JP2002136740A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a space for assembly work, or the like, by simplifying wiring among control boards and reducing the mounting area of the control boards. SOLUTION: Since the connection of a main control board 150 and sub boards for executing a prescribed operation control by receiving control signals (instruction signals) from the main control board 150 is turned to LAN connection, the number of the wiring is reduced and the back surface side space of a Pachinko machine 10 having an extremely small space is effectively utilized. Since the board itself can be miniaturized, the workability of the assembly work and maintenance work is improved as well. Further, since the main control board 150 is provided with a LAN output interface 210 and the respective sub boards are provided with LAN input interfaces 212, 214, 216 and 128, the transmission/reception directions of signals are limited and sufficient measures can be taken to cope with the security such as prevention of fraudulent action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a main control board for controlling the execution of a game based on a game program stored in advance, and a sub-control board for controlling the display of symbols and the like by being controlled by the main control board. And a game machine having the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, game machines, for example, pachinko machines, have been divided into control boards and made intelligent for the purpose of realizing higher game specifications and enhanced security. 128494).

Specifically, a pachinko machine includes a main control board for performing basic control of game specifications, a symbol display control board for controlling display of symbols on a liquid crystal display or the like, a voice control board for controlling voice, sound, and the like. A lamp control board for controlling lighting and blinking of a lamp, an LED, etc., a payout control board for controlling award balls and payout of a lending ball, and a launch control board for controlling launching of a game ball (pachinko ball). A power supply module for supplying power to the substrate is provided. In addition, depending on the specifications of the pachinko machine, a prepaid card unit may be provided.

In the above description, the main control board is the main board, and the symbol display control board, the voice control board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board are sub-control boards or sub-boards that operate according to instructions from the main control board. Is positioned.

The launch control board, power supply module, and prepaid card unit are independent of the main control board.

Further, the instruction from the main board to the sub board is limited to one direction, and it is not preferable to communicate information such as the operating state from the sub board to the main board in order to prevent an illegal game. Not. For the same reason, the sub-boards are independent so that information cannot be exchanged between the sub-boards.

To achieve such a configuration, FIG.
, A main board (main control board 250),
Each of the sub boards 251 (here, the symbol display control board 260, the voice control board 254, the lamp control board 25
6. The payout control board 252) is connected to a plurality of signal lines 270.
Are connected by the interfaces 274 and 276. With such wiring, as shown in FIG. 6, signals can be sent from the main control board 250 to each sub-board 251 independently, and communication between the sub-boards 251 can be cut off.

[0008]

However, in the wiring structure between the substrates, the main substrate (main control substrate 250)
Between wiring and sub-board 251 (wire harness 272)
This leads to various problems such as an increase in the board area due to an increase in the number of interfaces 274 and 276, an increase in the cost of parts, a difficulty in manufacturing, and an increase in manufacturing cost.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of simplifying wiring between control boards and reducing a mounting area of the control boards to secure a space for an assembly operation or the like. Is the purpose.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main control board for controlling the execution of a game based on a game program stored in advance, and a symbol or the like controlled by the main control board. In a gaming machine having a sub control board for controlling display, a network connection is made between the main control board and the sub control board.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main control board for controlling execution of a game based on a game program stored in advance, and a result of a lottery at the time of winning a game executed on the main control board. A symbol display control board that controls a display device that fluctuates a symbol and stops and displays a symbol corresponding to a lottery result, and a control signal to the symbol display control board by the main control board. A sound control board that controls a speaker that outputs sound or sound, and a game machine that is electrically connected to the game machine based on a control signal from the main control board so as to provide an audible notification based on a control signal input in synchronization. In order to decorate, a lamp control board for controlling a lighting state of a lighting device such as a lamp, a game medium applied to the game machine are lent, and a game medium according to the game state is provided. A payout control board that controls a payout device to be executed based on a control signal from the board, and the main control board, a symbol display control board, a voice control board, a lamp control board, and a payout control board are connected to a network. It is characterized by:

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the topology of the network connection is a bus type.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the connection between the main control board and the network bus is an output interface, and the symbol display control board and the voice control are connected. The connection between the board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board and the network bus is an input interface.

According to the present invention, a network connection is established between the control boards installed in the gaming machine. In this case, the control signal is serial communication. For example, in the case of an 8-bit parallel signal, eight wirings are required. Become.

As a security problem, in the case of a network connection, mutual communication is basically possible.
By fixing the direction of the interface and restricting the mutual communication, it is possible to prevent the conventional communication form from being easily deviated.

[0016] In addition, by the network connection, especially the interface circuit and the connector corresponding to each sub-board in the main control board can be downsized, and the board itself can be downsized. That is, the installation space in the gaming machine can be effectively used by reducing the size of the board and simplifying the wiring, and the work space can be secured even at the time of assembly. Further, maintenance work is simplified.

In the case of a network connection, various topologies such as a bus type, a star type, and a ring type are conceivable, but the bus type is optimal for the connection between the control boards in the gaming machine as in the present invention. . This is a sub-substrate (eg,
This is a preferable connection in terms of independence and wiring efficiency between the symbol display control board, the voice control board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board.

Further, since the connection between the main control board and the network bus is an output interface, signals cannot be input to the main control board. Also, since the connection between the sub-board and the network bus is an input interface, signals cannot be output from each sub-board. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the illegal operation peculiar to the gaming machine, that is, the illegal operation by operating the main control substrate from the sub-substrate.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows a game board 111 of a pachinko machine 110 according to the present embodiment. The area surrounded by the arc-shaped rail 112 on the game board 111 is a gauge section 114 which is a game area.

A plurality of nails 116 are driven into the gauge portion 114 over the entire surface, and the pachinko balls hit through the rails 112 hit the nails 116 and bounce, and are guided to the guide path formed by the nails 116. While falling. In addition to the nail 116, a windmill 118 is attached at a position symmetrical to the gauge portion 114 so as to turn the pachinko ball in an unexpected direction.

Further, winning holes 120 are provided at a plurality of positions in the gauge section 114. A predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out to the player by inserting pachinko balls into the winning holes 120.

The gauge portion 114 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the right and left. A central portion of the gauge portion 114 is provided with an electric accessory unit 122 as a special symbol changing device, and the display portion 124 of the special symbol is exposed. ing. Below the special symbol display section 124, a special symbol start winning port 126 is provided as a first opening for starting the electric accessory unit 122.

A special winning opening 128 is arranged further below the special symbol starting winning opening 126, and is opened for a predetermined time in a so-called hit display state on the electric accessory unit 122,
A large number of pachinko balls can be awarded.

In addition, the pachinko balls which have won the special symbol starting winning opening 126 are held for a maximum of four balls, and when the guidance of the lottery result by the electric accessory unit 122 is finished,
The reserved portion is digested. The number of the reserved balls is reported by the ON / OFF state of four special symbol holding lamps 200 provided two on each of the left and right sides of the special symbol display section 124 in FIG. Lighting is pending).

The gauge section 114 is provided with a normal symbol starting winning port 130 as a second starting port and a normal symbol displaying section 132 capable of displaying a single digit number from 0 to 9. When a pachinko ball wins the ordinary symbol start winning opening 130, the display of the ordinary symbol display portion 132 fluctuates, and when the number reaches a predetermined number, an electric tulip 134 as a movable portion provided in the special symbol start winning opening 126 is activated. It is opened for a predetermined time. By opening the electric tulip 134, the probability of winning in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 is physically increased.

Below the gauge section 114, there is provided a panel 140 provided with a handle 136 as a firing device and a receiving tray 138 for receiving a pachinko ball on the front side. The handle 136 is attached to a rotation shaft protruding from the inside of the panel 140, and is rotatable about this rotation shaft. That is, when the player grips and rotates the handle 136, the firing device is activated, and the firing intensity is set based on the rotation angle. Note that a return urging force is applied to this rotation, and the player automatically returns to the original rotation position when the player releases his / her hand.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of a control system for controlling the pachinko machine 110. The control system mainly includes the main control board 150, the payout control board 152, the voice control board 154, the lamp control board 156, and the emission control board 15.
8, the symbol display control board 160 and the like are classified by function (hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to, the sub-control board 151
).

The main control board 150 stores a basic program relating to a game.
0 based on the command signal from other sub-control boards 15
1 executes independently. That is, the main control board 150 basically outputs a command, and does not receive feedback on the result or the like.

The payout control board 152 controls the number of pachinko balls to be paid out, and the voice control board 154 controls output of sound effects and the like from a speaker 162 provided in the pachinko machine 110. Also, the lamp control board 156
Is an LED lamp attached to the pachinko machine 110 and attached to various accessories without the gauge unit 114.
The lighting / extinguishing of the game board status indicator 164 including a D member, a lamp, and the like is controlled. Further, the firing control board 158 connected to the payout control board 152 controls the firing of the pachinko ball by the player by controlling the firing device 159.

The special symbol display section 124 is connected to the symbol display control board 160, and executes a display for providing a predetermined effect based on a command signal from the main control board 150. The symbol display control board 160 also controls the ordinary symbol display unit 132.

The main control board 150 has a special symbol prize sensor 168 provided in the special symbol prize port 126 and a normal symbol prize sensor 170 provided in the normal symbol prize port 130. The winning sensor 172 is connected. Further, a solenoid 174 for opening and closing the electric tulip 134 and a special symbol holding lamp 200 are connected to the main control board 150.

On the main control board 150, a special symbol or a normal symbol is selected by lottery, the display content on the special symbol display section 124 is selected based on the result of the lottery, and an instruction signal is output to the symbol display control substrate 160. . That is, data of different display contents based on a plurality of types of command signals is stored in the symbol display control board 160 in advance, and data is selected based on the command signals and activated.

In the above description, the other sub-control boards 151 except the emission control board 158 are connected to the main control board 150 via a signal line D by a bus-type LAN (local area network).

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a single LAN output interface 21 is provided on the main control board 150.
0 is provided, and one ends of two signal lines Da and Db are connected. The other ends of the signal lines Da and Db are branched on the way, and the four auxiliary control boards 151 (the symbol display control board 160, the voice control board 154, and the lamp control board 1).
56, are connected in parallel via LAN input interfaces 212, 214, 216, 218 provided on the payout control board 152).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the LAN output interface 2 provided on the main control board 150
Reference numeral 10 denotes only the signal output (pass), and the sub-control board 1
The output of the signal from 51 is not performed (cut off).

The LA provided on the sub-control board 151
N input interfaces 212, 214, 216, 21
8 accepts only input signals and does not accept outputs. Therefore, the output from each sub-control board 151 is limited, and as a result, only the signal from the main control board 150 is input to the sub-control board 151, so that the mutual control with other sub-control boards cannot be performed. Has become.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below.

First, the game of the pachinko machine will be described.

When the pachinko ball is fired, the rail 112
And falls while performing unpredictable movement while abutting on the nail 116 of the gauge section 114, the windmill 118, and the like. Here, when a prize hole 120 is won, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out (prize balls). Further, when the normal symbol starting winning port 130 is won, the normal symbol winning sensor 170 detects this.

By this detection, the main control board 150
Ordinary symbol lottery starts. That is, a number from 0 to 9 is randomly selected with a predetermined probability using a random number counter.
If the result of the lottery is off, there is no particular change in the gaming state. On the other hand, if the lottery results in a win (for example, a winning number of 7 is drawn), the main control board 150 opens the electric tulip 134 provided in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 so as to open. Power is supplied to the solenoid 174. As a result, it is possible to make the pachinko ball easily enter the special symbol start winning opening.

When a pachinko ball wins in the special symbol start winning opening 126, a jackpot lottery is started on the main control board 150 with a predetermined establishment using a random number counter. When the winning / losing is determined as a result of the jackpot lottery, an effect pattern (symbol variation pattern) prepared in advance is selected (a random number counter may be selected).
Then, a command signal is sent to a control board related to the effect including the symbol display control board 160.

The symbol display control board 160 displays a symbol variation pattern on the special symbol display section 124 based on the received command signal. In this symbol variation pattern, there are various effects such as hitting through reach, out-of-reach, and out-of-reach, and the player can wait for the lottery result with a sense of expectation.

Here, in the case of a hit, by opening the special winning opening 128 for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times, the probability of winning of the pachinko ball becomes extremely large, so as to be in an advantageous state for the player. it can.

The above game operation is performed by the main control board 15
The sub-control board 151 controls each device based on a control signal (command signal) from the main control board 150.

In this case, conventionally, as shown in FIG.
Since the main control board 250 and each sub-control board 251 are connected by a bundle of independent signal lines 270 (harness 272), a harness 272 which takes a large wiring space is used.
The wires were entangled with each other. For this reason, the installation space for each control board is limited, and the harness 272
The interfaces 274, 276 and connectors for connecting the control boards are also large. As a result, the control board itself becomes large, and a work space for assembling cannot be secured.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a bus-type LAN is provided between the main control board 150 and the sub-control board 151.
Connection.

With this LAN connection, the number of wires becomes two (signal lines Da and Db), and independent wiring is not required for each sub-control board 151.

As a result, the wiring space becomes extremely small, and a sufficient space for arranging the substrates can be secured.
When the number of wires decreases, the interface (L
The size of the AN output interface 210 and the LAN input interface 212) and connectors can be reduced, and the board itself can be made compact.

That is, due to the miniaturization of the main control board 150 and the sub-control board 151 and the reduction of the wiring space, there is a margin in the assembling space of the control device in the pachinko machine 110, and the assembling work and the maintenance work are facilitated. Will be able to do it.

The main control board 150 is provided with a LAN output interface 210 so that the main control board 1
The signal is transmitted only from the terminal 50 and the input signal is not received. The sub control board 151 (symbol display control board 1)
60, the voice control board 154, the lamp control board 156, and the payout control board 152) are provided with the LAN input interface 212, so that only input signals are accepted and no signals are output.

As a result, one-way communication from the main control board 150 to the sub control board 151 can be performed, and mutual communication between the sub control boards 151 can be refused, so that sufficient measures can be taken in terms of security. be able to.

According to the present embodiment, main control board 150
And a control signal (command signal) from the main control board 150
Is received, the connection with the sub-boards (symbol display control board 160, voice control board 154, lamp control board 156, and payout control board 152) for executing predetermined operation control is made to be LAN connection. The space required on the back side of the pachinko machine 10 in a very small space can be effectively used. Further, since the size of the substrate itself can be reduced, assembling work and maintenance workability can be improved. Further, the main control board 150 has L
AN output interface 210, LAN input interfaces 212, 214, 216,
Since 128 is provided, it is possible to restrict the transmission / reception direction of the signal, and it is possible to sufficiently cope with security such as fraud prevention.

In the present embodiment, the bus type is adopted as the LAN connection. This is because this is the most optimum in consideration of the independence between the sub-control boards 151 and the wiring efficiency. This does not deny the topology such as the ring type and the star type.

Although the above description has been made with the exception of the launch control board 158 as the sub-board for LAN connection, LAN connection may be made to all sub-boards in view of simplification of wiring.

[0055]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the wiring between the control boards can be simplified, and the mounting area of the control board can be secured by reducing the mounting area of the control board. Having.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state for signal transmission and reception in the control system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a signal flow in the connection state of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state for signal transmission and reception in a control system according to a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a signal flow in the connection state of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

110 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 150 Main control board (main board) 152 Dispensing control board (sub board) 154 Voice control board (sub board) 156 Lamp control board (sub board) 158 Symbol display control board (sub board) 210 LAN Output interface 212, 214, 216, 218 LAN input interface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine comprising: a main control board for controlling execution of a game based on a game program stored in advance; and a sub control board for controlling display of symbols and the like by being controlled by the main control board. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a network is connected between the main control board and the sub control board. 2. A main control board for controlling execution of a game based on a game program stored in advance, and for visually notifying a player of a lottery result at the time of winning a game executed on the main control board. , Change the design,
And a symbol display control board for controlling a display device for stopping and displaying a symbol in accordance with the lottery result, and an auditory signal based on a control signal input in synchronization with a control signal to the symbol display control board by the main control board. A sound control board that controls a speaker that outputs sound or sound, and a lighting state of a lighting device such as a lamp to electrically decorate a gaming machine based on a control signal from the main control board. A lamp control board for controlling, and a payout for controlling a payout device that executes a lending of a game medium applied to the gaming machine and an award of a game medium according to a game state based on a control signal from the main control board. And a control board, wherein the main control board, the symbol display control board, the voice control board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board are network-connected. 3. The topology of the network connection,
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gaming machine is a bus type. 4. The connection between the main control board and the network bus is an output interface, and the connection between the symbol display control board, the voice control board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board and the network bus is an input interface. The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: