JP2001340533A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine in which the player can turn the stop button operation, among playing operations, to automatic mode at player's discretion. SOLUTION: A stop button operating unit as shown circuit constitution in the selected figure (figure 2) is mounted to a slot machine body almost the same as a conventional slot machine. An optical sensor 46 in the stop button operating unit detects the emission of a light emission source that shows the operable state of the stop button on the slot machine body side. On the basis of the output of the detection, a CPU 40 drives a solenoid part 29 corresponding to the stop button to operate a corresponding stop button 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine in which a function related to convenience of operation during a game is further added to a function of a slot machine widely used at present.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The appearance of a conventional general slot machine is shown in FIG. 6 (note that FIG. 6 mainly shows parts related to the present invention). As shown in FIG. 1, in this type of slot machine, three picture display windows 3 are provided on a front panel 2 on the front of a body 1, and a coin slot 5, a start handle 6, Three stop buttons 7, a coin discharge tray 8, and the like are provided. The three picture display windows 3
3 that rotates at high speed in each deep part (that is, in the body 1)
The pattern on the peripheral surface of the reels 4 is changed to five stop lines L1 to L
This is a part which is arranged and displayed along the line 5 so that the rotation state of the reel 4 can be seen through the picture display window 3 and, when the reel is stopped, the picture of three frames on the peripheral surface of each reel 4 can be confirmed from the outside. Has become. The stop lines L1 to L5 are
Active lines are formed in accordance with the number of inserted coins. When three inserted coins are provided, all the lines become active lines. Then, when a winning pattern combination is generated on the pay line when the reel is stopped, the number of coins according to the combination content is released to the coin discharge tray 8. The three stop buttons 7 of this slot machine are partially formed of a translucent material, and are illuminated to indicate that the stop button 7 is operable when the stop button 7 is operable. (In order to make the operation intervals of the three stop buttons 7 longer than a predetermined time, even if the next operation after the previous operation is performed, Such a light source is generally provided in a conventional slot machine, for example, because it is configured to disable it during the time, however, this is provided inside the stop button 7 as described above. Not necessarily).

[0003] By focusing only on the game operation of the player in the conventional slot machine as described above,
It looks like this: That is, first, one to three coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot 5, and thereafter, the start handle 6 is operated to rotate all the reels 4. Next, an operation of sequentially operating three stop buttons 7 (operable stop buttons 7 in which the light emission source of the interior is emitting light) to stop the three reels 4 is repeated endlessly. Become.

[0004]

By the way, the above-mentioned game operation in the conventional slot machine as described above is as follows.
The longer the game is, the more tired the player is, and the more the player feels this game operation troublesome. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a slot machine capable of switching to an automatic operation at the player's will with respect to a stop button operation among game operations. .

[0005]

According to the present invention, the slot machine is configured as follows. That is, a plurality of rotatable reels having a pattern drawn on the outer periphery, windows provided for the plurality of reels for observing the pattern, and stopping the reels corresponding to the respective reels. A plurality of stop buttons to be operated at the time, and a plurality of light emitting means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of stop buttons to indicate that the stop button is in an operable state, After the rotation of the reels, the stop button related to the light emitting unit that emits light is sequentially operated, and when the rotation of all the reels is stopped, the combination of pictures observed from the window is a predetermined combination, and a winning is achieved. In addition to having a general function as a slot machine in which medals corresponding to winning types are ejected, the stop button is provided for detachably mounting the following stop button operation unit. A slot machine main body portion provided with an engaging portion that engages with the mounting member on the operation unit side, and the engaging portion and the mounting member of the slot machine main body engage with each other to form the slot machine main body portion. It is detachably attached, and in the attached state, detects light emission (lighting) or light extinguishing corresponding to each of the plurality of light emitting means (the light emission of the light emitting means indicates that the stop button is in an operable state). In the case of the type shown, light emission is detected. On the other hand, in the case of the type in which the stop button is in an operable state by turning off the light emitting means, light emission is detected.)
A plurality of light receiving detectors and a plurality of stop button operating units respectively corresponding to the plurality of stop buttons in the mounting state, receiving an instruction signal, and operating the corresponding stop button, In this order, the plurality of light receiving detectors are inspected, the detection of the light receiving detectors to be inspected is waited for, and after the detection, the instruction signal is sent to the stop button operation unit corresponding to the light receiving detectors. A stop button operation unit having a built-in control means for sequentially performing operations.

According to the invention of claim 2, the slot machine is configured as follows. That is, a plurality of rotatable reels having a pattern drawn on the outer periphery, windows provided for the plurality of reels for observing the pattern, and stopping the reels corresponding to the respective reels. A plurality of stop buttons to be operated at the time, and a plurality of light emitting means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of stop buttons to indicate that the stop button is in an operable state, After the rotation of the reels, the stop button related to the light emitting unit that emits light is sequentially operated, and when the rotation of all the reels is stopped, the combination of pictures observed from the window is a predetermined combination, and a winning is achieved. The same as the control signal given to each of the plurality of light emitting means, and a slot machine body portion having a general function as a slot machine in which medals corresponding to a winning type are discharged. A control signal is input from the slot machine main body to detect a light emission (lighting) or light-off instruction for each light emitting means (the light emitting means emits light when the stop button is in an operable state). In the type indicated by, an instruction to emit light is detected, while on the other hand, in the type indicated by extinguishing the light emitting means that the stop button is in an operable state, an instruction to extinguish is detected.) A detection unit, and a plurality of second stop signals identical to the plurality of first stop signals respectively generated in response to each operation of the plurality of stop buttons and transmitted to each predetermined unit; Stop signal generating means for receiving and transmitting the signals to the predetermined units in place of the first stop signals, respectively, and Waiting for the detection of the light means, and after the detection, the generation instruction signal for instructing the generation and transmission of the same second stop signal as the first stop signal of the stop button corresponding to the light emission means A stop button operation unit having a control means for sequentially performing an operation of transmitting the stop signal to the stop signal generation means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the slot machine is configured as follows. That is, the connection between the circuit section of the slot machine main body and the circuit section of the stop button operation unit in the slot machine according to claim 2 is achieved by a connector which can easily release the connection or via such a connector and a cable. Configured to be performed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, those having the same configuration and function as the components and the like in FIG.
Although the same reference numerals are given to the components and the like in FIG. 6, description of these components will be omitted. As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the slot machine main body 10 which is substantially the same as the body 1 of the slot machine shown in FIG. Only a corresponding portion is shown in a partially cutaway perspective view), and a stop button operation unit 20 detachably attached thereto. Slot machine body 1
Reference numeral 0 is different from the case 1 shown in FIG. For the same purpose as the conventional example, the stop button 7 has the same configuration as the conventional stop button 7, and includes a light emitting source.

As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the stop button operation unit 20 is formed of a relatively thin rectangular parallelepiped body, and a large number of operation buttons are provided on the front side and on the back side. At the side, when the stop button operation unit 20 is detachably attached to the slot machine main body 10, mounting pins 21A and 21B inserted into the engagement holes 9A and 9B of the slot machine main body 10 are implanted. . The six operation order designation buttons 22 on the front side are operation buttons for designating the operation order of the three stop buttons 7. First
The operation interval designation button 23 is operated after any one of the three stop buttons 7, and after the light emission of the light emitting source indicating the operable state of the other two stop buttons 7, how much time is left. The second operation interval designation button 24 is an operation button that is kept pressed when setting the time (hereinafter, referred to as a first additional time) as to whether to automatically operate the second stop button 7.
After operating the second stop button 7, after the light emission of the light emitting source indicating the operable state of the last remaining one stop button 7, how long is the stop button 7 This is an operation button that is kept pressed when setting the time (hereinafter, referred to as a second additional time) of whether to perform the automatic operation. The additional time setting button 25 is an operation button used to set the two types of times, and the time is set to be longer by 50 milliseconds for each operation.

FIG. 2B shows a stop button operation unit 2.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the stop button operation unit 20 when the stop button operation unit 20 is mounted on the slot machine body 10. Each of the three play insertion holes 27 has the same structure. As shown in the XY line cross-sectional view of FIG. An operating rod 2 located slightly behind in the back
8 is installed at the center, and the root of this operating rod 28 is attached to a solenoid part 29. The operating rod 28 is driven by the solenoid portion 29 and projects toward the opening side of the stop button play insertion hole 27. At the time of the mounting, the protrusion causes the tip to press the stop button 7. Has become. Further, a light receiving window 30 is provided on the inner wall near the opening of the stop button play insertion hole 27, and a light receiving window 30 for detecting light emission of a light emitting source provided in the stop button 7 is provided behind the light receiving window 30. A sensor 46 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a circuit built in the stop button operation unit 20. This circuit has a configuration in which the CPU 40 is the center and other circuit units are connected thereto. The CPU 40 is a central circuit that mainly performs calculations and controls, and the ROM 41 is a circuit that fixedly stores a program or the like that defines the operation of the stop button operation unit 20. RAM 42 is a CPU
Various data are temporarily stored under the instructions of 40,
This is a circuit unit that reads out the stored data and sends it to the CPU 40. The register unit includes three stop button registers B1, B2, B3 and two additional time registers TD1, TD2. The three stop button registers B1, B2, and B3 store the code numbers of the first, second, and last three stop buttons 7 respectively operated based on the operation order selected by the operation order designation button 22. Is a register to be executed. Two additional time registers TD
Reference numerals 1 and TD2 denote registers for storing the first and second additional times, respectively.

The key input section 43 is provided with the operation order designation button 22, the first operation interval designation button 23, the second operation interval designation button 24, an additional time setting button 25, and the like. This is a circuit unit that sends out a corresponding key input signal when any of them is operated. Subtraction timer 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a circuit unit used to measure the lapse of the first and second additional times. The three optical sensors 46 are
The optical sensors are respectively disposed at the back of the light receiving window 30 in the stop button play insertion holes 27, and their detection outputs are:
The signal is converted into a signal at the input port 45 and sent to the CPU 40.
The solenoid portion 29 is a circuit portion disposed behind the stop button play insertion hole 27 and for causing the operation rod 28 to protrude forward by an output sent from the output port 47 by a signal from the CPU 40. . The stop button operation unit 20 includes an independent power supply battery 49, which supplies power to each of the circuit units.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the circuit operation of the stop button operation unit 20. That is, the circuit starts operation when the power is turned on. First, in step S1, it is checked whether or not a key input has been performed. If not, in step S2, the light source of the stop button 7 to be operated first is turned on. It is checked whether the first optical sensor 46 for detecting light emission is receiving light (whether or not a light detection signal is being sent). If not, the operation of returning to step S1 is repeated.
Wait for key input etc. Whenever a key operation such as the operation order designation button 22 of the key input unit 43 is performed to set various data in the register unit of the RAM 42, the operation is detected in step S1 and the corresponding key input process is performed. The operation of performing in step S10 and returning to step S1 is repeated. By repeating such key processing, necessary data is stored in the stop button registers B1, B2, B3 and the additional time registers TD1, TD2.

When the player inserts a coin and operates the start handle 6 to rotate all the reels 4 and the light source associated with the all stop button 7 emits light, it is naturally stored in the stop button register B1. The light sensor 46 for the light source relating to the first stop button 7 that is operated receives light, and this detection output is detected in step S2, and the process proceeds to step S3. The solenoid unit 29 is driven to operate the stop button 7 (the first reel 4 stops). Next, in step S4, the process waits for the light sensor 46 for the light emitting source for the stop button 7 operated secondly stored in the stop button register B2 to receive light, and when there is such light reception, the process proceeds to step S5 to add The first additional time set in the time register TD1 is set in the subtraction timer 44 and the elapse of the time is waited. When the elapse of the time is reached, the stop button operated second in step S6. Then, the solenoid unit 29 according to 7 is driven and the stop button 7 is operated (the second reel 4 is stopped). Next, at step S7, the third stop button 7 operated in the stop button register B3 is operated.
Waits for the light sensor 46 for light emission according to the above, and when there is such light reception, the process proceeds to step S8, in which the second additional time set in the additional time register TD2 is set in the subtraction timer 44, and the corresponding time is set. When the time has elapsed, the solenoid unit 29 associated with the third stop button 7 to be operated in step S9 is driven, and the stop button 7 is operated (thus, 3 times). The first reel 4 stops, that is, all the reels 4 stop, and one game ends, and the slot machine body 10 performs a winning process and the like. When the process in step S9 is completed, the process returns to step S1, and the same operation (steps S1 to S9) as described above is repeated. R as above
Since the stop button operation order and the first and second additional times can be arbitrarily set in the register in the AM 42 according to the player's preference, it is possible to avoid uniform and monotonous stop button operations. In addition, the stop button operation unit 20 is detached from the slot machine main body 10, and the slot machine main body 10 alone can be used as a conventional slot machine.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. 1 in the first embodiment.
This corresponds to (A). In the figure,
Components having substantially the same configuration and function as the components and the like in FIG. 1 (A) are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the components and the like in FIG. 1 (A). Is omitted. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the present embodiment also includes a slot machine main body 10 and a stop button operation unit 20, both of which are connected to the connector 5.
0 and a cable 51 (FIG.
The state when the connection by the connector 50 is accidentally released is shown).

FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration of the slot machine main body 10 and the stop button operation unit 20 and a connection state of both circuits. The circuit configuration of the slot machine body 10 is the same as that of a general slot machine.
M, a signal from a CPU having a ROM is provided as a control output via an output port to, for example, three light source control units 60 for stop buttons (circuits including the light source and controlling the light emission). , Further, a circuit unit that includes various buttons and handles, and sends out input when these are operated;
For example, three stop button switches 62 (each of the three
Input is provided at the input port and sent to the CPU. The circuit configuration of the stop button operation unit 20 is substantially the same as the circuit configuration of FIG. 2 for the first embodiment (note that the circuit portion having the same configuration and function as the circuit portion in FIG. , The same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted). The difference between the circuit configuration of the stop button operation unit 20 and that in FIG. 2 is that three optical sensors 46, the solenoid unit 29, and the battery 49 are eliminated, and instead of the detection output of the optical sensor 46, The control output to the stop button light emitting source control unit 60 of the slot machine body 10 is input to the input port 45 via the connector 50 and the cable 51, and the presence or absence of light emission of each of the light emitting sources is detected therefrom. ing. Further, since the solenoid unit 29 is eliminated, the output from the output port 47 is sent to the slot machine main body 10 via the connector 50 and the cable 51, and the input from the stop button switch 62 is replaced with the input port. It is sent to. As a result, the same input as when the stop button 7 is operated can be sent to the input port without operating the stop button 7. Instead of losing the battery 49, power is supplied from the slot machine body 10 via the connector 50 and the like.

The operation of the stop button operation unit 20 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as the operation of the stop button operation unit 20 according to the first embodiment, and is roughly represented by the flowchart of FIG. You. However, since the light sensor 46 and the solenoid unit 29 are not provided, the control output to the stop button light source control unit 60 determines whether the corresponding light source emits light in steps S2, S4, and S7. Processing is performed, and steps S3, S6, S
In step 9, the output of the corresponding stop button switch 62 from the output port 47 is sent to the input port of the slot machine body 10 in place of the stop button switch 62. In this embodiment, the slot machine main body 10 can be used as a conventional slot machine in a conventional manner with the stop button operation unit 20 connected or disconnected.

[0018]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a slot machine in which the stop button operation in the game operation can be switched to the automatic operation by the player's intention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a stop button operation unit 20 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a stop button operation unit 20 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 2 Front panel 3 Picture display window 4 Reel 5 Coin slot 6 Start handle 7 Stop button 8 Coin discharge tray 9A Engagement hole 9B Engagement hole 10 Slot machine body 20 Stop button operation unit 28 Operation rod 30 Light receiving window 50 Connector 51 Cable B1, B2, B3 Stop button register TD1, TD2 Additional time register

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rotatable reels each having a pattern drawn on its outer periphery, windows provided for the plurality of reels for observing the pattern, and reels respectively corresponding to the plurality of reels. A plurality of stop buttons operated when stopping, and a plurality of light emitting means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of stop buttons to indicate that the stop button is in an operable state, After the rotation of the plurality of reels, the stop button of the light emitting unit that emits light is sequentially operated, and when the rotation of all the reels is stopped, the combination of the patterns observed from the window is a predetermined combination. In addition to having a general function as a slot machine that medals are ejected according to the winning type,
In order to detachably attach the following stop button operation unit, a slot machine main body portion provided with an engagement portion that engages with a mounting member on the stop button operation unit side, and the engagement of the slot machine main body portion The slot and the mounting member are engaged with each other to be detachably mounted to the slot machine main body, and in the mounted state, a plurality of light-emitting (light-on) or light-off detections corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting means are detected. A light receiving detection unit, a plurality of stop button operation units respectively corresponding to the plurality of stop buttons in the mounting state, receiving an instruction signal, and operating the corresponding stop button, and a predetermined order Then, the plurality of light receiving detectors are inspected, the detection of the light receiving detectors to be inspected is waited for, and after the detection, the stop button operation unit corresponding to the light receiving detectors A stop button operation unit incorporating control means for sequentially performing an operation of transmitting the instruction signal to the slot machine. 2. A plurality of rotatable reels each having a pattern drawn on its outer periphery, windows provided to correspond to the plurality of reels for observing the pattern, and reels respectively corresponding to the plurality of reels. A plurality of stop buttons operated when stopping, and a plurality of light emitting means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of stop buttons to indicate that the stop button is in an operable state, After the rotation of the plurality of reels, the stop button of the light emitting unit that emits light is sequentially operated, and when the rotation of all the reels is stopped, the combination of the patterns observed from the window is a predetermined combination. A slot machine body having a general function as a slot machine that a medal according to a winning type is discharged, and a control signal given to each of the plurality of light emitting means. A detection unit that receives one control signal from the slot machine main body unit and detects a light emission (lighting) or light off instruction for each light emitting unit, and a detection unit that responds to each operation of the plurality of stop buttons. The plurality of second stop signals, which are respectively the same as the plurality of first stop signals generated and transmitted to each predetermined unit, are generated in response to the generation instruction signal described later, and are generated instead of the first stop signals. A stop signal generating unit for sending to each of the predetermined units, and waiting for the detection of the light emitting unit of the detection unit in a predetermined order for each of the plurality of light emitting units. The generation instruction signal for instructing the generation and transmission of the same second stop signal as the first stop signal related to the stop button corresponding to the means is sequentially transmitted to the stop signal generation means. And a stop button operation unit having control means. 3. The connection between the circuit section of the slot machine main body and the circuit section of the stop button operation unit is performed through a connector capable of easily releasing the connection or through such a connector and a cable. 3. The slot machine according to claim 2, wherein