JP2003135797A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize a data line for communication between a main control board and a sub control board. SOLUTION: A pachinko game machine 1 sets the signal level of a command effective signal line to be 'H' to transmits command data of a special pattern display device 30 through a command data signal line, and sets the signal level of the command effective signal line to be 'L' to transmits control data of a normal pattern display device 40 and an error information LED 50 through the command data signal line. Consequently, the command data signal line can effectively be utilized, thereby transmission and reception of a signal between the main control board 10 and the sub control board 20 is accelerated.

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 machine having a starting opening for performing a lottery for jackpots when a prize is won.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in gaming machines such as pachinko machines,
It is equipped with a main control board for controlling the entire pachinko machine and a sub-control board mainly for controlling the symbol display device.
It is known that a control signal is transmitted and received between the main control board and the sub control board. In such gaming machines,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-215389, a strobe signal line and a command data line are provided between the main control board and the sub control board.

Here, the command data line is an 8-bit data line, and in synchronization with the strobe signal transmitted from the main control board through the strobe signal line, data relating to symbol display is transmitted in a burst in a short time. To be done. The main control board transmits a strobe signal to the sub-control board when data can be received.

[0004]

However, in the conventional gaming machine, the strobe signal line is composed of one line, and only when the strobe signal is transmitted from the main control board, the data is transmitted through the command data line. Since the transmission is performed, the command data line is not used most of the time while the strobe signal is not transmitted. An object of the present invention is to effectively utilize a data line for communication between the main control board and the sub control board.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a main control board (for example, the main control board 10 in FIG. 1) for controlling the entire gaming machine, and Based on the control signal from the main control board, a plurality of control target devices provided in the gaming machine (for example, the special symbol display device 30, the normal symbol display device 40, and the error notification L of FIG. 1)
Auxiliary control board that directly controls the ED50 (see, for example, FIG.
A sub-control board 20) and a control signal line (for example, the command data line, strobe signal line, and command valid signal line in FIG. 1) that connects the main control board and the auxiliary control board. The control signal line is a data line through which control data for controlling the plurality of control target devices is transmitted and received (for example, the command data line in FIG. 1).
And an interrupt signal line (for example, the strobe signal line in FIG. 1) through which an interrupt signal for identifying that the control target device (for example, the special symbol display device 30 in FIG. 1) is controlled is transmitted and received, and the interrupt. It is characterized by including an identification signal line (for example, the command valid signal line in FIG. 1) through which an identification signal for identifying the presence or absence of control based on the signal line is transmitted and received.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, when the identification signal indicates that control based on the interrupt signal line is present, the predetermined value is determined by the data line. When control data for control of the controlled device is transmitted and received, and when the identification signal identifies that there is no control based on the interrupt signal line, a device other than the predetermined controlled device is identified by the data line (for example, , The normal symbol display device 40 or the error notification LED 50) of FIG. 1 is characterized by transmitting and receiving control data for control.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the gaming machine described above, the data line includes a plurality of signal lines, and each operation in the control target device (for example, an operation assigned to the data lines D0 to D3 in FIG. 2).
It is characterized in that a signal for controlling the signal is transmitted and received in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the plurality of signal lines.

The invention according to claim 4 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined control target device variably displays a predetermined symbol when a prize is won. It is characterized by being. According to the present invention, control data of a predetermined control target device is transmitted through a data line in a state where the identification signal identifies that there is control based on the interrupt signal, and the identification signal identifies that there is no control based on the interrupt signal. In this state, control data of devices other than the predetermined controlled device is transmitted through the data line.

Therefore, the data line can be effectively used,
Therefore, it is possible to speed up the transmission and reception of signals between the main control board and the auxiliary control board. In addition, the data line can easily perform multiple functions (sending and receiving control signals for multiple control targets).
Can be assigned. Further, the control signal of the predetermined control target device is transmitted and received in a state in which the interrupt signal identifies that the control target device is controlled, and the control signal of the other control target devices is the interrupt signal of the control target device. It is directly transmitted / received by each signal line included in the data line in a state where it is identified that the control is for a device other than.

Therefore, since the control signal transmission / reception based on the interrupt signal only needs to be performed with respect to a predetermined control target device, the processing relating to the transmission / reception data management such as error processing and reception sequence management is simplified, and the processing speed is increased. Can be planned. Further, it is possible to reduce the program capacity for transmitting / receiving the control signal. Further, the transmission / reception of the control signal of the device other than the predetermined control target device may be performed by directly monitoring each signal line included in the data line, so that the process in the transmission / reception is simplified.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system and the like of a pachinko machine 1 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the control system of the pachinko machine 1 is a main control board 10, a sub-control board 20, a special symbol display device 30, a normal symbol display device 40, and an error notification LED.
(Light Emitting Diode) 50.

Here, the main control board 10 and the sub-control board 2
0 is connected by a command data line, a strobe signal line, and a command valid signal line, and various signals described later are transmitted and received by these signal lines. Further, the command data line is composed of eight data lines D0 to D7, and in the control of the normal symbol display device 40 and the error notification LED 50, the data line D0 is the control of the error notification LED 50, and the data lines D1 to D3 are normal. It is assigned to the control of the symbol display device 40.

The data line D1 is data for designating a stop symbol of the normal symbol display device 40, the data line D2 is data for designating a variable display pattern of the regular symbol display device 40, and the data line D3 is a regular symbol. Start (level "H") and stop (level "L") of variable display of the display device 40
Is assigned to the transmission of data designating (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the data lines D4 to D7 are not used in the control of the normal symbol display device 40 and the error notification LED 50, and thus are reserved. In the control of the special symbol display device 30, all of the data lines D0 to D7 are used.

The main control board 10 is for performing processing relating to control of the entire pachinko machine 1, and for the sub-control board 20, a special symbol display device 30 and a normal symbol display device 40.
Alternatively, the control signal of the error notification LED 50 is transmitted.
At this time, the main control board 10 sets the signal level of the command valid signal line to high “H” to enable communication of the strobe signal line and sets the signal level of the command valid signal line to low “L”. As a result, the strobe signal line is set in the communication disabled state. And the main control board 10
While switching the level of the command valid signal line between “H” and “L”, predetermined data is transmitted to the command data line to control each part of the pachinko machine 1.

The sub control board 20 is based on various control signals and various data transmitted from the main control board 10.
The special symbol display device 30, the normal symbol display device 40 and the error notification LED 50 are directly controlled. The special symbol display device 30 and the normal symbol display device 40 are the sub-control board 20.
According to the control signal transmitted from, a predetermined symbol is variably displayed or is stopped and displayed.

The error notification LED 50 is used for the sub control board 2
According to the control signal transmitted from 0, the LED for notifying the error of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on. The signal for controlling the special symbol display device 30 is transmitted to the sub-control board 20 through the command data line with the main control board 10 setting the command valid signal level to "H".
On the other hand, the normal symbol display device 40 and the error notification LED 5
The signal for controlling 0 is transmitted from the main control board 10 to the sub control board 20 through the command data line with the command valid signal level set to "L".

Next, the control operation of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a timing chart of signals transmitted and received via the command data line, the strobe signal line, and the command valid signal line. In FIG. 2, when the command valid signal level is “H”, “command data” for controlling the special symbol display device 30 is transmitted through the command data line in synchronization with the strobe signal (time t1 to t2). .

When the command valid signal level is "L", the normal symbol display device 40 or the error notification LED
"Control data" for controlling 50 is transmitted through the command data line (after time t2). Further, the data lines D1 to D3 of the command data lines are in the state where the command valid signal level is “L”, and at the times t3 to t4,
Control data is transmitted from the main control board 10. Similarly,
The data line D0 is connected to the main control board 10 at time t5.
Sends control data.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the basic processing performed by the sub-control board 20. The basic process shown in FIG. 3 is started when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, and during the execution of the basic process, an interrupt process described below is appropriately executed by an interrupt triggered by the rise of the strobe signal. In FIG. 3, the sub control board 20 determines whether or not the data is stored in the reception buffer that temporarily stores the data received from the main control board 10 (step S1).

When it is determined in step S1 that no data is stored in the reception buffer, the sub control board 20 proceeds to the process of step S3. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data is stored in the reception buffer, the sub-control board 20 analyzes the stored data and executes a process based on the data (step S2). Next, the sub-control board 20 determines whether the command valid signal level is "L" (step S3), and when it is determined that the command valid signal level is not "L",
The process of step S3 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the command valid signal level is "L", the sub control board 20 receives the control data transmitted via the command data signal line (step S4).

Next, the sub-control board 20 determines whether or not a rising edge has been detected on the data line D3 of the command data line (whether or not fluctuations in the normal pattern are supported) (step S5). When it is determined in step S5 that the rising edge is not detected in the data line D3 of the command data line, the sub-control board 20 moves to the process of step S7, and the rising edge is detected in the data line D3 of the command data line. When it is determined that the sub-control board 20 stores the control data (variation pattern and stop symbol data) transmitted via the data lines D1 and D2, the variable display of the normal symbol display device 30 is started ( Step S6).

Next, the sub-control board 20 determines whether or not the data line D3 of the command data line is "H" (whether or not the normal symbol display device 40 is in variable display) (step S7). ), If it is determined that the data line D3 of the command data line is "H", the process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data line D3 of the command data line is not "H"("L"), the sub-control board 20 normally stops the variable display of the symbol display device 40 and displays the predetermined symbol as a stop display. Then, it is determined (step S8) whether or not the data line D0 of the command data line is "H" (whether or not a control signal indicating an abnormality is input) (step S9).

When it is determined in step S9 that the data line D0 of the command data line is not "H", the sub control board 20 turns off the error notification LED (step S10), and the data line D0 of the command data line is turned off. When it is determined to be “H”, the sub control board 20
The error notification LED is turned on (step S1)
1). Then, after steps S10 and S11, the sub-control board 20 shifts to the processing of step S1.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an interrupt process performed by the sub control board 20. The interrupt processing shown in FIG. 4 is activated when the sub-control board 20 raises the signal when the strobe signal level is "H". In FIG. 4, when the interrupt processing is started, the sub control board 20 receives the command data transmitted via the command data signal line (step P
1). Next, the sub control board 20 checks the reception error and the reception sequence of the command data received in step P1 (step P2), and stores the command data in the reception buffer (step P3). Then, the sub control board 20 finishes the interrupt processing and shifts to the basic processing.

As described above, the pachinko machine 1 to which the present invention is applied sets the signal level of the command valid signal line to "H", transmits the command data of the special symbol display device 30 through the command data signal line, and the command valid. The signal level of the signal line is set to "L", and the control data of the normal symbol display device 40 and the error notification LED 50 is transmitted through the command data signal line. Therefore, the command data signal line can be effectively used, and therefore, the transmission and reception of signals between the main control board 10 and the sub control board 20 can be speeded up.

In addition, the command data signal line can easily perform a plurality of functions (transmission and reception of control signals for a plurality of control targets).
Can be assigned. Also, special symbol display device 3
The control signal of 0 is transmitted / received by an interrupt triggered by the rise of the strobe signal, and the control signals of other devices are directly transmitted / received by each data line of the command data signal line in the absence of the interrupt.

Therefore, the transmission and reception of the control signal by the interrupt need only be performed with respect to the special symbol display device 30, so that the processing relating to the management of the transmitted and received data such as the error processing and the reception sequence management is simplified, and the processing speed is increased. You can In addition, it is possible to reduce the program capacity for transmitting / receiving the control signal. Further, the transmission and reception of the control signal of the device other than the special symbol display device 30 may be performed by directly monitoring the data lines D0 to D3, so that the process in the transmission and reception is simplified.

[0028]

According to the present invention, control data of a predetermined control target device is transmitted through a data line in a state where the identification signal identifies that there is control based on the interrupt signal, and the identification signal is controlled based on the interrupt signal. In the state in which it is identified that there is not, the control data of the devices other than the predetermined controlled device is transmitted through the data line. Therefore, the data line can be effectively used, and therefore, the speed of signal transmission / reception between the main control board and the auxiliary control board can be increased.

Further, it is possible to easily assign a plurality of functions (transmission / reception of control signals to / from a plurality of controlled objects) to the data line. Further, the control signal of the predetermined controlled device is
The interrupt signal is transmitted and received with the control target device being identified as being controlled, and the control signal of the other control target device is the control signal of the interrupt signal identifying that it is the control for a device other than the control target device. The signals are directly transmitted and received by each signal line included in the data line.

Therefore, since the control signal transmission / reception based on the interrupt signal only needs to be performed with respect to a predetermined control target device, processing relating to transmission / reception data management such as error processing and reception sequence management is simplified, and the processing speed is increased. Can be planned. Further, it is possible to reduce the program capacity for transmitting / receiving the control signal. Further, the transmission / reception of the control signal of the device other than the predetermined control target device may be performed by directly monitoring each signal line included in the data line, so that the process in the transmission / reception is simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system and the like of a pachinko machine 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a timing chart of signals transmitted and received via a command data line, a strobe signal line, and a command valid signal line.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic process performed by a sub control board 20.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process performed by the sub control board 20.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko machine 10 Main control board 20 Sub control board 30 Special symbol display device 40 Ordinary symbol display device 50 Error notification LED

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main control board for controlling the entire gaming machine, and an auxiliary control board for directly controlling a plurality of control target devices provided in the gaming machine based on a control signal from the main control board, A gaming machine comprising a control signal line connecting the main control board and the auxiliary control board, wherein the control signal line is a data line through which control data for controlling the plurality of control target devices is transmitted and received. And an interrupt signal line for transmitting and receiving an interrupt signal identifying that control is to a predetermined control target device, and an identification signal line for transmitting and receiving an identification signal for identifying the presence or absence of control based on the interrupt signal line. A gaming machine characterized by that. 2. When the identification signal identifies that there is control based on the interrupt signal line, the data line transmits and receives control data for controlling the predetermined controlled device, and the identification signal The control data for controlling the device other than the predetermined device to be controlled is transmitted and received by the data line when it is identified by the interrupt signal line that there is no control based on the interrupt signal line. Game machine. 3. The data line includes a plurality of signal lines, and a signal for controlling each operation in the controlled device is transmitted and received in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the plurality of signal lines. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined control target device is a special symbol display device that variably displays a predetermined symbol when a prize is won.