JP2002282458A - Game machine and game error reporting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine reporting that a game is appropriately continued even in the case that an error is generated, and a game error reporting method. SOLUTION: In a pachinko game machine 1, on the basis of a control command from a main control board 74, the display control circuit 82 of a display control board 81 varies patterns displayed at the variable display part 32 of a variable display device 31. In the case that the control command from the main control board 74 can not be normally received, the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 does not perform the rotary variation of the respective rotary drums 35a-35c of the variable display device 31 and performs the control of putting out drum lamps 87a-87c inside the respective rotary drums 35a-35c. The CPU 113 maintains the put-out state of the drum lamps 87a-87c until the next control command is received from the main control board 74.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine, and a slot machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine having a variable display section having rotary variable display means having an indicator light. The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which symbol information displayed on a variable display changes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in such a kind of gaming machine, a CPU (Central Processing Unit),
ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Acces)
s Memory) etc., and each control unit tends to control the operation and the like of each device mounted on the gaming machine independently based on control command data from the main control unit to produce a gaming state. .

[0003] For example, display control such as symbol information displayed on the variable display section is executed by the display control section based on display control command data transmitted from the main control section. Since the symbol information and the like displayed on the variable display unit are displayed by rotating / stopping the rotary variable display means, the display control unit
Various controls such as rotation and stop of the rotary variable display means are performed. However, the display state of the symbol information and the like displayed on the variable display unit is determined by the main control unit that renders the game state comprehensively in real time, so that it is easier to perform control along the progress of the game state. Is determined by the main control unit. For this reason, the main control unit determines the display state of the symbol information and the like displayed on the variable display unit at various timings, and transmits a display control command to the display control unit.

As described above, in a gaming machine in which the main control section and each control section execute complicated control and produce various game states, the control speed is too high and the data communication volume is increased due to the control that is too complicated. In rare cases, a data error may occur in control command data or the like in an information transmission system between control units. In such a case, there is a possibility that a game state that causes disadvantage to the player may occur and continue, so the game is interrupted to improve the error, and when the game is restored, the game state from the game state before the error occurred It is important that you take steps to ensure that you can continue. In this case, in order to prevent the player from being confused, measures are taken to notify the user of the reason why the error has occurred and the game has been interrupted. In such a gaming machine, for example, even if an error or the like occurs in the control related to the display of the symbol information or the like displayed on the variable display unit, other control such as firing control, prize ball payout control, and main control of the gaming machine are performed. If no error has occurred in the control, it is often possible to continue the game.

For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-51466 discloses a gaming machine which displays an error display screen on a variable display section comprising a liquid crystal image display section to notify a player of an error. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-15657 discloses a gaming machine equipped with a display device for displaying an error. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-90017,
A gaming machine that turns off a part or all of an illumination system that illuminates the front surface of the gaming machine when the game is set to a state in which execution of the gaming machine is impossible, and a method of informing the operating state of the gaming machine are disclosed.

[0006]

However, these gaming machines have the following problems. That is, in the gaming machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-51466, since the variable display unit having the liquid crystal image display unit is employed, the game can be continued with the variable display unit notifying the occurrence of an error. However, in the case of a gaming machine equipped with a variable display section having rotary variable display means, for example, an error occurrence is displayed (notified) on the rotary variable display means with symbol information or the like. It is not possible to provide the symbol information for error display in the rotary variable display means in advance, because the distinction from the normal symbol information or the like becomes unclear and may cause confusion to the player. There is a problem that it is difficult. In the gaming machine disclosed in JP-A-5-15657, a display device for notifying an error is provided on the game board. For example, a display device used only when an error occurs is provided at the center of the game board. Is not preferable in terms of the design of the gaming machine, and conversely, providing the display device at a position that is difficult to notice makes it difficult for the player to notice the occurrence of an error, so that distrust of the gaming machine is raised. There is a problem that there is a possibility that it will be. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-9
In the gaming machine and the like disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0017, when an execution of a game is set to an impossible state, an error is notified using a light installed on the front of the gaming machine. However, there is a problem that the game cannot be continued even if an error or the like occurs in the control related to the display of the symbol information or the like because the configuration is not such that the error is notified while the game is continued.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and even if an error occurs in the control of the display of the symbol information and the like displayed on the variable display section having the rotary variable display means, the game can be played. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine and a game error notification method capable of notifying that a game is being appropriately continued when the game can be properly continued.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A game error notification method according to the present invention comprises a rotary type variable display means and a variable display section having an indicator light for illuminating the rotary type variable display means on a game board. By transmitting a control command for controlling the rotary variable display unit from a main control unit that controls the gaming machine based on the game state to a display control unit that performs display control of the variable display unit. A game error notification method for notifying that an error has occurred during a game in a gaming machine that changes symbol information displayed by the rotary type variable display means to produce a specific game state; Transmitted from the control unit to the display control unit,
If an error occurs in the control command for controlling the rotary variable display means, the display control unit, until receiving the next control command transmitted from the main control unit,
An indicator light for illuminating the rotary variable display means is turned off.

A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises a rotary type variable display means and a variable display section having an indicator light for illuminating the rotary type variable display means on a game board. A game machine for changing the symbol information displayed by the variable-type display means to produce a specific game state, wherein the main control section performs overall control of the game machine to produce a game state, and A display control unit for performing display control of the variable display unit based on a control command from the control unit, wherein the display control unit is transmitted from the main control unit when an error occurs in the control command. Until the next control command is received, the control for turning off the indicator light for illuminating the rotary variable display means is performed.

According to the present invention, when an error occurs in the control command transmitted from the main control unit to the display control unit, the display control unit waits until the next control command transmitted from the main control unit is received. By turning off the indicator light that illuminates the rotary variable display means of the variable display unit, it is notified that an error has occurred but the game is continuing properly. For this reason, even in a gaming machine that employs a variable display unit having rotary variable display means instead of a variable display unit having a liquid crystal image display unit, it is possible to appropriately notify the player of the occurrence of an error. Further, since the occurrence of an error can be reported on the variable display section having the rotary variable display means that the player pays the most attention during the game, the occurrence of the error can be accurately transmitted to the player. Further, since the occurrence of an error is notified by using an indicator light illuminating the rotary variable display means, it is not necessary to provide a new display device or the like in the gaming machine, and the cost of parts of the gaming machine can be reduced. .

The control command transmitted from the main control unit is a variation pattern designation command for designating a rotation variation pattern of the rotary variable display means, when the rotation operation of the rotary variable display means is stopped. A stop symbol designating command for designating symbol information displayed on the variable display unit, or a stop symbol determination for determining symbol information displayed on the variable display unit by stopping the rotation of the rotary variable display unit. Command.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this example, a pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine. First, the configuration of the entire pachinko gaming machine will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 is a machine frame 2 serving as a guide when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is mounted on a so-called island facility or the like installed in a pachinko parlor, and is fitted and mounted in the frame of the machine frame 2. Gaming board 3 and this pachinko machine 1
And a back mechanism plate (not shown) to which various devices and units for driving the device are mounted, and various wirings are attached. Among them, for example, the game board 3 has an upper hinge 5
a, and a lower hinge 5b directly attaches to an inner frame 6 attached to the machine frame 2, and further attached to the inner frame 6 is an openable and closable glass frame (not shown) on which, for example, transparent glass is mounted. The structure is such that the front side of the game board 3 is covered and protected with a transparent glass or the like.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a gaming board 3 having various winning structures, obstacle nails, and the like, which will be described later, provided on the board at a slightly upper portion in the center of the front. The first for receiving a prize ball discharged through a prize ball payout device and a prize ball gutter (not shown) attached to the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and supplying the game ball to a game ball launch device described later. The receiving plate (upper plate) 7 is mounted on the mounting plate 8. A sound emission port 9 opened for emitting sound is provided below the upper plate 7, and a sound output means for outputting sound such as sound effects is provided at the back of the sound emission port 9. A speaker 10 constituting a part of the speaker 10 is built in, and a second receiving tray (lower tray) for receiving and storing a prize ball (game ball) overflowing from the upper tray 7 is provided below the speaker 10. 11 are provided. The prize balls (game balls) stored in the lower plate 11 are moved to the lower plate 1 by an operation lever 11a provided at the center front of the lower portion of the lower plate 11.
1 can be discharged below.

On the other hand, on the right side of the lower plate 11,
The game ball supplied from the upper plate 7 is used for the game area 2 on the game board 3.
1 is provided with a game ball launching operation unit 12 which constitutes a part of a game ball launching unit, and a game ball launching operation unit 12 of the player is provided on the back side of the game ball launching operation unit 12. A game ball launching device (not shown) for actually launching the game balls supplied from the upper plate 7 into the game area 21 in accordance with a change in the rotation operation angle accompanying the input is attached. That is, the upper plate 7 and the game ball launching device are connected inside the pachinko gaming machine 1 via a game ball sending mechanism (not shown), and are stored in the upper plate 7 by the game ball sending mechanism. The game balls are supplied to the game ball launching device.

A part of the game ball launch operation unit 12 includes:
For example, a push-type stop switch 13 is provided,
Push the stop switch 13 to push it on (O
By setting the state to N), it is possible to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball even during the rotation operation of the game ball launch operation unit 12. The game ball launch operation unit 12 has a built-in touch sensor and a launch switch (not shown), and the touch sensor operates the game ball launch operation unit 12 while the player is actually playing a game. If it does not sense the fact (for example, touching the game ball launching operation unit 12), the firing switch is turned off (OFF), the firing of the game ball from the game ball firing device is temporarily stopped, and the game ball is fired. It is possible to effectively prevent so-called unmanned beating, in which the player moves away from the gaming table while being fixed at a predetermined firing position after rotating the operation unit 12.

The machine frame 2 around the game board 3 of the pachinko game machine 1 has a lock hole 14 on the right side for unlocking a lock for locking the inner frame 6 to the machine frame 2. The upper frame lamp 15 is disposed on the upper side.
The upper frame lamp 15 can clearly display a "winning" or "big hit" game state during the game. On the front panel 16 attached to the inner frame 6 inside the machine frame 2 around the game board 3, an upper left front panel lamp 17 on the upper left side and an upper right front panel lamp 18 on the upper right side. At the same time, a lower left front plate lamp 19 is provided on the lower left side and a lower right front plate lamp 20 is provided on the lower right side. These left and right upper front lamps 17, 18 and left and right lower front plate lamps 19, 19 are provided.
20 allows various game states and the like to be displayed in the same manner as the upper frame lamp 15.

On the other hand, the game board 3 is manufactured using, for example, a plate material having a predetermined thickness. On the game board 3, various structures such as winning holes and guide rails 22 are provided. Thus, a game area 21 is formed. Guide rail 2
2 is a guide ball path 2 for guiding a game ball fired from a game ball launching device by a normal game operation into the game area 21.
3 and a restriction step 24 for restricting the progress of a game ball driven into the game area 21 along the guide rail 22 through the guide ball path 23 at a predetermined position in the game area 21. It is formed in the upper right part of the game board 3.
For example, a rebound rubber 25 for repelling a game ball driven into the game area 21 toward the center of the game area 21 is attached to the limit step 24 via a limit step shaft 26.

In the vicinity of the center of the game board 3, a variable display device 31 is provided.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a variable display section 32 for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols, and a left and right ordinary symbol for displaying a lottery result by an internal determination process as to whether or not to drive a movable piece attached to a fluctuation start winning opening described later. Display LEDs 33 and 34 are provided. In this example, the variable display section 32 is provided with three divided symbol display areas 32a, 32b, and 32c of "left,""middle," and "right," and these symbol display areas 32a to 32c are respectively provided. Rotary drums 35a, 35b and 35c are provided as rotary variable display means. By rotating / stopping each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c in these symbol display areas 32a to 32c, different symbols or a combination of one symbol can be displayed. Further, a symbol display window 36 is attached to the variable display section 32. The symbol display window 36 displays a display result such as symbol information when each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c is stopped. , And effective lines 37a to 37e are provided to indicate that a so-called "big hit" game state is produced.

On the left and right sides of the variable display device 31,
Warp path entrances A and B for guiding game balls are formed, and the game balls entering the warp path entrances A and B form a warp path (not shown) that cannot be confirmed from the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example. The game ball is discharged from the game ball delivery port 27. Since the fluctuation start winning port 28 is provided below the game ball outlet 27, the game ball passing through the warp passage is more variable than the game ball passing through another path. It is devised to make it easier to win. Further, on both sides of the variable display device 31, there are provided pass chucks 30a, 30b having gate switches 29a, 29b for detecting the passage of game balls, and gate switches 29a, 2 of these pass chucks 30a, 30b.
When 9b detects the passage of the game ball, the main control unit of the pachinko gaming machine 1 sends a left and right normal symbol display LED to the display control unit.
The display control commands 33 and 34 are transmitted.

When the display control unit receives the display control command, the display control unit performs a process of, for example, alternately lighting the left and right normal symbol display LEDs 33 and 34, and when the lottery result (internal judgment) of the main control unit is "hit". Indicates, for example, that the left normal symbol display LED 33 is turned off to indicate that it is a "hit". On the other hand, if the lottery result is “out”, for example, the right normal symbol display LED 34 is turned off,
It indicates that it is "out". If the lottery result is "win", the main control unit drives the variable start winning port solenoid (not shown), operates the movable piece 39 of the variable start winning port 28, and sets the predetermined value. Time (for example,
The control is performed such that the variable start winning port 28 is opened (for 0.5 second), and a game state is produced so as to facilitate winning in the variable start winning port 28. From these facts, if a game situation such that another game ball is discharged from the game ball outlet 27 when a certain game ball passes through the passage chuckers 30a, 30b, the movable piece 39 is opened. , The game ball is most likely to win the winning start-up port 28 for the variable start. The game ball entering the variable start winning port 28 is guided to the back side of the game board 3 as a winning ball, and is detected by the start winning switch 40.

A special electric accessory 41 is provided below the fluctuation start winning port 28. The special electric accessory 41 is provided with a special winning port solenoid (see FIG. 2) provided on the back side of the game board 3. (Not shown), there is provided an opening / closing plate 44 of a special winning opening 43 which is opened only in a so-called "big hit" gaming state. Is detected as a winning prize winning ball. Of the winning prize balls having won the special winning opening 43, those passing through a specific area provided in the special winning opening 43 are detected by the specific area passing switch 46. When the special area passing switch 46 detects that the winning prize hole winning ball has passed, the repetition condition of the round is satisfied, and one round (a series of opening and closing operations of the special winning opening 43) is performed by the main control unit. After the end, a repetition continuation control process in which the next round is performed again is executed.

In addition, the special winning combination 4 of the special electric accessory 41
3 are provided with left and right special winning opening LEDs 47a, 47b on the both sides, and lower special winning opening LEDs 47c are provided on the lower side. On the other hand, an upper winning opening 48 is provided above the variable display device 31, and windmills 50 a and 50 b having left and right windmill lamps 49 a and 49 b are provided on both sides of the upper winning opening 48. In addition, upper winning opening 4
8, left and right center LEDs 51 a and 51 b and a center center LED 51 c are provided. Below the central center LED 51c, there is provided a prize storage LED unit 52 having four prize storage LEDs for displaying the number of prize balls that have won the variable start prize port 28. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example, each time there is a prize in the prize port 28 for variable start, the prize storage LED unit 52 is set up to four.
Increases the number of lit winning storage LEDs one by one, and each time the variable display on the variable display unit 32 is started, the number of winning balls is displayed by decreasing the number of lit winning storage LEDs one by one. I have.

On both sides of the game area 21, left and right side lamps 53a, 53b are provided. On both sides of the variable start winning opening 28, lower left and right winning openings 55a, 55b having left and right illumination LEDs 54a, 54b are provided. Is provided. In the game area 21 thus configured, a plurality of obstacle nails (not shown) are driven together with the above-described components, thereby forming a complicated falling path for game balls. Further, the game balls that have not won any of the winning ports provided on the game board 3 are absorbed by the game ball discharging port (out port) 56.

The gaming operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 configured as described above is as follows. That is, the shooting ball (game ball) fired from the game ball firing device by the player operating the game ball firing operation unit 12 enters the game area 21 through the guide passage 23 and falls down the game area 21. . When a game ball falls and passes through the passage chucker 30a (30b) and is detected by the gate switch 29a (29b), the left and right normal symbol display LEDs 33 and 34 are alternately turned on. In addition, the game ball is changed starting winning port 28
When the winning is detected by the start winning switch 40, if the symbols can be changed on the variable display section 32 of the variable display device 31, the rotary drums 35a to 35c
Starts rotating, and the symbol displayed on the variable display section 32 starts to change. On the other hand, if the symbol change is not possible in the variable display section 32, one of the winning storage LEDs of the winning storage LED section 52 is turned on, and the internal winning memory is increased by one (if no winning storage LED is turned on, Only the internal winning memory is increased by one). The rotation of each of the rotary drums 35a to 35c in the variable display unit 32 is sequentially stopped, for example, when a certain time has elapsed, and the symbol displayed on the variable display unit 32 when all the rotary drums 35a to 35c are stopped is displayed. On the other hand, when the pattern of the combination that becomes the condition of the occurrence of the "big hit" game state set in advance matches, or when the result of the internal determination processing in the main control unit satisfies the condition for producing the "big hit" game state. , A "big hit" game state is produced.

When the performance of the "big hit" game state is started, for example, the opening / closing plate 44 of the special winning opening 43 is kept until a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses, or the special winning opening 4 is opened.
3 is open until the special winning opening count switch 45 in 3 detects a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings. While the opening / closing plate 44 is open, a game ball wins in a specific area in the special winning opening 43, and when detected by the specific area passing switch 46, the continuation of the "big hit" gaming state is determined, and the opening / closing plate 44 is closed. After the completion, a process of opening again is performed.
Assuming that a series of "big hit" game states from opening to closing of the open / close plate 44 is "1 round", the "big hit" game state is continued up to 16 rounds, for example.
If the specific area passing switch 46 does not detect a winning in the specific area while the “big hit” game state is continued, the “big hit” game state ends in the round. Further, when the symbol displayed on the variable display unit 32 when each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c is stopped coincides with, for example, a symbol of a combination that is a condition for generating a “big hit” game state with a so-called probability variation, When the result of the internal determination process in the control unit satisfies the condition for producing the “big hit” gaming state with this probability variation, the probability of the next “big hit” gaming state becomes higher than usual, and the player The effect of the game state which is more advantageous for is performed.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the rotary drum mechanism 84 constituting the variable display device 31. The rotary drum mechanism 84 is provided with rotary drums 35a, 35b and 35c as rotary variable display means.
A plurality of symbols such as numbers, characters, symbols, and patterns are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drums 35a to 35c. In addition, these rotating drums 35a to 35c
Drum motors 86a, 86, such as stepping motors, each incorporating a drum sensor (not shown) composed of an optical sensor such as a PMW switching transistor.
6b and 86c.
In addition, the drum sensor is provided for each of the drum motors 86a to 86c.
, And transmits the detected reference position information to the display control circuit 82 (see FIG. 3). The display control circuit 82 controls the rotation angles of the rotating drums 35a to 35c from the reference position based on the received reference position information.

The rotating drum mechanism 84 includes a rotating drum 35.
Drum lamps 87a, 87b, 87c for irradiating light toward the symbol display window 36 side from the inner peripheral side of a to 35c are provided. These drum lamps 87a to 87c are mounted on drum motor mounting plates 88a, 88b, 88c together with the drum motors 86a to 86c, respectively. The rotating drums 35a to 35c mounted on the drum motor mounting plates 88a to 88c are housed in a drum housing 89, and the drum motors 86a to 86c and the drum lamp 87
a to 87c are connected to a drum substrate 85 attached together with the substrate frame 91 to the lower portion of the drum housing 89. Then, the mounting plate 92 is attached to the drum container 89 from the front side.
A mounting guide 93 is mounted from the back side, and a drum relay board 94 for relaying the drum board 85 and the display control circuit 82 is mounted from the back side.
4 is connected to a drum substrate 85 to form a rotating drum mechanism 84.

Next, a part of the circuit configuration of the control board of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the main control board, the display control board, and the drum board of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

The main control board 74 mainly includes a main control circuit 80 for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to a program or the like,
Start winning switch 40, big winning opening count switch 4
5. Specific area passing switch 46, gate switch 29
a, 29b, winning switch 83 and clear switch 95
Input to the main control circuit 80, a variable start winning opening solenoid 38 for driving the movable piece 39 of the variable start winning opening 28, and a big win for opening and closing the open / close plate 44 of the big win 43. A solenoid output circuit 97 for driving the mouth solenoid 42 in accordance with an instruction from the main control circuit 80, and a payout control circuit (not shown) of the payout control board 70
A payout control output circuit 98 for outputting a payout control command from the main control circuit 80 to the display control circuit, and a display control output circuit for outputting a display control command from the main control circuit 80 to the display control circuit 82 of the display control board 81. 99, a lamp control output circuit 101 for outputting a lamp control command from the main control circuit 80 to a lamp control circuit (not shown) of the lamp control board 100, and a sound control circuit (not shown) of the sound control board 72. And a voice control output circuit 102 for outputting a voice control command from the main control circuit 80. It is assumed that each of the above substrates is attached to, for example, the back surface of the gaming board 3 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 or a back mechanism plate.

In the main control board 74, the number of prize balls to be paid out from a prize ball count switch (not shown), ball out information from a ball out detection switch (not shown), and a change start winning port 28 are provided. To the external management computer (not shown), such as the winning information, the number of winnings in the special winning opening 43, the jackpot information indicating the occurrence of the "big hit" gaming state, the probability variation information indicating that the probability variation has occurred, and the like. An external information output circuit 103 that outputs via the frame external terminal board 76 or the panel external terminal board 77
And decodes the address signal given from the main control circuit 80, and outputs each circuit (solenoid output circuit 97, payout control circuit 98, display control output circuit 99,
Among the lamp control output circuit 101, the voice control output circuit 102, and the external information output circuit 103), select an I / O port of a circuit that permits signal transmission, output a selection signal, and output a control command to each control board. And an address decoding circuit 104 for outputting the same. It is assumed that the terminal boards 76 and 77 are disposed at predetermined positions on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example.

The main control circuit 80 reads out a ROM 105 preliminarily storing programs for producing various game states of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and the like, and reads out the programs stored in the ROM 105 to sequentially perform arithmetic processing. CPU 106 that controls the entire pachinko gaming machine 1
A RAM 107 used as a temporary work area for temporarily storing the result of the arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing process of the CPU 106, and a clock for counting the pulse signal from a crystal oscillator 109 to be described later and managing the time of the CPU 106. 108. The CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80 includes a ROM 105 and a RAM 107.
It is also possible to use a so-called one-chip microcomputer with a built-in CPU.

A crystal oscillator 109, a timer 110, and a reset circuit 111 are mounted on the main control board 74 as circuits associated with the main control circuit 80.
The crystal oscillator 109 outputs internally oscillated pulses as pulse signals to the main control circuit 80 and the timer 110. The timer 110 counts the pulse signals from the crystal oscillator 109 and resets the reset circuit 1 at predetermined counts.
11 to output a timer signal. Reset circuit 111
Sends a reset signal to the main control circuit 80 upon receiving a timer signal from the timer 110, and the main control circuit 80 re-executes, for example, a control program for the pachinko gaming machine 1 from the top based on the reset signal. A so-called reset control to be executed is performed.

On the other hand, the display control board 81 mainly controls the rotary drum mechanism 84 of the variable display device 31 based on a control command from the main control board 74 or the like.
2, an initial reset circuit 117 that transmits an initial reset signal for executing a predetermined initial setting to the display control circuit 82 when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is powered on or when an input signal is received from the clear switch 95, Rotary drum mechanism 84
Rotary drums 35a to 35c and drum lamps 87a
And a display ROM 82 for storing the variation / lighting pattern data of the rotating drums 3 to 87c.
A symbol ROM 119 for storing symbol data for selecting a display symbol (stop symbol) at the time of stopping the symbol attached to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 5a to 35c. In addition,
In this example, a ROM is used as the pattern ROM 118 and the symbol ROM 119. However, other storage media or the like that can store data and the like stored in the ROMs 118 and 119 may be used.

A crystal oscillator 116 is mounted on the display control board 81 in the same manner as the main control board 74. The crystal oscillator 116 outputs internally transmitted pulses as pulse signals to the display control circuit 82. I do.

The display control circuit 82 includes a ROM 112 in which a control program for controlling the rotary drum mechanism 84 for displaying various symbols on the variable display unit 32 of the variable display device 31 is stored in advance. The stored programs and the like are read out and sequentially processed,
A CPU 113 for controlling the drum substrate 85 of the rotating drum mechanism 84 and performing an initial reset control based on an initial reset signal from an initial reset circuit 117;
A RAM 114 used as a temporary work area for temporarily storing the result of the arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing process,
The pulse signal from the crystal oscillator 116 is counted and CP
And a clock 115 for performing timekeeping management of U113. When the display control circuit 82 receives the initial reset signal from the initial reset circuit 117,
The contents of 114 are cleared and the reception of an initialization command from the main control board 74 is waited. As the CPU 113 mounted on the display control circuit 82, a so-called one-chip microcomputer having a built-in ROM 112 and RAM 114, like the CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80, can be used.

The pattern R mounted on the display control board 81
The OM 118 has a fluctuation pattern table 1 for determining a drum rotation pattern of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c.
20 and a lamp pattern table 121 for determining a lamp control pattern such as turning on, blinking or turning off the drum lamps 87a to 87c in each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c.
And are stored. Further, in the symbol ROM 119, a left symbol table 122 for determining a stop symbol of the rotating drum (left rotating drum) 35a arranged on the left side from the front side of the game board 3 and a center arranged toward the center. A medium symbol table 123 for determining a stop symbol of the rotating drum (medium rotary drum) 35b, and a right symbol table 124 for determining a stop symbol of the rotary drum (right rotating drum) 35c arranged on the right side. Is stored. The display control circuit 82 reads each data from the pattern ROM 118 and the symbol ROM 119 based on a display control command or the like from the main control circuit 80, and controls the drum substrate 85.

A drum substrate 85 mounted on the rotating drum mechanism 84 has a left rotating drum circuit 125, a middle rotating drum circuit 126, and a right rotating drum circuit 127 mounted therein. 128, 129, 130 and motor drivers 131, 132, 133 are provided. Each of the lamp drivers 128 to 130 outputs a predetermined light emission signal to the drum lamps 87a to 87c provided on each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c based on the operation data from the display control board 81. Each of the motor drivers 131 to 133 also controls a drum motor 86a attached to each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c based on operation data from the display control board 81.
８６86c to output a predetermined drum drive signal. Each of the drum lamps 87a to 87c is connected to each of the lamp drivers 128 to 1
On the basis of a predetermined light emission signal from 30, the light is turned on, off, or blinks in a predetermined manner, and light is emitted from the inner peripheral side of each of the rotating drums 35 a to 35 c toward the symbol display window 36. Each of the drum motors 86a to 86c is connected to each motor driver 131.
The rotating drums 35a to 35c are rotated based on a predetermined drum driving signal from. Each of the drum motors 86a to 86c has a drum sensor 1
34, 135, and 136, and the drum sensors 134 to 136 are connected to the respective drum motors 86a to 86.
The reference position of the rotation axis c is detected, and the detected reference position signal is transmitted to the display control circuit 82.

Next, a typical operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. The winning of the game ball to each winning opening provided on the game board 3 is detected by a winning switch 83 provided in each winning opening, and is inputted to the switch input circuit 96 of the main control board 74. The switch input circuit 96 transmits a winning detection signal input from each of the winning switches 83 to the CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80. Switch input circuit 96
CPU 106 that has received the winning detection signal from ROM 1
Read out predetermined control data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 stored in 05 and execute payout control. In this payout control, for example, the CPU 106 transmits a prize ball payout command to the payout control board 70 via the payout control output circuit 98, and the payout control circuit of the payout control board 70 which has received the prize ball payout command outputs a predetermined prize ball. This is performed by driving a prize ball payout device (not shown) until the payout number is reached.

On the other hand, the winning of the game ball into the variable start winning port 28 is detected by the start winning switch 40 provided in the variable start winning port 28, and the switch input circuit 96.
Is input to The switch input circuit 96 outputs a start winning signal input from the start winning switch 40 to the main control circuit 8.
0 which has transmitted to the CPU 106 and received the start winning signal.
The PU 106 reads out predetermined control data from the ROM 105, performs a lottery process (internal determination) as to whether or not a so-called “big hit” or not using a calculation area of the RAM 107, and performs a payout control board 70 via a payout control output circuit 98. The prize ball payout command is transmitted to the prize ball payout device to cause a predetermined number (for example, 5) of prize ball payouts to be executed. Thereafter, the CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80 reads the symbol variation data from the ROM 105 based on the result of the lottery by the internal determination processing, and displays a variation pattern designation command for designating the symbol variation pattern via the display control output circuit 99 for display control. The rotation is transmitted to the substrate 81, and the display control circuit 82 controls the rotation of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c. At the same time, the CPU 106 sends a voice control command and a lamp control command for giving a decorative effect corresponding to the symbol change command transmitted to the display control board 81 to the voice control board 72 and the lamp control board 100 to the voice control output circuit 102. The signal is transmitted via the lamp control output circuit 101, and the effect of the predetermined game state by sound and light is performed.

The rotation operation of each of the rotary drums 35a to 35c is sequentially stopped after the display control board 81 receives a symbol designating command for determining a stop symbol from the CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80. If the lottery result in the CPU 106 is “big hit”, the CPU 106 displays the symbol displayed on the display control board 81 via the display control output circuit 99 when all the rotating drums 35 a to 35 c are stopped. Send all symbols stop command to determine the combination,
CP of the display control circuit 82 that has received the all symbol stop command
U113 displays a symbol displayed in the variable display unit 32 of the variable display device 31 in a specific state by a symbol designation command in advance (for example, as shown in FIG. 1, "7" is displayed on the active line 37a of the symbol display window 36). Are displayed side by side), the rotation of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c is temporarily stopped, and then the symbol displayed by the all symbol stop command is determined. Thereafter, the special winning opening solenoid 42 is driven via the solenoid output circuit 97, and the opening and closing plate 4 of the special winning opening 43 is driven.
When the game ball 4 is opened and the game ball falling from the game area 21 is easily won in the special winning opening 43, a big hit control command is sent to the voice control board 72 and the lamp control board 100 by the voice control output circuit. The signal is transmitted via the lamp control output circuit 102 and the lamp control output circuit 101, and the effect of the "big hit" game state by sound and light is performed.

When the special winning opening 43 is opened in the "big hit" game state and the game ball enters the special winning opening 43, the special winning opening count switch 45 in the special winning opening 43 detects the winning ball, and the switch input circuit. A special winning port winning signal is output to 96. The switch input circuit 96 outputs the inputted special winning opening winning signal to the main control circuit 80. The main control circuit 80
The payout control board 7 is output via the payout control output circuit 98 based on the special winning opening winning signal inputted from the switch input circuit 96.
A prize ball payout command is transmitted to 0, and the payout control circuit causes the prize ball payout device to pay out a predetermined number (for example, 15) of prize balls.

On the other hand, during the rotation control of each of the rotary drums 35a to 35c by the display control circuit 82,
When the start winning switch 40 detects a new winning in the RAM 10, the CPU 106 of the main control circuit 80, which has received the starting winning signal via the switch input circuit 96,
The winning storage number is stored in the winning storage area 7, the winning storage LED of the winning storage LED unit 52 is turned on on the lamp control board 100 via the lamp control output circuit 101, and the winning storage number is displayed. And, all the rotating drums 35a-3
Until the symbol 5c is determined and stopped, the next rotation control of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c is suspended. The number of wins stored in the variable start winning port 28 is set in advance so that a predetermined number (for example, 4) can be stored, and the winning in the variable start winning port 28 exceeds the predetermined number. In this case, only the payout of the prize balls is performed, and the "big hit" lottery process based on the starting prize signal in the main control circuit 80 and the prize storage for performing the rotation control of each of the rotary drums 35a to 35c are performed. Absent.

It is to be noted that the opened special winning opening 43 is kept under the above-mentioned predetermined conditions (for example, until the special winning opening count switch 45 detects ten winning balls, or the open / close plate 44).
(For example, until 30 seconds elapse from the start of opening), the opening state is maintained, and when the winning ball is detected by the specific area passing switch 46 provided inside the special winning opening 43 in the opening state. After the closing of the special winning opening 43, the opening operation is repeated and the opening operation is repeated again, and the continuation process of the "big hit" gaming state is performed, and the continuation process is performed up to the predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times) as described above.

Next, the display control of the variable display device 31 on the display control board 81 based on the winning in the variable start winning port 28 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display control process in the display control board 81.

First, the display control circuit 82 includes the main control circuit 8
From among the control commands received from 0, a state of waiting for the reception of a fluctuation pattern designation command for determining the rotation pattern of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c of the variable display device 31 based on the winning in the fluctuation start winning port 28 (see FIG. S1). In a state of waiting for the reception of the variation pattern designation command, when a predetermined time has elapsed (S2), the CP of the display control circuit 82
U113 reads the data for the demonstration display from the ROM 112 and executes the demonstration display of the variable display device 31 (S10).
0) Then, the state of waiting for the reception of the fluctuation pattern designation command is continued again (S2a). If the display control circuit 82 does not receive the fluctuation pattern designation command from the main control circuit 80 in step S2a, the process returns to step S1 again to continue the state of waiting for the reception of the fluctuation pattern designation command. On the other hand, when the display control circuit 82 receives the fluctuation pattern specification command from the main control circuit 80 in step S2a, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the received fluctuation pattern specification command has been normally received (S3). ). The demonstration display of the variable display device 31 performed in step S100 is, for example, the ROM 1
CPU based on the demo display data read from
Reference numeral 113 denotes lamp drivers 128 to 130 for the rotary drum circuits 125 to 127, and drum lamps 87a to 87c.
The illumination of the drum lamps 87a-87c
The control is performed by turning off or blinking the light.

Here, as a cause of the command reception error from the main control circuit 80, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), noise is applied to the interrupt signal to disrupt the signal waveform, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it is considered that the signal waveform is distorted due to noise on the enable signal for circuit selection, and the data is damaged by noise on the address (data) as shown in FIG. Can be From this, as a result of noise on the rising and falling portions of the signal from the main control board 74 to the display control board 81, an error occurs due to an error in processing timing, It can be said that an error occurs due to a change to data different from the data transmitted to the server.

Specifically, the address (data) reception determination processing in step S3 is performed as follows.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU of the display control circuit 82 which has received the fluctuation pattern designation command from the main control board 74.
Reference numeral 113 denotes a fluctuation pattern table 12 as shown in FIG.
Fluctuation pattern data table 13 stored in 0
8 and drum rotation pattern data table 1
The address 39 is read, and the address of the variation pattern designated by the variation pattern designation command is compared with the address of the variation pattern and the drum rotation pattern read from the variation pattern table 120 in the command comparison area 137 in the RAM 114. If the two match, the CPU 113 determines that the variation pattern designation command from the main control board 74 has been normally received. However, as described above, when the signal waveform of the interrupt signal or the selection circuit enable signal is distorted, it is determined that a reception error has occurred because the CPU 113 cannot perform the matching process itself, and the address (data) is damaged. If there is, a reception error is determined at the time of the collation processing.

When the display control circuit 82 determines that the variation pattern designation command has been normally received by the reception determination processing in step S3, the CPU 113 converts the variation pattern designation command from the variation pattern table 120 of the pattern ROM 118 into the variation pattern designation command. The corresponding fluctuation pattern and drum rotation pattern are selected and temporarily stored in the RAM 114 (S4). The variation pattern designation command transmitted from the main control board 74 is transmitted to the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 by the variation pattern data table 138 and the drum rotation pattern data table 13 as shown in FIG.
9, data for selecting and executing a predetermined fluctuation pattern and drum rotation pattern, and data relating to the fluctuation time. For example, when the CPU 113 receives a variation pattern designation command (8000H) as shown in FIG. 11A, the variation pattern designated from the variation pattern data table 138 of the variation pattern table 120 according to the address (data) of the designation command. (No.1 ~
No. 5) and the drum rotation patterns (patterns A to H) used in the designated fluctuation pattern among the drum rotation patterns as shown in FIG. 9 are read from the drum rotation pattern data table 139.

After the variation pattern and the drum rotation pattern are selected in step S4, the CPU 113
Is based on these selected patterns, and for each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c, for example, acceleration rotation of 100 ms,
Rotation control is performed for a total of 5900 ms, that is, high-speed rotation 2000 ms, deceleration rotation 1000 ms, and stop operation 2800 ms (S5). At the same time, the CPU 113 selects drum lamp data corresponding to the variation pattern and the drum rotation pattern selected in step S4 from the lamp pattern table 121 of the pattern ROM 118, and turns on, blinks, and turns on and off each of the drum lamps 87a to 87c in a predetermined manner. Light-off control (display control) is performed. Specifically, as the rotation control based on the fluctuation pattern designation command (8000H), for the left rotating drum 35a, as shown in FIG.
Acceleration rotation 100 by pattern A of drum rotation pattern
The rotation control is performed for a total of 5900 ms in the order of ms, high-speed rotation 2000 ms according to pattern B, first stage deceleration rotation 1000 ms according to pattern C, second stage deceleration rotation 800 ms according to pattern D, and temporary stop state 2000 ms according to pattern E. As for the right rotating drum 35c, as shown in FIG.
s, deceleration rotation of the first stage by pattern C 1000 m
s, second stage deceleration rotation 1800 m by pattern F
The rotation control for a total of 5900 ms is performed in the order of s and the temporary stop state 1000 ms according to the pattern G. Further, as for the middle rotating drum 35b, as shown in FIG. 3C, the acceleration rotation by the pattern A is 100 ms, the high speed rotation by the pattern B is 2000 ms, the first rotation by the pattern C is 1000 ms, and the second rotation by the pattern H is the second rotation. The rotation control is performed for a total of 5900 ms in the order of the deceleration rotation of 2800 ms.

Subsequently, the display control circuit 82 is in a state of waiting for reception of a left symbol designating command for determining a symbol for stopping the left rotating drum 35a from the main control board 74 (S).
6). Then, when receiving the left symbol designation command from the main control circuit 80 of the main control board 74, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the left symbol designation command has been normally received, as in the above-described reception determination processing in step S3. A reception determination process is performed to make a determination (S7). Specifically, the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 that has received the left symbol designating command from the main control board 74 reads the address of the left stop symbol data stored in the left symbol table 122 of the symbol ROM 119, and In the command collation area 137, the address of the left symbol data designated by the left symbol designation command is collated with the address of the left stop symbol data read from the left symbol table 122.
The CPU 113 determines that the left symbol designation command from the main control board 74 has been normally received if the two match, but
If there is the above-mentioned error occurrence cause, it is determined that a reception error has occurred.

When the display control circuit 82 determines that the left symbol designating command has been normally received by the reception determining process in step S7, the CPU 113 reads the left symbol corresponding to the left symbol designating command from the left symbol table 122. The stopped symbol data is selected and temporarily stored in the symbol data storage area of the RAM 114 (S8). Next, the display control circuit 82
Enters a state of waiting for reception of a medium symbol designating command for determining a symbol for stopping the middle rotating drum 35b from the main control board 74 (S9). When a middle symbol designating command is received from the main control circuit 80 of the main control board 74, the CPU 1
No. 13 determines whether or not the middle symbol designation command has been normally received by the same reception determination processing as the reception determination processing in step S3 or step S7 described above (S1).
0). Specifically, the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 which has received the middle symbol designation command from the main control board 74 reads the address of the middle stop symbol data stored in the middle symbol table 123 of the symbol ROM 119, and
14, in the command matching area 137, the address of the middle symbol data designated by the middle symbol designation command,
The address of the middle stop symbol data read from the middle symbol table 123 is collated. Then, the CPU 113 determines that the medium symbol designating command has been normally received from the main control board 74 if both match, but determines that a reception error has occurred if the above-described error has occurred.

When the display control circuit 82 determines that the middle symbol designating command has been normally received by the reception determining process in step S10, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the middle symbol designating command corresponding to the middle symbol designating command is received from the middle symbol table 123. The stopped symbol data is selected and temporarily stored in the symbol data storage area of the RAM 114 (S11). Next, the display control circuit 8
2 is in a state of waiting for reception of a right symbol designation command for determining a symbol for stopping the right rotation drum 35c from the main control board 74 (S12). When a right symbol designating command is received from the main control circuit 80 of the main control board 74, CP
U113 determines whether or not the right symbol designation command has been normally received by the same reception determination processing as the above-described reception determination processing (S13). Specifically, C of the display control circuit 82 that has received the right symbol designating command from the main control board 74
PU113 is the right symbol table 12 of symbol ROM119.
4 is read, and the address of the right symbol data designated by the right symbol designation command and the right stop symbol read from the right symbol table 124 are read in the command matching area 137 in the RAM 114. Check with data address. And C
The PU 113 determines that the right symbol designating command from the main control board 74 has been normally received if the two match, but determines that a reception error has occurred if the above-described error has occurred.

When the display control circuit 82 determines that the right symbol designating command has been normally received by the reception determining process in step S13, the CPU 113 determines from the right symbol table 124 the right symbol designating command corresponding to the right symbol designating command. The stopped symbol data is selected and temporarily stored in the symbol data storage area of the RAM 114 (S14). Next, in accordance with the fluctuation pattern and the drum rotation pattern selected in step S4 and executed in step S5, the CPU 113
The stopped symbol data temporarily stored in the M114 is read out, for example, the left rotating drum 35a and the right rotating drum 35c.
The temporary stop is performed so that the same symbol as the stopped symbol data read out in the order of the middle rotating drum 35b is displayed on the variable display section 32 (S15, S16, S17). The stop control of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c is performed, for example, when the rotating speed of the rotating drum is reduced from high-speed rotation to medium-speed rotation, the drum sensors 134 to 136 built in the drum motors 86a to 86c rotate the rotating drum. By reading the reference position and transmitting the read reference position signal to the display control circuit 80, the CPU 113 in the display control circuit 80
However, by calculating the remaining rotation time of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c and the number of rotations required to achieve a desired stop symbol, and performing any deceleration control within the rotating time of the rotating drums, 35c is performed by temporarily stopping at the stop symbol selected by the symbol designation command. Here, the temporary stop means that the main control board 7 stops after stopping at a desired stop symbol.
4 indicates a symbol stop display on the variable display section 32 of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c until the final stop control is performed by the display control circuit 82 based on the normal reception of all the symbol stop commands from the control unit 4. This means that the display control circuit 82 physically continues the stop display until the fixed stop control is performed. For example, the rotating drum of this example temporarily stops in the order of the left rotating drum 35a, the right rotating drum 35c, and the middle rotating drum 35b, and maintains the temporarily stopped state until the fixed stop control is performed. When the symbol display on the variable display section 32 is in the temporary stop state, in order to prevent the player from thinking that the player has definitely stopped, for example, control such as swinging each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c up and down is performed. May be performed to produce a temporary stop state that can be clearly distinguished from the fixed stop display.

After the rotary drums 35a to 35c are temporarily stopped in steps S15 to S17, the display control circuit 82 determines from the main control board 74 all symbols for determining and stopping the temporarily stopped symbols. The system enters a state of waiting for reception of a stop command (S18). Then, when an all symbol stop command is received from the main control circuit 80 of the main control board 74, the CP
U113 determines whether or not this all symbol stop command has been normally received by the same reception determination processing as the above-described reception determination processing (S19). Specifically, C of the display control circuit 82 that has received the all symbol stop command from the main control board 74
The PU 113 stores the command collation area 13 in the RAM 114
In step 7, the address of all the stop symbol data of each of the rotary drums 35a to 35c designated by the all symbol stop command is compared with the address of the temporary stop symbol data actually displayed on the variable display unit 32. Main control board 7 if matched
It is determined that all symbol stop commands from No. 4 have been received normally. If there is an error occurrence cause as described above, it is determined that a reception error has occurred.

When the display control circuit 82 determines that the all-symbol stop command has been normally received by the reception determination processing in step S19, the CPU 113 displays the display of each of the temporarily stopped rotating drums 35a to 35c. The symbol is fixed and stopped (S20). Thereafter, C of the display control circuit 82
The PU 113 determines whether or not a control command before the first opening of the opening and closing plate 44 of the special winning opening 43 due to the occurrence of the “big hit” game state transmitted from the main control board 74 is received (S21). When a control command is received, predetermined control data is read from the ROM 112,
Display control for "big hit" game state (processing during big hit)
Is executed (S22). After it is determined in step S21 that the pre-opening control command has not been received, or after the big hit processing has been executed in step S22, the process returns to step S1 to be in a state of waiting for the reception of the fluctuation pattern designation command.

On the other hand, steps S3, S7,
As a result of the command reception determination processing in steps S10, S13, and S19, C of the display control circuit 82
When the PU 113 determines that a command reception error has occurred, the following processing is performed. First, in step S3, if the display control circuit 82 cannot normally receive the fluctuation pattern designation command from the main control board 74,
The PU 113 reads out predetermined control data from, for example, the ROM 112 and
8 to 130, the drum lamps 87a to 87c are turned off, and the motor drivers 131 to 13c are turned off.
3 is controlled so as not to perform the variable rotation of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c (S110). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6 while maintaining this state, and this state is maintained until the next fluctuation pattern designation command or the like is received from the main control board 74. In this state,
For example, when the lottery result by the internal determination process of the main control circuit 80 is "big hit", the process shifts to the big hit process in step S22, and the big hit process is executed without fluctuation of the rotating drums 35a to 35c.

For example, when a command reception error occurs, the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 turns off all the drum lamps 87a to 87c in step S110, and then sets a preset value as shown in FIG. The error variation pattern may be read from the variation pattern table 120, and the rotation of the rotating drums 35a to 35c may be varied based on the error variation pattern. For example, when the CPU 113 reads the variation pattern for error occurrence (error), the variation pattern (No. 1 to No. 5) set from the variation pattern data table 138 of the variation pattern table 120 according to the address (data) of this pattern. ) Is read, and the drum rotation patterns (pattern D, pattern I, pattern J, and pattern K) used in the error occurrence variation pattern are read from the drum rotation pattern data table 139. Next, rotation control as shown in FIG. 11 is performed on each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c based on these read patterns. Specifically, each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c has an acceleration rotation of 106 ms according to the pattern I of the drum rotation pattern, a low speed rotation of 800 ms according to the pattern J, and a deceleration rotation 800 m according to the pattern D.
s, temporary stop state に よ る by pattern K Total 1706
The rotation control of ms + ∞ is performed. In this way, even if a command reception error occurs and the display control circuit 82 cannot recognize the variation pattern, the predetermined variation pattern for error occurrence is executed and the symbol is displayed on the variable display unit 32. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately and variably display the lottery result based on the internal determination of the main control circuit 80, and it can be expected that the possibility of causing confusion for the player due to occurrence of an error or the like can be reduced. When the rotation control based on the error occurrence variation pattern is executed, all the drum lamps 87a
It is not necessary to extinguish ~ 87c.

Next, if the display control circuit 82 cannot normally receive each symbol designating command from the main control board 74 in steps S7, S10 and S13, the CPU 113 transmits predetermined control data from the ROM 112, for example. For each of the readout and lamp drivers 128 to 130 of the drum substrate 85,
Of the drum lamps 87a to 87c of c, the drum lamp of the rotating drum in which the reception error has occurred is turned off (S1).
20, S122, S124). And the CPU 113
Correspond to steps S8, S11 and S14
In step S121, the last stop symbol data temporarily stored in the RAM 114 is read out, replaced with reception failure data, and defined as the current stop symbol data (S121, S123, S12).
5). After that, the drum lamps of the rotating drums in which the receiving error has occurred remain off until the rotating drums 35a to 35c are fixed and stopped. To maintain. In steps S120, S122, and S124, it is not necessary to turn off the drum lamp of the rotating drum in which the reception error has occurred. This is because the same effect can be obtained by performing such control.

If the display control circuit 82 cannot normally receive the all symbol stop command from the main control board 74 in step S19, the CPU 113
12 is read out from the drum substrate 85.
Are turned off by the respective lamp drivers 128 to 130 (S130).
Then, the temporary stop state of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c determined in step S15, step S16, and step S17 is continued (S131). In this case, the main control circuit 8
If the lottery result by the internal determination of 0 is "big hit", the process shifts to the big hit process in step S22, and the big hit process is executed without the fixed stop of each of the rotating drums 35a to 35c (temporary stop state). Each drum lamp 87a-87c
Is continued until a next variation pattern designation command or the like is received from the main control board 74. When a command reception error occurs, for example, the CPU 113 of the display control circuit 82 turns off the drum lamps 87a to 87c in step S130,
Alternatively, data (forcible stop signal) for forcibly determining and stopping the temporary stop state may be read and executed. By doing so, it is possible to display to the player that the “big hit” has been confirmed and stopped, and it is expected that confusion is less likely to occur.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When an error occurs in a control command transmitted from the main control unit to the display control unit, the rotary variable display unit of the variable display unit until the next control command transmitted from the main control unit is received by the display control unit. By turning off the indicator light provided for the game, it is notified that an error has occurred but the game is continuing appropriately. For this reason, even in a gaming machine that employs a variable display unit having rotary variable display means instead of a variable display unit having a liquid crystal image display unit, it is possible to appropriately notify the player of the occurrence of an error. Further, since the occurrence of an error can be reported on the variable display section having the rotary variable display means that the player pays the most attention during the game, the occurrence of the error can be accurately transmitted to the player. Furthermore, since the occurrence of an error is notified using the indicator light provided in the rotary variable display means, it is not necessary to provide a new display device or the like in the gaming machine, and it is possible to reduce the cost of parts of the gaming machine. It has the effect of becoming.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal structure of a rotary drum mechanism of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main control board, a display control board, and a drum board of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display control process on a display control board of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cause of a command reception error.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a reception determination process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a fluctuation pattern table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a variation pattern command.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a drum rotation pattern.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing rotation fluctuation of each rotating drum according to a fluctuation pattern.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing rotation fluctuation of each rotating drum according to a fluctuation pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko gaming machine, 2 ... Machine frame, 3 ... Game board, 5 ... Hinge, 6 ... Inner frame, 7 ... Upper plate, 8, 92 ... Mounting plate, 9
... Sound emission port, 10 ... Speaker, 11 ... Lower plate, 12 ... Gaming ball launching operation unit, 13 ... Stop switch, 14 ... Lock hole,
15 upper frame lamp, 16 front plate, 17 upper left front plate lamp, 18 upper right front plate lamp, 19 lower left front plate lamp, 2
0: lower right front plate ramp, 21: game area, 22: guide rail, 23: guide ball path, 24: restricted step portion, 25: rebound rubber, 26: restricted step portion shaft, 27: game ball delivery port, 28
… Variable starting winning port, 29… gate switch, 30… passing chucker, 31… variable display device, 32… variable display section, 33… left normal symbol display LED, 34… right ordinary symbol display LED, 35… rotary drum, 36 ... Symbol display window, 37
... Effective line, 38 ... Winning opening solenoid for variable start, 3
9: movable piece, 40: start winning switch, 41: special electric accessory, 42: large winning opening solenoid, 43: large winning opening, 4
4: Opening / closing plate, 45: Big winning opening count switch, 46:
Specific area passing switch, 47 ... Big winning opening LED, 48 ...
Upper winning opening, 49 windmill lamp, 50 windmill, 51 center LED, 52 winning storage LED unit, 53 side lamp, 54 illumination LED, 55 lower winning opening, 56 ...
Game ball discharge port, 70: payout control board, 72: voice control board, 74: main control board, 76: external terminal board for frame, 77
... External terminal board for board, 80 ... Main control circuit, 81 ... Display control board, 82 ... Display control circuit, 83 ... Winning switch, 8
4 ... Rotating drum mechanism, 85 ... Drum board, 86 ... Drum motor, 87 ... Drum lamp, 88 ... Drum motor mounting plate, 89 ... Drum container, 91 ... Substrate frame, 93 ... Mounting guide, 94 ... Relay board, 95 … Clear switch, 96…
Switch input circuit, 97 ... Solenoid output circuit, 98 ...
Payout control output circuit, 99 ... display control output circuit, 100 ...
Lamp control board, 101 ... Lamp control output circuit, 102
... Voice control output circuit, 103 ... External information output circuit, 10
4 ... Address decode circuit, 105, 112 ... ROM,
106, 113: CPU, 107, 114: RAM, 1
08, 115: clock, 109, 116: crystal oscillator, 110: timer, 111: reset circuit, 117
... initial reset circuit, 118 ... pattern ROM, 119
... Symbol ROM, 120 ... Variation pattern table, 121
... Lamp pattern table, 122 ... Left pattern table,
123: middle symbol table, 124: right symbol table, 1
25: left rotating drum circuit, 126: middle rotating drum circuit,
127: clockwise rotating drum circuit, 128 to 130: lamp driver, 131 to 133: motor driver, 134 to 1
36 ... Drum sensor.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising a rotary type variable display means and a variable display section having an indicator light for illuminating the rotary type variable display means on a game board, wherein the game machine is controlled based on a game state of the game machine. By transmitting a control command for controlling the rotary variable display unit from the main control unit to a display control unit that performs display control of the variable display unit, the symbol information displayed on the rotary variable display unit is transmitted. A gaming error notification method for notifying that an error has occurred during a game in a gaming machine that changes to produce a specific gaming state, wherein the rotation transmitted from the main control unit to the display control unit includes the rotation When an error occurs in a control command for controlling the type-variable display unit, the display control unit controls the rotation type variable table until a next control command transmitted from the main control unit is received. Game error notification method characterized by turning off the indicator lamp for illuminating means. 2. The game error notification method according to claim 1, wherein the control command is a variation pattern designation command for designating a rotation variation pattern of the rotary variable display means. 3. The control command according to claim 2, wherein the control command is a stop symbol designating command for designating symbol information displayed on the variable display section when the rotation of the rotary variable display means is stopped. Item 3. The game error notification method according to Item 1. 4. The control command is a stop symbol determination command for determining symbol information displayed on the variable display section by stopping rotation of the rotary variable display means. 1. The game error notification method according to 1. 5. A rotary type variable display means and a variable display section having an indicator light for illuminating the rotary type variable display means are provided on a game board, and are displayed on the rotary type variable display means based on a game state of the gaming machine. A game machine that changes the symbol information to be displayed in order to produce a specific game state, a main control unit that performs overall control of the game machine to produce a game state, and a control command from the main control unit. A display control unit that performs display control of the variable display unit, based on the, the display control unit, when an error occurs in the control command, the next control command transmitted from the main control unit A gaming machine, which controls to turn off an indicator light for illuminating the rotary variable display means until receiving the information.