JP2002224362A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the arrangement of a pachinko game machine. SOLUTION: A full switch 43, a supply switch 44, a prize-ball dispensing switch 51, an optional winning hole switch 52, and a reset switch 53 are connected to the input side of a prize-ball control board 31, and a first-grade starting hole switch 36a and a count switch 40b are also connected to the input side via a main control board 30, as shown in Figure. 5. A ball cutoff motor 54 and an error indicating LED (7-segment LED) are connected to the output side of the prize-ball control board to form a one-way communication circuit capable of signaling only the prize-ball control board 31 from the main control board 30. The prize-ball control board 31 is backed up so that data about the number of prize balls yet to be dispensed, which is increased upon the entrance of balls into starting holes and decreased upon the dispensing of prize balls, will not be erased during power outages. The full switch 43 and the supply switch 44 are directly connected to the prize-ball control board 31. The prize-ball control board 31 stops the drive of the ball cutoff motor 54 when the full switch 43 detects that the pachinko machine is full of balls.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball game machine,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an invention of a prize ball control for paying out a game ball to a player as a prize ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a gaming machine, for example, a pachinko gaming machine, when a fired game ball wins or passes through a starting opening, a symbol is statically displayed (stop displayed) after a symbol is fluctuated for a predetermined time on a screen, If the statically displayed symbol is a combination of a predetermined symbol, the game content is in a state advantageous to the player. A control for opening or enlarging an accessory called a continuous accessory or an ordinary electric accessory is executed so that a fired game ball can be won very easily when the state becomes advantageous to the player. Control of whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player, such as opening of the accessory, is executed by a control board called a main control board. When a game ball wins in each of the winning holes arranged on the game board surface such as the above-mentioned character, all the winning game balls are collected in a safe ball tank as winning balls,
If there is a winning ball, it is detected by a sensor provided in the safe ball tank, and a predetermined number (usually 5 to 15) is determined for one winning ball.
), And controls to discharge the winning balls one by one from the safe ball tank one by one after the payout.
When a game ball wins in the winning opening as the starting opening, the game balls are collected in a safe ball tank. The winning is detected by a sensor provided in the starting opening, and a predetermined number (normally, 5 to 6) is detected. After paying out the game balls, they are discharged one by one from the safe ball tank. This prize ball payout control is generally executed by a control board called a prize ball control board or the like. The invention relating to the control of the award ball payout described above includes:
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-71027 discloses a "ball discharge control device for a game machine".

[0003]

However, the following problems have been considered in the ball game machine having the above-described safe ball tank. (1) The mechanism is bulky due to the need to provide a safe ball tank.
In particular, since recent jackpots may continuously generate big hits, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the safe ball tank. (2) The winning balls having won the winning ports with different numbers of winning balls The control becomes complicated because all of them are gathered in the safe ball tank. (3) The winning balls that have won the starting port or the big winning port are counted, and the counted data is transferred to the winning ball control board (ball discharge control device). There was a problem that transmission was necessary. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to execute the prize ball payout control on the main control board, but the control load on the main control board increases. The ball-and-ball game machine of the present invention has been made for the purpose of suitably solving the above-mentioned problem while reducing the control burden of the main control board.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball game machine wherein a game ball fired on a game board receives a special winning opening or a specific passing opening. A main control board that determines whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player according to a random number value extracted due to the timing of passing the prize ball, and a prize ball control board that controls a prize ball payout device that pays out a prize ball Prize ball detection means for outputting a prize ball detection signal when detecting a prize ball discharged from the prize ball payout device;
A prize detecting means for outputting a prize detection signal when detecting a prize ball to each prize port on the game board surface, and detecting that the prize ball discharged from the prize ball payout device is full in the lower plate. And a replenishment switch for detecting the presence of a game ball as a prize ball in the ball tank, the ball game machine, comprising: The prize ball control board is backed up so as not to erase unpaid data added by winning and subtracted by prize ball so as not to be erased at the time of a power failure. A switch and the replenishment switch are directly connected, and the prize ball control board stops driving the prize ball payout device when detecting that the full tank switch is full.
A ball and ball game machine characterized by the above.

Here, it is determined whether or not the game content fired on the game board has a game content advantageous to the player due to the timing of winning a specific winning opening or passing through a specific passing opening. This naturally includes not only the fact that a player wins a specific winning opening or the random number value that is extracted due to the timing of passing through a specific passing opening, but also directly brings the player into an advantageous state. A predetermined specific winning opening is opened by a value of a random number extracted due to a timing of winning in the mouth or passing through a specific passing opening, and when a game ball passes through a specific area in the opened specific winning opening, the player is notified. It also includes a game content of a gaming machine such as a so-called “third-type gaming machine (rights)” which is in an advantageous state and which is indirectly advantageous to the player.
In addition, the state that is advantageous to the player is not only a so-called “big hit game” in which the big winning opening on the game board is continuously opened, but also when the game is only opened once without being continuous, or when the ordinary electric motor is opened. The opening or enlarging operation of a publicly accessible character whose opening is 55 mm or less is also included, and is extracted due to the timing at which a game ball wins a specific winning opening or passes through a specific passing opening. This includes all configurations that are advantageous to the player based on the value of the random number.

The prize ball detecting means may be any means that outputs a prize ball detection signal when detecting a prize ball ejected from the prize ball payout device. A switch or a sensor is provided downstream of the prize ball payout device. A configuration for detecting a game ball as a prize ball to be discharged is naturally included, and a switch or a sensor is provided on the upstream side of the prize ball discharge device to provide a game ball corresponding to a game ball discharged from the prize ball discharge device. The configuration for detection is also included.

The prize detecting means may be a means for outputting a prize detection signal when detecting a prize ball to each prize port on the game board, and a switch or a sensor is provided for all the prize ports on the game board. A configuration may be adopted, or a configuration may be employed in which winning balls are gathered by a collecting gutter for each winning opening having a different number of payouts and detected for each difference in the number of winning balls. In short, any configuration that can determine at least the difference in the number of prize balls may be used.

The prize ball control board only needs to be configured to directly obtain the respective detection signals output by the prize ball detection means and the prize detection means. Here, directly obtaining means the prize ball detection means and the prize detection means. Means that the respective detection signals output by the controller are obtained as they are. Even if the configuration is such that the detection signals are obtained via other circuit boards such as the main control board, any configuration may be used as long as the detection signals are directly obtained. In short, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration in which any data processing is performed, such as once obtained by another circuit board and the obtained detection signals are totaled, and the processed data is obtained.

[0009] To be added by winning and subtracted by prize balls means that unpaid data corresponding to the number of prize balls that have not been paid out by the prize ball payout device based on the prize detection signal acquired by the prize ball control board. (Also referred to as prize ball data), and may be configured to subtract the unpaid data based on the prize ball detection signal acquired by the prize ball control board. Based on the winning detection signal obtained by the prize ball control board, data on the number of prize balls set for each winning port is added to unpaid data corresponding to the number of prize balls for which payment has not been completed. Any configuration may be employed as long as the data corresponding to the number of awarded balls paid out based on the awarded ball detection signal acquired by the awarded ball control board is subtracted from unpaid data corresponding to the number of awarded balls for which payment has not been completed.

The backup means may be any means for storing and maintaining unpaid data added by winning and subtracted by winning balls, so that the calculated winning ball data is not lost due to a temporary power failure. However, a configuration in which a battery backup is performed so that prize ball data is not lost even when a power failure occurs for a long time is preferable. This battery backup configuration is
A configuration may be adopted in which a capacitor or the like is mounted on the prize ball control board, or a configuration may be adopted in which a capacitor or the like is mounted on a power supply circuit board which is another board, and power is supplied from this board to back up.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the one-way communication circuit which can transmit only from the main control board to the prize ball control board, and the prize ball control board for controlling the prize ball payout device for paying out the prize ball. , The respective detection signals output by the prize ball detection means and the prize detection means are directly obtained, and the prize which has not been paid out by the prize ball payout device based on the prize ball detection signal and the prize ball detection signal directly obtained by the prize ball control board. Addition / subtraction calculation of unpaid data corresponding to the number of balls, storing the unpaid data calculated by addition / subtraction by backup, and instructing the prize ball payout device to pay out prize balls in accordance with the stored / unpaid data. I do. Also, a full switch that detects that the prize ball discharged from the prize ball dispensing device is full in the lower plate, and a replenishment switch that detects that a game ball as a prize ball exists in the ball tank. Is directly connected to the prize ball control board, and the prize ball control board stops driving the prize ball payout device based on the signal that is output from the obtained full tank switch and detects that the full tank state has been reached. Take control and stop paying out prize balls.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine according to the first aspect, the prize ball control board for controlling the prize ball payout device for paying out a prize ball includes detecting each of the prize ball detection means and the prize detection means output. The signal can be directly acquired, and the unpaid data to be paid out can be calculated and stored based on the acquired detection signal. Therefore, it is possible to omit the process of calculating the prize ball data corresponding to the winning ball in which the main control board has won the starting port or the like and transmit the calculated prize ball data as in the related art, thereby reducing the processing load of the main control board. It has an excellent effect that it can be further reduced. Further, the prize ball control board stops driving the prize ball payout device based on a signal output from the full tank switch directly connected to the prize ball control board and which detects that the inside of the lower plate is full. Since the control is executed and the payout of the prize balls is stopped, the prize balls can be prevented from rising to the prize ball payout device even when the lower plate is full. The incomplete payment data to be paid out can be calculated and stored based on the detection signals obtained by directly obtaining and detecting the respective detection signals output by the prize ball detecting means and the winning detecting means, so that when the driving of the payout apparatus is stopped, Even when a prize is generated due to the launch of a game ball, the prize ball path is filled with prize balls and does not overflow, since the prize ball path is filled with prize balls because the payout incomplete data is stored and held. Further, it is not necessary to hold the winning ball until a winning ball is present as in the related art. If a winning ball is detected, the winning ball is immediately discharged. In practice, it is not necessary to temporarily hold the ball to detect the winning ball. It also has an excellent effect. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a conventional safe ball tank for temporarily holding all winning balls and a winning ball discharging device for discharging one winning ball each time there is a winning ball from the safe ball tank. An excellent effect that the configuration of the gaming machine can be further simplified is also exhibited.

The prize ball control board may include a prize detection signal corresponding to a prize ball to the specific prize port for extracting the random value, from among the prize detection signals output by the prize detection means. A prize obtained directly by the main control board, and a prize detection signal corresponding to a prize ball other than the specific winning port directly obtained without passing through another control board, and a prize output by the prize ball detecting means. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the ball detection signal is directly obtained without passing through another control board.

Here, the prize ball control board transmits a prize detection signal corresponding to a prize ball to a specific prize port for extracting a random value from among the prize detection signals output by the prize detection means, to the main control board. And directly obtains a prize detection signal corresponding to a prize ball other than a specific winning opening without passing through another control board, and obtains a prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detection means in another control. Any configuration may be used as long as it is obtained directly without passing through the substrate. Here, "directly obtaining" has the same meaning as described in claim 1, and "directly obtaining a winning detection signal corresponding to a winning ball to a specific winning opening via the main control board" means that the main control board is used. Means that the prize detection signal is obtained as it is, and the direct acquisition is performed without passing through another control board, compared with the acquisition of the prize detection signal corresponding to the prize ball to the specific winning opening. This is a configuration described above, which means a configuration in which a detection signal is obtained as it is without relaying another control board. Here, it is sufficient that the configuration does not relay other control boards, and there is no problem even if the configuration is simply via another relay board that exchanges signals.

According to this, in addition to having the same operational effects as the ball-and-ball game machine according to claim 1, the prize ball control board can specify the random number value for extracting the random number value from the winning detection signal output by the winning detecting means. The winning detection signal corresponding to the winning ball in the winning opening is directly obtained via the main control board, and the winning detecting signal corresponding to the winning ball other than the specific winning opening is directly obtained without passing through another control board. In addition, since it is configured to directly obtain the prize ball detection signal output by the prize ball detection means without passing through another control board, the detection signal corresponding to the prize ball to the specific prize port as a starting port is provided. This has the effect that it can also be used on the main control board and can execute random number extraction. That is, the main control board uses the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the specific winning opening as the starting port only for extracting a random number, and the winning ball control board can execute any control related to the winning ball. It has an extremely excellent effect. In addition, since the prize detection signal and the prize ball detection signal other than the detection signal corresponding to the prize ball to the specific prize port are directly obtained without passing through another control board, the present invention relates to the control of the prize ball in the ball game machine. There is also an effect that the configuration can be further simplified without complicating the configuration.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can take various forms within the technical scope of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a largely rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader 13 is provided on the left of the outer frame 11. The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by upper and lower hinges 14 on the left end. An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12.
, A lending button 16, a settlement button 17, and a balance display section 18 are provided. When the prepaid card is inserted into the card slot 19 of the card reader 13, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display section 1.
8, when the lending button 16 is pressed, the lending of the game balls is executed, and the game balls are discharged from the payout opening of the upper plate 15. A window-shaped metal frame 20 is removably attached to the front frame 12. A sheet glass 21 is doubly fitted into the metal frame 20. Flat glass 21
The game board 22 is housed in the back of. A lower plate 23 is provided below the front plate 12 of the upper plate 15, and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A rotating ring (not shown) is provided on the outer periphery of the firing handle 24, and a game ball can be fired on the game board 22 by rotating clockwise. The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected, and are configured to guide game balls to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 becomes full of game balls.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back. As shown in the figure, a mechanism board 26 to which the game board 22 described above is detachably attached is housed in the outer frame 13 described above. A ball tank 27, a guiding gutter 28, and a payout device 29 are provided on the mechanism board 26 from above. With this configuration, if there is a winning of a game ball in the winning opening on the game board 22, a predetermined number of game balls are delivered from the ball tank 27 via the guiding gutter 28 by the payout device 29 to the above-mentioned upper plate 15
Can be discharged. The main control board 30 and the prize ball control board 31 are detachably attached to the mechanism board 26.
2, a special symbol display device 32, a firing control board 33 on the lower left portion of the front frame, and an external connection terminal board 50 on the left side of the special symbol display device 32 are attached. The structure related to the payout of game balls and the like centering on the mechanism board 26 is the same as that of the conventional structure, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 22 has an LCD panel unit (hereinafter, referred to as "LCD") 32a constituting the special symbol display device 32 in the center, and a normal electric accessory as a first-type starting port below the LCD panel unit 32a. 36, an ordinary symbol display device 37 on the upper part of the LCD 35, ordinary symbol operation gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 35 used to start changing the symbol displayed on the ordinary symbol display device 37, and a large winning port 40 on the lower part of the ordinary electric accessory 36. An opening 41 at the bottom of the board, other winning ports, a windmill, a game nail (not shown), and the like are provided. With this configuration, when the above-described firing handle 24 is rotated, the firing motor 3 driven by the firing control board 33 is provided.
3a is driven, and the game ball on the upper plate 15 is fired on the game board 22 via the guide rail. If the launched game ball wins in each winning opening, the game ball is taken in as a safe ball on the back surface of the board, and if not won, it is similarly taken in as an out ball via the out port 41 on the back surface of the board.

Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Pachinko machine 1
As shown in the figure, the electric circuit of 0 includes the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31, the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35.
And so on. Note that this circuit diagram does not show a so-called relay board or the like for transferring signals.

The main control board 30 includes a ROM storing a game control program and a RAM serving as a work area for operations and the like.
And an external input / output circuit for inputting / outputting data from / to each board or various switches and various actuators. On the input side of the main control board 30, a first-type starting port switch 36a, ordinary symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, an accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as "V switch") 40a, a count switch 40b, and the like. It is connected. On the output side, a special winning opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40d,
The ordinary accessory solenoid 36b and the external connection terminal board 50 are connected. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the input side of the main control board 30 is composed of an input buffer 30a and an input port 30b, and the input buffer 30a guarantees that data cannot be output from the input port 30b.

The first type start switch 36a is provided in the ordinary electric accessory 36 on the game board 22, and the ordinary symbol actuation switches 38a and 39a are arranged in the ordinary symbol actuation gates 38 and 3, respectively.
9, the V switch 40a is in a specific area in the special winning opening 40, and the count switch 40b is in the special winning opening 40,
Each is attached to. Here, the V switch 40a
Indicates that the game ball that has won the special winning opening 40 has passed through the special device operation area (hereinafter, referred to as “special area”), and the count switch 40b indicates that all the game balls that have won the special winning opening 40 Each is for detecting. Also, the special winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is used for opening and closing the special winning opening 40, the V solenoid 40d is used for opening and closing the special winning area in the special winning opening 40, and the ordinary accessory solenoid 36b is used for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 36. Things. V solenoid 40d
Is for closing the special area when one game ball passes through the special area.

The special symbol display device 32 is the aforementioned LCD
32a and a symbol display device control board (hereinafter simply referred to as a "symbol control board") 32 for driving and controlling the LCD 32a.
b and an auxiliary unit 32c such as a backlight and an inverter board. The symbol control board 32b is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer similarly to the main control board 30 described above.

The award ball control board 31 is, similarly to the main control board 30, a logical operation centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer incorporating a ROM storing a program relating to award ball payout and a RAM serving as a work area for operations and the like. An external input / output circuit for inputting / outputting various switches and various actuators is also provided as a circuit. On the input side of the prize ball control board 31, as shown in FIGS.
Prize ball payout switch 51, other winning opening switch 5
2. In addition to the reset switch 53, the first-type starting port switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected via the main control board 30, and the ball cutting motor 54 and an error display LED (7-segment LED) are provided on the output side. 55 are connected,
Further, the above-described prepaid card unit 13 and CR settlement display substrate 42 are also connected bidirectionally. The full tank switch 43 is in the lower plate 16, and the refill switch 44 is in the ball tank 2.
7, the award ball payout switch 51 is connected to the payout device 29.
The reset switch 53 on the downstream side of the ball cutting motor 54 is provided in the payout device 29. The full tank switch 43 indicates that the game balls are full in the lower plate 16, the replenishment switch 44 indicates that the game balls are present in the ball tank 27, and the prize ball payout switch 51 indicates the balls of the payout device 29. A game ball to be paid out as a prize ball by the cutting motor 54 is to be detected, and a reset switch 53 is a switch operated by a clerk of a pachinko hall.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first-type starting port switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected to the input buffer 30a of the main control board 30, and are located just before the input buffer 30a. It branches and is connected to the input buffer 31a of the prize ball control board 31. In the present embodiment, the other winning port switches 52 are arranged for each difference in the number of prize balls, and a winning port switch 52a for a winning port for paying out 15 pieces and a winning port switch for a winning port for paying out 10 pieces. 52b, and a winning port switch 52c for a winning port of paying out five pieces. Note that there is no problem even if the other winning port switches 52 are provided individually for all winning ports. Also, the first-type start-up switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected to the input buffer 31a of the winning ball control board 31, and the input buffer 3
The input buffer 3 of the main control board 30 branches off before 1a.
There is no problem even if it is connected to 0a. The above C
The R settlement display board 42 is provided with the lending button 1 of the upper plate 15 described above.
6, the balance button 17 and the balance display section 18 and the like.

The firing control board 33 drives and controls the firing motor 33a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the firing handle 24 operated by the player, and stops the firing when the player presses the firing stop switch 24b. The touch lamp 45 is turned on when the touch switch 24a built in the firing handle 24 is turned on. The touch switch 24a is built in the firing handle 24 and detects that a player is touching the firing handle 24. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the input side of the firing control board 33 is constituted by an input buffer 33a and an input port 33b, and the full tank switch 43 and the ball catching switch 44 are connected to the input of the prize ball control board 31. In addition to being connected to the buffer 31a, the launch control board 33 that branches off before the input buffer 31a is also connected to the input buffer 33a. The full tank switch 43 and the ball catching switch 44 may be connected to the input buffer 33a, branched off before the input buffer 33a, and connected to the input buffer 31a. By adopting a configuration of branching before the input buffer 31b, the microcomputer of the award ball control board 31
It is guaranteed that no data can be output to the outside via 1b.

The lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of a driving element such as a transistor, and receives a command from the main control board 30 to form a normal symbol display device 37, various kinds of lamps such as a jackpot lamp and an error lamp, and various kinds of LEDs and the like. It is for lighting and displaying lamps.

The sound control board 35 is composed of a sound source IC, an amplifier and the like, and is for driving and controlling the speaker 46 in response to a command from the main control board 30.

The transmission to the special symbol display device 32, the prize ball control board 31, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35 is performed in one direction so that it can be transmitted only from the main control board 30. It is configured as a communication circuit. Power is supplied to these control boards 30 to 35 by a power supply circuit PS. A large-capacity capacitor is mounted on this power supply circuit, and one of the control boards 30 to 32
The configuration of the RAM of the chip microcomputer is backed up by battery.

The processing executed by the 8-bit one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as "microcomputer") in the main control board 30 of the pachinko machine 10 having the above-described circuit configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. To The flowchart shown in FIG.
Represents the main processing executed by the microcomputer, and is a processing periodically executed by a hard interrupt every about 2 ms. In this embodiment, steps S100 to S100
Each process up to 200 is a process that is executed only once in the interrupt process, and is referred to as “main process”, and steps S210 and S220 are repeatedly executed as long as time permits within the extra time after executing the main process. Is referred to as “residual processing”.

When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not the interrupt is a normal interrupt (step S100). This determination process is performed by using R
This is performed by determining whether or not the value of the predetermined area of the AM is a predetermined value. When the processing executed by the microcomputer shifts to this processing, it is determined whether the normal processing may be performed. For. As an unusual case, a runaway of the microcomputer due to noise or the like can be considered. When the microcomputer runs away, the value of the predetermined area of the RAM is different from the predetermined value. If it is determined that it is not normal, a predetermined value is written to a predetermined area of the memory, and each initial value is written to a work area of the memory such as a special symbol and a normal symbol as an initial symbol, that is, an initial setting is performed. (Step S1
10).

When a positive judgment is made that the normal condition is satisfied, first, an initial random number updating process is executed (step S120). This process is an increment process in which the value of the initial random number is incremented by one each time this process is executed. The value of the initial random number before this process is executed is incremented by one, but the random number value before executing this process is the maximum value. In the case of a certain “329”, the value returns to the initial value “0” in the next processing, and 330 from “0” to “329” is set.
Create integers repeatedly in ascending order. Step S120
The update random number update process (step S130) is an increment process that increments by +1 each time the process is executed in the same manner as the initial random number update process. However, when the maximum value “329” is reached, The initial random number value is set as an initial value (hereinafter, referred to as an “update initial value”), and the process of adding +1 to each interrupt is continued, and “1” is set from the update initial value.
If the value reaches a small value (hereinafter, referred to as “update maximum value”), in the next processing, 330 integer values from “0” to “329” are repeatedly generated using the value of the initial random number at that time as an initial value. I do. That is, the value of +1 is incremented every interrupt processing, and the element constituting the random number is set to 330 integer values from “0” to “329”, which is not different from the initial random number at all, Then, in the next interrupt processing, the update initial value at that time is used as an initial value, and +1 is added for each interrupt until the update maximum value is reached, and the next update initial value is used as the initial value. As a result, the pass / fail random number is set to 330 integer values from “0” to “329” as elements constituting the random number, and is incremented by one every interruption process. Since the value is changed to a value determined by the initial random number at that time, the value of the pass / fail random number can be made unpredictable. Also, the components of the random number determined by the update initial value and the update maximum value do not change at all from the same 330 integer values of “0” to “329” which are the same as the conventional pass / fail random numbers. Has a uniform appearance rate.

Big hit symbol random number update processing (step S1)
40) is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers from “0” to “14”, and is incremented by 1 every time this processing is performed, and returns to the initial value “0” when exceeding the maximum value. The fifteen random numbers “0” to “14” are the same three digits “111”, “222”, “333”, and “44” displayed on the screen.
4 "," 555 "," 666 "," 777 "," 88 "
8 "," 999 ", [AAA]," BBB "," CC
C "," DDD "," EEE ", and" FFF ". The out-of-design symbol random number update process (step S150)
It is composed of a random number for the left symbol, a random number for the middle symbol, and a random number for the right symbol, and is used as a missing symbol when the jackpot is not a big hit. The left symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates fifteen integers from “0” to “14”, and is incremented by one every time this processing is performed, and returns to the initial value “0” when exceeding the maximum value. The medium symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates fifteen integers from "0" to "14". When the left symbol random number returns to "0", it is incremented by +1 in this process and when the left symbol exceeds the maximum value, " Return to "0". The random number for the right symbol is "0" to "1".
It is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers of "4". The counter is set to 1 each time the medium symbol random number returns to "0", and returns to "0" when it exceeds the maximum value. The normal symbol random number updating process (step S160) is performed based on 7
Is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates integers,
In this process, the value is incremented by 1 and exceeds the maximum value, the initial value “0”
Return to

The above-described random number updating processing (step S12)
0 to S160), the initial random number, the success / failure random number, the jackpot symbol random number, the off symbol random number, and the normal symbol random number are updated, respectively. Input processing of each switch is performed. In the present embodiment, the full tank switch 43, the supply switch 44, the first type start switch 36a, the V switch 40a, the count switch 40
b, a process of checking the operation status of each switch such as the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a is executed.

By this input processing, the first type start switch 3
If there is an input at 6a, it means that the game ball has won the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port, and the value of the success / failure random number at the time of this interrupt processing is extracted and compared with the success / failure determination value (step S180). Pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment
Is configured as a probability fluctuating machine, the pass / fail judgment value is “1” at the time of normal probability, and “1”, “3”,
“5”, “7”, “9”, and “11”. As described above, the appearance rate of each of the 330 integer values of “0” to “329” constituting the random number is uniform, and the game balls are extracted at the timing of winning the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port. The value of the random number is randomly extracted because the winning timing cannot be adjusted in minute time units when compared with the hard interrupt minute time of 2 ms, and the random number functions as a complete random number. Therefore, the probability that the value of the extracted success / failure random number matches the success / failure determination value and becomes a big hit is 1/330 at the normal probability and 1/55 (= 6/330) at the high probability. In this embodiment, the probability of generating the jackpot changes from the low-probability state to the high-probability state because the value of the jackpot symbol random number in the interrupt processing at the time of the jackpot occurrence is “1”,
“3”, “5”, “7”, “9”, “11” and “1”
3 ", that is, the jackpot symbols are" 111 "," 333 ",
This is the case of “555”, “777”, “999”, “BBB”, and “DDD” (hereinafter, referred to as “high-probability symbol”), and the probability is high with a probability of 7/15 when a big hit occurs. Transition. Then, during the high probability, if the big hit symbol when the big hit is generated again is a high probability symbol, the high probability state continues.

When the success / failure determination process (step S180) is completed, the main control board 30 displays a predetermined image on the special symbol display device 32 in order to display an image according to the result of the success / failure determination process on the LCD 32a of the special symbol display device 32. Send a command. As a result, the special symbol display device 32 performs a process of displaying the image for a predetermined period of time and then statically displaying the image for notifying the player of the result of the determination of the success or failure.

The subsequent output processing (step S200)
In accordance with the progress of the game, the main control board 30 performs predetermined output processing for various solenoids such as the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board 35, and the special winning opening solenoid 40c. Execute

The remaining process following the above-mentioned process is composed of an out-of-design symbol random number updating process (step S210) and an initial random number updating process (step S220). The remaining processes are exactly the same as the above-described steps S150 and S120, respectively. is there. These two processes form an infinite loop and are repeatedly executed as long as time permits until the next interrupt is executed. The time required to execute the main processing of steps S100 to S200 described above differs for each interruption depending on whether or not to execute the jackpot processing, a difference in a special symbol display mode, and the like. As a result, the number of times the remaining process is executed also differs for each interrupt, and the updated (added) values of the out-of-design symbol random number and the initial random number are not uniform even if the interrupt process shown in FIG. 7 is executed once. Disappears. This eliminates the possibility that the initial random number and the out-of-design symbol random number are synchronized with the pass / fail random number. In this embodiment, since the update of the random number is changed by the value of the initial random number, there is no possibility of synchronization. Also, the above-described ordinary symbol random number updating process (step S160) may be configured to be executed in the remaining process.

By executing the above-described processes, the pachinko machine 10 performs the following operation. Game balls are fired on the game board 22 by the firing motor 33a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the firing handle 24 operated by the player, and the shot game balls are fired on the ordinary electric accessory 3 as a first type starting port.
If the player wins No. 6, it is detected by the first-type start-up switch 36a, and the special symbol display device 32 displays the special symbol on the screen of the LCD 32a for a predetermined period of time, and then performs a static display. When the special symbol that has been statically displayed displays a predetermined specific symbol, for example, the same three-digit symbol such as "777", a game content that is advantageous to the player is provided as a big hit state. Whether or not the jackpot state is reached is determined by whether or not the value of the random number determined when the game ball is detected by the first-type start-up switch 36a is a predetermined value.
When the jackpot state is reached, the big switch 40 is counted for about 30 seconds or 10 game balls are won.
Is opened until one of them elapses earlier, and when the V switch 40a detects that the game ball winning in the special winning opening 40 passes through the special area at this time, the special winning opening 40 is closed once. After being released again
This opening operation is repeated up to 16 times. Normal winning opening 4
Since 15 game balls are paid out as prize balls for one game ball winning to 0, when one big hit occurs, about 2400 (= 15 × 10 × 16)
Each game ball can be obtained as a prize ball. This prize ball discharging operation is performed by the prize ball control board 31. Next, the processing performed by the prize ball control board 31 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that the control performed by the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 during the game has the same configuration as in the related art, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Each of the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
This shows processing executed by the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31, which is periodically executed by a method such as a hardware interrupt. Here, the "prize ball addition routine" shown in FIG. 8 will be described first. When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31 shifts to this routine, it is determined whether or not a game ball has been won at each of the winning ports on the game board (steps S300 and S310). Specifically, the state of the first-type start-up switch 36a, the ten-count switch 40b, and the states of the other winning opening switches 52a, 52b, and 52c are scanned to determine whether or not there is a winning. If it is determined that there is a prize, the unpaid data P
D addition processing is performed (step S320). The addition process is executed for each winning ball number. In other words, if there is one winning game ball in the winning opening where the number of payouts as the number of prize balls is 5, the value of the incomplete payout data PD1 is incremented (+
1) If there is one winning game ball in the winning port where the number of payouts is 10, the value of the non-payout data PD2 is incremented (+1), and the winning of the game ball is provided in the winning port where the number of payouts is 15 If there is one, the value of the unpaid data PD3 is incremented (+1). Therefore, in this embodiment,
The value of the unpaid data PD is composed of unpaid data PD1 representing five award balls, PD2 representing ten award balls, and PD3 representing fifteen award balls. Further, in the present embodiment, the number of prize balls is set to 5 for the first type starting port 36, and the number of prize balls is set to 15 for the special winning port 40. Note that the value of the unpaid data PD is a specific number
D1 to PD3 may be added, or data P
There is no problem even if a specific number is directly added to D.

In the "prize ball subtraction routine" shown in FIG. 9, first, the respective data PD1 to PD3 of the unpaid-out data PD.
Is determined whether the value of is not zero (step S35).
0). When it is determined that any of the data PD1 to PD3 is not zero, the ball cutting motor 54 is drive-controlled to instruct prize ball payout (step S36).
0). In this embodiment, if two or more of the three data PD1 to PD3 are not zero, the payout of prize balls is instructed from the one with the largest number of prize balls. When the prize ball payout instruction is executed (step S360), the state of the prize ball payout switch 51 is detected and it is checked whether or not the specified number of prize balls have actually been paid out (step S37).
0). When an affirmative judgment is made that the designated number of prize balls have been paid out, the values of the data PD1 to PD3 corresponding to the non-payout data PD are decremented (-1) (step S380). By repeatedly executing the processing of steps S350 to S380, the incomplete payment data P
The payout of prize balls is executed until all the values of the data PD1 to PD3 of D become zero. In this embodiment, since the payout of the prize ball corresponding to the next data is executed after the data with the larger number of prize balls becomes zero, the payout of the prize ball is executed earlier to the player. It has the effect of giving a feeling.

The contents of the unpaid data DP (DP1 to DP3), which is added in step S320 and subtracted in step S380, is updated and R
It is written and stored in the AM. In this embodiment, the RAM mounted on the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31, and the symbol control board 32b of the special symbol display device 32 are backed up by the capacitor of the power supply circuit PS. Therefore, even if a power failure occurs, the incomplete payment data DP (D
The contents of P1 to DP3) are not erased. If the payout of the prize ball is not detected in the step S370, and this state is not detected for a predetermined time (step S370).
390), an error process is executed assuming that there is an abnormality in the payout ball payout system (step S400). In this embodiment,
The character "1" is displayed on the error display LED (7-segment LED) 55, and the process of turning on the error lamp is executed. The error display processing of the error display LED 55 and the like is executed until the clerk at the pachinko hall releases the cause of the error such as the clogged ball and operates the reset switch 53. Note that even if the reset switch 53 is operated, the disbursement incomplete data PD
Is not cleared. Further, when the payout of the prize ball is detected by the prize ball payout switch 51 (step S410), in spite of the fact that the value of the unpaid data PD is zero in the step S350, due to a malfunction of the game or an improper act. An error process is executed assuming that there is excessive prize ball payout processing (step S420). In this error processing, the character "2" is displayed on the error display LED 55, the error lamp is turned on, and the ball cutting motor 5 is turned off.
4 is forcibly stopped. This error processing is not canceled until the reset switch 53 is operated.

When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31 shifts to the "ball full / full tank routine" shown in FIG. 10, first, it is checked that the error flag is not set (step S450). . If a positive determination is made that the error flag has not been set,
Subsequently, it is determined whether the supply switch 44 is turned on (step S460) or the full tank switch 43 is not turned on (step S470). If a negative determination is made that neither of them is turned on, it is determined that there is no abnormality, and the process directly goes to “return”. Here, if an affirmative determination is made that either of them is on, the process proceeds to error processing (step S480). In the error processing, when the replenishment switch 44 is ON, an error flag is set, a character "3" is displayed on the error display LED 55, and a control is performed by turning on an error lamp to notify the error.
When the full tank switch 43 is on, an error flag is set, the character "4" is displayed on the error display LED 55, an error lamp is lit to notify the driver, and the ball cutting motor 54 is drive-controlled. At times, control to stop driving is executed. If a negative determination is made in step S450 that the error flag has been set, it is determined in this case that an error has occurred and whether the supply switch 44 or the full tank switch 43 is still on (step S450). Steps S490 to S500). If either of them is on, it is determined that the error has not been cleared, and the process goes directly to "return". If it is determined that both are not on, the error flag is reset, and "0" is displayed on the error display LED 55. Is displayed, and the error lamp is turned off (step S510). If the full tank switch 43 is on, the firing control board 33 executes a process for stopping the operation of the firing motor 33a.

According to the embodiment described in detail above,
The first-type starting port switch 4 for detecting a winning ball that has won each winning port arranged on the game board 22 by the winning ball control board 31
0a, count switch 40b, other winning openings 52a-
52c and a prize ball payout switch 51 for detecting a prize ball discharged from the ball cutting motor 54 directly obtains a detection signal output from each of them, and based on the obtained detection signal, as the prize ball data to be paid out, unpaid data DP. (DP1 to DP
3) can be calculated and stored. Therefore, the main control board 30 calculates the prize ball data corresponding to the winning ball that has won the first-type starting port 36a and the count switch 40b as in the prior art, and calculates the calculated prize ball data on the prize ball control board 31.
This has an excellent effect that the processing to be transmitted to the main control board 30 can be omitted, and the processing load on the main control board 30 can be further reduced.

The addition process (step S32 in FIG. 8)
0) and the subtraction process (step S380 in FIG. 9) is updated and stored, and the incomplete delivery data DP (DP1 to DP)
The advantage of 3) is that it is not necessary to hold the prize ball until there is a prize ball, and the prize ball can be discharged out of the machine immediately after the prize ball is detected, since the prize ball can be stored. . As a result, it is possible to eliminate a conventional safe ball tank for temporarily holding all the winning balls and a device for discharging one winning ball each time there is a winning ball from the safe ball tank. An excellent effect that the configuration can be further simplified is also exhibited.

Further, in the present embodiment, the non-payout data DP1 of 15 prize balls and the non-payment data D of 10 prize balls are associated with the non-payout data DP corresponding to the number of prize balls in each winning opening.
The structure is such that if there is a prize, it is incremented if the prize ball has been paid out and the data is decremented if there is a prize ball, so that the area used in the RAM can be reduced. I have. In the present embodiment, the RAM of the one-chip microcomputer mounted on each of the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31, and the symbol control board 32b adopts a configuration in which the battery is backed up by the power supply circuit SP. The problem that the game can be restarted after the power failure is restored from the state of the game before the power failure even after the occurrence of the power failure and unexpected disadvantage is given to the player is solved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first-type starting port switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected to the input buffer 30a of the main control board 30, and are branched before the input buffer 30a to form a prize ball control board 31. , The detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the ordinary electric accessory 36 serving as the first type starting port, and the winning signal to the large winning port 40 are supported. The detection signal can also be used by the main control board 30 to perform random number extraction, and, when ten game balls are won in the special winning opening 40, the special winning opening solenoid 40c is driven to drive the special winning opening 40. Has the effect that it can be used to close the door. As a result, the main control board 30 uses the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the ordinary electric accessory 36 only for extracting a random number, and outputs the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the special winning port 40 to the main control board 30. This is used to close the special winning opening, and the prize ball control board 31 has an extremely excellent effect that any detection signal relating to the prize ball can be directly input.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the other winning port switches 52 used in the first embodiment are individually provided in all winning ports other than the ordinary motorized accessory 36 and the large winning port 40. As an addition process (step S320 in FIG. 8), which is an increment process of the unpaid unpaid data DP (DP1 to "DP3") adopted in the example, the "payment unpaid data writing routine" shown in FIG. As a subtraction process (step S380 in FIG. 9), which is a decrement process of (DP1 to “DP3”), a “payout incomplete data deletion routine” shown in FIG. 12 is executed.

In the second embodiment, the scanning operation of the winning opening SW provided corresponding to all winning openings is executed, and when it is determined that there is a winning, a winning number counter CN is applied to one winning ball. Is incremented (+1) (step S550), and the prize ball number code is written in a predetermined area of the RAM (step S560). A one-byte memory is easily used as the winning number counter CN.
N stores that a maximum of 256 prizes have been won. The prize ball number code is set to “01” when it is detected that the winning prize hole of the five prize balls has been won, and “10” when it is detected that the prize ball has won the prize hole of the ten prize balls. Is 1
If it is detected that a winning prize hole of five prize balls has been won, "1"
The value of "1" is written to a predetermined area of the RAM. This RA
When the prize ball number code is written in M, as shown in the memory map of FIG. 13, the prize ball number code for one winning ball is written in 2-bit units in a 1-byte memory.

In the present embodiment, the memory area of the prize ball number code is configured such that memories from addresses "E000" H to "E07F" H are easily used. When it is detected that five winning balls have been won in a state where there are 96 winning balls, the winning counter CN
Is incremented and the value of “97” is incremented by the counter C
In the memory area of the address stored as N and converted from the value of “97”, in the present embodiment, the first and second bits of the 8-bit memory constituting one byte of the address “E018” H are stored.
A code of “01” is written in the area corresponding to the bit, and if it is detected in this state that a winning prize hole of ten prize balls has been won, the value of the counter CN is incremented to “9”.
8 is stored as a counter CN, and “E01” is a memory area of an address converted from the value of “98”.
8 "1" is stored in the third and fourth bit areas of address H.
A code of "0" is written. That is, the code written in units of 2 bits from the address “E000” to the address “E07F” in the memory area indicates the number of prize balls of the prize balls that have been won earlier as the code written in the lower address of the memory address.
The code written in the higher address indicates the latest winning ball number of winning balls.

In the prize ball payout process, the prize ball control board 3
The first microcomputer is the first bit of address “E000” H and the second bit.
The ball cutting motor 54 is instructed to pay out the number of prize balls corresponding to the code written in the bit area, and the ball cutting motor 54 is driven and controlled.
When the number is detected as 1, the value of the winning number counter CN is decremented (−1) and stored as the latest winning number counter CN (step S600 in FIG. 12), and a process of erasing the paid-out ball number code is executed (FIG. 12). Step S61
0). In the present embodiment, the paid-out ball number code is erased by executing the right shift instruction for shifting the data in the memory area in which the awarded ball number code is written from left to right by two bits twice in a one-byte memory. Is performed.

More specifically, the data written in the third and fourth bits of the address “E000” H is 1
The data written to the 5th and 6th bits are shifted to the 3rd and 4th bits, and the data of the 7th and 8th bits are changed to 5bits. And the code is written such that the data of the first and second bits of the address “E001” is shifted to the seventh and eighth bits of the address “E000”. This shift process is sequentially performed for all the areas. Thus, every time the processing executed by the microcomputer of the award ball control board 31 shifts to this routine, the award ball corresponding to the award ball number code written in the first and second bits of the address “E000”. The control for paying out a number of game balls is executed until the value of the winning number counter CN becomes zero.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to having the same effects as in the first embodiment, the prize ball control board 31 sets the prize balls set in the order in which the prize balls are paid out to the game ball prize port. It has an excellent effect that the number can be paid out. In this way, processing such as paying out prize balls having different numbers of prize balls to the starting port in preference to winning to other prize ports is executed, and the total number of prize balls finally paid out to the player is calculated. Unlike the conventional technology of matching, the game balls with the number of prize balls corresponding to the winning opening are always paid out to the player in real time, so the question "Is there no prize ball corresponding to the winning opening?"
The problem of giving the question to the player can be wiped out beforehand. The second embodiment employs a configuration in which the number of prize balls corresponding to prize balls that have not been paid out is all stored in chronological order in the order of prizes, but the number of prize balls is coded and stored. Therefore, there is also an effect that the used area of the memory can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a pachinko machine 10 employing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine viewed from the back.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board 22 of the pachinko machine 10;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between a main control board 30 and a prize ball control board 31.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between a winning ball control board 31 and a launch control board 33.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed in a “main routine”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “prize ball addition routine” executed by the reward ball control board 31.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed in a “prize ball subtraction routine” executed by the award ball control board 31.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed in a “ball exhaustion / full tank routine” executed by the award ball control board 31.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “payout incomplete data writing routine” executed by the award ball control board 31.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “payout incomplete data erasing routine” executed by the award ball control board 31.

FIG. 13 is a memory map showing a writing area of an award ball number code.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pachinko machine 22 ... Game board 24 ... Shooting handle 24a ... Touch switch 30 ... Main control board 31 ... Prize ball control board 32 ... Special symbol display device 32a ... LCD panel unit (LCD) 32b ... Symbol display device control substrate (design) Control board) 33: Launch control board 30a, 31a, 33a: Input buffer 30b, 31b, 33b: Input port 34: Lamp control board 35: Sound control board 36: Normal electric accessory (starting port) 36a: First-class starting Switch 37 ... Normal symbol display device 40 ... Big winning opening 40a ... Continuous operation switch (VSW) 40b ... Ten count switch (Count SW) 43 ... Full switch 44 ... Supply switch 51 ... Prize ball payout switch 52 (52a, 52b) 52c) Other winning port switch 53 Reset switch 54 Data 55 ... Error display L
ED PS: Power supply circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] A game content advantageous to a player according to a random number value extracted based on a timing at which a game ball fired on a game board surface wins a specific winning opening or passes through a specific passing opening. A main control board for determining whether or not a prize ball is to be paid out, a prize ball control board for controlling a prize ball payout device, and a prize for outputting a prize ball detection signal when detecting a prize ball discharged from the prize ball payout device. Ball detection means, prize detection means for outputting a prize detection signal when detecting a prize ball to each prize port on the game board surface, the prize ball discharged from the prize ball dispensing device is filled in the lower plate And a replenishment switch for detecting the presence of a game ball as a prize ball in the ball tank.A ball game machine comprising: One-way communication that can only be sent to the prize ball control board Circuit, the prize ball control board is backed up so that unpaid data added by winning and subtracted by prize ball is not erased at the time of power failure, the prize ball control board includes the full tank switch and the supply switch. The ball game machine, which is directly connected, and stops driving of the prize ball payout device when the prize ball control board detects that the full tank switch has reached a full state.