JP2001334025A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine wherein the design change of the power source section can be kept to a minimum necessity even when the number of required power source output sections or the power source voltage constitution are changed at the times of a new model design and a specification change, and a diversion of power source related parts from other models is easy as well. SOLUTION: A plurality of power source voltages required in this game machine are collectively generated by the voltage converting section of a power source unit 420. In the meantime, respective power source voltages from the power source unit 420 are distributed to respective locations of the game machine from power source voltage output sections 431 to 437 of a distribution board 430 which is provided independently from the power source unit 420. Thus, when the number or required power source output sections or the power source voltage constitution are changed at the times of a new model design and a specification change, only the specification of the distribution board can be changed, and the design change of the power source section can be kept to the minimum necessity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a so-called seven machine, a blade, a right object, a ball game machine such as an arrangement ball, and a coin-type game machine such as a slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent game machines, particularly ball-and-ball game machines, have been diversified in the game, so that a motor-type firing device, an electric accessory, a prize ball dispensing device, a lamp or a light emitting diode (LED),
A large display device and a device incorporating a large number of electrical devices such as a control circuit thereof have become mainstream. Since these electric devices have different types of DC / AC and operating voltages depending on their types, the gaming machine requires a power supply unit capable of generating various power supply voltages. The electrical device is divided into specific functions for the purpose of preventing unauthorized alteration, facilitating inspection and repair, making parts recyclable for the purpose of saving resources, and the like. It is becoming possible to combine them on another control board. In this case, it is necessary to distribute and supply a necessary power supply voltage for each substrate.

Conventionally, various power supply voltages as described above have been converted and generated from an AC voltage in a centralized power supply unit and distributed from the centralized power supply unit to each substrate. In this case, the power supply output units need to be mounted on the centralized power supply unit by the number of boards to be connected.

[0004]

However, in the configuration using the centralized power supply unit as described above, it is necessary to change the configuration of the board or increase or decrease the number of boards when designing or changing the specifications of a new gaming machine. If the number of power supply output units and the power supply voltage configuration change, the design of the entire power supply unit will need to be changed, and it will be difficult to reuse power supply-related components (for example, transformers and regulator ICs) from previous models. There was a problem that was difficult to avoid up.

An object of the present invention is to minimize the design change of the power supply portion even if the number of power supply output units and the power supply voltage configuration required for new model design and specification change are changed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine in which power-related parts from other models can be easily used.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect To solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to the present invention comprises an input section for receiving voltage, and a voltage converter for converting the receiving voltage into a plurality of different power supply voltages. And a power supply unit having a power supply voltage output unit for outputting the converted power supply voltage, and a voltage input provided separately from the power supply unit and receiving a plurality of power supply voltages output from the power supply voltage output unit Unit and an electric operating unit provided in each part of the gaming machine, in order to supply the power supply voltage, the power supply voltage is formed individually corresponding to the power supply voltage, a plurality of outputs for at least one of the power supply voltage And a power distribution section having a power supply voltage output section having terminals distributed therein.

According to this configuration, a plurality of power supply voltages required for the gaming machine are generated at a time by the voltage converter of the power supply unit, while the power supply voltage output section of the power distribution board provided independently of the power supply unit. Since the power supply voltage from the power supply unit has been distributed to various parts of the game machine, even if the number of power supply output units and power supply voltage configuration required for new model design or specification change change, only power distribution board specifications Just change it,
The design change of the power supply can be minimized. The power distribution board is desirably detachably mounted to a predetermined mounting target portion (for example, a back mechanism panel of a game machine) in consideration of ease of design change and convenience of component replacement.

[0008] The voltage converter of the power supply unit may convert the AC receiving voltage into a plurality of DC power supply voltages. The AC receiving voltage can be, for example, 24 VAC, and the converted DC power supply voltage can be, for example, 32 VDC (in the case of a ball-and-play game machine, it can be used as a solenoid drive voltage for an accessory, etc.), 24 VDC (also the torque for the firing device). Can be used as a drive voltage for a motor), 12 V DC (similarly, can be used as a drive voltage for a motor for a prize ball dispensing device or other analog control voltage), 5 V DC
(Which can be used as a drive voltage for digital control). Any of them can be generated as a rectified, smoothed, etc. power supply voltage, and further as a + or-unipolar or bipolar power supply voltage according to the purpose.

On the other hand, the voltage converter of the power supply unit may be configured to convert the AC receiving voltage into the DC power supply voltage and the pulsating power supply voltage as described above. For example, in the power supply voltage output section of the distribution board, a light emitting device using a resistance filament as a light emitting body can be connected as a load to the output terminal section of the pulsating power supply voltage.

A second structure of the gaming machine according to the present invention comprises a light emitting device having a resistance filament as a light emitting body mounted on a game board, and a pulsating voltage applied to the light emitting device for driving the light emitting device to emit light. And a pulsating power supply unit for supplying.

In order to enhance the interest of the game, a large number of light emitting devices are mounted on a game board or the like for illumination, and the gaming machine is operated to emit light according to the game situation. LEDs are often used as light-emitting devices, but in terms of the impact on the excitement, light-emitting devices that emit high-luminance light bulbs and lamps, that is, light-emitting devices that energize and emit resistance filaments (hereinafter referred to as resistance filament light-emitting devices). The device is superior, and a considerable number are still used in many gaming machines.

By the way, the resistance filament type light emitting device has no directivity in the conduction polarity, and can emit light in either DC or AC. However, in the field of amusement machines, many other electric components and a power supply are used. In order to achieve common use, a configuration in which light is emitted using a DC power supply has been mainly adopted.
However, the resistance filament of a light-emitting device tends to deteriorate when it is continuously energized by direct current, especially in a severe operating environment where lighting is repeated frequently over a long period of time, such as a game machine, and its life can be shortened earlier. There are drawbacks that are easily exhausted.

Therefore, if the pulsating flow is used as described above,
The life of the resistance filament can be greatly extended by the intermittent energization. The effect of intermittent energization can be obtained by using alternating current, but if a pulsating current is used, switching on and off can be performed in the same manner as a normal DC circuit, and a complicated structure that takes into account insulation such as alternating current No switching control circuit is required.

In the present specification, the pulsating flow refers to a current whose voltage periodically fluctuates at the same polarity, and is obtained by, for example, full-wave rectification or half-wave rectification of an alternating current, but is not limited thereto. For example, a DC in which an intermittent current is generated by switching can be used.

Next, one or two or more power supplies used in each board are connected to a power supply voltage output section of the power distribution board to connect a plurality of control boards which directly or indirectly control the operation of the gaming machine. A board-side connector that combines voltage output terminals
A plurality can be provided corresponding to the number of substrates to be connected.
According to this configuration, instead of separately providing a power supply unit for generating a required power supply voltage on each board, various power supply voltages generated by one power supply unit are integrated into each board from the power distribution board. Therefore, the number of power supply units can be reduced. In addition, when a third party verifies a gaming machine, when verifying the power supply related parts, the technical manual of the distribution board (including drawings, etc.) and the identification characters (part model name and voltage value) displayed on the board And the like, it is possible to determine at a glance what power supply voltage is required for each substrate.

The power distribution board has an output current of a specific voltage supplied to the control board for at least one of the plurality of control boards connected thereto in order to protect the board components from overcurrent. A current cutoff mechanism that cuts off excess power can be provided. It is effective that the current interruption mechanism is provided on a control board to which a large current load is connected, for example, a control board to which a motor is connected. In this case, the current interrupt mechanism interrupts the output current of the motor drive voltage when the output current becomes excessive.

As the current interrupting mechanism, a switch type breaker mechanism can be used. However, a current interrupting mechanism including a current interrupting fuse is advantageous in that it is simple and inexpensive. By the way, conventionally, such a fuse is provided individually for each control board in order to limit the operation of only the electric device in which the abnormality has occurred. However, in recent years, the control board has often been covered with a cover means to prevent unauthorized alteration. For example, in order to make it easier to confirm the presence or absence of fraud, such a cover means intentionally leaves a trace on the appearance accompanying the removal operation so as to be able to identify that the removal operation has been performed. It is increasingly being configured as something. More specifically, the opening and closing portion of the cover is sealed with a paper tape that is easily cut when the cover is opened or closed, or a tape with a peeling detection function in which an image (for example, a holographic image) or a character appears on the tape surface when peeled off. The cover is attached by a so-called one-way screw at the screwed portion integrated via the cut connection portion formed on the cover body, and the cut connection portion is cut to separate the cover body and the screw portion. There is a configuration in which the cover is removed in the form.

In this case, if a fuse is attached to the control board, it is necessary to remove the cover when replacing a blown fuse, and traces may remain on the cover due to factors not originally intended. Become. Therefore, when reattaching the cover after replacing the fuse, it is necessary to perform an operation of returning to a state without a trace, which is very troublesome. Therefore, the fuse should be provided on the power distribution board, and if there is no cover means or even if the cover means is provided,
By using a cover that does not cause intentional traces to remain during the removal operation, the fuse can be easily replaced without removing the cover on the control board side.

Further, the gaming machine according to the third configuration of the present invention is for connecting a plurality of control boards for controlling the operation of the gaming machine while outputting a power supply voltage based on the receiving voltage input portion and the power receiving voltage. A power supply unit having a plurality of power supply voltage output units corresponding to the number of substrates to be connected, wherein an output connector in which one or more power supply voltage output terminals used in each board are grouped together; And at least one of a plurality of control boards connected to the output connector, the fuse including a fuse for shutting off when an output current of a specific voltage supplied to the control board becomes excessive. At least one of the control boards is covered by the cover means, and the cover means is capable of performing the detachment operation in order to make it possible to identify that the detachment operation has been performed. The fuse mounting portion of the power supply unit does not have at least the cover means or does not cause intentional trace residue accompanying the removing operation. It is characterized by being covered by a cover means. Also in this case, since the fuse is provided not on the control board but on the power supply unit side, the fuse can be easily replaced without removing the cover means on the control board side. The control board according to the present invention includes a CPU, a RAM, and an RO.
In addition to a board on which primary electronic components such as M are mounted, a board on which secondary electronic components mainly for operating signal timings and combinations such as buffer components and latch components are mounted, And a substrate on which only tertiary electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, and other so-called discrete components are mounted.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a series of invention requirements that can be added to the case where the gaming machine of the present invention is configured as a ball-and-ball gaming machine. For example, a gaming machine according to the present invention includes a prize ball detecting unit that detects a prize ball, and a prize ball number information generating unit that generates prize ball number information that is information on the number of prize balls to be paid out based on a prize ball detection signal. Winning ball payout control means for causing the winning ball payout mechanism to pay out a predetermined number of winning balls based on the generated information on the number of winning balls, and payout detecting the payout of the winning balls by the winning ball payout control means. Prize ball detection mechanism, prize ball payout by the prize ball payout mechanism based on prize ball number information generated by the prize ball number information generation means, and payout prize ball detection information by the payout prize ball detection mechanism. Prize ball payout management means for managing the prize ball payout.

In the configuration of the above-mentioned ball-and-ball game machine, each winning port for paying out a prize ball is provided on the gaming board, and a prize ball from a prize-ball detecting section provided corresponding to each prize port is provided. Based on the ball detection signal, each prize ball number to be paid out is generated as information. A predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to each winning opening are paid out according to the prize ball number information, the number of prize balls paid out is detected, and the prize ball number information and the actually paid out prize ball number are detected. I am trying to confirm.

In the conventional ball game machines, the payout confirmation of the prize ball is performed as follows. That is, a safe ball collecting gutter is connected to each of the winning ports, and the lower ends of these safe ball collecting gutters are gathered in a safe ball large collecting gutter formed in a funnel shape. At the lower end, a unitized winning re-detection processing means such as a winning ball discharging solenoid, a winning ball detecting lever, and a winning ball detecting switch is provided. The winning balls entering each of the winning ports are guided to the safe ball large collecting gutter, and when the winning ball number data of a predetermined number of payout balls are transmitted, the winning balls are paid out, and with the completion of the winning ball payout. Upon receiving the payout completion signal, the winning ball discharge solenoid is deactivated / excited to discharge one winning ball.

On the other hand, according to the above-mentioned ball game machine,
Since the number of prize balls can be paid out based only on the input of the prize ball detection signal from the prize ball detection processing means provided corresponding to the prize port provided on the game board, the above-described conventional prize ball payout system The winning ball re-detection processing means constituting one device becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Since the winning ball re-detection processing means is constituted by a mechanical mechanism having a large number of components as described above, the occurrence of a failure can be reduced by omitting the mechanism. Further, the third-party inspection organization can relatively easily inspect the ball-and-ball game machine, and can shorten the inspection time. For example, according to the above-described ball game machine, the mechanism of the prize ball re-detection processing is not required, so that the prize ball detected by the prize ball detection unit in response to the ball entering the prize port is detected again thereafter. It can be collected with the out ball without being caught. The prize ball payout management means may be configured to determine that the payout of prize balls has been completed when the detected number of payout spheres reaches the number of prize balls to be paid out. This is reasonable as a reliable prize ball payout confirmation process in place of the above.

Specifically, the prize ball payout managing means includes a total prize ball number storing means for storing a total prize ball number to be paid out, and every time a prize ball is detected, a corresponding prize ball number is totaled. The number of prize balls added to the total number of prize balls stored in the number-of-balls storage means, and the number of paid out prize balls is stored in the total number of spheres storage means based on the detection information of the payout prize balls. Prize ball number subtraction means for subtracting from the total prize ball number, and manages whether or not payout of prize balls is completed based on the total prize ball number stored in the total prize ball number storage means. Things.

In an actual gaming machine, a prize ball often occurs continuously instead of spontaneously (particularly at the time of a big hit, etc.), and the payout ball for the previous prize ball is not completed before the next prize ball is paid out. Often occurs.
In this case, as described above, the number of prize balls of the prize balls for which the prize ball payout has not been completed is stored in a pooled form as the total number of prize balls, and when a new prize ball is generated, this is handled. While the number of awarded balls is added to the total number of awarded balls, the number of paid out awarded balls changes every moment if the number of awarded balls is subtracted from the total number of awarded balls based on detection information of the awarded balls. A) The total number of prize balls can be accurately grasped, and delays in paying out prize balls due to troubles such as clogged balls can be quickly detected.

The above-mentioned gaming machine includes a main control unit functioning as prize ball number information generating means and prize ball payout managing means, and a frame control unit functioning as prize ball payout control means. The ball number information is transferred to the frame control unit in one direction, and the frame control unit causes the prize ball payout mechanism to pay out the prize balls based on the prize ball number information, and the prize ball payout mechanism. The detection information of the payout prize ball from the payout prize ball detection mechanism attached to the controller may be transmitted to the main control unit.

In a conventional gaming machine, with respect to the generation of payout prize balls generated upon detection of a prize, fundamental factors that require a prize ball re-detection process for confirming a prize ball payout are as follows. Depends on the background. That is, in many gaming machines, a command for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls by receiving a prize detection is performed by a main control unit that controls the operation processing of the entire gaming machine, but in order to reduce the processing load, The frame control unit different from the main control unit is responsible for actually performing the prize ball payout mechanism in response to the prize ball payout instruction and controlling the execution operation of the prize ball payout. That is, the control subject of the prize ball payout command and the control subject of the execution of the prize ball payout are formed separately.

In this case, in order to confirm whether or not the instructed prize ball payout is actually executed, the frame control unit returns a payout completion signal to the main control unit as the prize ball payout is completed. It can be said that the method is the most rational and easy to understand method. However, when such two-way communication between the main control unit and the frame control unit is performed, the signal transmission system becomes complicated,
There is a problem that a lot of time and labor is required for the test operation of the gaming machine. In fact, according to the current game inspection standards, when a plurality of control units are provided separately in a gaming machine, the main control unit may use another control unit (in this case, Only one-way signal transmission to the frame control unit) is permitted. Therefore, the method of returning the payout completion signal from the frame control unit to the main control unit as described above may not be practically adopted.

Therefore, conventionally, the operation of the winning ball discharge solenoid included in the winning ball re-detection processing mechanism is controlled by the frame control unit, and when the payout of the winning ball is completed, the frame control unit operates the solenoid to Encourage the prize balls to be discharged. And
When the winning ball is discharged, the winning ball detection switch connected to the main control unit is activated, and the main control unit confirms the payout of the winning ball. That is, instead of performing direct signal transmission from the frame control unit to the main control unit, the main control unit was made to recognize the completion of the prize ball payout through the mechanical movement of the winning ball by the operation of the solenoid. is there. However, as described above, this mechanism has a complicated mechanism for detecting a winning ball again, which leads to a rise in the price of a gaming machine. In addition, the direct confirmation of the prize ball payout can only be performed by the frame control unit, but this is incorrectly confirmed by the influence of noise or the like, and if the solenoid malfunctions, the main control unit There is no way of recognizing the prize ball, and as a result, a problem occurs in which the payout of the prize ball is not performed normally.

In the present invention, as described above, when the control sharing is divided between the main control unit and the frame control unit, the payout prize ball detecting mechanism (not controlled by the frame control unit) receives The payout prize ball detection information is transmitted to the main control unit. Since the payout prize ball detection mechanism itself only needs to detect the spatial movement of the sphere accompanying the payout, for example, as described later, a rotation sensor (angle sensor) provided on the payout cam, a limit switch, a proximity sensor, or the like. Alternatively, a known sensor such as an optical sensor can be simply configured as a prize ball payout sensor. The main control unit can more directly detect the flow of the prize ball payout based on the signal from the payout prize ball detection mechanism, so that the prize ball payout can always be accurately grasped.

Preferably, in the above-mentioned ball game machine, a specific number of prize balls is defined as a unique prize ball number corresponding to each winning port, and the prize ball payout control means comprises: A prize ball number command output means for outputting a prize ball number setting signal corresponding to the winning ball detection signal in the input order of the detection signal, and corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal in the input order of the prize ball number setting signal. Unique prize ball number data storage means for storing and storing the unique prize ball number data to be read, and read out the unique prize ball number data stored and stored in the unique prize ball number data means in order from the one stored first. The payout mechanism pays out a corresponding number of prize balls in the reading order.

In the above arrangement, the prize ball payout control means sequentially determines the number of corresponding prize balls (the number of unique prize balls) to the prize ball payout means in accordance with the order in which the winning balls finally entering each winning port are detected. Since the payout control is performed, the player can easily know how many prize balls have been obtained. Therefore, the transparency of the game to the player can be secured.

In the electronic control device of the ball-and-ball game machine, when the ball enters each winning opening, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out in accordance with the prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detection section is set in the main control section. It is stored once and transmitted to the frame control unit as prize ball number data. For this reason, the main control unit needs a buffer for storing a certain number of winning balls in the order of winning. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of prize ball number data corresponding to each winning opening is temporarily stored in the order in which the prize is won, and the frame control is performed. The storage capacity of one byte (8 bits) is released each time a prize ball is paid out in the section.

However, usually, the main control section reserves a work area for the current main program, and the area for supplying a buffer area other than the work area to a buffer area is limited. Therefore, when the frequency of winning balls entering the winning opening increases, for example, a large winning opening has a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10).
For example, when the game ball is released until the game ball enters, the amount of prize ball number data to be stored increases and the storage capacity of the buffer becomes insufficient.

Therefore, the unique prize ball number data corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal includes a fixed number of data bits, and the combination of the data bits corresponds one-to-one with the number of prize balls to be paid out. It can be stored in the form of a set of defined bits. Since the prize ball number data corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal is stored and stored in the prize ball number data storage means for each preset bit unit,
You can use a relatively small amount of memory,
The effect on other memories can be minimized.

As one of the preferred embodiments, the unique prize ball number data storage means stores a bit set from one side of a column of bit storage cells formed in series in an input order. When extracting a predetermined number of data bits from the other side of the stored bit string,
This can be a bit set indicating the number of unique prize balls to be paid out.

By setting the above-mentioned bit set to less than 1 byte, for example, the number of bits to any one of 1, 2, and 4 which is a divisor of 8, a plurality of bit sets are stored in the 1-byte buffer to save unnecessary empty bits. Can be stored without occurring. As a result, the concept that the minimum unit of the storage capacity stored in the buffer is 1 byte is wiped out, and a predetermined bit set previously set as the storage means of the award ball number data is used as the minimum unit of the storage capacity. By having the storage capacity of the buffer area used greatly increased,
Even if the award ball number data amount to be stored temporarily increases, the storage capacity is not insufficient.

The number of bits included in the bit set is preferably 2 bits, and the storage capacity of the 1-byte buffer is quadrupled by using the 2 bits as the prize ball number data to be paid out. Can be used. This 2
When the bit is the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of winning ball number data is represented by two bits. For example, if the number of payout prize balls is 6, “01b”, if the number of payout prize balls is 10, “10b”, and the number of payout prize balls is 1
If there are five, it is "11b". Note that “00b” is
The number of award balls is zero.

In this case, in the unique prize ball number data storage means, a bit set from one side of the column of bit storage cells formed in series is stored in the order of input, and the stored bit sequence is stored. When a predetermined number of data bits are taken out from the other side, this becomes a bit set representing the number of unique prize balls to be paid out. For example, when the bit set is 2 bits, of the stored bit strings,
If two bits on one side located on the transmission side are extracted, the extracted two bits are information on the number of winning balls to be paid out by the frame control unit, and the remaining bit string is also paid out every two bits. Information on the number of power balls to be awarded is accumulated. Then, in order to transmit the number of prize balls to be paid out next from the main control unit to the frame control unit, the bit string in which the information of the number of prize balls is accumulated is sequentially shifted to the transmission side every two bits and transferred. I do. Instead of transferring the bit string for each bit set, a storage area is separately set in the buffer, the bit string to be shifted to this area is temporarily saved, and the bit string is shifted to the original buffer area. The returning process can be performed by block transfer.

The winning ball number is paid out from the winning ball payout mechanism based on the winning ball number data transmitted from the main control unit to the frame control unit. A payout prize ball detection mechanism equipped with a prize ball payout sensor is installed on the axis. Is detected. This detection information is collated with the winning ball number data transmitted from the main control unit to the frame control unit, for example, on the frame control unit side, and plays a role of determining whether or not the prize ball payout based on the detection information is normal.

When the number of winning balls is paid out based on the instruction of the frame control unit, the above detection information is also input to the main control unit side and stored in the total winning ball number storage means of the main control unit. The number of paid out prize balls is subtracted from the total number of awarded balls. For example, when the prize ball payout sensor is a rotary encoder, if one pulse output by detecting the slit of the rotary encoder corresponds to one prize ball, a total of one pulse output signal from the rotary encoder is output. The remaining ball counter of the total number of prize balls, which is the prize ball number storage means, is decremented by one.

Further, the above-mentioned ball game machine has abnormality detection means for detecting whether or not a specific abnormality has occurred in the game machine, and game information storage means for storing at least prize ball number information as game information; At least a backup execution control unit that performs a process for preventing loss of game information stored in the game information storage unit when an abnormality is detected can be provided. This prevents loss of the prize ball number information when an abnormality such as a power failure occurs, and makes it easy to return to the prize ball payout process based on the aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention when returning. Specifically, the game information storage means can store, as game information, the total number of prize balls and the unique prize ball number data arranged in the input order of the prize ball detection signals.

In this case, it is possible to provide an abnormality confirmation information generating means for generating abnormality confirmation information in response to a detection result by the abnormality detection means, and an abnormality confirmation information storage means for storing the abnormality confirmation information. The unit may perform a process for preventing loss of game information stored in the game information storage unit when an abnormality occurs, in response to the operation of storing the abnormality determination information in the abnormality determination information storage unit.

In this specification, the specific abnormality is defined as
For example, this is an abnormality in which the power supply voltage of the gaming machine decreases due to power interruption due to a power failure or other factors. In this case, the abnormality detecting means detects a specific abnormality as a decrease in the power supply voltage due to a power failure or the like.

In the above configuration, the backup process of the game information is not unconditionally started by using the abnormality detection output (signal) as a direct start command. The abnormality determination information is generated in accordance with the result, and this is stored (for example, written) in the abnormality determination information storage unit. Then, the game information reflecting the game state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality is stored in a predetermined backup storage means in a form corresponding to the storage of the abnormality determination information.
Perform backup storage control to be retained. According to this, when an original abnormality such as a power shutdown occurs, the abnormality determination information is stored in accordance with the occurrence of the abnormality detection output. On the other hand, the abnormality detection output does not occur during a program runaway, etc. Information is not stored. Therefore, when returning from an abnormality, by using this abnormality confirmation information as a mark, only when a predetermined specific abnormality occurs,
The game information recovery process can be executed correctly, and the normal operation of the game machine after returning can be guaranteed.

The above gaming machine can also be configured as follows: abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not a specific abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine; , An abnormality confirmation information storage unit for storing the abnormality confirmation information, and a backup determined as at least one of one or a plurality of control units provided for controlling a game operation of the gaming machine. An execution control unit, which receives the abnormality detection by the abnormality detection unit, stores the abnormality determination information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality in the abnormality determination information storage unit, Game information reflecting the game state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality is stored and retained in predetermined backup storage means as backup information in accordance with the storage operation of the abnormality determination information. And backup storage control means that,
The abnormality determination information stored in the abnormality determination information storage means is read, and if the information content indicates abnormality detection, a backup is performed when an abnormality occurs based on the backup information stored in the backup storage means. A backup execution control unit having storage recovery means for at least partially recovering the game information existing in the work memory of the execution control unit.

In the above configuration, the backup process of the game information is not unconditionally started by using the abnormality detection output (signal) as a direct start command, but when an abnormality is detected, the detection is performed. The abnormality determination information is generated in accordance with the result, and this is stored (for example, written) in the abnormality determination information storage unit. Then, the game information reflecting the game state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality is stored in a predetermined backup storage means in a form corresponding to the storage of the abnormality determination information.
Perform backup storage control to be retained.

According to this, when an original abnormality such as a power interruption occurs, the abnormality confirmation information is stored along with the occurrence of the abnormality detection output. However, the abnormality confirmation information is not stored. For example, unintended abnormality (that is, non-specific abnormality: reset state due to program runaway, etc.)
Therefore, even if the CPU of the computer performs a backup operation by mistake due to a program runaway or the like, in this case, the abnormality confirmation information does not remain. Will not occur. As a result, normal operation of the gaming machine after returning can be guaranteed.

[0049] In the present specification, "recovery processing of game information" includes at least the following two modes. The game information that has been backed up in a form of being saved in a storage area determined as a backup storage means is restored in a form of being copied to a determined memory area after restoration. In this aspect, the memory area of the backup storage means may be different from the work memory area when the processing is restarted using the game information after the return. When an abnormality occurs, the storage state of the work memory area in which the game information is written is held as it is by using an auxiliary power supply, and after the recovery, the held game information is used.
Continue in the same work memory area. In this case, the actual memory area of the backup storage means is substantially the same as the work memory area.

Next, a processing routine for writing the abnormality confirmation information into the abnormality confirmation information storage means is an interruption processing routine executed by the CPU of the backup execution control unit upon receiving an interruption signal based on the abnormality detection. Upon receiving an interrupt request from the backup processing routine, the program routine executed at that time is reset after a predetermined time has elapsed, and then the backup processing routine is started. According to this method, the program routine being executed is reset in a state where it has been executed up to a certain step, and thereafter, the abnormality determination information is stored.

On the other hand, the processing routine for writing the abnormality confirmation information to the abnormality confirmation information storage means is an interruption processing routine that the CPU of the backup execution control unit executes upon receiving an interruption signal based on the abnormality detection. The interrupt processing routine may be executed with priority over another interrupt processing routine for the backup execution control unit. According to this, when an abnormality occurs, an interrupt processing routine for immediately writing the abnormality determination information is executed, and it is possible to proceed to the backup processing of the game information, so that preparation for an abnormality such as a power supply voltage drop due to a power failure or the like is immediately made. Can be arranged. Further, it is possible to cope with the backup process for the occurrence of an abnormality with a margin in time. Note that the interrupt processing routine receives an interrupt signal at a predetermined interrupt request terminal,
The above-described effect is further enhanced if the program is executed in the form of an interrupt process that cannot be invalidated by a program.

Further, the processing routine for writing the abnormality confirmation information into the abnormality confirmation information storage means is such that the CPU of the backup execution control unit spontaneously operates at a predetermined timing in a separate input / output circuit connected to the CPU. It can be a subroutine that is executed when an access is made and the input of the abnormality detection to the input / output circuit is confirmed at the time of the access. In this method, since no interrupt processing is used, malfunction of the CPU, runaway, and the like are less likely to occur.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, a predetermined advantageous gaming state is obtained based on the following control units provided in the gaming machine, that is, the game ball winning detection processing and the specific winning detection. And at least one of the winning / rejection determination processing of performing a lottery / determination of a winning / losing between a winning state and a non-winning state in which the advantageous gaming state cannot be obtained. The main control unit transmits control command information to the receiving control unit that controls the overall operation of the gaming machine, and is connected to the transmitting control unit so that only one-way communication from the transmitting control unit is possible. As one of the receiving-side control units, receiving the operation of the accessory and the prize ball discharge command information as the control command information, the operation of the predetermined accessory provided on the game board and the prize ball Control at least the discharge operation The control unit is connected to the transmission-side control unit so that only one-way communication from the transmission-side control unit can be performed. The control unit forms one of the reception-side control units and includes image control command information as control command information. A backup execution control unit defined as at least one of a display control unit that performs at least display control for causing a plurality of symbols to fluctuate / stop display on a variable display device provided on the game board, Abnormality detection means for detecting whether or not an abnormality has occurred, and, according to the abnormality detection, as game information reflecting a game state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality, control command information remaining in the work memory of the backup execution control unit or Backup storage control means for storing and holding control information generated based on the information as backup information in predetermined backup storage means. A backup execution control unit, based on the backup information stored in the backup storage unit, a storage recovery unit that at least partially recovers the game information that was present in the work memory of the backup execution control unit at the time of occurrence of the abnormality; The backup processing routine executed by the backup storage control means in order to store and retain the game information in the work memory of the backup execution control unit is configured so that the CPU of the backup execution control unit receives an interrupt signal based on the abnormality detection. This is an interrupt processing routine to be executed, and the interrupt processing routine may be configured to be executed with priority over another interrupt processing routine for the backup execution control unit.

In the above configuration, the control unit of the gaming machine is constituted by a main control unit as a transmission control unit, a frame control unit as a reception control unit connected by one-way communication from the main control unit, and a display control unit. And the control of the prize ball payout and the accessory is dedicated to the frame control unit, the display control of the variable display device is dedicated to the display control unit, and at least one of the three control units Is executed as a backup execution control unit, and the backup process of the game information is executed in the form of an interrupt process which is preferentially executed with respect to another interrupt process for the backup execution control unit.

According to this, since the control command from the main control unit flows in a limited form in one direction, it is possible to quickly control the entire complicated game machine and perform inspections and the like. In addition to the above, the backup processing of the game information is executed in the form of a priority interrupt processing, so that the following specific effects are produced in combination with the above-described one-way control command transmission mode. First, the main control unit does not receive any interrupt command or the like from at least the receiving side control unit. Therefore, if this is used as a backup execution control unit, when the backup process is executed by the interrupt process, a conflicting interrupt is performed. Is inherently less susceptible to the processing Therefore, if priority is given to the interrupt processing related to the backup processing, it is possible to more quickly and surely respond to an abnormality such as a power failure,
As a result, loss of game information can be more reliably prevented. On the other hand, the receiving-side control unit is placed in an environment where it is easy to receive an interrupt command or the like from the main control unit. Therefore, in the normal interrupt process, as described above, it is necessary to wait until the previous interrupt process ends, The backup process is forcibly interrupted by another interrupt process, and the completion of the backup process is delayed. For example, at the time of a power failure or the like, a failure such as a failure in backing up the game information tends to occur. However, by giving priority to the interrupt processing related to the backup processing as described above, the completion of the backup processing can be hastened even in the receiving side control unit where the processing system is easily congested, and the backup fails (loss of game information). Such problems can be avoided very effectively. In this case, if the interrupt processing routine is executed in the form of an interrupt process that cannot be disabled by a program by receiving an interrupt signal at a predetermined interrupt request terminal, the above-described effect can be obtained. Is further enhanced.

[0056]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Here, a first-type pachinko machine (ball game machine) of a type called a so-called seven machine is taken as an example of a ball game machine, and the structure thereof will be described with reference to FIGS.

The front part of the pachinko machine 1 is composed of a main body frame 2, a middle frame 3, a front frame 4, an upper plate 5, a lower plate 6, and a locking device 7. The body frame 2 is formed by assembling and fixing a wooden plate-like body into a substantially rectangular frame shape. The middle frame 3 is entirely made of plastic, has a frame portion (not shown) and a lower plate portion (not shown), and is fitted and attached to the inner peripheral side of the main body frame 2.

Here, the frame portion is approximately two-thirds downward from the upper end.
It is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape, and has a prize ball display LED (not shown) and a prize ball display LED board 4d on the left side at the upper end corresponding to the frame decoration lamp lens 4b of the front frame 4.
(See FIG. 16), a stop display LED (not shown) and a stop display LED board 4f (see FIG. 16) are provided on the right side.

Further, the lower plate portion is approximately one third upward from the lower end.
A speaker that generates sound effects and other sounds (hereinafter referred to as audio information, etc.) according to the game state to correspond to the speaker surface 5a formed on the upper plate portion 5 at the left end (see FIG. 16). A supply device (not shown) for supplying the game balls stored in the upper plate portion 5 to a launch device unit 8 (see FIG. 5) for firing the game balls is provided substantially at the center. . Further, a lower plate 6 is provided below, and a locking device 7 is provided at the center of the right end.

The lower tray portion 6 is provided with an ashtray, a ball-drawing lever, and the like, is provided with a discharge port 6c for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1, and has a firing handle 9 for operating the firing unit 8 at the right end. Is provided. A touch switch 9a for detecting that the player is touching is mounted on the firing handle 9, and a fire stop switch 9b for temporarily instructing a stop of the fire is arranged near the touch switch 9a. The locking device 7 has a substantially rectangular shape provided with a keyhole when viewed from the front, and is used for locking when the front frame 4 is closed.

The front frame 4 is entirely made of plastic, and has a substantially arc-shaped upper side corresponding to the shape of the game area 11 formed on the game board 10 so that the game board 10 can be visually recognized from the front. Has an opening 4a formed in a substantially bullet shape. A substantially rectangular glass frame (not shown) in which a glass plate is fitted according to the opening 4a is mounted on the back surface. The front frame 4 occupies 2/3 of the entire front of the pachinko machine 1 and is pivotally mounted on the left end of the middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. Further, a frame decoration lamp lens 4b is provided at the upper end, and inside the lens 4b, along a circular arc portion at the upper end of the opening 4a, a frame decoration lamp substrate 4g (see FIG. 16) and a plurality of games. An effect lamp (not shown) is provided.

The upper plate 5 is pivotally attached to the left end of the middle frame 3 below the front frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. Dish outer edge 5
In d, a ball removal button, a game ball lending / returning button, and the like are provided. Further, an outlet 5c for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1 is provided. A speaker surface 5a having a plurality of long holes is formed on the left end, and a volume switch board 12 (see FIG. 16) is provided on the back surface. On the left end side of the pachinko machine 1, a prepaid card unit 13 is mounted.

Next, the surface structure of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The game board 10 is a substantially rectangular wooden plate-like body, which is held by a back mechanism board 102 (see FIG. 5) described later, and has a substantially circular shape formed by outer rails 14 and inner rails 15 provided on its surface. , A special symbol display device 16, a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17, a variable winning device 18, an upper left winning port 19, an upper right winning port 20, and a lower left winning port. 21, lower right winning opening 22, a large number of obstacle nails 23, and a pair of lamp windmills 2
4, 25, a pair of windmills 26, 27, etc. are arranged and configured.

The special symbol display device 16 is disposed substantially at the center of the game area 11 and includes a center role object 28 and a liquid crystal display panel 29. Here, the liquid crystal display panel 29 is for variably displaying a plurality of types of special symbols (not shown) and the like, and its video screen has a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the liquid crystal display panel 29 has a game ball having a first-class starting port (ordinary electric accessory).
By entering the ball 17, each special symbol displayed on the video screen is changed and stopped and displayed. Then, for example, when the symbols are stopped and displayed together with the same three-digit symbol of “7, 7, 7”, a large winning device 30 described later provided in the variable winning device 18 is opened. Also,
The center role object 28 is mounted on the periphery of the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel 29 so as to protrude in a frame shape, and includes a normal symbol display device 31, wing portions 32 and 33, and a stage 34.

The normal symbol display device 31 is the center accessory 2
8, a 7-segment display 31a,
And a normal symbol hold display LED 31b. Also,
On both sides of the ordinary symbol display device 31, wing portions 32, 33 extending in a substantially wing shape are provided. further,
On the lower side, special symbol holding display LEDs 35 are provided, which are constituted by four round green LEDs and are arranged horizontally in a row. In this system, the number of game balls that have entered the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is held up to four, and each ball is sequentially turned on and shifted to the left. Then, each time the next special symbol starts to fluctuate on the liquid crystal display panel 29, the number of unstarted times is exhausted, and one special symbol hold display LED 35 is turned off.

The 7-segment display 31a displays odd numbers 1-9 variably, and fluctuates when a game ball passes through one of the left and right ordinary symbol operation passages 36, 37 described later. After a lapse of a predetermined time, one kind of odd number is stopped and displayed. Then, when the stop is displayed at, for example, “7”, the first-type start port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second).

The normal symbol hold display LED 31b is composed of four round red LEDs, and is a seven-segment display 31.
The two parts are separately arranged on both sides of a. this is,
The number of game balls that have passed through the left and right ordinary symbol operation passage openings 36 and 37 is held up to four, and each time they pass, they are sequentially lit and shifted and displayed. Each time the next 7-segment display 31a starts to display the fluctuation, the number of unstarted times is exhausted and 1
The ordinary symbol hold display LEDs 31b are turned off.

As described above, the wings 32 and 33 are formed in a hollow shape from the upper part to the side part of the center part 28, and a plurality of game effect lamps 38 (FIG.
See also). In addition, at the upper end of each outer portion, a normal symbol operation passage opening 36, 37 for a game ball is provided on each of the right and left sides, and at the lower end of each inner portion, a passage opening (not shown) for the game ball is provided, respectively. , These passages 3
A not-shown passage cylinder is provided between each of the passages 6 and 37 and the passage outlet. Then, the game balls entered from the respective passage openings 36 and 37 are left and right normal symbol operation passage opening passage detection switches 36s and 37s (see FIG. 4).
, Passes through each passage cylinder, jumps out of each passage outlet, and rolls on the stage 34. The stage 34 is disposed below the center role 28, and is formed in a partly inclined shape so that the game balls from the respective exits are gathered toward the center and flow down on the game board 10 surface. In addition, the normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 36s of the game ball, 3s,
The 7-segment display 31a of the ordinary symbol display device 31 is variably displayed by any passage of 7s.

The first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is disposed directly below the center of the stage 34 of the center accessory 28 in the special symbol display device 16, and is a so-called tulip type pair of left and right wing pieces. Are formed to open and close. Inside, a first-class start-up port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s for detecting the passage of a game ball (see FIG. 4)
Is provided. When this pair of wing pieces open left and right,
When the game ball enters an open state in which the ball can enter, and the pair of wings closes, the game ball enters a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the ball.

The variable winning device 18 is disposed below the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17, and has a large winning device 30 and a left side on a substrate 41 having a substantially inverted trapezoidal front surface. A ball entrance 42 and a right ball entrance 43 are provided. Here, the special winning device 30 is formed substantially in the center, and has a large winning opening 44 opened in a belt shape, an opening / closing plate 39 for opening and closing the large winning opening 44, and an opening / closing plate 39 for opening and closing the opening / closing plate 39. A special winning opening solenoid 45 (see FIG. 4), an interlocking rod (not shown),
It includes a specific area opening / closing shutter (not shown), an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for operating the specific area opening / closing shutter, a specific area (not shown), and an area outside the specific area (not shown).

The left ball entrance 42 is disposed diagonally above and to the left of the special winning device 30, and a left ball entrance passage detection switch 42s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. Further, the right entrance 43 is disposed diagonally above and to the right of the special winning device 30, and a right entrance passage detection switch 43s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. The out port 46 is disposed immediately below the center of the big winning device 30 in the variable winning device 18. The back ball preventing member 47 is provided below the out port 46, and prevents a game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the firing position again. The foul ball prevention member 48 is attached to the tip of the inner rail 15, and the return rubber 49 is located on the right half side of the game board 10, substantially opposite to the position of the foul ball prevention member 48, and It is attached along the rail 14 in a fitting manner.

The pair of lamp windmills 24 and 25 are respectively
The special symbol display device 16 is disposed diagonally upward and downward from left to right. The upper left winning opening 19 and the upper right winning opening 20 are respectively disposed on the left and right sides from the special symbol display device 16.
The lower left winning opening 21 and the lower right winning opening 22 are respectively disposed diagonally below left and right from the special symbol display device 16.

The pair of windmills 26 and 27 are located on both the left and right sides of the special symbol display device 16 and between the special symbol display device 16 and the upper left winning opening 19 or the upper right winning opening 20. The pair of side lamps 50 and 51 are arranged in a vertical band shape and symmetrically at both left and right ends of the game area 11, respectively. In addition, a large number of obstacle nails 23 are provided in the game area 11 so as to be suitable for the pachinko game in consideration of the positional balance with the above-described devices.

Next, various LED lamps located on the game board 10 of this embodiment and their substrates will be described with reference to FIG. In the game area 11 of the game board 10,
In the ordinary symbol display device 31 provided in the center accessory 28, 4
A substantially rectangular substrate 31f is provided for each of the round ordinary symbol holding display LEDs 31b. Also, this substrate 31
f, 4 around the left and right wings 32, 33
A plurality of round special symbol holding display LEDs 35 and four game effect lamps 38 serving as a board 35f are provided. Substantially circular substrates 24f and 25f provided with two round game effect lamps 24r and 25r on both sides of each lamp windmill shaft are disposed at the positions of the pair of lamp windmills 24 and 25, respectively. I have. Also, a pair of side lamps 50, 51
Are three round game effect lamps 50r, 51
r are provided in a column, and substantially vertical strip-shaped side lamp substrates 50f and 51f are provided.

At the position of the upper left winning opening 19, a substantially V-shaped upper left winning opening substrate 19 f provided with a round game effect lamp 19 r substantially at the center, and at the position of the upper right winning opening 20. A substantially V-shaped upper right winning opening board 20f having one round game effect lamp 20r substantially at the center is provided respectively. Further, at the position of the lower left winning opening 21, a substantially U-shaped lower left winning opening substrate 21 f provided substantially at the center with one round game effect lamp 21 r is located, and at the position of the lower right winning opening 22,
A substantially U-shaped lower right winning opening board 22f having a single round game effect lamp 22r substantially at the center is provided respectively. Further, at the position of the first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17, a first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) board 17f provided with two round game effect lamps 17r in parallel is provided. Have been.

Next, the arrangement of the game ball path, switches and the like on the back side of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the center of the game board 10, there is provided a substantially horizontal elliptical through hole 28h for attaching a center role, and a diagonally upper right and left side of the center role mounting hole 28h is provided for mounting a circular lamp windmill. On the left and right sides of the through holes 24h and 25h, there are a substantially Daruma-shaped upper left winning opening mounting through hole 19h and an upper right winning opening mounting through hole 20h. A lower left winning opening mounting through hole 21h and a lower right winning opening mounting through hole 22h are provided right below the center, and a substantially inverted truncated conical shaped first type starting opening mounting through hole 17h is provided, respectively. I have. In addition, a penetration hole 19 for the upper left winning opening installation.
h and the upper right winning opening mounting hole 20h are respectively provided outside the vertically long side lamp mounting through holes 50h, 5h.
1h is provided. Further, a substantially inverted trapezoid-shaped variable winning device mounting through hole 18h is provided below the first type starting port mounting through hole 17h.

Also, the first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17
A first-type start port (normally-powered accessory) solenoid 52 is disposed on the back side of the vehicle, and a first-type start-up port (normally-powered accessory) winning detection switch 17s is disposed therein as described above. Has been established. As described above, the normal symbol operation passage opening detection switches 36s and 37s are disposed inside the left and right ordinary symbol operation passage openings 36 and 37, respectively.
Furthermore, the special winning device 30 formed in the variable winning device 18
A large winning opening solenoid 45 for opening and closing the opening / closing plate 39 and an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for operating the specific area opening / closing shutter are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the large winning opening 44. A count passage detection switch 53 and a count detection / specific region passage detection switch 54 are also provided in the region outside the specific region and in the specific region. As described above, the left ball entrance passage detection switch 42s and the right ball entrance passage detection switch 43s are provided inside the left ball entrance 42 and the right ball entrance 43, respectively.

Further, on the back side of the game board 10, a mechanical board 102 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later,
9, lower left winning opening 21, first-class starting opening (normal electric accessory) 1
7 and the left safe ball collecting gutter 55 connecting the left ball entrance 42
And the upper right winning opening 20, the lower right winning opening 22 and the right entering ball opening 43
Is connected to the right safe ball collecting gutter 56 to which the.
Further, an out ball collecting gutter 58 is disposed in a funnel shape from the back side of the out port 46.

Next, the back surface structure of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The front frame 4 (see FIG. 1) is in the middle frame 3 and is supported by a pair of hinges 101 provided at the upper and lower ends of the front frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. The mechanism board 102 is provided by a pair of hinges 103 provided at the upper and lower positions of the mechanism board 102 in the middle frame 3.
It is supported so that it can be opened and closed. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. On the left side when viewed from the position of the hinge 101 at the upper end, a prize ball tank 10 provided with a tank ball out detection switch 104 at the bottom of the tank.
5 and a tank rail 106 connected to the prize ball tank 105 are attached. In addition, tank rail 1
On the right side of 06, a ball pulling lever 107 is provided, and on the downstream side thereof, a supply ball out detection sensor 108 is further provided.
Downstream thereof, a prize ball payout device 109 is provided.

Subsequently, a game ball distribution section 110 is provided downstream of the prize ball payout device 109. On the downstream side of the tank rail 106, a back case 111 with a lid storing the liquid crystal display panel 29 in the special symbol display device 16 is provided.
Below the back case 111, a main control unit 14 described later is provided.
Main control board cases 112 each storing a main control board 340 that is 0 (see FIG. 16) are provided. On the left side of the main control board case 112, a launcher control board case 113 containing a launcher control board (not shown), a touch sensitivity adjustment knob 114, and a ball flying strength adjustment knob 115
And a launch control collective relay board 116. In the lower left part of the mechanical panel 102, the above-described firing device unit 8 is also provided.
A frame control board case 118 in which a frame control board (first peripheral control board 350), which is a frame control unit 150 (see FIG. 16), provided with a frame state indicator 117 for displaying an award ball motor abnormality or the like by using a 7-segment LED. Is provided. A special symbol control board (second peripheral control board 360) on which a special symbol control section 160 (see FIG. 16: second peripheral control section) for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal display panel 29 of the special symbol display device 16 is formed. A lamp control board (third peripheral control board 370) on which a lamp control section 170 (see FIG. 16: third peripheral control section) is formed, which integrally controls various lamps;
Voice control unit 1 that controls voice output from speaker 400
A lamp sound board (fourth peripheral control board 380) on which the 80 (see FIG. 16: fourth peripheral control unit) is formed is also attached.

On the other hand, at the upper right end of the mechanical panel 102, there are a fuse box 119, a power switch 120, a power terminal board 121, and a gaming machine such as a jackpot, launcher control, ball out, door open, award ball, ball lending, etc. A terminal board 122 provided with a frame external connection terminal is provided. In addition, a power cable 123 for receiving power supply from outside is also provided below the terminal board 122. A connection cable 124 is provided from the frame control board case 118 in which the frame control board is stored.
Extends upward and is connected to a prepaid card unit 13 having a power cable 125. A ball passage member 126 for the lower plate portion is provided at a substantially central lower end portion of the mechanism panel 102.
Is provided.

Next, the back mechanism board 102 of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. At the upper part of the back mechanism board 102, a winning ball tank 105 having a tank ball out detection switch 104 at the bottom of the tank, and a tank rail 106 connected to the winning ball tank 105 are mounted. Further, a supply ball exhaustion detection switch 108 is provided at an intermediate position of the tank rail 106, and a prize ball payout device 10 is provided downstream thereof.
9 are provided. Subsequently, the game ball distribution unit 11
0 is provided on the downstream side of the prize ball payout device 109. A lower plate full switch 127 is provided on the downstream side of the tank rail 106, and the guide rail 131 is
02 ball passage member 1 for the lower plate portion provided at the substantially central lower end portion
26. An amplifier board 128 is attached to the lower right portion of the back mechanism panel 102, and a reset switch 129 is provided outside the amplifier board 128.

Next, the flow path of the safe ball of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the left safe ball collecting gutter 55 and the right safe ball collecting gutter 56 has a flow path of a safe ball whose lower end portion is formed in a gentle downward slope or a step shape, Further, their lower portions are opened, and are communicated from the back side of the out port 46 to out ball collecting gutters 58 arranged in a funnel shape. FIG.
The upper right winning opening 20 and the lower right winning opening 22 are formed on a passage 57 formed in a stepwise manner at the lower end of the right safe ball collecting gutter 56.
And the safe ball that has entered the right entry opening 43 is flowing down to the out ball collecting gutter 58 while rolling. FIG. 9 shows the passage 5 formed in the out ball collecting gutter 58.
7 shows a form in which a safe sphere flows down.

Next, the prize ball payout device 109 of the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 10, the prize ball payout device 109 receives a prize ball flowing down on the guide rail 223, and drives a cam 210 for paying out one prize ball and a cam shaft 211 of the cam 210. The motor 212 and the camshaft 2
11, a rotating disk 213 having a plurality of slits formed in parallel with the cam 210;
3, a prize ball payout sensor 214 (here, which detects the rotation angle of the cam 210), a prize ball payout device sensor board 215 to which the prize ball payout sensor 214 is attached, and And a case body 217 for storing these parts and a case lid 216 thereof.

In the present embodiment, the cam 210 has a protrusion 210a that extends in the direction orthogonal to the cam shaft 211 at every 90 degrees.
As shown in FIG. 12 (c), the prize balls are temporarily placed in the recesses formed between the convex portions 210a,
When the camshaft 211 is rotated 90 degrees, the prize balls placed in the recesses between the protrusions 210a of the cam 210 are paid out. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, two rows of ball passages 218 are provided in parallel so that the guide rail 223 is provided with a partition wall to allow the prize balls to flow down in order to increase the payout ability of the prize balls. Therefore, the camshaft 211 has
In order to receive the prize ball to be paid out and to pay out one prize ball, two cams 210 are mounted in a parallel state by changing the mounting angle (90 degrees in this embodiment) in a direction perpendicular to the cam shaft 211. Installed with.

Each of the ball passages 218 is formed in a meandering state in front of the cam shaft 211 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. At intervals, the payout of one prize ball is regulated. In this embodiment, the camshaft 2
11 includes two cams 210 in parallel as described above.
Are mounted at different mounting angles (90 degrees in the present embodiment), so that if the camshaft 211 is rotated 90 degrees, two prize balls, one each in each ball passage 218, will be re-installed. If the shaft 211 is rotated once, 4
A total of eight prize balls will be paid out.

The motor 212 is driven in accordance with the prize ball to be paid out, and the rotation of the camshaft 211 is controlled based on this drive. The number of rotations of the cam shaft 211 is determined by the prize ball payout sensor 214 photoelectrically detecting slit positions formed on the rotating disk 213 at predetermined angular intervals (for example, 45 degrees). The obtained number of rotations is fed back to the motor 212 and counted as the number of payouts of prize balls as described above. For example, in the case of paying out 15 prize balls, seven prize balls shaded in one ball path 218 shown in FIG. 13A and the other ball path 218 shown in FIG. In, eight awarded balls with diagonal lines are to be paid out, and the camshaft 211 rotates by one rotation and 7/8,
At this time, the prize ball payout sensor 214 has counted the slit 15 times. After the rotation of the camshaft 211, seven prize balls are paid out in one ball passage 218 shown in FIG.
a and the protrusion 219 of the ball passage 218. The other ball passage 2 shown in FIG.
At 18, eight prize balls are paid out, and the next prize ball is put in a recess formed between the convex portions 210a of the cam 210 (see also FIG. 12).

The prize ball payout sensor 214 has a groove 220 on the circumference of the rotating disk 213 as shown in FIG. The groove 220 can be detected in a non-contact state by the proximity switch 221, or the groove 220 can be detected in a contact state by the micro switch 222 as shown in FIG. Also,
Instead of the method of detecting the rotation of the camshaft 211, the prize ball to be paid out can be detected by a limit switch, a photoelectric tube, or the like.

Next, the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the electronic control unit 130 includes a main control unit 140 and a frame control unit 150, a special symbol control unit 160, and a lamp control unit serially connected to the main control unit 140 by a shared bus 500 that is a common signal transmission path. Unit 170 and voice control unit 18
0 is included. The four control units 150, 160, 170, 180 other than the main control unit constitute first to fourth peripheral control units as described above.

The main control unit 140 includes the CPU 141 and the RA
The M142, the ROM 143, and the input / output port 144 are mutually connected by a bus 145. And
The CPU 141 uses the control program stored in the ROM 143 to control the operation of the entire pachinko machine 1 using the RAM 142 as a work area (that is, the basic progress control of the game).
Govern In addition, the CPU 141 performs the determination control based on the determination program stored in the ROM 143. Further, the shared bus 500 is connected to the input / output port 144, and the input / output port
4 to its shared bus 500, each peripheral control unit 150, 1
Command data as command signals for instructing the processing contents to 60, 170 and 180 is transmitted. The main control unit 140
, Data is transmitted in a one-way format to each of the peripheral control units 150, 160, 170, 180. The power supply terminal board 121 is connected to the main control unit 140. It is apparent that the main control unit 140 is itself a first-type operation unit that is concerned with the player's interest in obtaining a prize ball. In addition, the RAM 142 forms a first-type control information storage unit that stores control information related to a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball.

The relay board 200 includes the touch switch 9
a, a firing stop switch 9b, a right normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 37s, a left normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 36s, a count detection switch 53, a count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, a volume switch 202, a left on. The ball opening passage detection switch 42s, the right entrance opening passage detection switch 43s, the tank ball out detection switch 104, the replenishment ball out detection sensor 108, and the like are connected.
Is connected to In addition, a first-type start-up port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17 s is also connected to the input / output port 144. Furthermore, the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 is input to the main control unit 140 via the relay board 200, and the frame control unit 15
It is also input to 0.

The frame control unit 150 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 151 to 155 as the main control unit 140.
The input / output port 154 is connected to the shared bus 500. The input / output port 154 includes a normal symbol display device board 31f, various solenoids 40 for controlling the operation of the accessory,
45, the prize ball payout device 109, the launching device control board 201, and the like are connected. The frame control unit 150, the normal symbol display device board 31f (and the ordinary symbol display device 31 connected thereto), various solenoids 45, 5
2. The prize ball payout device 109, the launch device control board 201 (and the launch device connected thereto), and the like are a first-type operating unit that is involved in a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball. Also,
The RAM 152 forms a first-type control information storage unit that stores control information related to a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball.

The special symbol control unit 160 includes a main control unit 140
, And are connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 164. The input / output port 164 has a liquid crystal display panel 2
9 is connected. In addition, the special symbol control unit 160,
The liquid crystal display panel 29 that displays a special symbol can be regarded as a first-type operating unit that is involved in a player's interest in acquiring a prize ball.

The lamp control unit 170 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 171 to 175 as the main control unit 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 174. The input / output port 174 includes a frame decoration lamp board 4g, various lamp boards 17f, 20f, 21f, and 22.
f, 24f, 25f, 50f, 51f, and various LED boards 4d, 4f, 35f are connected. One or more lamps or LEDs are connected to each of these boards. In the present embodiment, for example, 32 lamps and LEDs are provided in front of the gaming machine.
Are arranged. Some of these lamps always turn on and turn off multiple lamps at the same time,
Here, each of the plurality of lamp sets is regarded as one. These 32 lamps are turned on / off or blink in accordance with the progress of the game. The lamp control unit 1
70 and various kinds of boards (and, by extension, lamps, etc.) connected thereto are all second-type actuating sections that do not contribute to the player's interest in acquiring prize balls.

The voice control unit 180 includes the same arithmetic circuit components 181 to 185 as the main control unit 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 and the volume switch board 12 are connected to the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 includes an LS (not shown).
Based on the audio data and the audio output module stored in the I or the like, various audio outputs corresponding to the progress of the game are performed from the speaker 400 connected thereto. The volume switch board 12 is operated by a volume switch (not shown).
The output volume of the sound generator 203 is set. Note that the sound control unit 180 and the sound generator 203 and the like connected thereto are all second-type operation units that do not contribute to the player's interest in acquiring prize balls.

FIG. 51 is an overall circuit diagram showing an example of a board connection layout including a power supply unit of the electronic control unit 130. 52 to 57 are divided circuit diagrams showing details of FIG. 51. The electronic control unit 130 receives an AC voltage (AC 24 V) from the power receiving board 410 via the power cable 501. This AC voltage is applied to the substrate 41
Within 0, it is distributed to the connectors 413 and 414. The connector 413 is connected to a transformation supply cable 503, and the AC voltage is supplied to the power supply unit 421. As shown in FIG. 53, the power receiving board 410 has a power supply fuse 416 for cutting off a receiving voltage for overcurrent protection, and an AC24 for the prepaid card unit 13.
A fuse 417 for cutting off the supply of V is attached.

As shown in FIG. 29, the power receiving board 410
Is distributed to a plurality of, in this case, four types of voltage converters 425 to 428 by a transformation supply cable 503. Among them, the voltage converters 425, 427, 428
Is configured as a DC conversion circuit. In each case, a transformer 573 is provided on the AC input side, and the secondary side AC output is converted to DC by full-wave rectification by a diode bridge 574 and smoothing by a capacitor 575, and a desired DC output voltage V0 is obtained by a three-terminal regulator 577. Like that. Note that the capacitor 578 is for preventing the circuit from oscillating due to the wiring inductance and the parasitic capacitance inside the three-terminal regulator IC, and the capacitor 579 is for reducing the output impedance of the three-terminal regulator IC at a high frequency. Things. Further, the diode 580 is for reverse current bypass to the three-terminal regulator IC. Note that a diode 580 may be omitted from a voltage conversion unit (for example, DC 5 V) that is not involved in driving the motor. Further, depending on the output voltage value (for example, 32 V), the transformer 573 may be omitted, and the AC voltage may be changed to the diode bridge 57.
The DC voltage can be obtained by full-wave rectification by 4 and smoothing by the capacitor 575, and the output voltage can be obtained by omitting the three-terminal regulator 577.

As a simpler configuration of the constant voltage power supply, a Zener diode 576 can be used instead of the three-terminal regulator as shown in FIG.

Each of the voltage converters 425, 427, 428
Turn ratio of transformer 573 and three-terminal regulator 577
By appropriately selecting the output voltage of
V (solenoid drive voltage for accessories, etc.), DC12
V (drive voltage of a prize ball dispensing device motor or other analog control voltage) and DC 5 V (digital control drive voltage) are generated.

On the other hand, the voltage conversion section 426 is for generating a voltage of 24 V which is the same as the input AC voltage, and does not include a transformer. Then, after full-wave rectification by the diode bridge 574, the capacitor 57
5, 578, 579 and a three-terminal regulator 577 are converted into a drive voltage of a torque motor for a 24 V DC launcher, and the like, and output. On the other hand, the output of the full-wave rectified pulsating flow is branched from the input side of these DC smoothing circuits. This pulsating flow is used for driving a light emitting device including a resistance filament, for example, a lamp. A pulsating flow output terminal is added to the output connector 422 of the power supply unit 420 (see FIG. 53) for the pulsating flow output. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The power supply 10 is provided with a power supply fuse 416 for protection when an overload is applied to the output side. Further, a power switch 415 is provided for turning on / off the output of the received AC.

The power supply unit 420 is formed with an input connector 421 to which the transformation voltage supply cable 503 is connected, an output terminal (1, 2, 3, 6) for each converted voltage, and a ground terminal (4, 5). And an output connector 422 including a backup terminal (7, 8). FIG.
The output connector 422 shown in FIG.
Although only 24 terminals are illustrated, two 24 V terminals for DC and for pulsating flow are actually formed. As for the backup terminal, the terminal No. 8 has a voltage converter 428 for DC5V (FIG. 29).
And a capacitor 423 as power storage means is connected so as to straddle the seventh terminal, so that a backup voltage of DC 5 V is output from the seventh terminal.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 59, the input AC voltage (24 VAC) can be converted and output in the following procedure. First, the AC voltage input from the power receiving board 410 is rectified in the rectifier 760 including a rectifier circuit element such as a diode (for example, full-wave rectification by the diode bridge 574 or the like). The rectified voltage is used as a pulsating flow, for example, at one of the output connectors 422 in FIG.
It is possible to output from the terminal. Note that this pulsating voltage can be smoothed for various purposes on each control board to which it is supplied, and the capacitor shown in FIG.
It can be smoothed by a three-terminal regulator or the like. For example, in the case of using a light emitting device including a resistance filament, for example, a lamp control board for driving driving of lamps, a pulsating voltage can be used as it is, and a launch control board for driving a launch device torque motor. In the case of using the liquid crystal panel, it is possible to use a stable DC voltage by smoothing a pulsating flow in the firing control board.

The rectified voltage in the rectifying unit 760 is smoothed in a pulsating part in a smoothing unit 761 including a capacitor and the like.
22 (see FIG. 53). Similarly, the rectifying unit 76
After being rectified by 0, the voltage smoothed by the smoothing unit 762 is stepped down and stabilized by the step-down type chopper regulator ICs 763 and 765 having the same three-terminal regulator as described above, and then the rectifier circuit again Rectification and smoothing are performed by rectification and smoothing units 764 and 766 including the elements and the smoothing circuit elements, and output as DC12V or DC5V.

It is also possible to provide a backup terminal as shown in FIG. 60 and connect a power storage means 767 composed of a capacitor or the like connected to 5 V DC. In this case, the power storage means 767 includes a capacitor 769
And a charging circuit 768 for charging the capacitor 769 and preventing backflow.

Output connector 422 of power supply unit 420
Is connected to the input connector 433 of the power distribution board 430 by a cable 504, and various power supply voltages converted and generated by the power supply unit 420 are supplied.
Then, as shown in FIG. 51, the distribution board 430 has
A plurality of control boards for controlling the operation of the pachinko machine 1, here a main control board 340, a frame control board (first peripheral control board, winning ball control board) 350, a special symbol control board (second peripheral control board) 360, a lamp Control board (third peripheral control board) 37
In order to connect the audio control board (fourth peripheral control board) 380 and the launch control board 201, board side connectors 431 to 437 are provided which collectively output power supply voltage output terminals used in each board. The power supply voltage from the input connector 433 is distributed to each terminal.

As shown in FIG. 54, the connector 431 for the main control board 340 includes DC 32 V (No. 2: for driving various solenoids) and DC 12 V (No. 4: for operating various switches).
And three output terminals of DC5V (No. 6: for digital signal power supply) and four ground terminals (No. 1, 3, 5, 7)
Includes a total of seven terminals. Connector 4 for frame control board 350
34 (see FIGS. 53, 54 and 55) is a DC 32 V (1
No .: three output terminals of DC12V (No. 3: driving a prize ball payout motor) and DC5V (No. 5: digital signal power supply) and three ground terminals (2, 2 for driving various solenoids)
No. 4 and No. 6) and two backup terminals (No. 7 and No. 8 (5 V DC)), for a total of eight terminals. The connector 436 for the special symbol control board 360 is DC12V (2nd:
Two output terminals for driving a liquid crystal panel) and 5 V DC (No. 4: for digital signal power supply) and three ground terminals (1,
3 and 5). The connector 437 of the lamp control board 370 has three output terminals of pulsating current 24V (No. 2: for driving light emission of a bulb), DC12V (No. 4: for driving light emission of an LED) and DC5V (No. 6: for power of a digital signal) and 4 And seven ground terminals (1, 3, 5, 7). Connector 4 for voice control board 380
35 is DC12V (No.2: speaker drive) and DC
It includes five terminals, two output terminals of 5V (No. 4: for digital signal power supply) and three ground terminals (Nos. 1, 3, 5). Further, the connector 432 of the firing control board 201
Is DC 24V (No.2: for firing motor drive), DC12
V (No. 4: for driving the ball feed solenoid) and DC5V (6
No .: for digital signal power supply) and four ground terminals (No. 1, 3, 5, 7), for a total of seven terminals.

Here, as is clear from FIG. 53, all of the board side connectors 431 to 437 have no spare terminal portion, and the wiring toward the corresponding board is connected to all the formed terminals. Connected to the unit. In particular,
The board-side connector includes only an output terminal for each power supply voltage and a ground terminal, or only an output terminal for each power supply voltage, a ground terminal, and a backup power supply terminal. In order to respond flexibly to changes in the power supply system design, etc., it may be convenient to form a spare terminal section in order to facilitate the addition of a new power supply voltage terminal. By adopting a configuration in which all the terminals are used up without excess or shortage without intentionally forming the terminal portion, an advantage that illegal operation using spare terminals can be effectively prevented is brought about.

As shown in FIG. 53, the board side connectors 431 to 437 are provided with wiring cables 511 to 517 in which a group of wires directed to the corresponding board are grouped together, and a wiring side connector 431a formed at the end thereof. 437a. Then, in two or more pairs of the board-side connector and the wiring-side connector corresponding to each other, here, the connector harnesses in all the pairs are colored in different colors between the pairs. (Examples of selection of coloring colors are written in the drawing).
By doing so, it becomes extremely easy to identify the wiring-side connector that matches the board-side connector, and the efficiency and reliability of the connection operation can be improved. The coloring of the connector harness does not necessarily have to be performed for all connectors. However, when two or more board-side connectors having the same number of formed terminals and different combinations of the types of power supply voltages included therein are formed, It is preferable that the connector harnesses of the board-side connectors be at least the same as the wiring-side connectors forming a pair, and that the connector harness be colored in different colors between the pairs. Such a connector having the same number of terminals is liable to cause an erroneous connection due to a mistake or the like, and if an operating voltage different from the originally required one is supplied to the board, an erroneous connection of the board or an electric device connected to the board may occur. There is also a risk of operation or breakage. Therefore, if the corresponding connector harnesses are colored as described above, even if connectors having the same number of terminals are mixed, it can be easily identified, and the occurrence of the above-described problem can be prevented. Can be prevented.

Hereinafter, the form of connecting parts to each substrate will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The main control board 340
As shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the power supply voltage from the power distribution board 430 is received by the power supply connector 341. Also, the main control board 340 incorporates the shared bus 500 of FIG. 16, and as shown in FIG. 54, connectors 342 to 346 for connecting signal transmission cables to each board.
Are formed. A signal (command) transmission cable to the frame control board 350 is connected to the connector 343 (see FIGS. 51 and 57). A cable for transmitting a signal (command) to the special symbol display board 360 is connected to the connector 345 (see FIGS. 51 and 54). On the other hand, a cable for receiving a sensor signal from the relay board 200 to which various sensors are connected is connected to the connector 342 (see FIGS. 51 and 54). Then, the external information terminal board 440 and the lamp control board 370
And each signal transmission cable 52 to the audio control board 380
4, 521 and 520 are connectors 344, 346 and 3
45 (see FIGS. 51 and 54).

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 55, the frame control board 3
50 receives various power supply voltages from the power distribution board 430 at the connector 352 via the cable 514 connected thereto. A signal cable 547 for transmitting a firing control signal generated by the CPU 151 (see FIG. 16) to the firing control board 201 is connected to the connector 358. The reception cable 546 of the detection signal of the ball lending counting sensor 470 is connected to the connector 363. The drive cable 545 of the alarm buzzer board 460 is connected to the connector 356. The cable 533 for the winning ball counting signal from the relay board 200 is connected to the connector 351. On the other hand, the upper receiving tray CR substrate 4
A signal transmission cable 542 and a signal reception cable 541 to 50 are connected to connectors 361 and 362, respectively. The drive cable for the switching solenoid is connector 36
Connected to 0. Cables 543 and 544 for transmitting and receiving signals to the prize ball motor sensor board 109a to which the prize ball motor 109b is connected are connectors 353 and 35, respectively.
4 is connected. A signal (command) cable 523 from the main control board 340 is connected to the connector 357. Cable lending signal transmission cable 54 to external information terminal board 440
8 is connected to the connector 359. Then, the prepaid card unit 13 is connected to the connector 355.

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 54, the frame relay board 2
The connectors 221 to 225 of 00 are connected to the supply ball out switch 108, the prize ball counting sensor 214, and the lower tray full switch 27. A transmission cable 534 for transmitting signals from these sensors to the main control board 340 is connected to the connector 224. The cable 533 for transmitting the winning ball count is connected to the connector 223.

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 56, in the external information terminal board 440, a signal cable 548 from the frame control board 350 is connected to the connector 445. A signal cable 524 from the main control board 340 is connected to the connector 444. A door switch 480 for detecting door opening is connected to the connector 442. Tank ball out switch 1
04 is connected to the connector 441. Connector 443
Includes terminals for ball-out information output, door (door) opening output, jackpot information output, prize-ball information output, and ball lending information output. Further, the connectors 446 and 447 include terminals for award ball information output and ball lending information output, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 56, in the lamp control board 370, the power distribution board 430 is connected to the connector 371.
A cable 517 for supplying various power supply voltages from is connected. A signal cable 521 from the main control board 340 is connected to the connector 373. The connector 372 has a cable 550 for supplying a drive voltage of the light emitter and transmitting a control signal, which is directed to the connector 491 of the illumination relay board 490.
Is connected. The connector 493 of the illuminated relay board 490 has a pulsating current as a lamp driving current received from the power distribution board 430 via the cables 517 and 550 on the board 35f on which a lamp emitting light by a resistance filament is attached, and switching. Cable 55 for supplying control signal
1 is connected. On the other hand, the LED boards 4f and 4d connected in series by cables 552 and 553 are connected to the connector 492, and a DC 12V for driving LED light emission is connected.
And a switching control signal.

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 53, in the audio control board 380, a cable 515 for supplying various power supply voltages from the power distribution board 430 is connected to the connector 382. The signal cable 520 from the main control board 340 is connected to the connector 381. The speaker 400 for audio output is connected to the connector 3 via the volume switch board 12.
83.

As shown in FIGS. 51 and 52, the firing control board 201 includes a firing motor 9c, a firing stop switch 9b,
The ball feed solenoid board 9e to which the ball feed solenoid 9f is connected is connected. Further, a firing handle unit 9 including a variable resistor 9d for adjusting the firing force of the firing motor 9c, a start switch 9a, and the like is also connected.

In the above configuration, the power supply unit 420 receives the AC voltage from the power supply receiving board 410, and the power distribution board 430 includes the DC driven prize ball payout device 109.
And a frame control board 350 for controlling the operation with the prepaid card unit 13 driven by AC. The DC power supply voltage used in the frame control board 350 is
The power is supplied from the power supply unit 420 to the frame control board 350 via the power distribution board 430. On the other hand, an AC power supply voltage (AC 24 V) for driving the prepaid card unit 13
Is supplied directly from the power receiving board 410 to the frame control board 350. Specifically, an AC output connector 414 is provided on the power receiving board 410 (see also FIG. 29).
Is formed, and the cable 500 connected to the
The AC power supply voltage is supplied to the AC power receiving connector 358 of the frame control board 350. In this way, even when a control board that requires an AC power supply voltage is exceptionally included, such as the frame control board 350, an AC power supply separated from the power supply unit 420 (in this case, the power supply Power receiving board 41
By supplying the AC power according to (0), the power supply unit 420 of the DC system can be shared by all the boards including the control board that requires the AC power supply voltage, and further responds to design changes. Easier to do.

Next, as shown in FIG. 58A, the control boards 340, 350, 109a, 450, 360,
370, 380, 201, 440, etc., in particular, the main control board 340 or the frame control board 35 involved in the prize ball acquisition interest.
0 and the like can be covered by a cover 601 (cover means) to prevent unauthorized modification. In this case, the cover 601 can be configured to intentionally leave traces on the appearance associated with the removal operation in order to easily confirm the presence or absence of fraud. In this embodiment, the one-way screw 126 is attached to the mounting base B at the screwing portion 603 integrated via the connection portion to be cut 602 formed on the cover main body 601a. Alternatively, the cover is attached by individual independent fitting. When the cover 601 is to be removed, as shown in (b), the connection portion 601 to be cut is cut to separate the cover body 601a and the screw portion 603. As shown in (c), the opening / closing portion of the cover, here, the cover body 601a and the mounting base portion B
A sealing tape 60 composed of a paper tape or a tape with a peeling detection function or the like in which an image (for example, a holographic image) or characters appear on the tape surface when peeled off.
5 may be fixed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
In order to prevent an overcurrent from flowing to 0, a specific power supply voltage toward at least one of the control board groups, specifically, a drive power supply voltage of the motor of a board to which the motor is connected. Fuses 438 and 439
Is provided. In the present embodiment, the launch control board 201
24 supplied to the launching motor 9c attached to the
12 V DC supplied to the prize ball motor 109 b connected to the fuse 438 for cutting off V and the frame control board 350
Fuses 439 for shutting off the power supply are exchangeably mounted.

As shown in FIG. 58B, the distribution board 43
Reference numeral 0 is covered with a cover 610 (cover means) that does not cause intentional trace residue due to the removing operation. In the present embodiment, at least the fuse mounting area (here, the entire board) of the power distribution board 430 is provided on the cover main body 610a.
An opening 610e for exposing the opening is formed.
e is openably closed by a lid 610b. Here, one edge of the lid 610b in the width direction is a hinge 610f.
While being pivotably connected to the other side of the lid side portion 6
10g is formed so as to protrude toward the substrate side, and the engaging claw 610d formed on the tip side is engaged with the engaging recess 610c formed on the inner side of the corresponding side wall portion of the cover main body 610a, so that the opening 610e is formed. Can be fixedly closed by the lid 601b. For example, the lid side portion 61
0g is made of at least an elastic material such as plastic, and a portion near the engaging claw 610d is pushed inward to be elastically deformed.
The engagement state with respect to 10c can be released, and the lid 610b can be opened without leaving a clear trace. Lid 61
The cover 601 that covers the control board group by opening 0c
Without opening the fuse 437 or 43
9 can be easily replaced.

The power supply unit 420 and the power receiving board 410 as well as the power distribution board 430 can be covered with the cover 610 that does not intentionally leave traces accompanying the removal operation. When a centralized power supply unit in which the power supply unit 420 and the power receiving board 410 are integrated is adopted, this can be covered with the cover 610. In any case, the fuse of the specific voltage supplied to the control board covered with the cover with the open trace remains is not a control board, but a power distribution unit (the connectors 431 to 431 in the present embodiment). 437), the fuse can be easily replaced without removing the cover.

Note that the power distribution board 430 and the above-described centralized power supply unit may not be particularly covered by the cover. Also in this case, the convenience of fuse replacement is similarly improved.

Hereinafter, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. The prize ball operation is executed in the following order. Main control unit 1
Reference numeral 40 indicates that when the game ball passes through the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, the fifteen prize ball number data is passed, and when the game ball passes through the first-class start-up opening (normal electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s. In the other cases, for example, the left and right entrances 4
For example, when the passage detection switches 42 s and 43 s are detected, the 10 prize balls number data are sent to the frame control unit 150 in the order of detection.
The command signal 50 is set as an operation command target and transmitted via the above-described shared bus 500 (that is, the number of unique prize balls is 6, 10, or 15 here). The frame control unit 150 receives the prize ball number data from the main control unit 140, and transmits a prize ball payout signal to transmit the prize ball payout device 1.
09 is activated.

The main control unit 140 determines a game state based on the outputs of the various detection switches described above, determines whether or not the game is valid based on the game state, and displays a corresponding symbol according to the content of the determination. Data for performing image display control in an aspect is created. For example, the main control unit 140
First-class starter (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17
s, using the detection results of the count detection switch 53, the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, etc., and the acquired value of the special symbol pass / fail judgment random number, etc. It is also determined that there is no start prize (variable preparation state), that there is a start prize, a special game state, and the like. In addition, when a winning start is detected, a determination is made based on a random number value, and based on the determination result, data for controlling a display mode such as a change or determination of a special symbol is created. This data is transmitted via the above-described shared bus 500 as a command signal for setting the special symbol control unit 160 as an operation command target.

Further, various lamps such as the frame decoration lamp board 4g and the sound generator 203 are provided with a special symbol change / stop display mode controlled by the special symbol control unit 160.
The form is controlled according to the presence or absence of reach, the form of reach display (full rotation, frame advance, reverse, pattern enlargement / reduction, etc.), the special game mode, and the game mode (probability fluctuation, time saving, etc.). You. The command signal of the control command is transmitted via the above-described shared bus 500 as a command signal for setting the lamp control unit 170 or the voice control unit 180 as an operation command target.

Next, the main controller 140 and the special symbol controller 1
The main jobs among the various jobs executed by the processes 60 and 60 will be described below. First, a main job executed by the main control unit 140 will be described with reference to FIG. This is executed by the CPU 141 based on a program stored in the ROM 143 of the main control unit 140. That is, the stack pointer is stored in RAM
After setting to the predetermined address of 142 (S10), the end of initialization is determined (S20). If the initialization has been completed (S20: YES), the jobs from the LED job (S30) to the switch job (S70) are executed. If the initialization has not been completed (S20: N
O), an initialization job (S190) is executed.

In the LED job (S30), the display mode data of the normal symbol and the normal symbol unstarted number, the display mode data of the special symbol unstarted number, and the like are output. In the constant speed random number job (S40), the special symbol hit / failure random number memory and the general-purpose count memory (not shown) of the RAM 142 are updated. In the non-constant-speed random number job (S50), the out-of-touch normal symbol random number memory (not shown) is updated. In addition,
The general-purpose count memory (not shown) is used for creating values of “0” to “255” for each user reset, executing a command job, a decoration job, and the like. In the music creation job (S60), data relating to music and voice is created, and in the switch job (S70), various detection switches are read. That is, various signals such as a firing stop detection signal, a touch detection signal, a volume detection signal, a count detection signal, a specific area passage detection signal, a normal symbol operation passage opening detection signal, and a left and right entrance opening passage detection signal are transmitted through the relay board 200. Through the main control unit 140, a first-type starting port winning detection signal is received from the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s.

Further, it is determined whether or not the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54 has an abnormality (S80). If there is no abnormality (S80: YES), the special symbol main job (S90)
To the voice job (S110) are executed. If there is an abnormality (ball clogging, disconnection, etc.) (S8
0: NO), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the special symbol main job (S90), a job relating to data necessary for the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 to operate in cooperation is executed. This job will be described later. In the ordinary symbol main job (S100), display mode data of the ordinary symbol and the number of times the ordinary symbol has not been started is created. In the voice job (S110), voice data corresponding to the game state is output.

Thereafter, the count detection switch 53 is again activated.
Or count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54
It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (S120). If there is no abnormality (S120: YES), each flag state is set in the backup memory (S140), a prize ball signal job (S150), and an information signal job (S160). ), Command job (S170), and remaining time job (S180)
Is executed. If any of the switches are abnormal (S
120: NO), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the prize ball signal job (S150),
Creation and output of data related to winning ball payout are performed, and in an information signal job (S160), data necessary for information output to another control unit is created. Further, in the command job (S170), input and output of commands for special symbol management are performed, and in the remaining time job (S180), non-constant random numbers are called, and a general-purpose random number memory (not shown) is used.
Is updated.

Next, the flow of the award ball total number storage job executed in the series of the main job will be described with reference to FIG. In S200, it is confirmed whether or not there is a winning ball in each winning opening, and if a positive determination is made (YES),
The winning prize ball payout number of the winning prize in S210 is 15
It is determined whether it is for individual use. If the determination is affirmative (YES),
Proceeding to S220, "15" is added to the remaining ball counter (formed in the RAM 141) as the number of winning balls, and the process proceeds to S27.
Skip to 0. If a negative determination (NO) is made in S210, the process proceeds to S230, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be paid out for the winning prize port is six. Affirmative judgment (Y
If ES), the process proceeds to S240, where "6" is added to the remaining ball counter as the number of winning balls, and the process skips to S270. Further, if a negative determination (NO) is made in S230, the process proceeds to S250, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be paid out for the winning prize port is ten. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S260, and "10" is added to the remaining ball counter as the number of winning balls.

Next, in S270, a prize ball number signal is transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150.
If a negative determination (NO) is made in S200 or S250, the process skips to S280. S280
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball is detected by the prize ball payout sensor 214 in the prize ball payout device 109. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S290, and “1” is subtracted from the remaining ball counter of the main control unit 140. When the count of the remaining ball counter advances and the count becomes zero, it means that all the payout prize balls have been paid out, and the main control unit 140 (prize ball payout management means) determines that all the prize balls have no problem. You can confirm that it was paid.

For example, in the prize ball payout managing means mainly constituted by the main control section 140, when the number of payout prize balls detected exceeds a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out,
Similarly, in at least one of the case where the number is insufficient or more than a predetermined number, the payout abnormality determination / output unit that determines that there is an abnormality in the prize ball payout and outputs a predetermined abnormality is realized by the control program described above. can do. Specifically, error display (including audio output etc.)
Or a process of temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine (that is, the program process of each control unit). When the program is stopped in the latter case, a backup process similar to that at the time of a power failure described later can be performed.

The payout abnormality determination / output means determines whether the detected number of payout prize balls exceeds a total number of prize balls stored in the total prize ball number storage means (remaining ball number counter) by a predetermined number or more. Similarly, in at least one of the case where the predetermined number or more is insufficient, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the prize ball payout, and abnormal output may be performed.

For example, when the value of the remaining ball number counter becomes 0 and the subtraction further proceeds, the value of the counter turns to a negative number. This means that the number of prize balls actually paid out is larger than the total number of prize balls paid out transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, and some abnormality has occurred. Means that. The first factor is considered to be the influence of noise, but as a more serious situation, for example, an unauthorized operation is performed on the frame control unit 150 side,
It is also conceivable that a prize ball was acquired that the player should not have originally obtained. On the other hand, as a reverse situation, if the subtraction does not proceed even after a considerable time has elapsed, it means that the prize ball payout is not normally proceeding due to a failure of the prize ball payout device 10 or a blocked ball. In such a case, various error processing can be performed by monitoring the remaining ball number counter.

FIG. 44 shows an example of the prize ball total storage job in this case. FIG. 17 shows steps S200 to S280.
If the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 is detected in S280, the process proceeds to S700 and the remaining ball number counter is decremented. If the indicated value of the counter is a negative number, it is understood that the prize balls have been paid out in excess of the total number of prize balls, and the absolute value of the negative counter indicated value means the number of excess balls. In this embodiment, when the number of super-valued balls exceeds the limit value Nu (S701: YES), it is determined that there is an abnormality, and a prize ball excess error process is performed as the above-described abnormal output (S70).
2). As described above, this process is, for example, a process of displaying an error (for example, turning on an LED) or temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine.

For example, in this embodiment, the following command transmission rules are set. In other words, "supply ball shortage" is detected when a ball runs out for a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms), "supply ball release is released" when a ball is detected for a predetermined time (for example, 3000 ms), and a predetermined time (for example, 200 m)
Each command of “lower tray full” is transmitted by the full tank detection of s). In addition, a predetermined time (for example, 200 ms)
Is detected, the lower receiving tray is fully released, the excess prize balls of the limit value Nu are detected, the prize ball excess is detected, and when the prize ball shortage of the limit value Nj is detected, the prize ball shortage is detected. Are transmitted.

In the command processing, STB:
The strobe signal is changed to an interrupt signal (INT or NMI (non-
The corresponding command is transmitted to the frame control unit 150 by the interrupt processing of “maskable interrupt)). Main control unit 140
The command is cleared on the side each time the interrupt processing is completed. When the NMI interrupt process is performed, the NMI interrupt process is described at the end of the corresponding program, and is set so that a reset is entered even if the program exits the STOP.

The causes of the "excess prize ball" include: (1) noise in the command line (interruption is generated erroneously); (2) hanging command line (forged prize ball command) (3) Disconnection of the prize ball counting sensor on the frame control board side (buffer (memory) value does not decrease); (4) RAM of main board due to noise or electrical abnormality
Clear (the main board (main control unit 140) is reset during operation. Since data remains on the frame control unit 150 side, it looks like the prize ball excess state, which may cause malfunction) (5) Abnormal prize ball dispensing device; Also,
The causes of the "insufficient prize ball" include: (1) disconnection of the prize ball counting sensor on the main board side (the buffer (memory) value does not decrease); (2) abnormality of the prize ball payout device; and (3) frame control. Reset by noise of the substrate;

Although the limit value Nu of the number of excess balls is set too small, an abnormal judgment is made even for a daily error caused by a mechanical operation delay of the dispensing device. There is a problem that the response becomes troublesome. On the other hand, if the limit value Nu becomes too large, the abnormality occurrence determination is not made unless the number of excess balls becomes considerably large, so that the effect of preventing award ball loss due to an illegal payout operation or the like is diminished. Therefore, from this viewpoint, the limit value Nu
Is preferably selected in the range of 500 to 2500, for example. For example, the limit value Nu is set to be approximately the same as the number of award balls obtained by one special game (big hit) (for example, 700 to 700).
By setting the number to 2500 (specifically, 2000), there is an advantage that the player can accurately recognize an unauthorized operation that attempts to acquire a prize ball in an amount that cannot be normally obtained.

The reason why the lower limit of the limit value Nu is set to 500 is that each condition is kept small compared to the most common special game contents of 10 counts, 15 prize balls and 16 rounds. (For example, if the number of rounds (continuation) is 8,
This is because the number of prize balls is set to 7, for example), and there may be a slight variation depending on the setting of various game conditions. In addition, due to external factors such as nail adjustment, the time limit may be exceeded before the count number reaches the predetermined value, and the actually acquired prize ball number may fall below the expected prize ball number. . Further, the upper limit value of the limit value Nu is set to 2,500 in consideration of the above-mentioned most general special game contents, the variation in the actual number of obtained prize balls, and the like.

On the other hand, if the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 has not been detected in S280, the flow advances to S703 to determine whether or not the shortage of payout prize balls has occurred. In this case, the payout abnormality determination / output means of the prize ball payout managing means, when the total prize ball number stored in the total prize ball number storage means becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined limit number, the prize ball payout. It is also possible to determine that there is an abnormality and to realize a function to output a predetermined abnormality. If the prize ball payout is delayed for some reason, for example, at the time of a big hit, a prize ball will frequently occur thereafter, and the value of the remaining ball counter will abnormally increase to a value which cannot be normally obtained. Therefore, as shown in S703 of FIG. 44, the total number of winning balls, that is, the limit number NJ is determined in advance for the increase of the remaining ball number counter value,
If the limit number NJ is exceeded, it is determined that there is an abnormality. For example, the processing proceeds to S704 to execute the prize ball shortage error processing. It is possible to grasp and eventually take appropriate error processing. The error process is, for example, a process of displaying an error or temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine.

Incidentally, 200 specific examples of the limit value Nj are, for example, 10 counts / 15 prize balls (= 150)
In the meantime, so-called “other winning prize openings” are 3 × 10 prize balls (30), and the starting opening prize is 3 × 6 prize balls (=
18), the numbers are totaled, and the fraction is rounded off (or rounded down / rounded up).

When a very large number of winning balls are generated in a short period of time, for example, at the time of a big hit, even if the normal operation is ensured, the limit value NJ is not increased due to the increase in the number of winning balls to be paid out. Since it may not be possible to catch up, it is better to set the number to, for example, 25 or more in consideration of such a case. On the other hand, if this value is set too large, it cannot be determined that there is an abnormality unless a considerable amount of prize balls are delayed, and the player may be distrusted.
Therefore, the limit value NJ is preferably set to 300 or less.

It should be noted that as a countermeasure in the case of shortage of prize balls,
The processing as shown in FIG. 45 may be performed. That is, the elapsed time Tw since the last detection of the winning ball payout is measured, and when the result time Tw becomes equal to or longer than the predetermined time Ta in S704, the remaining ball number counter value becomes the shortage limit number NL. It is checked whether or not it has exceeded, and if it has, the award ball shortage error processing is performed in S706. Even if the prize ball payout process is normally proceeding, for example, if the generation of the prize ball is interrupted for a long time, the remaining ball number counter should be zero or a value close to it. Is set as the lower limit reference number Nk, and only when the remaining ball number becomes equal to or more than the lower limit reference number Nk, the processing corresponding to the prize ball payout shortage of S705 or less is performed. In addition, you may make it omit either one of the process corresponding to the above-mentioned prize ball payout excess and the process corresponding to the prize ball payout shortage.

Next, a description will be given of a preferred mode of the award ball number data storage job, which is executed in a series of flows of the main job. Normally, in the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1, when the ball enters each winning port, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out in accordance with the prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detection unit is stored in the main control unit 140. , And once transmitted to the frame control unit 150 side. For this reason, the main control unit 140 needs a buffer for storing a certain number of winning balls in the order of winning. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of award ball number data corresponding to each winning opening is temporarily stored in the order of winning, and each time, the frame control is performed. Each time a prize ball is paid out in the unit 150, one byte (8 bits) of storage capacity is released.

FIG. 22 shows a case where the winning order of the winning balls that have entered each winning opening is, for example, 6 paying wins → 15 paying wins → 15 paying wins → 6 paying wins → 6 paying wins. Thus, the storage of the number of prize balls to be paid out is sequentially accumulated. On the side of the frame control unit 150, payout of prize balls is performed in the order in which the number of prize balls is stored. If the number of prize balls stored in the buffer and the storage capacity released along with the payout of the prize balls are processed in a well-balanced manner, the storage capacity of the buffer does not become insufficient, but the ball enters the winning opening. When the frequency of the winning balls increases, for example, when the large winning opening 44 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls, the memory is stored. A situation occurs in which the amount of prize ball number data to be increased becomes large and the storage capacity of the buffer becomes insufficient.

In the following, assuming that the large winning opening 44 has been won, the required storage capacity of the buffer is calculated based on specific numerical values. For example, the firing interval of the game balls is set to 0.
If 6 seconds / 1 time, one round is 8 seconds (10 counts + 2 seconds interval), the time during the big hit is 128 seconds for 16 rounds. On the other hand, the payout speed of the prize balls is set to 1 second / one time by paying out 15 prize balls, and
It becomes possible to pay out 28 prize balls. Since the number of winning balls during the big hit is 160 (16 rounds × 10), at the end of the big hit, 32 (160-128) winning balls are required as the storage capacity of the buffer. However, this calculation assumes that the prize balls are paid out normally, and in actuality, there is a possibility that the payout of the prize balls may be delayed due to ball exhaustion, ball clogging, ball lending processing, etc. Buffer is required.

However, when the work area of the main control unit 140 is about 256 bytes in total, it is necessary to secure a work area for the current main program. 30-50
Limited to byte range. Accordingly, if payout balls are paid out in the winning order to each winning opening, it is considered that a buffer overflow frequently occurs in the above-described method.

Therefore, the concept that the minimum unit of the storage capacity stored in the buffer is 1 byte is wiped out, and a 2-bit unit set in advance as storage means for the award ball number data is used as the minimum unit of the storage capacity. If you use it with the storage capacity of the limited buffer area greatly increased,
Even if the award ball number data amount to be stored temporarily increases, the storage capacity does not become insufficient. That is, by using 2 bits as the number data of the prize balls to be paid out, the storage capacity in the buffer can be expanded and used four times. If these two bits are the minimum unit of the storage capacity, a predetermined number of prize ball number data is represented by two bits.
For example, if the number of payout balls is 6, "01b"; if the number of payout balls is 10, "10b"; if the number of payout balls is 15, "11b"; In this case, it becomes “00b”.

For example, the winning order of the winning balls entered into each winning opening is, as described above, six paying winnings → 15 paying winnings → 1
If you win 5 coins → 6 coins → 6 coins
The storage capacity of the buffer is only 10 bits. FIG. 23 shows the winning order of these winning balls in chronological order. The mode shown in chronological order schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the prize ball number data storage job shown in FIG. It is. That is, the payout number of the prize balls is stored in the buffer in units of 2 bits, and is shifted to the left each time the next payout number data is stored. The shifted bit string is carried and stored every 8 bits (1 byte).

As described above, the storage capacity of the buffer is limited to 50 bytes for the area that can be provided as the buffer area, so that the buffers are 0 to 49, and the maximum is 2 bytes.
00 (50 bytes × 8 bits / 2 bits) award ball number data can be written. FIG. 24 (a), (b)
20 schematically shows the flow of the winning ball number data storage and retrieval job shown in FIG. FIG. 24 (a) shows a state at the time of storage, in which the prize ball number data is sequentially added to the head of the data string without performing a memory shift of the already stored prize ball number data. The winning order of the winning balls is stored.

On the other hand, FIG. 24 (b) shows a state at the time of memory retrieval, and the head (ie, the oldest) prize ball number data is always the head position of the buffer 0 (ie, offset 0 = 0, offset 0). 1 = 0), and the remaining bit string after extracting the two bits is right-justified memory-shifted in 2-bit units. As a result, the prize ball number data (“11”: 15 payouts) of the winning order is moved to the storage and retrieval position of the buffer 0, and the information on the number of prize balls to be paid out in 2-bit units is again arranged without gaps. Become. Instead of transferring the bit string every two bits, a storage area is separately set in the buffer,
It is also possible to temporarily save the bit string remaining in this area and transfer it for each block.

The specific processing flow of FIGS. 23 and 24 will be described below with reference to FIG. The offset in the description of the prize ball number data storage job and the prize ball number data storage and retrieval job shown in FIG. 20 means the following. In the main controller 140, the RAM 141
An area other than the work area reserved for the main program is used as a buffer area, and a storage buffer is allocated to this buffer area.
As shown in FIG. 21, this storage buffer has a storage capacity of 0 to 49 for each byte (8 bits). Are arranged as offsets 1, and are represented as a matrix-like offset table. Assuming that the minimum unit of the storage capacity is 2 bits, the offset 0 is represented by “0” to “3”. The offset counter has a routine so that the position of the next vacant cell at the head where data is written becomes the offset number. The storage buffer is RA
Aside from M141, a buffer-only memory may be provided.

First, in S700 of FIG. 19, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal has been received. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S710. Proceed to S710 and offset 1
Is checked to see if the value is “50”. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the offset 1 is out of the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S720. If the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that data is written in all of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and the winning prize ball is invalidated and skipped. In S720,
The value of offset 1 is added to the address of storage buffer 0, any one of storage buffers 0 to 49 is selected, and the address of the storage buffer to which data is to be written is selected.

In subsequent S730, the value of offset 0 is added to the selected storage buffer, and any one of the storages a to d is selected. In subsequent S740, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is “15”, and an affirmative judgment (YES) is made.
If so, the process proceeds to S750, and “03h” is displayed in the selected area.
Is set. That is, data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is written in the selected storage area. In S760, “1” is added to the value of offset 0, and in S770, the value of offset 0 is “4”.
It is determined whether or not the above is true. If the determination is affirmative (YES), S
Proceed to 780. In S780, “0” is set to offset 0, and “1” is added to offset 1. That is, carry of the storage buffer is performed.

A negative determination (NO) in S740
If so, the process proceeds to S790 to check whether or not the award ball number signal is "6". If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S800, where “01h” is set in the selected area, and S76
Skip to 0. That is, in the selected storage area,
Data “01h” (16) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “6”
(Corresponding to binary number "01b"). If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S810. S8
At 10, check whether the prize ball number signal is "10" or not,
If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S820, where "02h" is set in the selected area, and the process skips to S820. That is, in the selected storage area, data “02h” (hexadecimal notation,
(Corresponding to the binary number "10b").

FIG. 20 shows a prize ball number data storage and retrieval job. In S900, it is checked whether or not the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0". If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S910. In S910, the value of the storage a in the storage buffer 0 is obtained, and in S920,
The value is shifted right by 2 bits in the order of the storage buffers 49-0. Proceeding to S930, it is determined whether or not the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is, the cell position of the offset number, that is, the position of the offset pointer is obtained by referring to the offset counter, and it is confirmed whether the position of the offset pointer is the head of the storage buffer. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S940,
"1" is subtracted from offset 1. In other words, in order to return to the head cell position where data is written, the digit of the storage buffer is lowered. Proceeding to S950, "3" is set for offset 0, and the offset pointer is moved to the leading cell position of the storage buffer that has been shifted down. Note that S93
If the determination is 0 (NO), the process proceeds to S960, and the offset 0 is subtracted by "1" to return to the top cell position where data is written.

Next, in the award ball number data storage job, a memory shift is performed at the time of storage to create a blank memory cell at the head of the data string as shown in FIG. A mode in which new data is written at a memory cell position may be adopted. This flow will be described with reference to FIG. In S300, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal has been received. If the determination is affirmative (YES), S3
Go to 10. In S310, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is, the cell position of the offset number (next to the head where data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. Vertical direction of the first column of the offset table (memory buffers 0 to 49)
It is checked whether or not the cell position (over) is a free area of data. If the determination is negative (NO) (if there is a write), the process proceeds to S320, and the value of offset 0 is “3”. Check if. That is, it is checked whether or not the last (fourth) cell position in the vertical direction (across the storage buffers 0 to 49) of the bit string of the offset table is an empty area, and if the determination is affirmative (YES), S3
Go to 30.

At S330, “1” is set for offset 1.
Is added to clear the value of offset 0. That is,
The carry of offset 1 is performed, and the value of “3” of offset 0 is cleared. In subsequent S340, the storage buffers 0 to 49 are shifted to the left by 2 bits. Thus, a write area is provided in the first column of the storage buffer 0. In S350, the prize ball number signal is “1”.
5 ”, and if affirmative (YES), S3
Proceeding to 60, OR the storage buffer 0 with "03h". That is, the data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is stored in the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0.
(Corresponding to hexadecimal notation, equivalent to binary “11b”). If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S370.

In S370, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is "6". If the judgment is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S380, where the storage buffer 0 and "01h" are logically ORed. That is, data “01h” (hexadecimal notation, corresponding to binary “01b”) corresponding to the winning ball number signal “6” is written in the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S390.

In S390, the prize ball number signal is “10”.
It is determined whether or not the determination is affirmative.
The logical sum of the storage buffer 0 and “02h” is performed.
That is, in the write area of the first column of the storage buffer 0,
Data “02h” (1) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “10”
Hexadecimal display (corresponding to binary “10b”) is written.

In S310, an affirmative judgment (YE
If S) (that is, if the cell position at the head of the storage buffer is not an empty area), the process proceeds to S410 and offset 1
Is checked to see if the value is “50”. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the offset 1 is out of the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S420. If the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that there is writing in all of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and the winning prize ball is invalidated and skipped. If a negative determination (NO) is made in S320, it means that the head cell position of the storage buffer is an empty area, and “1” is added to the value of offset 0 in S420, and the offset pointer is set to the next cell. Set.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 43, the award ball number data storage / retrieving job may have a mode in which data is read out while the memory cell position is retreated in order from the head side at the time of retrieving the storage. This flow is as shown in FIG. In S500, it is checked whether or not the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0". If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S510. In S510, it is checked whether the value of the offset 0 is “0”. That is, the cell position of the offset number (next to the head where data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. First, it is checked whether the value of offset 0 is “0”, and a positive determination (YES)
If so, the process proceeds to S520, and the offset 1 is subtracted by "1". In other words, in order to return to the head cell position where data is written, the digit of the storage buffer is lowered. And S
Proceeding to 530, the offset 0 is set to "3", and the offset pointer is set at the last (fourth) cell position of the storage buffer after the digit shift.

Proceeding to S540, the value of the offset 1 is added to the address of the storage buffer 0, and the storage buffers 0 to 4 are added.
9 is selected, and the stored data therein is obtained. That is, the process returns to the address of the storage buffer having the data to be read and acquires the storage data. In S550, it is confirmed whether or not the offset 0 is “0”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S560 to acquire the storage value a (see FIG. 21) of the corresponding storage data, and then to S5.
At 70, the corresponding storage area is cleared to "0". If a negative determination (NO) is made in S550, S580
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the offset 0 is “1”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S590 to acquire the storage b of the corresponding storage data, and skips to S570. If a negative determination (NO) is made in S580, S6
Proceeding to 00, it is determined whether or not the offset 0 is “2”. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S610 to acquire the storage c of the corresponding storage data, and skips to S570. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to step S620 to acquire the storage d of the corresponding storage data, and proceeds to step S570.
Skip to.

A negative determination (NO) in S510
If so, the process proceeds to S630, and the offset 0 is subtracted by “1” to return to the top cell position where data is written.

In the above processing, the winning ball number data retrieved from the buffer memory is stored in the frame control unit 1 as described above.
Transferred to 50. The frame control unit 150 receives the award ball number data, increments the frame control unit payout counter formed in the RAM 152 by the number indicated by the award ball number data, and has already been described with reference to FIGS. The prize ball payout device 109 pays out prize balls. The prize ball detection signal from the prize ball payout sensor 214 is also fed back to the frame control unit 150, and every time the prize ball payout is confirmed, the frame control unit payout counter is decremented. When the number reaches zero, the payout of prize balls is terminated. Note that the frame control unit 150 is also configured to perform the same prize ball shortage error processing as that performed by the main control unit when the value of the remaining ball counter on the frame control unit abnormally increases due to, for example, clogged balls. can do.

In the above-described processing, a buffer memory is provided on the main control unit 140 side to accumulate prize ball number data in the storage buffer in the order in which the prize balls are detected. By doing so, the payout of prize balls is performed in the order in which the prize balls are detected. The prize ball number information transferred from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 includes the unit prize ball number (the above-described 6 prize balls, 10 prize balls) which is the payout prize ball number per prize determined for each prize port. Prize balls or 15 prize balls). This allows the player
For example, if the game machine remembers the chronological order of winning balls with different unit prize balls, the gaming machine pays out the prize balls in the order they remember, so there is less discomfort and a sense of trust in the game. Will be enhanced. If it is desired to achieve such an effect more reliably, data is taken out from the storage buffer so that the number of payouts equal to or greater than the number of prize balls corresponding to each winning is not accumulated in the payout counter on the frame control unit side of the frame control unit 150. The time interval is set to a predetermined time or more in anticipation of the award ball payout time corresponding to the transmitted award ball number, for example, or to temporarily store one or a plurality of award ball number data in the time series in the frame control unit 150 side. It is effective to provide a buffer memory.

It should be noted that the frame control unit 150 prohibits the payout of prize balls when the received prize ball number information specifies the payout number that does not match the predetermined unit prize ball number. May be performed (realization of the function of the payout prohibition means). More specifically, the processing is such that the output of the operation command signal to the prize ball payout device 109 is stopped, or the frame control unit payout counter is not incremented.
As a result, the number of incorrect prize balls (for example, several thousand
An attractive number of prize balls, such as 10,000, which can expect a profit commensurate with the risk to a fraudulent person) is input to the frame control unit 150, and this is reliably identified and accurately determined. Processing can be performed.

For example, when the number of unit prize balls is determined in a plurality of types (for example, 6, 10, and 15) according to the type of winning opening, the received prize ball number information includes the plurality of unit prize balls. When none of the numbers of balls match, the payout of prize balls can be prohibited. According to this, when prize ball count data that does not correspond to any unit prize ball count is input to the frame control unit 150, this can be reliably detected as fraudulent data. Emission can be prevented. Therefore, more reliable prize ball payout becomes possible.

The main control unit 140 may sequentially (for example, in real time) transfer the corresponding winning ball number data to the frame control unit 150 in the order of receiving the winning ball detection signal. In this case, the RAM 151 on the frame control unit 150 side
This may be accumulated in the buffer area provided in the, and the prize ball number data may be taken out by the same processing as described above and the prize ball may be paid out, but the payout of the prize ball must be performed in the order of detecting the winning ball. If there is no particular case, the buffer can be omitted. FIG. 46 shows a processing example of the frame control unit 150 in this case. Upon receiving the award ball number data in S750, in S751 to S753, it is determined how many award ball data are. If it is not one of the predetermined unit prize ball numbers (6, 10, and 15), the process proceeds to S759 to perform error processing. On the other hand, if it is any of the unit prize balls, the process proceeds to S754, and is added to the frame control unit side remaining ball counter (formed in the RAM 151). In step S755, when the value of the remaining ball counter on the frame control unit side exceeds NJ, it is determined that prize ball discharge has stagnated due to clogged balls or the like, and the process proceeds to step S758 to perform error processing. On the other hand, upon receiving the winning ball payout signal from the winning ball payout sensor 214, the value of the remaining ball number counter on the frame control unit side is decremented.

FIG. 47 shows the flow of award ball payout processing. In S760, the value of the remaining ball number counter on the frame control unit side is read. In S761, the number of remaining balls is ND
It is determined whether or not it is (for example, 10 to 30 balls). If it is less than ND, the remaining balls are paid out collectively, and if it exceeds ND, the remaining balls are divided into ND pieces and paid out. According to this processing, the prize ball number data is input (received) after a sufficient time.
In this case, the payout of the unit prize ball number corresponding to the prize ball number data is performed in the order of arrival in time series by the processing of S762, and the prize ball number data is continuously transmitted in a short time. If received, the awarded ball number data is accumulated in the remaining ball number counter on the frame control unit side, and the processing is performed in S763, and the payout is performed in ND pieces.

Next, the prize ball payout mechanism can be configured as a ball discharge means that is used for both the ball release and the prize ball discharge, and the payout prize ball detection mechanism detects the loaned ball and the prize ball separately. A ball detecting means is provided, and the prize ball payout managing means can use the detection information of the prize ball detected separately as detection information of the payout prize ball.

Preferred examples of the specific structure of the ball discharging means include:
A game ball passage disposed on the back mechanism board, wherein the game ball is branched from the upstream passage to a plurality of branch passages via the branch portion,
A ball discharge device having a ball feeding member disposed at the branch portion, capable of being driven and controlled in different directions, and having a ball feeding member capable of selecting and transferring a game ball to any one of the plurality of branch passages. Is mentioned. As a result, the ball discharging device can provide a unit lending ball number (eg, 25) or a unit prize ball number (eg, 6, 1).
5), and discharges a required number of balls. In the CR machine, the ball feeding member can be driven and controlled in different directions, and the game ball can be transferred by selecting a branch passage, that is, one of a prize ball passage and a ball rental passage. On the other hand, in the cash machine, the ball feeding member can be driven and controlled in one direction, and the ball rental passage can be closed by attaching a lid to one of the branch passages, and only the prize ball passage can be used. In addition,
Examples of the ball feed member include a shaft, a gear attached to the shaft, and a ball discharge motor that rotates the shaft. Specific examples of the ball detecting means include a prize ball count switch, a ball lending count switch, and the like provided in each of the branch paths described above.

Hereinafter, a configuration example of a corresponding gaming machine will be described. FIG. 48 is a block diagram in this case, and is mostly the same as FIG. 16, but instead of the prize ball payout device 109,
A ball discharging device 99 that is used for both lending and discharging prize balls is connected to the frame control unit 150.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 49 (a) and (b), a tank rail 65 connected to a prize ball tank (not shown) is mounted on the back side of the back mechanism board 102, and the tank rail 65 follows the tank rail. The lower part 70 of the ball flow is formed. An upstream passage 71, a prize ball passage 73,
In addition, a ball rental passage 74 is formed, and a ball discharge device 99 is mounted. Upstream passage 71, prize ball passage 7
3 and the ball rental passage 74 are both two gutters as partially shown in FIG. 5B, and the first and second passages partitioned in the front-rear direction of the mechanism panel 62. (71a, 71
b, 73a, 73b, 74a, 74b).

The upstream passage 71 is bent, and the upper end thereof is provided with a spherical outlet 8 opened at the lower right end of the tank rail 65.
5 is connected. In the vicinity of the upper end of the upstream passage 71, a contact-type replenishment ball out detection switch 86, and
A ball out switch lever 90 is provided. The ball-out switch lever 90 constitutes a part of the upstream side passage 71 and is capable of elastically swinging with the upper end as a fulcrum.
The ball-out switch lever 90 is adjacent to the normally-open replenishment-ball-out detection switch 86, and swings to turn the replenishment-ball-out detection switch 86 on / off.

In this embodiment, a torsion coil spring is used for the elastic operation of the ball cut switch lever 90. Various elastic members can be employed. In this embodiment, the out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the replenishment-ball out detection switch 86 are separately provided for each of the passages 71a and 71b, and the presence or absence of a game ball in each of the passages 71a and 71b is individually detected. Is done. The out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the out-of-ball supply detection switch 86 may be provided in only one of the first and second passages 71a and 71b.

The prize ball path 73 and the ball lending path 74 are each formed in a straight line up and down, and extend substantially in parallel with each other. A prize ball count switch (prize ball payout sensor) 78 is mounted on the prize ball passage 73, and a ball rental count switch 79 is mounted on the ball rental passage 74.
Each of the switches 78 and 79 is a groove-type non-contact sensor.
Switch mounting portion 7 formed integrally with each passage 73, 74
8a, 78b, 79a, 79b. Each of the switch mounting portions 78a to 79b is provided with a corresponding one of the passages 7 to secure a space for receiving the switches 78 and 79.
It overhangs outside of 3,74. Each switch 7
Although magnetic types are used as 8, 79, various other general-purpose game ball detection switches such as optical types can be used.

The ball discharging device 99 includes a ball discharging motor 80, a ball feeding member 76,
Further, a ball discharge device sensor substrate 96 is accommodated. The ball discharge motor 80 is a stepping motor that can rotate forward and backward, and operates based on commands from the main control unit 140 and the frame control unit 150 described above. Although not shown, an optical sensor having a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver is mounted on the ball ejection device sensor substrate 96. A game ball passage 75 is formed in the case 77, and an upper end portion of the game ball passage 75 communicates with the upstream passage 71. In addition, game ball passage 7
5 branches in two directions at a branch part 72 in the middle,
It communicates with the prize ball passage 73 and the ball lending passage 74. That is, two inlets are opened at the upper part of the case 77, and four outlets are opened at the lower part. And the upstream passage 7
1. Game ball passage 75, prize ball passage 73 and ball rental passage 7
4 forms a spherical downflow passage that bifurcates downstream.

The ball feed member 76 is an integrally molded product of synthetic resin, and is mounted on the output shaft of the ball discharge motor 80. Further, the ball feed member 76 has gears 82, 83 for transferring game balls and a gear (sprocket) 84 for detecting the amount of rotation on the outer periphery of a hollow shaft 81, and these gears 82, 83, 84. A gear 84 for detecting the amount of rotation, a gear 8 for transferring a game ball,
They are arranged in the order of 2,83. These gears 82, 83, 84 rotate integrally with driving of the ball discharge motor 80.

The transfer gears 82 and 83 are provided in the game ball passage 7.
The fifth branch 72 is located in the first passage 72a and the second passage 72b, respectively. The two gears 82 and 83 have the same number of teeth at the same pitch, and the recess between the teeth is set to a size that can accept a game ball (generally, a diameter of about 11 mm). Further, a phase difference is set between the two gears 82 and 83. Also,
The teeth of the gear 84 for detecting the rotation amount are formed at the same pitch, and the number of teeth is set to be larger than that of the gears 82 and 83 for transfer. The rotation amount detecting gear 84 has a positional relationship with respect to the ball discharger sensor substrate 96 such that each of its teeth intermittently intercepts the light of the above-described optical sensor as the gear 84 rotates.

The game balls are supplied to the ball flow lower part 70 via the prize ball tank 64 and the tank rail 65. Ball flow lower part 70
In, the game ball follows the curved path of the upstream passage 71 and flows down while pressing the ball-out switch lever 90. When a game ball is present in the ball path, the ball-out switch lever 90 is pressed by the game ball and is elastically rotated and displaced to turn on the supply-ball out detection switch 86.
When released from the pressing force from the game ball, the ball out switch lever 90 returns to the original position by using the restoring force of the torsion coil spring, and the supply ball out detection switch 8
6 is turned off. Utilizing the operation of the ball out switch lever 90, the presence or absence of a game ball in the upstream passage 71 is detected.

The game ball that has passed through the upstream passage 71 reaches the ball discharge device 99, flows into the game ball passage 75, and comes into contact with the transfer gears 82 and 83. In one gear 82 (or 83), the game ball enters between the teeth, and in the other gear 83 (or 82), the game ball is placed on the tooth. Further, the subsequent game balls are placed on the preceding game balls and are sequentially deposited on the preceding game balls. At this time, since the upstream passage 71 is bent, the weight of the game balls accumulated in the upstream passage 71 is dispersed in multiple directions, and an excessive load is prevented from acting on the gears 82 and 83. Also, the upstream passage 7
The length of 1 is set so that the number of game balls between the gears 82 and 83 and the switch switch lever 90 becomes 25 or more. The number is the number of unit lending balls (the value obtained by dividing the unit ball lending amount (here, 100 yen) by the ball unit price (here, 4 yen)).
Matches.

When the prize ball is discharged, the ball discharge motor 80 of the ball discharge device 99 is driven to rotate forward by the frame control unit 150, and the gears 82 and 83 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. I do. With the rotation of the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are transferred to the side of the prize ball passage 73, released from the gears 82 and 83, and discharged to the prize ball passage 73. The released game balls fall along the prize ball passage 73, and the prize ball count switch 78
And are individually detected. On the other hand, these game balls flow out of the ball flow lower part 70 and reach the sorting part 101,
It is discharged to the upper plate 6.

The amount of rotation of the ball discharge motor 80 is determined by the number of unit prize balls to be paid out according to the winning mode (here, six,
10 types and 15 types). Further, since a phase difference is set between the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are discharged alternately between the first and second passages.
Therefore, a total of an odd number of discharges for the two passages 73a and 73b is also possible. Further, the ball discharge motor 8
The rotation amount of 0 is a rotation amount detection gear (or sprocket) 84 formed integrally with the transfer gears 82 and 83.
Detected using That is, with the driving of the ball discharge motor 80, the teeth of the rotation amount detecting gear (or sprocket) 84 block the light of the optical sensor and change the output of the optical sensor. The rotation amount is calculated by referring to the pitch. The detection result of the rotation amount is used for checking the operation of the ball discharge motor 80 and determining a ball discharge abnormality.

An example in which a pachinko machine is used as a cash machine will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
The parts that are the same as those in (a) are given the same numbers with dashes, and the description thereof is omitted, and new components are given new numbers. Here, since the ball rental is supplied directly to the upper plate from outside the machine, it is not necessary to use the ball rental passage 74 'in the ball flow lower part 70'. Therefore, ball rental passage 7
A stopper lid 88 is mounted on the switch mounting portions 79a 'and 79b' of the 4 ', and the ball rental passage 74' is closed. The stopper cover 88 is a thick plate-shaped synthetic resin body having substantially the same outer dimensions as the ball lending count switch 79 (see FIG. 5A) used in the case of a CR machine. Does not have a ball passage hole. The stopper cover 88 does not have a function of detecting a game ball. Further, the rotation control of the ball discharge motor 80 is limited to only the forward rotation, and the rotation control in the reverse rotation direction is not performed. That is, the ball discharge motor 80 is used only for the prize ball discharge, and the detection of the game ball after the discharge is performed only for the prize ball.

In the above embodiment, the detection signal of the prize ball count switch 78 is sent to the main control section 140 or the frame control section 150 as the above-mentioned prize ball detection signal, and the remaining ball number counter (total prize ball number) is sent. Is used for subtraction. Only the prize ball discharge sensor 214 is replaced with the prize ball count switch 78.
Processing substantially similar to that in FIG. 47 is performed. On the other hand, FIG. 50 shows a schematic flow of the processing. That is, when the main control unit 140 detects a winning ball (S60), the main control unit 140 transmits information on the number of winning balls to the frame control unit 150 (S62), and requests a predetermined number of winning balls to be discharged. The frame control unit 150 rotates the ball discharge motor 380 according to the number of prize balls requested from the main control unit 140 (S64). The discharged prize ball is guided by the passage switching arm 301 and flows into the prize ball passage 373, and is detected by the prize ball count switch 378 (S
66), and the detection result is sent to the main control unit 140 (S
68). The main control unit 140 controls the prize ball count switch 37
Based on the count value of 8, it is confirmed whether or not the required number of prize balls have been ejected (S70), and the process ends. Also,
The frame control unit 150 also checks the number of emissions, and the number of emissions is
If the number is insufficient for the number of requests from S40 (S72:
(YES), the frame control unit 150 causes the discharge motor 380 to perform the retry operation (S74), discharges the insufficient prize balls, and ends the processing. If the number of emissions is smaller than the number of requests from the main control unit 140 (S72: NO), the process ends.

Next, the configuration and operation of the game information backup function realizing part when an abnormality occurs will be described. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage drop due to a power failure or the like is detected as abnormal, and after the power failure is recovered, the game information in the work memory of the control unit immediately before the power failure is backed up so that the game can be continued based on the game state before the power failure. The following is an example.

As described above, the pachinko machine 1 has three control units, that is, the main control unit 140, the frame control unit 150, and the special symbol control unit 160 (display control unit). Therefore, from the viewpoint of accurately recovering the operating state immediately before the power failure, it can be said that it is desirable to add the above-mentioned backup function realizing part to each of all of the control units 140, 150, and 160. However, in many cases, the operation state immediately before a power failure can be recovered with considerable accuracy only by backing up the game information in the main control unit 140. In this case, a mode in which a backup function realizing part is added only to the main control unit 140 may be adopted. it can. On the other hand, for example, when it is desired to restore only the operation related to the payout of the prize ball, the frame control unit 15
0, or the frame control unit 150 and the special symbol control unit 160
It is also possible to add a backup function realizing part only to the. Here, three control units 140, 150, 16
The case where the backup process is performed for all 0s is taken as an example.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic circuit configuration for implementing the backup function. The basic control flow of the circuit configuration and the backup process differs only in the type of data to be backed up.
The same applies to all of the control units 140, 150, and 160. In the following, reference numerals are used for the main control unit 1
While the components related to 40 are used as representatives, the symbols of the corresponding circuit components of the other control units 150 and 160 are also displayed in the drawings as reference symbols, and a common description will be given. For this reason, the main control unit 140 will be referred to as a backup target control unit (or simply a control unit) 140, but this does not necessarily mean that only the main control unit 140 is to be backed up. .

First, the CPU 1
41 and a RAM 142 (the ROM 143 is not shown). A power supply monitoring circuit 5 is provided on the substrate.
53 are mounted. On the other hand, although the CPU main power supply circuit 552 for supplying the operating voltage to the CPU 141 is illustrated as being provided outside the board in this embodiment, the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is also provided on the board for convenience of design. It goes without saying that the configuration may be implemented together. Further, the general-purpose constant-voltage power supply circuit 555 for supplying a reference signal or the like to the power supply monitoring circuit 553 may be provided either on the substrate or outside the substrate.

The CPU main power supply section 552 outputs an output voltage of CP
For example, it is set to 5 V in accordance with the operating voltage of U141. Further, the general-purpose constant-voltage power supply unit 555 is designed to have a somewhat higher output voltage (here, 12 V) so as to be able to cope with generation of reference signals of various voltage levels. In each case, an AC power supply unit (for example, AC 24 V) 55
It receives an AC input from 0 and converts it into a DC constant voltage output. For example, in the configuration of the power supply unit shown in FIG. 51, the AC power supply unit 550 is realized by the function of the power receiving board 410, and outputs a 5V DC output terminal to each board on which the CPU of the power distribution board 411 is mounted. DC toward symbol control board 360 and frame control board 350
The 5V output terminal (in FIG. 53, the sixth terminal of the connector 437, the sixth terminal of the connector 431, and the fifth terminal of the connector 434) serve as the CPU main power supply unit 552. Further, the general-purpose constant-voltage power supply unit 555 includes a DC12V output terminal (a fourth terminal of the connector 437, a fourth terminal of the connector 431, and a third terminal of the connector 434 in FIG. Terminal)
Plays a role.

FIG. 28 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of power supply monitoring circuit 553. First, the CPU main power supply circuit 5
The output voltage from the CPU 52 is input to the power supply terminal VCC of the CPU 141, and is connected to the backup terminal via the CPU operating auxiliary power supply circuit 556. The auxiliary power supply circuit 556 is configured such that power supply from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is interrupted due to interruption of power supply from the AC power supply unit 550 due to a power failure or the like (or failure of the CPU main power supply circuit 552 itself), or output voltage Is required to ensure the necessary operating voltage of the CPU 141 when the value falls below a predetermined value. Here, the power storage means for maintaining the output voltage, specifically, the capacitor 557 forms the main body of the auxiliary power circuit 556 for CPU operation. In the circuit of FIG.
The capacitor 423 incorporated in the power supply unit 420 functions as the power storage unit. The backup voltage by the capacitor 423 is connected to the connector 4 by the cable 504.
The power is supplied to the power distribution board 430 at terminals Nos. 7 and 8 of 33 and can be distributed to each board. In this drawing, the backup voltage is supplied only from the 7th and 8th terminals of the connector 434 to the frame control board 350 by the cable 514. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. Control board 340
In the same manner, the backup voltage can be distributed to the special symbol control board 360 at the connector 436 and the operation of the CPU 141 mounted on each board can be backed up (in this case, the backup voltage supply It is necessary to increase the number of terminals). A capacitor 557b is interposed on the way from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 to the power supply terminal VCC, and a backup voltage is supplied from the CPU operating auxiliary power supply circuit 556 by the capacitor 557b when the power supply is cut off. The voltage supply during this time is compensated. As shown in FIG. 61, the output voltage from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is
CPU 141 via CPU operation auxiliary power supply circuit 556
Can be input to the power supply terminal VCC.

The capacitor 557 is connected to the CPU main power supply circuit 5
52 is connected in parallel to the power supply line from 52,
Normally through the diode 558, the CPU main power supply circuit 552
To maintain the charged state. When the power supply is cut off, the capacitor 5
57 discharges while the backflow is prevented by the diode 558, and supplies the operating voltage of the CPU 141. It is desirable that the capacity of the capacitor 557 be set at least until the operation of the CPU 141 can be secured until the backup process described later is completed. In addition, the auxiliary power supply circuit 556 may be configured using a battery (in this case, either a primary battery or a secondary battery) 557a instead of the capacitor 557.

Next, the output voltage VX from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is branched and input to a comparator 569 functioning as abnormality detection means (here, power cutoff detection means), where the voltage level of the voltage monitoring reference signal 567 is output. VS. VS can be set, for example, corresponding to the lower limit voltage level at which stable operation of the CPU 141 becomes impossible. Normally, VX> VS, and the comparator 56
9 is in the first state (here, L level), but when VX <VS due to a power failure or the like, the comparator 56
The output of No. 9 is in a second state (H level here) different from the first state described above.

The output of the comparator 569 is A as output means of a power cutoff signal (abnormality detection signal).
The signal is input to one terminal of an ND gate 570 (also serving as a main body of the abnormality confirmation information generating means). The other terminal of the AND gate 570 is supplied with a power-off signal generation reference signal 568. The power-off signal generation reference signal 568 has a voltage level VY corresponding to the second state of the comparator 569 (here, VS = VY for convenience). Therefore, only when the output of the comparator 569 enters the second state, the AND gate 570 outputs the power cutoff signal VK (here, L level), which is input to the interrupt terminal of the CPU 141.

The operating voltages of the comparator 569 and the AND gate 570 are supplied by a general-purpose constant-voltage power supply circuit 555 (output: +12 V). Since the operating voltage of the AND gate 570 is +5 V, the voltage dividing resistor 570
The voltage is adjusted by an adjustment unit 570c (which may be a DC-DC converter or the like) composed of a and 570b.
The voltage monitoring reference signal 567 and the reference signal 568 for generating a power cutoff signal are also generated by the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 (the voltage level is adjusted by the adjusting unit 560 including the voltage dividing resistors 563 and 564). Since power supply from the general-purpose constant-voltage power supply circuit 555 is interrupted at the time of a power failure, a reference signal auxiliary power supply circuit 559 having a diode 562 and a capacitor 561 and having the same configuration as the CPU operation auxiliary power supply circuit 556 is provided. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
RAM 142, which forms the work memory area of
The AM backup power supply circuit 551 is connected. As will be described later, game data as game information is stored and held (backed up) in the RAM 142.
This power supply circuit 551 is also basically the auxiliary power supply circuit 5.
A configuration similar to that of 56 or 559 can be employed.
In this case, the capacity of the power storage means constituted by a capacitor or a battery is set according to the expected power outage time so that the stored contents during that time can be retained. In the circuit of FIG. 53, the capacitor 423 incorporated in the power supply unit 420 can also function as the above-described power storage means, and the terminals and cables can be shared with those for CPU backup. Therefore, the capacitor 4
23 is connected to the cable 504
Is supplied to the power distribution board 430 at the 7th and 8th terminals of the connector 433 and distributed to each board.

In the case of making a design change to the type of the backup target control unit board for the backup of the CPU and the RAM, for example, when making a design change to increase the backup target control unit boards, according to the configuration of the present invention, the distribution board At 430, it is possible to easily cope with a connector having a backup terminal simply by changing the specification, and there is an advantage that a design change to the expensive power supply unit 420 is not required.

Next, the job execution mode of the backup target control unit will be described.
As described above, the main job of the control program is executed spontaneously by repeatedly executing the main job every reset cycle (for example, 2 milliseconds). The general flow of the main job differs only in the content of each job, and the three control units 140, 150, 1
60 is basically the same.

Then, as shown in FIG.
2, a control program storage area 591 is formed in the work memory area 590. In the control program, a backup processing routine 592 and a recovery processing routine 593 are formed as routines for backup processing when an abnormality occurs, in addition to the main routine 596 for executing the main job described above. A power cutoff flag 594 is formed as a fixed information storage unit. For control units other than the backup target control unit, the backup processing routine 592 and the recovery processing routine 5
93 is not included. In the work memory area 590, a storage area for game data is formed, which functions as the backup data storage area 595 as it is during the backup processing. However, the backup data storage area 595 may be formed in another area outside the work memory area 590 (in this case, it may be another RAM area).

Hereinafter, the flow of the processing will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 32 shows the flow of the main job of each control unit in a common and simplified manner. S1
Is a job for initializing the work memory area 590. As will be described later, in a normal reset, the RAM including the work memory area is initialized (naturally, all data is erased). In the reset cycle immediately after the return, the processing for restoring the storage state at the time of the occurrence of power shutdown is performed by the game data stored and held in the backup data storage area 595 (FIG. 31) instead of the initialization. .

After the initialization, in S2, it is confirmed by timer monitoring (soft timer processing by a counter program) whether or not the reset period has arrived. If the reset period has arrived, the initialization job in S1 Return to On the other hand, if the reset cycle has not arrived, the process proceeds to S3 (I / O input / output), where a predetermined port of the input / output port (for example, 144 in FIG. 16 in the main control unit 140) is accessed and necessary for game control. Game data (game information)
To collect. The collected game data is stored in the backup data storage area 595 of FIG.
In S4, it is edited into a necessary form.

The type of game data involved in the processing differs for each control unit. For example, in the case of the main control unit 140, there are the following regarding the prize ball motion control. -The added value of the fifteen prize ball count data associated with the passage of the count detection switch 53, the count detection and the specific area passage detection switch 54.・ First-class starter (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17
The added value of the number of 6 prize balls associated with passing s. If these added values are known, the number of prize balls discharged can be calculated.

[0206] Also, a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s, a count detection switch 53, a count detection and a specific area passage detection switch 54 shown in FIG.
Using the detection results of the above and the obtained values of the special symbol success / failure determination random number, etc., a state of waiting for a customer who is not playing the game, a state of playing the game but no start winning (variable preparation state), a start winning The data and the like used for discriminating the state where there is a game and the special game state are also game data handled by the main control unit 140. In addition, when a winning start is detected, a determination is made based on a random number value, and the result of the determination, including the winning start-up, also becomes important game data. When backing up the above data, it can be said that it is desirable to perform this in the main control unit 140.

On the other hand, the main control unit 140 sends the frame control unit 150
The following are examples of the game data sent to. The backup of these data is performed by the main control unit 140
This may be performed on either the side or the frame control unit 150 side. If the number of 15 prize balls is not 0, 15 prize ball number data is transmitted, and if the number of 6 prize balls is not 0, 6 prize ball number data is transmitted. In other cases, for example, when the passage of a game ball is detected at the lower left and right winning openings 21 and 22 and the left and right entrances 42 and 43, ten pieces of prize ball number data are sent.

A predetermined number of winning ball number data corresponding to each winning opening is stored in the winning ball number data storage means of the main control unit 140.
The winning order is stored in the buffer in units of 2 bits. Based on the prize ball number data transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, the frame control unit 150 pays out the prize ball number from the prize ball payout device 108 in the order of winning, and every time a prize ball is paid out. The 2-bit storage capacity is released. The payout prize ball detecting mechanism attached to the prize ball payout device 108 detects the number of the prize balls when the prize balls are paid out.
Is checked against the prize ball number data transmitted to the frame control unit 150 to determine whether or not the prize ball payout based on the detection information is normal. When the number of prize balls is paid out based on the instruction of the frame control unit 150, the number of prize balls paid out is subtracted from the total number of prize balls stored in the total prize ball number storage means of the main control unit 140. Will do. For example, a buffer for storing the prize ball number data transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 stores information on the number of prize balls to be paid out every two bits in a winning order. The total number of prize balls to be paid out is stored in the total prize ball number storage means in the section 140, and when power supply is interrupted during the payout of prize balls, the continuation of the payout operation is restored using these data. It can be done later.

[0209] On the other hand, game data relating to special symbol display includes the following. That is, as described above, the main control unit 140 creates data for performing the corresponding symbol display pattern image display control as a set of the above-described command data in accordance with the determination content of the hit / fail determination, and executes the special symbol control. To the unit 160. In this case, the necessary element command data is set in the command memory (which is formed in the RAM 142 of FIG. 16 and should be included in the backup data storage area 595 (FIG. 31)). When backup is performed by the control unit 140, an unprocessed element command among the element commands may be stored and held as game data. In this case, the command is sequentially transferred to the special symbol control unit 160, and if the command is deleted (or invalidated) from the transferred one, only the unprocessed command remains on the main control unit 140 side, which is convenient. . Further, a timer value allowed until the start of the next element module may be stored as a part of the game data.

On the other hand, there is a method of backing up the command data transferred to the special symbol control section 160 as game information on the special symbol control section 160 side. This is stored in the command memory formed in the RAM 162 of the special symbol control unit 160, and the corresponding element module is activated as the image processing proceeds. Therefore, when aiming for a more accurate display operation return, it is desirable to store the state of the execution of the element module as game data. As described above, it is also possible to collectively receive a plurality of command data from the main control unit 140 side, sequentially read and execute the command data, but in this case, sequentially delete the command from the processed command ( Or disable)
Then, only the unprocessed material remains, which is convenient.

Returning to FIG. 32, in S5, individual game control jobs are executed using the edited game data. The details thereof have already been described, and will not be described.

[0212] If a power shutdown abnormality occurs due to a power failure or the like during the execution of the main job as described above,
The backup process is performed as follows. That is, when the power cutoff occurs, the output voltage of the CPU main power supply circuit 552 decreases in FIG. 28, and as a result, the AND gate 570 outputs the power cutoff signal to the CPU 14 as described above.
1 is input to the interrupt terminal. In response to this, the CPU 141
Starts the backup processing routine 592 in FIG.

In FIG. 27, the interrupt terminal to which the power cutoff signal is input is an NMI (Non-MaskableInterrupt).
t) terminal, the interrupt processing routine executed by activating this terminal cannot be invalidated by a program, and other interrupt signals are transmitted to the NMI terminal or the INT terminal of a normal interrupt. Even if it is input, the processing is performed without any interruption. In addition, if there is an interrupt process that has been executed first, the process is forcibly terminated, and the NMI interrupt process has priority.

FIG. 33 shows the contents of the backup processing. First, in step S7, the power cutoff flag 594 (FIG.
The value of 1) is set to “abnormal (here,“ 1 ”)”. This flag is set only when a backup process in which the power cutoff signal is paired with the input is executed. That is, it is not set when a trouble other than a power-off abnormality occurs (for example, a program goes out of control).

When the setting of the power cutoff flag is completed, the process proceeds to S8, in which the game data stored in the backup data storage area 595 at that time is stored.
Hold. At this time, of the game data distributed and stored in the work memory area 590, processing for collecting necessary data in the backup data storage area 595 may be executed, or game data collected in another area may be executed. A process of copying data to the backup data storage area 595 may be performed. Thereby, game data existing outside the backup data storage area 595 can be rescued from loss.

On the other hand, only the game data remaining in the backup data storage area 595 at the time of executing the backup process may be rescued. After the power is turned off, the backup data storage area 595 is automatically activated by the operation of the RAM backup power supply circuit 551 in FIG.
Will be stored. A simpler method is to keep the entire address space of the RAM 142 as a backup storage target.

Here, as shown in FIG. 33, the backup data storage area 5
95, and a stop instruction (STO
By inserting P) or setting an infinite loop, it is possible not to return to the main job routine after the backup process is completed. By doing so, the following effects can be achieved. If the program processing after the backup processing is not stopped, if a so-called illegal board or the like is attached to the gaming machine, an illegal signal may be added to the control by an interrupt signal output from the illegal board or the like. . However, if you stop the program as described above,
Such a failure can be prevented from occurring. Even after the backup process is completed, the voltage of the auxiliary power supply is maintained for a certain period of time, and the program processing can be continued.However, if the auxiliary power supply voltage becomes unstable, it becomes difficult to operate the program normally. As a result, the data in the backup data storage area 595 may be destroyed. However, such a problem can be prevented by stopping the program as described above.

FIG. 34 shows the flow of an initialization job. The feature of this job is that in the first step S1000, the power shutdown flag 594 in FIG.
It is to read the contents of. If the power is turned off for the first time after the recovery, the content of the power-off flag 594 is set to "1" which means "there is an error". Therefore, in this case, the recovery processing routine of S1400 (FIG. 31; 593) is executed so that the continuation processing from the state before the power-off is enabled based on the backup data in the backup data storage area 595. , Work memory area 590 of RAM 142
The storage state of FIG. 31 is restored. In this embodiment, the recovery processing routine S1400 is executed if any of the backup data of the job being processed or the backup data of the job waiting to be processed remains. If none of the backup data remains, the RAM 142 is initialized (S1100). ). On the other hand, if the content of the power cutoff flag 594 is “no abnormality (here,“ 0 ”)”, the recovery processing routine S1400 is not executed, and the initialization S11 is performed.
00 is performed.

For example, in the case of the backup process relating to the award ball discharging job (for example, the frame control unit 150), as shown in FIG. The storage state of the work memory area 590 (FIG. 31) is restored using the number data) or the award ball data (data indicating the award ball discharge status) in the middle of processing. In S5 of FIG. 32, the prize ball discharging operation is restarted based on the restored storage contents. On the other hand, when backing up the flow of the control command after the determination of the validity in the main control unit 140, as shown in FIG. Restore condition. S in FIG.
In 5, the control command (for example, the special symbol main job (S90), the command job (S170), etc. in FIG. 49) related to the determination of the rejection is restarted based on the restored storage contents.

[0220] If the power supply switch is turned off and the operation ends normally, for example, at the end of the business hours of a game store, the operation is not detected as a power-off abnormality, and the backup process is not performed (or the process once performed). It is desirable to make it invalid. There are various methods for this. For example, there is a method in which an end signal is generated by turning off a power switch, and a means for inhibiting generation of a power cutoff signal by the end signal is provided. Then, after the prohibition processing of the generation of the power supply cutoff signal is completed, the power supply from the power supply is cut off. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, a tri-state buffer 595 that uses the end signal as an inhibit input is provided on the output line of the power cutoff signal from the power monitoring circuit 553. The end signal is set to the L level and the tri-state buffer 595 is set.
, The output of the tri-state buffer 595 goes into a high impedance state,
The output of the power cutoff signal is prohibited. This method is particularly effective when a backup process is performed by an NMI interrupt that cannot be interrupted by a program, as described above. In addition, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-85421, there is a method of initializing the RAM 142 when a certain period has elapsed after the power is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 37, the backup storage of the game data is stored in the CPU 141 (or 151,
161) internal RAM area 142 ′ (or 15
2 ', 162') in the backup data storage area (shown as "backup RAM" in the figure) 580. In this case, the output of the RAM backup power supply circuit 551 is CP
It is connected to a RAM backup terminal provided in U141 for storage protection of the internal RAM area 142 '.

On the other hand, the execution of the backup processing routine 592 may be performed not by the NMI interrupt processing as described above but by a normal INT interrupt processing as shown in FIG. In this case, the CPU 141 resets the program routine being executed at that time after a predetermined time has elapsed, and then executes the backup processing routine 592.
Start Note that an interrupt arbitration circuit 596 is provided so that the execution of the backup processing routine 592 is prioritized when a plurality of INT interrupts compete. The arbitration circuit 596 functions to wait for another interrupt signal when receiving the power cutoff signal and give priority to the power cutoff signal as the interrupt signal. As the circuit configuration, a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 19 including two enable flip-flops can be adopted (the D latches 418 and 421 are enable flip-flops). In this case, if the power interruption signal is made to correspond to the first interrupt signal and another interrupt signal is made to correspond to the second interrupt signal, the operation is the same as that shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 39, when a CPU 141 having a plurality of INT terminals (INT1, INT2,...) With a priority order is used, a power shutdown signal is input to the INT1 terminal having the highest priority. Keep it.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A power cutoff signal may be input to a separate input / output interface (input / output circuit) 581 (144) connected to the input / output interface (the input / output interface is also provided in FIGS. 27 and 37 to 39). However, they are not shown in these figures.) In this case, CP
U141 is an input / output interface 581 (144)
The power cutoff signal is detected by spontaneously accessing the output port of the power cutoff signal at a predetermined timing. FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing the flow of the job in that case. The port of the power shutdown signal is accessed in the I / O input / output step of S3, and if the power shutdown signal is detected in S2000, the backup of S7 to S8 is performed. Execute the processing routine as a subroutine. Also in this case, it is desirable to stop the processing (S9) after the execution of the backup processing routine.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to the wording of each claim unless it deviates from the scope described in each claim, and extends to a range that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, and It is possible to appropriately add an improvement based on the knowledge usually possessed by those skilled in the art. In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to the first-class pachinko machines, but also to various types of ball game machines such as so-called right goods, wings, models called arrangement balls, and general electric machines.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of substrates of each accessory on a game board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a game ball path on the back of the game board and a mounting arrangement of switches and the like.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a back mechanism board of the pachinko machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a part of a structure of a flow path of a safe sphere.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a flow path of the safe sphere of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the flow path of the safe sphere of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the operation of the winning ball payout device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another mode of the winning ball payout sensor.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic control device of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job in the electronic control device of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball total storage job.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball number data storage job.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a winning ball number data storage and retrieval job.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a winning ball number data storage buffer.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing storage of the number of prize balls to be paid out and extraction of the storage in the related art.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing the storage state of the number of prize balls to be paid out in the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the retrieval of the number of winning balls stored in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of another mode of the award ball number data storage job.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of another mode of the award ball number data storage and retrieval job.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration for realizing a backup processing function when an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the power supply monitoring circuit.

FIG. 29 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a voltage conversion unit.

FIG. 30 is a circuit diagram showing another example of the voltage conversion unit.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of a work memory area of the backup target control unit.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the flow of a backup processing routine.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the flow of an initialization job.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart in the case where FIG. 34 is embodied in a prize ball discharge job.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart in a case where FIG. 34 is embodied in a flow of a control command after a determination as to whether or not it is correct;

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a first modification of FIG. 27;

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a second modified example.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a third modification.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a fourth modified example.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job corresponding to the configuration of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is an explanatory view showing another storage state of the number of award balls to be paid out in the present invention.

FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram showing extraction of the number of winning balls stored in FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a process for determining whether or not a prize ball has been paid out or not in accordance with the value of the remaining ball counter,
13 is a flowchart illustrating a modification example of the total prize ball storage job.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing another example of FIG. 44;

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a remaining ball count storage job on the frame control unit side.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a winning ball payout job.

FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the electronic control device in the case where a ball discharge device is provided.

FIG. 49 (a) is a back view of the lower part of the ball flow and its periphery when a pachinko machine is used as a CR machine, (b) is a side sectional view of the ball discharge device of the pachinko machine and its periphery, and (c) is The rear view of the ball flow lower part and its periphery when a pachinko machine is used as a cash machine.

50 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a prize ball operation corresponding to the structure of FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic control device including a power supply unit.

FIG. 52 is a first detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 51;

FIG. 53 is a second detailed circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 54 is a third detailed circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 55 is a fourth detailed circuit diagram of division.

FIG. 56 is a fifth detailed circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 57 is a sixth detailed circuit diagram of the division.

FIG. 58 is an explanatory view showing an example of a cover means for covering a substrate.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing a modification of the configuration of the voltage conversion unit.

FIG. 60 is a block diagram showing a modification of the configuration of the voltage conversion unit.

FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the power supply monitoring circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko machine (ball game machine) 109 Prize ball payout device 140 Main control unit 150 Frame control unit 210 Cam 218 Ball passage 340, 350, 360, 380, 440 Control board 420 Power supply unit 425-428 Voltage conversion unit 430 Power distribution Boards 431 to 437 Connectors 438, 439 Fuse 601 Cover 610 Cover

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A power supply unit comprising: a receiving voltage input unit; a voltage converting unit for converting the receiving voltage into a plurality of different power supply voltages; a power supply voltage output unit for outputting the converted power supply voltage; A voltage input unit that is provided separately from the unit and receives a plurality of power supply voltages output from the power supply voltage output unit, and supplies the power supply voltage to electrical operation units provided in various parts of the gaming machine. A power supply unit having a power supply voltage output unit formed individually corresponding to the power supply voltages, and having at least one of the power supply voltages having a plurality of output terminals distributed therein. A gaming machine characterized by the following. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution board is detachably attached to a predetermined attachment target portion. 3. The voltage conversion unit of the power supply unit,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine converts an AC receiving voltage into at least a plurality of DC power supply voltages. 4. The power conversion unit of the power supply unit,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaming machine converts an AC receiving voltage into a DC power supply voltage and a pulsating power supply voltage. 5. The game according to claim 4, wherein in the power supply voltage output section of the distribution board, a light emitting device having a resistance filament as a light emitting body is connected as a load to the output terminal of the pulsating power supply voltage. Machine. 6. The power supply voltage output section of the power distribution board is connected to a plurality of control boards that directly or indirectly control the operation of the gaming machine by one or two or more control boards used in each board. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of board-side connectors in which output terminals of the power supply voltage are grouped are provided corresponding to the number of boards to be connected. 7. The board-side connector does not have any spare terminal portion, and wiring toward a corresponding board is connected to all formed terminal portions.
The gaming machine described. 8. The board-side connector includes only an output terminal for each power supply voltage and a ground terminal, or an output terminal for each power supply voltage,
8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, comprising only a ground terminal and a backup power supply terminal. 9. A wiring cable in which a group of wirings directed to a corresponding board is collectively connected to the board-side connector via a wiring-side connector formed at an end of the wiring cable. 9. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein in two or more pairs of the connector and the wiring-side connector, the connector harnesses are identical in the pair and are colored in different colors between the pair. 10. The power supply voltage output section is formed with two or more board-side connectors having the same number of formed terminals and different combinations of types of power supply voltages included therein. 10. The gaming machine according to claim 9, wherein the wiring harness connectors forming the pair, and the connector harnesses thereof are identical in the pair and are colored in different colors between the pair. 11. The power distribution board according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of control boards connected thereto is provided with an output current of a specific voltage supplied to the control board when the output current becomes excessive. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 6 to 10, further comprising a current interrupting mechanism for interrupting. 12. The gaming machine according to claim 11, wherein the current cutoff mechanism cuts off the output current of the motor driving voltage of the control board to which the motor is connected, when the output current becomes excessive. 13. The current interrupting mechanism includes a fuse for interrupting current, at least one of the control boards is covered by a cover, and the cover is capable of identifying that a removal operation has been performed. In order to perform the removal operation, the distribution board on which the fuse is provided does not have a cover means, or is configured to have a trace on the appearance accompanying the removal operation intentionally. The gaming machine according to claim 11, wherein the gaming machine is covered with a cover means that does not cause intentional trace residue. 14. The power supply unit receives an AC voltage from a power receiving board, and the power distribution board controls a prize ball dispensing device driven by a DC and a prepaid card unit driven by an AC. The board is connected, and the DC power supply voltage used in the frame control board is supplied from the power supply unit to the frame control board via the power distribution board, while the AC power supply voltage for driving the prepaid card unit is 14. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the power is supplied directly from the power receiving board to the frame control board. 15. A light emitting device comprising a resistance filament mounted on a game board as a light emitting body, and a pulsating power supply for supplying a pulsating voltage to the light emitting device for driving the light emitting device to emit light. A gaming machine characterized by: 16. A power supply voltage input section and a power supply voltage based on the power reception voltage are output, and a plurality of control boards for directly or indirectly controlling the operation of the gaming machine are connected to each other. An output connector integrating output terminals of one or more power supply voltages, and a power supply unit having a plurality of power supply voltage output units corresponding to the number of boards to be connected; and an output connector connected to the output connector. A current cutoff mechanism configured to include a fuse for shutting off at least one of the plurality of control boards when a specific voltage output current supplied to the control board becomes excessive. At least one of the control boards is covered with a cover means, and the cover means has an external appearance associated with the removal operation so as to be able to identify that the removal operation has been performed. On the other hand, the fuse mounting portion of the power supply unit has at least a cover means that does not have a cover means or does not cause intentional trace residue accompanying removal operation. A gaming machine characterized by being covered. 17. A power supply unit comprising: a receiving voltage input section; a voltage converting section for converting the receiving voltage into a plurality of different power supply voltages; a power supply voltage output section for outputting the converted power supply voltage; Wherein the backup voltage from the power storage means is distributed to a plurality of control boards via a power distribution board. 18. The gaming machine according to claim 17, wherein said power storage means includes a capacitor. 19. The gaming machine according to claim 17, wherein the power supply unit includes a power supply monitoring circuit.