JP2002000900A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To check whether or not inappropriate control information is transmitted when controlling a peripheral device by using a common bus. SOLUTION: For control data 500 transmitted to the present device which are judged as proper control data 500 once by an address decoding part 704, a CPU 700 checks whether or not they are the control data 500 to the present device again. Thus, whether or not inappropriate control data 500 are transmitted can be strictly checked.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sub-control means for a plurality of types of peripheral devices, which receives control information transmitted from a main control means for controlling the operation of the entire game via a common bus, and receives the control information. The present invention relates to an improvement in a gaming machine configured to perform an operation in response to the obtained control information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the operation control of a game machine represented by a pachinko machine has become complicated, and in order to realize the complicated operation control, a main C for controlling the operation of the entire game machine has been developed.
There is a configuration in which a control command is transmitted from a PU (main control unit) to various peripheral devices. In such a gaming machine, a sub CPU (sub-control unit) on the peripheral device side receives a control command and performs a control operation of the peripheral device based on the received control command.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-290529
In the pachinko machine described in the publication, a kind of LAN is constructed by a common bus, and a control command can be transmitted from the main CPU to the sub CPU to simplify the internal structure.

However, in such a gaming machine, although the internal structure is certainly simplified, when the transmission address of the control information is changed due to noise or the like. However, there is a problem that unexpected operation control is performed as it is.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and strictly checks whether inappropriate control information has been transmitted when a peripheral device is controlled using a common bus. It is an object to provide a gaming machine capable of being checked.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a main control unit in which each of a plurality of types of peripheral devices controls the operation of the entire game via a common bus. In the gaming machine configured to receive the control information transmitted from the, and to perform an operation in response to the received control information, the sub-control means, for the control information transmitted to its own device, A recheck unit for rechecking whether or not the control information is directed to the own device is provided.

According to the present invention, the re-check means re-checks whether the control information transmitted to the own device is the control information for the own device or not. It can be strictly checked whether or not it has been done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the re-checking unit receives a predetermined control information group to be transmitted to the own device and the re-check unit. Since the re-check is performed by comparing the control information with the control information, the re-check can be performed only by comparing the reception control information with the valid control information group.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first and second aspects, the re-check means includes a bit group at a predetermined position in the control information. This is characterized in that it is a means for comparing and rechecking with a predetermined bit group, so that it is not necessary to compare all bits in the control information.

[0008] The invention according to claim 4 is based on claim 1,
The gaming machine described in any one of 2 and 3 is characterized in that the gaming machine is provided with a notifying means for giving a notification according to the result of the recheck, so that the result of the recheck can be easily grasped.

The control operation of the main control means and the peripheral devices is performed by recording a display control procedure on a computer-readable recording medium, and reading and executing the display control procedure recorded on the recording medium by a computer. It can be realized by doing. As such a recording medium, RO
M, semiconductor recording medium such as semiconductor IC, DVDROM, C
Examples of the optical recording medium include a DROM and the like, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk, and a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration and operation of a normal pachinko machine will be described first, and then the features of the present invention will be described to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a game board 100 constituting a part of a game machine (pachinko machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

On the game board 100, a circular game area 103 is formed which is surrounded by a substantially circular outer guide rail 101 and a substantially circular inner guide rail 102 having a smaller radius. A game is played by a game ball fired from a firing device (not shown) by operation and rolling in the game area 103. In the game area 103, a large number of game nails for contacting game balls and rolling them in a plurality of directions are provided, but for simplicity of illustration, the game nails are not shown. I have.

At a substantially central position of the game board 100, there is provided a display area in which identification information composed of figures and characters can be independently stopped and changed in an array pattern such as a horizontal line or a vertical line. The special symbol display device 104 provided is provided. Above the special symbol display device 104, a normal symbol display device 107 is provided. Directly below the special symbol display device 104 is a special symbol opening 105
, And normal symbol operation gates 106 are arranged on both sides of the special symbol display device 104.

A variable prize device 108 is provided below the special symbol starting port 105, and the variable prize device 108 is provided.
A large winning opening 109 in which the wide movable member 116 rotates toward the drawing side during the jackpot period and a game ball can win a prize until the movable member 116 rotates in the returning direction.
The normal electric role in which the narrow movable member 117 rotates toward the drawing side during the small hit, and the game ball can enter the prize until the movable member 117 rotates in the direction to return to the original position. Thing 1
And 10.

In the game area 103, four windmills 111 for changing the rolling direction of the game ball together with a game nail (not shown), two windmills 112 with lamps, and lighting control according to the game state of the game machine. Lamp display device 114, 1
15. An out port 113 and the like for discharging game balls that are not won to the back side of the game board 100 are provided.

Then, when a game ball is won in the special symbol starting port 105 and a random number generated by a loop counter for generating a big hit random number is drawn, and if the drawn random number is a big hit value, After the identification information of the display area is changed to the variable display state, a predetermined pattern (for example, “7, 7,
7)) is performed by the special symbol display device 104, and the special winning opening 109 is controlled to be opened and closed in a predetermined opening and closing pattern, so that the variable winning device 108 is changed from a disadvantageous state to an advantageous state for the player.

When the symbol actuation gate 106 detects the passing of a game ball, a random selection of a random number generated by a loop counter for generating a small random number is performed, and the random number selected is a small value. Has an ordinary symbol display device 10
With the display of 7 as a predetermined one (for example, “7” or “3”), the ordinary electric accessory 110 is opened (small hit state), and if a game ball is won during this opening period, a big hit lottery is performed. .

If the lottery results in a big hit, the identification information is variably displayed in the display area in the same manner as described above, and the display in a predetermined pattern is performed by the special symbol display device 104. Is controlled to open / close in a predetermined opening / closing pattern to change the variable winning device 108 from a disadvantageous state to an advantageous state for the player. Note that game balls that are not won are ejected through the out port 113. In addition, this gaming machine is configured to have a probability variation function of increasing the probability of the next big hit if a specific symbol has been hit and a big hit has occurred.

The above description has been made on each device disposed on the game board 100. The operation of the main devices among these devices is controlled by the microcomputer system, and these devices will be described with reference to a control block diagram. explain. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of main devices provided in the game board 100. Note that control units such as a launching device and a prize ball discharging device (not shown) are not shown.

The main control unit 200 is equipped with a microprocessor having a built-in CPU, has a table area 215 described below, and stores a control program and control data describing a series of control procedures.
A counter area 216, which will be described later, and a RAM 202 in which various work areas are formed are provided, and are an integrated one-chip microcomputer. Counter area 216
Can be configured by using a register group (not shown) inside the CPU instead of the RAM 202.

Various peripheral devices are connected to the main control unit 200 via an input port 203. That is, the main control unit 200 has a special symbol start switch 20 which is disposed inside the special symbol start port 105 via the input port 203 and detects a winning of the game ball in the special symbol start port 105.
4. a normal symbol operation switch 205 which is disposed inside the normal symbol operation gate 106 and detects the passage of the game ball through the gate;
Big winning opening 10 of a game ball placed inside the big winning opening 109
9 is connected to a large winning opening switch 206 for detecting a prize to the No. 9 and an ordinary electric accessory switch 207 disposed inside the ordinary electric accessory 110 and detecting a prize of the game ball to the ordinary electric accessory 110. The control unit 200 is capable of receiving each detection signal.

The main control unit 200 has an output port 2
The control data 500 is transmitted to each of the peripheral devices via 08 to control the operation of the peripheral devices. That is, the main control unit 200 is capable of changing and stopping display of identification information composed of figures and characters through the output port 208, and has a special design including a display device such as an LCD. The display device 104, for example, a normal symbol display device 107 realized by a 7-segment display device, and a special winning opening operation solenoid for controlling the rotation of the wide movable member 116 of the special winning opening 109 to open and control the special winning opening 109. 209, an ordinary electric accessory actuation solenoid 210 for controlling the rotation of the movable member 117 of the ordinary electric accessory 110 to open and control the ordinary electric accessory 110, and a lamp display device 114 (115) for controlling lighting of a lamp or an LED. ,and,
A speaker 211 for outputting a sound effect is connected, and the main control unit 200 can transmit command data 502 for controlling these devices. In response, the CPU of the peripheral device controls the operation according to the control data 500.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the data format of the control data 500 transmitted from the main controller 200 to the peripheral device. The control data 500 includes address data 501 for specifying an address of a peripheral device, and command data 502 for specifying control contents. The main control unit 200 sets the address of the peripheral device to which the control data 500 is transmitted as address data 501 and adds the command data 502 to the control data 500.
Is transmitted to the peripheral device side. An address that can be distinguished from each other is assigned in advance to each peripheral device, and the main control unit 200 transmits the control data 500 with reference to the address. In response, the CPU of the peripheral device controls the operation according to the control data 500.

The main control unit 200 is connected to a power supply circuit 212 for supplying power and a reset circuit 213 for outputting a reset signal every predetermined time. A pulse signal generated by the periodic timer counter is input from the control unit 200, and a monitor signal for monitoring a current supply state from the power supply circuit 212 is input.

Next, a main random number generation counter used by the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG. Various random numbers are counted up one by one in a predetermined cycle (for example, 4 msec) sequentially from the value “0” until reaching the upper limit value, and when the count value exceeds the upper limit value, the initial value “ Generated using so-called infinite loop counters that are cleared to "0" and repeat the counting operation, these infinite loop counters are formed in the RAM 202, and the main control unit 200 controls the counting operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main counts are a big hit state determination random number counter (count value: 0 to 239) 401, a reach selection counter (count value: 0 to 99) 402, a big hit state symbol selection Random number counter (count value: 0 to 8) 403, a left symbol selection random counter (counter value: 0 to 8) 404, a missing symbol selection random counter (counter value: 0 to 8)
405 and a right symbol selection random number counter 406 (counter value: 0 to 8).

The big hit judgment counter 401 is a counter used for judging whether or not a big hit state occurs. In the normal game state (normal probability state), the counter value is "7" to generate a special prize state, and otherwise, the special prize state is not generated. In the high probability state, the counter values “7”, “39”, “1”
A special prize state is generated at "39", and otherwise, no special prize state is generated. Thus, the total count value is changed to "24
If it is set to "0", the special prize state can be generated with a probability of 1/240 in the normal gaming state, and the special prize state can be generated with a probability of 1/80 in the high probability state.

The reach selection random number counter 402 is a counter used to select a variation pattern of a special symbol. When the counter value is randomly selected, a symbol variation pattern corresponding to the selected counter value is selected. The big hit symbol selection random number counter 403 is used to select a special symbol used when the same symbol is stopped and displayed in the display area of the special symbol display device 104 so that, for example, three are aligned in a horizontal line when the big hit state occurs. A counter,
When this counter value is selected by lot, each display section of the special symbol display device 104 is displayed in a symbol pattern corresponding to the selected counter value.

When the counter value is "0", "1", "2",
In the case of "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", respectively, "1", "2", "3", "4",
Numerical symbols "5", "6", "7", "8", "9" are selected and displayed. Missing left symbol selection random number counter 4
04, random symbol counter 405 for symbol selection during departure, and
The off-right symbol selection random number counter 406 is a counter used to select a special symbol to be stopped and displayed on the display area of the special symbol display device 104 when a big hit state does not occur. The left, middle, and right symbols corresponding to the selected counter value are displayed on the special symbol display device 104. In addition, there are counters related to normal symbol display etc. other than these,
These are stored in the counter area 216.

Next, the control operation performed by the main control unit 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG.
It is a flowchart for explaining the game operation of the gaming machine. The series of processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the main control unit 200.
The process is executed from step S100, which is the first step, with a reset signal supplied every msec) as a trigger.

First, when the power supply circuit 212 is activated by a power switch (not shown), the main control unit 200 is activated. It is determined whether or not the first processing after power-on is performed. A determination is made (step S100). In the case of the first processing after turning on the power, (Y
es) The process proceeds to step S102, while otherwise (No) the process proceeds to step S108.

In step S102, a clearing process of the RAM 202 is executed to clear at least a predetermined area including the counter area 216. Then, in step S1
In 04, data for performing initial control processing is stored in RAM
The area is set to the predetermined area 202 and the process proceeds to step S106.

On the other hand, in step S108, the counter values of the various random number counters 401 to 407 described above are counted up by one to update the counter values. Next, in step S110, the detection signals output from the special symbol start switch 204, the ordinary symbol activation switch 205, the special winning opening switch 206, and the ordinary electric accessory switch 207 are transferred to an internal register (not shown) via the input port 203. Port input processing for reading and storing, special symbol display device 10
4. In order to control the operation of the ordinary symbol display device 107, the special winning opening activation solenoid 209, the ordinary electric accessory activation solenoid 210, the lamp display device 114 (115), and the speaker 211, the RAM 202 is used in control processing in each step described later. A port output process for outputting control data stored in an output buffer (not shown) to a corresponding device via an output port 208, and storing the control data output by the port output process. A "common process 1" including an output buffer clearing process for clearing the output buffer and various timer processes for updating timer values of various timers (not shown) used for gaming machine operation control is executed.

Next, in step S112, the switches 204, 205, 206, 207, etc. are checked for disconnection or short-circuit. If it is determined that these failures have occurred (Yes), the process proceeds to step S112. The flow shifts to S116, executes an error process for storing an error flag in a predetermined area of the RAM 202 and performs control or the like necessary for notifying that it is in an abnormal state, and shifts to S126. If it is determined that has not occurred (No), the process proceeds to step S118 (step S114).

Next, in step S118, a special symbol start switch 204, a normal symbol operation switch 205,
Big winning opening switch 206, ordinary electric accessory switch 207
Outputs a detection signal of detecting a winning ball, from the various random number counters updated in step S108,
The random number value corresponding to the output detection signal is randomly selected and stored in the RAM.
The stored random number is stored in a predetermined area 202, and a hit determination, a symbol determination, and the like are performed with reference to the stored random value.

Specifically, the special symbol start switch 204
Or, when the ordinary design electric accessory switch 207 outputs a winning ball detection signal, the table area 2 described above is used.
15, it is determined whether or not the extracted random number value (the random number counter 701 for judging a prize state) causes a big hit, and the random number counter 403 for selecting a big hit state symbol and the non-matching symbol selection are determined. Random number counter 404-
Processing such as determination of a special symbol to be displayed is performed by referring to the information stored in the table area 406 and the table area 215, and necessary control data is stored in a predetermined position of the output buffer.

When the normal symbol operation switch 205 outputs a detection signal, the small hit is determined by referring to a random number generated by a random number counter (not shown) and a small hit value stored in the ROM 201 in advance. In addition to deciding whether or not to cause a state, a normal symbol to be displayed is determined, and necessary control data is stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer.

Next, in step S120, symbol display control such as symbol change and stop is performed on the special symbol display device 104 and the ordinary symbol display device 107, and in step S11.
The control data necessary for performing the control for displaying the symbol selected in step 8 and the control for displaying the animation image during the big hit period is stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer. Since this specific control is a main part of the present invention, it will be described later.

Next, in step S122, during the big hit state or the small hit state, the special winning opening 109
And control data for controlling the opening and closing of the ordinary electric accessory 110 in a predetermined opening pattern is stored in a predetermined area of an output buffer. The various control data stored in the output buffer as described above is transmitted to the corresponding device by the port output process in step S110, and the device that has received the control data performs operation control based on the received control data.

Then, the flow shifts to step S126, where external game information output setting processing for storing various game data in a predetermined area of an output buffer in a game machine management device (not shown), and prize ball command data in a prize ball discharge device (not shown). , A lamp display control process for storing control data necessary for controlling the lighting of the lamp device 114 (115) in a predetermined area of the output buffer, and a control data necessary for driving and controlling the speaker 211. Common processing 2 "including sound effect control processing for storing in a predetermined area of the output buffer
Execute In step S106, a reset standby process is performed until a reset signal is input from the reset circuit 213. When a reset signal is input, the process proceeds to step S100 to continue operation control of the gaming machine. In addition, as this reset waiting process,
Updating the counter value for generating random numbers of various random numbers described above, and the like can be mentioned. As described above, a series of operation control of the pachinko machine is performed.

(Structure) Next, the main part of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a special symbol display device 10 as an example of a peripheral device.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fourth example. As shown in this figure, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, each peripheral device is configured to be able to receive control data 500 transmitted from main controller 200 via common bus 300. Main control unit 200
Sends the control data 500 described above onto the common bus 300.

The special symbol display device 104 includes a CPU 700
, ROM 701, RAM 702, LCD 703
, An address decoder 704, an interrupt pulse generator 705, and an LED 706.
The PU 700 performs desired operation control by performing an operation in accordance with an operation control program recorded in the ROM 701.

The ROM 701 stores a command data table 900 as shown in FIG. This command data table is provided in each peripheral device, but the content differs depending on each device. That is, a control data group that should be transmitted to the own device is registered. In the example of FIG. 9, continuous digital information from 00 (H) to 3A (H) is registered.

(Operation) Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the main control unit 200 transmits the control data 500 to the special symbol display device 104. First, the address decoding unit 704 decodes the address data 501 and only when the address data 501 is valid (Y in step S800).
es) The process moves to step S802, otherwise (No in step S800).

Next, if the address decoding result is valid, the interrupt pulse generator 705 is activated in step S 802 to supply an interrupt signal to the CPU 700. In response, CPU 700 stores command data 502 in control data 500 in RAM 70.
2 (step S804).

The CPU 700 sends the command data 50
2 is checked to see if it matches any of those registered in the command data table 900. If they do not match (No in step S806), the LED 706 is turned on to notify the fact that they do not match, making it easier to grasp the check result. On the other hand, if they match, it is determined that the correct control command 500 has been transmitted, and processing according to the command data 502 temporarily stored in the RAM 702 is executed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, C
The PU 700 re-checks whether the control data 500 transmitted to the own device once determined to be valid control data 500 by the address decoding unit 704 is the control data 500 intended for the own device. It can be strictly checked whether inappropriate control data 500 has been transmitted.

Further, the CPU 700 compares the predetermined control data group to be transmitted to the own device registered in the command data table 900 with the received control data and performs a recheck. The recheck can be performed only by comparing the reception control data with the valid control data group. Moreover, the result of the recheck can be easily grasped by controlling the lighting of the LED 706.

For example, instead of using all the bits of the command data 502 as comparison targets, the command data 50
The check may be performed by comparing a bit group at a predetermined position in 2 with a predetermined valid bit group. According to this, the check processing data can be simplified and the check processing can be speeded up.

In the above-described embodiment, the special symbol display device 104 has been described as an example of the peripheral device. However, it goes without saying that the same processing can be performed for other peripheral devices.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and changes can be made to each of the above embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, comparing a predetermined upper-order several bits or lower-order predetermined bits of the command data 502 with a predetermined valid bit group may be mentioned. In the above embodiments, a pachinko machine has been described as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention can be applied to other gaming machines such as pachislot machines and TV games.

As described above, according to the present invention, the control information transmitted to the own device is re-checked whether it is the control information for the own device or not. This is advantageous in that it can be strictly checked whether or not any control information has been transmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the front of a gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation control of the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of various counters.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a data format of control data 500.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a special symbol display device 104 as an example of a peripheral device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a command data table 900.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Game board 101 Outer guide rail 102 Inner guide rail 103 Game area 104 Special symbol display device 105 Special symbol start-up port 106 Ordinary symbol operation gate 107 Ordinary symbol display device 108 Variable winning device 109 Large winning opening 110 Ordinary electric auditorium 111 Windmill 112 Windmill with lamp 113 Out port 114, 115 Lamp display device 116 Movable member 117 Movable member 200 Main control unit 201 ROM 202 RAM 203 Input port 204 Special design start switch 205 Normal design operation switch 206 Large winning opening switch 207 Normal electric switch 208 Output port 209 Large winning opening operating solenoid 210 Normal electric accessory operating solenoid 211 Speaker 212 Power supply circuit 213 Reset circuit 300a-300n Peripheral devices 301a-30 1n Peripheral device 401 Random number counter for judging a prize state 402 Random number counter for selecting a reach 403 Random number counter for selecting a prize state symbol 404 Off counter for selecting a left symbol 405 Off counter for selecting a symbol during departure 406 Counter for selecting a deviating right symbol 500 Control data 700 CPU 701 ROM 702 RAM 703 LCD 704 Address decoder 705 Interrupt pulse generator 706 LED 900 Command data table

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sub-control means for each of a plurality of types of peripheral devices receives control information transmitted from a main control means for controlling the operation of the entire game via a common bus, and responds to the received control information. In the gaming machine configured to perform the operation described above, the sub-control means, for the control information transmitted to its own device, re-check means to re-check whether this is control information for its own device A gaming machine comprising: 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the re-check unit compares a predetermined control information group to be transmitted to the own device with the received control information, and re-checks the control information. A gaming machine characterized by a means for performing a check. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the re-checking unit determines a bit group at a predetermined position in the control information and a predetermined bit group. A gaming machine characterized by means for comparing and rechecking. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for performing a notification according to a result of the recheck.