JP2003108366A - Display device and random number generation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device and a random number generation method of the display device that cancel regularity latent in a random number generation function even if display processing according to the same processing flow is performed based on generated random numbers. SOLUTION: The display device has a random number generation means that generates random numbers using the random number generation function, a display image sending means that selects and sends out one of more than one display image based on the generated random number, and a display means that receives and displays the display image in synchronization with a display timing. The random number generation means, during the wait time for the display timing, continuously generates, at idle, random numbers not used for the selection of display images using the random number generation function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device used in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a vending machine with a prize (win), and a random number generating method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a display device of this type, an existing random number generating function such as a random number generating function is used,
A random number is generated as needed, and one display content (display image) of a plurality of display images prepared in advance is selected and displayed based on the random number. The random number generating function of this type has an advantage that it can be easily handled in information processing and is widely used.

[0003]

On the other hand, on the other hand, this kind of random number generating function has a fixed (numerical) period although the period is long, and the random number in a strict sense. It is hard to say. In addition, at the time of initial setting such as power-on, until a disturbance (event) that becomes an uncertain factor such as human operation occurs, the numerical value (occurrence value) of any one occurrence frequency is It will be the same value. That is,
For example, since the numerical value that is the basis for random number generation such as the argument of the random number generation function becomes the same each time, the same numerical value is generated even though it is called a random number.
There is regularity in the content displayed each time.

According to the present invention, a display device and a random number generator of the display device capable of canceling the regularity latent in the random number generating function even when the display process according to the same processing flow is performed based on the generated random number. The purpose is to provide a method.

[0005]

The display device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a random number generating means for generating a random number by utilizing a random number generating function, and a plurality of display images based on the generated random number. No. 1 display image is selected and transmitted, and display means for receiving and displaying the display image in synchronization with the display timing is provided. It is characterized in that the random number generating function is utilized to continuously generate a random number which is not used for selecting the display image.

In this display device, a random number is generated by utilizing a random number generation function, one display image of a plurality of display images is selected based on the generated random number, and the display image is synchronized with the display timing. On the other hand, the random number generating means uses the random number generating function to continuously generate a random number that is not used for selecting the display image within the waiting time of the display timing. Here, since the display image data has an order of magnitude larger than the normal numerical value data, its processing (image processing) requires an order of magnitude longer processing time, and the display timing data does not exceed the waiting time of the display timing. In (for example, the unit of millisecond), a huge number of times (for example, the number of times of the cube of 10 as the unit of microsecond per one time) can be generated. Therefore, even if the timings that look the same in display timing units, due to differences in the processing amount before and after the display timing (due to memory access contention, etc.) and subtle hardware differences (such as power fluctuations) The number of times a random number is generated (the number of executions) varies. That is, as a result, even if the display process is performed according to the same process flow based on the random number generated by using the existing random number generation function, the regularity latent in the random number generation function can be canceled.

Further, in the display device of claim 1, it is preferable that the display timing is a timing based on at least one of vertical synchronization and horizontal synchronization for displaying on the display means.

In this display device, the display timing is a timing based on at least one of vertical synchronization and horizontal synchronization for displaying on the display means. Generally, the processing period for numerical processing can be orders of magnitude shorter than the vertical and horizontal synchronizations that are the display timing, so a huge number of random numbers are generated continuously at sufficiently short intervals between these display timings. It is possible to change the number of times of occurrence (number of times of random number generation execution) by utilizing these slight variations in the display timing to cancel the regularity.

According to another aspect of the display device of the present invention, a random number generating means for generating a random number by utilizing a random number generating function and one of the plurality of display images are selected based on the generated random number. The random number generating means includes a display image selecting means and a display image transmitting means for transmitting the display image to an external device so as to be synchronized with the reception timing of the external device. During the period, the random number generating function is utilized to continuously generate a random number not used for selecting the display image.

In this display device, a random number is generated by using the random number generation function, one display image of a plurality of display images is selected based on the generated random number, and the reception timing is received by the external device. While transmitting the display image so as to be synchronized with, the random number generating means continuously generates a random number that is not used for selecting the display image by utilizing the random number generating function within the waiting time of the timing. Here, in general, transmission / reception with an external device requires an order of magnitude longer processing time than numerical processing such as internal random number generation,
A large number of random numbers can be generated during the reception timing of the external device, and the number of times of random number generation execution varies due to the subtle difference in the reception timing. As a result, even if the display process is performed according to the same process flow based on the random number generated by using the existing random number generation function, it is possible to cancel the regularity latent in the random number generation function.

Further, in the random number generating method of the display device according to the fourth aspect, one display image of the plurality of display images is selected based on the random number generated by utilizing the random number generating function and is synchronized with the display timing. A display device for displaying the display image on a display means by a random number generation method for the display device for generating the random number, wherein the random number generation function is used within a waiting time of the display timing, It is characterized by continuously generating random numbers that are not used for selecting a display image.

In this random number generation method, one display image of a plurality of display images is selected based on the random number generated by utilizing the random number generation function, and the display image is displayed on the display means in synchronization with the display timing. Applied to the display device, within the waiting time of the display timing, using the random number generation function,
By continuously generating random numbers that are not used for selecting the display image, it is possible to cancel the regularity by changing the number of times of occurrence (the number of times of random number generation execution) by utilizing the subtle variation in display timing. [Detailed Description of the Invention]

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first, the display device 1 of the present embodiment receives a command (see CMD in FIG. 2) from the control device 50 via the command port CP (S2), In accordance with the received command, the next (time) display image for subsequent development of display processing (new story development) is determined (S3), and the display panel (display means) 20.
The display processing is performed in synchronization with the display timing of.

As shown in the figure, the display device 1 includes a control unit 10 for controlling the entire display device 1 in accordance with a command CMD from a control device 50, and a vertical synchronization (Vsync) signal VS.
A display panel 20 that receives and displays a display image (data) from the control unit 10 in synchronization with the timing (see FIG. 2).
And a display image data ROM (Computer-Graphics ROM: hereinafter referred to as “CG-ROM”) 30 for storing a plurality of display image data as display candidates, and a connector 41 to an external device 60 such as a monitor at the time of trial manufacture. And a display data output circuit 40 for outputting display data via the.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 becomes the center of control and executes the command CM via the command port CP.
CPU 101 that receives D and performs various controls according to it
And a video display processor (Video) that controls transmission / reception of display image data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101.
Display Processor: "VDP") 102 and a video RA that serves as a work area for transmitting and receiving the display image data.
M (hereinafter “VRAM”) 103 and firmware ROM 10
4a and other circuits including the host RAM 104b (E
TC) 104.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the power is turned on, the display device 1 first performs initial setting (S
1) Next, the received command process is performed (S2), and when an interrupt (CMD) due to the command reception from the control device 50 is occurring, the next display for developing a new story by the command CMD is generated. While the image is determined, when the new command is not received, the next display image for the original story development (old story development) is determined (S3).

However, in this case, in order to determine the next display image, a random number is generated by a random number generating function (random number generating function utilizing) (RDM), and based on the random number,
The next display image is selected and determined from the plurality of display image candidates. Further, the following result of time management (S52) is referred to (indicated by a dashed line). That is, the next display image is the presence / absence of a received command and the generated random number (numerical value).
And, it is decided based on the result of time management. In this case, since the display image data based on the previous display image is transmitted to the display panel 20, only the next display image is determined here (S3), and the display of the display panel 20 is performed. Timing, that is, a vertical synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as “Vsync signal”) that triggers display image data transmission.
Wait for VS input (interrupt) (S4).

Next, when the Vsync signal is input, the process proceeds to the next display image transmitting process (S5). Here, in parallel with sending (displaying) the previous display image data that was prepared (created) for display, the next (following new or old story development) display image data Create (draw) (S51). Further, in this case, if it takes time to draw (create an image) and the creation is not completed by the next Vsync signal, it is stated that the next display image creation (drawing) is not performed (indicated by a dashed line in the figure). Time management is performed (S52) for reference in the display image determination process (S3).

When the display for that time is completed by the display image transmission processing (S5), the loop processing of the next reception command processing (S2) to display image transmission processing (S5) is performed in the same manner.

By the way, in the display device 1 of the present embodiment,
The processing from the power-on to the reception of the first command is the same processing every time in the processing flow. In the display image determination process (S3), a random number is generated and referred to. However, if the number of executions of random number generation from the initial setting is the same, the Nth random number generation (N is an arbitrary integer) from power ON. The numerical value (occurrence value) generated by is the same no matter how many times the power is turned on (and subsequent processing). For this reason, the same process flow was followed during the period until the first disturbance (an event from the outside such as a manual operation or command issuance), which is an uncertain factor, occurred, although the random number should have been generated. As long as the display process is performed, the same process is performed every time, resulting in the same display image.

In view of this, the present embodiment is devised to prevent the same processing regardless of the occurrence of a disturbance event. That is, Vsync waiting processing (S
In 4), as shown in FIG. 3, the random number generation process is continuously performed while waiting for the Vsync signal until the Vsync signal is input (S41: Yes) (S41: No) (S41: FIG. Same as RDM 2). The meaning of this continuous random number generation processing will be described in detail below.

First, since image processing generally requires an order of magnitude more processing time than numerical processing, during the Vsync waiting processing (S4) of FIG. 2, that is, the display image sending processing (S5).
Between the next display image determination processing (S3), while the display image sending processing (S5) which is image processing is being performed, the next display image determination processing (S3) is performed (in parallel) on the back side thereof. The numerical processing of will end instantly. In other words, V
From the viewpoint of the unit (for example, millisecond unit) of the sync waiting process (Vsync cycle), the numerical process (for example, microsecond unit) up to the next display image determination process (S3) is completed at the same time when the Vsync signal is input. The next Vsyn
Until the input of the c signal, only the display image sending process (S5) is performed. That is, on the timing chart, the reception command process (S2) and the display image determination process (S3) are completed within a negligible time, and therefore, in general, the period from the input of the Vsync signal to the input of the next Vsync signal (Vsync). During one signal cycle), only the display image sending process (S5), which is image processing, is performed.

Therefore, in the display device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, during one cycle of the Vsync signal (S
Until 41 becomes Yes), random number generation processing is continuously performed (S41: same as RDM in FIG. 2). in this case,
Since it is only performed in parallel with the display image sending process (S5) (on the back side thereof), the presence or absence of the random number generation process (S42) does not affect the timing of other processes. On the other hand, it is possible to generate a huge number of random numbers (for example, the number of times of 10 3 as a microsecond unit for each time) during an image processing time of several orders of magnitude (for example, a unit of millisecond). Therefore, even if the timings that look the same in display timing units, the difference in the processing amount before and after the display timing (due to memory access contention) and the subtle hardware differences (such as power fluctuations) ), The number of times a random number is generated (number of executions) is
There are variations.

That is, in the present embodiment, the same number of times of random number generation is performed even if the display process is performed according to the same process flow regardless of the occurrence of a disturbance event, and therefore the same process is performed. Can be prevented and the regularity underlying the random number generation function can be canceled.

In the above embodiment, the vertical synchronizing signal of the display panel 20 is used as the display timing,
A horizontal sync signal can also be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the display image is transmitted in synchronization with the display timing of the display panel 20, and the random number is continuously generated while waiting for the display timing. For example, the external device 60 of FIG. The same can be applied to the case where the display image is transmitted in synchronization with the reception timing. That is, in general, transmission / reception with an external device requires an order of magnitude longer processing time for numerical processing such as internal random number generation. Therefore, by continuously generating random numbers while waiting for this reception timing, A large number of random numbers can be generated during the reception timing period, and the number of times of random number generation execution varies due to the subtle difference in the reception timing. As a result, even if the display process is performed according to the same process flow based on the random number generated by using the existing random number generation function, it is possible to cancel the regularity latent in the random number generation function. In FIG. 1, the control unit 10 and the CG-
If the configuration of the ROM 30 is viewed (understanding) the display device and the display panel 20 is viewed as an external device, the above-mentioned display timing also corresponds to the above-mentioned reception timing and has the same relationship.

[0027]

As described above, according to the display device and the random number generation method of the display device of the present invention, the display process according to the same process flow is performed based on the random number generated by using the existing random number generation function. Even when it is performed, there is an effect that the regularity that is latent in the random number generation function can be canceled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of display processing in the display device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a Vsync waiting process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Display device 10 Control unit 20 display panel 30 CG-ROM (ROM for display image data) 60 External device 101 CPU 102 VDP (Video Display Processor) 103 VRAM (video RAM) CMD command signal CP command port VS Vsync (vertical sync) signal

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A random number generating means for generating a random number using a random number generating function, and one of a plurality of display images based on the generated random number.
A display image sending means for selecting and sending the display image of, and a display means for receiving and displaying the display image in synchronization with the display timing, wherein the random number generating means is within the waiting time of the display timing. In the display device, a random number that is not used for selecting the display image is continuously generated by utilizing the random number generation function. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display timing is a timing based on at least one of vertical synchronization and horizontal synchronization for displaying on the display means. 3. A random number generating means for generating a random number using a random number generating function, and one of a plurality of display images based on the generated random number.
Display image selecting means for selecting a display image of, and a display image transmitting means for transmitting the display image to an external device so as to be synchronized with the reception timing of the external device, the random number generating means, A display device, wherein during the waiting time of the reception timing, the random number generating function is used to continuously generate random numbers that are not used for selecting the display image. 4. A display device for selecting one display image from a plurality of display images based on a random number generated by using a random number generating function and displaying the display image on a display means in synchronization with a display timing. In the method of generating a random number of a display device for generating the random number, the random number not used in the selection of the display image is continuously used within the waiting time of the display timing by using the random number generation function. A method for generating a random number for a display device, which is characterized by generating a sky.