JP2002035233A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a volume switching circuit for a Pachinko machine having little power consumption. SOLUTION: A loudspeaker 247 is arranged on the front face of the Pachinko machine and amplifies the output sound signal from an amplifier 246. A sound source IC 245 generates a sound signal corresponding to a game result according to the control signal from a sound presenting substrate operated by the control of a main substrate. A volume switching circuit 249 is arranged between the sound source IC 245 and the amplifier 246 and switches the amplitude level of the small signal voltage introduced to the amplifier 246, thereby the power consumption becomes lower than that when the amplitude level is switched on the loudspeaker 247 side.

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 pachinko machine for paying out a prize medium in accordance with the result of a game, and more particularly to a game machine provided with a sound production means for producing a game by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine performs various visual and auditory effects in order to make a player enthusiastic about a game. In particular, sound effects are indispensable. In order to perform a predetermined sound effect according to the result of the game, the sound effect means for effecting the sound is operated under the control of a main control device including a main CPU for monitoring the result of the game. It has become.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a conventional voice control device that generates a voice signal under the control of such a main control device. The voice control device shown in FIG. 9 comprises a main control device 1 for monitoring the result of a game, and a control signal for decoding a predetermined voice readout by decoding an output signal (control command) of the main control device 1 which has recognized the result of the game. , A sound source microcomputer 2a for generating a sound signal based on the control signal, an amplifier 3 for power-amplifying the sound signal generated by the sound source IC 2, and an amplifier 3 for amplifying the sound signal. And a loudspeaker 4 for loudspeaking the obtained audio signal. A coupling capacitor C1 is connected between the sound source IC 2 and the amplifier 3.

In the voice control device shown in FIG. 9, the output volume when operating for normal use in a game arcade is increased, and the output volume when operating for testing and inspection is reduced. Has a volume switching circuit 5.

The conventional volume switching circuit 5 is connected in series with the loudspeaker 4 between the output terminals 3a and 3b of the amplifier 3, as shown in FIG. More specifically, the volume switching circuit 5 includes a resistor 6 connected in series with the loudspeaker 4 and a slide-type switch 9 also connected in series with the loudspeaker 4. The switch 9 has a common terminal c and two switching terminals a and b, and is movable between the common terminal c and the switching terminal a and between the common terminal c and the switching terminal b by the operation unit 8. The conductor 7 alternately switches between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. However, the common terminal c and the switching terminal a are always conductive, and equivalently, the switch 9 is an open / close switch. When it is desired to increase the output volume, the volume switching circuit 5 slides the movable conductor 7 toward the switching terminal b by the operation unit 8 (the switching terminal b and the common terminal c).
Between the output terminals 3a and 3b of the amplifier 3 so that only the loudspeaker 4 is connected. When it is desired to reduce the output sound volume, the operating section 8 slides the movable conductor 7 to the switching terminal a side (the conduction between the switching terminal b and the common terminal c is non-conductive), thereby increasing the volume between the output terminals 3a and 3b of the amplifier 3. The resistor 6 is set in a state where the resistor 6 is connected in series with the container 4.

[0006]

In the conventional voice control device, since a volume switching circuit 5 for reducing the volume by a resistor 6 is connected to the output side of the amplifier 3, a resistor for high power is used as the resistor 6. In addition to using the resistor, when the volume is reduced, the resistor 6 acts as a load and generates heat to increase power consumption, deteriorating the temperature environment of the surrounding electric components, and thermally reducing the temperature of the substrate to which the resistor 6 is added. There was a problem of giving stress.

For this reason, in the conventional voice control device, a small board PB1 is provided as shown in FIG. 10 separately from a board for voice, and a switch 9 is provided on the small board PB1.
And a resistance switching circuit 6. In this configuration, the loudspeaker 4 and the small board PB1 are connected to the harness L
1 and the small board PB1 and the connector CN1 are connected by a harness L2. The connector CN1 is a member for connection to a board on which the sound effect microcomputer unit 2a, the sound source IC 2, the amplifier 3, and the like are mounted. The above small substrate PB
By using 1, the thermal stress on the small-sized substrate PB1 cannot be eliminated even if the temperature environment for the surrounding components can be improved. Also, two harnesses are required.

Further, in the conventional configuration, the resistor 6 and the switch 9 are usually arranged close to each other, and there is a problem in that a heat-generating component is located near the operation unit 8.
Further, the volume switching circuit 5 in the conventional voice control device includes:
It has been pointed out that it is difficult to confirm whether the operation unit 8 of the switch 9 is in a state of increasing the volume or in a state of decreasing the volume, and that the visual recognition is troublesome. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and a game in which the volume can be switched by an electric element having a small power capacity without affecting power consumption or heat generation even when the volume is reduced. Providing machines is an issue to be solved. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that allows easy confirmation of a sound volume setting state.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sound source for generating an audio signal and the sound signal generated by the sound source. And a loudspeaker for loudspeaking the output audio signal amplified by the amplifier, and in a gaming machine for paying out a prize medium according to the result of the game, between the sound source and the amplifier or The present invention employs a technical means in which a volume switching circuit capable of changing the volume output from the loudspeaker is provided in the amplifier. In the gaming machine according to claim 1, an audio signal between a sound source provided with a volume switching circuit and an amplifier or in the middle of the amplifier,
Before amplification, since it is a small signal voltage, the current that flows when the volume is increased or decreased is small. Therefore, the components of the volume switching circuit do not generate heat that affects other components, and therefore have a low power capacity, and can be mounted on the same board as other components, thus reducing waste of harnesses. Can be eliminated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the volume switching circuit includes an electric element capable of changing an amplitude level of the audio signal output from the sound source; A switch for switching the connection state of the electric element to set whether to increase or decrease the amplitude level of the audio signal, and an operation unit for operating the switch, wherein the operation unit is configured to A technical means is adopted in which there is a difference in required operating force between the case where the switch is operated in a direction to increase the amplitude level and the case where the switch is operated in a direction to decrease the same amplitude level. In the gaming machine according to the second aspect, for example, as described in the following embodiment, the electric element is a resistor, the resistor is connected between the audio signal path and the reference potential point, and the switch is It is arranged so that both ends of the resistor can be switched between short-circuit and open. Therefore, in this case, when the operation unit is operated in a predetermined direction so that the switch short-circuits the resistance, the amplitude level of the audio signal is reduced, and the operation unit is turned in the opposite direction to the above-described direction so that the switch opens the resistance. Is operated, the amplitude level of the audio signal is increased. And
There is a difference in operation force between when the operation unit is operated in a direction to decrease the amplitude level of the audio signal and when it is operated in a direction to increase the amplitude level of the audio signal. Since there is a difference in the required force in the direction in which the operation unit is operated, it is possible to easily recognize whether the volume is set to be large or small without visually checking the volume. Since the volume of the gaming machine is increased in the normal use state, it is preferable that the gaming machine can be operated with a small force in the direction of increasing the volume.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A gaming machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. In the following embodiments, a so-called first class pachinko machine will be described as an example of the gaming machine according to the present invention. "Overall Main Configuration" First, the main configuration of the pachinko machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the pachinko machine of this embodiment as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the pachinko machine as viewed from the back.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 is integrated with a unit 11 outside the gaming machine which controls the payout of a lending ball in response to a deposit by a prepaid card or the like. A center case 12 having a mouth, a normal symbol display function and a special symbol display function, a variable winning device 14 combined with a first-type starting opening portion 13, left and right gates 15, 15, various lamps (symbols omitted) and nails (Not shown), a front frame 17 having a lower tray 17a at a position extending downward while holding the game board 16 and having a firing handle 21 penetrated to the front.
And an outer frame 18 (FIG. 2), a metal frame 19 fixed to the front frame 17, a glass door 20 supported on the left side of the metal frame 19 so as to be openable and closable, the lower tray 17a and the metal frame. Upper tray 2 supported so as to be openable and closable with the lower side of the lower portion 19
2 etc. are arranged. The firing handle 21 rotatably supports a firing lever 21a. Upper saucer 2
2 has a prize ball / lending ball supply port 22a which communicates with each ball exit of a prize ball unit 32 and a ball lending unit 33 (FIG. 2) to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back side of the pachinko machine 10, a sound effect board 24, a lamp control board 25, and a firing motor 26 provided on the back side of the game board 16,
A back opening / closing plate 27; a main board 28 and a payout control board 23 attached to the back opening / closing plate 27;
The ball tank 29, the tank rail 30 and the case rail 31, which are integrally formed with the main unit, the prize ball unit 32, the ball lending unit 33, and the power supply board 34 fixed to the back opening / closing plate 27 below the case rail 31 Element is composed. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a speaker 247 (FIG. 4) that loudspeaks the output audio signal from the audio effect board 24,
The output sound signal is fixed to the back side of the upper tray 22 so as to increase the output sound signal toward the player.

In the above-mentioned pachinko machine, the game ball in the ball tank 29 is passed through the tank rail 30 and the case rail 31 by the ball-lending unit 33 and the prize-ball unit 32 and is placed above the prize-ball / lending ball supply port 22a. Leaked to The game balls stored in the upper tray 22 are led out to the lower tray 17a by operating the ball release button 22b of the upper tray 22.

[Electrical Configuration of Pachinko Machine] Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 is shown by a block diagram in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The main electrical configurations of the pachinko machine 10 include a main board 28, a payout control board 23, and a prize ball unit 3.
2. A system for controlling a game ball comprising a ball rental unit 33 and a drive board 36 of the launch motor 26;
8. A special symbol display control board 35 for controlling the special symbol display function, a sound effect board 24, and a lamp control board 25, which mainly play a game effect, and supply of a drive power supply voltage to each of the boards and a power failure. When the power supply is shut off, a required board is operated as an emergency interrupt so that the game state is stored and stored. The power supply board 34 is A
Each drive power supply voltage is generated from the AC voltage of C24V.

The main board 28 is provided with a start detection signal 13a from a first-type start-up switch SW13 provided in the first-type start-up portion 13 for detecting a passing ball, a natural prize opening switch, a left and right gate switch, a large prize opening switch. The prize detection signal 40a from the prize detection block 40 composed of a left and right sleeve prize port switch, a left and right lower input port switch, and the like is input, and a prize ball control command or a ball lending control command is output to the payout control board 23. An image control command is output to the symbol display control board 35, a voice control command is output to the voice effect board 24, and a lamp control command is output to the lamp control board 25.

The payout control board 23 receives the prize ball control command or ball lending control command from the main board 28 and the ball lending permission signal 11a from the unit 11 outside the gaming machine, and operates the actuator of the prize ball unit 32. The control signal 23a, the control signal 23b for operating the actuator in the ball letting unit 33 and the firing motor 26
Control signal 23 to the firing motor drive board 36 that activates
c is output. The detection signal 37d from the lever sensing circuit 37 including the firing switch 37a and the touch sensor 37b is input to the firing motor driving board 36, and the firing motor driving board 36 controls the firing motor 26 to be activated by the detection signal 37d. .

The special symbol display control board 35 receives an image control command from the main board 28 and controls the special symbol display function of the center case 12 based on the image control command.

The voice effect board 24 receives a voice control command from the main board 28 and issues a predetermined voice signal in accordance with the operation of the special symbol display function based on the voice control command.

The lamp control board 25 receives a lamp control command from the main board 28 and controls a predetermined lamp display in accordance with the operation of the special symbol display function based on the lamp control command. The power supply board 34
The AC power of 24V is converted into a DC drive power supply voltage required for each substrate, and supplied to each substrate. Although not shown, the ordinary symbol display device for controlling the ordinary symbol display function is configured so that the display is controlled by a predetermined control signal from the main board 28.

[Structure of the sound effect board] Next, the detailed structure of the sound effect board 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the sound effect board 24 of the present embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a volume switching circuit provided on the sound effect board 24, and FIG. 6 shows an equivalent circuit of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sound effect board 24 decodes the sound control command from a microcomputer 244 including a sub CPU 241 and a ROM 242 and a RAM 243 to which a sound control command from the main board 28 is input. A sound source IC 2 that emits a predetermined audio signal according to a control signal from the microcomputer unit 244
45, and an amplifier 246 for amplifying the audio signal from the sound source IC 245. The sound source IC
Reference numeral 245 denotes a sound generator (SG) having a built-in ROM 248 in which a predetermined melody or message is recorded, and the melody or message can be read out in response to a voice control command. The output audio signal of the amplifier 246 is directly led out to the speaker 247 via a predetermined one (may be a pair wire or a single wire) harness L3.

The reason why the output audio signal of the amplifier 246 can be connected by one harness L3 is that the output audio signal is interposed between the output terminal T1 of the sound source IC 245 and the input terminal T2 of the amplifier 246. This is because the volume switching circuit 249 adopts a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, between the sound source IC 245 and the amplifier 246, a resistor R1 and a capacitor C1 for coupling the output terminal T1 of the sound source IC 245 and the input terminal T2 of the amplifier 246 are provided.
, A cross point P1 (a connection point between the resistor R1 and the capacitor C1) of the connection circuit and a reference potential point G
(For example, a ground potential point) and a volume switching circuit 249 interposed therebetween. To be precise, the volume switching circuit 249 is interposed between the other end of the resistor R2 having one end connected to the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit and the reference potential point.

The volume switching circuit 249 includes the resistor R2
And a switch 38 connected in series with the resistor R3. This switch 38 is equivalent to an open / close switch (conduction-non-conduction) 380 as shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. 5, the common terminal c and one switching terminal b are always conductive. The common terminal c and the other switching terminal a are selectively switched between a conductive state and an open state by a movable conductor 38b integrated with the operation unit 38a. When the switching terminal a and the common terminal c are open (the state shown in FIG. 5), a series circuit of the resistors R2 and R3 is connected between the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit and the reference potential point G. When the switching terminal a and the common terminal c are in a conductive state, only the resistor R2 is connected between the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit and the reference potential point G.

(Description of Mechanism of Switch 38) The switch 38 has an elastic member 39 such as a coil spring housed in a moving space S of the operation section 38a. When the operation portion 38a is moved to the switching terminal a side, the elastic member 39 generates an urging force that resists the operation force. That is, the switch 38 requires a large operating force when operating the operating section 38a in a direction in which both ends of the resistor R3 are opened from a state in which both ends are opened, and can be operated with a small force when operating in the opposite direction. . However, the switch 38 has a lock mechanism that maintains the position regardless of the force of the elastic member 39 when the operation unit 38a is moved to the positions of the switching terminal a and the switching terminal b.

[Explanation of Operation] The gaming machine of the embodiment described above
When the gaming machine is used for testing or inspection, the switch 38 of the volume switching circuit 249 switches the switching terminal a and the common terminal c to a state where the movable terminal 38b conducts.
At this time, an audio signal having an amplitude level proportional to the voltage drop due to only the resistance value of the resistor R2 is guided to the amplifier 246 at the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit. The amplitude level of the audio signal by only the resistor R2 is represented by r ₂ V (V is, for example, an average amplitude level of the audio signal).

Next, when the game machine is to be used at a game arcade in a normal use state, the switch 38 is set to a state in which the switching terminal a and the common terminal c are non-conductive, that is, the operation section 38a is set to the switching terminal b side. Move. When the operation section 38a is moved to the switching terminal b side, the total resistance value of the resistors R3 and R2 is interposed between the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit and the reference potential point. At this time, the amplitude level of the audio signal by the resistors R2 and R3 is represented by (r2 + r3) V.

The amplitude level of the audio signal in each of the above cases is clearly higher in the latter case, and the amplifier 246 loudspeaks a large output audio signal corresponding to the amplitude level (r2 + r3) V through the speaker 247. As described above, in the audio control device of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, in normal use, the output audio signal proportional to the voltage drop of the resistors R2 and R3 can be loudspeaked. Output sound signal proportional to the voltage drop due to the resistor R2 alone.

Therefore, according to the gaming machine of this embodiment, the sound volume switching circuit 2
49, the signal voltage is smaller than in the case of switching at the output side of the amplifier 246, so that the resistor R3 has a small power consumption and a very low power capacity that does not matter power capacity can be used. it can. As a derivative effect of this, the resistance R
3 and the switch 38 are connected to the sound effect board 24 shown in FIG.
Even if it is arranged on the substrate between the sound source IC 245 and the amplifier 246, there is no possibility that thermal stress will be applied to other components and substrate materials. In addition, there is an advantage that only one harness L3 is required for the speaker 247.

In this embodiment, the switch 3
In the case where the operation unit 38a of FIG. 8 is operated to the normal use state, the operation unit 38a and the movable conductor 38b are operated by the urging force of the elastic member 39 after resisting the force of a lock mechanism (not shown). On the other hand, at the time of a test or inspection,
When the switch 8a is operated toward the switching terminal a, the switch 8a must be operated with a force greater than the urging force of the elastic member 39. Therefore, when setting the volume of the gaming machine, the operator can recognize the switching state of the switch 38 without confirming only by checking the force applied to the operation unit 38a.

[Other Embodiments] (1) FIG. 7 shows a volume switching circuit 249 according to another embodiment 1 of the present invention. The volume switching circuit 249 shown in FIG. 7 also includes an output terminal T1 of the sound source IC 245 and an input terminal T of the amplifier 246.
It is provided in a coupling circuit portion between the two. That is, the sound volume switching circuit 249 shown in FIG.
5, a resistor R4 connected between the output terminal T1 and the coupling capacitor C1, an open / close switch 38 'connected in parallel with the resistor R4, the resistor R4 and the coupling capacitor C1.
1 and a resistor R5 connected between the intersection of the reference 1 and the reference potential point.

In the gaming machine according to the other embodiment, the switch 38 'is set to an open state during a test or inspection, and the switch 38' is set to a closed state during normal use.
When the switch 38 'is set to the open state, the amplifier 246
The amplitude level of the audio signal derived from the resistors R4 and R5
When the switch 38 'is set to the closed state, the amplitude level of the audio signal led out to the amplifier 246 is proportional to the voltage drop (voltage at both ends) of the undivided resistor R5 alone. It will be. Accordingly, since the lower signal voltage is not divided, the sound volume is higher when the switch 38 'is set to the closed state.

(2) FIG. 8 shows a volume switching circuit 249 according to another embodiment 2 of the present invention. The sound volume switching circuit 249 shown in FIG. 8 is a modification of FIG. 6, in which a resistor connected between the intersection P1 of the coupling circuit and the reference potential point is connected to a parallel resistor R6,
The difference is whether to select from R7 or short-circuit or open one of the series resistors. Therefore, a two-terminal switching type is used as the switch 38 ″. In this case, there is a difference in resistance between the resistors R6 and R7, and r6> r7. As in the above embodiments, the volume can be easily switched.
In another embodiment 2, the switch 38 "is normally used during normal use.
May be switched to the resistor R6 side, and in the case of a test or inspection, it may be switched to the resistor R7 side. Also, the switches 38 'and 38 "in the other embodiments 1 and 2 can easily provide a difference in operation force between when the volume is increased and when the volume is decreased. (3) In the above embodiments, the volume is increased. A resistor connected in series from the sound source IC 245 to the amplifier 246 or a resistor connected between the same path and the reference potential point is used as an electric element affecting the switching of the sound source. As long as it is an electric element to be arranged, an inductance, a capacitance element, etc. may be used. (4) As still another embodiment, a volume switching circuit 249.
May be provided in the middle of the amplifier 246. For example, the volume switching circuit according to the present invention can be provided so that the voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor can be changed, or the volume switching circuit can be provided so that the voltage between both ends of the collector or the emitter-side resistor can be changed. (5) The gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to a pachinko machine, but can be easily applied to other gaming machines such as a slot machine and a mahjong game.

[Correspondence between Claims and Embodiments] In claim 1, the sound source corresponds to the sound source IC 245, the amplifier corresponds to the amplifier 246, and the volume switching circuit corresponds to the volume switching circuit 249. The electrical element in claim 2 corresponds to the resistors R3 to R7.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of the back side of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a sound effect board of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a volume switching circuit formed on the sound effect board.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing another example of the volume switching circuit.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing still another example of the volume switching circuit.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional sound volume switching circuit formed on the sound effect board.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a harness connected to a speaker in a conventional audio control device for a gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 28 ... Main board 23 ... Payout control board 24 ... Sound production board 245 ... Sound source IC (sound source) 246 ... Amplifier 247 ... Speaker 249 ... Volume switching circuit R1-R7 ... Resistor 38 ... Switch 39 ... Elastic member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A game system comprising: a sound source for generating a sound signal; an amplifier for amplifying the sound signal generated by the sound source; and a loudspeaker for loudspeaking the output sound signal amplified by the amplifier. A game machine that pays out a prize medium according to the following, wherein a volume switching circuit that can change a volume output from the loudspeaker is provided between the sound source and the amplifier or in the amplifier. . 2. The volume switching circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: an electrical element capable of changing an amplitude level of the audio signal output from the sound source, and switching a connection state of the electrical element to increase the amplitude level of the audio signal. Or a switch for setting whether to decrease, and an operation unit for operating this switch, the operation unit has the same amplitude level as when operating the switch in a direction to increase the amplitude level of the audio signal 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein there is a difference in a required operation force between the case where the operation is performed in a direction in which the value is reduced.