JP2002210140A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately output inspection signals alarming abnormality regarding command signals in a game machine provided with a display controller controlling variable display in a display device on the basis of the command signals from a game controller. SOLUTION: In the case of judging the abnormality of receiving the display control commands in an incorrect order, the abnormality of receiving undefined display control commands or the abnormality of not receiving a variation stop command even when variation continuation scheduled time Ts elapses with respect to display control commands from the game controller 100 to the display controller 350 error reporting signals are outputted corresponding to the timing of judging the abnormality. The output of the error reporting signals is turned off by the variation start command reception of the next time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a display control device for controlling a variable display on a display device based on a command signal from the game control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine (for example, a pachinko machine) is provided with a display device capable of performing a variable display (for example, a variable display of symbols), and a display on this display device is displayed from a main control device (a game control device). There are some which the display control device performs based on control commands. Further, in such a gaming machine, in order to check whether the control by the display control device is correctly executed based on a display control command from the game control device, the display control device can output an inspection signal. (For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-2000 filed by the present applicant)
151458).

[0003]

When the control by the display control device is inspected by the inspection signal as described above,
It is desirable to be able to reliably determine in real time whether the display control command from the game control device is correctly received (whether or not an abnormality related to the display control command has occurred).

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. In a gaming machine having a display control device for controlling a fluctuating display on a display device based on a command signal from the game control device, the present invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of appropriately outputting a test signal for notifying a signal abnormality.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a gaming machine provided with a display control device for controlling display on a display device based on a command signal from the game control device, each time a command signal is received, Abnormality determining means for determining the occurrence of an abnormality relating to the command signal; and an error notification signal output for outputting an error notification signal in accordance with the timing at which the abnormality is determined when the abnormality determination is made by the abnormality determination means. Means.

In the second invention, when the command signal is not received in the correct order, the abnormality determination means determines that an abnormality has occurred, and the error notification signal output means outputs the error signal. An error notification signal is output in accordance with the reception timing of the command signal.

[0007] In the third invention, the abnormality determination means, when the transmitted command signal is undefined,
In addition to determining that an abnormality has occurred, the error notification signal output means outputs an error notification signal corresponding to the reception timing of the undefined command signal.

In the fourth invention, the display device is capable of displaying the identification information in a variable manner, the command signal includes a variation stop command for instructing to stop the variation display of the identification information, and the abnormality determining means includes: If the fluctuation stop command has not been transmitted even though the continuation time of the fluctuation display has elapsed since the start of the fluctuation display, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and the error notification signal output means performs the continuation. An error notification signal is output in accordance with the detection timing of the elapse of the scheduled time.

In the fifth invention, the display device can change and display the identification information, the command signal includes a change start command for instructing the start of the change display of the identification information, and the error notification signal output means. Ends the output of the error notification signal upon receipt of the fluctuation start command.

[0010] In the sixth invention, the display device can change and display the identification information, and the command signal includes a change stop command for instructing stop of the change display of the identification information. A symbol confirmation signal output means for outputting a symbol confirmation signal at the moment is provided, and the symbol confirmation signal output means outputs a symbol confirmation signal even when the error notification signal is output.

[0011] In the seventh invention, the display device can change and display the identification information, and the command signal instructs a change stop command for stopping the change display of the identification information and a stop mode of the identification information. Including a stop mode instruction to perform, a symbol confirmation signal output unit that outputs a symbol confirmation signal in response to the reception of the fluctuation stop instruction, and a symbol information output unit that outputs a symbol information signal in response to the reception of the stop mode instruction The symbol information output means outputs the symbol information signal in accordance with the output timing of the symbol determination signal by the symbol determination signal output means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes information on a stop symbol based on the stop mode command.

[0013] In the ninth invention, the information of the stop symbol is:
When the display control device receives the stop mode command, it is output before the symbol determination signal is output.

In a tenth aspect, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes display control information relating to identification information displayed on the display device.

In the eleventh invention, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes abnormal information indicating an abnormal state relating to reception of the stop mode command.

[0016]

In the first invention, a command signal from the game control device (display control command in the embodiment)
The error notification signal for notifying the abnormality of the command signal is output in response to the timing at which the abnormality is determined with respect to the command signal (for example, in the embodiment, the same interrupt processing as when the incorrect command signal is received is performed). In this routine, the output of the error notification signal is started), so that the occurrence of the abnormality is promptly notified in real time. That is, the output timing of the error notification signal correctly corresponds to the occurrence of the display abnormality on the display device. Therefore, it is possible to accurately inspect whether the display on the display device is correctly performed in response to the signal reception.

In the second invention, the error notification signal is output in response to the reception timing of the command signal that was not transmitted in the correct order. Therefore, when an error has occurred in the command signal reception due to noise or the like, This can be detected early.

In the third aspect, the error notification signal is output in response to the reception timing of an undefined command signal (a command signal which is not a predetermined regular command signal). If an abnormality has occurred, it can be detected early.

In the fourth aspect, an error notification signal is output in response to the detection timing that the continuation time of the fluctuation display has elapsed without receiving the fluctuation stop command (for example, the fluctuation continuation is performed in the embodiment). The output of the error notification signal is started in the same interrupt processing routine as when the elapse of the scheduled time Ts has been confirmed.) Therefore, the abnormality in which the fluctuation stop command could not be received is notified without waiting for the next command signal reception. To
It can be detected early.

In the fifth invention, since the error notification signal continues until the next fluctuation start command is received, the error notification signal is output for a maximum of a long time in units of each fluctuation, and the abnormal state is output. The notification of
The control program can be simplified.

In the sixth invention, when a fluctuation stop command is received, a symbol confirmation signal is output even if an error notification signal is being output. Based on this, it is possible to correctly count the number of times the identification information has changed (the number of times the change display has been stopped).

In the seventh invention, a symbol determination signal is output when a fluctuation stop command is received, and a symbol information signal is output at the output timing of the symbol determination signal when a stop mode instruction is received. A stop symbol can be confirmed at the timing of the symbol determination signal.

In the eighth aspect, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes the information of the stop symbol based on the stop mode command, so that the data received by the display control device can be confirmed.

In the ninth invention, the stop symbol information output as the symbol information signal by the symbol information output means is provided before the symbol determination signal is output when the display control device receives the stop mode command. Since the data is output, the data received by the display control device can be confirmed without waiting for the symbol to be determined.

According to the tenth aspect, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes display control information relating to the identification information displayed on the display device. The display control data being output can be confirmed.

According to the eleventh aspect, the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes the abnormal information indicating the abnormal state relating to the reception of the stop mode command, so that the content of the abnormality generated in the display control device is described. You can check.

[0027]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the gaming machine.

As shown in the figure, the gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) 1 is a CR machine provided with a card ball lending unit 2. The front frame 3 of the gaming machine 1 is assembled to a main body frame (outer frame) 4 via a hinge 5 so as to be openable and closable. The game board 6 is housed in a storage frame attached to the back of the front frame 3.

On the surface of the game board 6, a variable display device 8, a variable winning device 10 having a large winning opening, each winning opening 11 to 1 are provided.
5, a game area in which the starting port 16, the ordinary symbol display 7, and the ordinary variable winning device 9 are provided. On the front frame 3,
A cover glass 18 that covers the front of the game board 6 is attached.

The variable display device 8 has a display screen portion composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (CRT), or the like.
The right display symbol (identification information) is displayed. These display symbols include numbers from “0” to “9” and “A” to
The letter "E" is assigned. When a game ball wins in the starting port 9, a plurality of game symbols are variably displayed in a plurality of variability display areas. That is, the variable display device 8 displays an image based on the progress of the game, such as a variable display game in which the game symbols composed of numbers and characters are sequentially displayed.

When the special winning opening solenoid 10A (see FIG. 3) is energized, the special variable prize winning device 10 changes from a closed state in which the ball is not accepted (a disadvantageous state to the player) to an open state in which the ball is easily accepted (in the case of the player). To an advantageous state). That is, when the big hit state is determined in the variable display game using the variable display device 4, the special winning opening of the special variable prize winning device 5 opens greatly for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), and the player acquires many game balls. Can be.

Above the special variable winning device 10, a starting port 16 having a normal variable winning device (ordinary electric accessory) 9 is provided, and a normal symbol starting gate is provided at a predetermined position on the left and right thereof.

The normal variable winning device 9 is converted so that the entrance to the starting port 16 is widened by energizing the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 9A (see FIG. 2).

Each of the game areas is provided with N (only four are shown in FIG. 1) general winning ports 12 to 15. At the lowermost end of the game area 3, an out port is provided.

A game is played by launching a game ball (pachinko ball) from the hitting ball launching device (not shown) toward the game area 3, and the launched game ball is placed in a windmill or the like disposed at various places in the game area 3. While the rolling direction is changed by the rolling guide member 13, the game flows down on the surface of the game area 3 and wins the starting port 9, the general winning ports 12 to 15, and the special variable winning device 10 or is discharged from the out port.

The winning of a game ball into the starting port 7 is detected by a special symbol starting sensor 52 (see FIG. 3). The passing timing of the game balls (specifically, the value of the special symbol random number counter provided in the game control device 100 at the time of winning detection) is a predetermined storage area in the game control device 100 as a special symbol winning memory. (Special symbol random number storage area) is stored up to a maximum of four consecutive times. The number of stored special symbol prize memories is displayed on a special symbol start storage display comprising four LEDs provided below the variable display device 8. The game control device 100 causes the variable display device 8 to play a variable display game based on the special symbol winning memory. Then, winning at the starting port 16 is performed at a predetermined timing (when the special symbol random number counter value at the time of winning detection is a winning value).
When the game is performed, the game is stopped in a state where three game symbols are aligned (big hit symbol), and a big hit state is established.

When a game ball is awarded to a normal symbol starting gate (not shown), the normal symbol display 7 starts to display a variable symbol (for example, a symbol consisting of one number). When a prize to the ordinary symbol starting gate is made at a predetermined timing (specifically, when the ordinary symbol random number counter value at the time of detecting the prize is a winning value), it becomes a winning state related to the ordinary symbol, and the ordinary symbol is hit. Stop at the hit symbol (hit number). At this time, the normal variable winning device 9 provided in front of the starting port 16 is widely opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds), and the possibility of winning the game ball to the starting port 16 is increased.

The passing of the game ball to the ordinary symbol starting gate is detected by the ordinary symbol starting gate sensor 53. The passing timing of the game balls (specifically, the game control device 1
The value at the time of passage detection of the ordinary symbol random number counter provided in 00 is a predetermined storage area (ordinary symbol random number storage area) in the game control device 100 as ordinary symbol winning memory.
Is stored for up to four consecutive times. The storage number of the ordinary symbol winning memory is displayed on a memory status display composed of four LEDs provided on both sides of the ordinary symbol display device 7. The game control device 100 performs a lottery for a normal symbol based on the normal symbol winning memory.

An upper plate 21 for supplying a ball to the ball launcher is provided on an opening / closing panel 20 below the front frame 3, and a lower plate 23 and an operation unit 24 of the ball launcher are provided on a fixed panel 22.

The card ball lending unit 2 has a card (a prepaid card or the like) inserted into the card insertion section 25 on the front.
A card reader / writer and a ball lending control device for reading, writing, etc. An operation panel for the card ball lending unit 2 is formed on the outer surface of the upper plate 21 of the gaming machine 1. The operation panel has a card balance display unit (not shown) for displaying a card balance, and a ball lending unit. A ball lending switch 28 for instructing, a card return switch 30 for instructing to return the card, and the like are provided.

On the upper part of the frame of the cover glass 18, there are provided notification lamps 31 and 32 for notifying the abnormal discharge of the ball by lighting.
Is provided.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the gaming machine.

On the back side of the game board 6, a special winning opening, a general winning opening 11 to 15, a winning ball collecting cover (not shown) for guiding a winning ball winning the starting opening 16, a display control device 35.
0, a decoration control device 300, a sound control device 400, an external terminal 41 for a game board, and the like.

On the back side of the storage frame of the front frame 3, a back mechanism board 35 is attached. At the center of the back mechanism board 35, devices (display control device 35) on the back side of the game board 6 are provided.
0, a decoration control device 300, a sound control device 400, etc.).

A ball storage tank 36 for storing game balls and a guide gutter 37 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 36 to a gutter unit (half-end sensor unit) 38 are attached to the upper part of the back mechanism board 35. The guide gutter 37 and the gutter unit 38 are formed in two channels. The gutter unit 38 is provided with an odd ball detection switch for detecting a shortage of game balls to be supplied to the discharge unit 600.

A terminal board 42 is provided on the upper right side of the back mechanism board 35. An external signal line to a management device (a host computer that manages a plurality of gaming machines 1 in a game arcade) is connected to the frame external output terminal 42A provided on the terminal board 42. The terminal board 42 is a relay board to which a power supply line from the outside (island facilities of a game arcade) is connected.

On the right side of the opening window of the back mechanism panel 35, the ball of the gutter unit 38 is placed on the upper plate 21 and the lower plate
A discharge device (discharge unit 600 and flow path switching unit 700) for paying out is attached.

A power supply device 250 is mounted on the upper left side of the back mechanism board 35. In the lower part of the back mechanism board 35, a game control device 100 for controlling the game in general, a discharge control device 200 for controlling the discharge unit 600, a firing control device 550 for controlling the hit ball firing device 500, and a card ball rental unit. The relay board 43 and the like are attached.

Card insertion unit 25 of card ball lending unit 2
When the card is inserted into the card ball lending unit and the ball lending switch 28 of the operation panel 26 for the card lending unit is pressed, a ball lending request is issued from the card lending unit 2 to the discharge control device 200,
The discharge unit 600 is driven by the discharge control device 200, and a predetermined number of rental balls are paid out to the upper plate 21 and the like from the discharge device.

When a ball shot into the game area from the hit ball firing device wins a general winning opening 11 to 15, a starting opening 16 or a large winning opening, a prize ball control command is sent from the game control device 100 to the discharge control device 200. The ball is discharged, the ball discharge unit 600 is driven by the discharge control device 200, and a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the upper plate 21 or the like from the discharge device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram around the gaming control device 100 of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The game control device 100 includes a CPU, a RAM,
A gaming microcomputer 101 having a ROM, an oscillator 102 for sending a predetermined clock pulse to the gaming microcomputer 101, an input / output interface (I /
F) It is composed of 103a and 103b.

Detection signals from various detection devices are input to the input interface 103a and transmitted to the CPU. The various detecting devices include general winning opening sensors 51.1 to 51.1, which detect winning in the general winning openings 11 to 15. N,
Special design start sensor 5 for detecting winning in start opening 16
2. The normal symbol start sensor 53 for starting the fluctuation of the normal symbol display device 7 for determining the operation of the normal fluctuation winning device 9 by detecting the ball, the count sensor 54 for detecting the winning to the special winning opening, and the special winning opening. Continuation sensor 55, glass frame opening sensor 5 for detecting opening of the glass frame on the front of the game board
6. An overflow sensor 5 for detecting that the game balls discharged by the discharge unit 600 are excessively stored.
7, an odd ball detection sensor 58 for detecting that the supply of the game balls to the discharge unit 600 is insufficient is included.

The CPU of the game control device 100 executes a program (game program) recorded in the ROM based on these detection signals, and performs overall control of the game (game control).

Specifically, the game control device 100 performs a lottery for generating a special game state (big hit) based on the detection of the winning in the starting port 16.

The game control device 100 includes a discharge control device 200, a decoration control device 300, a display control device 350,
A prize ball discharge command signal, a decoration control command signal, a display control command signal, and a sound command signal are output to the sound control device 400, and these are controlled. In addition, the game control device 100,
A control signal is transmitted to the special winning opening solenoid 10A and the normal variable winning opening solenoid 9A, and the opening and closing of the special variable winning device 10 and the normal variable winning device 9 are controlled by controlling the energization of these solenoids. Further, a control signal is transmitted to the ordinary symbol display device 7 to control the display.

The game control device 100 determines the occurrence of an error based on signals from the glass frame opening sensor 56, the overflow sensor 57, and the odd-sphere detection sensor 58.

Further, the game control device 100 monitors whether or not the prize ball is correctly discharged. Specifically, monitoring of whether the number of awarded spheres instructed to be emitted, which is transmitted as an award ball control instruction signal to the emission control device 200, and the actual number of emission counted by the awarded ball detection sensor, and monitoring of the awarded ball emission. It monitors whether or not a prize ball has been ejected even though no command has been transmitted. If an abnormality such as the discharge of a prize ball is recognized even though the prize ball discharge command signal is not transmitted, an abnormality handling process is performed. For example, a decoration control command signal is transmitted to the decoration control device 300, and the notification lamps 31 and 32 are blinked to notify the abnormality. Alternatively, the game is forcibly stopped by stopping the game control, stopping the hit ball firing, or the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram around the display control device 350 of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The display control device 350 includes a CPU 351, R
OM 352, RAM 353, DMA controller 35
4, an oscillator 355, a video display controller (VDC) 356, a font ROM 357, a gamma (γ) correction circuit 358, an interface 359, an inspection output terminal 360, and a timer circuit 361.

A display control command signal is input to the input interface 359 from the game control device 100, and the display control device 350 is controlled by the display control command signal.
The display control command signal is composed of data instructing the start / stop of the change of the change display device 8 and data indicating the contents displayed when the change of the change display device 8 is stopped. The signal is taken into the display control device 350 by using the communication interrupt pulse signal as a trigger.

The CPU 351 executes the program recorded in the ROM 352, and executes the VD based on the display control command signal.
VDC control data is output to C356, and the fluctuation display device 8
Control.

The VDC 356 has a predetermined screen display period (1/60 seconds = 16.6 milliseconds), and the CPU 35
A display interrupt signal, which is a VDC data transfer request, is sent to the CPU 1 to receive VDC control data from the CPU 351. VD
Upon receiving the display content instruction from the CPU 351, the C356 reads the display font data from the font ROM 357 and sends the data to the variable display device 8 at a predetermined cycle.

The oscillator 355 includes a CPU 351, VDC3
The CPU 35 generates a clock signal for operating the 56 and the like and a clock signal of a screen display cycle (1/60 second).
1. Send to VDC 356.

The display control device 350 is provided with an output terminal 360 for inspection, and a signal for inspection of the display control device 350 (a code signal for inspection, a design data signal for inspection, a strobe signal for inspection, An intermediate signal, a symbol confirmation signal, and an error notification signal) are output.

The inspection code signal is a signal for transmitting an inspection code indicating the fluctuation and stop of the fluctuation display device 8. The inspection code is used by the display control device 350 to correctly receive data from the game control device 100 and to check whether the display control device 350 is performing a normal fluctuation / stop operation according to the received data.

The design symbol data signal for inspection is transmitted to the fluctuation display device 8.
Is a signal indicating the symbol data (inspection symbol data) displayed when is stopped. The inspection symbol data is used by the display control device 350 to inspect whether the symbol is displayed according to the symbol designation data of the display control data from the game control device 100.

The inspection strobe signal is output while the inspection code signal or the inspection symbol data signal is being output, and is an inspection device (not shown) connected to the outside of the display control device 350. Inspection data trigger (strobe) of, and urges to capture data.

The fluctuating signal is a signal that rises at the same time as the rising edge of the test strobe signal indicating the start of the fluctuation, and ends (falls) at the same time as the rising edge of the test strobe signal indicating the stop of the fluctuation. Therefore, the time during which the changing signal is output coincides with the time during which the display symbol is changing. Therefore, based on the output time of the changing signal, the duration of the changing display in the changing display device 8 is measured. Can be.

As described above, the fluctuating signal is turned on by receiving the display control command signal (fluctuation start command) for instructing the start of the symbol fluctuating from the game control device 100, and the display control command for instructing the symbol fluctuating stop. Signal (fluctuation stop command)
Is turned off by receiving Therefore, during the output of the fluctuating signal, a fluctuating stop command for stopping the fluctuating should be originally received. There is a case where the fluctuation start command is received during the output of the signal.

In such a case, the present embodiment takes the following measures. (1) When the timing at which the fluctuation start command is received is before the fluctuation continuation expected time Ts (the time to continue the fluctuation commanded by the fluctuation start command before the fluctuation) has elapsed from the start of the fluctuation. The change start command is determined to be an erroneous command due to noise or the like, is invalidated, and the change is continued. The signal is kept on during the fluctuation. (2) If the timing of receiving the fluctuation start command is after the fluctuation continuation scheduled time has elapsed from the start of the fluctuation,
This change start command is valid. Then, the outputted fluctuating signal is turned on again after being turned off for the interval time Ti. This rising is the rising of the fluctuating signal corresponding to the fluctuation start command received during the fluctuating signal output. Further, when a fluctuation stop command for the fluctuation is received, the turning-off of the fluctuation signal is delayed by the interval time Ti. Thereby, the output time of the fluctuating signal correctly corresponds to the duration of the fluctuation. The interval time Ti is a time (for example, 805) shorter than the communication interrupt cycle (for example, 2 ms).
μs) is set in advance. The elapse of the interval time Ti is measured by the timer circuit 361.

Further, an error notification signal is output from the inspection output terminal 360 to notify that the display control device 350 has not correctly received the display control data.
(Specifically, this error notification signal is, for example, (A) when the value of the display control data is undefined, (B)
If the display control data reception order is incorrect,
(C) When the fluctuation stop command is not transmitted even after the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts elapses after the fluctuation is started, the fluctuation stop command is output (details will be described later).

Further, a symbol determination signal is output from the inspection output terminal 360. The symbol determination signal is a predetermined time Td when the symbol stop command is received.
(For example, 0.064 seconds), and by counting the symbol confirmation signal, the number of times the symbol fluctuates and stops can be counted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main operation (main routine) of the display control device 350 of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the main program is started, in step S1, the CPU 351, the VDC 356, and the like are initialized, and the initial display screen at the time of starting is displayed on the variable display device 8.

At step S 2, CPU 351 transfers control data indicating initial display contents to VDC 356.

In the updating of the animation data in step S3, the display contents (animation contents) of the variable display device 8 at the time of the next generation of the display interrupt signal are changed to the VDC 35.
6 so that necessary information (VDC 35
6, the font read from the font ROM,
Generate data (data specifying a background (color, pattern)). In the following step S4, the generated information is stored in a buffer as VDC control data.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag is on.
If not, skip to step S9.
Here, the change monitoring flag is a flag indicating that the symbol is changing, and is a communication interrupt process described later (FIG. 6).
Is turned on / off.

In step S6, the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer is updated. Here, the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer is a timer that is updated by the continuation of fluctuation from the start of fluctuation, and is timed up when the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts elapses.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not the time of the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer has expired. If the time has not elapsed, the process skips to step S9. If the time has elapsed, the error notification signal is turned on in step S8. Proceed to step S9. Thus, when the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer times out while the fluctuation continuation flag is on,
That is, if the fluctuation stop command has not been received after the previous fluctuation start command has been received and the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts specified by the fluctuation start instruction has elapsed, it is determined that the command is abnormal, and the error notification signal is output. Is turned on.

At step S9, the CPU 351 sets the I / F
It is determined whether or not a communication interrupt signal has been received from the game control device 100 via the 359, and if received, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10.
Skip to 12.

In step S10, a communication interrupt processing subroutine (see FIG. 6) is executed. In step S11, the animation control is initialized and the game control device 1
Prepare for display of new display control data received from 00.

In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a display interrupt signal from VDC 356. If there is no display interrupt signal, the process returns to step S9. On the other hand, if there is a display interrupt signal, the process returns to step S2 to transfer VDC control data to VDC 356. This display interrupt signal is sent from the VDC 356 to the CPU 351 every screen update cycle (1/60 second).
Is sent as a data transmission request to the
A data transfer cycle to C356 is determined.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication interruption process (the process of step S4 in FIG. 5) in the main routine. This subroutine is executed by the game control device 100 in the main routine in the predetermined period τ.
Each time the display control device 350 receives a communication interrupt signal transmitted at (for example, 2 ms), it is called and executed (steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 5).

At step S21, the CPU 351 reads the display control data. In a succeeding step S22, it is determined whether or not the read display control data has an abnormality (whether or not there is a command abnormality).

Specifically, (A) First, when the received display control data is not defined, that is, when it is not any of the fluctuation start command, the left, middle, and right symbol designating signals, and the fluctuation stop command ( In FIG. 8), it is determined that there is an abnormality.

(B) Even if the received display control data is defined, if the reception order is not correct, that is, a change start command, a left symbol designating signal,
If the display control data is not received in the order of the middle symbol designating signal, the right symbol designating signal, and the fluctuation stop command, it is determined that there is an abnormality.

If it is determined in step S22 that there is an abnormality, the flow advances to step S23 to turn on the error notification signal. (If the error notification signal is already on, the on state is maintained. T), and proceeds to step S24. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no abnormality, the process directly proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, it is determined whether or not the received display control data is a change start command (80h or the like). If it is a change start command, the flow advances to step S25.

In step S25, the error notification signal is turned off (if the error notification signal is already off, the off state is maintained), and the process proceeds to step S26. As described above, the error notification signal is output after the abnormality is detected (step S22 and the like) and until the next fluctuation start command is received.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not the expected change continuation time Ts indicated by the change start command has elapsed since the start of change by the immediately preceding change start command, and if not, step S27. The process proceeds to step S29 if it has elapsed.

In step S27, the error notification signal is turned on, and in step S28, the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. That is, if the fluctuation start command is received before the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts has elapsed, the fluctuation start command is determined to be an erroneous signal due to noise or the like, an error is notified, and the fluctuation start instruction is invalidated. And In this case, the data of the change start command is discarded, and is not used in the main routine. If the fluctuation start command is received in an incorrect order, the error notification signal has already been turned on in step S23, and therefore this step S2
The error notification signal is turned on in 7 when the display control data is received in the correct order but before the fluctuation start command is received before the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts has elapsed (see FIG. 12). .

In step S29, it is determined whether or not the changing signal is being output. If the changing signal is not being output, the flow advances to step S30. That is, when the fluctuation start command is normally received while the fluctuation signal is not output, the process proceeds to step S30.

In step S30, a test code signal (20h) corresponding to the fluctuation start command is output, and the test strobe signal is raised to a high level.
It prompts the inspection equipment connected to the 50 output terminals to take in the inspection data. In step S31, the changing signal is turned on. In step S32, the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag is turned on, and in the following step S33, the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer is initialized, and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S29 that the fluctuating signal is being output, the flow advances to step S34. That is,
Where other display control data should normally be received, if a change start command is received, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, a test code signal (20h) corresponding to the fluctuation start command is output, the test strobe signal is raised to a high level, and the timer of the strobe signal is initialized.

In step S35, the changing signal is turned off. In a succeeding step S36, it is determined whether or not the interval time Ti has elapsed from the turning-off of the signal during fluctuation, and when the interval time Ti has elapsed, the step S37 is performed.
To turn on the fluctuating signal. As described above, when the fluctuation start command is received during the output of the fluctuation signal, the fluctuation signal is dropped for a predetermined interval time Ti, and the fluctuation signal is raised again. With this, it is possible to detect the start of the display change due to the new change start command from the changing signal.

In step S38, the fluctuation delay flag is turned on, the process proceeds to step S32, the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag is turned on (step S32), the fluctuation continuation monitoring timer is initialized (step S33), and the process returns to the main routine. . Here, the fluctuation delay flag is a flag indicating that the rising of the fluctuating signal due to the fluctuation start command is delayed by the interval time Ti, and is used in the fall of the fluctuating signal due to the fluctuation stop command ( See step S44).

If it is determined in step S24 that the display control data is not a change start command, the process proceeds to step S24.
Proceeding to 39, display control data is changed stop command (88h)
Is determined. If it is determined that the command is not the fluctuation stop command, the process proceeds to step S28 to turn off the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag, and then returns to the main routine. If it is a fluctuation stop command, the process proceeds to step S40.

In step S40, an inspection code signal (21h) corresponding to the fluctuation stop command is output, and an inspection symbol data signal is output. Further, the test strobe signal is raised to a high level, and the strobe timer is initialized.

In step S41, a symbol confirmation signal is output. As described above, the symbol determination signal is always transmitted every time the symbol stop command is received, and is transmitted even when the transmission order of the display control data is abnormal and the error notification signal is output.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not the variable delay flag is on.
If not, skip to step S45.

In step S43, the variable delay flag is turned off. In the following step S44, it is determined whether or not the interval time Ti has elapsed from the timing of turning off the fluctuating signal when the fluctuation delay flag is not on (for example, the timing of outputting the inspection code signal or the like in step S40). When the interval time Ti has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, the signal during fluctuation is turned off, and in step S28, the fluctuation continuation monitoring flag is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. As described above, when there is a fluctuating signal output at the interval time Ti, the fluctuating signal off time is set to the interval time T.
Delay by i. As a result, the duration of the output of the fluctuating signal correctly corresponds to the fluctuating time of the display on the fluctuating display device 8, and the fluctuating time of the display can be correctly detected based on the fluctuating signal.

As described above, the output of the error notification signal from the display control device 350 is executed in the communication interrupt processing that has received the display control data from the game control device 100. That is, the error notification signal is output in accordance with the timing of receiving the command from the game control device 100.
Therefore, the error notification is performed in real time with respect to the fluctuation display on the fluctuation display device 8, and it is possible to accurately determine where the abnormality has occurred in the fluctuation display.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of display control device 350 when there is no command error.

The game controller 100 to the display controller 35
To 0, a communication interrupt signal and display control data are sent according to the operation cycle of the game control device 100 (2 milliseconds in this figure). The communication interrupt signal is a pulse signal sent to the game control device 100 and the display control device 350 in accordance with the operation timing of the game control device 100, and serves as a trigger for capturing display control data. The display control data is sent from the game control device 100 to the display control device 350 to control the display of the variable display device 8 in accordance with the communication interrupt cycle.
It consists of data for instructing stop and data indicating the contents displayed when the fluctuation display device 8 stops fluctuation.

Here, 80h of the first data of the display control data is a command signal (change start command) for instructing the start of the change of the display symbol for 5.0 seconds, followed by 05.
h, 16h and 27h are the left, middle, and
This is a command signal for designating the right stop symbol. Also, 88h
Is a command signal (fluctuation stop command) representing the stop of the display symbol that is fluctuating. The details of the display control data are shown in FIG.
Shown in

The display control device 350 is a game control device 10
From 0, the fluctuation start command (80h) or the fluctuation stop command (8
8h), the corresponding inspection code (20h, 21h) is output. When this test code is output, the test strobe signal rises to a high level. After that, a predetermined time elapses, and when the inspection code signal ends, the inspection strobe signal falls. The fall of the test strobe signal is controlled by the steps S8 to S10 of the main flow described above so that the strobe signal is output for a predetermined time.

In this figure, the configuration is such that the test strobe signal ends with the end of the test code signal. However, the test strobe signal is configured to end before the test code signal ends. Alternatively, the inspection strobe signal may be a short-time pulse signal.

[0110] The display control device 350
When a command signal to stop the display symbol being fluctuated (88h) is received from 0, the corresponding inspection code (21h) is output and the inspection symbol data is output. As described above, the inspection symbol data is for inspecting whether the display control device 350 is displaying a symbol according to the symbol designation data of the display control data from the game control device 100.

The fluctuating signal rises in synchronization with the rise of the test strobe signal corresponding to the fluctuation start command (80h), and falls in synchronization with the rise of the test strobe signal corresponding to the fluctuation stop command (88h). . More specifically, the fluctuating signal rises with respect to the fluctuation start command (80H) with a delay of a fixed time t1 from the reception of the fluctuation start command to the rise of the corresponding test strobe signal, and the fluctuation stop command (88h). Falls after a certain time t2 from the reception of the fluctuation stop command to the rise of the corresponding test strobe signal. In this case, both the time t1 and the time t2 are equal to the interval time Ti and are the same time. Therefore, the duration of the fluctuating signal correctly corresponds to the reception of the fluctuating start command and the fluctuating stop command, and it is possible to correctly calculate the fluctuating time of the display (special symbol) on the fluctuating display device 8 from this duration. Become.

The present invention is characterized by the output of an error notification signal and the like when a command error occurs.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing the contents of the display control command data.

The game control device 100 to the display control device 35
The display control data output to 0 includes a signal indicating the start / stop of the variable display of the display symbol (identification information) of the variable display device 8 and the left, middle, and right stop symbols that finally stop. Signal. This data is output from the game control device 100 to the display control device 350 in an 8-bit hexadecimal number, and the numerical value to which "h" is added is a hexadecimal number, including the above description.

Reference numerals 80h to 87h denote fluctuation start commands, and the fluctuation display of all display symbols on the left, middle and right of the fluctuation display device 8 is started by this signal. Each of these fluctuation start commands corresponds to a fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts (a time for changing a display symbol). Specifically, a command is separately prepared so that a change continuation scheduled time from 5.0 seconds to 5.7 seconds in increments of 0.1 second can be designated. 88h
Is a fluctuation stop command, and the fluctuation display device 8
Is completely stopped.

01h to 0Eh, 11h to 1Eh, 21h
.About.2Eh is a design symbol designating signal of the variable display device 8, and a symbol when the variable display of the variable display device 8 is stopped is determined by this data. In correspondence with the symbols “0” to “E” actually displayed on the variable display device 8, 01
h to 0Eh indicate the symbols in the left display column of the variable display device 8 as 1
1h to 1Eh designate a symbol in the middle display column, and 21h to 2Eh designate a symbol in the right display column.

FIGS. 9 to 12 are timing charts showing an example of the operation of the display control device 350 when a command error occurs. In the timing charts of FIGS. 9 to 12, the same meaning as the reception of the display control data “80h” to “87h” in FIG. 7 by the change start command C1 and the like, and the middle of the left symbol designating signal C2 and the like. The display control data "05h" to "0E" in FIG. 7 are respectively set by the symbol designating signal C3 and the like and the right symbol designating signal C4 and the like.
h "," 11h "to" 1Eh ", the same meaning as the reception of" 21h to 2Eh ", and the same meaning as the reception of the display control data" 88h "in FIG. ing.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device 350 when the fluctuation start command C1 has not been correctly received.

As shown in the figure, when the fluctuation start command C1 should be received first, and when the fluctuation start command C1 is not received and the left symbol designation signal C2 is received, the left symbol designation signal C2 is received. Upon receiving the signal C2, the output of the error notification signal is started. In this manner, the error notification signal is turned on when the display control command (display control data) is received in an incorrect order.

The error notification signal thus output is
After the left symbol designating signal C2, the middle symbol designating signal C3, the right symbol designating signal C4, and the symbol stop command C5 are continuously output while being received in the correct order, and upon receiving the next fluctuation start command C6. finish. Even if such an error notification signal is being output, a symbol confirmation signal is output upon receiving the symbol stop signal C5.

In this embodiment, the error notification signal is output at the falling edge of the pulse of the display control command (in FIG. 9, the left symbol designating signal C2) received in an incorrect order. However, the output timing of the error notification signal is not limited to this, and the error notification signal can be output at any timing as long as it is related to the timing of receiving the display control command.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the display control device 350 when the middle symbol designating command C13 of the stop symbol designating signal has been omitted. As shown,
In this case, the middle symbol designating command C13 is skipped,
Upon receiving the right symbol reception command C14, an error notification signal is output, and this error notification signal is continued until the next fluctuation start command C16 is received. If the symbol stop command C15 is received during this time, a symbol confirmation signal is output upon this reception.

FIG. 11 shows the operation timing of the display control device 350 when the symbol stop command C25 has not been correctly received.

As shown, after receiving the fluctuation start command C21, the left, middle, and right symbol designating signals C22, C23, C2
4 are sequentially received, but the error notification signal is turned on when the symbol stop command C25, which should be received, is not received even after the fluctuation continuation scheduled time Ts has elapsed. This error notification signal is turned off when the next fluctuation start command C26 is received.

Further, in this case, since there is no fluctuation stop command C25 and the fluctuation signal turned on by the fluctuation start command C21 does not end, the fluctuation signal temporarily changes over the interval time Ti after the reception of the fluctuation start command C26. Being turned off indicates that a new fluctuation has begun.

FIG. 12 shows that the next change start command C36 before the change start scheduled time Ts elapses from the change start command C31.
Shows the operation of the display control device 350 when the display control device 350 receives the “. In this case, transmission of the error notification signal is started upon receipt of the change start command C36, and this error notification signal is continued until the next change start command C37 is received.

In the examples of FIGS. 9 to 11, the display control data that could not be correctly received was one by one. However, the same control is performed when a plurality of display control data could not be received. You. That is, if the received display control data is not in the correct order, the error notification signal is turned on when it is determined that the display control data is not in the correct order, and this on state continues until the next fluctuation start command is received. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, an abnormality in which the fluctuation stop command could not be received even if the fluctuation continuation expected time Ts was exceeded, and an abnormality in which the received display control data was undefined (non-regular) overlapped. In this case as well, the error notification signal is turned on when any abnormality is first identified, and this on state continues until the next fluctuation start command is received.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the error notification signal for notifying the occurrence of an abnormality related to the command signal from game control device 100 to display control device 350 is output at the timing related to the reception of the command signal. Since it is output (output in the same interrupt routine as the reception of the command signal), the occurrence of the abnormality is promptly notified in real time, and the display on the fluctuation display device 8 is correctly performed in response to the reception of the command signal. Can be accurately inspected.

Further, since the error notification signal is continued until the next fluctuation start command is received, the error notification signal is output for a maximum of a long time in units of each fluctuation, so that the abnormality notification can be reliably performed. And the control program can be simplified.

When a fluctuation stop command is received,
Since the symbol determination signal is output even while the error notification signal is being output, the number of times the identification information display has fluctuated (the number of times the fluctuation has stopped) can be correctly counted based on the symbol determination signal.

Although not shown in the above embodiment, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, the data contents of the left symbol design signal, the middle symbol design signal, and the right symbol design signal are used as the inspection signals. The left display symbol data,
A configuration in which the middle display symbol data and the right display symbol data are output may be employed. In this case, when there is an abnormality in each symbol designating signal, information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality in the corresponding display symbol data may be output.

In the present invention, the command abnormality for outputting the error notification signal is not limited to the abnormality disclosed in the above embodiment. Includes any abnormalities related to command transmission.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a game board on which a third-type special electric accessory is arranged. First, an outline of a game using the game board shown in FIG. 13 will be described.

The variable display device 8 has a display screen portion composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display), a CRT (CRT) or the like, and a plurality of (for example, left, middle, right) variable display areas are provided with a plurality of identification information (games). Symbol) is displayed in a variable manner. These game symbols include, for example, each number from “0” to “9”,
Alphabetic characters “A” to “E” are assigned. Then, when a game ball wins at the starting port 60, a plurality of game symbols are variably displayed in a plurality of variability display areas, that is, the variability display device 8 sequentially displays the above-mentioned game symbols composed of the numbers and characters. An image based on the progress of the game, such as a variable display game, is displayed.

When the game ball wins the start winning opening 60, the variable display device 8 executes a variable display game. At this time, the winning of the game ball to the starting winning opening 60 is detected by a starting winning opening sensor (not shown). The passing timing of the game balls (specifically, the value of the random number counter provided in the game control device 100 at the time of winning detection) is continuously stored at a maximum in a predetermined storage area in the game control device 100 as a winning memory. Up to four times are stored. The winning storage number is displayed on a start storage display comprising four LEDs provided below the variable display device 8. Game control device 10
A value of 0 causes the variable display device 8 to execute a variable display game based on the winning memory. The fluctuation time of the fluctuation display game is determined based on the lottery result of the start memory, the probability fluctuation state, the symbol combination, the number of start memories, and the selection of the fluctuation pattern. The extraction of the random number as the starting memory is performed in the starting winning opening 6
At the time of the winning of the game ball to 0, the determination of the mode of the variable display game by the determination of the starting memory is performed at the start of the variation. This variable display game is played regardless of the right status,
Normally, it is controlled not to be performed during the opening operation of the electric accessory 62.

When the winning in the start winning opening 60 is made at a predetermined timing (when the random number counter value at the time of winning detection is a winning value), the variable display game is performed in a predetermined result mode (for example, three game modes). Deriving the state in which the symbols are aligned (stopping with the winning symbol) leads to the hit state, and the normal electric accessory 62 is opened. Ordinary electric accessory 62
The fluctuation display is stopped, the result mode of the fluctuation display game is displayed, and the game is released after a predetermined time (for example, a fixed time (10 seconds) or a maximum value may be set to be variable). Is done. Then, after a predetermined number of game balls have been won or a predetermined time has elapsed, the opening is terminated. When the ordinary electric accessory 62 is not opened, a game ball cannot be won.

A prize detection switch is provided inside the ordinary electric accessory 62 at a position where a prize game ball can be immediately detected, and a game ball detection switch is provided in a specific area (special device operation area) 62A. The detection switch of the specific area 62A may be used also as a winning detection switch.

Then, when the game ball that has won the ordinary electric accessory 62 passes through the special area 62A, a right is generated, and the game shifts to a game in which the special winning opening 64 is opened. A pass ratio adjustment structure may be provided for passing through this specific area. The configuration of a game board provided with this pass rate adjusting structure will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that the specific area 62A is invalid except during the opening operation of the ordinary electric accessory 62, and the specific area 62A is invalid.
Even if the detection switch of A detects a game ball, it does not enter the right generation state described above. The right generated by the passing of the game ball in the special area 62A is such that a predetermined number (for example, 16) of game balls wins in the third type starting port, or the game ball newly passes through the special area. It disappears by that.

The predetermined result mode (for example, hit symbol)
If a specific result mode (a symbol combination having a probability variation set within a predetermined ratio with respect to the total number of winning symbol combinations) is derived and the right is generated, the right is extinguished. Is a probability variation state in which the probability of deriving a predetermined result mode (for example, a winning symbol) is high in the variation display game. Further, when the right is not generated while the specific result mode is derived, the probability is changed until the next right generation after the operation of the ordinary electric accessory 62 is completed. Note that an upper limit (for example, five times) may be set for the number of times that the probability fluctuation state occurs continuously. While the upper limit is set (during the operation of the limiter function), control is performed so as not to display the symbol combination that causes the probability variation.

When a game ball wins in the third type starting port 63 in the right generation state, the special winning opening is opened for a predetermined time or until a predetermined number of game balls are detected. The third-type starting port 63 is controlled by the game control device 100, and a game ball that has won the third-type winning port 63 has a third-type starting port 63.
It is 1 to the winning detection switch by the stop provided in
It is guided individually. Note that the operation cycle of the stop portion may be set to a time longer than the sum of the maximum opening time of the special winning opening and the time required for all game balls that have won the special winning opening to pass through the winning detection switch. .

FIG. 14 shows the display control device 35 in the case where there is no command abnormality (abnormal display control data) in the gaming machine (FIG. 13) in which the above-mentioned third type special electric accessory is arranged.
6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the "0".

The game control device 100 to the display control device 35
To 0, display control data is sent together with a communication interrupt signal according to the operation cycle (communication interrupt cycle) of the game control device 100. The display control data is command data for controlling the display of the fluctuation display device 8, and indicates data for instructing start / stop of fluctuation of the fluctuation display device 8 and contents displayed when the fluctuation display device 8 stops fluctuation. Consists of data.

The cycle of the communication interrupt is determined by the game control device 10.
It is instructed by a pulse signal (communication interrupt signal) transmitted to the display control device 350 in accordance with the operation timing of 0, and serves as a trigger to capture display control data. In addition,
In FIG. 14, the communication interrupt signal is omitted.

The first data of the display control data is a command signal (a change start command) for instructing the start of the change of the display symbol and the change time, and the following data,
Are command signals for designating left, middle, and right stop symbols of the variable display device 8, respectively. Further, is a command signal (fluctuation stop command) indicating the stop of the display symbol that is fluctuating. The details of the display control data are as described above with reference to FIG.

Upon receiving the fluctuation stop command, the display control device 350 outputs the first to third digit fixed symbol data, which is the symbol data for inspection, in response to the command. The inspection symbol data is for inspecting whether the display control device 350 is displaying a symbol according to the symbol designation data of the display control data from the game control device 100. As the inspection symbol data, a signal of a symbol corresponding to the left, middle, and right stop symbols of the variable display device 8 indicated by the display control data is output as a parallel signal. Specifically, the display control data corresponds to the first digit (left) of the variable display device 8, the display control data corresponds to the second digit (middle), and the display control data corresponds to the third digit (right). Is output.

Then, together with the output of the inspection design data,
The symbol determination signal is raised to a high level and output. The symbol confirmation signal notifies the inspection device that the symbol has stopped, and prompts the capture of the confirmed symbol data.

In this figure, at the end of the inspection design data,
Although the symbol determination signal is configured to end, the symbol determination signal may be configured to end before the inspection symbol data ends, and the symbol determination signal may be a short-time pulse signal.

The error notification signal is output for notification when there is an abnormality (command abnormality) in the display control data. In the drawing, “*” in the inspection design data indicates that the design data is indefinite (not defined). As the design symbol data for "*", for example, the last determined symbol data may be continuously output. Further, as described later with reference to FIG. 19, display control data updated at the reception timing of the display control data,
, May be output. Further, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 20, the display symbol data during the variable display may be output.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device 350 when the display control data (symbol designating data) is missing in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG.

When the display control device 350 receives the fluctuation stop command in the order of (1) to (4), the display control device 350 converts the symbol determination signal (test strobe signal) and the inspection symbol data (determined symbol data of the first to third digits). Output. At this time, if the display control data of the middle symbol is received without receiving the display control data of the left symbol, it is determined that the display control data of the left symbol is missing, and an error is detected at the reception timing of the display control data. I do. Then, upon receiving the fluctuation stop command, an error notification signal is output together with the symbol confirmation signal. The error notification signal is output based on the display control data (display control command) being received in an incorrect order.

The inspection symbol data (**) output together with the error notification signal outputs fixed symbol data except for the digits for which reception has been lost, and the missing digits have a specific code indicating a predetermined reception error. Output data. For example, an abnormal code that can identify the cause of an error such as abnormal data or data loss is set and output. By outputting data indicating a predetermined reception error for a missing digit, the inspection apparatus can know which digit of the display control data has failed to be received.

The abnormal code is output in place of the fixed symbol data when the symbol fixed signal is output. However, when the abnormal data is received, when the data not in the normal order is received, when the fluctuation stop command is received, It may be configured to output before the output of the symbol determination signal, such as immediately before the output of the symbol determination signal.

Also, an abnormal code may be output only for a symbol having an abnormality, or if some symbols have an abnormality, all symbols are determined to be abnormal and an abnormal code is output for all symbols. May be configured.

Note that the design symbol data for inspection (**) output together with the error notification signal may be configured as indefinite data (data not defined). This is because, in such a variable display game in a gaming machine, the combination of fixed symbols is important, so that even if one symbol is missing, the inspection symbol data becomes meaningless.

Then, after a predetermined time, the symbol determination signal is dropped when the output of the inspection symbol data is stopped. After stopping (falling) the output of the symbol determination signal, the output of the error notification signal is also stopped. In this drawing, the reason why the output of the error notification signal is not stopped during the output of the symbol confirmation signal is that the inspection device may take in the inspection symbol data during the output of the symbol confirmation signal. This is to prevent data from being taken in as normal data.

Also, in this figure, after receiving the fluctuation stop command, an error notification signal is output together with the output of the symbol determination signal. However, when the display control device 350 detects an error (display control data). May be configured to output an error notification signal at the time when the display control data is received without receiving the error notification signal).

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device 350 when the display control data (fluctuation stop command) is missing in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG.

When the display control device 350 receives the change stop command, the display control device 350 stops changing the design of the change display device 8, and the maximum change time in the change display is specified by the display control data (change start command). . Therefore, if the fluctuation stop command is not received even after the maximum fluctuation time specified by the fluctuation start command has elapsed, the display control device 350 determines that the fluctuation stop command is missing, and An error is detected at the timing when the maximum fluctuation time has elapsed. And
Raises and outputs an error notification signal when an error is detected.
At this time, since the fluctuation stop command is not received, the fixed symbol data is not output. Further, since the fluctuation stop command has not been received, the symbol of the fluctuation display device 8 does not stop, so that the inspection symbol data (fixed symbol data of the first to third digits) is not output, and the above-mentioned indefinite data (* ).

After the elapse of a predetermined time, the error notification signal falls and its output is stopped. The output of the error notification signal may be stopped by the next change start command.

FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the operation of display control device 350 when the display control data (change start command) is missing in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG.

When the display control device 350 receives the change start command, the display control device 350 starts changing the design of the change display device 8. However, when the display control data of the left symbol is received without receiving the change start command, the display control device 350 executes the change display command. Is missing, the display control data (display control command) is determined to be received in the wrong order, and an error is detected at the reception timing of the display control data. Then, an error notification signal is output by receiving the display control data.

Then, upon receiving the fluctuation stop command, a symbol determination signal (inspection strobe signal) and inspection symbol data (1st to 3rd digit symbol data) are output. At this time, since the variable display based on the display control data of the variable display device 8 is not performed, the design symbol data for inspection (**) is indefinite data (data not defined). The inspection device can determine from the error notification signal that the symbol data is invalid data, so that there is no problem even if the inspection symbol data is indefinite data.

The error notification signal is dropped when the next fluctuation start command is received, and its output is stopped. Note that the output of the error notification signal may be stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the reception of the fluctuation stop command.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device 350 when the display control data (fluctuation start command) and the display control data (fluctuation stop command) are missing in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG. It is a chart.

When the display control device 350 receives the change start command, the display control device 350 starts changing the design of the change display device 8. However, when the display control data of the left symbol is received without receiving the change start command, the display control device 350 executes the change display command. Is missing, the display control data (display control command) is determined to be received in the wrong order, and an error is detected at the reception timing of the display control data. Then, an error notification signal is output by receiving the display control data.

When the display control device 350 receives the change stop command, the display control device 350 stops the change of the symbol of the change display device 8, and outputs a symbol fixing signal upon receiving the change stop command. However, in this figure, since the fluctuation stop command is not received, neither the symbol confirmation signal nor the symbol symbol data is output. Then, the state of the above-mentioned indefinite data (*) is maintained for the inspection symbol data (the symbol data of the first to third digits).

Then, upon receiving the next fluctuation start command, the error notification signal is dropped and its output is stopped. Note that the output of the error notification signal may be stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the reception of the fluctuation stop command.

FIG. 19 is another timing chart showing the operation of display control device 350 when there is no command abnormality (display control data abnormality) in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG. In this timing chart, FIG.
Unlike the timing chart shown in FIG. 4, the design symbol data for inspection is updated at the reception timing of the display control data, and the symbol data corresponding to the received display control data is output.

The game control device 100 to the display control device 35
To 0, display control data for controlling the display of the variable display device 8 is sent together with a communication interrupt signal according to the communication interrupt cycle. The display control data includes data instructing the start / stop of the change of the change display device 8 and data indicating the contents displayed when the change of the change display device 8 stops. Specifically, the first data of the display control data is a command signal (change start command) for instructing the start of the change of the display symbol and the change time, and the following display control data,
Are command signals for designating left, middle and right stop symbols of the variable display device 8, respectively. Further, is a command signal (fluctuation stop command) indicating the stop of the display symbol that is fluctuating. The details of the display control data are as described above with reference to FIG.

Upon receiving the display control data, the display control device 350 outputs the received symbol data corresponding to the received display control data as the inspection symbol data. As the received symbol data, the display control data received by the display control device 350 may be output as it is, or may be output in the form of data processed by a predetermined calculation.

Then, upon receiving the fluctuation stop command,
The pattern determining data is output, and the test pattern data is switched from the received pattern data to the determined pattern data and output.

As described above, the display control data,
, May be output at the time of receiving the symbol data, but the received symbol data is output immediately before the symbol confirmation signal is output (just before the inspection symbol data is switched from the received symbol data to the determined symbol data). It may be configured as follows.

Thereafter, the symbol determination signal is dropped after a predetermined time has elapsed.

As described above, the received display control data,
, And the received symbol data corresponding to is output as symbol data for finalized symbol data inspection. When the display control data is received, the received symbol data is output before outputting the symbol fixed data (receiving the fluctuation stop command), so that the display control data is output as it is, so that the display is immediately performed. The control device 350 can immediately detect a reception error. In particular, when the determined symbol data is determined to be indefinite data at the time of an error, the received content of the received display control data is not known, but in the timing chart shown in the drawing, in the inspection device,
The correctness of the received data can be determined.

FIG. 20 is another timing chart showing the operation of display control device 350 when there is no command abnormality (display control data abnormality) in the gaming machine described above with reference to FIG. In this timing chart, FIG.
Unlike the timing chart shown in FIG. 4, the display symbol data during the variable display on the variable display device 8 is output as the display symbol data.

From the game control device 100 to the display control device 35
To 0, display control data for controlling the display of the variable display device 8 is sent together with a communication interrupt signal according to the communication interrupt cycle. The display control data includes data instructing the start / stop of the change of the change display device 8 and data indicating the contents displayed when the change of the change display device 8 stops.

The first data of the display control data is a command signal (fluctuation start command) for instructing the fluctuation of the display symbol and the fluctuation time. When receiving the change start command, the display control device 350 controls the change display device 8 to start the change display. The subsequent display control data is a command signal for designating the left, middle, and right stop symbols of the variable display device 8, respectively, and the display control data determines the mode of the variable display.

The display control device 350 stores the display control data stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 353,
The data on the symbol (identification information) displayed on the variable display device 8 is read in accordance with the mode determined by the above, and is output as inspection symbol data (display control information). Then, the inspection design data is sequentially switched and output in accordance with the fluctuation display of the fluctuation display device 8.

When the display control device 350 receives the fluctuation stop command indicating the stop of the display symbol being fluctuated,
The pattern determination data is output, and the design pattern data for inspection is switched from the display pattern data to the determined pattern data and output. Thereafter, the symbol confirmation signal is dropped after a predetermined time has elapsed.

The details of the display control data are as described above with reference to FIG.

As described above, the received symbol data (display control information) corresponding to the symbol displayed on the variable display device 8 is output as inspection symbol data. Then, when the fluctuation start command is received, the display symbol data is output before the symbol confirmation data is output (the fluctuation stop command is received), so that the fluctuation display performed in the fluctuation display device 8 is output as it is. In this way, an incorrect display of the fluctuation on the fluctuation display device 8 can be immediately detected.

As described above, the operation of the display control device 350 described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20 is not limited to the gaming machine in which the third type special electric accessory is arranged as shown in FIG. The invention can also be applied to a gaming machine in which a special electric accessory is arranged.

Next, a description will be given of another gaming board on which a third type special electric accessory is arranged. FIG. 21 is a front view showing another gaming board on which the third type special electric auditors are arranged. The game board shown in FIG. 21 and the game board shown in FIG. 13 are common in that they are game boards in which a third-type special electric accessory is arranged. However, the ordinary electric accessory 62 is provided with a passage rate adjusting structure 62C. Different in that

The variable display device 8 is composed of a three-digit, seven-segment light-emitting diode (LED), and variably displays identification information (game symbols) on each digit. For example, numbers from “0” to “9” are assigned to these game symbols. And when a game ball wins in the starting port 60,
A game symbol is variably displayed in each digit (variable display area), that is, a variable display game or the like in which a game symbol composed of numbers is sequentially displayed is displayed in each digit of the variable display device 8.
In the game board shown in this figure, the variable display device is constituted by 7-segment LEDs, but may be constituted by an LCD (liquid crystal display), a CRT (CRT) or the like.

When the game ball wins the starting winning opening 60, the variable display device 8 executes a variable display game. At this time, the winning of the game ball to the starting winning opening 60 is detected by a starting winning opening sensor (not shown). The passing timing of the game balls (specifically, the value of the random number counter provided in the game control device 100 at the time of winning detection) is continuously stored at a maximum in a predetermined storage area in the game control device 100 as a winning memory. Up to four times are stored. The winning storage number is displayed on a start storage display comprising four LEDs provided below the variable display device 8. Game control device 10
A value of 0 causes the variable display device 8 to execute a variable display game based on the winning memory. The fluctuation time of the fluctuation display game is determined based on the lottery result of the start memory, the probability fluctuation state, the symbol combination, the number of start memories, and the selection of the fluctuation pattern. The extraction of the random number as the starting memory is performed in the starting winning opening 6
At the time of the winning of the game ball to 0, the determination of the mode of the variable display game by the determination of the starting memory is performed at the start of the variation. This variable display game is played regardless of the right status,
Normally, it is controlled not to be performed during the opening operation of the electric accessory 62.

When the winning in the starting winning opening 60 is made at a predetermined timing (when the random number counter value at the time of detecting the winning is a winning value), the variable display game is executed in a predetermined result mode (for example, three game modes). Deriving the state in which the symbols are aligned (stopping with the winning symbol) leads to the hit state, and the normal electric accessory 62 is opened. Ordinary electric accessory 62
The fluctuation display is stopped, the result mode of the fluctuation display game is displayed, and the game is released after a predetermined time (for example, a fixed time (10 seconds) or a maximum value may be set to be variable). Is done. Then, after a predetermined number of game balls have been won or a predetermined time has elapsed, the opening is terminated. When the ordinary electric accessory 62 is not opened, a game ball cannot be won.

A prize detection switch 62B is provided inside the ordinary electric accessory 62 at a position where a prize game ball can be immediately detected, and a game ball detection switch is provided in a specific area (special device operation area) 62A.

When the game ball that has won the ordinary electric accessory 62 passes through the special area 62A, a right is generated, and the game shifts to a game for opening the special winning opening 64. In the game board shown in this figure, the passage rate adjusting structure 62C
Is provided. The passage rate adjusting structure 62C is provided with holes of different sizes in a disc-shaped plate, and the passing of the game balls through the holes is different, so that the passage of the specific area 62A can be suppressed. The disc-shaped passage rate adjusting structure 62C may be rotated. In addition, the passage rate adjusting structure 62C can be constituted by a stopping mechanism for a game ball, a closing mechanism for a special area, a control for ending the opening of a normal electric accessory, and the like in addition to the above-described holes having different sizes. .

The specific area 62A is invalid except during the opening operation of the ordinary electric accessory 62, and the specific area 62A is invalid.
Does not enter the above-mentioned right generation state even if the detection switch detects a game ball. In addition, the right generated by passing the special area 62A to the game ball is such that a predetermined number (for example, 16) of game balls wins in the third type starting port, or the game ball newly passes through the special area. It disappears by doing.

The predetermined result mode (for example, hit symbol)
If a specific result mode (a symbol combination having a probability variation set within a predetermined ratio with respect to the total number of winning symbol combinations) is derived and the right is generated, the right is extinguished. Is a probability variation state in which the probability of deriving a predetermined result mode (for example, a winning symbol) is high in the variation display game. In addition, in accordance with the start / end of the probability fluctuation state, the normal electric accessory opening extension function for realizing at least one of the extension of the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 62 and the increase of the number of times of opening can be operated. Further, a change time reducing function for reducing the change time of the change display game can be activated in accordance with the start / end of the probability change state.

When no right is generated while the specific result mode is derived, the ordinary electric accessory 6
After the operation 2 is completed, the state is in a probability fluctuation state until the next right is generated. Note that an upper limit (for example, five times) may be set for the number of times that the probability fluctuation state occurs continuously. While the upper limit is set (during the operation of the limiter function), control is performed so as not to display the symbol combination that causes the probability variation.

When a game ball wins in the third type starting port 63 in the right generation state, the special winning opening is opened for a predetermined time or until a predetermined number of game balls are detected. The third-type starting port 63 is controlled by the game control device 100, and the game ball that has won the ordinary electric accessory 62 can be stopped by a stopping portion provided in the third-type starting port 63 up to a winning detection switch.
It is guided individually. Note that the operation cycle of the stop portion may be set to a time longer than the sum of the maximum opening time of the special winning opening and the time required for all game balls that have won the special winning opening to pass through the winning detection switch. .

The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and includes all modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the same.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram around the game control device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram around the display control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display control device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the display control device at the time of communication interruption.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device.

FIG. 8 is a table showing the contents of display control command data.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device when the fluctuation start command has not been correctly received.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device when the stop symbol designation signal has not been correctly received.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device when the fluctuation stop command has not been correctly received.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device when the next fluctuation start command is received before the fluctuation continuation scheduled time.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a game board according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing an operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

17 is a timing chart showing an operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

19 is a timing chart showing an operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

20 is a timing chart showing an operation of the display control device in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a front view showing a game board according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 gaming machine 8 fluctuation display device 100 game control device 350 display control device 351 CPU 361 timer circuit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A game machine equipped with a display control device for controlling display on a display device based on a command signal from a game control device, wherein an abnormality is determined for each command signal reception timing to determine whether an abnormality has occurred with respect to the command signal. Determining means; and an error notification signal output means for outputting an error notification signal in accordance with the timing at which the abnormality is determined when the abnormality determination is performed by the abnormality determination means. Gaming machine to do. 2. The abnormality judging means judges that an abnormality has occurred when the command signals are not received in a correct order, and the error notification signal output means outputs the error signal of the command signal in the wrong order. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an error notification signal is output in accordance with the reception timing. 3. The abnormality determining means determines that an abnormality has occurred when the transmitted command signal is undefined, and the error notification signal output means outputs the undefined command signal. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an error notification signal is output in accordance with a signal reception timing. 4. The display device allows the identification information to be displayed in a variable manner, wherein the command signal includes a fluctuation stop command for instructing to stop the fluctuation display of the identification information. When the fluctuation stop command is not transmitted even though the continuation scheduled time of the fluctuation display has elapsed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and the error notification signal output means determines whether the continuation time has elapsed. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an error notification signal is output in accordance with the detection timing. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said display device is capable of variably displaying identification information, said command signal includes a variance start command for instructing the start of variance display of said identification information, and said error notification signal output means includes an error notification signal. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output of the signal is terminated upon receipt of a change start command. 6. The display device is capable of variably displaying identification information, and the command signal includes a variance stop command for instructing the variance display of the identification information to be stopped. 2. A design confirmation signal output means for outputting a signal, wherein the design confirmation signal output means outputs a design confirmation signal even when the error notification signal is output. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The display device is capable of variably displaying identification information, and the command signal includes a variance stop command for instructing a stop of the variability display of the identification information, and a stop mode command for instructing a stop mode of the identification information. Comprising a symbol confirmation signal output means for outputting a symbol confirmation signal upon receiving the fluctuation stop command, and a symbol information output means for outputting a symbol information signal upon receiving the stop mode instruction, 7. The symbol information output means outputs the symbol information signal in accordance with the output timing of the symbol determination signal by the symbol determination signal output means. A gaming machine according to claim 1. 8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes information on a stop symbol based on the stop mode command. 9. The game according to claim 8, wherein, when the display control device receives the stop mode command, the stop symbol information is output before the symbol determination signal is output. Machine. 10. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes display control information relating to identification information displayed on the display device. 11. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein the symbol information signal output by the symbol information output means includes abnormal information indicating an abnormal state relating to reception of the stop mode command.