JP2001293219A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine having a control board capable of preventing (restraining) a fraudulent practice such as replacing a program memory with a fraudulent program memory while enabling the replacement of the program memory. SOLUTION: A main control board C is composed of a plate-like first base board C1 and a film-like second base board C2 detachably connected to the first base board C1. An MPU 14 for storing a control program of a game is soldered to the second base board C2. Thus, the control program of the game can be changed by replacing the second base board C2 by being removed from the first base board C1. It is difficult to make the MPU 14 for mounting various functions on one chip in the form soldrable to the film-like base board C2 due to requiring an advanced technology and large-scale equipment. Thus, the fraudulent practice of replacing a fraudulent one-chip MPU with the normal MPU 14 by making the fraudulent one-chip MPU is made unperformable to prevent (restrain) the fraudulent practice.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine and a slot machine, and more particularly, to a method of exchanging a program memory with an illegal program memory while enabling the exchange of the program memory. The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a control board that can be prevented (suppressed).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pachinko machine includes a main control board for controlling a game. The main control board includes a payout control board for controlling a payout of a prize ball and a loaned ball, and an output control of a sound effect. Various control boards such as a sound effect control board to be performed and a display control board for performing display control such as a change display of symbols are connected. Since each of these control boards is controlled by a control command transmitted in one direction from the main control board, the control of the game of the pachinko machine is changed by exchanging the program ROM storing the control program of the main control board. be able to. Therefore, in a pachinko machine, such a program ROM is removably mounted on a main control board via an IC socket or the like so that game control can be changed.

[0003]

However, if the program ROM of the main control board is configured to be detachable,
There is a problem that an unauthorized act such as removing the program ROM from the main control board and attaching an unauthorized ROM in which an unauthorized control program is stored is easily performed. Amusement arcades have suffered enormous damage from such misconduct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to exchange (replace) a program memory and to prevent (suppress) an illegal act of replacing the program memory with an unauthorized program memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine provided with a control board capable of performing the control.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a gaming machine according to the present invention provides a program memory for storing a game control program and a game based on a control program stored in the program memory. A control board having an arithmetic device to be controlled and a work memory for temporarily storing various data in accordance with execution of a control program by the arithmetic device, wherein the control board has a plate shape on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted. And a film-shaped second substrate connected to the first substrate and mounting the program memory.

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the control board has a plurality of electronic components mounted on the plate-shaped first board, and the film-shaped second board is connected to the first board. It is composed. On the second substrate, a program memory for storing a game control program is mounted. Based on the control program stored in the program memory, various data are temporarily stored in a work memory by an arithmetic unit based on the control program. Meanwhile, the game of the pachinko machine is controlled.

[0007]

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine, which is a kind of a ball-and-ball game machine, is described as an example of a game machine, in particular, a first-type pachinko game machine.
Note that it is naturally possible to use the present invention for other gaming machines such as a third-type pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine, and a slot machine.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine P of this embodiment. Around the game board 1, there are provided a plurality of winning ports 2 from which 5 to 15 balls are paid out when a hit ball wins. Also, in the center of the game board 1,
A liquid crystal (LCD) display 3 for displaying a plurality of types of design information as identification information is provided. This LC
The display screen of the D display 3 is divided into three in the horizontal direction, and in each of the three divided display areas, the symbol is displayed while being scrolled from right to left in the horizontal direction.

Below the LCD display 3, a symbol operation port (first type opening port) 4 is provided, and when the hit ball passes through the symbol operation port 4, the above-mentioned variable display of the LCD display 3 is started. You. Below the symbol operating port 4, a specific winning port (large winning port) 5 is provided. When the display result after the change of the LCD display 3 matches one of the predetermined symbol combinations, the specific winning opening 5 becomes a big hit and a predetermined time (for example, 30) so that the hit ball can easily win. Until seconds elapse, or
It is released until 10 hits are won.

[0010] The specific winning opening 5 is provided with a V zone 5a. When the hit ball passes through the V zone 5a while the specific winning opening 5 is open, the continuation right is established, and the specific winning opening is established. After the closing of the specific winning opening 5, the specific winning opening 5 is opened again for a predetermined time (or until a predetermined number of hit balls are won in the specific winning opening 5). The opening / closing operation of the specific winning opening 5 can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), and the state in which the opening / closing operation can be performed is a state in which a predetermined game value is given (a special game state). is there.

In addition, a plurality of lamps 7 are provided at the game board 1 and at various places around it. These lamps 7 are turned on or off in accordance with the contents of the game, thereby exciting the interest of the game and displaying the progress of the game to the player.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine P. As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko machine P includes a plurality of control boards H,
D, S, and L are connected to each other. Main control board C
Is for controlling the content of the game, and is based on signals output from various switches SW connected to the main control board C, counter values provided in the main control board C, etc. The game is controlled by transmitting control commands to the control boards H, D, S, and L.

The payout control board H controls the payout of prize balls and loaned balls based on signals output from various switches SW and control commands transmitted from the main control board C. In addition, a launch control board B for controlling a launch motor 10 for launching a ball to a game area in the game board 1 and a payout motor 9 for paying out award balls and lending balls are connected. The display control board D is a main control board C
This is for controlling the variable display of the LCD display 3 based on the control command transmitted from. The sound effect control board S is for outputting a sound effect according to the progress of the game from the speaker 6 based on a control command transmitted from the main control board C.
Is for controlling lighting and extinguishing of each lamp 7 based on a control command transmitted from the main control board C.

The main control board C and each control board H, D,
A buffer 8 whose input and output are fixed between S and L
Are connected to each other (only one is shown in FIG. 2). Therefore, the main control board C and each control board H, D,
Transmission and reception with S and L are performed from the main control board C to each control board H and
It is performed only in one direction to D, S, L, and each control board H,
The operation cannot be performed from D, S, and L to the main control board C.

Next, the configuration of the main control board C will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a side view of the main control board C. As shown in FIG. 3A, a main control board C is a first board C1 formed in a plate shape with glass epoxy resin, paper epoxy resin, paper phenol resin or the like, and a second board formed in a film shape. C2 is connected. A plurality of electronic components 11 such as an integrated circuit (IC), a resistor, a capacitor, etc.
2 is mounted. The second substrate C2 is connected to the first substrate C via the connector 12.
1 is detachably mounted.

FIG. 3B is a plan view of the second substrate C2. The second substrate C2 is made of a base material C2a formed in a transparent film by a polyester resin, a polyimide resin, or the like.
A circuit pattern C2b is formed on the surface of the substrate by a silver paste or a copper paste, and the surface of the circuit pattern C2b is a flexible printed circuit (FPC) covered with an insulating layer C2c. The second substrate C2 has connection terminals 13 at both left and right ends in FIG. 3B, the connection terminals 13 being exposed on the surface without covering the circuit pattern C2b with the insulating layer C2c. By inserting the connection terminal 13 into the connector 12 of the first substrate C1, as shown in FIG. 3A, the second substrate C2 is mounted on the first substrate C1 in an inverted U-shape.

At the center of the second substrate C2, an MPU 14 as a one-chip microcomputer and an oscillator (clock) 15 which is provided near the MPU 14 and oscillates an operation clock of the MPU 14 are soldered. This portion is also exposed to the surface without covering the circuit pattern C2b with the insulating layer C2c so that the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 can be soldered. The MPU 14 has a CP as an arithmetic unit.
U, a ROM for storing a control program, a RAM for rewritably storing various data during execution of the control program, a timer interrupt circuit, a free running counter, a watchdog timer, a chip select logic, and the like. Various circuits are built into one chip, and operate based on a clock signal generated from the oscillator 15. Further, the MPU 14 includes a random number generation circuit for generating a random number used for controlling the game of the pachinko machine P (control for determining the presence or absence of a big hit),
The PU 14 has an ID output circuit that stores a unique identification number (ID number) and outputs the identification number by a predetermined operation.

The surfaces of the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 including the soldered portions are covered (covered) with an insulating tape 16. As described above, the second substrate C2 is formed in a film shape and is easily bent.
14 and the oscillator 15 are soldered to the second substrate C
2 easy to peel off. Therefore, the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 are covered with the insulating tape 16 to prevent them from peeling off from the film-shaped second substrate C2.

A conductive metal sheet 17 is attached to the upper surface of the insulating tape 16 (opposite the second substrate C2) so as to cover the upper surfaces of the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15. M
By covering the upper surfaces of the PU 14 and the oscillator 15 with a conductive metal sheet 17 via an insulating tape 16, the MPU
The control of the game of the pachinko machine P can be stably performed by suppressing the application of noise from the outside to the pachinko machine P. Further, by covering the upper surfaces of the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 with a conductive metal sheet 17, the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 are covered.
Noise radiated from the outside to the outside can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, not only the MPU 14 but also
The oscillator 15 for oscillating the operation clock is also mounted on the second substrate C2. In addition, the oscillator 15 has MP
Since it is mounted near the U14, the connection line between the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 can be shortened, and clock noise (radiation noise) based on the operation clock from the oscillator 15 can be further suppressed. . If the conductive metal sheet 17 is attached not only to the upper surfaces of the MPU 14 and the oscillator 15 but also to the back surfaces thereof, the effect of noise suppression can be further improved.

As described above, the main control board C of this embodiment is composed of the plate-shaped first board C1 and the first board C1.
And a film-like second substrate C2 which is detachably connected to the CPU 1 and stores a game control program.
U14 is soldered to the film-shaped second substrate C2. Therefore, by removing and replacing the second board C2 from the first board C1, the game control program can be easily changed.

On the other hand, the MPU 14 having various functions mounted on one chip as described above is mounted on the second substrate C2 in the form of a film.
It is difficult to make the device in a form that can be mounted (soldered) on a device because it requires advanced technology and large-scale equipment.
Therefore, the one-chip M for storing an unauthorized control program
It is possible to prevent (suppress) the improper act of creating a PU and exchanging it with a legitimate MPU 14 as it is difficult. In order to execute the misconduct, in addition to the MPU, a film-shaped second substrate on which the MPU is mounted (soldered) must also be prepared. The effect can be further improved.

Further, although the main control board C is sealed in a transparent box, the film-shaped second board C2 is formed transparent except for the circuit pattern C2b.
Even if an unauthorized electronic component is mounted on the back surface of the second substrate C2 or on the first substrate C1 hidden under the second substrate C2, it can be found from outside the sealing box.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the second board C2 of the main control board C is connected to the first board C1 in an inverted U-shape by two connection terminals 13 projecting in opposite directions. For this reason, the main control board C became bulky in the height direction. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the height of the main control board C is kept low by setting the direction in which the connection terminals 23 of the second board C20 protrude in one direction. Hereinafter, the first
The same parts as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described.

FIG. 4A shows the main control board C of the second embodiment.
FIG. 4B is a plan view of a second substrate C20 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG.
The connector 22 of the board C1 is provided on one side of the first board C1.
It is mounted with its opening facing the center of the first substrate C1. The second substrate C20 has a connection terminal 23 exposed at the surface without covering the circuit pattern C2b with the insulating layer C2c at one left end in FIG. 4B. As shown in FIG. 4A, the second board C20 inserts the connection terminals 23 into the connector 22 of the first board C1.
It is detachably mounted on the first substrate C1. Therefore, the second
In the use state of the main control board C in which the board C20 is connected to the first board C1, the height of the main control board C can be kept low, so that the accommodation space of the main control board C in the pachinko machine P can be reduced.

In the second embodiment, since only one connection terminal 23 is provided, the second substrate C20 with respect to the first substrate C1 is provided.
Can be one connection point. Therefore, the first
By simplifying the connection process between the substrate C1 and the second substrate C20,
Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

The connection terminals 23 may be composed of two or more connection terminals 23 as long as the projecting directions are the same.
Also in this case, the height of the main control board C can be kept low. When it is a problem that the second substrate C20 is placed on the first substrate C1 while being in contact with the first substrate C1, as shown in FIG. 5, an insulator is provided between both substrates C1 and C20. A spacer 25 may be provided so as to overlap the two substrates C1 and C20 while avoiding contact.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can easily be inferred.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the MPU 14 as a one-chip microcomputer having various functions in one chip is mounted on the second substrates C2 and C20 in the form of a film. May be mounted on the film-shaped second substrates C2 and C20 only. In such a case, the oscillator 15 is mounted on the first substrate C1.

Further, as the control board of the present invention, the main control board C for controlling the main contents of the game has been described as an example.
The payout control board H is not necessarily limited to this.
And display control board D, and other control boards S, L, B
Then, the present invention may be applied. In particular, the payout control board H controls the payout of prize balls and rental balls, and the display control board D controls the jackpot display. The control boards H and D are likely to be fraudulent. Therefore, the effect when the present invention is applied to these control boards H and D is great.

The present invention may be applied to a pachinko machine of a different type from the above embodiment. For example, once a jackpot is hit, a pachinko machine (commonly known as a twice-rights item or a three-times rights item) that increases the jackpot expectation value until a jackpot condition occurs a plurality of times (for example, two or three times) including that. ). Further, the pachinko machine may be implemented as a pachinko machine which enters a special game state on condition that a ball is won in a predetermined area after the big hit symbol is displayed. Furthermore, in addition to the pachinko machine, the present invention may be implemented as various game machines such as areaches, sparrow balls, slot machines, so-called game machines in which a so-called pachinko machine and a slot machine are combined.

In the slot machine, for example, a symbol is changed by operating an operation lever in a state where a symbol is inserted and a symbol valid line is determined, and the symbol is stopped and determined by operating a stop button. Is well known. Therefore, the basic concept of the slot machine is as follows: "variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after variably displaying the identification information sequence including a plurality of identification information;
The change of the identification information is started by the operation of the start operation means (for example, the operation lever), and the identification information is changed by the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or after a predetermined time elapses. Is stopped, and provided that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is the specific identification information, a slot machine having special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player, In this case, coins and medals are typical examples of the game medium.

Further, as a specific example of a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are integrated, a variable display means for variably displaying a symbol row composed of a plurality of symbols and then displaying the symbols in a fixed manner is provided. Not equipped with a handle. In this case, a predetermined operation (button operation)
After the predetermined amount of balls is thrown based on, for example, the fluctuation of the symbol starts due to the operation of the operation lever, and the fluctuation of the symbol, for example, due to the operation of the stop button or after a predetermined time elapses, The game is stopped, and a jackpot state advantageous to the player is generated on condition that the final symbol at the time of the stop is a so-called jackpot symbol, and a large amount of balls are paid out to the lower tray. .

Hereinafter, modified examples of the present invention will be described. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a one-chip MPU including the program memory, the arithmetic unit, and the work memory, wherein the MPU is mounted on the second substrate. One. This MPU includes, in addition to a program memory, an arithmetic unit, and a work memory, a counter such as a timer (counter timer, watchdog timer, etc.) and a free running counter, a chip select logic, a random number generation circuit, an identification unique to the MPU. A peripheral circuit such as an ID output circuit for outputting a number may be incorporated.

The gaming machine 2 according to the gaming machine 1, wherein an oscillator for oscillating the operation clock of the MPU is mounted on the second substrate. By mounting the oscillator on the second substrate together with the MPU, the connection line between the oscillator and the MPU can be shortened. Thus, clock noise (radiation noise) based on the operation clock generated from the oscillator can be suppressed.

The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the program memory or the MPU mounted on the second substrate has an upper surface covered with an insulating tape. 3. Since the second substrate is formed in the shape of a film, the second substrate is easily bent. Therefore, even if the program memory or the MPU mounted on the second substrate is fixed by, for example, soldering or the like, the second substrate is easily peeled off from the second substrate. On the other hand, in the gaming machine 3, since the program memory or the MPU is sandwiched between the second substrate and the cover by the insulating tape, the program memory or
PU can be prevented from peeling off from the film-shaped second substrate.

In the gaming machine 3, the gaming machine 4 is characterized in that a conductive sheet is attached to the upper surface of the insulating tape (opposite the second substrate). By covering the upper surface of the program memory or the MPU with a conductive sheet via an insulating tape, the application of external noise can be suppressed, and the gaming machine can operate stably. Further, noise radiated to the outside can be suppressed. In the case where the MPU and the oscillator are mounted on the second substrate as in the gaming machine 2, the configuration of the gaming machine 4 is particularly effective in suppressing radiation noise.

[0038] In the gaming machine or any of the gaming machines 1 to 4, the first substrate is provided with a connector, and the second substrate is detachably connected to the connector. Gaming machine 5. By detachably connecting the second substrate to the first substrate via the connector, the program memory or the MPU containing the program memory can be detachably attached to the first substrate. Therefore, by exchanging the second substrate, the control program of the gaming machine can be changed while the first substrate is left as it is.

3. The gaming machine 6 according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate is configured to be transparent so that the opposite surface thereof can be seen through. The control board is sealed in a transparent box,
By configuring the film-shaped second substrate to be transparent, even if an unauthorized electronic component is mounted on the back surface of the second substrate or on the first substrate hidden under the second substrate, it can be prevented from being outside the sealing box. You can discover this.

[0040] In the gaming machine or any of the gaming machines 1 to 6, the control board is a main control board for performing a main control of the gaming machine, and a payout control for performing a payout control of award balls and loaned balls. A gaming machine 7, which is a board or a display control board for performing a variable display of symbols.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine or any of the gaming machines 1 to 7, the data stored in the work memory is configured to be retained (backup possible) even after power is turned off. Gaming machine 8.

A game machine 9 according to claim 1, wherein said game machine is a pachinko machine. Above all, the pachinko machine has an operation handle as a basic configuration, and fires a ball to a predetermined game area in response to operation of the operation handle, and the ball wins an operation port arranged at a predetermined position in the game area. (Or pass through the operating port) is a condition in which the identification information variably displayed on the display device is fixedly stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special game state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning opening) arranged at a predetermined position in the game area is opened in a predetermined mode to enable the ball to win, and a value corresponding to the winning number is obtained. A value (including not only a prize ball but also writing on a magnetic card) is given.

A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine. Above all, the basic configuration of the slot machine is as follows: "variable display means for variably displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of pieces of identification information and then confirming and displaying the identification information is used. Alternatively, or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the change of the identification information is stopped, and a condition that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is the specific identification information is required.
A game machine having special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to a player. In this case, coins and medals are typical examples of the game medium.

A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine. Among them, the basic configuration of the integrated gaming machine is as follows: "variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after variably displaying an identification information sequence including a plurality of identification information,
The change of the identification information is started by the operation of the start operation means (for example, the operation lever), and the identification information is changed by the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or after a predetermined time elapses. And a special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on the condition that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is the specific identification information, and a ball as a game medium. A gaming machine that is configured to use a predetermined number of balls at the start of the change of the identification information and to pay out many balls when a special game state occurs.

[0045]

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the program memory for storing the game control program is mounted on the film-shaped second substrate, and the film-shaped second substrate is mounted on the plate-shaped first substrate. It is connected. Therefore, by configuring the second substrate to be detachable from the first substrate,
The control of the game can be changed by enabling the exchange of the program memory. In addition, it is difficult to obtain a program memory that can be mounted on a film-like substrate, and creating it requires advanced technology and large-scale equipment. In addition, in order to replace this program memory with an unauthorized program memory, not only the unauthorized program memory but also a film-shaped second substrate on which the unauthorized program memory is mounted must be created. Therefore, since it is difficult to create an unauthorized program memory and to create a film-shaped second substrate on which the unauthorized program memory is mounted, it is possible to replace the program memory and to replace the program memory with the unauthorized program memory. This has the effect of preventing (suppressing) exchange misconduct.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric configuration of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a main control board,
(B) is a plan view of the second substrate.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a main control board of a second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of a second board of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a main control board obtained by modifying the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 MPU (program memory, arithmetic unit, work memory) C main control board C1 first board C2, C20 second board P Pachinko machine (game machine)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A program memory for storing a game control program, an arithmetic device for controlling a game based on the control program stored in the program memory, and various data associated with execution of the control program by the arithmetic device. A game machine provided with a control board having a work memory for temporarily storing a control board, wherein the control board is connected to the first board in a plate shape on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted, and the first board is connected to the first board. A game machine comprising: a film-shaped second substrate on which a program memory is mounted.