout control board 104 to discharge game balls (discharge of prize balls as prize balls or lending of balls as lending balls) guided from a storage tank (not shown) arranged on the upper rear side of the gaming machine. Discharge)
In this case, there are two rows of game ball flow paths through which game balls guided from the storage tank flow down.
It is a line type. At the upper part of the unit, two sprockets (not shown) are provided so that a part of the outer circumference enters the opening of each game ball flow path, and one game ball is provided in a valley on the outer circumference of these sprockets. When the sprocket is rotated, the game ball flows down and is ejected. A ball discharge motor 181 (shown in FIG. 2) composed of a single pulse motor for rotating these sprockets collectively and an inadvertent rotation of the sprocket by gravity (that is, an inadvertent discharge of the ball).
A stopper (not shown) urged in a direction to be engaged with the sprocket (or a member that rotates integrally with the sprocket) to prevent the occurrence of a sprocket, and a stopper solenoid 182 (shown in FIG. 2) for releasing the engagement of the stopper. have.

In this discharging unit, each game ball flow path is branched into two at the lower part of the unit, one of which is a prize ball flow path (not shown) for passing a prize ball, and the other is a rental ball flow path. A ball lending flow path (not shown) through which the ball passes. The branch portion is provided with a flow path switching valve (not shown), which is connected to a flow path switching solenoid 183 (shown in FIG. 2).
As a result, the game ball discharged downstream of the game ball flow path passes through one of the prize ball flow path and the lending ball flow path. In this discharge unit, when the stopper solenoid 182 is operated (excited) under the control of the discharge control device, the locked state of the stopper is released. In this unlocked state, the ball discharge motor is controlled by the control of the discharge control device. By operating the sprocket 181 and rotating the sprocket by a predetermined amount in the discharging direction, a corresponding number of game balls are sent to the downstream side by gravity. The game balls thus sent out are discharged from one of the prize ball flow path and the lending ball flow path by the operation of the flow path switching solenoid 183 based on the control of the discharge control device, and a predetermined amount of prize ball discharge or leasing is performed. Ball ejection is realized. Immediately after the predetermined amount of game balls are discharged, the stopper solenoid 182 is immediately returned to the non-operation state (non-excitation state) by the control of the discharge control device, and the rotation of the sprocket is stopped accurately. .
The ball-for-sale detection sensors 175 and 176 are sensors for detecting game balls (ie, ball-for-sale) passing through the above-mentioned ball-for-sale flow paths, respectively.
It is a sensor for detecting a game ball (that is, a prize ball) passing through each of the above-mentioned prize ball flow paths.

Next, the sound control board 106 constitutes a sound control device, is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU 106a, and has a command including sound data transmitted from the game control device (main board 105) by sound parallel communication. Based on the (command control information), control relating to the sound effect is performed, such as generating a sound effect and outputting it from the speaker 106b. Further, the lamp control board 107 constitutes a decoration control device, is constituted by a microcomputer including a CPU 107a, and has a command (command control information) including decoration data transmitted from the game control device (main board 105) by lamp parallel communication. ), The side lamps 32 and 33 and the special map start storage display 2 arranged on the game board 1
In addition to controlling the light emission of the illumination member and the display unit such as the 3 and the general-purpose start storage display unit 25, the power is supplied to the illumination member and the display unit.

The display control board 108 constitutes a display control device, and also comprises a microcomputer including a CPU 108a.
05), the image display of the special symbol display device 12 is controlled based on the above-mentioned command (display command control information), and power is supplied to the special symbol display device 12. Specifically, for example, the display control device performs a variable display game in which a plurality of special figures (identification information) are variably displayed in the variable display area of the special symbol display device 12 and stopped, and the stop mode of the variable display game is specified. Is controlled so that a privilege can be given (for example, a big hit occurs) when the combination mode is reached. The display control board 108 is provided with a test test signal terminal 108b (in this case, a terminal group in a correct case), from which various signals necessary for a test can be easily taken out. In this case, the game control device (main board 1
05) corresponds to the main control device of the present invention, and other control devices (dispensing control substrate 104, emission control substrate 103, audio control substrate 106, lamp control substrate 107, display control substrate 108) are dependent on the present invention. It corresponds to a control device. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the display control device (display control board 108). Then, the CPU 108a of the display control device (display control board 108)
Among the commands of the display command control information transmitted when the power is turned on again by the restart of the transmission process by the game processing unit 105a, only the command in which the START signal (communication start information) includes an active state is received. , ST
It has the function of the command control information receiving / selecting means of the present invention, which does not receive the signal in which the ART signal does not include the active state. When the power is turned on again, the CPU 108a receives the power-on power-on command control information, and then transmits the main command (described later) transmitted by the normal transmission process after the transmission state is restarted by the game processing unit 105a. Until receiving the command, the auxiliary command (described later) transmitted by the normal transmission process after the transmission state is resumed is ignored even if it is received, and the power supply is restarted based on the power-on command control information. It has a function of the power-on / off control means of the present invention for executing a power-on operation (display of a power failure recovery message screen) and smoothly restarting the display of the special symbol display device 12 (described later in detail).

Next, the board external connection terminal board 138 is a board provided with external information terminals on the game board side connected to the main board 105, from which an external management device (not shown) is provided.
In addition, it is for outputting external information for a panel (for example, a jackpot signal or the like). In addition, the external connection terminal board 139 for the frame
Are the delivery control board 104 and the tank ball out switch 139.
This is a board provided with an external information terminal on the frame side connected to a. From this, external information for the frame (for example, a detection signal of a prize ball or a lending ball, a signal of running out of a tank ball) is sent to an external management device. Has been output. Note that the tank ball out switch 139a
Is a sensor that detects that the amount of the game balls in the storage tank is insufficient (or is zero) and outputs a tank ball out signal requesting the island facility to replenish the game balls. The management device manages gaming machines, island facilities, and the like in the entire hall, and operates on the basis of various signals input through the external connection terminal board 138 for the panel and the external connection terminal board 139 for the frame. The required data is subjected to arithmetic processing, and the processed data is displayed on a display or printed as necessary.

D. Next, an outline of a game performed by the gaming machine according to the present embodiment will be described. When a game ball struck into the game area via the guide rail 2 wins a start winning prize port 13 of a normal electric auditorium type also serving as a start port (chucker) of a special figure (that is, if there is a start prize). ), A display (so-called variable display) in which a large number of special figures (comprising numbers, characters, symbols, patterns, and the like) fluctuate (for example, scroll) in a plurality of variable display areas of the display screen of the special symbol display device 12. Then, a variable display game is performed. If the result of the variable display game (combination of stopped special figures) is a specific display mode (for example, a slotted line such as “7, 7, 7”), a game value called a big hit is given. In terms of control,
For example, on condition that there is a start winning, various random number values such as a jackpot random number (a random number for game value determination) are extracted and stored, and the extracted and stored random number value and a preset determination value are determined at the time of determination. A comparison is determined, and based on the result of the comparison, a stop symbol (whether to make a big hit or not) and whether or not to perform a reach action are determined in advance, and the variable display is started according to this determination. Further, when so-called time-saving (time reduction) control is performed, the time from the start to the end of the change of the special figure and / or the ordinary figure is shorter than usual, and the fluctuation display per time is correspondingly reduced. Advantageously, the frequency of the game is substantially increased. Also, if the probability of a jackpot is set to a high probability by controlling so-called probability fluctuation, the probability of a jackpot being greater than usual increases.

At the time of this big hit, the opening and closing door of the big winning opening of the variable winning device 14 is temporarily opened for a period of up to, for example, 10 winnings within a range not exceeding a specified time (for example, 30 seconds). An opening operation is performed. The opening operation is performed, for example, on condition that detection of a continuous winning ball (detection of a winning ball by the continuous sensor 133) is performed.
Performed multiple times up to 16 rounds. In addition, during the above-mentioned special figure change display game or during the big hit, when a game ball further wins in the starting winning opening 13, the special figure start storage display 23
Is turned on and stored up to four in this case, and after the variable display game or the big hit is completed, the variable display game of the above-mentioned special figure is repeated based on the storage (ie, the start memory). On the other hand, during the game, the game ball is moved to the normal figure starting gate 15, 1
When the player wins (passes) No. 6, a normal-figure variable display game based on a general-figure (in this case, a single-digit number) fluctuating display of the normal symbol display device 24 is performed. Then, the result of the variable display game (stopped ordinary figure) is displayed in a predetermined mode (for example,
In the case of “7”), a game value called per-figure is given. At this time, the pair of opening / closing members of the starting winning opening 13 is opened in an inverted C-shape, for example, in the open state.
The game is held for about 5 seconds. This makes it easier for the game ball to win in the starting winning opening 13, and accordingly, the number of times the special figure variable display game is performed increases and the possibility of a big hit increases. In addition, when a game ball is further won at the general-purpose starting gates 15 and 16 during the general-purpose change display game, the general-purpose starting storage display 25 is lit and stored up to four in this case. After the variable display game is completed, the above-described general-purpose variable display game is repeated based on the memory.

E. Operation of Control System Next, regarding the characteristic control contents (mainly display control when the power is turned on again) of the gaming machine performed by the above-described control system,
explain. (A) Contents of display command control information A command (display command control information) sent from the game control device (main board 105) to the display control device (display control board 108) by display parallel communication is, for example, 8-bit command data. It comprises an 8-bit parallel signal (DATA; D0 to D7) for transmission and a 2-bit control signal (START signal, STB (strobe) signal) for communication of these command data. here,
The command data corresponds to the command content information of the present invention,
The ART signal corresponds to the communication start information of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, there are two types of command data, MODE and ACTION, and these command data are sequentially transmitted in synchronization with the STB signal after the START signal, and are displayed on the display control board. 108 CP
The U108a sequentially reads these two types of command data while checking the STB signal. That is,
As shown in FIG. 3, the START signal is activated only once prior to a set of command data consisting of MODE and ACTION, and the STB signal is
It becomes active at the transmission timing (signal stabilization time) of each command data of E and ACTION.
Here, in this case, the START signal is an interrupt signal for starting a reception process (interruption process) of the display control device (display control board 108), and for example, the display control board 10
8 is input to a predetermined interrupt terminal of the CPU 108a. FIG. 3 illustrates a so-called active high state in which the bit values (voltages) of the START signal and the STB signal are at a high level (high voltage) in the active state. Needless to say, there can be a mode of

Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, such ST
ART signal (once), STB signal (twice), and MO
One set of each command data (addressed to one) of DE and ACTION is referred to as a command (one unit of display command control information). It should be noted that a plurality of these commands are transmitted and received at the same time to realize a series of displays. In this case, a plurality of commands (hereinafter, referred to as a command group) transmitted and received at the same time include one command (the main command of the present invention) that specifies the basic display content of the display device 12 (screen G). ) And one or a plurality of auxiliary commands (corresponding to the auxiliary command of the present invention) relating to this main command. A command corresponding to the main command is always transmitted, and the auxiliary command accompanying the command is transmitted. Is transmitted, a display control is performed for the first time. 9 to 11,
The symbol of the command of the main command is represented by capital letters such as A, B and X, and the symbol of the command of the auxiliary command is represented by small letters such as a, b and x.

(B) Display control operation during normal power-on and normal processing Normal power-on (in this case, when the power is restored after the backup assurance period has elapsed since the power was cut off due to a power failure or the like, or when the backup assurance is performed) (Including when the power supply returns when the backup power supply has failed during the period), the RA of the game processing unit 105a of the game control device is included.
In M, the above-described power failure flag is not normally stored and held (the power failure flag is normally stored and held because the above-described power failure processing has not been executed or the backup guarantee period has passed even if the above-described power failure processing has been executed). Not). For this reason, the game processing unit 105a determines that the power is normally turned on after the startup, performs processing such as initializing the entire area of the RAM, and then proceeds to the normal processing.
A command A containing the content of initial power-on as shown in (a) is transmitted to the display control device (display control board 108). On the other hand, the CPU 108a of the display control device starts the display control operation upon receiving the command A for initial power-on after the start-up, and based on the command A, for example, FIG.
A customer waiting demonstration display (display of a customer waiting screen) as shown in (b) is executed. The customer waiting demonstration display is continuously executed, for example, until there is a state change to change the display contents (in this case, a prize in the special figure starting port 13).

When there is a prize (start prize) in the special figure starting port 13, the normal processing function of the game processing unit 105a causes the special figure change display as shown in FIG. 10B, for example. Are sequentially transmitted. In this case, the command group for the variable display of the special figure is composed of a command B (one) as a main command and commands b1 to b4 (four) as auxiliary commands, and includes a total of five commands. . Among them, the command B of the main command indicates a variation mode and a variation time. When the command B is received by the CPU 108a of the display control device, the variation display of the designated mode is started under the control of the CPU 108a. .
The commands b1 to b3 of the auxiliary command are used to designate a stop symbol of the left special figure, a stop symbol of the right special symbol, or a stop symbol of the central special symbol among the three variable display areas described above. Command. In addition, the command b4 of the auxiliary command is a command for stopping all the symbols.
When this command b4 is received by the CPU 108a, the CP
Under the control of U108a, special figures in all the variable display areas are stopped and displayed with the specified stop symbol. When the jackpot is determined by the above-described random number extraction at the time of winning the special figure starting port 13, a command is issued so that the combination of the special figure stopped and displayed as described above becomes a specific combination corresponding to the big jackpot. The data is selected.

Next, during the period before the opening operation of the variable winning device 14 (big winning opening) in the jackpot state (ie, during the so-called fanfare period), for example, FIG.
, Commands for fanfare display (display for producing a big hit, etc.) are sequentially transmitted. In this case, the command group for displaying the fanfare includes a command C (one) as a main command and a command c1 (one) as an auxiliary command, and includes a total of two commands. Among them, the command C of the main command is for instructing the contents of the basic screen of the fanfare display, and the command c1 of the auxiliary command is the big hit symbol to be redisplayed in the basic screen of the fanfare display (the special figure when the big hit occurs). This is a command for designating a specific combination of.
These commands C and c1 are transmitted to the CPU 108 of the display control device.
When a is received, the designated fanfare display is executed under the control of the CPU 108a.

In addition, during the opening operation of the variable winning device 14 (big winning opening) in the jackpot state, for example, FIG.
As shown in (b), a command group for a display during opening (display indicating that the camera is being opened and notifying the count number and the like) is sequentially transmitted. In this case, a command group for the display during opening is composed of a command D (one) as a main command and commands d1 and d2 (two) as auxiliary commands.
Includes a total of three commands. Among them, the command D of the main command indicates the contents of the basic screen of the open display (different depending on the number of rounds of the jackpot), and the command d1 of the auxiliary command is redisplayed in the basic screen of the open display. The command for designating the jackpot symbol, and the command d2 of the auxiliary command include a count number (a winning number detected by the count sensor 134) and a V mark (a continuation sensor 133) displayed in the basic screen of the open display. This is a command for designating the presence / absence of a detected continuous winning). These commands D, d1, d2
Is received by the CPU 108a of the display control device,
Under the control of 108a, the specified open display is executed.

Also, during a period between rounds of the opening operation in the jackpot state (ie, during a so-called interval period) or at the end of the jackpot, a command for displaying each game state or notifying information is provided. The group (not shown) is similarly transmitted by the normal processing function of the game processing unit 105a, and the CP of the display control unit is transmitted.
The designated display is executed by the control of U108a (normal processing). Then, when the gaming state in which the above-mentioned variable display is performed or the gaming state in which the display at the time of the end of the big hit is completed, if there is a next start memory, the gaming state of the next variable display is newly set. After the transition, the command group for the next special figure change display is transmitted, and a new change display is started. On the other hand, if there is no start memory, the gaming state shifts to the customer waiting state, and a command A containing a customer waiting demonstration as shown in FIG. 10A is transmitted. In this case, FIG. The customer waiting demonstration display as shown in b) is executed until the next start winning.

(C) Control operation of the game control device (main board) at the time of power-off Next, there is a power-off due to a power failure or the like (this case also includes a normal power-off by operating the power switch 102e, for example). In this case, the power failure detection circuit 102a outputs a power failure detection signal prior to the reset signal as described above. For this reason, when the power supply is cut off,
05a treats this power failure detection signal as a forced interrupt signal (so-called NMI interrupt signal) to interrupt the processing of the preceding interrupt (input of sensors and switches, etc.) and other processing being executed. Then, the respective processes (in this case, the following steps S20 to S26) are executed as the power failure process. That is, step S
In steps S20 to S22, first, data of all registers and stack pointers or data of a timer interrupt enable / disable state (interrupt enable / disable state) before an NMI interrupt is generated are all stored in a predetermined area of the backed-up RAM. save.
Next, in step S23, all outputs are turned off (off data is output to all output ports), and in step S24, detection processing of the detection signals of the prize ball detecting means (the above-described prize ball detection sensors 161 and 162) is performed. Thereafter, the power failure flag is set (step S25), and finally, the access to the RAM 113 is prohibited (step S26), and the process waits (becomes a reset signal input wait state). After the execution of the power failure processing, the arithmetic processing unit 105a for the game
The operation is stopped by the above-described reset signal output from 02a.

Here, the process of turning off the output, prohibiting access to the RAM, and waiting is performed by substantially stopping the function (stopping the operation by software) until the operation is stopped by the hardware by the reset signal, and is undefined. This is intended to reliably prevent the output of a random signal or the erroneous writing of indefinite data into the RAM. The processing of saving all data such as all registers and stack pointers is the same state as when power is turned off after power is turned on again (including a game state, a game control state, a discharge control state, and the like in addition to the storage state of the number of prize balls information). ) To allow the operation to be resumed from the state at the time of power-off. Step S2
The reason why the detection signal of the prize ball detection means is read during the power failure process in the process 4 is to eliminate the loss of the prize ball discharged during the power-off time (including immediately before the power failure).

(D) Control operation of display control device (display control board) when power is cut off Next, control operation of display control device when power is cut off (CPU 1
08a) will be described. When the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the CPU 108a continues the normal processing until the above-described reset signal is input from the power failure detection circuit 102a, and operates in a manner to interrupt the normal processing when the reset signal is input. Stop.

(E) Display control operation of the game control device (main board) when the power is turned on again. Next, the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like (this case also includes a normal power cut by operating the power switch 102e, for example). After the power failure, when the power is turned on again within the backup assurance period and the power returns to normal (that is, when the power is turned on again in the present embodiment), the power failure process described above causes R of arithmetic processing unit 105a
The above-mentioned power failure flag is normally stored and retained in AM. For this reason, the game processing unit 105a determines that the power is to be turned on again after the start-up, and initializes only a specific area of the RAM (an area excluding prize ball data and game state information stored and held). In addition to performing a process such as performing a display control operation (that is, a display command), the stack pointer and data of all registers are restored to those at the time of power shutdown (when a power failure or the like occurs), and restored to the address interrupted at the time of power shutdown. All the control processes including the control information editing and transmission processes) are continuously restarted from the power-off state. However, the control processing for the display control board 108 is performed after the activation timing of the CPU 108a of the display control board 108.
First, a process of transmitting a command group at the time of power-on (corresponding to power-on command control information of the present invention and represented as a power failure reset signal in the drawing) is executed, and thereafter,
The transmission processing of the display command control information is restarted from the state at the time of power shutdown. That is, for example, if there is a command or a command group that has not been transmitted when the power is turned off (that is, display command control information that has not been transmitted), the command control information at the time of turning on the power is transmitted when the power is turned on. The transmission of the command control information is resumed and executed as normal transmission processing from the point of interruption (see FIG. 4 or FIG. 5). If there is no display command control information that has not been transmitted when the power is turned off, the command control information when power is turned on again is transmitted when the power is turned on, and then the transmission process of the display command control information is in a standby state (shift to the next game state). Until the command transmission of the display command control information is stopped) (see FIG. 6).

Here, the command group at power-on (power-on command control information; power-off reset signal in the figure) is for displaying a power-on reset message screen (power-off reset notification screen). As shown in FIG. 12, a command X (one) as a main command and commands x1 to x as auxiliary commands
4 (four), including a total of five commands. Among them, the command X of the main command designates a basic screen (for example, FIG. 8A) of the power failure recovery message screen. The commands x1 to x3 of the auxiliary command are commands for designating a stop pattern (for example, “337” or “333” shown in FIG. 9) of the special figure displayed in the basic screen of the power failure recovery message screen. . Note that the stop symbol specified here is a symbol related to the game state when the game state at the time of power-off is in a variable display or a big hit (for example, the stop symbol in a variable display state). Or, if a jackpot is in progress, the jackpot symbol) is selected and designated. The command x4 of the auxiliary command is a command for designating information on the probability fluctuation state (information on whether the state is a low probability state or a high probability state) to be displayed in the basic screen of the power failure recovery message screen. The information on the probability fluctuation state specified here is the information on the probability fluctuation state at the time of power-off. Note that the command control information (power failure return signal) at the time of power supply re-input includes, for example, command X (main command) in FIG.
(That is, 1 instead of a command group).
Commands). Even in this case,
This is because it is possible to display at least a basic screen as shown in FIG.

(F) Display control operation of display control device (display control board) when power is turned on again CPU 108a of display control device (display control board 108)
Receives the above-mentioned power-on-return command control information after the power is turned on again (see FIG. 4 or FIG. 5),
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9A or 9B, the power failure recovery message screen designated by the power-on / off command control information (in this case, the command group as shown in FIG. 12) is displayed on the special symbol display device 12. Is displayed on the display screen G. After that, when the transmission process of the display command control information interrupted at the time of the power supply interruption is restarted under the control of the main board 105, the command of the display command control information transmitted by the restart of the transmission process becomes active of the above-mentioned START signal. In the case of including normal parts (normal case), as shown in FIG.
Reception is sequentially resumed from the command. On the other hand, the command of the display command control information whose transmission has been restarted is the same as the above-mentioned START command.
When the active portion of the signal is not included (in the case of an abnormal state), as shown in FIG. 5, reception is resumed sequentially from the normal command following the command (that is, the command does not execute reception processing). ). This is because a START signal (communication start information) is not received, and in this case, specifically,
This is because there is no interruption for executing the receiving process. The CPU 10 of the display control device (display control board 108)
8a is a function of discarding (ignoring) the command data even if only the remaining part of the command group (ie, the command of the auxiliary command) which has been transmitted due to a power failure or the like is received by the setting of the operation program. Having. That is, specifically, the transmission of the display command control information interrupted when the power is turned off is restarted under the control of the main board 105, and when the first received command is the command of the auxiliary command, the main command Ignores all commands until a command is received, and does not execute display control specified by the received command until the first command of the main command is received. Furthermore, until the command of the main command is received for the first time, according to the command of the power-on command control information described above,
A predetermined power failure recovery message screen is continuously displayed.

(G) Display operation example at the time of turning on the power again Under the control of the game control device and the display control device described above, the following display operation is executed at the time of turning on the power again. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when a power failure or the like occurs during the variable display (in this case, after transmission and reception of the right symbol designating command b2), after the power is turned on again, the above-described function of the game control device causes First, after the power supply re-input command control information (commands X, x1 to x4) is transmitted, the normal display command control information is transmitted from the next command (in this case, the middle symbol designating command b3). Will be resumed.
On the other hand, regarding the reception processing on the display control device side, when the next command includes an active part of the START signal, the reception processing is restarted from the next command, and the next command is activated by the active of the START signal. If the portion is not included, the receiving process is restarted from the next command (in this case, the command b4 for stopping all symbols). However, in this case, since the command for restarting the receiving process is an auxiliary command and is ignored, the display of the screen G does not actually return to the normal state immediately, and the screen G shown in FIG. ) Is continuously displayed (see FIG. 7). Then, at the time when the command of the next main command (in FIG. 7, the main command command B for the next variable display) is transmitted, the receiving process and the display process are returned to the normal state from the command of the main command. In this case, the variation display (display of the symbol variation screen) according to the main command B is started.

According to the gaming machine of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When the power is turned on again, the display command control information is not regenerated or retransmitted (only the transmission process is restarted from the point of interruption), and the transmission process of the power supply restart command control information is inserted. Is a simple control processing configuration, the load on the memory capacity and processing capacity of the processing means (105a, 108a) constituting the game control device (main control device) and the display control device (subordinate control device) is small. (ROM
It is possible to easily clear the limitation of the capacity and the RAM area and the limitation of the processing time of the CPU or the like). (2) Since the display command control information is not regenerated or retransmitted, it is advantageous in countermeasures against fraud. (3) Moreover, in the display control device (subordinate control device), when the power is turned on, the START signal among the commands of the display command control information transmitted by the restart of the transmission process by the game control device (main control device) is active. Only those that include the state are received, and those that do not include the active state of the START signal are not received. Therefore, the display of the display control device (subordinate control device) at power-on is abnormal due to the reception of such an incomplete command without receiving an incomplete command whose head portion is interrupted. This avoids the problem that the content becomes unnatural and the player feels discomfort or distrust. (4) Further, in the present embodiment, when only the auxiliary command is transmitted due to the restart of the transmission processing as described above, the function is destroyed by the function of the display control device (subordinate control device) ( Since it is configured to ignore even if received), it is reliably avoided that an abnormal display operation is performed by incomplete display command control information of only the auxiliary command,
Also in this respect, the problem of the player's discomfort and distrust can be solved with high reliability. It should be noted that a problem caused by an incomplete command cannot always be completely solved only by the configuration in which the auxiliary command is discarded. This is because if the incomplete command transmitted first when the power is turned on (in this case, after the power-on command control information is transmitted) is the main command,
This is because there is a risk that the above function alone will accept this. However, as described above, if there is a function that does not receive a signal in which the START signal does not include an active state, the incomplete main command transmitted first will not be accepted. Measures against incomplete commands become stronger. (5) Further, in the present embodiment, the display control device side (the subordinate control device side) controls the display to be controlled by the transmission of the power-on-time command control information regardless of the game state at the time of power-off. Control for realizing a preferable power-on operation (in this case, display of a power failure recovery message screen) of the device 12 (specific device) can be reliably performed. For this reason, the occurrence of a blank period (a period in which nothing is displayed meaninglessly) can be reliably avoided, and the problem of uncomfortable feeling and distrust of the player can be solved with higher reliability.

(6) Further, since the control processing when the power is turned on again has a simple configuration as described above, the display control device (subordinate control device) can store and hold the control state when the power is turned off. In such a case, there is an advantage that it is easy to perform a design change or a modification to a configuration in which the control operation is restarted from the power-off point in the processing on the display control device side. (7) In the case of the present embodiment, in the normal processing, even if there is no start memory after the end of the fluctuation display, the next display command control information including the main command (that is, the command A of the customer waiting demonstration described above). Is transmitted. For this reason, a power failure or the like occurs during the fluctuation display without the start memory, and after the power is turned on again and the game resumes, even if there is no next start winning for a long time, the power failure recovery message screen (power failure recovery notification screen) is displayed. There is an advantage that the display is not displayed for a long time (that is, in this case, even if there is no next winning prize, the customer waiting demonstration screen is displayed and the normal state is restored).

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may have various modifications and applications. First, the communication start information according to the present invention is not limited to the interrupt signal.
It may be a signal input to the input port a. Further, there may be a mode in which the power-on / off command control information is not transmitted from the main control device. That is, when the power is turned on (including when the power is turned on again), for example, the slave controller
Command A containing initial power-on shown in (a)
(Initial power-on command)
Assuming that the power is turned on again, there may be a configuration in which the auxiliary command is discarded until the main command is received, and the display of the power failure recovery message screen shown in FIG. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to insert the power-on re-start command control information, and thus, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiment, there is an effect that the control process at the time of power-on is further simplified.

Further, the power-on-time command control information may further include a plurality of (or another type of) commands (auxiliary commands). For example, a command for notifying a gaming state (for example, a big hit state) at the time of power-off may be included. In this case, for example, FIG.
As shown in (c), the player is informed of the big hit state when the power is turned off and the game is restarted in the big hit state after the power is turned on again. Can be dispelled. Further, it goes without saying that the customer waiting demonstration screen (customer waiting screen) and the power failure recovery message screen (power failure recovery notification screen) are not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, FIG.
In the screen shown in (b), a display such as a character notifying that the power has recovered from the power failure may be added.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to control processing of the display device 12 (controlled device) by the game control device (main control device) and the display control device (subordinate control device). However, the present invention can also be applied to other dependent control devices and controlled devices. For example, the decoration control device including the lamp control board 107 or the voice control board 1
The present invention can be similarly applied to the sound control device of No. 06 to achieve the same effect. Also in this case, an incomplete command (for example, ST
With the function of not receiving an ART signal that does not include an active state), an illumination member (controlled device) such as the side lamps 32 and 33 and a speaker 106a (controlled device) can be provided without complicating the control process. The power-on operation can be started smoothly at least without causing an abnormal operation, and a preferable power-on operation (for example, by blinking the side lamps 32 and 33 in a predetermined manner to recover from the power failure). This is because it is possible to realize an expression or an operation of outputting a sound such as “recovered from power failure” from the speaker 106a). However, in the gaming machine of the type exemplified in the above embodiment (having a special figure display device), the display device 12 is the device that the player pays the most attention to and has the greatest expressive power for the player. Display device 1
The effect obtained by applying the present invention to the control process 2 (especially the effect of eliminating anxiety of the player) is the most remarkable,
The practicality is also high.

Further, for example, the power failure detection circuit 102c in the above-described embodiment distinguishes between a power failure caused by a normal power-off operation and an inadvertent power failure such as a power failure, and performs only the latter power failure (that is, power failure or the like). Only) and outputs a power failure detection signal. For example, it is possible to detect that the power switch 102e is operated, and when this operation is detected, it is a normal power-off, and when a power failure is detected in a state where this operation is not detected, There may be a configuration in which a power failure detection signal is output as a power failure or the like. In this case, the power failure process on the main board 105 or the like is performed only in the case of a power failure or the like, and the power failure flag is set only in the case of a power failure or the like. Even when the power is turned on again, the main board 105 and the like perform a normal start-up operation (for example, an operation of performing a process of initializing all areas of the RAM as described above and then shifting to a normal process). The present invention includes such an embodiment. Further, in the above embodiment, the RAM backed up by the backup power supply composed of a capacitor is exemplified as the storage holding unit that stores and holds the game control information of the control device with the backup function while the power is turned off, but is not limited thereto. For example, the storage holding means may be constituted by an EEPROM. If the data is stored in a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM, the warranty period during which the data can be stored is theoretically infinite, and the game (including the display of special figures and the effect display) is theoretically independent of the power-off time.
Restarting, supplementary discharge of prize balls that have not been discharged due to power cutoff, and the like can be performed after the power is turned on again. Further, the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the example applied to the prepaid card type pachinko machine as in the above embodiment. For example,
The present invention can also be applied to a credit-type pachinko machine. The configuration and model of the game board may be of any type. Further, the present invention is not limited to the pachinko machine, and can be applied to other game machines (for example, an arrangement ball machine). The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0049]

According to the present invention, when the power is turned on again, the main control device executes the process of transmitting the command control information to the subordinate control device based on the game control information stored and held in the storage holding means at the time of the power shutdown. In the case of the mode according to claim 3, the power-on command control information for commanding the power-on operation of the corresponding specific device is further provided prior to the restart of the transmission processing. Sent to the slave controller. On the other hand, in the dependent control device, the command of the command control information transmitted by resuming the transmission processing is an incomplete command (those that do not include the communication start information).
Is not received. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained. (1) A control processing configuration that simply restarts the transmission process from the point of interruption without regenerating or retransmitting the command control information when the power is turned on again. Simple configuration with only processing inserted)
Therefore, the burden on the memory capacity and processing capacity of the processing means constituting the main control device and the subordinate control device can be reduced (restrictions on the ROM capacity and RAM area, and restrictions on the processing time of the CPU and the like can be easily cleared). Will be). (2) Further, since the configuration does not regenerate or retransmit the command control information for the subordinate control device, it is advantageous in countermeasures against fraud. (3) Moreover, when the power is turned on again, the slave control device receives only the command control information that includes the communication start information from the command control information transmitted by the restart of the transmission process by the main control device, and transmits the communication start information. Those not included are not received. Therefore, the incomplete command control information in which the leading portion is interrupted is not received, and the operation of the slave control device when the power is turned on again due to the reception of such incomplete command control information is abnormal. This prevents the player from feeling uncomfortable or distrustful.

(4) As described in claim 2, when only the auxiliary command is transmitted due to the restart of the transmission process described above, the function of the subordinate control device ignores it. In this case, the abnormal display operation can be reliably prevented from being performed only by the auxiliary command. In this regard, the problem of the player's discomfort and distrust can be solved with high reliability. It should be noted that a problem caused by incomplete command control information cannot always be completely solved only by a configuration in which the auxiliary command is ignored. This is because the incomplete command control information transmitted first when the power is turned on again (after the command control information is sent when the power is turned on again in the case where the command control information is sent when the power is turned on again). In such a case, there is a risk that the above function alone will accept this. However, as described above, if there is a function that does not receive the command that does not include the communication start information, the incomplete command control information that has been transmitted first in this way will not be accepted. Countermeasures against control information become stronger.

(5) In the case where the main control unit first transmits the power-on command control information at the time of power-on, the power-on command control is performed. The power-on operation is executed until the normal command control information (the command including the communication start information) is received based on the information, and the preferable power-on operation is realized until the normal normal operation can be resumed. Becomes possible. For this reason, the occurrence of abnormal operation of the specific device is avoided, and the occurrence of a blank period of the specific device (a period in which the operation is stopped insignificantly) is also reliably avoided, and the player is prevented from experiencing the blank period. Problems of discomfort and distrust can be solved with high reliability. In particular, as described in claim 4, after receiving the power-on command control information, until the main command is received, the auxiliary power command is ignored and the power-on operation is continuously performed. This effect is remarkable. (6) Further, according to the present invention, since the control processing at the time of turning on the power is a simple configuration as described above, when the subordinate control device is configured to be able to store and retain the control state at the time of powering down, There is also an advantage that a design change or a modification to a configuration in which the control operation is restarted from the power-off point in the processing of the slave control device is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a game board of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a power supply system and a control system of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing transmission / reception processing of display command control information (at normal times).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transmission / reception processing of display command control information (when power is turned on again).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing transmission / reception processing of display command control information (when power is turned on again).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing transmission / reception processing of display command control information (when power is turned on again).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the display device when the power is turned on and a transmission process of display command control information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a display screen of a display device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of a display screen of the display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a command constituting display command control information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of a command constituting display command control information.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of a command constituting display command control information.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 game board 12 special symbol display device (display device, controlled device) 32, 33 side lamp (controlled device) 105 main board (main control device) 105a game processing device (memory holding means, transmission state resuming means, Command control information transmission means at power-on again) 106 Voice control board (dependent control device) 106b Speaker (controlled device) 107 Lamp control board (dependent control device) 108 Display control board (dependent control device) 108a CPU (command control information) Receiving selection means, control means when power is turned on again)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main control device for controlling a game by comprehensively managing and controlling the operations of a plurality of controlled devices provided in a machine, and based on command control information transmitted from the main control device, A game machine including a dependent control device that individually controls the operation of a specific device among the controlled devices, wherein the command control information includes at least communication start information indicating communication start, and contents of the command control. And the main control device transmits the game control information related to the game control at the time of power-off even at the time of power-off. A storage holding unit capable of storing and holding, and a transmission state resuming unit for resuming a transmission state of the command control information from a power-off state based on the game control information when the power is turned on. When the power is turned on and the transmission state is resumed by the transmission state resuming unit, when the resumed transmission state is in the middle of transmitting the command control information, When the command control information transmitted during the transmission includes the communication start information, the command control information transmitted during the transmission is received, and the command control information transmitted during the transmission is transmitted to the command control information. A gaming machine comprising: command control information receiving / selecting means for not receiving the command control information transmitted during the transmission when the start information is not included. 2. The command control information includes command control information as a main command for instructing a basic operation of the specific device, and command control information as an auxiliary command related to the main command. Even after receiving the command control information as the auxiliary command by the transmission process resuming means or the transmission process immediately after turning on the power, the control device continues to receive the command control information as the main command. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein command control information as an auxiliary command is ignored. 3. The power supply for commanding the specific device to perform a power-on operation when the game control information is stored and held in the memory holding unit when the power is turned on. Time command control information,
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a power-on-return command control information transmitting unit that transmits to the slave control device before the transmission process is restarted by the transmission state resuming unit. 4. The command control information includes command control information as a main command for instructing a basic operation of the specific device, and command control information as an auxiliary command related to the main command. When the power is turned on, the control device receives the power-on command control information, and based on the information, performs the power-on control for realizing the power-on operation of the specific device. After receiving the power control signal control information at the time of power re-supply, the transmission processing restart means or the transmission processing, even if the command control information as the auxiliary command is received, the command control as the main command 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein, until the information is received, the control at power-on is continued while ignoring the command control information as the auxiliary command.