JP2002035243A - Game machine and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of maintaining the continuity of a game when a power supply is recovered after its cutoff. SOLUTION: A main CPU stores, on backup, the data Q indicating the unexecuted portion by a sub-CPU within a series of games according to a command Q4 transferred immediately before the power supply cutoff, and it sends an operation start signal Xs and the backup data Q stored at an NMI(non- maskable interrupt) process when the power supply is recovered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine for controlling a game by a computer and a recording medium on which a computer program for causing the game machine to function is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of gaming machine, for example, a pachinko machine having an electrical configuration shown in FIG. 11 is known. The CPU 501 mounted on the main board 500 controls and processes the following contents in a machine cycle. (1) The signal output from the winning ball detection switch 521 or the six payout detection switches 524 is taken in through the board relay board 520, and the payout of the prize ball is instructed to the CPU 601 mounted on the general relay board 600. (2) The signal output from the first-type starting port switch 522 is taken in through the board relay board 520, and the special symbol display device 511 is provided.
Activate (3) The signal output from the normal symbol operation switch 523 is taken in via the board relay board 520,
The normal symbol display device 512 is operated. (4) The signal output from the accessory continuous operation switch 531 at the time of occurrence of the big hit is taken in from the large winning opening centralized board 530 via the board relay board 520, and the signal is transmitted from the board intermediate board 520 via the big winning opening concentrated board 530. Output, and drives the special winning opening solenoid 534. (5) The signal output from the count switch 532 is taken in from the special winning opening concentrated board 530 via the board relay board 520, and the number of winnings to the special winning opening is counted. (6) A signal is output from the board relay board 520 via the special winning opening concentrated board 530 to drive the ordinary electric accessory opening solenoid 533. (7) Board relay board 510
To control the illumination lamp 513.
(8) Output a signal via the board relay board 520 and
The D board 525 is controlled. (9) A signal is output from the board relay board 520 via the special winning opening concentrated board 530, and the LE
The D board 535 is controlled. (10) Big hit information and the like are transmitted to a host computer installed in a pachinko hall management room or the like via the game board information terminal 540. (1
1) Drive the launching device 620. (12) The audio output device 622 that outputs a sound effect or the like is controlled. (13) Detection switches 6 such as a metal frame detection switch and a fullness detection switch
The signal output from 21 is fetched to detect opening / closing of a gold frame, full of award balls, and the like. (14) The signal output from the ball cut switch 613 is taken in via the external connection terminal board 610, and the ball cut is detected. (15) External connection terminal board 6
A signal is output via the LED 10 to control the LED board 611 and various lamps 612 such as a winning lamp and a ball-out lamp. (16) Input / output signals to / from the prepaid card unit 614 via the external connection terminal board 610.

As described above, the CPU 501 mounted on the main board 500 includes devices such as the special symbol display device 511, the ordinary symbol display device 512, the ordinary electric accessory opening solenoid 533, and the special winning opening opening solenoid 534, and lighting. Lamp 513, various lamps 612, LED substrates 525, 5
Control of lamps such as 35 and 611 is performed in the machine cycle. That is, each device and lamps are stored in the CPU 501.
It is activated and turned on by a signal periodically output from the controller, or maintains an operation stopped state and an extinguished state.

[0004] Further, C
The PU 601 drives the winning ball payout device 623 in accordance with the winning ball payout command output from the CPU 501, and pays out a predetermined number of winning balls. The power supplied from the main power supply 615 is
The external connection terminal board 610 → the general relay board 600 → the main board 500 → the board-side relay boards 510, 520 → the winning opening concentrating board 530 are supplied, and each board is transformed into a required voltage.

However, as described above, in the conventional pachinko machine, the CPU 501 mounted on the main board 500 stops each device except when operating each device or turning on lamps and LEDs. A signal for maintaining the state and a signal for maintaining the state in which the lamps and LEDs are turned off must be periodically output. That is, when the CPU 501 mounted on the main board 500 does not need to output an operation signal, it must periodically output an operation stop signal. Therefore, the load on the CPU 501 is large, and the processing speed of the CPU 501 decreases. There was a problem.

[0006]

Therefore, the present inventor has proposed:
In order to reduce the load on the CPU mounted on the main board, a payout control board that controls payout of award balls, a special symbol display device,
We considered a configuration in which a sub-board is provided for each function, and a sub-CPU is mounted on each sub-board, such as a lamp control unit for controlling various LEDs and lamps and a voice control unit for controlling various sounds. And the main CPU mounted on the main board
Sends a control command to each of the sub CPUs.
Proposed a method of analyzing a control command sent from a main CPU and performing a corresponding operation based on the result of the analysis (see FIG. 3).

In the new system, the main CPU mounted on the main board includes a payout control board, a special symbol display device,
One control command is transmitted to each sub CPU mounted on the lamp control device and the voice control device. Each sub CP
U executes processing for activating a series of games corresponding to the one control command. That is,
The main CPU only sends out a control command specifying the series of games (for example, one variation pattern of a special symbol, one pattern of turning on and off the lamp, and one part of voice), and actual control is performed by each sub CPU. The burden is reduced. Further, the control command is not newly transmitted until a series of games is completed.

By the way, in general, when power is supplied by turning on the power, the CPU is inoperable until each power supply driving voltage (DC) rises to a predetermined set voltage. After a reset and a reset release and a check of the contents of the ROM by the built-in logic, a start-up state is established. For this reason, in the development stage of the above-mentioned new system, the main board and each sub-board may have variations in electronic components used for each board, and each CPU may have a different processing time for initial setting. As a result, it was found that there is a possibility that not all of them are started at the same time when the power is turned on.

That is, if a sub-board whose activation is early and a sub-board whose activation is late are mixed with respect to the activation time of the main board, or if the activation of the main substrate is shifted with respect to each sub-substrate, the sub-board whose activation is slow is A part or all of the control command from the main board or the data related to the payout of the prize ball fails to be received, so that the start-up is early and the matching with the sub board successfully received cannot be achieved.
For example, if the sub-board that starts up slowly with respect to the main board is a payout control board that controls the prize ball payout, and the sub-board that starts up quickly is a board for lamp display that turns on an LED, etc. In the case of the interruption, even if there is a prize immediately after the power is restored, only the LED or the like is turned on and the prize ball is not paid out, thereby giving a disadvantage to the player.

Further, in the new system, as described above, a series of games is commanded by one control command. Therefore, a series of games on the sub-board in response to the control command sent to the sub-board immediately before power-off is performed. Is often cut off on the way. In the case of a gaming machine that takes such power outages into consideration,
Backup means is required to store the state of the game when the power is cut off and to restart the game based on the storage when the power supply is restored. The storage by the backup means desirably stores the gaming state immediately before the power is turned off. As a result, the game states resumed at the time of return match, and continuity of the game is obtained.

[0011] However, the backup means considered in the above-mentioned new system can store the contents of the game in control command units, but the power supply is cut off during the progress of a series of games, and It has been difficult to memorize the state and resume from the gaming state when the power is restored. That is, there is a problem that continuity without duplication of games on one sub-board cannot be ensured.

[0012] Even if the restart game state at the time of power return can be made to match the stop game state at the time of power shutdown, the timing of activation of the sub-board relative to the main board at the time of power return is different. In such a case, the progress of a plurality of games by each sub-substrate does not have synchronization, and a sense of discomfort occurs in the game. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and when returning from a power-off during a game, a certain continuity with a state at the time of a power-off is obtained in a restarted game state. It is an object of the present invention to realize a gaming machine and a recording medium capable of securing the synchronization of the progress of the game.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the means described in claims 1 to 5, and the invention described in claim 1 provides the following: A gaming machine comprising: a main board for controlling a game; and one or more sub-boards for executing a game by executing a predetermined process based on a signal from the main board. The data indicating an unexecuted portion of the predetermined sub-board that could not be executed in the series of games according to the command sent to the predetermined sub-substrate immediately before the power supply supplying the driving power supply voltage is cut off is backed up. A backup means for storing and holding the data, and after the power is restored, the data stored and held in the backup means is sent to the predetermined sub-board together with an operation start signal to play back the data from the unexecuted portion. Is to employ a technical means that a and a game resuming control means for prompting a restart. In the gaming machine according to the first aspect, one or more or all of the sub-boards, that is, predetermined sub-boards execute a series of games by one command from the main board. If the power of the gaming machine abnormally drops or a power cut-off occurs during the series of games, the main board sends data indicating an unexecuted part of the series of games according to the command sent to the sub-board immediately before the cut-off. It is stored and held by the backup means. When the power is restored, the main board sends to the sub-board the data stored and held by the backup and an operation start signal for activating the sub-board (to execute the received command). Accordingly, the predetermined sub-board executes the data indicating the unexecuted portion when receiving the operation start signal sent from the main board after the power is restored. By executing the data of the unexecuted portion, the restarted game is restarted from the game state at the time of power-off, and a certain continuity is obtained between the game state at power-off and the restarted game state. . In addition, when there are a plurality of sub-boards, the main board sends data indicating an unexecuted portion and an operation start signal to a predetermined sub-board, so that the restarting game state from each unexecuted portion when the power is cut off Starting from the stopped game state, the synchronization of the game progress by the predetermined sub-board can be ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the data stored and held by the backup means is the same as the command transmitted to the predetermined sub-board immediately before the power is turned off. And the elapsed time or remaining time of the series of games according to this command. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the main board is the same command as the command sent to the predetermined sub-board immediately before the power is turned off, without newly creating a command indicating an unexecuted portion. And the above-mentioned data consisting of the elapsed time or remaining time of a series of games indicated by the command may be transmitted. The elapsed time and the remaining time are time data, which can be indicated by a simple code to a timer built in the sub-board,
This contributes to reducing the burden on the main board.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, when the command is of a specific type, the game resuming control means determines that the unexecuted portion is in the middle of the game. , Using a technical means of starting from the gaming state at the beginning of the specific command or slightly before it. In the gaming machine according to the third aspect, when the command sent from the main board is a specific command, for example, a fluctuation command of the reach symbol, the game resumption control means may start the reach symbol from a beginning or slightly before the reach symbol. To resume from the game state. This has the effect of increasing the interest in the game.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the fourth aspect, the main board sends the operation start signal and the data as a parallel signal including predetermined bits. Use strategic means. When the data has the above-described configuration, the game can be restarted after the predetermined sub-board is activated in a shorter time, and the burden on the main board can be further reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a main board for controlling a game, and one or more sub-boards for executing a predetermined process based on a signal from the main board and realizing the game. A recording medium on which a computer program to be operated is recorded, wherein the predetermined power supply is a predetermined game among a series of games according to a command transmitted to the predetermined sub-board immediately before a power supply for supplying a drive power supply voltage to the game machine is cut off. A backup process for storing and holding data indicating an unexecuted portion that the sub-board failed to execute by the backup unit; and starting the operation of the data stored and held on the predetermined sub-board by the backup process after the power is restored. A computer program for executing a game resumption control process for transmitting a signal together with a signal to prompt resumption of the game from the unexecuted portion is recorded. Using the technical means of the recording medium. The recording medium according to claim 5 can be applied to a gaming machine that controls a game by a computer. In other words, in a gaming machine in which a game is controlled by a computer, as described in an embodiment of the invention described later, the main CPU 112
However, by executing the computer program recorded in the ROM 114, the backup self-instruction process and the game restart control process can be performed.
By recording the computer program in the ROM 114, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that performs the control according to claims 1 to 4.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a first-type pachinko machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine according to the present invention. [Overall Main Configuration] First, the main configuration of the pachinko machine according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
1 is an explanatory perspective view of a pachinko machine according to this embodiment. The pachinko machine 10 is provided with a front frame 11 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 19, and a glass frame 13 is attached to the front frame 11 so that it can be opened and closed. On the right side of the front frame 11, a keyhole 12 for inserting a key for opening and closing the glass frame 13 is provided. A game board 14 is provided inside the glass frame 13.
A firing handle 15a for operating a firing motor (indicated by reference numeral 15e in FIG. 3) for firing game balls to the game board 14 is rotatably attached to the lower right of the front frame 11. ing.

Below the glass frame 13, there is formed a prize ball / lending ball supply port 20a to which a prize ball or a lending ball is supplied. An upper tray 20 for storing the prize balls and the lending balls supplied from the prize ball / lending ball supply port 20a is attached. Upper saucer 2
Below 0, there is formed an outlet 21a for discharging a prize ball that has flowed past the number of upper trays 20 that can be accommodated or a game ball discharged from the upper tray 20 by operating the upper tray ball pulling lever 20b. I have. On the discharge side of the discharge port 21a,
A lower tray 21 is provided for accommodating game balls discharged from the discharge port 21a. The ashtray 17 is provided on the left side of the lower tray 21.

[Main Configuration of Game Board 14] Next, the game board 1
4 will be described with reference to FIG. A center case 30 is provided substantially at the center of the game board 14. The center case 30 has a prize entrance 31
And a normal symbol display device 34 including three LEDs, and 4 indicating the number of times the normal symbol display device 34 is operated.
A normal symbol storage display LED 35a consisting of three LEDs,
A special symbol display device 3 that variably displays a plurality of symbols, for example, 0-9 special symbols, on a special symbol display 32b on a liquid crystal display.
2, and a special symbol storage display LED 36a composed of four LEDs for displaying the number of times that the special symbol display device 32 can be started (special symbol start storage number).

On the left and right sides of the center case 30, a normal symbol operation gate 2 for operating the normal symbol display device 34 is provided.
6, 26 are provided. Below the center case 30, a first type starting port 27 having a function of operating the special symbol display device 32 is provided. Below the first type starting port 27, a stop symbol of the ordinary symbol display device 34 is provided. Ordinary electric accessory 28 that opens both wings when hit
Is provided. The opened ordinary electric accessory 28 has a function of starting the operation of the special symbol display device 32, similarly to the first type starting port 27. A variable winning device 40 which is activated when the stop symbol of the special symbol display device 32 hits the symbol is provided below the ordinary electric accessory 28.

The variable winning device 40 is provided with a large winning opening 41 in the form of a door which is opened when a hit occurs. The winning winning opening 41 is provided on both sides thereof. Are provided respectively. Further, inside the special winning opening 41, there is provided a specific area 42 having a function of continuously opening the special winning opening 41, and a specific area switch (reference numeral 42 in FIG. 3) for detecting a game ball passing through the specific area 42.
a) and a special winning opening switch (indicated by reference numeral 43a in FIG. 3) for counting the number P of game balls that have won the special winning opening 41.

In addition, the game board 14 includes a rotary windmill 2
3, 23, fixed right windmill 325, left windmill 326,
A right sleeve winning port 24, a left sleeve winning port 25, and an out port 45 for collecting game balls that have not won as an out ball are provided. Also, the game board 14 is provided with various lamps such as a right corner decoration lamp 321a composed of three LEDs, a left corner decoration lamp 322a composed of three LEDs, a right side decoration lamp 314a, and a left side decoration lamp 315a. ing. Further, many nails 47 are driven into the game board 14, and the game balls fired on the game board 14 fall while disturbing between the nails 47. In addition, one LED of the left corner decoration lamp 322a is
It is a ball out lamp 322b which lights up when the ball is out.

[Electrical Configuration of Pachinko Machine 10] Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The pachinko machine 10 is provided with a main board 100, on which a microprocessor 110 is mounted. The microprocessor 110 includes a main CPU 112 that executes game control (mainly various controls such as management of paying out balls and prize balls, jackpot determination, and management of special symbol variation patterns), and the main CPU 112 as described later. ROM 114 in which various control programs for executing various controls including the control according to the present invention are recorded, and control programs read from ROM 114 when main CPU 112 executes various control programs and data relating to big hits generated during a game. And a RAM 116 for temporarily storing various data such as data.

The following components are electrically connected to the main substrate 100. Power supply board 80, payout control board 200 for controlling payout of award balls, etc., special symbol display device 3
2, a lamp control device 300 for controlling a lamp and an LED provided on the game board 14, a voice control device 79 for controlling a sound effect during a game, and the like, and a first device for detecting the passage of the game ball through the first type starting port 27. Seed starting port switch 27a, a game frame information terminal board 52, a board relay board 51, and a game frame relay for transmitting game board information relating to winnings, big hits, and the like to a computer (not shown) provided in a pachinko hall management room or the like. The substrate 53. Then, a voltage is supplied to the power supply board 80 to supply a drive power supply voltage for maintaining the backup area 116a (see FIG. 6B) of the RAM 116 in the main board 100 in the memory holding state for a certain period after the power is turned off. Means (power supply line) 81 is provided.

The payout control board 200 is equipped with a microprocessor 210 that operates by inputting a control command sent from the main board 100. The microprocessor 210 has a sub CPU 2 that controls payout of prize balls and the like.
12 and an RO in which various control programs for the sub CPU 212 to execute control such as payout of award balls are recorded.
M214 and a RAM 216 for temporarily storing a control program read from the ROM 214 when the sub CPU 212 executes various control programs and various data such as the number of prize balls generated during the game are mounted. The payout control board 200 includes a power supply board 80 and a CR connection board 5.
6. The firing motor drive board 15c for driving the firing motor 15e, the game frame information terminal board 52, and the payout relay board 55 are electrically connected.

The game frame relay board 53 has a full detection switch 2 for detecting that the lower tray 21 is full of prize balls.
1b and the sensor relay board 54 are electrically connected. The sensor relay board 54 is electrically connected to the prize ball payout sensors 62a and 62b and the payout relay board 55 provided in the prize ball unit 62. Prize ball unit 62
Is provided with prize ball payout sensors 62a and 62b and a prize ball payout motor 62c. There are two prize ball payout mechanisms for efficiently paying out prize balls, and each payout mechanism is driven by a prize ball payout motor 62c. The prize ball payout sensor 62a is provided in one mechanism, and the prize ball payout sensor 62b is provided in the other mechanism. The detection signals from the prize ball payout sensors 62a and 62b are transmitted from the sensor relay board 54 to the main board 1 via the game frame relay board 53.
00 to the payout control board 200 via the payout relay board 55. Then, the sub CPU 212 mounted on the payout control board 200 takes in the detection signals sent from the prize ball payout sensors 62a and 62b, and counts the number of prize balls paid out. For example, sub CPU2
12 subtracts “1” from the value of the area in the RAM 216 storing 15 payout balls every time the detection signal is taken.

The payout relay board 55 is electrically connected to a ball-off switch 61 for detecting that the ball is no longer available, a prize-ball payout motor 62c, and a ball-for-ball unit 63. The following components are electrically connected to the board relay board 51. Ordinary electric accessory solenoid 28a for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 28, ordinary symbol display board 34, gate switch 26 provided on the ordinary symbol actuation gate 26
a, a special winning opening switch 43a, a sleeve winning opening switch 24a detecting a winning in the sleeve winning opening 24, a lower winning opening switch 29a detecting a winning in the lower winning opening 29, and detecting a winning in the natural winning opening 31. The winning opening switch 31a and the winning opening relay board 50.

The special winning opening relay board 50 is electrically connected to the special area solenoid 42b, the special winning opening solenoid 43b, and the specific area switch 42a. The power supply board 80 is electrically connected to the CR connection board 56,
The CR connection substrate 56 is electrically connected to the pachinko machine external device portion 22 including a frequency display substrate for displaying the remaining frequency of the prepaid card and a device for reading the prepaid card. The power supply board 80 is AC24V (50 Hz
/ 60 Hz) from the main power supply 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, the special symbol display device 32 controls the control command signal 100a from the main board 100.
, A special symbol control board 32d for generating a symbol signal in the RGB format based on the above, a liquid crystal analog board 32c, a liquid crystal inverter board 32a, and a special symbol display 32b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the special symbol control board 32d includes a sub CPU 32e, a program ROM 32f,
VDP (Video Display Processor) 32g with built-in palette RAM 32h, and character RO
M32i. The sub CPU 32e is connected to the main board 10
The signal 100a from 0 is analyzed by a computer program stored in the program ROM 32f, and the design or character of the display content according to the result is converted to the VDP32.
g. VDP32g is the character RO
The palette RAM 32h is driven for the design or character read from the M32i to execute processing such as display color, rotation, enlargement and reduction, and the processing result is stored in the built-in palette R
It is temporarily stored in the AM 32h. Then VDP 32g
Sends RGB signals to the liquid crystal analog board 32c based on the processing results stored in the pallet RAM 32h. The liquid crystal analog board 32c performs color correction and brightness adjustment of the captured RGB signals, and sends the signals to the liquid crystal inverter board 32a. LCD inverter board 32a
Plays a role of a backlight power supply, boosts the taken signal (for example, from 12 V to 600 V), and sends it to the special symbol display 32b. The special symbol display 32b switches and displays the liquid crystal dots corresponding to the captured signal. In this way, the display of the change of the special symbol, the display of the stop symbol, the display of the animation, the display of the big hit, and the like are performed.

Although not shown, the voice control device 79 and the lamp control device 300 are also each equipped with a microprocessor having a central processing function and a storage function which are dependent on the main CPU 112 of the main board 100. Yes, one part (series) of sound or one pattern (series) of lamps are turned on and off by a control command from the main board 100. Normally, the power supply board 80 is composed of the main board 100, the payout control board 200, the special symbol control board 32d, the voice control device 79, and the lamp control device 300.
12V and 5V drive power supply voltages are derived.

FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of a control command (for example, a prize ball control command) sent from the main CPU 112 to each sub CPU. As shown in FIG.
U112 transmits a control command expressed in hexadecimal machine language HD0 to HD7, for example, in two sequential transfer signals HDST.
By R, the format shown in FIG.
Two bytes are transmitted to the sub CPU in byte units. For example, the main CPU 112 is the sub CPU 2 of the payout control board 200.
Among the control commands output to 12, a control command instructing 15 payout numbers is represented by, for example, 3FH to C1H, and a control command instructing 5 payout numbers is represented by, for example, 35H to CBH. Further, the control command for instructing the change of the special symbol is represented by, for example, E1H to 00H. As shown in FIG. 5A, a transfer signal (strobe signal (HDSTR)) is output together with the control command, and
The PU captures the control command when the transfer signal HDSTR is input.

(Configuration Specific to the Present Invention in Main Substrate) In this embodiment, the main substrate 100 has a configuration specific to the present invention as shown in FIG. FIG. 6A shows the main substrate 100.
FIG. 6B shows a storage area of the RAM 116 on the main board 100. FIG.
As shown in (A), the ROM 114 of the main board 100 employed in this embodiment includes a prize detection program for detecting a prize, a prize ball processing for controlling payout of a prize ball by a prize, and an operation of the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 28a. , A backup processing program 114a and a game resumption control program 114b are recorded in addition to a program such as a normal electric accessory processing for detecting the game. The backup processing program 114a is a processing performed before the power is turned off, and the game resumption control program 114b is a processing performed after the power is restored.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the RAM 116 is supplied with a drive power supply voltage (backup) by the voltage supply means 81 (FIG. 3) when the power supply is cut off, and a backup area 116b in which stored contents are retained. With. This backup area is designated by the main CPU 112 when the main CPU 112 determines that the power supply voltage has dropped abnormally, and the backup processing program 114a
Thus, data that needs to be backed up is stored and held. Note that the backup means in this embodiment changes the drive power supply voltage to the RAM
14, a backup area 116a of the RAM 114, and a main CPU 112 for designating the backup area 116a. As another backup means, a nonvolatile memory may be used instead of the RAM 116.

[Normal Operation After Starting Normal Power] (Main Processing of Main Board 100) Main CPU 1 of main board 100
12, not shown, after performing a preparation process such as an initial setting and a security check from a normal power-on,
Prize ball processing for outputting a prize ball control command to the sub CPU 212 of the payout control board 200 based on signals from various winning opening switches, turning on the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 28a.
Normal electric accessory processing to be turned off, normal symbol display device 34
Symbol processing to control the operation, first-type start-up switch 27
Big hit determination processing for determining whether or not a big hit occurs when a is turned on, special symbol processing for sending an image control command to the special symbol display device 32, and special winning opening processing for controlling the specific area solenoid 42b and the special winning opening solenoid 43b. ,
Programs such as voice processing for transmitting a voice control command to the voice control device 79 and ramp processing for transmitting a lamp control command to the lamp control device 300 are executed.

(Signal Output from Main CPU 112) Next, a signal 101 to the sub CPU 212 of the payout control board 200.
The flow of a control command transferred from the main CPU 112 to each sub CPU will be described with reference to FIG. 7 using (the signal 100a in the case of the special symbol control board 32d) as a representative example. As shown in FIG. 7, the normally output prize ball control command output from the main CPU 112 is output to the output port 120 via the main CPU bus 118, and the output prize ball control command is output from the main CPU 112. Parallel output port 124
After being temporarily stored in the output buffer 126 via
The data is temporarily stored in the input buffer 220 connected to the sub CPU 212. Then, the transfer signal output from the main CPU 112 is transmitted from the main CPU bus 118 to the output port 12.
2. When a trigger input (TRG2) 226 of the sub CPU 212 is input through the output buffer 128 and the input buffer 222, the prize ball control command stored in the input buffer 220 is input to the sub CPU parallel input port 228 through the sub CPU parallel input port 228. The signal 101 is input to the input port 224 of the CPU 212.
The sub CPU 212 executes a command input process.

Sub CPU 32e of special symbol control board 32d
100a (image control command), a lamp control command to the sub CPU of the lamp control device 300, and a voice control command to the sub CPU of the voice control device 79 are also output in parallel from the main CPU 112 as in FIG. ,
The data is input in parallel to the sub CPU 32e.

(Processing of Each Sub-Board in Response to Command) The sub-CPU 21 of the payout control board 200 corresponding to the above prize ball processing
2 performs a preparation process such as an initial setting and a security check similarly to the main board 100 after the normal power supply is started, and then performs a program start process first. The program start process prohibits an interrupt, prepares a stack pointer holding the address of the main routine when shifting from the main routine to the subroutine, and permits the interrupt. After this program start processing, the process shifts to the main program. The main program is executed by the CTC channel 3 interrupt. Thereby, the payout control board 2
00 pays out prize balls every time a prize ball control command is transferred using the transfer signal HDSTR as an interrupt signal.

The special symbol control board 32d, the lamp control device 300 and the voice control device 79, for example, the sub CPU 32e of the special symbol control board 32d,
After performing preparation processing such as initial setting and security check similarly to the main board 100, the apparatus enters a command input waiting state. The same applies to the sub CPU of the lamp control device 300 and the sub CPU of the audio control device 79.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing (A) of the main CPU 112 and the processing (B) of the sub CPU 32e using the special symbol control board 32d as an example. When the special symbol processing shown in FIG. 8A detects that the special symbol starting storage number is 1 or more (step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 62 in FIG. 8A: Yes), it is determined whether or not a big hit has occurred. After the determination, a table in which the fluctuation pattern of the special symbol is set (not shown)
Is determined (S64), and an image control command is output (S66). Also, the main CP
U112 outputs an image control command corresponding to the fluctuation pattern determined in S64 to the output port 120 (FIG. 7) and outputs a transfer signal to the output port 122 (S68). The image control command output to the output port 120 is taken into the input port of the sub CPU 32e via a predetermined path, and the sub CPU 32e executes a command input process (FIG. 8B).

As shown in FIG. 8B, the sub CPU 32e
Receives the image control command output from the main CPU 112 (S300), and checks the input image control command (S302). For example, the image control command is distributed to each byte. Then, sub CPU3
2e analyzes the content of the input image control command (S304). For example, if the image control command is E0H
If it is 00H (hexadecimal notation), it is analyzed as an image control command indicating that all symbols start to fluctuate with a fluctuation time of 9312 ms, and if E1H00H, "0" is displayed when the left symbol stops. It is analyzed as an image control command indicating display. Then, the sub CPU 32e
The display signal corresponding to the analysis result in S304 is VDP
32g (FIG. 4).

FIG. 9 shows the drive power supply voltage (A) supplied to each substrate, the main CPU 112, and the sub-C
PU212, sub CPU32 of special symbol control board 32d
3E is a time chart illustrating the operation states of the sub CPU of the voice control device 79 and the sub CPU of the lamp control device 300. As shown in FIG. 9 (B), the main CPU 112 controls the award ball control command H and the sub CPU 3 of the special symbol control board 32d.
2e, the control commands Q1 to Q4 are sent to the sub CPU of the voice control device 79 and the sub CPU of the lamp control device 300. The control commands Q1 to Q4 are a group of effect data having continuity. Also, the control commands Q1 to Q4
Are image control commands Q1V to Q4V to the sub CPU 32e of the special symbol control board 32d, and voice control commands Q to the sub CPUs of the voice control device 79 and the lamp control device 300.
1A to Q4A and lamp control commands Q1L to Q4L in a time-division manner. As shown in FIGS. 9F, 9G and 9H, the sub CPU 32e of the special symbol control board 32d, the voice control device 79, Each sub CPU of the lamp control device 300
Then, the respective image control commands Q1V to Q4V, audio control commands Q1A to Q4A, and lamp control commands Q1L to
Decode Q4L and perform effects according to each command. A series of games referred to in the present invention means, for example, only Q1V, only Q2V,... On the special symbol control board 32d.

[Operation at Power Shutdown] (Main CPU 112)
The processing performed by U112 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
The drive power supply voltage of 12V shown in FIG.
When the temperature is further lowered, the main CPU 112 shifts to the reset state as shown in FIG.
Low level), and performs NMI interrupt processing. The low level signal in FIG. 9C indicates this NMI interrupt signal. The NMI interrupt process performed by the main CPU 112 is performed by the RAM 116
, The access prohibition is set in the access register for, and the NMI interrupt process is executed with the highest priority over other interrupt processes. In other words, the main purpose is to prevent the untransferred prize ball control commands stored in the RAM 116 from being rewritten by prohibiting access to the RAM 116. Therefore, the untransferred prize ball control command is stored and held in the backup area 116a of the RAM 116 shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, the main CPU 11
2 calls out the backup self-designated program from the area 114a of the ROM 114 shown in FIG. 6A, and executes a series of games according to the control command Q4 transferred to the backup area 116a immediately before the power-off shown in FIG. 9B. The special design control board 32d, the lamp control device 300, and the data indicating the unexecuted portion that could not be executed by the voice control device 79 (see FIG. 5C) are transferred to the RA shown in FIG. 6B.
It is stored and held in the backup area 116a of M116.

(Structure of Data Backed Up in Embodiment) An example of the backup data is shown in FIG. When detecting the falling detection voltage Vdm, the main CPU 112 creates data Q as shown in FIG. This data Q is stored in the immediately preceding control command Q4 transmitted immediately before power-off.
A series of games in accordance with the immediately preceding control command Q4 are constituted by the special symbol control board 32d, the remaining time t4 for the games executed by the ramp control device 300 or the voice control device 79.

The remaining time t4 can be obtained by calculation during the NMI interrupt processing. That is, the main CPU 112 recognizes the required time of the control command sent to the special symbol control board 32d, the lamp control device 300, or the voice control device 79. The main CPU 11
2 starts an internal timer every time a control command is sent out, and measures an elapsed time during which a series of games according to the control command are executed. Therefore, by subtracting the elapsed time from the required time, the remaining time t4
Can be calculated.

(Operation of Dispensing Control Board and Other Sub-Boards) When the power-off phenomenon occurs, the dispensing control board 200
When the 12V drive power supply voltage shown in FIG. 9A drops below the falling detection voltage Vdh (Vdh <Vdm), as shown in FIG. 9D, after performing the NMI interrupt processing (the low level signal is applied to the NMI terminal). Is input) and reset (transition from high level to low level) as shown in FIG. The sub CPU 32e of the special symbol control board 32d, the sub CPU of the sound control device 79, and the sub CPU of the lamp control device 300 (hereinafter referred to as each sub board CPU) are shown in FIG.
When the drive power supply voltage of 5V shown in FIG. 9 falls below the falling detection voltage Vds, the reset (transition from high level to low level) is performed as shown in FIGS. 9 (F), (G) and (H), respectively.

[Operation at Power Return] (Main CPU 112) The power is restored, for example, after the drive power supply voltage of 12V shown in FIG. 9A has risen from the rise detection voltage Vum, as shown in FIG. 9B. Then, for example, at the time t1, the reset is released. After reset release, main CP
U112 is activated, and first executes the game resumption control program recorded in the area 114b of the ROM 114. As shown in FIG. 9B, the game resumption control program sends out the operation start signal Xs and sends out the backup data Q stored and held during the NMI interrupt processing. As described with reference to FIG. 5C, the data Q is transmitted immediately before the power is turned off.
4 and the remaining time t4.

(Operation of Payout Control Board and Other Sub-Boards) When the power is restored, the payout control board 200 returns to the state shown in FIG.
The drive power supply voltage of 12V shown in FIG.
After ascending further, a reset release state is set. Vuh is set to a value smaller than Vum.
“0” is activated earlier than the main substrate 100. In this embodiment, in the payout control board 200, the winning data is backed up in the winning table of the RAM 216 by the backup means. Therefore, the payout control board 200
When the operation start signal Xs from the main CPU 112 transferred at the time t1 is received, the payout is started.

When the drive power supply voltage of 5 V shown in FIG. 9A rises above the rise detection voltage Vus, each of the sub-substrate CPUs is in a reset release state. After the reset is released, each sub-board CPU waits for an operation start signal to be transferred from the main CPU 112 according to the flowchart in FIG. FIG. 10 shows a process performed by each sub-board when the power is restored. After S1 (preparation process), the process waits for receiving an operation start signal in S2. When the operation start signal is received in S2 (Ye
s) Then, the process proceeds to the command input process S3.

Each sub-board CPU that has received the above-mentioned operation start signal
Receives the data Q consisting of the immediately preceding control command Q4 sent by the main CPU 112 immediately before power-off and the remaining time t4. Therefore, when each sub-substrate CPU enters the starting state after the power is restored, the game is restarted from the state at the time of power shutdown, and the continuity between the game state at the time of power shutdown and the resumed game state can be maintained. it can.

[Effects Specific to Embodiment] In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
00 is the data Q sent to three sub-boards including the sub-CPU 32e of the special symbol control board 32d, the sub-CPU of the voice control device 79, and the sub-CPU of the lamp control device 300.
Is stored, so that the change of the symbol, the display of the lamp, and the output of the sound can be resumed in a simultaneous relationship after the power is restored. Therefore, the progress of a plurality of games by each sub-board has synchronization, and the game does not feel uncomfortable.

In the time chart of FIG. 9, each of the sub-boards, the payout control board 200, and the main board 10
Although activation is performed in the order of 0, the use of an operation start signal, which is a signal indicating the start of activation, has the effect of eliminating the need for such a design constraint.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the above embodiment, when the power is cut off, the game state that has been executed up to that time is continuously resumed after the power is restored. In the case where the control command sent at the time of power-off is, for example, a fluctuation command of the reach symbol, it is preferable to restart the game from the beginning of the reach symbol or a game state slightly before the reach symbol. In the case of a production in which the jackpot has an expectation, ignoring the continuity and restarting with a symbol having a high expectation again has an effect of increasing the interest of the game (corresponding to claim 3).

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the remaining time that defines the game of the unexecuted portion is played on the main board 100.
Special symbol control board 3 without changing the value of 110 internal timer
The remaining time may be sent to a sub-board such as 2d and the remaining time may be calculated for each sub-board. (3) Further, the gaming machine of the present embodiment is not limited to a pachinko machine, and can be easily applied to other gaming machines such as a slot machine and a mahjong game.

[Correspondence between Claims and Embodiments] The backup means according to claim 1 comprises the voltage supply means 81 of FIG. 3 and the backup area 116a. The backup means and the game restart control means are the main C
It comprises a PU 112, a ROM 114 and a RAM 116. The data described in claim 2 corresponds to the data Q when the immediately preceding control command Q4 and the remaining time t4 are stored in the backup area 116a. The means for transmitting the data described in claim 4 as a parallel signal composed of predetermined bits is realized by parallelizing the output of the main CPU 112 in FIG. The recording medium described in claim 5 corresponds to the ROM 114 on the main board 100 in which the backup processing and the game restart control processing are recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main configuration of a game board 14 provided in the pachinko machine 10 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 by blocks.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a special symbol control board of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a timing chart illustrating a control command sent from the main CPU 112 to each sub CPU, FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a format of the control command,
FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing a data format according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a storage program of a ROM mounted on a main board, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a backup area of a RAM.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration between a main CPU and a sub CPU.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of a special symbol process, wherein FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing a process performed by a main board, and FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the process which 32e performs.

FIG. 9 shows a drive power supply voltage supplied to each substrate and a main CPU 1
12, a time chart showing the operation state of the sub-CPU 212 of the payout control board 200 and each sub-board,
(A) is a voltage waveform indicating a drive power supply voltage supplied to each substrate, (B) is an operation state of the main substrate, and (C) is an NM of the main substrate.
(D) is the NMI of the dispensing controller board
(E) is the operating state of the payout control board, (F) is the operating state of the special symbol control board, (G) is the operating state of the voice control board, and (H) is the operating state of the lamp control board. Shown respectively.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an operation performed by a sub-board when power is restored.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an electric configuration of a conventional pachinko machine by blocks.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 pachinko machine (game machine) 70 main power supply 80 power supply board 100 main board 112 main CPU 200 payout control board 212 sub CPU 32e sub CPU 216 RAM Q data 114 ROM 116 RAM Xs operation start signal

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine comprising: a main board for controlling a game; and one or more sub-boards for executing a game by executing a predetermined process based on a signal from the main board, wherein the main board Indicates an unexecuted portion in which the predetermined sub-board could not be executed in a series of games according to a command sent to the predetermined sub-substrate immediately before the power supply supplying the driving power supply voltage to the gaming machine is cut off A backup unit for storing and holding data, and after the power is restored, sending out the data stored and held by the backup unit to the predetermined sub-board together with an operation start signal to prompt a restart of the game from the unexecuted portion. A gaming machine comprising: a game resumption control means. 2. The data stored and held by the backup means is the same command as the command sent to the predetermined sub-board before the power is turned off, and the elapsed time or remaining time of the series of games according to the command. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine comprises time. 3. The game resumption control means, when the command is of a specific type, even if the unexecuted part is in the middle of the game, from a game state at the beginning of the specific command or slightly earlier than the specific command. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is started. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the main board transmits the operation start signal and the data as a parallel signal composed of predetermined bits. 5. A main board for controlling a game, and a predetermined process is executed by a signal from the main board to execute the game.
A recording medium on which a computer program for causing a gaming machine having the above-mentioned sub-board to function is recorded, and is transmitted to a predetermined sub-board just before a power supply for supplying a driving power supply voltage to the gaming machine is cut off. A backup process for storing and holding data indicating an unexecuted portion that the sub-board failed to execute in a series of games according to the command, and after the power supply returns together with the operation start signal, the data stored and held by the backup process. A recording medium recorded with a computer program including a game resumption control process for sending to the predetermined sub-board and prompting resumption of a game from the unexecuted portion.