JP2003320138A - Method and device for data transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for data transfer, which enable the high-speed transfer of large volumes of data. <P>SOLUTION: An image display device 21 is provided with a main bus 26 which is connected to an interface 22, a central processing unit (CPU) 23, a read-only memory (ROM) 24, a random-access memory (RAM) 25 and a lithographic processor 30, so as to transfer the data among them. Separately from the main bus 26, the device 21 is also provided with a local bus 31 which is connected to a character ROM 27, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 28 and the lithographic processor 30, so as to transfer the data among them. The data are prestored in a large volume in the character ROM 27 and transferred to the DRAM 28 via the local bus 31, so that the main bus 26 can be prevented from being monopolized by the large volumes of the data. Additionally, the main bus 26 and the local bus 31 can concurrently transfer the data so as to enable the high-speed transfer of the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transfer method and device for transferring data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine will be described as an example of a device used as a data transfer device. As shown in FIG. 7, the gaming machine includes a control board 101 that controls the entire gaming machine and an image display device 102. The image display device 102 includes a data transfer device 103 and a drawing in the data transfer device 103. A monitor 105 that outputs an image subjected to drawing processing by the processing device 104 is provided. In addition, the data transfer device 1
Reference numeral 03 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU")
106, and a ROM that stores a control program executed by the CPU 106, texture data described below, and the like.
107, a RAM 108 for temporarily storing various data and texture data obtained by the CPU 106 executing the control program, the control board 101, and the CPU 10.
6, a bus 107 for connecting the ROM 107, the RAM 108, and the drawing processing device 104, and a video RAM 110 for temporarily storing an image of one screen of the monitor 105.

The player operates the game machine, transfers a command from the control board 101 to the data transfer device 103 via the bus 109 according to the game state, and outputs an image according to the command to the monitor 105. As described above, the drawing processing device 104 draws each data corresponding to the command.

In recent years, images are three-dimensionally displayed in order to output a realistic image to the monitor 105 in order to keep the fun of the player permanent. For example, an object is configured by arranging a large number of polygons, which are polygonal planes defined by a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate vertices, in a virtual three-dimensional space. The CPU 106 executes the control program in the ROM 107 to perform arithmetic processing (coordinate conversion, rotation, movement, enlargement, reduction, etc.) on polygons and objects. In addition, the drawing processing device 104 reads the texture, which is the image information of the pattern of the object, from the ROM 107, and performs the drawing process such as attaching the texture to each polygon forming the object on which the calculation process is performed.
Done in.

The object on which the drawing process is performed is output to the monitor 105 as an image.

[0006]

However, in the case of having such a configuration, there are the following problems. That is, since the texture data relating to the texture described above has a large capacity, if the texture data is transferred from the ROM 107 to the drawing processing device 104 via the bus 109, the bus 109 is occupied due to the transfer of the texture data. As a result, other processes of the CPU 106 cannot be performed via the bus 109. Further, the ROM 107 used in the game machine is C
Since it is slower than the PU 106 and the drawing processing device 104, the bus 109 is used every time the texture data is transferred.
Is occupied and processing is delayed.

Furthermore, when the power is instantaneously cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like (hereinafter, abbreviated as "instantaneous stop"),
The gaming machine is required to return in a short time. Since the texture data is transferred at the same time as the initialization of the data at the time of restoration, it is required to speed up the transfer especially at the initial time of the data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data transfer method and apparatus capable of transferring a large amount of data at high speed.

[0009]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve such an object. That is, the invention described in claim 1 is a data transfer method for transferring data, which is a first data transfer method for transferring data between a first arithmetic processing means and a second arithmetic processing means which respectively perform arithmetic processing of data. A second transfer path is provided in addition to the transfer path, and the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path and is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means. It is characterized in that the transferred data is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path.

[Operation / Effect] According to the invention described in claim 1, the second transfer path is provided separately from the first transfer path for transferring the data between the first operation processing means and the second operation processing means. Since it is provided, a large amount of data is stored in the first storage means, the data is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path, and is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means. By transferring the transferred data to the second storage means via the second transfer path, the above-mentioned large capacity data does not occupy the first transfer path. Therefore, for data not having a large capacity, the data can be transferred at high speed by transferring the data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means via the first transfer path, and the large capacity The data can be transferred via the second transfer path. That is, since the first transfer path and the second transfer path transfer data in parallel, a large amount of data can be transferred at high speed.

Such a transfer method is particularly useful at the time of data initialization. That is, when the device used in the data transfer method is restored, the data transfer between the first and second storage means and the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path is performed at the initialization of the data ( According to the second aspect of the invention), at the time of restoration, the data can be initialized and the data can be transferred at high speed at the same time, and the device can be restored in a short time.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in a data transfer device for transferring data, first arithmetic processing means and second arithmetic processing means for respectively performing arithmetic processing of data,
First storage means and second storage means for storing each data, a first transfer path for transferring data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means, and the first and second storages. Means and a second transfer path for transferring data between the second operation processing means, and the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second operation processing means via the second transfer path. And the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means are transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path.

[Operation / Effect] According to the invention described in claim 3, a first transfer path for transferring data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means, and the first and second storages. A second transfer path for transferring data between the means and the second arithmetic processing means, the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path, Since the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path, by storing the large capacity data in the first storage means, the large capacity data described above can be stored. The first transfer path is never occupied. Therefore, for data not having a large capacity, the data can be transferred at high speed by transferring the data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means via the first transfer path, and the large capacity The data can be transferred via the second transfer path. That is, since the first transfer path and the second transfer path transfer data in parallel, a large amount of data can be transferred at high speed. That is, according to the data transfer device of the third aspect of the invention, the data transfer method of the first aspect of the invention can be preferably implemented.

The present specification also discloses the invention relating to the following data transfer method and apparatus, and the image display apparatus used therein.

(1) In the data transfer method according to claim 1 or 2, texture data, which is image information of a pattern of an image, is stored in the first storage means, and the texture data is transferred to the second transfer. A data transfer method, characterized in that the data is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via a path.

Since the texture data is usually large in capacity as compared with other data, according to the invention of (1) above,
By applying the present invention to the transfer of texture data, the texture data can be transferred at high speed.

(2) In the data transfer method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, or the above (1), the second arithmetic processing means performs arithmetic processing on the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means. And the data subjected to the arithmetic processing is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path.

(3) In the data transfer method according to (2), the second arithmetic processing means is an image processing means for processing an image based on the transferred data, and the second processing means transfers the image to the image processing means. An image processing means performs image processing on the generated data, and the image processed image is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path.

Although the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means may be used as it is and transferred to the second storage means for storage, it is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means as in the invention of (2). The second arithmetic processing means may perform arithmetic processing on the data, and the data subjected to the arithmetic processing may be transferred to the second storage means and stored therein. Further, as in the invention of (3), the second arithmetic processing means is the image processing means, the image processing means performs the image processing on the data transferred to the image processing means, and the image processed image is obtained. May be transferred to the second storage means and stored.

(4) An image display device for use in the data transfer device according to claim 3, comprising first arithmetic processing means and second arithmetic processing means for respectively performing arithmetic processing of data,
First storage means and second storage means for storing each data, a first transfer path for transferring data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means, and the first and second storages. Second transfer path for transferring data between the means and the second arithmetic processing means, an image processing means for processing an image based on the data transferred via the second transfer path, and the image processing means Output display means for outputting and displaying the image processed by the above, and the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path, and the second arithmetic processing is performed. The data transferred to the means is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path, and the image processing means processes the image based on the data transferred to and stored in the second storage means, The image processed image is displayed on the output display means. An image display device, characterized in that the force display.

According to the invention of (4), since the data can be transferred at high speed by transferring the data in parallel by the first transfer path and the second transfer path, the image processing means converts the data into data. The image processing based on the image can be performed in a short time, and the output display unit can output and display the image in a short time.

(5) In the image display device described in (4), the second arithmetic processing means is the image processing means.

According to the invention of (5) above, the second arithmetic processing means is the image processing means, and therefore the second arithmetic processing which is the image processing means based on the data transferred to and stored in the second storage means. The means can process the image, and the image-processed image can be output and displayed on the output display means.

(6) In the data transfer device according to the third aspect, the second arithmetic processing means is an image processing means for processing an image based on the transferred data, and is transferred to the image processing means. The image processing means performs image processing on the obtained data, and the image processed image is used as the second
A data transfer device, wherein data is transferred to the second storage means via a transfer path.

According to the invention of (6), the data transfer method according to the invention of (3) can be preferably implemented.

(7) The data transfer apparatus according to claim 3 or (6), wherein the operating speed of the second storage means is faster than the operating speed of the first storage means. apparatus.

(8) In the image display device described in (4) or (5), the operating speed of the second storage means is
A data transfer device characterized in that it is faster than the operating speed of the first storage means.

According to the above inventions (7) and (8), the second
Since the operating speed of the storage means is faster than the operating speed of the first storage means, a large amount of data is stored in the first storage means, and the data is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path. The data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means is transferred to the second storage means via the second transfer path, so that a large amount of data can be transferred at high speed in accordance with the operating speed of the second storage means. Can be transferred. The "operating speed" in this specification means, for example, frequency and access speed. Therefore, the high operation speed means that the speed is high in the case of the access speed, and the frequency is high in the case of the frequency.

(9) In the data transfer device according to any one of claims 3, 6, and 7, the second storage means is composed of a volatile storage medium. Characteristic data transfer device.

(10) In the image display device described in any one of (4), (5), and (8), the second storage means is composed of a volatile storage medium. Image display device.

As described in the inventions of (7) and (8), the operating speed of the second storage means is preferably faster than the operating speed of the first storage means in terms of transferring data at a higher speed. . Generally, the second storage means having a high operation speed is
It is composed of a volatile storage medium. Therefore, as in the inventions of (9) and (10), it is preferable that the second storage means is composed of a volatile storage medium. However, since it is volatile, it is preferable to write (refresh) the data in the second storage unit at regular time intervals in order to keep the data in the second storage unit. In the present invention, the storage means is divided into the first storage means and the second storage means in view of such circumstances. Of course, if the storage medium is non-volatile and has a high operation speed, the second storage means may be configured by the storage medium.

(11) In the image display device described in any one of (4), (5), (8), or (10), the device is provided in a game machine. Image display device.

(12) The image display device according to (11), wherein the game machine is a pachinko machine.

(13) In the image display device described in any one of (4), (5), (8), or (10), the device is provided in a game machine. Image display device.

(14) In the image display device described in (13), the game machine is a slot machine.

(15) The image display device according to (13), wherein the game machine is a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine.

The image display device according to the inventions of (4), (5), (8) and (10) can be applied to any device having it, and the device is limited. Not done. For example, the image display device is
It may be provided in a game machine as in the invention of 1) or in a game machine as in the invention of (13). In the case of a game machine or a game machine, the amount of data becomes large in order to display a realistic image, but when applied to these devices as in the inventions of the above (11) and (13), it becomes large. Even a large amount of data can be transferred at high speed, image processing based on the data can be performed in a short time by the image processing means, and an image can be output and displayed in a short time by the output display means. As a result, a realistic image can be output and displayed in a short time, and the interest of the player can be kept permanent.

The game machine may be, for example, a pachinko machine as in the invention of (12), and the game machine may be, for example,
It may be a slot machine as in the invention of (14) or a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine as in the invention of (15).

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the image display device is applied to a game machine, and as an example of the game machine, a pachinko machine, which is a kind of ball game machine, particularly a first-class pachinko game machine will be described. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a third-class pachinko gaming machine (also referred to as a right-of-use) gaming machine, or a gaming machine other than the gaming machine, such as a coin gaming machine, a slot machine, or another device, and an image display device. It is naturally possible to use it in a device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko machine of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a game board of the pachinko machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine P of this embodiment has a game board 1, an upper tray 2 and a lower tray 3 for storing balls.
And a firing handle 4 for firing a ball to the game board 1. The game board 1 is covered with a transparent plate 1b made of polycarbonate fitted in the front frame 1a.

As shown in FIG. 2, around the game board 1,
There are provided a plurality of ordinary winning openings 5 from which 5 to 15 balls are paid out by winning the balls. Further, at the center of the game board 1, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, simply abbreviated as “LCD”) 6 for displaying symbols and the like as a plurality of types of identification information is provided. The display screen of this LCD 6 is
For example, it is divided into three parts in the vertical direction, that is, it is composed of three stages of upper, middle, and lower, and in each of the three divided display areas, the pattern is scrolled horizontally from right to left, respectively. The variable display is displayed.

Above the LCD 6, a normal symbol display device 9 composed of two LEDs (light emitting diodes) 9a and 9b on the surface of which normal symbols "○" and "x" are displayed.
Is provided. In this normal symbol display device 9, when a ball hit in the game area passes through the gates 10 arranged on both sides of the LCD 6, an LED of "O" and "X"
A variable display in which 9a and 9b are alternately turned on is displayed. When such a fluctuation display ends with the LED 9a of "O", the normal electric accessory 7 below the LCD 6 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) as shown by the chain double-dashed line. Ordinarily, the ball easily enters the electric accessory 7.

The normal electric accessory 7 disposed below the LCD 6 is provided with a symbol operation port (first type starting port) 7a,
When the sphere passes through the symbol operating port 7a, the variable display of the LCD 6 is started. A specific winning opening (big winning opening) 8 is provided below the symbol working opening 7a. The specific winning opening 8 is a jackpot when the display result after the LCD 6 changes corresponds to one of the predetermined symbol combinations, and a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds elapses) so that the ball can easily win. Or until the ball is 1
It is a winning opening that is opened (until 0 is won).

A V zone 8a is provided in the specific winning opening 8, and if the ball passes through the V zone 8a while the specific winning opening 8 is open, the continuation right is established and the specific winning opening is formed. After closing 8, the specific winning opening 8 is opened again for a predetermined time (or until a predetermined number of balls are won in the specific winning opening 8). The opening / closing operation of the specific winning opening 8 can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), and the state in which the opening / closing operation can be performed is a state in which a so-called predetermined game value is given (special game state). is there.

The state (special game state) in which a predetermined game value is given in the third class pachinko gaming machine is L
It means that the specific winning opening is opened for a predetermined time when the display result after the change of the CD 6 matches one of the predetermined symbol combinations. When the ball wins the special winning opening during the opening of the specific winning opening, the special winning opening provided separately from the specific winning opening is opened for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times.

The pachinko machine P, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a control board 11 for controlling the entire pachinko machine P,
An image display device 21 having an LCD 6 (see FIG. 2) is provided. The control board 11 includes a main control unit 12 which is a microcomputer including a memory, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”), and a normal winning opening 5 (see FIG. 2).
Ordinary winning switch 13 for detecting each of the balls that have won the prize, and a first-type starting port switch 14 for detecting the balls that have passed through the symbol operating port (first-type starting port) 7a (see FIG. 2).
And a V count switch 15 for detecting a ball that has won a V zone 8a (see FIG. 2) in the specific winning opening 8 and a ball for winning a ball other than the V zone 8a in the specific winning opening 8 10
A count switch 16, a counter 17 that outputs a specific value, and an open / close solenoid 18 that opens and closes the specific winning opening 8.
And an interface 19 communicatively connected to the interface 22 of the image display device 21.

The processing performed by the control board 11 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S1, the player shoots a ball into the game board 1 with the shooting handle 4 to start the game. A part of the balls that have been driven into the game board 1 is guided to the ordinary electric accessory 7 and passes through the symbol operating port 7a of the ordinary electric accessory 7, whereby the first-type starting opening switch 14 detects the ball. Then, the start start signal is transmitted to the main control unit 12, and the winning signal is transmitted to the main control unit 12. Also, when a ball is won in the normal winning opening 5, the normal winning switch 13
Detects a ball and sends a winning signal to the main control unit 12.

In step S2, when the main controller 12 receives the winning signal, the payout motor (not shown) is operated,
A predetermined number of balls are supplied to the upper tray 2. In step S3, when the main control unit 12 receives the start start signal from the first-type start opening switch 14, the main control unit 12 reads the output value from the counter 17 and performs the jackpot lottery. In the jackpot lottery,
If the output value of the counter 17 is a predetermined value, a "big hit", that is, a special game state is generated. Counter 1
If the output value from 7 is not the predetermined value, "miss", that is, the normal gaming state is continued.

In step S4, the main control section 12 transmits a command according to a special or normal game state to the image display device 21 via the interface 19. The command is an instruction to cause the LCD 6 of the image display device 21 to execute a predetermined display result. For example, in the case of a big hit, the main control unit 21 sends a command instructing the start of a predetermined reach, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, indicates the kind of the big hit symbol to be stopped and displayed at the final stage of the reach. To send the command. As a result, the image display device 2
1, after displaying the reach of the type instructed by the command, it is displayed so as to stop at the jackpot pattern of the type instructed by the command. After the stop of the big hit symbol is displayed on the image display device 21, the main control unit 12 causes the opening / closing solenoid 18 to open the specific winning opening 8 by an opening signal so that the player can obtain a large number of balls. Put in a state. Further, every time a round is completed, a command instructing the end of the round is transmitted to the image display device 21. As a result, the image display device 21 displays different display modes for each round. On the other hand, in the case of a loss, a command is sent to the image display device 21 to instruct the type of the lost symbol to be stopped at the final stage of reach display. As a result, the image display device 21 displays the reach and then the stop display with the lost design.

In step S5, the main control unit 12 causes the first control unit
It waits until the presence or absence of a new start start signal from the seed start switch 14 is received, that is, until the winning of the ball is detected. If a new start signal is received, step S
Repeat 2 to S4.

Next, a specific structure of the image display device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The image display device 21
An interface 22 communicatively connected to the interface 19 of the main control board 11, a CPU 23, a CP
R storing the control program executed by U23
The OM 24 and the RAM 25 that temporarily stores various data obtained by the CPU 23 executing the control program.
Interface 22, CPU 23, ROM 24,
A RAM 25 and a main bus 26 that connects a drawing processing device 30 described later, and a character R that stores model data and texture data used in the drawing processing device 30.
Dynamic RAM (Dy that holds texture data stored in the OM 27 and the character ROM 27 at once
a dynamic random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as “DRAM”) 28, a video RAM 29 that temporarily stores a visual field image generated by the drawing processing device 30, and an LCD 6 that displays the visual field image in the video RAM 29. , A drawing processing device 30 for generating a visual field image, and a character ROM
27, a DRAM 28, and a local bus 31 for connecting the drawing processing device 30.

The interface 22 and the CPU 2
3, the ROM 24, the RAM 25, the main bus 26, the character ROM 27, the DRAM 28, the drawing processing device 30, and the local bus 31 constitute a data transfer device 32. The frequency of the ROM 24 and the character ROM 27 is 1
The DRAM 28 has a frequency of 10 [MHz].
Each memory of 0 [MHz] is used. Therefore, the operating speed of the DRAM 28 is faster than the operating speed of the ROM 24 and the character ROM 27. The DRAM 28 is
Needless to say, it is a volatile memory. CPU23
The main bus 26 is used as the first arithmetic processing means in the present invention.
Is the character ROM 2 in the first transfer path in the present invention.
7 is a DRAM 28 in the first storage means of the present invention.
Is the drawing processing device 30 in the second storage means of the present invention.
Is equivalent to the second arithmetic processing means in the present invention, the local bus 31 is equivalent to the second transfer path in the present invention, and the LCD 6 is equivalent to the output display means in the present invention. Also,
The drawing processing device 30 corresponds to the image processing means of the present invention, and the DRAM 28 corresponds to a volatile storage medium.

The drawing processing device 30 has a function of processing an image based on the data transferred via the main bus 26, and performs a rendering process based on the above data and the model data and texture data stored in the character ROM 27. Or geometry processing or palette processing,
Generate a field-of-view image. The rendering process is the LCD 6
The pixel data is written in the frame buffer corresponding to the frame, the geometry process is the calculation process such as the coordinate calculation and the light source calculation, and the palette process is the process for coloring the image from the color information.

The model data refers to data forming an object composed of a plurality of polygons, and the texture data refers to image information of a pattern to be attached to each polygon included in the model data.

Further, in the present embodiment, the character ROM 2
The texture data stored in the drawing processing device 3
0 does not directly use texture data,
Transfer to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31,
The transferred texture data is transferred to the local bus 31.
It is transferred to and stored in the DRAM 28 via. When the drawing processing device 30 uses the texture data, the texture data held in the DRAM 28 is used.

Next, the processing performed by the image display device 21 based on the command sent from the main controller 12 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing performed by the CPU 23 in the image display device 21, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing performed by the drawing processing device 30 in the image display device 21. Further, in the present embodiment, the main description will be given after the power of the pachinko machine P is instantaneously cut off by the occurrence of a power failure or the like, that is, from the step after the momentary power failure.

In step S11, the image display device 21 is initialized by turning on the power of the pachinko machine P. Specifically, the control program stored in the ROM 24 is transferred to the CPU 23 via the main bus 26, and is executed by the CPU 23 to perform initial settings such as bus width and interrupt processing, and set “0” in the RAM 25. Writing initialization is performed.

In step S12, the CPU 23 sequentially receives the commands sent from the main controller 12 via the interface 22. The CPU 23 stores the received command in, for example, a command buffer provided in the RAM 25.

In step S13, the CPU 23 grasps the type of command stored in the command buffer,
A control program for display according to the command (hereinafter,
"Display program" is abbreviated from the ROM 24 and the display program is executed.

At step S14, the CPU 23 executes the RO
The display program in M24 is executed to perform arithmetic processing on polygons and objects. Specifically, LCD
At the coordinates in the virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the location of the image (design) displayed in 6, each object corresponding to the image is arranged. The image is moved by performing arithmetic processing (for example, addition, subtraction, rotation, etc.) from the coordinates of each object.

In step S15, the CPU 23 sends the various types of data that have been subjected to the above-described arithmetic processing to the main bus 6
2 to the RAM 25 for writing.

In step S16, an interrupt which is performed every vertical scanning signal (for example, 1/60 second) of the LCD 6 is waited, and when the interrupt occurs, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, the CPU 23 causes the RA
It instructs to transfer the data stored in M25 to the drawing processing device 30 via the main bus 26.

In step S18, the CPU 23 determines RA
If the command buffer in M25 is grasped, if it is a different command, it will move to step S12, and if it is the same command, it will move to step S14.

Next, the processing performed by the drawing processing device 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the pachinko machine P is turned on, the RA on the CPU 23 side of the main bus 26 of the image display device 21
Initialization is performed in M (RAM25),
In step S21, the RAM (DRAM 28, video RAM 29) closer to the drawing processing device 30 than the main bus 26 is
Initialization is also performed in. Specifically, the ROM 24
The control program stored in is transferred to the drawing processing device 30 via the main bus 26 and executed by the drawing processing device 30 to perform initial setting of the bus width, interrupt processing, and the like, and to the DRAM 28 and the video RAM 29. Initialization is performed by writing "0".

In step S22, the character ROM 2
7 is transferred to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31, and the transferred texture data is DR transferred via the local bus 31.
It is transferred to the AM 28 and stored.

In step S23, the drawing processing device 30
Is transferred from the RAM 25 via the main bus 26 for each interrupt process (step S16) (step S1).
7) Image processing (rendering processing, geometry processing, palette processing, etc.) is performed based on various data. When reading the model data, the model data is directly used by transferring it from the character ROM 27 to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31, and when reading the texture data, the DRAM 2 is used as described above.
8 once, store the texture data, DRA
This texture data held in M28 is used.
Therefore, every time the texture data is read, the DRAM
This texture data held in 28 is used. When the drawing processing device 30 generates a visual field image, the visual field image is stored in the video RAM 29.

In step S24, an interrupt is made for each vertical scanning signal (for example, 1/60 second) of the LCD 6, and when the interrupt occurs, the visual field image stored in the video RAM 29 is output and displayed on the LCD 6.

In step S25, the LCD 6 sequentially displays the visual field images output from the drawing processing device 30 to output the state of displacement of the symbol which is the image of the object.

According to the configuration of the pachinko machine P described above, C
Since the local bus 31 is provided separately from the main bus 26 that transfers data between the PU 23 and the drawing processing device 30, a large amount of texture data can be stored in the character RO.
The texture data is stored in M27,
Transfer to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31,
By transferring the texture data transferred to the drawing processing device 30 to the DRAM 28 via the local bus 31, a large amount of texture data is used for the main bus 26.
Is never monopolized. Therefore, for data that is not large in capacity, by transferring it between the CPU 23 and the drawing processing device 30 via the main bus 26, the data can be transferred at high speed, and is represented by texture data. A large amount of data can be transferred via the local bus 31. That is, since the main bus 26 and the local bus 31 transfer data in parallel, a large amount of data can be transferred at high speed.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the character ROM 27 / DR via the local bus 31 at the moment of a power failure
Since the texture data transfer between the AM 28 and the drawing processing device 30 is performed in the data initialization, the texture data can be transferred at the same time as the data initialization at the time of restoration, and the pachinko machine P can be operated in a short time. You can return.

The frequency of the character ROM 27 is 1
0 [MHz], the frequency of the DRAM 28 is 100 [MH
z], the operating speed of the DRAM 28 is the character ROM 2
Since it is faster than the operation speed of No. 7, a large amount of texture data is transferred to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31, and the transferred texture data is transferred to the DRAM 28 via the local bus 31 and stored therein. However, when using the texture data, by using the data held in the DRAM 28, a large amount of data represented by the texture data can be transferred at high speed. Therefore, every time a large amount of texture data is read, DRA
Since it is transferred from M28 at high speed, the low-speed character R
As compared with the case of reading from the OM 27, the time for accessing the storage medium can be reduced.

Since the DRAM 28 is a volatile storage medium, it is preferable to write data to the DRAM 28 at regular time intervals, that is, to refresh the data in order to retain the data properly.

Since the main bus 26 and the local bus 31 transfer data in parallel as described above, the data can be transferred at high speed. The image processing (rendering processing, geometry processing, palette processing, etc.) based on can be performed in a short time, and the LCD 6 can output and display the image in a short time.

Further, in the case of a game machine or a game machine, the data has a large capacity in order to display a realistic image, but even if the data has a large capacity, the pachinko machine P of this embodiment is used.
In this case, since the image can be output and displayed by the LCD 6 in a short time, a realistic image can be output and displayed in a short time, and the interest of the player can be made permanent.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as follows.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the texture data stored in the character ROM 27 is transferred to the drawing processing device 30 via the local bus 31 and further transferred to the DRAM 28 for storage. 26
The data is not limited to the texture data as long as the data has a capacity that is exclusively used for the transfer. For example, the model data also stored in the character ROM 27 may be applied in the same manner as the texture data transfer method.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the texture data stored in the character ROM 27 is transferred to the drawing processing device 30, and the texture data transferred to the drawing processing device 30 is used as it is and transferred to the DRAM 28. However, it is also possible to perform the arithmetic processing on the texture data by the drawing processing device 30 and then transfer the new data subjected to the arithmetic processing to the DRAM 28 for storage. For example, if the drawing processing device 30 uses the data of each polygon to which the texture is attached for general purpose,
After performing the image processing of pasting the texture to each polygon, the pasted polygon data is stored in the DRAM 2
It is only necessary to transfer the data to the storage device 8 for storage and read the stored data at the time of use. The DRAM 28 may also have the function of the video RAM 29. That is, DR
In addition to the texture data described above in the AM 28, the visual field image generated by the drawing processing device 30 may be temporarily stored.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the character ROM 27, the DRAM 28, and the drawing processing device 30 are connected via the local bus 31, but the storage means connected via the local bus 31 is the character ROM 27 or D.
It is not limited to the RAM 28. For example, as compared with a non-volatile memory such as the ROM 24 or the character ROM 27, DR
Although the AM 28 has a high operating speed, generally, the storage means having a high operating speed is composed of a volatile storage medium. Therefore, in terms of high-speed transfer, it is preferable to use a volatile storage medium having a high operation speed. However, since it is volatile, the trouble of refreshing remains. Therefore, if the storage medium is non-volatile and has a high operation speed, the storage medium can be used instead of the DRAM 28.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the character ROM 27, the DRAM 28, and the drawing processing device 30 are connected via the local bus 31, but the arithmetic processing means connected via the local bus 31 is the drawing processing device. The means is not limited to 30, and may be, for example, a CPU as long as it is a means for performing data arithmetic processing.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the character ROM 27, the DRAM 28, and the character ROM 27 via the local bus 31.
Although the data transfer between the drawing processing devices 30 is performed in the data initialization, the timing of the data transfer is not limited to the data initialization. For example, the data transfer may be performed in synchronization with the refresh timing of the DRAM 28, or the data transfer may be performed regardless of the initialization or refresh of the data.

[0084]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the second transfer path is provided separately from the first transfer path for transferring the data between the first operation processing means and the second operation processing means. Is provided, a large amount of data is stored in the first storage means, and the data is transferred via the second transfer path.
By transferring and storing the data in the second storage means, the first transfer path is not occupied by a large amount of data, and the first transfer path and the second transfer path transfer data in parallel. Data can be transferred at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the game board of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of a control base of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU in the drawing processing device of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the drawing processing apparatus in the drawing processing apparatus of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional game machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 ... LCD 32 ... Data transfer device 21 ... Image display device 23 ... CPU 26 ... Main bus 27 ... Character ROM 28 ... DRAM 30 ... Drawing processing device 31… Local bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data transfer method for transferring data, the method comprising a first transfer path for transferring data between a first operation processing means and a second operation processing means for respectively performing data operation processing. Two transfer paths are provided, the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path, and the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means is transferred. , The second
A data transfer method, characterized in that data is transferred to a second storage means via a transfer path. 2. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second storage means and the second storage means are provided via the second transfer path.
A data transfer method, wherein data transfer between the arithmetic processing means is performed in initialization of data. 3. A data transfer device for transferring data, comprising: first arithmetic processing means and second arithmetic processing means for respectively performing arithmetic processing of data; first storage means and second storage means for respectively storing each data. , A first transfer path for transferring data between the first arithmetic processing means and the second arithmetic processing means, and transferring data between the first and second storage means and the second arithmetic processing means A second transfer path, the data stored in the first storage means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means via the second transfer path, and the data transferred to the second arithmetic processing means is transferred to the second arithmetic processing means. , The second
A data transfer device for transferring to a second storage means via a transfer path.