JP2003325933A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine allowing a player clearly to recognize game information by simplifying a conventional prize ball delivery control method and a prize ball delivery method, reducing troubles, and facilitating the official approval of a third party approval organization. <P>SOLUTION: A game board is disposed with respective win holes for objects of the prize ball delivery, and creates respective numbers of the prize balls to be delivered as information based on prize ball detection signals from prize ball detecting parts provided according to the respective win holes. A prescribed number of prize balls corresponding to each win hole are delivered based on the prize ball number information, and the prize ball number information and the actually delivered number of the prize balls are confirmed by detecting the delivered number of the prize balls. This constitution can dispense with a prize ball re-detecting means conventionally comprising a device of the prize ball delivery system so as to reduce the number of the components. The prize ball re-detecting means comprises a mechanical mechanism using many components so that the elimination of this can reduce the occurrence of the troubles. The examination of the pinball game machine is relatively facilitated, so that the third party approval organization can shorten the time required for the approval. <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 ball game machine such as a so-called fever machine, a feather, a property, or an arrangement ball, and a ball game machine such as a coin-type game machine such as a slot machine. The present invention relates to a ball game machine which simplifies the conventional prize ball payout control method and prize ball payout method to reduce failures and facilitate verification by a third-party inspection organization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, generally, when a game ball enters each of the winning holes with different numbers of prize balls arranged on a game board, a prize ball detecting means. The winning ball detection signal output by the winning ball switch is input to the main control unit as the game control means, and each winning ball data as game information corresponding to each winning ball detection signal is stored. Then, each winning ball is sent to a winning ball detection device as a winning ball detection processing means through a collecting gutter provided on the back mechanism board. A winning ball detection signal is input by the detection of each winning ball by this winning ball detection processing device, and a signal for setting each number of winning balls based on each winning ball data is output from the main control unit as a winning ball payout means. It was output to the frame control unit as the prize ball payout control means for controlling the prize ball payout device.

Some prize holes do not have the corresponding ball switch, and in this case, the prize ball detection signal is not output even if the player enters a ball. However, since the winning ball switch which should correspond to the other winning holes having different settings of the number of winning balls is provided, the winning balls are detected only based on the input of the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detecting device. It is assumed that the detection signal is output, and the award ball number setting signal corresponding thereto is output to the frame control device. Furthermore, in the verification work by a third-party inspection organization, there is a case where the above-mentioned ball entrance switch is temporarily attached to carry out the verification in order to perform a rigorous inspection even on a winning opening that does not have the above-mentioned ball entrance switch. is there.

Further, in the method of paying out prize balls in the prize ball paying device, for example, in the case of paying out 6 prize balls, paying out 10 prize balls, and paying out 15 prize balls, the priority order is given to each prize ball number. They were attached (the prize balls are paid out in the order of 15 → 10 → 6), and the prize balls are paid out in order from the number of prize balls having a higher priority.

[0005]

However, the winning ball detecting device outputs a winning ball detection signal for each winning ball because the winning balls paid out from or paid out from the winning ball payout device are controlled by the main control. If the same effect can be obtained based on other systems / devices,
It is considered that the winning ball detection device itself is not required.

Further, if the winning ball switch corresponding to each winning hole is provided, it is not necessary to input the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detecting device. Further, it is not necessary to temporarily attach the ball entrance switch to the winning opening that does not have the ball entrance switch that the third party inspection body has to deal with, and it is not necessary to carry out the verification. It may be possible to shorten the certification time.

Further, it is simpler and easier for the player to pay out the prize balls in accordance with the order of entrance to each entrance, rather than the above-mentioned prize ball payout method according to the priority order, and there is also a psychological doubt. Unlikely to occur. Also, from the viewpoint of game information disclosure, adopting such a method is preferable because it can ensure the transparency of the game.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the conventional award ball payout control method and award ball payout method to reduce failures and facilitate verification by a third-party inspection institution, and provide a player with a game. It is to provide a ball game machine that allows information to be clearly recognized.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the structure of the ball game machine of the present invention is based on a winning ball detection unit for detecting a winning ball and a winning ball detection signal. Prize ball number information generating means for generating prize ball number information, which is information on the number of prize balls to be paid out, and paying out a predetermined number of prize balls to the prize ball payout mechanism based on the generated prize ball number information. Prize ball payout control means, payout prize ball detection mechanism for detecting payout of prize balls by the prize ball payout control means, prize ball number information generated by the prize ball number information generating means, and payout prize ball detection Based on the detection information of the prize spheres paid out by the mechanism, the prize sphere payout managing means for managing the payout of the prize spheres by the prize sphere payout mechanism and the detection of whether or not an abnormality in which the power supply voltage drops due to the power-off has occurred Abnormality detecting means and the abnormality detecting hand Abnormality determination information generating means for generating abnormality determination information in response to the detection result by, abnormality determination information storage means for storing the abnormality determination information, and game information storage means for storing at least the prize ball number information as game information. A backup execution control unit that performs a loss prevention process of the game information stored in the game information storage unit when an abnormality in which the power supply voltage drops due to the power shutoff is detected, and stores the abnormality confirmation information in the abnormality confirmation information storage. In the processing routine for writing to the means, the CPU of the backup execution control unit spontaneously accesses a separate input / output circuit connected to the CPU at a predetermined timing, and at the time of the access, the input / output circuit is accessed. This is a subroutine that is executed when the anomaly detection input is confirmed. Spheres detected winning ball is characterized in that it is recovered together with the out ball without being re-detected after.

In the structure of the above-mentioned ball game machine, each prize hole to which prize balls are paid out is arranged on the game board, and a prize is detected from a prize ball detecting portion provided corresponding to each prize hole. The number of prize balls to be paid out is generated as information based on the ball detection signal. Based on this prize ball number information, a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to each winning opening are paid out, the number of prize balls paid out is detected, and the prize ball number information and the number of prize balls actually paid out are calculated. I am trying to confirm.

In the conventional ball game machine, the payout confirmation of prize balls is performed as follows. That is, safe ball collecting gutters are connected to the respective winning openings, and the lower ends of these safe ball collecting gutters are gathered in a funnel-shaped safe ball collecting gutter. At the lower end, a united winning re-detection processing means such as a winning ball discharging solenoid, a winning ball detecting lever, a winning ball detecting switch and the like is arranged. The prize balls entered into each prize hole are guided to the safe ball large collection gutter, and when the prize ball number data of the predetermined number of payout prize balls is transmitted, the prize balls are paid out and the prize ball payout is completed. Upon receipt of the payout completion signal, the winning ball discharging solenoid is turned off and excited to discharge one winning ball.

On the other hand, according to the above ball game machine,
Since the number of prize balls can be paid out only based on the input of the prize ball detection signal from the prize ball detection processing means provided corresponding to the prize hole arranged on the game board, the above-mentioned prize ball payout system can be used. The winning ball re-detection processing means that constitutes one device becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Since the winning ball re-detection processing means is composed of a mechanical mechanism having a large number of parts as described above, by omitting this, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of failures. In addition, the inspection of the ball game machine is relatively easy for the third party inspection organization, and the verification time can be shortened. For example, according to the above-mentioned ball game machine, since a mechanism for re-detecting the winning ball is not required, the winning ball detected by the winning ball detection unit upon entering the winning opening is detected again later. It is possible to collect it together with the out ball without being killed. Further, the prize ball payout management means may be configured to determine that the payout of the prize balls has been completed when the number of detected prize balls has reached the number of prize balls to be paid out. It is rational as a reliable prize ball payout confirmation process that replaces.

Specifically, the award ball payout management means stores the total award ball number storage means for storing the total award ball number to be paid out, and the corresponding award ball number every time a winning ball is detected. Based on the award ball number addition means for adding to the total award ball number stored in the award number storage means, and the paid-out award number is stored in the total award ball number storage means based on the detection information of the award ball. The total number of prize balls is subtracted from the total number of prize balls, and based on the total number of prize balls stored in the total number of prize balls storage means, it is managed whether or not the payout of the prize balls is completed. Can be one.

In an actual game machine, winning balls often occur continuously instead of one-off (especially when a big hit occurs), and the next winning ball is not paid out before the winning ball is paid out. Often occurs.
In this case, as described above, the number of prize balls of prize balls that have not been paid out is stored in a pooled form as the total number of prize balls, and when a new prize ball is generated, it is dealt with. While adding the number of award balls to the total number of award balls, if the award balls that have been paid out are subtracted from the total number of award balls based on the detection information of the award balls to be paid out, the numbers will change momentarily (payment incomplete). The total number of prize balls can be accurately grasped, and delays in prize ball payout due to trouble such as ball clogging can be detected quickly.

The above-mentioned gaming machine is provided with a main control section which functions as a prize ball number information generating means and a prize ball payout management means, and a frame control section which functions as a prize ball payout control means. The number-of-spheres information is transferred to the frame control unit in one direction, and the frame control unit causes the prize-ball payout mechanism to pay out the prize-balls based on the prize-ball number information. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the detection information of the payout prize ball from the payout prize ball detecting mechanism attached to the main control unit is transmitted.

In the conventional gaming machine, regarding the generation of the payout award balls generated upon the detection of the award, the fundamental factors that require the award ball re-detection processing for confirming the award of the award are as follows. It depends on the background. That is, in many gaming machines, a command for paying out a predetermined number of winning balls upon receiving a prize detection is issued by the main control unit that supervises the operation processing of the entire gaming machine, but in order to reduce the processing load, In response to the prize ball payout command, the prize ball payout mechanism is actually controlled by a frame control unit other than the main control unit to control the execution operation of the prize ball payout. That is, the control subject of the prize ball payout command and the control subject of the prize ball payout execution are formed separately.

In this case, in order to confirm whether or not the commanded prize ball payout is actually executed, the frame control unit returns a payout completion signal to the main control unit as the prize ball payout is completed. Is the most rational and easy-to-understand method.
However, when bidirectional communication is performed between the main control unit and the frame control unit, the signal transmission system becomes complicated, and there is a problem that a great deal of time and labor is required for the verification operation of the gaming machine. In fact, according to the current game inspection standard, when a plurality of control units are provided in a distributed manner in a gaming machine, in order to easily track the signal transmission path, the main control unit and other control units (in this case, Only one-way signal transmission to the frame control unit) is permitted. Therefore, the method of returning the payout completion signal from the frame control unit to the main control unit as described above cannot be practically adopted.

Therefore, conventionally, the operation of the winning ball discharging solenoid included in the above-described winning ball re-detection processing mechanism is controlled by the frame control section, and when the prize ball payout is completed, the frame control section operates this solenoid. Promote the discharge of winning balls. And
When the winning ball is discharged, the winning ball detection switch connected to the main control unit is activated, and the main control unit confirms the payout of the winning ball. That is, instead of directly transmitting a signal from the frame control unit to the main control unit, the main control unit is made to recognize the completion of the prize ball payout through the mechanical movement of the winning ball as a result of the operation of the solenoid. is there. However, it has already been mentioned that this mechanism has a complicated mechanism for re-detection of winning balls, which leads to soaring prices of gaming machines. Also, the only way to directly confirm the prize ball payout is on the side of the frame control unit, but if this is wrongly confirmed due to the influence of noise, etc., and the solenoid malfunctions, the main control unit side As a result, there is a problem that prize balls are not paid out normally.

According to the present invention, when the control sharing is divided between the main control section and the frame control section in this way, as described above, the payout prize ball detection mechanism (not controlled by the frame control section) The detection information of payout prize balls is transmitted to the main control unit. Since the payout prize ball detection mechanism itself only needs to detect the spatial movement of the ball accompanying the payout, as described later, for example, a rotation sensor (angle sensor) provided on the payout cam, a limit switch, or a proximity sensor. Alternatively, a publicly known sensor such as an optical sensor can be easily configured as the prize ball payout sensor. Since the main control unit can detect the flow of the prize ball payout more directly based on the signal from the payout prize ball detection mechanism, the prize ball payout can always be accurately grasped.

In the above-mentioned ball game machine, preferably, a specific number of prize balls is defined as the number of unique prize balls corresponding to each prize hole, and the prize ball payout control means is a prize ball. Corresponding to the prize ball number setting signal in the input order of the detection signal, the prize ball number command output means for outputting the prize ball number setting signal corresponding to the prize ball detection signal And a unique prize ball number data storage means for storing and storing unique prize ball number data, and the unique prize ball number data stored and stored in the unique prize ball number storage means is read in order from the previously stored data. In the reading order, the corresponding number of prize balls is paid out by the prize ball payout mechanism.

In the above structure, the prize ball payout control means sequentially gives the prize ball payout means the corresponding number of prize balls (the number of unique prize balls) in accordance with the detection order of the prize balls finally entering each prize hole. Since the payout is controlled, the player can easily know how many prize balls have been won. Therefore, the transparency of the game to the player can be ensured.

In the electronic control unit of a ball game machine, when a ball enters each winning port, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to a winning ball detection signal output from the winning ball detection unit is provided in the main control unit. It is once stored and is transmitted to the frame control unit as prize ball number data. Therefore, the main control unit needs a buffer for storing the number of prize balls corresponding to the winning order to some extent. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of storage capacity, a predetermined number of prize ball number data corresponding to each winning opening are temporarily stored in each winning order, and the frame control is performed. Each time the prize balls are paid out, the storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) is released.

However, a work area is usually reserved for the current main program in the main control section, and the area other than this work area is limited to the buffer as a buffer area. Therefore, when the frequency of winning balls that enter the winning holes increases, for example, the large winning holes have a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10).
In the case where the game balls are released until they enter the ball, the amount of prize ball number data to be stored becomes large and the buffer storage capacity becomes insufficient.

Therefore, the unique prize sphere number data corresponding to the prize sphere number setting signal each includes a fixed number of data bits, and the combination of the data bits corresponds to the number of prize spheres to be paid out one to one. It may be stored in the form of a bit set defined by the form. The award ball number data corresponding to the award ball number setting signal is stored and stored in the award ball number data storage means for each preset bit unit,
It can be done with relatively small memory capacity,
It is possible to minimize the influence on other memories.

As one of the preferred embodiments, the unique prize sphere number data storage means stores a bit set from one side of a series of bit storage cells formed in series in the order of input. When a predetermined number of data bits are retrieved from the other side of the stored bit string,
This can be a bit set representing the number of unique prize balls to be paid out.

By setting the bit set to less than 1 byte, for example, to set the number of bits to any one of 1, 2, and 4, which are divisors of 8, a plurality of bit sets can be stored in a 1-byte buffer as unnecessary empty bits. It can be stored without occurring. As a result, the concept that the minimum unit of storage capacity stored in the buffer is 1 byte is wiped out, and a predetermined bit set preset as a storage unit of the prize ball number data is used as the minimum unit of storage capacity. By using it with the storage capacity of the buffer area significantly increased,
Even if the amount of prize ball number data to be stored temporarily increases, the storage capacity will not be insufficient.

The number of bits included in the bit set is preferably 2 bits, and by using these 2 bits as the prize ball number data to be paid out, the storage capacity in the 1-byte buffer is expanded four times. It will be possible to use. This 2
When the bit is the minimum unit of the storage capacity, the predetermined number of prize ball number data is represented by 2 bits. For example, if the number of payout prize balls is 6, "01b", if the number of payout prize balls is 10, "10b", and the number of payout prize balls is 1.
If there are five, it will be "11b". Note that "00b" is
The number of prize balls is zero.

In this case, the unique prize ball number data storage means stores a bit set from one side of the series of serially formed bit storage cells in the order of input, and stores the stored bit sequence of the stored bit strings. When a predetermined number of data bits are taken out from the other side, this becomes a bit set representing the number of unique prize balls to be paid out. For example, when the bit set is 2 bits, among the accumulated bit strings,
If two bits on one side located on the transmission side are taken out, the two bits taken out are information on the number of prize balls to be paid out in the frame control section, and the remaining bit string is also paid out every two bits. It is the accumulation of information on the number of prize balls. Then, in order to transmit the number of prize balls to be paid out next from the main control unit to the frame control unit, the bit string in which the information of the number of prize balls is accumulated is transferred by sequentially shifting every 2 bits to the transmission side. To do. Instead of transferring the bit string bit by bit as described above, a storage area is separately set in the buffer, the bit string to be shifted to this area is temporarily saved, and this is shifted to the original buffer area. It is also possible to perform the returning processing by block transfer.

The number of prize balls is paid out from the prize ball payout mechanism based on the prize ball number data transmitted from the main controller to the frame controller. The cam located below the prize ball payout mechanism. The payout prize detection mechanism with a prize payout sensor attached to the shaft is installed, and when the prize balls are paid out as the cam rotates, the number of prize balls is detected by the sensor output from the prize payout sensor installed on the cam shaft. Is being detected. The detection information is collated with the prize ball number data transmitted from the main control unit to the frame control unit on the frame control unit side, for example, and plays a role of determining whether or not the prize ball payout based on the detection information is normal.

When the number of prize balls is paid out based on the instruction of the frame control unit, the above detection information is also input to the main control unit side and stored in the total prize ball number storage means of the main control unit. The number of prize balls paid out will be subtracted from the total number of prize balls. For example, when the prize ball payout sensor is a rotary encoder, if one pulse output by detecting the slit of the rotary encoder corresponds to one prize ball, one pulse output signal from the rotary encoder will be The remaining ball number counter for the total number of prize balls, which is a prize ball number storage means, is decremented by one.

Further, in the above ball game machine, abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not a specific abnormality has occurred in the game machine, and game information storage means for storing at least prize ball number information as game information, It is possible to provide at least a backup execution control unit that performs a loss prevention process of the game information stored in the game information storage means when an abnormality is detected. Thereby, the loss of the prize ball number information is prevented when an abnormality such as a power failure occurs, and at the time of return, it is possible to easily return to the prize ball payout processing based on the aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention. Specifically, the game information storage means can store, as game information, the total prize ball number and the unique prize ball number data arranged in the input order of the winning ball detection signal.

In this case, an abnormality confirmation information generating means for generating abnormality confirmation information in response to the detection result of the abnormality detecting means and an abnormality confirmation information storage means for storing the abnormality confirmation information can be provided, and the backup execution control can be performed. The unit may perform a loss prevention process of the game information stored in the game information storage means at the time of occurrence of an abnormality in response to the storage operation of the abnormality confirmation information in the abnormality confirmation information storage means.

In this specification, the specific abnormality is
For example, this is an abnormality in which the power supply voltage of the gaming machine drops due to power cutoff due to a power failure or other factors, and in this case, the abnormality detection means detects a decrease in power supply voltage due to a power failure or the like as a specific abnormality.

In the above configuration, the abnormality detection output (signal) is used as a direct activation command, and the backup processing of the game information is not unconditionally started, but if an abnormality is detected, the detection thereof is detected. The abnormality confirmation information is generated corresponding to the result, and is stored (for example, written) in the abnormality confirmation information storage means. Then, in a form corresponding to the storage of the abnormality confirmation information, the game information reflecting the game state at the time of the abnormality is stored in a predetermined backup storage means.
Perform backup storage control to retain. According to this, when an original abnormality such as power-off occurs, the abnormality determination information is stored along with the occurrence of the abnormality detection output, whereas the abnormality detection output does not occur during a program runaway, etc. Information is not remembered. Therefore, when returning from an abnormality, by using this abnormality confirmation information as a mark, only when a predetermined specific abnormality occurs,
It is possible to correctly execute the recovery process of the game information, and it is possible to guarantee the normal operation of the game machine after the return.

The above-mentioned gaming machine can also be configured as follows: abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not a specific abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine, and abnormality determination information based on the detection result by the abnormality detecting means. Abnormality determination information generating means for generating, an abnormality determination information storage means for storing the abnormality determination information, and a backup defined as at least one of one or a plurality of control units provided to control the game operation of the gaming machine. An execution control unit, which receives abnormality detection by the abnormality detection means, stores abnormality determination information having a content indicating an abnormality in the abnormality determination information storage means, and stores the abnormality determination information storage control means in the abnormality determination information storage means. In response to the storage operation of the abnormality confirmation information, the game information that reflects the game state at the time of the abnormality is stored and retained as backup information in a predetermined backup storage means. And backup storage control means that,
When the abnormality confirmation information stored in the abnormality confirmation information storage means is read out and the content of the information means abnormality detection, a backup is carried out when an abnormality occurs based on the backup information stored in the backup storage means. And a backup execution control section having a memory recovery means for at least partially recovering the game information existing in the work memory of the execution control section.

In the above configuration, the abnormality detection output (signal) is used as a direct start command, and the backup processing of the game information is not unconditionally started, but when an abnormality is detected, the detection is detected. The abnormality confirmation information is generated corresponding to the result, and is stored (for example, written) in the abnormality confirmation information storage means. Then, in a form corresponding to the storage of the abnormality confirmation information, the game information reflecting the game state at the time of the abnormality is stored in a predetermined backup storage means.
Perform backup storage control to retain.

According to this, when an original abnormality such as power-off occurs, the abnormality determination information is stored along with the occurrence of the abnormality detection output, whereas the abnormality detection output does not occur at the time of program runaway. , The abnormality confirmation information is not stored. For example, unspecified error (that is, unspecified error: reset state due to program runaway, etc.)
As a result, even if the CPU of the computer mistakenly performs a backup operation due to a program runaway or the like, in this case, the abnormality determination information does not remain, so the information that is broken when the abnormality is restored is mistakenly restored as game information. Will not occur. As a result, normal operation of the game machine after the return can be guaranteed.

In the present specification, "game information recovery processing" includes at least the following two modes.
The game information backed up in the storage area defined as the backup storage means is restored in the form of being copied to the defined memory area after the restoration. In this aspect, the memory area of the backup storage means may be different from the work memory area when the processing is restarted using the game information after the recovery. The storage state of the work memory area in which the game information is written when the abnormality occurs is retained as it is by the use of an auxiliary power source or the like, and after the recovery, the retained game information is used to resume the same work memory area. In this case, the memory area that constitutes the backup storage means is substantially the same as the work memory area.

Next, the processing routine for writing the abnormality confirmation information in the abnormality determination information storage means is an interrupt processing routine executed by the CPU of the backup execution control unit upon receiving an interrupt signal based on the abnormality detection. In response to the interrupt request of the backup processing routine, the program routine being executed at that time may be reset after a predetermined time has elapsed, and then the backup processing routine may be activated. According to this method, the program routine being executed is reset in a state where it has been executed up to a certain step, and then the abnormality determination information is stored, so that the CPU is less likely to malfunction or runaway.

On the other hand, the processing routine for writing the abnormality determination information in the abnormality determination information storage means is an interrupt processing routine executed by the CPU of the backup execution control unit upon receiving an interrupt signal based on the abnormality detection, and The interrupt processing routine may be preferentially executed with respect to other interrupt processing routines for the backup execution control unit. According to this, the interrupt processing routine that writes the abnormality confirmation information immediately when an abnormality occurs can be executed, and it is possible to proceed to the backup processing of the game information. Can be adjusted to Further, it becomes possible to deal with the backup process for the occurrence of an abnormality with a sufficient time. The interrupt processing routine is performed by receiving an interrupt signal at a predetermined interrupt request terminal.
If it is executed in the form of an interrupt process that cannot be invalidated by a program, the above effect is further enhanced.

In the processing routine for writing the abnormality confirmation information in the abnormality confirmation information storage means, the CPU of the backup execution controller voluntarily voluntarily sets at a predetermined timing in a separate input / output circuit connected to the CPU. It may be a subroutine that is executed when an access is made and the abnormality detection input to the input / output circuit is confirmed at the time of the access. In this method, since no interrupt processing is used, it is more difficult for the CPU to malfunction or run away.

Further, the gaming machine of the present invention obtains a predetermined advantageous gaming state on the basis of the following control section provided in the gaming machine, that is, the gaming ball winning detection processing and the specific winning detection. The winning state is determined and the non-winning state in which the advantageous gaming state cannot be obtained. At least, the winning determination process for performing the lottery / judgment of the winning result is performed by itself, and the functioning and cooperation of the transmission side control unit is performed. Then, it is connected to the main controller that sends control command information to the receiver controller that controls the operation of the entire gaming machine, and the sender controller so that only one-way communication from the sender controller is possible. 1 of the receiving side control unit
A frame for performing at least control of the operation of a predetermined character provided on the game board and the prize ball discharging operation by receiving the character object operation command information and the prize ball discharging command information as the control command information. The control unit and the transmission side control unit are connected to the transmission side control unit so that only one-way communication from the transmission side control unit is possible. The control unit and the transmission side control unit form one of the reception side control units, and the image control command information is used as the control command information. By receiving, to the variable display device provided on the game board, a display control unit that performs at least display control for varying / stopping display of a plurality of symbols,
Backup execution control unit that is defined as at least one of the above, an abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine, and backup as game information that reflects the game state at the time of the abnormality with the abnormality detection. A backup storage control unit for storing / holding control command information remaining in the work memory of the execution control unit or control information generated based on the control command information as backup information in a predetermined backup storage unit, is provided. The execution control unit includes a memory restoration unit that at least partially restores the game information existing in the work memory of the backup execution control unit at the time of occurrence of an abnormality, based on the backup information stored in the backup storage unit,
In order to store and retain the game information in the work memory of the backup execution control unit, the backup processing routine executed by the backup storage control unit is executed by the CPU of the backup execution control unit in response to the interrupt signal based on the abnormality detection. The interrupt processing routine can also be configured to be executed preferentially to other interrupt processing routines for the backup execution control unit.

In the above configuration, the control unit of the gaming machine is connected to the main control unit which is the transmission side control unit, and the frame control unit and the display control as the reception side control unit which are connected by one-way communication from the main control unit side. And at least one of the above-mentioned three control units while dedicating the prize ball payout and the prize to the frame control unit and the display control of the variable display device to the display control unit. The backup process of the game information, which is executed as a backup execution control unit, is executed in the form of an interrupt process that is executed preferentially to other interrupt processes for the backup execution control unit.

According to this, since the control command from the main control unit flows in a limited manner in one direction, it is possible to promptly control the complicated entire gaming machine, and also to inspect. By facilitating the game information backup processing in the form of preferential interrupt processing, the following unique effects are produced in combination with the above-described one-way control command transmission mode. First, the main control unit does not receive at least an interrupt command or the like from the receiving side control unit. Therefore, if this is used as a backup execution control unit, when the backup process is executed by the interrupt process, conflicting interrupts will occur. Intrinsically less affected by embedded processing. Therefore, if priority is given to the interrupt processing related to the backup processing, it becomes possible to respond more swiftly and reliably when an abnormality such as a power failure occurs.
As a result, the loss of game information can be more reliably prevented. On the other hand, in the receiving side control unit, since it is placed in an environment where it is easy to receive an interrupt command etc. from the main control unit, in the normal interrupt processing, as described above, it is waited until the previous interrupt processing is completed, The backup process is forcibly interrupted by another interrupt process and the completion of the backup process is delayed. For example, in the event of a power failure or the like, a problem such as failure in backing up game information is likely to occur. However, by prioritizing the interrupt processing related to the backup processing as described above, it is possible to accelerate the completion of the backup processing even in the receiving side control unit where the processing system is easily congested, and eventually the backup fails (loss of game information). Such a problem can be avoided very effectively. In this case, if the interrupt processing routine is executed in the form of interrupt processing that cannot be disabled by a program by receiving an interrupt signal at a predetermined interrupt request terminal, the above-mentioned effect is obtained. Is further enhanced.

[0045]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. Here, as a ball game machine, a first-class pachinko machine (ball game machine) of a so-called fever machine type is taken as an example, and its structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15.

The front part of the pachinko machine 1 is composed of a main body frame 2, a middle frame 3, a front frame 4, an upper plate part 5, a lower plate part 6 and a locking device 7. The body frame 2 is formed by assembling and fixing a wooden plate-like body into a substantially rectangular frame shape. The middle frame 3 is entirely made of plastic, has a frame body portion (not shown) and a lower plate portion (not shown), and is fitted and attached to the inner peripheral side of the main body frame 2.

Here, the frame body portion is approximately ⅔ downward from the upper end.
It is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape, and an award ball display LED (not shown) and an award ball display LED substrate 4d are provided on the left side at the upper end corresponding to the lens 4b for the frame decoration lamp of the front frame 4.
(See FIG. 16), a stop display LED (not shown) and a stop display LED board 4f (see FIG. 16) are arranged on the right side.

The lower plate portion is approximately 1/3 upward from the lower end.
A speaker that occupies a certain degree and generates a sound effect and other sounds (hereinafter referred to as voice information) corresponding to the game state so as to correspond to the speaker surface 5a formed on the upper plate portion 5 at the left end (see FIG. 16). Is provided, and a supply device and the like (not shown) for supplying the game balls stored in the upper plate portion 5 to the launcher unit 8 (see FIG. 5) for launching the game balls are provided in the approximate center. . Further, a lower plate portion 6 is provided below, and a locking device 7 is provided at the center of the right end.

The lower tray portion 6 is provided with an ashtray, a ball punching lever, etc., and an outlet 6c for ejecting a game ball from the inside of the pachinko machine 1 is opened. Is provided. A touch switch 9a for detecting that the player is touching is attached to the firing handle 9, and a firing stop switch 9b for temporarily instructing the firing stop is arranged in the vicinity of the touch switch 9a. The locking device 7 has a substantially rectangular shape with a key hole when viewed from the front, and is for locking the front frame 4 when it is closed.

The front frame 4 is entirely made of plastic, and the upper side thereof has a substantially arcuate shape corresponding to the shape of the game area 11 formed on the game board 10 so that the game board 10 can be seen from the front. Has an opening 4a opened in a substantially bullet shape. Then, a substantially rectangular glass frame (not shown) in which a glass plate is fitted in accordance with the opening 4a is attached to the back surface thereof. The front frame 4 occupies ⅔ of the entire front surface of the pachinko machine 1 and is pivotally attached to the left end of the middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. Further, a lens 4b for a frame decoration lamp is provided at the upper end, and inside the lens 4b, a frame decoration lamp substrate 4g (see FIG. 16) and a plurality of games are provided along the arc portion of the upper end of the opening 4a. An effect lamp (not shown) is provided.

The upper plate portion 5 is formed on the lower side of the front frame 4 so as to be axially attached to the left end of the middle frame 3 so as to be opened and closed. Plate outer edge 5
A ditch button, a game ball lending / returning button, and the like are provided in d. Further, a discharge port 5c for discharging a game ball from the inside of the pachinko machine 1 is opened. A speaker surface 5a having a plurality of elongated holes is formed at the left end, and a volume switch board 12 (see FIG. 16) is provided on the back surface thereof. A prepaid card unit 13 is mounted on the left end side of the pachinko machine 1.

Next, the surface structure of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The game board 10 is a substantially rectangular wooden plate-like body, and is held by a back mechanism board 100 (see FIG. 5) described later, and the outer rail 1 provided on the surface thereof.
In the game area 11 which is formed in a substantially circular shape by 4 and the inner rail 15, a special symbol display device 16, a first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 17, a variable winning device 18, and an upper left winning opening. 19, upper right winning opening 20, lower left winning opening 21, lower right winning opening 22, a large number of obstacle nails 23, and a pair of lamp windmills 2.
4, 25 and a pair of wind turbines 26, 27 are arranged and configured.

The special symbol display device 16 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the game area 11, and is provided with a center accessory 28 and a liquid crystal display panel 29. Here, the liquid crystal display panel 29 variably displays a plurality of types of special symbols (not shown) and the like, and its image screen has a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, this liquid crystal display panel 29, the game ball is a first-class start port (normal electric accessory)
By entering the ball 17, each special symbol displayed on the video screen is changed and stopped. Then, for example, when the symbols of "7, 7, 7" are all displayed in the same three-digit symbol and the symbols are stopped and displayed, a big prize device 30 (described later) arranged in the variable prize device 18 is opened. Also,
The center accessory 28 is mounted so as to project in a frame shape on the peripheral portion of the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel 29, and includes a normal symbol display device 31, wing-shaped portions 32 and 33, and a stage 34.

The normal symbol display device 31 is the center accessory 2
8 is arranged in the center of the upper part, and 7 segment display 31a,
It usually has a symbol hold display LED 31b. Also,
On both sides of this normal symbol display device 31, wing-shaped portions 32 and 33 extending substantially in a wing shape are arranged. further,
On the lower side thereof, it is composed of four round green LEDs, and special symbol reservation display LEDs 35 are provided in a horizontal row. This is to hold the number of game balls entering the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) up to four, sequentially turn on each ball entered, and shift display to the left. Then, each time the next special symbol starts changing on the liquid crystal display panel 29, the number of unstarted times is exhausted and one special symbol hold display LED 35 is turned off.

The 7-segment display 31a variably displays odd numbers 1 to 9 and varies depending on whether the game ball passes through one of the left and right normal symbol operation passage ports 36 and 37, which will be described later. One type of odd number is stopped and displayed after a lapse of a predetermined time. Then, for example, when the stop display is made at “7”, the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 17 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds).

The normal symbol reservation display LED 31b is composed of four round red LEDs, and is a 7-segment display 31.
Two pieces are arranged on both sides of a. this is,
The number of game balls that have passed through the normal symbol operation passage openings 36, 37 on the left and right is held up to four, and the lights are sequentially turned on and displayed for each passage. Each time the next variable display on the 7-segment display 31a starts, the number of unstarted times is exhausted and 1
The individual normal symbol hold display LED 31b is turned off.

As described above, the wing-shaped parts 32 and 33 are formed in a hollow shape from the upper part to the side part of the center accessory 28, and inside the upper part, a plurality of game effect lamps 38 (FIG. 3).
(See) is provided. Also, at the upper end of each outer part, the normal symbol actuating passage openings 36, 37 of the game ball are provided on both left and right sides, and at the lower end of each inner part, a passage opening (not shown) of the game ball is provided. , These passages 3
A passage cylinder portion (not shown) is provided between each of 6, 37 and the passage outlet. And, the game ball entered from each passage port 36, 37, the left and right ordinary symbol operation passage port passage detection switches 36s, 37s (see FIG. 4) disposed inside.
, Passes through each passage tube portion, jumps out from each passage outlet, and rolls on the stage 34. The stage 34 is arranged in the lower part of the center accessory 28, and is formed in a partially inclined shape so as to collect the game balls from each passage exit toward the center and further to flow down on the surface of the game board 10. In addition, the normal symbol operation passage opening detection switch 36s, 3 of the game ball
By passing any of the 7s, the 7-segment display 31a in the normal symbol display device 31 is variably displayed.

The first-type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 17 is arranged just below the center of the stage 34 of the central accessory 28 in the special symbol display device 16, and is a so-called tulip type. Is formed to open and close. Inside, a first-class start opening (normal electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s for detecting passage of a game ball (see FIG. 4)
Is provided. When this pair of wing pieces opens to the left and right,
When the game ball enters the open state where it can enter and the pair of wing pieces closes, the game ball enters a closed state where it is difficult to enter.

The variable winning device 18 is disposed below the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 17, and the large winning device 30 and the left side are provided on the base plate 41 whose front side is formed in a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape. A ball entrance 42 and a right ball entrance 43 are provided. Here, the special winning device 30 is formed substantially in the center and has a large winning opening 44 opened in a band shape, an opening / closing plate 39 for opening / closing the special winning opening 44, and opening / closing the opening / closing plate 39. A special winning opening solenoid 45 (see FIG. 4), an interlocking rod (not shown),
It includes a specific area opening / closing shutter (not shown), an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for operating the specific area opening / closing shutter, a specific area (not shown), and an area outside the specific area (not shown).

The left entrance 42 is disposed diagonally above and to the left of the special winning device 30, and a left entrance detection switch 42s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. Further, the right entrance port 43 is arranged diagonally above and to the right of the special winning device 30, and a right entrance passage detection switch 43s (see FIG. 4) is provided inside. The outlet 46 is arranged directly below the center of the big winning device 30 in the variable winning device 18. The back ball prevention member 47 is provided below the outlet 46 and prevents the game ball that has returned to the game area 11 without returning to the launch position. The foul ball prevention member 48 is attached to the tip of the inner rail 15, and the return rubber 49 is at a position on the right half side of the game board 10, which is substantially opposite to the position of the foul ball prevention member 48, and is outside. It is attached in a fitting manner along the rail 14.

The pair of lamp windmills 24 and 25 are respectively
The special symbol display device 16 is disposed diagonally above and to the left and right. The upper left winning opening 19 and the upper right winning opening 20 are arranged on the left and right sides of the special symbol display device 16, respectively.
The lower left winning opening 21 and the lower right winning opening 22 are respectively arranged diagonally below the left and right from the special symbol display device 16.

The pair of wind turbines 26, 27 are located on the left and right sides of the special symbol display device 16, respectively, and are arranged between the special symbol display device 16 and the upper left winning opening 19 or the upper right winning opening 20. The pair of side lamps 50 and 51 are arranged vertically symmetrical at the left and right ends of the game area 11, respectively. A large number of obstacle nails 23 are arranged in the game area 11 so as to be suitable for a pachinko game, in consideration of the positional balance with each device described above.

Next, various LEDs and lamps located on the game board 10 of this embodiment and their substrates will be described with reference to FIG. In the game area 11 of the game board 10, a normal symbol display device 31 provided in the center accessory 28
In addition, a substantially rectangular substrate 31f for the four round-shaped ordinary pattern hold display LEDs 31b is provided. Further, on the lower side of the substrate 31f, around the left and right wing-shaped portions 32 and 33, four round special symbol holding display LEDs 35 and four game effect lamps 38 also serving as a substrate 35f are provided. There is. In addition, the position of the pair of lamp windmills 24, 25 is 2
Substantially circular substrates 24f, 2 provided with individual round-shaped game effect lamps 24r, 25r on both sides of each lamp wind turbine shaft, respectively.
5f is provided. Also, a pair of side lamps 5
Three round game effect lamps 50 are provided at positions 0 and 51.
Substantially vertical strip-shaped side lamp substrates 50f and 51f each having r and 51r arranged in columns are arranged.

At the position of the upper left winning opening 19, there is a substantially V-shaped upper left winning opening substrate 19f having a round game effect lamp 19r at the center, and at the position of the upper right winning opening 20. Substantially V-shaped upper right winning opening substrate 20f provided with one round game effect lamp 20r in the approximate center is arranged. Further, at the position of the lower left winning opening 21, there is a substantially U-shaped lower lower winning opening substrate 21f having a round game effect lamp 21r at the center, and at the position of the lower right winning opening 22,
Substantially U-shaped lower right winning a prize mouth substrate 22f provided with one round-shaped game effect lamp 22r substantially at the center is arranged, respectively. Further, at the position of the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory), a substantially U-shaped first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) provided with two round game effect lamps 17r in parallel. Board 17
f is provided.

Next, the arrangement of the game ball path and switches on the back side of the game board 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the center of the game board 10, a substantially horizontal elliptical center accessory mounting through hole 28h is provided, and on the left and right diagonally upper sides of the center accessory mounting through hole 28h, a circular lamp wind turbine is installed. The through-holes 24h and 25h are formed on the left and right sides in a substantially Dharma-shaped upper-left winning opening mounting through-hole 19h and the upper-right winning opening mounting through-hole 20h.
A substantially elliptical lower left winning opening mounting through hole 21h and a lower right winning opening mounting through hole 22h, and a substantially inverted frustoconical first type starting opening mounting through hole 17h are located directly under the center. Each is provided. Further, on the outside of each of the upper left winning opening mounting through-holes 19h and the upper right winning opening mounting through-holes 20h, vertically elongated hole-shaped side lamp mounting through-holes 50h, 51 are provided.
h is provided. Further, below the first-class starting opening mounting through-hole 17h, a substantially inverted trapezoidal variation winning device mounting through-hole 18h is provided.

Also, the first type starting port (normal electric accessory) 17
The first-type starting opening (ordinary electric accessory) solenoid 52 is arranged on the back side of the inside, and as described above, the first-type starting opening (normal electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s is arranged therein. It is set up. Inside the left and right normal symbol operation passage openings 36 and 37, as described above, the normal symbol operation passage passage detection switches 36s and 37s are arranged, respectively.
Furthermore, the big winning device 30 formed in the variable winning device 18
Is provided with a special winning opening solenoid 45 for opening / closing the opening / closing plate 39 and an opening / closing shutter solenoid 40 for activating a specific area opening / closing shutter. A count passage detection switch 53 and a count detection / specific area passage detection switch 54 are provided in the outside area of the specific area and the inside of the specific area, respectively. As described above, the left entrance opening detection switch 42s and the right entrance opening detection switch 43s are provided inside the left entrance 42 and the right entrance 43, respectively.

Furthermore, on the back side of the game board 10, in the mechanism board 100 described later, there are an upper left winning opening 19, a lower left winning opening 21, a first-type starting opening (normal electric auditors) 17 and a left entering opening 42. Connected left safe ball gathering gutter 55 and upper right winning hole 2
0, the lower right winning opening 22 and the right safe ball collecting gutter 56 to which the right entrance 43 is connected are connected. In addition, out mouth 4
An out-ball collecting gutter 58 is arranged in a funnel shape from the back side of 6.

Next, the back structure of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The front frame 4 is in the middle frame 3, and is supported by a pair of hinges 101 provided at the upper and lower ends of the front frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. The mechanism board 102 is openably and closably supported by a pair of hinges 103 provided at the upper and lower ends of the mechanism board 102 in the middle frame 3. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front surface side of the middle frame 3. On the left side of the arrangement position of the hinge 101 on the upper end side, the tank ball out detection switch 10 is on the left side.
A prize ball tank 105 having 4 on the bottom of the tank and a tank rail 106 connected to the prize ball tank 105 are attached. Further, a ball removing lever 107 is provided on the right side of the tank rail 106, and on the downstream side thereof,
A supply ball shortage detection sensor 108 is provided, and a prize ball payout device 109 is provided further downstream thereof.

Subsequently, a game ball distribution unit 110 is provided on the downstream side of the prize ball payout device 109. On the downstream side of the tank rail 106, a back case 111 with a lid that stores the liquid crystal display panel 29 of the special symbol display device 16,
Below the back case 111, a main control unit 14 described later is provided.
Main control board cases 112 that house main control boards 340 of 0 (see FIG. 16) are provided. On the left side of the main control board case 112, a launcher control board case 113 storing a launcher control board (not shown), a touch sensitivity adjustment knob 114, and a ball flying strength adjustment knob 115.
And a firing control assembly relay board 116. In the lower left part of the mechanism board 102, the above-described launcher unit 8 is provided, and in the lower right part, similarly, a replenishing ball is clogged, the lower plate part is full, the main power supply voltage is abnormal, the firing is stopped, the main control board communication is abnormal,
A frame control board case 118 that stores a frame control board (first peripheral control board 350) that is a frame control unit 150 (see FIG. 16) having a frame status indicator 117 that displays a prize ball motor abnormality or the like with a 7-segment LED. Is provided. Further, the operation control of the liquid crystal display panel 29 of the special symbol display device 16, the special symbol control unit 160 (see FIG. 16: second peripheral control unit) is formed a special symbol control board (second peripheral control board 360) , A lamp control board (third peripheral control board 370) on which a lamp control section 170 (see FIG. 16: third peripheral control section) for integrally controlling various lamps is formed,
A voice control unit 1 that controls voice output from the speaker 400.
Lamp audio boards (fourth peripheral control boards 380) on which 80 (see FIG. 16: fourth peripheral control section) are formed are also attached.

On the other hand, at the upper right end of the mechanism board 102, a fuse box 119, a power switch 120, a power terminal board 121 and a jackpot, a launcher control, a ball break, a door open, a prize ball, a ball lending game machine, etc. A terminal board 122 having external connection terminals for the frame is provided. In addition, a power cable 123 for receiving electric power from the outside is also arranged below the terminal board 122. From the frame control board case 118 storing the frame control board, the connection cable 124
Extend upward and are connected to the prepaid card unit 13 including the power cable 125. In addition, a ball passage member 126 for the lower plate portion is provided at the substantially lower end of the center of the mechanism board 102.
Is provided.

Next, the back mechanism board 100 of the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. On the upper part of the back mechanism board 100, a prize ball tank 105 having a tank ball out detection switch 104 at the tank bottom and a tank rail 106 connected to the prize ball tank 105 are attached. Further, at the intermediate position of the tank rail 106, the supply ball out detection switch 1
08, further on the downstream side, the prize ball payout device 109
Is provided. Then, the game ball distribution unit 110
Is provided on the downstream side of the prize ball payout device 109. On the downstream side of the tank rail 106, the lower plate full tank switch 1
27 is provided, and the guide rail 131 is used for the back mechanism board 10.
No. 0 ball passage member 12 for the lower plate portion provided at the lower end of the center
It communicates with 6. Further, an amplifier board 128 is attached to the lower right part of the back mechanism board 100, and a reset switch 129 is provided on the outside thereof.

Next, the flow path of the safe balls of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the left safe sphere collecting gutter 55 and the right safe sphere collecting gutter 56 has a lower end portion having a downward flow path of a safe sphere formed in a gentle downward slope or step shape, Further, their lower portions are opened, respectively, and are communicated from the back side of the out port 46 to the out-ball collecting troughs 58 arranged in a funnel shape. Figure 8
In the upper right corner of the winning opening 20, the lower right corner of the winning opening 22 on the passage 57 that is formed in a stepwise manner at the lower end of the right safe ball collecting gutter 56
And a safe ball that has entered the right entrance 43 is rolling and flowing down to the out-ball collecting gutter 58. Further, in FIG. 9, the passage 5 formed in the out-ball collecting gutter 58 is shown.
7 shows a form in which a safe ball is flowing down above 7.

Next, the prize ball payout device 109 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. As shown in FIG. 10, the prize ball payout device 109 receives a prize ball flowing down on the guide rail 223 and drives a cam 210 for paying out one prize ball and a cam shaft 211 of the cam 210. The motor 212 and this cam shaft 2
11, a rotary disc 213 mounted in parallel with the cam 210 and having a plurality of slits, and the rotary disc 21.
3 and a prize ball payout device sensor board 215 to which the prize ball payout sensor 214 is attached, and the prize ball payout sensor 214 (here, the rotation angle of the cam 210 is detected). A case body 217 for storing these parts and a case lid 216 are provided.

In the present embodiment, the cam 210 has a convex portion 210a which is formed at every 90 degrees in a direction orthogonal to the cam shaft 211.
As shown in FIG. 12C, the prize balls are once placed in the recesses formed between the protrusions 210a,
When the cam shaft 211 is rotated 90 degrees, the prize balls placed in the recesses between the protrusions 210a of the cam 210 are paid out. In this embodiment, in order to improve the payout ability of prize balls, as shown in FIG. 11, a partition is provided on the guide rail 223 to arrange two rows of ball passages 218 in parallel to allow the prize balls to flow down. Therefore, the camshaft 211 has
In order to receive the prize ball to be paid out and to pay this prize ball to one, the two cams 210 are arranged in parallel by changing the mounting angle (90 degrees in this embodiment) in the direction orthogonal to the cam shaft 211. It is installed in.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, each ball passage 218 is formed in a meandering state in front of the cam shaft 211, and the projection 219 of the ball passage 218 formed by this and the cam 210 are formed. The payout of one prize ball is regulated at intervals. In this embodiment, the camshaft 2
11 includes two cams 210 arranged in parallel as described above.
Are mounted with different mounting angles (90 degrees in this embodiment), so that if the cam shaft 211 is rotated 90 degrees, there will be one prize ball in each ball passage 218, two prize balls in total, and another prize ball. If the shaft 211 makes one rotation, 4
A total of eight prize balls will be paid out.

The motor 212 is driven according to the prize ball to be paid out, and the rotation of the cam shaft 211 is controlled based on this drive. The number of rotations of the cam shaft 211 is obtained by photoelectrically detecting a slit position formed on the rotating disk 213 at predetermined angular intervals (for example, 45 degrees) in the prize ball payout sensor 214. The obtained number of rotations is fed back to the motor 212, and is counted as the number of prize balls to be paid out, as described above. For example, in the case of paying out 15 award balls, seven shaded award balls in one ball passage 218 shown in FIG. 13A and the other ball passage 218 shown in FIG. 13B. In, the eight shaded award balls are targets for payout, and the cam shaft 211 rotates one rotation and 7/8,
At this time, the prize ball payout sensor 214 counts the slit 15 times. After the rotation of the cam shaft 211, seven prize balls are paid out in the one ball passage 218 shown in FIG. 14A, and the prize balls to be paid out next are the convex portions 210 of the cam 210.
The distance between a and the projection 219 of the ball passage 218 is regulated. In addition, the other ball passage 2 shown in FIG.
At 18, eight prize balls are paid out, and the prize balls to be paid out next are placed in the recesses formed between the convex portions 210a of the cam 210 (see also FIG. 12).

As the prize ball payout sensor 214, a groove 220 is formed on the circumference of the rotary disc 213 as shown in FIG. It is possible to provide the groove 220 in a non-contact state by the proximity switch 221, or to detect the groove 220 in a contact state by the micro switch 222 as shown in FIG. 15B. Further, instead of the method of detecting the rotation of the cam shaft 211, it is possible to detect the prize ball to be paid out by a limit switch, a photoelectric tube or the like.

Next, the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the electronic control unit 130, by the main control unit 140 and the shared bus 500 that is a common signal transmission path, the frame control unit 150, the special symbol control unit 160, and the lamp control that are serially connected to the main control unit 140. Unit 170 and voice control unit 18
It is configured to include 0 and. As described above, the four control units 150, 160, 170, 180 other than the main control unit form the first to fourth peripheral control units.

The main control unit 140 includes a CPU 141 and RA
The M 142, the ROM 143, and the input / output port 144 are mutually connected by the bus 145. And
The CPU 141 uses the control program stored in the ROM 143 to control the operation of the entire pachinko machine 1 using the RAM 142 as a work area (that is, basic game progress control).
Control Further, the CPU 141 mainly controls the win / loss judgment by the win / loss judgment program stored in the ROM 143. Further, the above-mentioned shared bus 500 is connected to the input / output port 144, and the input / output port 14 will be described later.
4 to the shared bus 500, the peripheral control units 150, 1
Command data, which is a command signal, for instructing the processing contents to 60, 170, 180 is transmitted. The main controller 140
From each peripheral control unit 150, 160, 170, 180 is transmitted in one-way format. A power supply terminal board 121 is connected to the main controller 140. It is obvious that the main control unit 140 itself is a first-type operation unit that is involved in the player's interest in winning a prize ball. Further, the RAM 142 constitutes a first type control information storage means for storing control information related to the player's interest in winning a prize ball.

On the relay board 200, the touch switch 9
a, firing stop switch 9b, right ordinary symbol operation passage opening detection switch 37s, left ordinary symbol operation passage passage detection switch 36s, count detection switch 53, count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, volume switch 202, left input The ball passage passage detection switch 42s, the right entrance passage passage detection switch 43s, the tank ball exhaustion detection switch 104, the supply ball exhaustion detection sensor 108, etc. are connected, and the output terminal of the relay board 200 is the input / output port 144.
Connected with. In addition, the first-class starting opening (normal electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s is also connected to the input / output port 144. Further, the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 is input to the main controller 140 via the relay board 200, and the frame controller 15 via the frame terminal board 200a.
It is also entered as 0.

The frame control unit 150 is configured to include arithmetic circuit components 151 to 155 similar to the main control unit 140,
The input / output port 154 is connected to the shared bus 500. In addition, the input / output port 154 is a normal symbol display device substrate 31f, various solenoids 40 that control accessory operation,
45, a prize ball payout device 109, a launcher control board 201, etc. are connected. In addition, the frame control unit 150 and the normal symbol display device substrate 31f (and the ordinary symbol display device 31 connected thereto), various solenoids 45, 5 for controlling the accessory operation.
2. The prize ball payout device 109, the launcher control board 201 (and the launcher connected thereto), and the like are first-type operation units that are involved in the player's interest in winning prize balls. Also,
The RAM 152 serves as a first-class control information storage unit that stores control information relating to the player's interest in winning a prize ball.

The special symbol control unit 160 is the main control unit 140.
It is configured to include arithmetic circuit components 161 to 165 similar to the above, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 164. The input / output port 164 has a liquid crystal display panel 2
9 is connected. In addition, with the special symbol control unit 160,
The liquid crystal display panel 29 that displays the special symbol can also be regarded as a first-type operation unit that is involved in the player's interest in winning a prize ball.

The lamp control section 170 includes arithmetic circuit components 171 to 175 similar to the main control section 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 174. The input / output port 174 includes a frame decoration lamp board 4g and various lamp boards 17f, 20f, 21f, 22.
f, 24f, 25f, 50f, 51f and various LED boards 4d, 4f, 35f are connected. One or more lamps or LEDs are connected to each of these substrates. In this embodiment, for example, 32 lamps and LEDs (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lamp when collectively referred to, represented by reference numeral 410) are arranged in front of the gaming machine. Some of these lamps always turn on and off a plurality of lamps at the same time, but here, a set of a plurality of lamps is regarded as one each. These 32 lamps are turned on, turned off, or blinked in accordance with the progress of the game. It should be noted that the lamp control unit 170 and various boards (and thus lamps) connected to the lamp control unit 170 are both second-type operation units that do not contribute to the player's interest in winning a prize ball.

The voice control unit 180 is configured to include arithmetic circuit components 181 to 185 similar to the main control unit 140, and is connected to the shared bus 500 at the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 and the volume switch board 12 are connected to the input / output port 184. The sound generator 203 is an LS (not shown).
Based on the audio data and the audio output module stored in I or the like, various audio outputs corresponding to the progress of the game are output from the speaker 400 connected thereto. The volume switch board 12 is operated by a volume switch (not shown).
The output volume is set for the sound generator 203. The voice control unit 180, the sound generator 203 connected to the voice control unit 180, and the like are second-type operation units that are not involved in the player's interest in winning a prize ball.

Next, the prize ball operation is executed in the following order. When the game ball passes through the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54, the main control unit 140 obtains 15 pieces of prize ball number data, the first-class start opening (normal electric accessory) prize detection switch 17s. Data of six prize balls after passing through, otherwise, for example, the passage detection switches 42s of the left and right entrances 42, 43,
When the passage of 43 s is detected, the shared bus 500 described above is used as the command signal for the 10 pieces of prize ball number data to the frame control unit 150 in the order of detection as the operation signal target of the frame control unit 150. To send via. (That is, the number of unique prize balls is 6, 10, or 1 here.
There are five. The frame control unit 150 receives the prize ball number data from the main control unit 140, and operates the prize ball payout device 109 by transmitting the prize ball payout signal.

Further, the main control unit 140 determines the game state based on the outputs of the various detection switches described above, and also determines whether or not the game state is successful, and displays a symbol corresponding to the determination content. Data for performing image display control is created in a mode. For example, the main controller 140
First-class starter (normal electric accessory) prize detection switch 17
s, the count detection switch 53, the detection result of the count detection and the specific area passage detection switch 54, etc., using the acquired value of the special symbol right / wrong judgment random number, the state of waiting for a customer not playing the game, the game is performed It is determined whether there is a start winning a prize (variation preparation state), a starting winning a prize, or a special game state. Further, when the start winning is detected, the winning / non-winning judgment is performed based on the random number value, and the data for the display mode control such as the change or the determination of the special symbol is created based on the judgment result. This data is transmitted via the above-mentioned shared bus 500 as a command signal that targets the special symbol control unit 160 as an operation command target.

Further, various lamps such as the frame decoration lamp board 4g and the sound generator 203 are changed / stopped display mode of the special symbol under the control of the special symbol control unit 160,
The mode is controlled according to presence or absence of reach occurrence, reach display mode (full rotation, frame advance, reverse, enlargement / reduction of symbols, etc.), special game mode, and game mode (probability change, time saving, etc.), etc. It The command signal of the control command is transmitted via the above-mentioned shared bus 500 as a command signal that targets the lamp control unit 170 or the voice control unit 180 as an operation command target.

Next, the main controller 140 and the special symbol controller 1
Among the various jobs executed by 60 and 60, main jobs will be described below. First, the main job executed by the main control unit 140 will be described with reference to FIG. This is executed by the CPU 141 based on the program stored in the ROM 143 of the main control unit 140. That is, the stack pointer is
After setting the predetermined address of 142 (S10), it is determined whether the initialization is completed (S20). If the initialization is completed (S20: YES), jobs from the LED job (S30) to the switch job (S70) are executed. If the initialization is not completed (S20: N
O), the initialization job (190) is executed.

In the LED job (S30), the display mode data of the normal symbol and the normal symbol unstarted number, the display mode data of the special symbol unstarted number, etc. are output. In the constant-velocity random number job (S40), the special symbol success / failure determination random number memory and the general-purpose count memory (not shown) of the RAM 142 are updated. In the non-constant speed random number job (S50), the normal random symbol random memory (not shown) is updated. In addition,
A general-purpose count memory (not shown) is used to create values of “0” to “255” for each user reset, execute command jobs, decoration jobs, and the like. The music creation job (S60) creates data related to music and voice, and the switch job (S70) reads various detection switches. That is, various signals such as a firing stop detection signal, a touch detection signal, a volume detection signal, a count detection signal, a specific area passage detection signal, a normal symbol actuation passage passage passage detection signal, and a left and right entrance passage passage detection signal are transmitted through the relay board 200. It is taken into the main control unit 140 through the above, and the first-class starting opening winning detection signal is also loaded from the first-class starting opening (normal electric accessory) winning detection switch 17s.

Further, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the count detection switch 53 or the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54 (S80), and if there is no abnormality (S80: YES), the special symbol main job (S90)
To the voice job (S110) are executed. In addition, if there is an abnormality (ball clogging, disconnection, etc.) (S8
0: NO), the error job (S130) is executed.

In the special symbol main job (S90), a job relating to data necessary for the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 to operate in cooperation with each other is executed. This job will be described later. Further, in the normal symbol main job (S100), the display mode data of the normal symbol and the normal symbol unstarted number of times is created. In the voice job (S110), voice data corresponding to the game state is output.

Thereafter, the count detection switch 53 is again turned on.
Alternatively, the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54
It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (S120), and if there is no abnormality (S120: YES), each flag state is set in the backup memory (S140), the prize ball signal job (S150), and the information signal job (S160). ), Command job (S170), and remaining time job (S180)
Is executed. If there is something wrong with each switch (S
120: NO), the error job (S130) is executed.

In the prize ball signal job (S150),
Data relating to the payout of prize balls is created and output, and in the information signal job (S160), data necessary for outputting information to other control units is created. Further, in the command job (S170), input / output of commands for special symbol management is performed, and in the remaining time job (S180), calling of non-uniform speed random numbers and general-purpose random number memory (not shown)
Will be updated.

Next, the flow of the prize ball total number storing job executed in the series of the main job will be described with reference to FIG. In S200, it is confirmed whether or not there is a winning ball in each winning opening, and if the determination is affirmative (YES),
The number of prize balls to be paid out of the winning opening that won in S210 is 15
Determine whether it is for individual use. If affirmative (YES),
In step S220, "15" is added as the number of prize balls to the remaining ball number counter (formed in the RAM 141), and step S27 is performed.
Skip to 0. Further, if a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S210, the process proceeds to S230, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be paid out of the winning opening for winning is six. Positive judgment (Y
If ES), the process proceeds to S240, where "6" is added to the remaining ball number counter as the number of prize balls, and the process skips to S270. Furthermore, if a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S230, the process proceeds to S250, and it is determined whether or not the number of payout award balls of the award-winning winning opening is for 10. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the procedure will be shifted to S260 and "10" will be added to the remaining ball number counter as the number of prize balls.

Next, in S270, the prize ball number signal is transmitted from the main controller 140 side to the frame controller 150 side.
In addition, in S200 or S250, if a negative determination (NO), it will skip to S280. S280
Next, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball is detected by the prize ball payout sensor 214 in the prize ball payout device 109. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S290, and "1" is subtracted from the remaining ball counter of the main control unit 140. When the subtraction of the remaining ball number counter progresses and becomes zero, it means that all of the total payout prize balls have been paid out. You can confirm that it has been paid out.

For example, in the prize ball payout management means mainly composed of the main control unit 140, when the number of detected prize balls exceeds the predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out,
Similarly, in the case where there is a shortage of a predetermined number or more, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the prize ball payout, and the payout abnormality determination / output means that performs a predetermined abnormality output is realized by the control program described above. can do. Specifically, error display (including voice output, etc.)
Or a process of temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine (that is, the program process of each control unit) can be performed. Note that when the program is stopped in the latter case, the same backup processing as at the time of power failure described below can be performed.

The payout abnormality determination / output means, when the detected number of payout prize balls exceeds a predetermined number or more with respect to the total prize ball number stored in the total prize ball number storage means (remaining ball number counter), Similarly, in a case where the predetermined number or more is insufficient, it is possible to determine that there is an abnormality in the prize ball payout and output the abnormality.

For example, when the value of the remaining sphere number counter becomes 0 and the subtraction further proceeds, the value of the counter shifts to a negative number. This means that the number of award balls actually paid out was larger than the total number of award balls paid out from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, and some abnormality occurred. Means that. As the factor, the influence of noise or the like is considered first, but as a more serious situation, for example, an illegal operation is performed on the frame control unit 150 side,
It is conceivable that the player could have won a prize ball that he or she would not have originally obtained. On the other hand, in the opposite situation, when the subtraction does not proceed even after a considerable time has passed, it means that the prize ball payout is not normally performed due to a failure of the prize ball payout device 10, a ball clogging, or the like. In such a case, it is possible to take various kinds of error processing by monitoring the remaining ball counter.

FIG. 44 shows an example of the award ball total number storing job in this case. FIG. 17 shows steps S200 to S280.
If the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 is detected in S280, the process proceeds to S700 and the remaining ball counter is decremented. Then, if the instruction value of the counter is a negative number, it is understood that the prize balls have been paid out in excess of the total number of prize balls, and the absolute value of the counter instruction value of the negative number means the excess ball number. In this embodiment, when the number of hypervalent spheres exceeds the limit value Nu, it is determined to be abnormal, and as the above-mentioned abnormal output, prize ball excess error processing is performed. As described above, this process is, for example, a process of displaying an error (for example, turning on an LED) or temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine.

For example, in the present embodiment, the following command transmission rules are set. That is, "replenishment ball exhaustion" is detected by detecting a ball out of a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms), "replenishment ball exhaustion cancellation" is detected by detection of a ball during a predetermined time (for example, 3000 ms), and a predetermined time (for example, 200 m).
Each command of "lower tray full" is transmitted by the detection of full tank of s). Also, a predetermined time (for example, 200 ms)
When the full tank release is detected, the lower pan is released. When the limit value Nu is exceeded, the prize balls are exceeded. Each command of is transmitted.

In command processing, STB:
The strobe signal is an interrupt signal (INT or NMI (non-
maskable interrupt)) and the corresponding command is transmitted to the frame control unit 150. Main controller 1
On the 40 side, the command is cleared every time the interrupt processing is completed. When NMI interrupt processing is performed,
It is written at the end of the relevant program, and is set so that a reset is entered even if the program exits STOP.

The causes of the “extra prize ball” are as follows: (1) Noise is mixed into the command line (interruption occurs erroneously); (2) Command line hanging goto (a prize ball command is fabricated) ); (3) Disconnection of the prize ball counting sensor on the frame control board side (buffer (memory) value does not decrease); (4) RAM of main board due to noise or electrical abnormality
Clear (the main board (main control unit 140) is reset during operation. Since data remains on the frame control unit 150 side, the state is apparently the same as when the prize ball is exceeded, which may cause malfunction) (5) Abnormality of prize ball paying device; and the like. Also,
The causes of "insufficient prize balls" are (1) disconnection of the prize ball counting sensor on the main board side (buffer (memory) value does not decrease); (2) malfunction of prize ball dispensing device; (3) frame control Resetting due to noise of the board;

Although the limit value Nu of the number of hypervalent spheres is set too small, the abnormality determination can be made even for a daily error caused by a mechanical operation delay of the dispensing device. It will be carried out, and there is a difficulty that the correspondence becomes troublesome. On the other hand, if the limit value Nu becomes too large, the abnormality occurrence determination cannot be made unless the number of excess balls becomes considerably large, so that the effect of preventing prize ball loss due to an illegal payout operation or the like is weakened. Therefore, from this viewpoint, the above-mentioned limit value Nu
Is preferably selected in the range of 500 to 2500. For example, the limit value Nu is about the same as the number of prize balls obtained by one special game (big hit) (for example, 700 to
By setting the number to 2500, as a specific example, 2000), there is an advantage that the player can accurately recognize an illicit operation attempting to acquire an award ball which is not normally obtained.

The lower limit of the limit value NU is set to 500 when each condition is kept small compared to the most general special game contents of 10 counts, 15 prize balls, and 16 rounds. This is because (for example, the number of rounds (continuation) is 8 and the number of prize balls is 7) is taken into consideration, and there may be some variation depending on the setting of various game conditions. Also,
Due to external factors such as nail adjustment, the time limit may be exceeded before the count reaches the predetermined value, and the number of prize balls actually acquired may fall below the expected number of prize balls. Further, the reason why the upper limit value of the limit value NU is set to 2500 is that the above-mentioned most general special game contents and the variation in the actual number of winning prize balls are taken into consideration.

On the other hand, if the output of the prize ball payout sensor 214 is not detected in S280, the process proceeds to S703, and it is determined whether or not the shortage of payout prize balls has occurred. In this case, the payout abnormality determination / output means of the prize ball payout management means pays out the prize balls when the total prize ball number stored in the total prize ball number storage means is equal to or more than a predetermined limit number. It is also possible to realize that the function is such that it is determined that there is an abnormality and a predetermined abnormality output is performed. If the payout of prize balls is delayed for some reason, for example, at the time of a big hit, prize balls frequently occur thereafter, and the value of the remaining ball number counter abnormally increases to a value that is not normally possible. Therefore,
As shown in S703 of FIG. 44, a limit number NJ is set in advance for increasing the total number of prize balls, that is, the remaining ball number counter value, and when the limit number NJ is exceeded, an abnormality is determined,
For example, if the process proceeds to S704 and the prize ball shortage error process is performed, the shortage of the prize ball payout can be easily grasped only by monitoring the total number of prize balls, and an appropriate error process can be taken. Here, the error processing is also processing for displaying an error or temporarily stopping the operation of the gaming machine, for example.

The concrete example of the above limit value NJ is 200 pieces, for example, 10 counts and 15 prize balls (= 150 pieces).
In addition, the so-called "winning in other winning holes" is set to 3 x 10 prize balls (30), and the starting mouth prize is 3 x 6 prize balls (=
18 pieces), each piece is totaled, and the fraction is rounded (or rounded down / rounded up).

When a large number of prize balls are generated in a short time such as when a big hit occurs, the limit value NJ is the actual payout amount even if the normal operation is ensured even if the number of prize balls to be paid out is increased. Since it may not be possible to catch up, it is preferable to set such a number to 25 or more in consideration of such a case. On the other hand, if this value is made too large, it cannot be determined as abnormal unless a considerable amount of award ball payout is delayed, which may cause the player to feel distrust.
Therefore, the limit value NJ is preferably set to 300 or less. A specific example of the limit value NJ is 200, for example.

[0108] In addition, as a countermeasure when the prize ball payout is insufficient,
You may perform the process as shown in FIG. That is, the elapsed time Tw after the last detection of the prize-ball payout is measured, and when the result time Tw is equal to or longer than the predetermined time Ta in S704, the remaining ball number counter value is equal to the shortage limit number NL. It is confirmed whether or not it has exceeded, and if it exceeds, a prize ball shortage error processing is performed in S706. Even when the prize ball payout process is normally proceeding, for example, if the generation of prize balls is stopped for a long time, the remaining ball number counter should have a value close to zero. Therefore, S703 is set to zero. The lower limit reference number Nk is set as a lower limit reference number Nk, and only when the remaining number of balls becomes equal to or more than the lower limit reference number Nk, the processing corresponding to the shortage of prize balls is executed in S705 and below. It should be noted that either one of the above-mentioned process corresponding to the excess payout of prize balls and the process corresponding to the insufficient payout of prize balls may be omitted.

Next, a preferred mode of the prize ball number data storing job executed in the series of the main job will be described. Normally, in the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1, a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out in response to a prize ball detection signal output from the prize ball detection unit when the player enters each prize hole in the main control unit 140. Then, it was once stored and transmitted to the frame control unit 150 side. Therefore, the main control unit 140 side needs a buffer for storing the number of prize balls corresponding to the winning order to some extent. At this time, using a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) as the minimum unit of storage capacity, a predetermined number of prize ball number data corresponding to each winning opening are temporarily stored in each winning order, and the frame control is performed. Part 1
Each time the prize balls are paid out at 50, the storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits) is released.

FIG. 22 shows the winning order of the winning balls entering each winning port, for example, 6 payout prize → 15 payout prize → 15 payout prize → 6 payout prize → 6 payout prize. In this way, the memory of the number of prize balls to be paid out is sequentially accumulated. On the frame control unit 150 side, the prize balls are paid out in the order in which the number of prize balls is stored. If the number of prize balls stored in the buffer and the storage capacity released with payout of the prize balls are processed in a well-balanced manner, the storage capacity of the buffer will not run short, but the ball will enter the winning opening. When the frequency of winning balls increases, for example, when the special winning opening 44 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls are stored. The amount of data of the number of prize balls to be increased increases, and the storage capacity of the buffer becomes insufficient.

Below, assuming the case of winning the special winning opening 44, the required storage capacity of the buffer is calculated based on a specific numerical value. For example, the shooting interval of the game balls is 0.
If 6 seconds / one time and 1 round are 8 seconds (10 counts + 2 seconds interval), the time during a big hit is 128 seconds in the case of 16 rounds. On the other hand, the payout speed of the prize balls is set to 1 second / one time for the payout of 15 prize balls, and it is possible to pay out 128 prize balls. Since the number of prize balls in the big hit is 160 (16 rounds × 10), 32 (160-128) prize balls are required as the storage capacity of the buffer at the end of the big hit. However, this calculation is based on the assumption that the prize balls have been normally paid out, and in fact, due to the ball being out, the ball being clogged, the ball lending process, etc., the payout of the prize balls may be delayed. Buffer is required.

However, when the work area of the main control unit 140 is about 256 bytes in total, it is necessary to secure a work area for the current main program. 30-50
Limited to byte range. Therefore, if the prize balls are paid out in the winning order to each winning opening, it is considered that the buffer overflows frequently in the above method.

Therefore, the concept that the minimum unit of storage capacity stored in the buffer is 1 byte is wiped out, and a 2-bit unit preset as a storage unit for prize ball number data is used as the minimum unit of storage capacity. If you use it with the storage capacity of the limited buffer area greatly increased,
Even if the amount of prize ball number data to be stored temporarily increases, the storage capacity does not become insufficient. That is, by using 2 bits as the prize ball number data to be paid out, the storage capacity in the buffer can be expanded four times and used. When these 2 bits are used as the minimum unit of storage capacity, the predetermined number of prize ball number data is represented by 2 bits.
For example, if the number of payout prize balls is 6, "01b", if the number of payout prize balls is 10, it is "10b", if the number of payout prize balls is 15, it is "11b". For example, "00b".

For example, the winning order of the winning balls entering each winning opening is, as described above, 6 payout prizes → 15 payout prizes → 1
5 pieces winning prize → 6 pieces winning prize → 6 pieces winning prize,
The storage capacity of the buffer is 10 bits. In FIG. 23, the winning order of these winning balls is shown in time series, and the mode shown in this time series schematically represents a preferred embodiment of the winning ball number data storage job shown in FIG. Is. That is, the payout number of prize balls is stored in the buffer in units of 2 bits, and is shifted to the left every time the next payout number data is stored. The shifted bit string is carried up every 8 bits (1 byte) and stored.

As to the storage capacity of the buffer, since the upper limit of the area that can be provided as the buffer area is 50 bytes as described above, the buffer capacity is 0 to 49, and the maximum is 2.
It is possible to write 00 (50 bytes × 8 bits / 2 bits) prize ball number data. 24 (a), 24 (b)
20 schematically shows the flow of the prize ball number data storage and extraction job shown in FIG. FIG. 24A shows a state at the time of storage. The prize ball number data is sequentially added to the head side of the data string without performing memory shift of the already stored prize ball number data. It is remembered in the winning order of the winning balls.

On the other hand, FIG. 24 (b) shows a state at the time of storing and taking out, and the head (that is, the oldest) prize ball number data always indicates the head position of the buffer 0 (that is, offset 0 = 0, offset). 1 = 0), the remaining bit string after the 2-bit extraction is right-justified and memory-shifted in units of 2 bits. As a result, the prize ball number data (“11”: 15 prizes paid) of the winning ranking is moved to the storage / retrieval position of the buffer 0, and the information of the number of prize balls to be paid out is arranged again in units of 2 bits without any gap. Become. Note that instead of the method of transferring the bit string every 2 bits in this way, a storage area is separately set in the buffer,
It is also possible to temporarily save the remaining bit string in this area and transfer it to each block.

The specific processing flow of FIGS. 23 and 24 will be described below with reference to FIG. The offsets in the description of the prize ball number data storage job and the prize ball number data storage and extraction job shown in FIG. 20 mean the following. In the main controller 140, in the RAM 141,
An area other than the work area reserved for the main program is used as a buffer area, and a storage buffer is assigned to this buffer area.
As shown in FIG. 21, this storage buffer has a storage capacity of 0 to 49 for each 1 byte (8 bits). The arrangement direction of the memory cells in the bit string of this storage buffer is offset 0, and the bit string is The arrangement direction of is set to offset 1 and is represented as a matrix-shaped offset table. If the minimum unit of storage capacity is 2 bits, the offset 0 is represented by "0" to "3". A routine is built in the offset counter so that the vacant cell position next to the head where the data is written becomes the offset number. The storage buffer is RA
A buffer-dedicated memory may be provided separately from M141.

First, in S700 of FIG. 19, it is confirmed whether or not the award ball number signal is received, and if the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S710. Offset proceeds to S710
Check whether the value of is "50". That is, it is confirmed whether the value of the offset 1 is outside the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and if the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that all of the storage buffers 0 to 49 have been written, and the winning prize balls are invalidated and skipped. In S720,
The value of the offset 1 is added to the address of the storage buffer 0 to select one of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and the address of the storage buffer in which data is to be written is selected.

In the following S730, the value of offset 0 is added to the selected storage buffer, and any one of the storage areas a to d is selected. In subsequent S740, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is "15", and an affirmative determination (YES) is made.
If so, proceed to S750, "03h" in the selected area
Set. That is, the data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is written in the selected storage area. In S760, "1" is added to the offset 0 value, and in the subsequent S770, the offset 0 value is "4".
Confirm whether or not the above, and if a positive determination (YES), S
Proceed to 780. In S780, "0" is set to the offset 0 and "1" is added to the offset 1. That is, carry of the storage buffer is performed.

Note that a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S740.
If so, the process proceeds to S790 to check whether the prize ball number signal is "6". If a positive determination (YES), the process proceeds to S800, "01h" is set in the selected area, and S76
Skip to 0. That is, in the selected storage area,
The data “01h” (16 bits) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “6”
Write a decimal number display (corresponding to binary number "01b"). If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S810. S8
In 10, it is confirmed whether the prize ball number signal is "10",
If a positive determination (YES), the process proceeds to S820, "02h" is set in the selected area, and the process skips to S820. That is, in the selected storage area, data “02h” (hexadecimal number display, corresponding to the prize ball number signal “10”,
Write the binary number "10b").

Further, the prize ball number data storage and extraction job is as shown in FIG. In S900, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0", and if negative determination (NO), the process proceeds to S910. In S910, the value of the storage a of the storage buffer 0 is acquired, and in the following S920,
The value is right-shifted by 2 bits in the order of the storage buffers 49 to 0. In step S930, it is confirmed whether the value of offset 0 is "0". That is, the cell position of the offset number, that is, the position of the offset pointer is obtained by referring to the offset counter, and it is confirmed whether or not the position of the offset pointer is the head of the storage buffer. If the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S940,
Offset 1 is subtracted by "1". That is, since the data is returned to the head cell position where the data is written, the carry-down of the storage buffer is performed. In step S950, the offset 0 is set to "3", and the offset pointer is moved to the leading cell position of the digitized storage buffer. Note that S93
If the determination is negative (NO) in 0, the process proceeds to S960, and the offset 0 is subtracted by “1” because it returns to the head cell position where the data is written.

Next, in the award ball number data storing job, as shown in FIG. 42, the reverse operation to the above is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. A mode may be adopted in which new data is written at the memory cell position. This flow will be described with reference to FIG. It is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is received in S300, and if the determination is affirmative (YES), S3
Go to 10. In S310, it is confirmed whether the value of the offset 0 is "0". That is, the cell position of the offset number (next to the head where the data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. Vertical direction of the top row of the offset table (storage buffers 0 to 49
If the negative judgment (NO) (if there is writing), the process proceeds to S320, and the value of offset 0 is "3". Check if That is, it is confirmed whether or not the last (fourth) vertical cell position (over the storage buffers 0 to 49) of the bit string of the offset table is a free area, and if the determination is affirmative (YES), S3
Proceed to 30.

At S330, offset 1 is "1".
Is added to clear the offset 0 value. That is,
The carry of offset 1 is carried out, and the value of "3" of offset 0 is cleared. In subsequent S340, storage buffer 0 to storage buffer 49 are shifted to the left by 2 bits. As a result, a write area is provided in the first column of the storage buffer 0. In S350, the prize ball number signal is "1.
5 ”, and if affirmative (YES), S3
In step 60, the storage buffer 0 and "03h" are logically ORed. That is, the data “03h” corresponding to the prize ball number signal “15” is written in the writing area of the first column of the storage buffer 0.
(Hexadecimal number display, equivalent to binary number "11b") is written. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S370.

In S370, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball number signal is "6", and if the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S380 and the storage buffer 0 and "01h" are ORed. That is, data “01h” (hexadecimal number display, corresponding to binary number “01b”) corresponding to the prize ball number signal “6” is written in the writing area of the first column of the storage buffer 0. If the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S390.

In S390, the prize ball number signal is "10".
If it is affirmative (YES), S400
Then, the storage buffer 0 is logically ORed with "02h".
That is, in the writing area of the first column of the storage buffer 0,
The data “02h” (1 corresponding to the prize ball number signal “10”)
Hexadecimal number display, equivalent to binary number "10b") is written.

Note that an affirmative judgment (YE
S) (that is, the cell position at the beginning of the storage buffer is not an empty area), the process proceeds to S410 and the offset 1
Check whether the value of is "50". That is, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the offset 1 is outside the area of the storage buffers 0 to 49, and if the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S420. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative (YES), it is determined that all of the storage buffers 0 to 49 have been written, and the winning prize balls are invalidated and skipped. If a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S320, it means that the cell position at the head of the storage buffer is an empty area. Therefore, in S420, "1" is added to the value of offset 0 and the offset pointer is set to the next cell. To set.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 43, the prize ball number data storage / retrieval job may be performed in such a manner that the data is read out while sequentially retracting the memory cell positions from the head side at the time of storage / retrieval. This flow is as shown in FIG. In S500, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the storage buffer 0 is "0", and if the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S510. In S510, it is confirmed whether the value of the offset 0 is "0". That is, the cell position of the offset number (next to the head where the data is written) is obtained by referring to the offset counter. First, it is confirmed whether the value of offset 0 is "0", and an affirmative judgment (YES)
If so, the process proceeds to S520, and offset 1 is subtracted by "1". That is, since the data is returned to the head cell position where the data is written, the carry-down of the storage buffer is performed. And S
In step 530, the offset 0 is set to "3", and the offset pointer is set to the last (fourth) cell position of the digitized storage buffer.

In S540, the value of offset 1 is added to the address of storage buffer 0, and storage buffers 0 to 4 are added.
Any one of 9 is selected and the stored data in it is acquired. That is, the stored data is acquired by returning to the address of the storage buffer having the data to be read. In S550, it is confirmed whether or not the offset 0 is "0", and if the determination is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S560 to acquire the stored value a (see FIG. 21) of the corresponding stored data, and the subsequent S5.
At 70, the corresponding storage area is cleared to "0". If a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S550, S580
Then, it is confirmed whether the offset 0 is "1", and if the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S590 to acquire the storage b of the corresponding storage data, and skips to S570. If a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S580, S6
At 00, it is confirmed whether or not the offset 0 is “2”, and if the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S610 to acquire the storage c of the corresponding storage data, and skips to S570. On the other hand, if the determination is negative (NO), the process proceeds to S620, the storage d of the corresponding storage data is acquired, and S570
Skip to.

Note that a negative determination (NO) is obtained in S510.
If so, the process proceeds to S630 and the offset 0 is subtracted by "1" to return to the head cell position where the data is written.

In the above processing, the prize ball number data retrieved from the buffer memory is stored in the frame control unit 1 as described above.
Transferred to 50. The frame control unit 150 receives the prize ball number data, increments the frame control unit side payout counter formed in the RAM 152 by the number indicated by the prize ball number data, and has already been described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. The prize-ball payout device 109 is caused to pay the prize-ball. The prize ball detection signal from the prize ball payout sensor 214 described above is also fed back to the frame control unit 150, and the frame control unit side payout counter is decremented every time the prize ball payout is confirmed. When it reaches zero, the payout of prize balls is completed. Also in this frame control unit 150, when the value of the frame control unit side remaining ball counter abnormally increases due to a ball clogging or the like, for example, a prize shortage error processing similar to that of the main control unit side is performed. can do.

In the above process, a buffer memory is provided on the main controller 140 side to store the prize ball number data in the storage buffer in the order of winning ball detection, and transfer the prize ball number data from the top to the frame controller 150. By doing so, the prize balls are paid out in the order in which the prize balls are detected. The prize ball number information transferred from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 is the number of unit prize balls (the above-mentioned 6 prize balls, 10 prize balls) which is the number of payout prize balls per prize determined for each prize hole. Award ball or 15 award balls). This allows the player to
For example, if you remember the time-series order of winning balls with different numbers of unit prize balls, the gaming machine will pay out the prize balls in the order in which you remember them, so there is little discomfort and confidence in the game. It will be raised. In order to achieve such an effect more reliably, the data is taken out from the storage buffer so that the payout number of prize balls or more corresponding to each winning is not accumulated in the payout counter on the frame control unit side of the frame control unit 150. For securing the time interval, for example, a predetermined time or more in anticipation of prize ball payout time commensurate with the number of prize balls transmitted, or for temporarily accumulating one or a plurality of prize ball number data on the frame control unit 150 side in time series. It is effective to provide a buffer memory.

The frame control unit 150 prohibits the payout of prize balls when the received prize ball number information specifies a payout amount that does not match the predetermined unit prize ball number. May be processed (realization of the function of the withdrawal prohibition means). Specifically, it is a process of stopping the output of the operation command signal to the prize ball payout device 109, or not incrementing the frame control unit side payout counter.
As a result, some illegal prize ball number (for example, thousands of
Even if a person who attempts fraud, such as 10,000 pieces, is an attractive number of prize balls that can expect a profit commensurate with the risk) is input to the frame control unit 150, it can be surely identified and accurately identified. Various processing can be performed.

For example, when the number of unit award balls is set to a plurality of types (for example, 6, 10, 15) depending on the type of winning hole, the number of award balls to be received is a plurality of unit awards. It is possible to prohibit payout of prize balls when the number of balls does not match. According to this, when prize sphere number data that does not correspond to any unit prize sphere is input to the frame control unit 150, this can be reliably detected as invalid data, and the prize sphere based on the invalid data can be detected. Can prevent discharge. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably pay out the prize balls.

The corresponding prize ball number data may be sequentially (eg, in real time) transferred to the frame controller 150 in the order in which the prize ball detection signal is received by the main controller 140. In this case, the RAM 151 on the frame control unit 150 side
It is possible to store this in a buffer area provided inside and take out the prize ball number data by the same process as above to pay out the prize balls, but it is necessary to make the payout of the prize balls in the order of detecting the winning balls. The buffer can be omitted if there is no particular case. FIG. 46 shows a processing example in the frame control unit 150 in this case. When the number data of prize balls is received in S750, the number of prize balls is determined in S751 to S753. Then, if it is not any of the predetermined number of unit prize balls (6, 10 or 15), the process proceeds to S759 and error processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is one of the unit prize balls, the process proceeds to S754 and is added to the frame control unit side remaining ball counter (formed in the RAM 151). In S755, when the value of the frame control unit side remaining ball number counter exceeds NJ, it is determined that the prize ball discharge is stagnant due to a ball clogging or the like, and the process proceeds to S758 to perform error processing. On the other hand, if the prize-ball payout signal from the prize-ball payout sensor 214 is received, the value of the frame control unit side remaining ball counter is subtracted.

FIG. 47 shows the flow of the process for paying out prize balls. In S760, the value of the remaining ball counter on the frame control section side is read. Then, in S761, the number of remaining balls is ND
(For example, 10 to 30 balls, etc.) is judged, and if it is equal to or less than ND, the remaining balls are collectively paid out, and if it is over ND, the remaining balls are divided into ND pieces and paid out. According to this processing, the prize ball number data is input (received) after a sufficient time.
In this case, the process of S762 causes the payout of the number of unit prize balls corresponding to the prize ball number data to be performed in a time-series arrival order, and the prize ball number data is continuously displayed in a short time. If received, the prize ball number data is accumulated in the frame control unit side remaining ball number counter, and by the process of S763, the payout is performed by dividing into ND pieces.

Next, the prize-ball paying-out mechanism can be configured as a ball-discharging means commonly used for ball-rental discharge and prize-ball discharge, and the pay-out prize-ball detecting mechanism detects the ball-rental and prize-ball separately. The award ball payout management means is provided with a ball detecting means, and the detection information of the award balls detected separately can be used as the detection information of the payout award balls.

A preferred example of the specific structure of the ball discharging means is as follows.
A game ball passage that is arranged on the back mechanism board and branches the game ball from the upstream passage into a plurality of branch passages through a branch portion,
A ball discharge device that is disposed in the branch portion, is controllable in different directions, and has a ball sending member that can transfer the game ball to any one of the plurality of branch passages. Is mentioned. As a result, the ball discharging device is configured so that the unit number of lent balls (eg 25) or the number of unit prize balls (eg 6, 1
In response to a control command based on (for example, 5 balls), the required number of balls are discharged. In the CR machine, the ball feeding member can be driven and controlled in different directions, and the game ball can be transferred to either the branch passage, that is, the prize ball passage or the ball lending passage. On the other hand, in the cash machine, the ball feeding member can be driven and controlled in one direction, the ball lending passage can be closed by attaching a lid to one of the branch passages, and only the prize ball passage can be used. In addition,
Examples of the ball feeding member include a shaft, a gear attached to the shaft, and a ball discharging motor for rotating the shaft. Specific examples of the ball detecting means include a prize ball count switch and a ball lending count switch, which are provided in the branch passages.

Hereinafter, a configuration example of the corresponding gaming machine will be described. FIG. 48 is a block diagram in this case, and most are common to FIG. 16, but instead of the prize ball payout device 109,
A ball discharging device 99, which is commonly used for discharging balls and discharging prize balls, is connected to the frame control unit 150.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 49 (a) and 49 (b), a tank rail 65 leading to an award ball tank (not shown) is mounted on the back side of the back mechanism board 100, and is connected to the tank rail. The lower part 70 of the spherical flow is formed by. In the ball flow lower portion 70, the upstream passage 71, the prize ball passage 73,
Also, the ball lending passage 74 is formed, and the ball discharging device 99 is mounted. Upstream passage 71, prize ball passage 7
3 and the ball lending passage 74 are both two-row gutters as shown in FIG. 5 (b) with part omitted, and the first and second passages are divided in the front-rear direction of the mechanism board 62. (71a, 71
b, 73a, 73b, 74a, 74b).

The upstream passage 71 is bent, and its upper end has a ball outlet 8 which is open at the lower right end of the tank rail 65.
Connected to 5. In the vicinity of the upper end of the upstream passage 71, a contact-type replenishment ball exhaustion detection switch 86, and
An out-of-ball switch lever 90 is provided. The out-of-ball switch lever 90 constitutes a part of the upstream passage 71 and is elastically swingable around the upper end as a fulcrum.
The out-of-ball switch lever 90 is adjacent to the normally open replenishment-ball detection switch 86, and its swinging turns the replenishment-ball detection switch 86 ON / OFF.

In this embodiment, a torsion coil spring is used for elastically operating the ball break switch lever 90, but other coil springs (pulling or compressing) or leaf springs are generally used. It is possible to employ various elastic members. In addition, in the present embodiment, the out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the out-of-supply ball detection switch 86 are separately installed for each of the passages 71a and 71b, and the presence or absence of a game ball in each of the passages 71a and 71b is individually detected. To be done. Note that the out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the out-of-feed ball detection switch 86 may be provided in only one of the first and second passages 71a and 71b.

The prize ball passage 73 and the ball lending passage 74 are each formed in a straight line in the vertical direction and extend substantially parallel to each other. Further, a prize ball count switch (prize ball payout sensor) 78 is attached to the prize ball passage 73, and a ball lending count switch 79 is attached to the ball lending passage 74.
Each switch 78, 79 is a groove-shaped non-contact sensor,
Switch mounting portion 7 formed integrally with each passage 73, 74
It is accommodated in each of 8a, 78b, 79a, 79b. The switch mounting portions 78a to 79b are provided in the passages 7 in order to secure a space for receiving the switches 78 and 79.
It projects to the outside of 3,74. In addition, each switch 7
Although magnetic type is adopted as 8, 79, various other general type game ball detecting switches such as optical type can be adopted in addition to this.

The ball discharging device 99 includes a ball discharging motor 80, a ball feeding member 76,
In addition, the ball discharge device sensor substrate 96 is housed. The ball discharge motor 80 is a stepping motor that can rotate in the forward and reverse directions, and operates based on the commands from the main controller 140 and the frame controller 150 described above. Although not shown, an optical sensor having a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver is mounted on the ball discharge device sensor substrate 96. A game ball passage 75 is formed in the case 77, and the upper end of the game ball passage 75 communicates with the upstream passage 71. Also, the game ball passage 7
5 is bifurcated at a bifurcating portion 72 on the way,
It communicates with the prize ball passage 73 and the ball lending passage 74. That is, the case 77 has two inlets opened at the upper portion and four outlets opened at the lower portion. And the upstream passage 7
1, game ball passage 75, prize ball passage 73 and ball lending passage 7
4 forms a sphere flow-down passage that is bifurcated downstream.

The ball feeding member 76 is an integrally molded product of synthetic resin, and is mounted on the output shaft of the ball discharging motor 80. Further, the ball feeding member 76 has gears 82, 83 for transferring game balls and a gear (sprocket) 84 for detecting the amount of rotation on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft 81. These gears 82, 83, 84 Is a gear 84 for detecting a rotation amount and a gear 8 for transferring game balls from the base end side to the tip end side of the shaft 81.
2, 83 are arranged in this order. The gears 82, 83, 84 rotate integrally with the driving of the ball discharging motor 80.

The gears 82 and 83 for transfer are the game ball passage 7
The branch portion 72 of No. 5 is located in each of the first passage 72a and the second passage 72b. Further, both gears 82 and 83 have the same number of teeth at the same pitch, and the recess between the teeth is set to a size such that a game ball (generally about 11 mm in diameter) can be received. Further, a phase difference is set between the gears 82 and 83. Also,
The teeth of the rotation amount detecting gear 84 are formed at the same pitch, and the number of teeth is set to be larger than that of the transfer gears 82 and 83. Further, the gear 84 for detecting the rotation amount is in a positional relationship with the sphere ejecting device sensor substrate 96 such that each of its teeth intermittently blocks the light of the above-mentioned optical sensor as the gear 84 rotates.

The game balls are supplied to the ball flow lower portion 70 via the prize ball tank 64 and the tank rail 65. Lower part 70
At, the game ball follows the curved path of the upstream passage 71 and flows down while pressing the ball break switch lever 90. When the game ball exists in the ball path, the ball break switch lever 90 is pressed by the game ball and elastically pivotally displaced, turning on the supply ball break detection switch 86.
Further, when the ball out switch lever 90 is released from the pressing force from the game ball, it returns to the original position by utilizing the restoring force of the torsion coil spring, and the supply ball out detection switch 8
Turn off 6. By using the operation of the ball break switch lever 90, the presence or absence of a game ball in the upstream passage 71 is detected.

The game ball that has passed through the upstream passage 71 reaches the ball discharging device 99, flows into the game ball passage 75 and contacts the transfer gears 82 and 83. In one gear 82 (or 83), the game ball enters between the teeth, and in the other gear 83 (or 82), the game ball is placed on the teeth. Further, the succeeding game balls are placed on the preceding game balls and are sequentially deposited on the preceding game balls. At this time, since the upstream passage 71 is bent, the weight of the game balls accumulated in the upstream passage 71 is dispersed in multiple directions, and an excessive load is prevented from acting on the gears 82 and 83. In addition, the upstream passage 7
The length of 1 is set so that the number of game balls between the gears 82 and 83 and the ball break switch lever 90 is 25 or more. This number is the number of unit loans (unit loan amount (100 yen here) divided by unit price (4 yen here))
Is consistent with.

When prize balls are discharged, the ball discharge motor 80 of the ball discharge device 99 is driven in the normal direction by the frame control unit 150, and the gears 82 and 83 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 5A. To do. With the rotation of the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are transferred to the prize ball passage 73 side, released from the gears 82 and 83, and discharged to the prize ball passage 73. The released game balls fall along the prize ball passage 73, and the prize ball count switch 78.
To be detected individually. On the other hand, these game balls flow out from the ball flow lower portion 70 and reach the distribution unit 101,
It is discharged to the upper plate 6.

The rotation amount of the ball discharging motor 80 is the number of unit prize balls to be paid out according to the winning mode (here, 6 balls,
(10 types, 15 types, 3 types). In addition, since the phase difference is set in the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are discharged alternately between the first and second passages.
Therefore, it is possible to discharge an odd number of discharges in total for the two passages 73a and 73b. Furthermore, the ball discharge motor 8
The rotation amount of 0 is the rotation amount detecting gear (or sprocket) 84 formed integrally with the transfer gears 82 and 83.
Is detected by using. That is, as the ball discharge motor 80 is driven, the teeth of the rotation amount detecting gear (or sprocket) 84 block the light of the above-mentioned optical sensor and change the output of the optical sensor. The rotation amount is calculated by referring to the pitch and. The detection result of the rotation amount is used for checking the operation of the ball discharge motor 80, determining a ball discharge abnormality, and the like.

An example of using the pachinko machine as a cash machine will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG.
For the parts overlapping with (a), the same numbers are attached with dashes and the description thereof is omitted, and new components are given new numbers. Here, since the ball rental balls are directly supplied to the upper plate from the outside of the machine, it is not necessary to use the ball rental passage 74 ′ of the ball flow lower portion 70 ′. Therefore, the ball rental passage 7
A stopper lid 88 is attached to the switch attachment portions 79a 'and 79b' of 4 ', and the ball lending passage 74' is closed. The stopper lid 88 is a thick plate-shaped synthetic resin body having substantially the same outer dimensions as the ball lending count switch 79 (see FIG. 5A) used in the case of a CR machine, and like the ball lending count switch 79. It does not have a ball passage hole. And this stopper lid 88 does not have a game ball detection function. Further, the rotation control of the ball discharge motor 80 is limited to the normal rotation only, and the rotation control in the reverse rotation direction is not performed. That is, the ball discharge motor 80 is used only for prize ball discharge, and the detection of the game ball after discharge is also performed only for the prize ball.

In the above embodiment, the detection signal of the prize ball count switch 78 is sent to the main control unit 140 or the frame control unit 150 as the aforementioned prize ball detection signal, and the remaining ball number counter (total prize ball number). Used for subtraction of etc. The prize ball discharge sensor 214 is simply replaced by the prize ball count switch 78, and basically, with respect to the prize ball payout, FIGS.
Processing similar to that of FIG. 47 is performed. On the other hand, FIG. 50 shows a schematic flow of processing. That is, when the main control unit 140 detects a winning ball (S60), the number-of-prize-balls information is transmitted to the frame control unit 150 (S62) to request the discharge of a predetermined number of winning balls. The frame controller 150 rotates the ball discharge motor 380 according to the number of prize balls requested by the main controller 140 (S64). The discharged prize balls are guided by the passage switching arm 301 to flow into the prize ball passage 373 and detected by the prize ball count switch 378 (S
66) and the detection result is sent to the main control unit 140 (S).
68). The main controller 140 uses the prize ball count switch 37.
Based on the count value of 8, it is confirmed whether or not the required number of prize balls has been discharged (S70), and the process ends. Also,
The frame control unit 150 also confirms the number of emissions, and the number of emissions is the main control unit 1.
If the number of requests from 40 is insufficient (S72:
If YES, the frame control unit 150 causes the discharge motor 380 to perform a retry operation (S74), discharges the shortage of prize balls, and ends the processing. If the number of discharges is sufficient for the number of requests from the main control unit 140 (S72: NO), the process ends.

Next, the structure and operation of the game information backup function realization portion when an abnormality occurs will be described. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage drop due to a power failure is detected as an abnormality, and the game information in the work memory of the control unit immediately before the power failure is backed up so that the game can be continued based on the game state before the power failure after the power failure is restored. An example is shown.

As described above, the pachinko machine 1 has three control units, that is, the main control unit 140, the frame control unit 150 and the special symbol control unit 160 (display control unit). Therefore, from the viewpoint of accurately recovering the operating state immediately before the power failure, it can be said that it is desirable to add the backup function realizing part to each of all of the control units 140, 150, 160. However, it is often possible to recover the operating state immediately before the power failure with considerable accuracy by only backing up the game information in the main control unit 140. In this case, a mode in which the backup function realizing unit is added only to the main control unit 140 may be adopted. it can. On the other hand, for example, when it is desired to restore only the prize ball payout operation, the frame control unit 15
0, or the frame control unit 150 and the special symbol control unit 160
It is also possible to add a backup function implementation part only to the above. Here, the three control units 140, 150, 16
Take the case where backup processing is performed for all 0s.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic circuit configuration for realizing the backup function. In addition, the basic control flow of the circuit configuration and backup processing is different only in the type of data to be backed up,
The same applies to any of the control units 140, 150, and 160. In the following, regarding the reference numerals, the main control unit 1
While using those relating to 40 as a representative, the reference numerals of the corresponding circuit components of the other control units 150 and 160 are also displayed in the drawings for common description. Therefore, the main control unit 140 is referred to as the backup target control unit (or simply the control unit) 140, but it goes without saying that this does not necessarily mean that only the main control unit 140 is the backup target. .

First, the CPU 1 is mounted on the substrate of the control unit 140.
41 and RAM 142 (ROM 143 not shown) are mounted. Then, the power supply monitoring circuit 5 is provided on the board.
53 is mounted. On the other hand, although the CPU main power supply circuit 552 that supplies the operating voltage to the CPU 141 is drawn as being provided outside the substrate in this embodiment, the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is also provided on the substrate for the convenience of design. Needless to say, the configuration to be implemented together is acceptable. Further, the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 which supplies a reference signal or the like to the power supply monitoring circuit 553 may be provided either on the substrate or outside the substrate.

The output voltage of the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is C
It is set to, for example, 5 V in accordance with the operating voltage of the PU 141. Further, the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 is designed to have a slightly higher output voltage (here, 12 V) so as to be capable of generating reference signals of various voltage levels. Both are external AC power supplies (eg AC24
V) receives an AC input from 550 and converts it to a DC constant voltage output. Although its structure is known, a typical one is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. In each case, a step-down transformer 573 is provided on the AC input side, and the secondary side AC output thereof is converted to DC by full-wave rectification by the diode bridge 574 and smoothing by the capacitor 575. In the configuration of FIG. 29, the Zener diode 5
76, and in FIG. 30, the three-terminal regulator 57.
The desired DC output voltage V0 is obtained according to the step 7.

FIG. 28 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the power supply monitoring circuit 553. First, the CPU main power supply circuit 5
The output voltage from 52 is input to the power supply terminal Vcc of the CPU 141 via the CPU operating auxiliary power supply circuit 556. In the auxiliary power supply circuit 556, the power supply from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is interrupted or the output voltage is interrupted due to interruption of the power supply from the external AC power supply 550 (or failure of the CPU main power supply circuit 552 itself) due to power failure or the like. Is for ensuring the necessary operating voltage of the CPU 141 when the voltage drops below a predetermined value. Here, the storage means for maintaining the output voltage, specifically, the capacitor 557 constitutes the main component of the CPU operating auxiliary power supply circuit 556.

The capacitor 557 is the CPU main power supply circuit 5
It is connected in parallel to the power supply line from 52,
CPU main power circuit 552 via diode 558 at all times
It keeps the state of charge by receiving the power supply from. When the power supply is cut off, the capacitor 5
The diode 57 is discharged while being prevented from flowing backward by the diode 558, and supplies the operating voltage of the CPU 141. It is desirable that the capacity of the capacitor 557 be set to such an extent that the operation of the CPU 141 can be secured at least until the backup process described later is completed. Although the backup process itself is completed within about 1 millisecond, it is desirable to set the capacity so that an operation of 5 milliseconds or more, preferably 10 milliseconds or more can be ensured with a margin in mind.
The auxiliary power supply circuit 556 may be configured by using a battery (either a primary battery or a secondary battery in this case) 557a instead of the capacitor 557.

Next, the output voltage VX from the CPU main power supply circuit 552 is branched and input to the comparator 569 which functions as an abnormality detecting means (here, the power interruption detecting means), where the voltage level of the voltage monitoring reference signal 567 is set. Compared to VS. VS can be set corresponding to the lower limit voltage level at which stable operation of the CPU 141 is disabled, for example. Normally, VX> VS, and the comparator 56
The output of 9 is in the first state (here, L level), but when VX <VS due to a power failure or the like, the comparator 56
The output of 9 becomes a second state (here, H level) different from the above-mentioned first state.

The output of the comparator 569 is A, which is a means for outputting a power-off signal (abnormality detection signal).
It is input to one terminal of the ND gate 570 (also the main body of the abnormality confirmation information generating means). The power shutoff signal generating reference signal 568 is input to the other terminal of the AND gate 570. The power cutoff signal generating reference signal 568 has a voltage level VY corresponding to the second state of the comparator 569 (here, VS = VY for convenience). Therefore, only when the output of the comparator 569 becomes the above-mentioned second state, the AND gate 570 outputs the power cutoff signal VK (here, L level), which is input to the interrupt terminal of the CPU 141.

The operating voltage of the comparator 569 and the AND gate 570 is supplied by the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 (output: + 12V). Since the operating voltage of the AND gate 570 is + 5V, the voltage dividing resistor 570
The voltage is adjusted by the adjusting unit 570c (which may be a DC-DC converter or the like) including a and 570b.
The voltage monitoring reference signal 567 and the power cutoff signal generating reference signal 568 are also generated by the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 (the voltage level is adjusted by the adjusting unit 560 including the voltage dividing resistors 563 and 564). Since the power supply from the general-purpose constant voltage power supply circuit 555 is also interrupted during a power failure, a reference signal auxiliary power supply circuit 559 having a diode 562 and a capacitor 561 and having the same configuration as the CPU operating auxiliary power supply circuit 556 is provided. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 27, the CPU 141
RAM 142 forming the work memory area of
The AM backup power supply circuit 551 is connected. As will be described later, game data that is game information is stored and held (backed up) in the RAM 142.
This power supply circuit 551 is basically the auxiliary power supply circuit 5 as well.
A structure similar to 56 or 559 can be adopted.
In this case, the capacity of the power storage means composed of a capacitor or a battery is set according to the expected power failure time so that the stored contents can be held during that time.

Next, regarding the job execution form of the backup target control unit, for example, FIG.
As described above, the main job of the control program is naturally executed by repeatedly executing the main job every reset cycle (for example, 2 milliseconds). The main flow of the main job is different only in the contents of the individual jobs, and the three control units 140, 150, 1
60 is basically the same.

Then, as shown in FIG. 31, the RAM 14
In the work memory area 590 formed in 2, the storage area 591 for the control program is formed. The control program includes a main routine 596 for executing the above main job, a backup processing routine 592 and a recovery processing routine 593 as routines for backup processing when an abnormality occurs. A power cutoff flag 594 is formed as a finalized information storage means. For control units other than the backup target control unit, the backup processing routine 592 and the recovery processing routine 5 are included in the control program.
93 is not included. Further, in the work memory area 590, a game data storage area is formed, which functions as the backup data storage area 595 as it is during backup processing. However, the backup data storage area 595 may be formed in another area outside the work memory area 590 (in this case, it may be another RAM area).

The flow of processing will be described below with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 32 shows the flow of the main job of each control unit in a common and simplified manner. S1
Is a job for initializing the work memory area 590. However, as will be described later, the RAM including the work memory area is initialized in a normal reset (of course, all data is erased), and a power cutoff abnormality occurs. In the reset cycle immediately after returning, instead of initialization, the game data stored / held in the backup data storage area 595 (FIG. 31) is used to restore the storage state at the time of power interruption. .

After the initialization, in S2, it is confirmed by timer monitoring (soft timer processing by the counter program) whether or not the reset period has come. If the reset period has come, the initialization job of S1 is performed. Return to. On the other hand, if the reset period has not arrived, the process proceeds to S3 (I / O input / output) to access a predetermined port of the input / output port (for example, 144 in FIG. 16 in the main control unit 140), which is necessary for game control. Game data (game information)
To collect. The game data collected is stored in the backup data storage area 595 of FIG. 31, and
It is edited into the required form in S4.

The type of game data involved in the processing differs for each control unit. For example, in the case of the main controller 140, there are the following with regard to prize ball motion control. The added value of the 15 award ball count data that accompanies the passage of the count detection switch 53, the count detection, and the specific area passage detection switch 54.・
First-class start port (normal electric accessory) prize detection switch 17s
The additional value of the number of 6 award balls accompanying the passage of. If these added values are known, the number of prize balls discharged can be calculated.

Further, the first-type starting opening (normal electric accessory) prize detection switch 17s, count detection switch 53, count detection and specific area passage detection switch 54 shown in FIG.
Using the detection results such as, etc., and the obtained value of the special symbol judgment random number, the state of waiting for customers who are not playing the game, the state where the game is being played but there is no start prize (variation preparation state), start prize There is game data handled by the main control unit 140, such as data that is used to determine whether there is a special game state or the like. In addition, when a start winning is detected, a win / fail judgment is made based on a random number value, but the result of the judgment including the one for the pending start winning is also important game data. When backing up the above data, it can be said that it is desirable for the main control unit 140 to do this.

On the other hand, the main controller 140 to the frame controller 150
As the game data sent to, there are the following. The main controller 140 backs up these data.
It may be performed either on the side or on the side of the frame controller 150.・ 1
If the number of 5 award balls is not 0, the data of 15 award balls is sent, and if the number of 6 award balls is not 0, the data of 6 award balls is sent. In other cases, for example, when the passage of the game ball is detected at the left and right lower winning openings 21, 22 and the left and right entrance openings 42, 43, 10 prize ball number data is sent.

The award ball number data storage means of the main controller 140 stores a predetermined number of award ball number data corresponding to each winning opening.
The data is stored in a 2-bit unit in the order of winning. Based on the prize ball number data transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, the frame control unit 150 pays out the number of prize balls from the prize ball payout device 108 in the winning order, and each time the prize balls are paid out. Two bits of storage capacity will be released. The payout prize ball detection mechanism attached to the prize ball payout device 108 detects the number of prize balls when the prize balls are paid out, and this detection information is obtained by the main controller 140.
It is determined whether or not the prize ball payout based on the detection information is normal by collating with the prize ball number data transmitted from the frame control unit 150. Further, when the number of prize balls is paid out based on the instruction of the frame control unit 150, the number of prize balls paid out is subtracted from the total number of prize balls stored in the total prize ball number storage means of the main control unit 140. Will be done. For example, a buffer storing the prize ball number data transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 stores information on the number of prize balls to be paid out every 2 bits in the winning order. The total number of prize balls to be paid out is stored in the unit 140 in the total prize ball number storage means, and if a power cutoff occurs during the payout of prize balls, the continuation of the payout operation is restored using these data. It can be done later.

On the other hand, the game data relating to the special symbol display includes the following. That is, as described above, the main control unit 140 creates the data for performing the corresponding symbol display pattern image display control as a set of the above-mentioned command data according to the determination content of the hit determination, and the special symbol control And transmits to the unit 160. In this case, since the data of the necessary element command is set in the command memory (which is formed in the RAM 142 of FIG. 16 and should be included in the backup data storage area 595 (FIG. 31)), for example, the main command When the control unit 140 backs up, unprocessed ones of the element commands may be stored and held as game data. In this case, the commands are sequentially transferred to the special symbol control unit 160, and if the transferred ones are erased (or invalidated), only unprocessed ones remain on the main control unit 140 side, which is convenient. . In addition, it is preferable to store the timer value allowed until the next element module is started up as a part of the game data.

On the other hand, there is also a method of backing up the command data transferred to the special symbol control unit 160 as game information on the special symbol control unit 160 side. This is stored in the command memory formed in the RAM 162 of the special symbol control unit 160, and the corresponding element module is activated as the image processing progresses. Therefore, when aiming for more accurate display operation recovery, it is desirable to store the in-execution state of the element module as game data. Further, as described above, it is possible to collectively receive a plurality of command data from the main control unit 140 side and sequentially read and execute the command data, but in this case, the commands that have been processed are sequentially erased ( Or invalidated)
If you do, it is convenient because only unprocessed material remains.

Returning to FIG. 32, in S5, each game control job is executed using the edited game data. The details thereof have already been described, and thus will be omitted.

If a power interruption abnormality occurs due to a power failure or the like during execution of the main job as described above,
Backup processing is performed as follows. That is, when the power supply is shut down, the output voltage of the CPU main power supply circuit 552 in FIG.
Input to the 1 interrupt terminal. In response to this, the CPU 141
Starts the backup processing routine 592 of FIG.

Here, in FIG. 27, the interrupt terminal to which the power cutoff signal is input is an NMI (Non-Maskable Interrup
t) terminal, and the interrupt processing routine executed by activating this terminal cannot be disabled by the program, and another interrupt signal is sent to the NMI terminal or INT terminal of a normal interrupt. Even if input, processing is performed without any interruption. In addition, if there is an interrupt process that has been executed first, it is forcibly ended, and the NMI interrupt process has priority.

FIG. 33 shows the contents of the backup process. First, in step S7, the power cutoff flag 594 (FIG. 3).
The value of 1) is set to "abnormal (here," 1 ")". This flag is set only when the backup process in which the power cutoff signal is paired with the input is executed. That is, it is not set when a trouble other than the power interruption abnormality occurs (for example, program runaway).

Then, when the setting of the power-off flag is completed, the process proceeds to S8, and the game data stored in the backup data storage area 595 at that time is stored / stored.
Hold it. At this time, out of the game data distributed and stored in the work memory area 590, a process of collecting necessary data in the backup data storage area 595 may be executed, or a game collected in another area. A process of copying the data to the backup data storage area 595 may be performed. Thereby, the game data existing outside the backup data storage area 595 can be rescued from the loss.

On the other hand, only the game data remaining in the backup data storage area 595 may be relieved when the backup processing is executed. After the power is cut off, the backup data storage area 595 is automatically operated by the operation of the RAM backup power supply circuit 551 in FIG.
The stored contents will be stored and retained. Note that a simpler method is to set the entire address space of the RAM 142 as a backup storage / holding target.

Here, as shown in FIG. 33, the backup data storage area 5 is set at the same time when the power shutoff flag is set.
95 access is prohibited, and a stop command (STO
By inserting P) or setting an infinite loop, it is possible to prevent the routine from returning to the main job routine after the backup processing is completed. By doing so, the following effects can be achieved. If the program processing after the backup processing is not stopped, if a so-called illegal board or the like is attached to the game machine, an illegal signal may be added to the control due to an interrupt signal output from the illegal board or the like. . However, if you stop the program as above,
It is possible to prevent such a problem from occurring. The voltage of the auxiliary power supply is maintained for a certain period even after the backup processing is completed, and the program processing can be continued.However, if the auxiliary power supply voltage becomes unstable, the normal operation of the program will be difficult, and in extreme cases, it will be in a runaway state. The data in the backup data storage area 595 may be destroyed and destroyed. However, by stopping the program as described above, it is possible to prevent such a problem from occurring.

Next, FIG. 34 shows the flow of the initialization job. The feature of this job is that the power-off flag 594 of FIG.
Is to read the contents of. If the power is turned off for the first time after the recovery from the power-off abnormality, the content of the power-off flag 594 is set to "1" which means "abnormal". Therefore, in this case, the recovery processing routine of S1400 (FIG. 31; 593) is executed so that the continuous processing from the state before the power shutdown can be performed based on the backup data in the backup data storage area 595. , Work memory area 590 of RAM 142
The memory state of FIG. 31 is restored. In this embodiment, the recovery processing routine S1400 is executed if either the backup data of the job being processed or the backup data of the job waiting to be processed remains, and if neither remains, the RAM 142 is initialized (S1100). ). On the other hand, if the content of the power cutoff flag 594 is “no abnormality (here,“ 0 ”)”, the recovery processing routine S1400 is not executed and initialization S11 is performed.
00 is performed.

For example, in the case of a backup process related to a prize ball discharge job (for example, the frame control section 150), as shown in FIG. The stored state of the work memory area 590 (FIG. 31) is restored by using the number data) or the prize ball data in the process (data indicating the discharge state of the prize balls). In S5 of FIG. 32, the prize ball discharging operation is restarted based on the restored stored contents. On the other hand, in the case of backing up the flow of the control command after the judgment of the win / fail in the main control unit 140, as shown in FIG. 36, the win / fail data in the process waiting or in the process is used to store the work memory area 590 (FIG. 31). Restore the condition. 32 S
In 5, the control command (for example, the special symbol main job (S90), the command job (S170), etc. in FIG. 49) related to the hit determination based on the restored storage content is restarted.

If the power supply switch is turned off at the end of business hours at a game store or the like, this is not detected as a power shutoff abnormality and backup processing is not performed (or something that has been performed once is not performed). It is desirable to disable it). There are various methods for this. For example, there is a method in which a termination signal is generated by turning off the power switch and a means for inhibiting the generation of the power interruption signal by this termination signal is provided. Then, after the process of inhibiting the generation of the power cutoff signal is completed, the power supply from the power supply is cut off. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, a tri-state buffer 595 that uses the end signal as an inhibit input is provided on the output line of the power cutoff signal from the power monitoring circuit 553. The tristate buffer 595 sets the end signal to the L level.
Input to the inhibit terminal of, the output of the tri-state buffer 595 becomes a high impedance state,
Output of power cutoff signal is prohibited. This method is particularly effective when the backup processing is performed by the NMI interrupt that cannot interrupt the program as described above. As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-85421, there is also a method of initializing the RAM 142 when a certain period of time elapses after the power is cut off.

As shown in FIG. 37, the backup storage of game data is stored in the CPU 141 (or 151,
161) internal RAM area 142 '(or 15
2 ', 162') may be performed in a backup data storage area 580 (indicated as "backup RAM" in the figure) 580. In this case, the output of the RAM backup power supply circuit 551 is CP
It is connected to a RAM backup terminal provided in U141 for memory protection of the internal RAM area 142 '.

On the other hand, the backup processing routine 592 may be executed not by the NMI interrupt processing as described above but by the normal INT interrupt processing as shown in FIG. In this case, the CPU 141 resets the program routine being executed at that time after a predetermined time has elapsed, and then executes the backup processing routine 592.
To start. The interrupt arbitration circuit 596 is provided so that the backup processing routine 592 is prioritized when a plurality of INT interrupts conflict with each other. When the power cutoff signal is received, the arbitration circuit 596 functions so as to wait for another interrupt signal and give priority to the power cutoff signal as an interrupt signal. A circuit configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 19 including two enable flip-flops can be adopted (the D latches 418 and 421 are enable flip-flops). In this case, the operation is the same as that shown in FIG. 19 if the first interrupt signal is associated with the power-off signal and the second interrupt signal is associated with another interrupt signal.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 39, when the CPU 141 having a plurality of INT terminals (INT1, INT2, ...) With priorities is used, the power-off signal is input to the INT1 terminal having the highest priority. I will do it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 40, the CPU 141
A power supply cutoff signal may be input to a separate input / output interface (input / output circuit) 581 (144) connected to the input / output interface (note that the input / output interface is also provided in FIGS. 27 and 37 to 39). However, the illustration is omitted in these figures). In this case, CP
U141 is an input / output interface 581 (144)
The power cutoff signal output port is spontaneously accessed at a predetermined timing to detect the power cutoff signal. FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing the flow of the job in that case. In the I / O input / output step of S3, port access of the power cutoff signal is performed, and if the power cutoff signal is detected in S2000, the backup of S7 to S8 is performed. The processing routine is executed as a subroutine. Also in this case, it is desirable to stop the processing (S9) after the backup processing routine is executed.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to the wording of each claim without departing from the scope described in each claim, and extends to a range easily replaced by those skilled in the art, and Further, improvements based on the knowledge that those skilled in the art usually have can be added as appropriate. In addition to the first-class pachinko machine, the present invention can be applied to various kinds of ball game machines such as so-called right-of-use items, feathers, models called arrange balls, and general electric officers.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of substrates of each accessory on the game board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a game ball path on the back surface of the game board and a mounting arrangement of switches and the like.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG.

6 is an explanatory view of a back mechanism board of the pachinko machine of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a part of the structure of the flow path of the safe sphere.

8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the flow path of the safe sphere shown in FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the downflow path of the safe sphere of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view of a prize ball payout device.

12 is a sectional view taken along the arrow in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another aspect of the prize ball payout sensor.

16 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic control device of the pachinko machine of FIG.

17 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job in the electronic control unit of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball total number storage job.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball number data storage job.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of a prize ball number data storage and extraction job.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a prize ball number data storage buffer.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing storage of the number of prize balls to be paid out and extraction of the storage in the related art.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage state of the number of prize balls to be paid out in the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the extraction of the number of prize balls stored in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of another aspect of the prize ball number data storage job.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of another aspect of the prize ball number data storage and extraction job.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration for implementing a backup processing function when an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the power supply monitoring circuit.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a constant voltage circuit.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the constant voltage circuit.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a work memory area of the backup target control unit.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the flow of a backup processing routine.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the flow of an initialization job.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart when FIG. 34 is embodied as a prize ball discharging job.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart in the case where FIG. 34 is embodied in the flow of a control command after the determination of win / fail.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a first modification example of FIG. 27.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a second modification of the same.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a third modification of the same.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a fourth modification of the same.

41 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job corresponding to the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory view showing another mode of the stored state of the number of prize balls to be paid out in the present invention.

FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram showing the extraction of the number of prize balls stored in FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 shows a case where abnormality determination / error processing of excess or shortage of prize ball payout is performed according to the value of the remaining ball counter,
The flowchart which shows the modification of a prize ball total number storage job.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing another example of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing an example of a remaining ball count storage job on the frame control unit side.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing an example of a prize ball payout job.

FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the electronic control device when the ball discharging device is provided.

FIG. 49 (a) is a rear view of the lower part of the ball flow and its surroundings when the pachinko machine is used as a CR machine, (b) is a side sectional view of the ball discharging device of the pachinko machine and its periphery, and (c) is The back view of the lower part of a ball flow and its periphery when a pachinko machine is used as a cash machine.

50 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the prize ball operation corresponding to the structure of FIG. 49.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko machine (ball game machine) 109 prize ball payout device 140 Main control unit 150 frame control unit 210 cam 218 ball passage

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akinori Kato             125 Miyoro-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Thailand             Within Yoelek Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masashi Sekido             125 Miyoro-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Thailand             Within Yoelek Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideto Nagata             125 Miyoro-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Thailand             Within Yoelek Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C088 AA17 AA34 AA42 BA09 BA17                       BA21 BA32 BC31 BC53 BC58                       DA21

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A winning ball detection unit for detecting a winning ball, a prize ball number information generating unit for generating prize ball number information which is information on the number of prize balls to be paid out based on a winning ball detection signal, and the generation thereof. Prize ball payout control means for causing the prize ball payout mechanism to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls based on the obtained prize ball number information, and a payout prize ball detection mechanism for detecting the payout of prize balls by the prize ball payout control means. And prize ball number information generated by the prize ball number information generating means,
Based on the detection information of the payout prize balls by the payout prize ball detection mechanism, a prize ball payout management means for managing the payout of the prize balls by the prize ball payout mechanism, and an abnormality in which the power supply voltage drops due to the power cutoff have occurred. Abnormality detection means for detecting whether or not the abnormality detection information is generated, abnormality detection information generation means for generating abnormality determination information in response to a detection result of the abnormality detection means, abnormality determination information storage means for storing the abnormality determination information, Game information storage means for storing prize ball number information as game information, and at the time of abnormality detection in which the power supply voltage drops due to the power shutdown,
A backup execution control unit that performs a loss prevention process of the game information stored in the game information storage unit, and a processing routine that writes the abnormality determination information in the abnormality determination information storage unit is a CP of the backup execution control unit.
Subroutine executed when U voluntarily accesses a separate input / output circuit connected to the CPU at a predetermined timing and confirms an abnormality detection input to the input / output circuit during the access In addition, the winning ball detected by the winning ball detecting unit upon entering the winning opening is collected together with the out ball without being detected again thereafter. 2. The prize ball payout management means, when the detected number of payout prize balls reaches the number of prize balls to be paid out,
The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the payout of the prize balls is completed. 3. The award ball payout management means stores a total award ball number storage means for storing a total award ball number to be paid out, and a corresponding award ball number each time a winning ball is detected. An award ball number adding means for adding to the total award ball number stored in the award number storage means, and a payout award number stored in the total award ball number storage means based on the detection information of the award winning award balls. The total number of prize balls is subtracted from the total number of prize balls, and based on the total number of prize balls stored in the total number of prize balls storage means, whether or not the payout of prize balls is completed is determined. The ball game machine according to claim 2, which is managed. 4. A main control unit that functions as the prize ball number information generation unit and the prize ball payout management unit, and a frame control unit that functions as the prize ball payout control unit, and the prize from the main control unit. While the number-of-balls information is transferred to the frame control unit in one direction, the frame-control unit causes the prize-ball payout mechanism to pay out the prize balls based on the prize-ball number information. 4. The detection information of the payout prize ball from the payout prize ball detection mechanism for detecting the prize ball paid out from the ball payout mechanism is transmitted to the main control unit. The ball game machine according to any one of claims. 5. The award ball number information transferred from the main control unit to the frame control unit includes a unit award ball number, which is a payout award ball number per winning a prize determined for each winning opening. The frame control unit, when the received prize ball number information specifies a payout number that does not match the predetermined unit prize ball number, a payout prohibiting unit that prohibits payout of prize balls. The ball game machine according to claim 4, wherein the ball game machine is included. 6. The number of unit prize balls is determined in a plurality of ways depending on the type of the winning hole, and the payout prohibiting means is
The ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein when the received prize ball number information does not match any of the plurality of unit prize balls, payout of the prize balls is prohibited. 7. The award ball payout management means determines whether the detected number of the award balls to be paid out exceeds a predetermined number or more to the number of award balls to be paid out, or the number of award balls to be paid out is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The ball according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a payout abnormality determination / output unit that determines that there is an abnormality in payout of a prize ball and outputs a predetermined abnormality output. Amusement machine. 8. The award ball payout management means determines whether the detected number of award balls to be paid out exceeds a predetermined number or more to the number of award balls to be paid out, or the number of award balls to be paid out is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The payout abnormality determination / output means is configured to determine that there is an abnormality in prize ball payout, and perform a predetermined abnormality output, and the payout abnormality determination / output means is stored in the total prize ball number storage means. It is determined that the prize ball payout is abnormal in at least one of the case where the detected number of the payout prize balls exceeds a predetermined number or more, and the case where the number of the detected prize balls exceeds the predetermined number. The ball game machine according to claim 3, wherein the abnormal output is performed. 9. The prize ball payout management means has an abnormality in paying out prize balls when the total number of prize balls stored in the total prize ball number storage means is equal to or more than a predetermined limit number. The ball game machine according to claim 3, further comprising: a payout abnormality determination / output means that determines that the abnormality has occurred and outputs a predetermined abnormality. 10. The prize ball payout mechanism is configured as a ball discharge means commonly used for ball rental discharge and prize ball discharge, and the payout prize ball detection mechanism detects a ball for distinguishing between a ball loan and a prize ball. 10. The award ball payout management means uses the detection information of the award balls that have been detected in distinction as the detection information of the award ball, according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The listed ball game machine.