JP2001327732A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can delete the memory content of a RAM in an back-up area. SOLUTION: This game machine is equipped with a game panel which provides a game, and control devices 100 and 200 which control the game played on the game panel, and at the same time, have a memory means (RAM) for storing the state of the game machine. In this case, at least at one section of the memory means, the back-up area which retains the memory content even when a power source fed from the outside of the game machine is interrupted is provided. In such a game machine, a flag to specify whether the back-up area is initialized or not is stored in the back-up area when the external power source is interrupted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a game machine capable of erasing the contents stored in a backup area of a memory of a game machine control device such as a game control device and a discharge control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a pachislot machine, etc. has a current gaming state (big hit state, probability fluctuation state, etc.) even if power is not supplied due to an instantaneous interruption of power.
Must be stored in the backup area, the contents of the memory will not be erased when the power is turned off.
Had to part of the memory.

[0003]

In the conventional gaming machine, the backup area stores the game state at the time of power-off, so that the power-on of the gaming machine is turned on when the power is next turned on, that is, when the game store is opened. When the game machine is operated, the gaming machine operates in the gaming state at the time of closing the store on the previous day. Therefore, if the gaming machine was turned off in a jackpot condition when the store was closed the previous day, or the game machine was turned off with the prize ball discharged when the store was closed the previous day, the previous day's operation would continue when the store was opened the next day. At the time of opening, all the gaming machines cannot be set to the same condition, which makes it difficult for the gaming store to handle. Therefore, it was necessary to be able to initialize the backup area (delete the stored contents) by some method.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of types of electric game machines provided for a game, and storage means for controlling the electric game machines and storing a state of the game machine. A control device, wherein at least a part of the storage means is provided with a backup area for retaining the stored contents even if the power supplied from the outside of the gaming machine is cut off. A flag for specifying whether to initialize the backup area is stored in the backup area.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the control device deletes the storage content of the backup area based on the content of the flag when the power of the gaming machine is turned on.

In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the control device erases the storage content of the backup area based on the content of the flag by a reset signal for initializing the control device. I do.

In a fourth aspect based on the first to third aspects, a game board for providing a game is provided, and the control device includes:
The game board includes a game control device that comprehensively controls a game performed on the game board and transmits a control command signal to another control device, and information indicating a game state of the game board is stored in a storage unit of the game control device. , And at least a part of the information indicating the game state is stored in the backup area provided in the storage means of the game control device.

In a fifth aspect based on the first to third aspects, the gaming machine includes a discharge mechanism for discharging game balls to a player, and the control device includes a discharge control for controlling the discharge mechanism. Including the device, the storage means of the discharge control device stores information that can specify the number of game balls that have not been discharged to the player, and can specify the number of game balls that have not been discharged to the player. At least a part of the important information is stored in the backup area provided in the storage unit of the emission control device.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the power supplied from the outside of the gaming machine is cut off, a flag for specifying whether to initialize the storage contents of the backup area is provided. Sometimes it is possible to reserve whether or not to erase the storage contents of the backup area, and since the storage contents of the backup area can be erased at the next power-on, when the gaming machine is turned on when the gaming shop opens, The gaming machine does not start operating in the processing state when the store closed the previous day.

In the second invention, the storage contents of the backup area are erased when the power of the gaming machine is turned on, based on the contents of the flag for specifying whether or not to initialize the storage contents of the backup area. When the power is turned on with sufficient time, the contents stored in the backup area can be securely erased.

In the third invention, the storage contents of the backup area are erased by the reset signal based on the contents of the flag for specifying whether or not to initialize the storage contents of the backup area. Since there is no need to provide separate wiring, the number of wirings can be reduced, design and manufacture can be facilitated, and failures are less likely to occur.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage means of the game control device stores information indicating a game state of the game board, and at least a part of the information indicating the game state is provided in the storage means of the game control device. Since it is stored in the backup area,
The game state stored in the game control device can be initialized, and when the game store is closed, the game on the game board does not proceed while maintaining the game state at the time of closing the previous day,
The operation of the gaming machine can be started as usual.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the storage means of the discharge control device, information capable of specifying the number of game balls not yet discharged to the player is stored, and the number of game balls not discharged to the player is stored. Is stored in the backup area provided in the storage unit of the discharge control device, so that information that can specify the number of game balls that have not been discharged to the player is initialized. Even if game balls that have not been discharged remain when the game store closes, they can be deleted when the game store opens the next day, so even if you do not wait for the discharge of undischarged game balls, Operation can be started.

[0014]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing the configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

A gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a CR machine provided with a card ball lending unit 2.

A front frame 3 of the gaming machine 1 is assembled to a main body frame (outer frame) via a hinge so as to be openable and closable, and a game board is stored in a storage frame attached to the back of the front frame 3. .

A game area is formed on the front side (not shown) of the gaming machine, and a plurality of winning holes capable of receiving game balls are formed in the game area. In this game area, in addition to a special variable prize device and a normal variable prize device in which the receiving state of the game ball is set by a movable member, a decorative lamp and the like are also provided. When the special variable winning device is operated, a large winning opening that is easy to receive a game ball is formed, and a starting opening and other general winning openings are arranged so as to always be able to win. Here, the starting port is
It is a winning opening for operating the variable display device 20, and a structure in which the winning opening can be easily won by the operation of the normal variable winning device is realized.

On the back side of the game board, a winning prize port, each prize port, a prize ball collective cover (not shown) for guiding a prize ball winning in the starting port, a game control device 100 for controlling the game in a comprehensive manner. , Each control device (game control device 100, discharge control device 200, decoration control device 300, display control device 350,
A power supply device 250 for generating a predetermined voltage to be supplied to the sound control device 400, the launch control device 550, etc.), and decorative lamps 45.1 to 45. N
A decoration control device 300 for controlling the display device 350, a display control device 350 for controlling the variable display device 20 and the like, a sound control device 400 for controlling the sound output from the speaker 95, an external terminal 41 for a game board, and the like are attached.

A back mechanism board 35 is attached to the back side of the storage frame of the front frame 3. At the center of the back mechanism board 35, devices (game control device 1) on the back side of the game board are provided.
00, power supply device 250, decoration control device 300, display control device 350, sound control device 400, etc.).

In the upper part of the back mechanism panel 35, a 24 volt AC power supply is taken in from the outside of the gaming machine (island equipment of the gaming shop), relayed to the power supply device 250, and an external signal between the gaming machine management device is provided. An external terminal 42 for connecting wires,
Ball storage tank 36 for storing game balls, ball storage tank 36
A guide gutter 37 for guiding the sphere to a gutter unit (semi-sensor unit) 38 having an odd-sphere detection sensor 58 is attached. The guide gutter 37 and the gutter unit 38 are formed with two channels.

On the right side of the opening window of the back mechanism panel 35, a discharge device (discharge unit 600, flow path switching unit 700) for discharging the ball of the gutter unit 38 to a tray on the front side of the gaming machine.
Is attached.

At the lower part of the back mechanism board 35, a discharge unit 6 is provided.
Emission control device 200 for controlling 00, hitting ball firing device 50
In addition, a launch control device 550 for controlling the zero, a card ball rental unit relay board 43, and the like are attached.

The power supply device 250 is provided with a reset switch 255 that is exposed on the front surface so that the reset switch 255 can be operated from the back side of the gaming machine. Also, the power supply device 250
From each control device (game control device 100, discharge control device 2
00, decoration control device 300, display control device 350, sound control device 400, emission control device 550, etc.) are provided with wiring for supplying power.

The card ball lending unit 2 lends a game ball with a prepaid card. The discharge of the ball lending is performed by a ball discharge device (discharge unit 60) controlled by the discharge control device 200 based on a ball lending control command signal input from the card ball lending unit 2 via the card ball lending unit relay board 43.
0, the channel switching unit 700).

When a ball shot into the game area from the hitting ball shooting device 500 wins each of the winning opening and the special winning opening, a predetermined prize ball control command signal is sent from the game control device 100 to the discharge control device 2.
Then, the discharge unit 600 is driven by the discharge control device 200, and a predetermined number of prize balls are discharged from the discharge device.

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

Game control device 100, discharge control device 20
0, the decoration control device 300 includes a CPU and an RA, respectively.
M, ROM, and input / output interface (I / F).

Detection signals from various detection devices are input to the game control device 100 and input to the CPU via an input / output interface. These various detecting devices include a general winning opening sensor 51.1 for detecting a winning in a general winning opening.
~ 51. N, a special symbol start sensor 52 for detecting a winning in the starting opening, a normal symbol starting sensor 53 for starting the fluctuation of the ordinary symbol display device 30 for determining the operation of the normal variable winning device by detecting a ball, a large winning opening Sensor 54 for detecting the winning of the game, the winning opening continuation sensor 55, the metal frame opening sensor 56 for detecting the opening of the glass frame on the front of the game board, and the excess of the game balls discharged by the discharge unit 600. , An odd ball detection sensor 58 for detecting that the supply of the game balls to the discharge unit 600 is insufficient, and the like.

The detection signal from the overflow sensor 57 is branched via the relay board 710 and is also input to the discharge control device 200.

The CPU of the game control device 100 executes a program (game program) recorded in the ROM based on these detection signals, and performs overall control of the game (game control). Specifically, the game control device 100 outputs a prize ball control command signal and a decoration control command signal to the discharge control device 200 and the decoration control device 300, respectively, and controls these. It should be noted that the game control device 100 sends the discharge control device 2
The data to the decoration control device 300 is communicated in one direction, and the data is not transmitted from the discharge control device 200 and the decoration control device 300 to the game control device 100.

The game control device 100 transmits a control signal to the special winning opening solenoid 12A and the normal variable winning opening solenoid 15A to control the energization of these solenoids, thereby controlling the special variable winning device and the normal variable winning device. Control opening and closing. Further, a control signal is transmitted to the ordinary symbol display device 30 to control the display.

Further, the game control device 100 monitors whether or not the prize ball is correctly discharged. Specifically, the number of prize balls instructed to be discharged, which is transmitted as a prize ball control command signal to the discharge control device 200, and a prize ball detection sensor 713A described later,
It monitors whether the actual number of discharges counted by 713B matches, and whether or not the prize ball has been discharged even though the prize ball discharge command has not been transmitted. If an abnormality such as the discharge of a prize ball is recognized even though the prize ball discharge command signal is not transmitted, an abnormality handling process is performed. For example, a decoration control command signal is transmitted to the decoration control device 300, and the prize ball abnormality notification LED 44 is blinked to notify the abnormality. Alternatively, the game is forcibly stopped by stopping the game control, stopping the hit ball firing, or the like.

The discharge control device 200 includes a discharge unit 6
Each detection signal of the prize ball detection sensors 713A and 713B for detecting a ball ejected as a prize ball from 00, and each detection signal of a ball rental sensor 714A and 714B for detecting a ball ejected as a rental ball from the ejection unit 600. Is input. Then, the discharge control device 200 controls the discharge of the game balls from the discharge unit 600 and the flow path switching in the flow path switching unit 700 based on the prize ball control command signal. The discharge control device 200 includes the game control device 100
A ball-lending control command signal is input from the card unit 2 separately from the prize-ball discharge command signal. Emission control device 200
Controls the ejection unit 600 based on the prize ball control command and the ball lending control command signal, and controls the prize ball detection sensors 713A, 713A.
13B, prize balls and ball rentals are discharged using the detection signals of the ball rental detection sensors 714A and 714B.

The prize ball detection sensors 713A and 713B
Are also input to the game control device 100 via the relay board 710.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram around the power supply device of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment.

The power supply circuit 251 has a rectifier circuit for converting alternating current to direct current and a constant voltage circuit for reducing fluctuations in the output voltage. A power supply of 24 VAC supplied to the game machine is required for the operation of each control device. After converting to a DC voltage (5 V, 12 V, etc.) and removing a ripple component by a smoothing circuit 252, power is supplied to each control device. The smoothing circuit 252
Is a short time after the output of the power supply circuit 251 has dropped.
The power supply to the PU is stored.

The voltage detection circuit 253 compares a predetermined reference voltage with the output voltage (5 V) of the power supply circuit, and generates an interrupt signal to the CPU when the output voltage of the power supply circuit decreases. This interrupt signal is applied as an NMI (Non-Maskable Interrupt) signal to the CPU of the game control circuit 100 and the CPU of the ejection control circuit 200.
Executes a power cutoff process described later based on the NMI signal. In the present embodiment, the output voltage of the power supply circuit 251 is detected by the voltage detection circuit 253, but the voltage detection circuit 253 may be configured to detect the voltage of 24V input to the power supply circuit 251.

When the power supply is turned on and the voltage detection circuit 253 detects an increase in the output voltage of the power supply circuit 251, the reset signal generation circuit 254 outputs a 5 V reset signal (RST).
Is generated, and the CPU of the game control circuit 100 and the CPU of the discharge control circuit 200 are reset. Further, the reset signal is also generated by operating the reset switch 255.

The reset switch 255 is constituted by a push button switch connected to 5 V via a pull-up resistor, and is configured to send a 5 V reset request signal to the reset signal generation circuit 254 when the button is pressed. ing.

The backup power supply circuit 256 is the power supply circuit 2
It is composed of a large-capacity element to which a 5 V output from 51 is constantly applied. Even if the output from the power supply circuit is extinguished, power is continuously supplied to the RAM of the game control circuit 100 and the discharge control circuit 200. , So that the contents stored in the RAM of each control device are not erased.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the RAM of the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The RAM is divided into a normal area and a backup area by addresses. Backup power is supplied to the RAM in the backup area from the backup power supply circuit 256 of the power supply device 250 so that the contents of the memory are not erased even when the power of the gaming machine is cut off. In this backup area, a power failure occurrence flag and a game state storage area are provided. The gaming state storage area stores the current processing state of the control device, that is, the current gaming state. As this processing state, for example, information indicating a state of a game performed on the game board such as a jackpot state or a probability change state is stored in the RAM of the game control apparatus 100, and the RAM of the discharge control apparatus 200
Stores the state of discharge of the sphere (how many spheres have been discharged and how many spheres to be discharged remain). Therefore, even if the power of the gaming machine is cut off due to an instantaneous power cut or a sudden power failure, when the power is turned on again, the game resumes in the state at the time of the power cut.

This backup area is composed of a normal area and a RAM of a separate chip, and the RA of the backup area is
M can be realized by supplying a backup power supply. It is also possible to use a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory for the memory in the backup area.
Of course, it is also possible to configure the entire RAM as a backup area without separating the backup area from the normal area. Further, R of other control devices (decoration control device 300, display control device 350, sound control device 400)
It is also possible to provide a backup area in the AM as well as the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200 as necessary.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when the power is turned off in the gaming machine of the first embodiment.

When the power of the gaming machine is cut off, the voltage detection circuit 253 detects a drop in the output voltage of the power supply circuit 251 (801). The voltage detection circuit 253 that has detected the decrease in the output voltage generates an NMI signal (802), transmits the NMI signal to the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200, and transmits the NMI signal to the CPU and the discharge control device 20 of the game control device 100.
Interrupt CPU 0. Both CPUs set the power failure occurrence flag in the backup area of the RAM to "S" (803). Thereafter, both CPUs wait as an idling process without performing any operation or inputting / outputting data until the power supply to the CPUs is cut off (804).

When the power is turned off, the reset switch 25
The state may be determined by referring to the state of No. 5 to determine whether or not the power failure occurrence flag is set. With this configuration, the power failure occurrence flag is set by operating the switch when the power is turned off, so that whether or not the storage content of the backup area is erased can be freely determined when the power is turned off.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment when the power is turned on or when a reset signal is generated. When the power supply is turned on, if the voltage detection circuit 253 detects a rise in voltage (821), or if the reset signal generation circuit 254 receives a reset request (822), the reset signal generation circuit 254 generates a reset signal (RST). (823) The CPUs of the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200 are reset. Both CPUs check the contents of the power failure occurrence flag (824),
If it is cleared to "C", the backup area of the RAM is deleted (825).
If it is set to "S", the backup area of the RAM is maintained without erasing and the process proceeds to the next step. Thereafter, both CPUs clear the power failure occurrence flag to "C" (826), and perform normal processing. Is started (827).

In the present invention, whether or not a power-off process has been executed (necessity of erasing the backup area) is stored in the power failure occurrence flag. That is, when the power of the gaming machine is cut off, the power failure occurrence flag is set to "S", and when the other gaming machines are operating normally, the power failure occurrence flag is cleared to "C". This power failure occurrence flag is referred to in any reset processing when the power is turned on and when the reset switch 255 is operated.
If the power failure occurrence flag is “C”, it is determined that the power shutdown processing has not been executed immediately before, and the storage contents of the backup area are deleted.

As described above, whether or not the storage contents of the backup area are erased when the power is turned off is reserved in the power failure occurrence flag, and the storage contents of the backup area are erased when the power is turned on. Compared with the erasing method, since the processing time has a margin, the stored contents can be surely erased over a wide area of the backup area.

That is, when the power is cut off, the power supply 25
Since the power stored in the zero smoothing circuit 252 is supplied to the CPU, the power supplied to the CPU is shut off with a delay. The contents of the backup area must be erased in this short time, and depending on the amount of electricity stored in the smoothing circuit 252, it may not be possible to reliably erase the backup area. In particular, when the capacity of the backup area is large, erasing takes time, and the stored contents of the backup area may not be securely erased. If the contents stored in the backup area are erased when the power is turned on, such inconvenience can be prevented.

Further, since whether or not the storage contents of the backup area are to be erased is stored in the power failure occurrence flag, the reset signal can be used in common with the signal for erasing the storage contents of the backup area. This makes it easier to design and manufacture the wiring, and has the effect of making it difficult for defects to occur.

Further, since the reset switch 255 is provided in the power supply device 250, the memory contents erasure command signal is transmitted along the wiring for supplying power to each control device such as the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200. Transmission wiring can be provided, eliminating the need for new wiring design.
This has the effect of facilitating manufacture.

Since the reset signal for erasing the contents stored in the backup area of the RAM is divided and transmitted to each control device such as the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200, the game control device 100 and the discharge control device The storage contents of the backup areas of a plurality of RAMs provided in each control device such as 200 can be simultaneously deleted. CPUs provided on a plurality of boards communicate with each other in synchronization with each other to update the contents of each RAM. If the contents stored in the RAM are erased at the same time, the RA
There is no inconsistency in the stored contents of M.

When the game board is configured to be detachable from the main body frame of the game machine 1 (an integrated unit formed by the front frame 3 and the back mechanism board 35 other than the game board), Even if the game control device 100 is replaced with the replacement of the game board, the power supply device 250 can be left on the main body frame side, so that the position of the reset switch 255 can be fixed to improve the operability.

In the embodiment described above, control of the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 200 has been described.
It can also be applied to AM.

The operation of the reset switch 255 provided in the power supply device 250 generates a reset signal to erase the contents stored in the backup area of the RAM. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reset signal is generated. May be input from the outside of the gaming machine to erase the contents stored in the backup area of the RAM. For example, a signal that triggers a reset may be sent from a management device that manages a plurality of gaming machines.

It is to be noted that the state of the game which is generally controlled is initialized by initializing the backup area of the game control device, and a command indicating this is sent from the game control device to another game control device. You may make it transmit to a control apparatus. Thereby, the operation corresponding to the initialization of the gaming state can be performed on all electric gaming devices provided in the gaming 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.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a configuration of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the entire gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram around a power supply device of the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a RAM of the gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the power supply of the gaming machine is cut off.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart when the power of the gaming machine is turned on.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 gaming machine 2 card ball lending unit 3 front frame 35 back mechanism panel 100 game control device 200 emission control device 250 power supply device 251 power supply circuit 252 smoothing circuit 253 voltage detection circuit 254 reset signal generation circuit 255 reset switch 256 backup power supply circuit 300 Decoration control device 350 Display control device 400 Sound control device 500 Hitting and launching device 550 Launching control device 600 Discharge unit 700 Flow switching unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising: a plurality of types of electric gaming devices provided for a game; and a control device having a storage unit that controls the electric gaming devices and stores a state of the gaming machine.
In a gaming machine provided with a backup area for retaining stored contents even when power supplied from outside the gaming machine is cut off in at least a part of the storage unit, the backup area is initialized when the external power supply is cut off. A game machine storing a flag for specifying whether or not the backup area is in the backup area. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller deletes the storage content of the backup area based on the content of the flag when the gaming machine is powered on. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device deletes the storage content of the backup area based on the content of the flag by a reset signal for initializing the control device. 4. A game control device comprising a game board for providing a game, wherein the control device comprehensively controls a game performed on the game board and transmits a control command signal to another control device. In the storage means of the game control device, information indicating the game state of the game board is stored, at least a part of the information indicating the game state, the backup area provided in the storage means of the game control device The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaming machine is stored. 5. The gaming machine includes a discharge mechanism for discharging a game ball to a player, the control device includes a discharge control device for controlling the discharge mechanism, and a storage unit of the discharge control device includes: Information that can specify the number of game balls that have not been discharged to the player is stored, and at least a part of the information that can specify the number of game balls that have not been discharged to the player is at least part of the discharge control device. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaming machine is stored in the backup area provided in a storage unit.