JP2003334371A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine whose reliability is improved. <P>SOLUTION: A main control board C and a put-out control board H compare the confirming key of an opposite control board transmitted from the opposite control board via input/output ports 15 and 35 with reference information (the confirming key of the opposite control board) which is already stored in RAMs 13 and 33 before the transmission and discriminate the normality of the opposite control board by confirming key comparing and discriminating parts 27 and 37. Thus, the main control board C and the put-out control board H can mutually confirm the normality of the opposite control board and the reliable game machine is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine typified by a pachinko machine mainly comprises a main control board for controlling a game and various sub-control boards (based on various commands transmitted from the main control board). (Payout control board, display control board, sound effect control board, lamp control board, etc.), and various devices such as a display device, a payout device, and a ball launching device connected to these. The payout control board performs payout control of prize balls and loan balls based on a command transmitted from the main control board. The sound effect control board controls the output of the sound effect based on the command transmitted from the main control board. The display control board performs display control such as variable display of symbols based on the command transmitted from the main control board. In this way, each sub control board is controlled by various commands that are unidirectionally transmitted from the main control board to each sub control board.

[0003]

However, the conventional example having such a structure has the following problems. That is, in the conventional game machine, the communication between the main control board and each sub control board is performed by transmitting various commands from the main control board to each sub control board only in one direction. The main control board cannot confirm the normality of each sub-control board under its control. In addition, since each sub control board is controlled according to the main control board, whether the main control board is normal or not is controlled according to the main control board. I can't. For this reason, the main control board and the sub control board are used in a state where the normality of the other party is not confirmed, which is a problem in improving the reliability of the gaming machine.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine having improved reliability.

[0005]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to achieve such an object. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine provided with a first control board and a second control board that perform game-related control in association with each other, and control one of the first and second control boards. The board includes a transmission means for transmitting its own identification information to the other control board, and the other control board stores the identification information of the one control board in advance as reference information, and the one of the one control board. Comparing the identification information transmitted from the control board with the reference information stored in the storage means, a comparison determination means for determining the normality of one of the control boards is provided. is there.

(Operation / Effect) According to the invention described in claim 1, one of the first and second control boards is
The other control board is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting its own identification information to the other control board. The comparison control means compares the received identification information with the reference information stored in the storage means to determine the normality of one of the control boards. The normality of the board or the second control board can be confirmed by the second control board or the first control board which is the other control board.

[0007] The present specification also discloses the following inventions relating to gaming machines.

(1) In the gaming machine according to claim 1, the transmission means of the one control board transmits the identification information of itself to the other control board before and after, and the other control board. The storage means stores the identification information previously transmitted by the transmission means as reference information,
The comparison determination means of the other control board compares the identification information transmitted later by the transmission means with the reference information stored in the storage means to determine the normality of one control board. Characteristic gaming machine.

According to the invention described in (1) above,
One control board of the second control boards is provided with transmission means for respectively transmitting the identification information of itself to the other control board, and the other control board is transmitted by the transmission means first. Comparing the identification information of the control board as the reference information with the storage means, and comparing the identification information of the one control board transmitted later by the transmission means with the reference information stored in the storage means, Since the comparison control means for determining the normality is provided, the normality of the first control board or the second control board, which is one of the control boards, is
It can be confirmed by the second control board or the first control board which is the other control board.

(2) In the gaming machine according to claim 1, or in the gaming machine according to (1), the first control board is a main control board for controlling a game, and the second
The control board is a payout control board for paying out a valuable object having a predetermined valuable value based on a command transmitted from the main control board.

According to the invention described in (2), one of the main control board and the payout control board has a transmission means for transmitting its own identification information to the other control board, and the other control board. The control board of 1 compares the identification information of one control board as reference information with the reference information stored in the storage means, and compares the identification information transmitted from one control board with the reference information. Since the control board is provided with a comparison and determination means for determining the normality of the control board, the normality of the main control board or the payout control board, which is one control board, is compared with the payout control board or the main board, which is the other control board. It can be confirmed on the control board.

(3) A gaming machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine described in (1) or (2) above, a power-off detection unit for detecting a power-off is provided, and the transmission unit of the one control board receives power from the power-off detection unit to supply power. When it is disconnected, its own identification information is transmitted to the other control board, and after power is turned on, its own identification information is transmitted to the other control board, and the storage means of the other control board is transmitted by the transmission means. The identification information of one control board when the power is turned off is stored as reference information, and this reference information is retained even after the power is turned on, and the comparison / determination means of the other control board is turned on by the transmission means. Comparing the identification information of one control board transmitted later with the reference information stored in the storage means,
A game machine characterized by determining the normality of one of the control boards.

According to the invention described in (3) above,
The transmission means of one of the second control boards transmits its own identification information to the other control board when the power is turned off, and further transmits its own identification information to the other control board after the power is turned on. The control board storage means stores the identification information of one control board transmitted by the transmission means when the power is cut off as reference information, and the comparison determination means of the other control board,
The normality of one control board is judged by comparing the identification information of one control board transmitted by the transmission means after the power is turned on with the reference information stored in the storage means. The normality of the control board can be confirmed. That is, it is possible to confirm whether the first control board or the second control board has changed before power-off and after power-on.

(4) In the gaming machine described in (3), the other control board transmits its own identification information to one control board when the power is cut off when receiving a signal from the power cut detection means. Further, it is provided with a transmission means for transmitting its own identification information to one of the control boards after the power is turned on, and the one control board stores the identification information transmitted from the other control board when the power is turned off as reference information. Storage means,
Comparing and determining means for comparing the identification information transmitted from the other control board after the power is turned on with the reference information stored in the storage means to determine the normality of the other control board. A gaming machine characterized by.

According to the gaming machine described in (4) above, when the power is turned off, the first control board transmits its own identification information to the second control board when the power is turned off, and also the second control board. The second control board stores the identification information of the second control board when the power is cut off, which is transmitted from the second control board, and transmits the identification information of itself when the power is cut off to the first control board, and the first control The identification information of the first control board, which is transmitted from the board when the power is cut off, is stored as reference information. Then, after the power is turned on, the first control board determines the normality of the second control board by comparing the identification information of the second control board transmitted from the second control board with the stored reference information. The second control board compares the identification information of the second control board transmitted from the first control board with the stored reference information to determine the normality of the second control board. As a result, the normalities of the first control board and the second control board can be mutually confirmed. That is, the first
It is possible to mutually confirm whether the control board and the second control board have changed before power-off and after power-on.

(5) A game machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the control board provided with the transmission means among the first and second control boards is provided with the transmission means after comparison and determination of identification information. A game machine characterized by comprising update means for updating the self-identification information to be transmitted until the self-identification information is transmitted.

According to the gaming machine described in (5) above, the updating means transmits the own identification information to be transmitted after the comparison and determination of the identification information and before the transmission of the own identification information by the transmitting means. Since the update is performed, the normality of the first control board and the second control board can be confirmed using the updated identification information, and the first control board and the second control board can be compared to the case where the confirmation key has a fixed value. It is possible to prevent fraud with respect to more advanced and realize high security.

(6) A gaming machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (5), the control board provided with the transmission means among the first and second control boards includes random number generation means for generating a random number, A gaming machine characterized by using a random number generated by a random number generation means as its own identification information.

According to the gaming machine described in (6) above, since the random number generated by the random number generating means is used as the identification information of itself, the normality of the first control board and the second control board is simple. I can confirm.

(7) A gaming machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (6), the comparison / determination means includes a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the identification information is received from the control board of the other party within a predetermined time after the power is turned on. At the same time, it is determined that the control board of the other party is abnormal based on the non-reception monitoring result by the monitoring means that the identification information from the control board of the other party has not been received within a predetermined time after the power is turned on. A gaming machine characterized by that.

According to the gaming machine described in (7), the comparison / determination means includes a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the identification information is received from the control board of the other party within a predetermined time after the power is turned on, and the power source The control board of the other party is determined to be abnormal based on the result of the non-reception monitoring by the monitoring means that the identification information from the control board of the other party has not been received within the predetermined time after the power is turned on. Even if the identification information is not transmitted from the control board of the other party within a predetermined time thereafter, the normality of the control board of the other party can be confirmed.

(8) A gaming machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (7), the comparison / determination means controls the comparison / determination means based on the determination result of the comparison / determination means that the control board of the opponent is abnormal. A game machine comprising stop means for stopping a predetermined operation of a control board having the game machine.

According to the gaming machine described in (8), the comparison and determination means has the comparison and determination means based on the comparison and determination result of the comparison and determination means that the opponent control board is abnormal. Since a stop means for stopping the predetermined operation of is provided, if the control board of the other party is abnormal,
The predetermined operation of the control board of its own, that is, the control board having the comparison / determination unit that has been determined to be abnormal is stopped, and the control board in an abnormal state can be prevented from being used.

(9) The gaming machine according to claim 1, or
In the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (8), the gaming machine is a pachinko machine.

According to the gaming machine described in (9) above, the first
A pachinko machine capable of confirming the normality of the control board or the second control board can be provided. As a basic configuration of the pachinko machine, an operation handle is provided, a ball is launched in a predetermined game area in accordance with the operation of the operation handle, and the ball is won in an operating port provided at a predetermined position in the game area ( Alternatively, as a necessary condition for passing through the actuation gate), the identification information (design etc.) dynamically displayed on the display device is fixedly stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special game state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning port) arranged at a predetermined position in the game area is opened in a predetermined manner to make it possible to win a ball, and the value depending on the number of winning prizes. The value (including not only the gift ball but also the data to be written on the magnetic card, etc.) is given.

(10) The gaming machine according to claim 1, or the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine. .

According to the gaming machine described in (10) above, it is possible to provide a slot machine in which the normality of the first control board or the second control board can be confirmed. The basic configuration of the slot machine is “provided with a variable display means for dynamically displaying an identification information sequence consisting of a plurality of identification information and then confirming the identification information, and for operating a starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). The dynamic display of the identification information is started due to the operation, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses, and the stop thereof. It becomes a gaming machine provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player, on condition that the confirmed identification information at that time is the specific identification information. In this case, coins, medals, etc. are typical examples of the game medium.

(11) The gaming machine according to claim 1, or the gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the gaming machine is a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine. A gaming machine characterized by being.

According to the gaming machine described in (11) above, the normality of the first control board or the second control board can be confirmed.
It is possible to provide a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine. As a basic configuration of this fusion, "a variable display means for dynamically displaying an identification information sequence consisting of a plurality of identification information and then confirming and displaying the identification information is provided, and a start operation means (for example, an operation lever) is provided. The dynamic display of the identification information is started due to the operation, the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button), or after a predetermined time elapses, It is provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on condition that the fixed identification information at the time of stop is the specific identification information, and a ball is used as a game medium and the identification is performed. This is a gaming machine configured to require a predetermined number of balls to start the dynamic display of information, and to pay out a large number of balls when a special game state occurs.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine, which is a kind of ball game machine, as an example of the game machine, particularly a first-class pachinko machine, will be described. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a third-class pachinko gaming machine (also called a right-of-use item), a coin gaming machine,
Of course, it can be used for other game machines such as slot machines.

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

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

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

The ordinary electric accessory 7 disposed below the LCD 6 is provided with a symbol operation opening (first type starting opening) 7a,
When the ball passes through the first-type starting port switch 18 provided in the symbol operating port 7a, the variable display of the LCD 6 is started. A specific winning opening (big winning opening) 8 is provided below the symbol working opening 7a. The specific winning opening 8 is a big hit when the display result after the change of the LCD 6 matches one of the predetermined symbol combinations, and a predetermined time (for example, 3
It is a winning opening that is opened until 0 seconds elapses or until 10 balls are won.

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

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

The pachinko machine P, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a main control board C for controlling the entire pachinko machine P,
It is provided with various sub-control boards (for example, payout control board H and the like) that operate according to the transmission command from the main control board C. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine, and in particular, the main control board that controls the game content of the pachinko machine and the payout control board that controls the payout of prize balls and lending balls. It is the block diagram which showed the dynamic structure.
The main control board C corresponds to the first control board in the present invention, and the payout control board H corresponds to the second control board in the present invention.

On the main control board C of the pachinko machine P, an MPU 11 as a one-chip microcomputer which is an arithmetic unit is mounted. The MPU 11 has a ROM 12 storing various control programs executed by the MPU 11, fixed value data, etc., and various data etc. temporarily stored in executing the control program stored in the ROM 12. A RAM 13 as a memory for storing the data and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are incorporated. The programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 are stored in the ROM 12 as a part of the control program. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the NMI interrupt processing executed separately in the main control board and the payout control board, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the main processing executed in the main control board. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an initialization process that is separately executed in the main processes of the main control board and the payout control board when the power of the pachinko machine is turned on. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the comparison determination process of the payout control board confirmation key executed by the main control board.

The RAM 13 of the main control board C has a backup area 13a. In addition, even after the power of the pachinko machine P is turned off, the power board 5 is provided in the RAM 13.
A backup voltage is supplied from 0, and the data is held (backed up).

The backup area 13a restores the state of the pachinko machine P to the state before the power is turned off when the power is turned off (including the case where the power is turned off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like). This is an area for storing the values of stack pointers, registers, I / O, etc. when the power is cut off (including the occurrence of a power failure. The same applies hereinafter). The writing to the backup area 13a is executed when the power is turned off by the NMI interrupt processing (see FIG. 4), and conversely, the restoration of each value written to the backup area 13a is performed when the power is turned on (when the power is turned on, the power is turned on. Including:
The same) initialization processing (see FIG. 6) is executed.
NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) of MPU 11
A power-off signal 51 output from a power-off monitoring circuit 50b, which will be described later, is input to the terminal (non-maskable terminal) when the power is turned off (including a case of power failure). Upon occurrence, the power-off process (NMI interrupt process) of FIG. 4 is immediately executed.

The MPU 11 is connected to the input / output port 15. The input / output port 15 is connected to a payout control board H, which controls payout of prize balls and rental balls by a prize ball payout motor 21, through two or more signal lines so that bidirectional communication is possible, and a plurality of ordinary ports are provided. The winning switch 17, the first-type starting opening switch 18, the V count switch 19, the error lamp 23, the other input / output device 25, the power-off monitoring circuit 50b and the clear switch 50 provided on the power board 50.
c, respectively.

A plurality of normal winning switches 17 are provided on the game board 1
It is a switch for detecting each of the balls that have won the plurality of normal winning openings 5 and is provided in the vicinity of the entrance of each normal winning opening 5. First-class starter switch 18
Is a switch for detecting a sphere that has passed through the symbol operating port (first type starting port) 7a, and is provided in the vicinity of the symbol operating port 7a. When a ball is detected by any of the normal winning switch 17 or the first-type starting opening switch 18,
A command relating to the payout of prize balls is transmitted from the main control board C to the payout control board H, and the payout control board H pays out five prize balls.

The V count switch 19 has a specific winning opening 8
This is a switch for detecting a ball that has won the V zone 8a. Further, the 10-count switch 20 is a switch for detecting a ball that has won a prize other than the V zone 8a in the specific winning opening 8. V count switch 19 or 1
When the 0 count switch 20 detects a ball, the main control board C sends a command regarding payout of prize balls to the payout control board H, and the payout control board H pays out 15 prize balls.

The payout control board H is for performing payout control of prize balls and loan balls, and is equipped with an MPU 31 which is an arithmetic unit. The MPU 31 stores an R that stores a control program executed by the MPU 31 and fixed value data.
OM32 and RAM3 used as work memory etc.
3 and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit. The programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to 10 are stored in the ROM 32 as a part of the control program. FIG. 8 shows N executed separately for the main control board and the payout control board.
It is a flow chart of MI interruption processing. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a main process executed in the payout control board of the pachinko machine. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the comparison / determination process of the confirmation key of the main control board, which is executed by the payout control board.

The RAM 33 of the payout control board H has a backup area 33a. In addition, this RAM33
A backup voltage is supplied from the power supply board 50 even after the power of the pachinko machine P is turned off, so that the data can be held (backed up).

The backup area 33a, like the backup area 13a of the main control board C described above, is turned on again after the power is turned off (including the case where the power is turned off due to a power failure or the like). , In order to restore the state of the pachinko machine P to the state before the power is cut off, the stack pointer, each register and I /
This is an area for storing values such as O. The writing to the backup area 33a is executed when the power is turned off by the NMI interrupt processing (see FIG. 8), and conversely, the restoration of each value written in the backup area 33a is performed when the power is turned on (when the power is turned on, the power is turned on. Included)) (see FIG. 6). It should be noted that the NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) terminal (non-maskable terminal) of the MPU 31 is powered off (including the case of power failure).
Is configured so that a power-off signal 51 output from a power-off monitoring circuit 50b, which will be described later, is input to the power-off monitoring circuit 50b.
Is executed immediately.

The MPU 31 is connected to the input / output port 35. The input / output port 35 is connected to the main control board C described above, and also connected to the prize ball payout motor 21, the prize ball count switch 22, the error lamp 23, another input / output device 25, and the power supply board 50. Power supply disconnection monitoring circuit 5 provided
0b and the clear switch 50c, respectively.

The prize ball count switch 22 is a switch for detecting the prize balls paid out by the prize ball payout motor 21, and is mounted on the prize ball payout unit S together with the prize ball payout motor 21. The prize ball payout motor 21 is a motor for paying out prize balls, and the drive of the prize ball payout motor 21 is controlled by the payout control board H.

Next, the structure, which is one of the characteristic parts of the present invention, will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the MPU 11 of the main control board C uses the confirmation key as identification information of the main control board C, that is, the confirmation key for counting the confirmation key of the main control board C (for example, a random number). A key random number counter 26 is provided. In this embodiment, a random number (for example, 0 to 255) is used as the confirmation key, and the amount of information is about 1 or 2 bytes, for example. The value of the confirmation key random number counter 26, that is, the confirmation key of the main control board C is appropriately updated (see step S16 in FIG. 5), and the updated value before power-off is stored in the backup area 13a of the RAM 13. The memory is retained (backed up).
Further, in the backup area 13a of the RAM 13, the confirmation key of the other party as the identification information of the payout control board H which is transmitted from the payout control board H via the input / output ports 35 and 15 and is updated when the power is turned off ( Discharge control board H
Confirmation key) is also stored and held as reference information. Further, the MPU 11 compares the confirmation key of the payout control board H transmitted from the payout control board H after the power is turned on with the reference information stored and held in the RAM 13 (confirmation key of the payout control board H when the power is turned off). A check key comparison / determination unit 27 for determining the normality of the payout control board H is provided. further,
The confirmation key comparison / determination unit 27 includes a reception monitoring circuit 28 that monitors whether or not the confirmation key is received from the payout control board H within a predetermined time after the power is turned on. further,
The MPU 11 includes a function stop circuit 29 that stops a predetermined function of the main control board C (in this embodiment, the entire sequence of the main control board C). The confirmation key random number counter 26, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 27, the reception monitoring circuit 28, and the function stop circuit 29 are realized by executing the control program stored in the ROM 12 by the MPU 11. It is a thing.

On the other hand, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H is a confirmation key random number for counting its own confirmation key as the identification information of the payout control board H, that is, a confirmation key (for example, a random number) of the payout control board H. And a counter 36. In this embodiment, a random number (for example, 0
.About.255), and the amount of information is, for example, about 1 or 2 bytes. This confirmation key random number counter 3
The value of 6, that is, the confirmation key of the payout control board H is appropriately updated (see step S65 of FIG. 9), and the value updated before power-off is the backup area 33 of the RAM 33.
It is stored and backed up in a. Furthermore, this R
In the backup area 33a of the AM 33, there is also a confirmation key of the main control board C which is transmitted from the main control board C via the input / output ports 15 and 35 and is updated when the power is turned off. It is stored and held as reference information. Further, the MPU 31 stores the confirmation key of the main control board C, which is transmitted from the main control board C after the power is turned on, in the RAM 33.
A confirmation key comparison / determination unit 37 for determining the normality of the main control board C by comparing it with the reference information (confirmation key of the main control board C when the power is cut off). Further, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 37 includes a reception monitoring circuit 38 for monitoring whether or not the confirmation key is received from the main control board C within a predetermined time after the power is turned on. Further, the MPU 31 is provided with a function stop circuit 39 for stopping a predetermined function of the payout control board H (in this embodiment, the entire sequence of the payout control board H). The confirmation key random number counter 36, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 37, the reception monitoring circuit 38, and the function stop circuit 39 are realized by the MPU 31 executing the control program stored in the ROM 32. It is a thing.

The generation of the self-confirmation key in the MPUs 11 and 31 and the transmission function thereof and the input / output ports 15 and 35 correspond to the transmission means in the present invention, and the backup areas 13a and RAM3 of the RAM 13 described above.
The backup area 33a of No. 3 corresponds to the storage means in the present invention, and the above-mentioned confirmation key random number counters 26, 3 are provided.
6 corresponds to the random number generating means and the updating means in the present invention, the above-mentioned confirmation key comparison / determination section 27, 37 corresponds to the comparison / determination means in the present invention, and the above-mentioned reception monitoring circuits 28, 38 monitor in the present invention. The function stop circuits 29 and 39 described above correspond to the stop means in the present invention.

The error lamp 23 is for notifying the player who is playing a game or the manager of the game hall that an abnormality has occurred in the control of the pachinko machine P. This error lamp 23
Is provided on the upper side (not shown) of the game board 1, and when the comparison determination result of the confirmation key on the main control board C or the payout control board H does not match, the main control board C or the payout control board It is turned on under the control of H. By turning on the error lamp 23, the player and the manager of the game hall can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in the control of the pachinko machine P.

Here, in recent years, as a fraudulent act for the purpose of gaining fraudulent profits, the main control board C, which directly affects the occurrence of a big hit, is replaced with an unauthorized board (a legitimate main control board C
The electronic parts (MPU11 etc.) are replaced with other electronic parts that have been tampered with. ) Has been reported to cause unreasonable jackpots. In this case, the pachinko machine shipped from the factory is replaced with an illegal board during the transportation until it is installed in the game hall, or the game hall becomes unattended after being installed in the game hall, etc. Intrudes into the game hall and is replaced with an unauthorized board. Such a fraudulent act may make it difficult to judge that the fraudulent act is performed by just looking at the pachinko machine, and the gaming hall may suffer a great disadvantage.

On the other hand, the pachinko machine P of the present embodiment is provided with the main control board C and the payout control board H described above. That is, the backup area 13a of the main control board C is updated with its own confirmation key (main control board C confirmation key) and the other party's confirmation key (payout control board H confirmation key) when the power is turned off. It is stored in memory. In addition, the backup area 33a of the payout control board H
In the table, a self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) and a counterpart confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) are updated and stored in memory when the power is turned off. Then, at power-on (including power-on due to power failure elimination), the main control board C refers to the confirmation key of the payout control board H transmitted from the payout control board H, which is already held in the backup area 13a. The normality of the payout control board H is determined by comparing with the information (confirmation key of the payout control board H). Further, the payout control board H compares the confirmation key of the main control board C transmitted from the main control board C with the reference information (confirmation key of the main control board C) already held in the backup area 33a. , The normality of the main control board C is determined.

Specifically, if the confirmation key matches the reference information, the other board remains unchanged before power-off and after power-on, that is, it is determined to be normal. it can. On the contrary, if the confirmation key does not match the reference information, the other board is different from that before the power is cut off, that is, before and after the power is turned off.
That is, it can be determined to be abnormal. If the confirmation key is not sent after the power is turned on, the confirmation key after the power is turned on is not sent for comparison with the reference information (the confirmation key that was held when the power was turned off). There is no target), so the confirmation key does not match the reference information, and the board of the other party has changed before and after power-off and is different from before power-off, that is, It can be determined to be abnormal.

In this way, after the power is turned on, the main control board C
And the payout control board H are mutually opponents (the payout control board H
And because the main control board C) can be checked,
Even if one of the main control board C and the payout control board H is replaced with an unauthorized board when the pachinko machine P is powered off, the unauthorized board can be detected when the pachinko machine P is powered on, and the main control can be performed. It is possible to prevent fraud on the board C or the payout control board H. In addition, it is possible to prevent an illegally modified control board (main control board C, payout control board H, or the like) from being attached to the pachinko machine P and being illegally used. Further, it is possible to detect a failure of the main control board C or the payout control board H. Further, it is possible to detect disconnection between the main control board C and the payout control board H.

The power supply board 50 includes a power supply section 50a for supplying electric power to each section of the pachinko machine P, and a power interruption monitoring circuit 5.
0b and a clear switch 50c. The power-off monitor circuit 50b outputs a power-off signal 51 to the respective NMI terminals of the MPU 11 of the main control board C and the MPU 31 of the payout control board H when the power is cut off (including power cutoff due to occurrence of a power failure or the like). It is a circuit for. The power-off monitoring circuit 50b monitors the voltage of DC stable 24V, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 50a, and when the voltage is less than 22V, the power-off (including that due to power failure etc. is included. .) And the power off signal 51
Is output to the main control board C and the payout control board H. By the output of the power-off signal 51,
The main control board C and the payout control board H recognize the occurrence of power failure, and execute the power-off processing (NMI interrupt processing in FIG. 4). Note that the power supply unit 50a outputs the output voltage of 5 V, which is the drive voltage of the control system, for a sufficient time to execute the power-off processing even after the DC stable voltage of 24 V becomes less than 22 V. Since it is configured to maintain the normal value, the main control board C and the payout control board H can normally execute the power-off processing. The power cutoff monitoring circuit 50b described above corresponds to the power cutoff detecting means in the present invention.

The clear switch 50c is a switch for clearing the data backed up in the RAM 13 of the main control board C and the RAM 33 of the payout control board H (however, the confirmation key is not cleared), and is a push button. It consists of a type of switch. When the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on while the clear switch 50c is being pressed (including turning on the power by eliminating the power failure), the main control board C and the payout control board H cause
The data in the respective RAMs 13 and 33 (data excluding the confirmation key) is cleared. The confirmation key is finally cleared by executing a procedure that satisfies special conditions in order to prevent the confirmation key from being accidentally cleared. In addition, the main control board C and the payout control board H
Before the factory shipment of the pachinko machine P, the confirmation key is held in the RAM 13 of the main control board C and the RAM 33 of the payout control board H, respectively.

Next, each processing executed by the pachinko machine P configured as described above will be described with reference to each flowchart of FIGS. First, using FIG. 4 and FIG.
The NMI interrupt processing that is separately executed by the main control board C and the payout control board H when the pachinko machine P is powered off will be described. By this NMI interrupt processing, the main control board C at the time of power interruption (including power interruption due to occurrence of power failure etc.)
And the state of the payout control board H is the backup area 13
a, 33a. The NMI interrupt process is performed by the ROM 12 of the main control board C and the ROM 3 of the payout control board H.
This is a process in which the contents are differently installed in 2 and 2, respectively.

When the power of the pachinko machine P is cut off, the power cutoff monitoring circuit 50b outputs a power cutoff signal 51 to the NMI terminals of the MPUs 11 and 31 of the main control board C and the payout control board H. Then, the MPUs 11 and 31 interrupt the control being executed and start the NMI interrupt processing of FIG. Below, N of each of the main control board C and the payout control board H
The MI interrupt process will be described. Note that the power off signal 51
The power is supplied from the power supply unit 50a of the power supply board 50 for a predetermined time after the output of is output so that the processing of each of the control boards C and H can be executed, and the NMI interrupt processing is executed within this predetermined time. To be done.

The NMI interrupt process in the main control board C is executed as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S1, the MPU 11 of the main control board C updates its own confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) updated in step S16 of FIG. The value of the confirmation key random number counter 26 is stored in the RAM 13. And
In step S2, the MPU 11 of the main control board C determines the RA
The self confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) stored in M13 is transmitted to the other party (payout control board H). In step S3, after the payout control board H holds the confirmation key of the main control board C, the MPU 11 of the main control board C is held.
Receives the confirmation key of the updated payout control board H transmitted from the payout control board H. In step S4, the MPU 11 of the main control board C writes the values of the registers and I / O in the stack area. In step S5, the MPU 11 of the main control board C writes the value of the stack pointer into the backup area 13a to save the data. Further, in step S6, the MPU of the main control board C is
Reference numeral 11 denotes a backup area 13a for the self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) and the counterpart confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) that have been respectively updated.
Write to In this way, the state when the power is cut off is stored. After that, in step S7, other power-off processing determined for the main control board C is executed. And
The process loops until the power is completely cut off and processing cannot be performed.

Next, the NMI interrupt processing in the payout control board H is executed as follows. As shown in FIG. 8, first, in step S1, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H is
Is a self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) updated in step S65 of FIG. 9 described later, that is,
The value of the confirmation key random number counter 36 is stored in the RAM 33. Then, in step S2A, M of the payout control board H is
The PU 31 receives the updated confirmation key of the main control board C transmitted from the main control board C. In step S3A, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H holds the confirmation key of the main control board C and then uses the own confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) stored in the RAM 33 as the other party (main control board). Send to C). In step S4, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H writes the value of each register, I / O, etc. in the stack area. In step S5,
The MPU 31 of the payout control board H writes the value of the stack pointer to the backup area 33a and saves the data. Further, in step S6, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H uses the updated self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) and the counterpart confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C), respectively. Write to the backup area 33a. In this way, the state when the power is cut off is stored. Then, in step S7, the other power-off processing determined for the payout control board H is executed. Then, the processing is looped until the power is completely cut off and the processing cannot be performed.

Here, the normal mutual holding sequence of the confirmation key when the power is turned off will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a normal mutual holding sequence of the confirmation key when the power is turned off. Figure 1
As described in "1. Always update self-confirmation key",
Before power-off, main control board C and payout control board H
The confirmation keys of are updated accordingly.

When the power of the pachinko machine P is cut off (including the one due to a power failure), the main control board C sends the updated self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) to the backup area 13a. Write and hold, payout control board H
Writes and holds the updated self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) in the backup area 33a. Then, the main control board C transmits the updated self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) to the payout control board H. The payout control board H receives the confirmation key of the main control board C transmitted from the main control board C, writes it in the backup area 33a, and holds it. afterwards,
The payout control board H transmits the updated self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) to the main control board C. The main control board C receives the confirmation key of the payout control board H transmitted from the payout control board H, writes it in the backup area 13a, and holds it. And the main control board C
Sends “confirmation OK” indicating that mutual holding of the series of confirmation keys described above was OK to the payout control board H. The payout control board H receives this “confirmation OK” and transmits “ACK” to the main control board C. Main control board C
Receives “ACK” from the payout control board H. In this way, when the power is cut off, the RAM 13 and 33 of the main control board C and the payout control board H store the updated confirmation keys of the self and the other party, respectively, and the normal confirmation keys when the power is cut off are stored. The mutual holding sequence ends.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the main processing executed in the main control board C of the pachinko machine P will be described. The main control of the pachinko machine P is executed by this main processing. The main process is executed as follows. First, in step S11, interrupts are prohibited. Then, in step S12, the initialization process shown in FIG. 6 is executed. Here, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the initialization processing (step S12) that is separately executed in the main processing of the main control board C and the payout control board H when the pachinko machine P is powered on will be described. .

In this initialization processing, if the backup is valid, each data stored in the backup areas 13a and 33a is returned to the original state, and the control of the game is continued from the state before the power is turned off. On the other hand, if the backup is not valid, or if the clear switch 50c is pressed when the power is turned on even if the backup is valid, RAM clearing and initialization processing is executed. Although this initialization process (step S12) is described in the form of a subroutine, it is a process that is executed before the stack pointer is set. Therefore, in reality, the subroutine is not called and the process is sequentially performed after the process of step S11. To be executed. Further, the initialization process is performed by the ROM 12 of the main control board C.
6 and the ROM 32 of the payout control board H, which are separately mounted and have different contents. However, since they can be represented similarly in the notation of the flowchart, they are collectively shown in FIG.

First, in step S41, a stack pointer is set. In step S42, the clear switch 50
Check if c is turned on and clear switch 5
0c is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S43, and if the clear switch 50c is turned on, step S44.
Proceed to. In step S43, it is confirmed whether the backup is valid. This confirmation is determined by whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM 13, 33 is correctly stored. If the keyword is stored correctly, the backup is valid, and conversely, if the keyword is not correct, the backup data is destroyed, so the backup is not valid. If the backup is valid in step S43, step S
The process proceeds to 45 and shifts to a process of returning each state of the main control board C or the payout control board H to the state before the power is turned off. On the other hand, if the clear switch 50c is turned on in step S42 or if the backup is not valid in step S43, RA is executed in step S44.
M clear and initialization processing is executed, RAM13,3
3 and I / O and other values are initialized (the confirmation key is not initialized as described above), and this initialization process ends. After the processing of step S44 is completed, the main control board C executes the processing of step S13 of FIG. 5 and the payout control board H executes the processing of step S63 of FIG.

The power recovery process in steps S45 to S47 will be described. First, in step S45, the value of the stack pointer is read from the backup areas 13a and 33a, written in the stack pointer, and returned to the state before the power-off, that is, the state before the NMI interrupt processing occurs.
Next, in step S46, the backup area 13
The data of the registers and I / Os saved in a and 33a are read from the backup areas 13a and 33a, and these data are written in the original registers and I / Os. Further, in step S47, the interrupt state is returned to the state before the power failure, that is, the state before the NMI interrupt occurred, which was stored in the processing of FIG. 4 executed when the power failure occurred. N
The MI interrupt return is executed to return the processing to the place where it was being executed before the power was cut off, and the control is continued from the state before the power was cut off.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 5, the main processing of the main control board C will be continuously described. After step S12 (initialization processing), step S12A
Then, a confirmation key comparison / determination process is performed. Here, the confirmation key comparison / determination processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the comparison determination process (step S12A) of the confirmation key of the payout control board H, which is executed by the main control board C when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on. First, in step S51, the MPU of the main control board C is
Reference numeral 11 is a self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C), that is, a backup area 13a of the RAM 13.
The value of the confirmation key random number counter 26 of the main control board C, which is held in the above, is transmitted to the payout control board H. Then, in step S52, the MPU 11 of the main control board C receives and monitors the other party's confirmation key. That is, MPU11
Indicates whether or not the other party's confirmation key (confirmation key of the dispensation control board H) is received within a predetermined time after transmitting the self confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) to the dispensation control board H. Is being monitored, and if not received, the process proceeds to step S53, and if received, the process proceeds to step S55. The elapse of the predetermined time after the transmission of the confirmation key of the main control board C to the payout control board H is detected by the timer count in the timer circuit in the MPU 11.

In step S53, the MP of the main control board C is
U11 transmits its own confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C) to the payout control board H, and then sends the confirmation key of the payout control board H from the other party (payout control board H) within a predetermined time thereafter. When the reception is not received, the number of times of re-execution of receiving the confirmation key of the payout control board H again by using the confirmation key of its own, that is, the number of retries is 3
Detects whether the second time has been reached. If it has not reached the third time, the process returns to step S51 to retry. If it has reached the third time, the process proceeds to step S54, time-out occurs, the main control board C turns on the error lamp 23, and the function stop circuit 29 of the MPU 11 stops the entire sequence of the main control board C.

In step S55, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 26 of the MPU 11 confirms the payout control board H confirmation key (which is transmitted from the other party (payout control board H) and is held in the backup area 13a of the RAM 13 when the power is turned off ( The value of the check key random number counter 36 of the payout control board H and the check key of the payout control board H (the check key random number counter of the payout control board H) newly transmitted from the payout control board H in step S52. (Value of 36) is compared and judged. That is, the main control board C confirms whether or not the confirmation key of the payout control board H after the power is turned on matches the reference information stored when the power is turned off. If the confirmation key of the payout control board H matches the reference information, it is determined that the current payout control board H is the same as before power-off, and the confirmation key comparison / determination process is terminated. Then, the process proceeds to step S13 shown in FIG. If the confirmation key of the payout control board H does not match the reference information, it is determined that the current payout control board H is not the same as before power-off, and the main control board C turns on the error lamp 23. ,
The function stop circuit 29 of the MPU 11 stops the entire sequence of the main control board C.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 5, the main processing of the main control board C will be continuously described. After step S12A (confirmation key comparison / determination processing), in step S13, timer interrupt setting processing is performed. Then, after making an interrupt possible state, step S14
Then, each interrupt is enabled and the normal sequence is started. After permitting this interruption, in step S15, the special symbol variation process of step S25 described later, the display data creation process of step S27 described later, the lamp / information processing of step S28 described later, and the like are updated in the previous process. Execute the port output process to output the output data to each port at once.

Further, in step S16, a random number updating process for updating the values of the jackpot random number counter for determining the jackpot and the confirmation key random number counter 26 by "+1" is executed. In step S17, a storage timer subtraction process is executed. The storage timer subtraction processing shortens the time for variable display of symbols when there are a predetermined number of holding balls for jackpot determination and the LCD 6 is displaying variable symbols.

In step S18, the switch monitoring process,
That is, depending on the state of each switch read by the INT interrupt, the ball hit into the game area is a normal winning opening 5, a specific winning opening 8, a winning opening to the symbol working opening 7a, passing to the gate 10, Is a process for paying out prize balls. In step S20, a symbol counter update process, that is, a counter update process for determining the symbols to be stopped and displayed as a result of the variable display performed on the LCD 6 is performed. Further, in step S21, the jackpot symbol, the lost symbol, and the reach symbol etc. used in the special symbol variation process in step S25 described later are determined based on the value of the counter updated in step S20. It

Next, in a step S23, a normal symbol variation process is executed. That is, when the variable display of the normal symbol display device 9 configured by the two LEDs 9a and 9b of "○" and "x" is performed, and the variable display is completed by the LED 9a of "○" as a result of the variable display. The hit process is executed by opening the symbol operating port 7a of the ordinary electric accessory 7 for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). After that, in step S24, the state flag is checked, and the design is changing on the LCD 6 (starting change of the design or displaying the change).
If so, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25,
Execute special symbol variation process. That is, based on the value of the jackpot random number counter read at the timing when the ball wins the symbol operation opening 7a, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is a jackpot, and the LCD 6 performs a variation process of the special symbol. On the other hand, if the result of checking the state flag in step S24 is a big hit, the process proceeds to step S26, and in step S26, a big hit process such as opening the specific winning opening 8 is executed. Further, the above step S
If the result of checking the state flag in 24 is neither symbol fluctuation nor big hit, steps S25 and S26 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, a display data creating process is executed. That is, in addition to the variable display of symbols, the demo data displayed on the LCD 6 and the display data of the two LEDs 9a and 9b of the normal symbol display device 9 are created. In step S28, various kinds of lamp data are created, including lamp / information processing, that is, lamp data of the reserved ball. In step S29, sound effect processing, that is, sound effect data corresponding to the state of the game is created. The display data and the sound effect data are output (transmitted) to the payout control board H and other control boards by the port output processing (step S15) and the timer interrupt processing described above.

After the above step S29 (sound effect processing) is completed, in step S30, the jackpot random number counter for determining the jackpot is initialized during the remaining time until the execution timing of the processing of the next step S15 arrives. The random number initial value updating process of updating the initial value of the value and the confirmation key random number counter 26 is repeatedly executed. Since the processes of steps S15 to S29 described above need to be periodically executed, in step S31, the elapsed time from the previous execution of the process of step S15 is checked. As a result of the check, if a predetermined time (for example, 2 ms) has elapsed from the previous execution of the process of step S15, the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the above step S
30, the random number initial value updating process in step S30,
That is, the update process is repeated for the initial value of the jackpot random number counter and the initial value of the confirmation key random number counter 26. Here, since the execution time of each process of the steps S15 to S29 changes according to the state of the game, the remaining time until the execution timing of the process of the next step S15 arrives is not a constant time. . Therefore, the initial value of the jackpot random number counter and the initial value of the confirmation key random number counter 26 can be randomly updated by repeatedly executing the random number initial value updating process in step S30 using the remaining time. .

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a main process executed in the payout control board H of the pachinko machine P will be described. First, in step S61, interrupts are prohibited.
Then, in step S62, the above-described initialization process of FIG. 6 is executed. Note that the confirmation key is not initialized by this initialization processing as described above. Then, in step S62A, the confirmation key comparison / determination process, that is,
When the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on, the confirmation processing of the main control board C executed by the payout control board H is performed. Here, the confirmation key comparison / determination processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10.

First, in step S71, the MPU 31 of the payout control board H monitors the reception of the confirmation key of the other party. That is, the MPU 31 confirms the other party's confirmation key (the confirmation key of the main control board C) within a predetermined time after the power is turned on.
The presence or absence of is received is monitored, and if it has not been received even after a predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to step S72, and if it has been received, the process proceeds to step S74. The elapse of the predetermined time after the power is turned on is detected by the timer count in the timer circuit in the MPU 31.

In step S72, M of the payout control board H
If the PU 31 has not received the confirmation key of the main control board C from the other party (main control board C) within a predetermined time after the power is turned on, the PU 31 receives the confirmation key of the main control board C again for a predetermined time. The number of times that waiting is re-executed, that is, whether the number of retries has reached the third time is detected. If the third time has not been reached, step S7
Return to 1 and try again. If it has reached the third time, the process proceeds to step S73, time-out occurs, the payout control board H turns on the error lamp 23, and the function stop circuit 39 of the MPU 31 stops the entire sequence of the payout control board H.

In step S74, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 36 of the MPU 31 is transmitted from the other party (main control board C) when the power is cut off and the backup area 3 of the RAM 33 is sent.
3a of the confirmation key of the main control board C already held in 3a (the value of the confirmation key random number counter 26 of the main control board C) and the main control board C newly transmitted from the main control board C in step S71. Whether or not the confirmation key (the value of the confirmation key random number counter 26 of the main control board C) matches is determined. That is, in the payout control board H, whether the confirmation key of the main control board C after the power is turned on matches the reference information (the confirmation key of the main control board C that was updated and stored when the power was turned off). Have confirmed. If the confirmation key of the main control board C matches the reference information, it is determined that the current main control board C is the same as before power-off, and the confirmation key comparison / determination processing is terminated. Then, the process proceeds to step S63 shown in FIG. If the confirmation key of the main control board C does not match the reference information, it is determined that the current main control board C is not the same as before power-off, and the payout control board H turns on the error lamp 23. , MPU31 function stop circuit 39
Stops the entire sequence of the payout control board H.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the main processing of the payout control board H will be continuously described. After the step S62A (confirmation key comparison / determination process),
In step S63, a timer interrupt setting process is performed. Then, in a state where an interrupt can be generated, step S6
In step 4, each interrupt is enabled and the normal sequence is started. After permitting this interruption, in step S65, a random number updating process for updating the value of the confirmation key random number counter 36 by "+1" is executed. In step S66, each process is executed. The process related to the game by the payout control board H is executed in each process (step S66) except for the interrupt process. After the process of step S66, a random number initial value updating process of updating the initial value of the confirmation key random number counter 36 is executed in step S67. Then, in step S68, the elapsed time from the execution of the process of step S64 is checked. As a result of the check, a predetermined time (for example, 2 m
s) If it has not elapsed, return to step S67,
The random number initial value updating process in step S67 is executed, and the elapsed time is confirmed again. After a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 2 ms) from the previous execution of the process of step S64, the process proceeds to step S65.

Now, the normal mutual holding sequence of the confirmation key when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the normal mutual holding sequence of the confirmation key when the power is turned on. 12
As shown in FIG. 4, when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on (including that due to elimination of power failure), the main control board C causes the main control board C to hold its own confirmation key (of the main control board C). The confirmation key) is transmitted to the payout control board H. In the payout control board H, the confirmation key of the main control board C transmitted after the power is turned on has the backup area 33.
It is compared and judged whether or not it matches the reference information (key for confirmation of the main control board C when the power is turned off) held in a. When the confirmation keys of the main control boards C match, the payout control board H sends its own confirmation key (confirmation key of the payout control board H) held in the backup area 33a to the main control board C. To do. In the main control board C, the confirmation key of the payout control board H transmitted after the power is turned on matches the reference information (confirmation key of the payout control board H when the power is turned off) held in the backup area 13a. Whether or not it is compared is determined. When the confirmation keys of the payout control boards H match, the main control board C transmits "confirmation OK" to the payout control board H, which indicates that the mutual confirmation of the series of confirmation keys described above is OK. . The payout control board H receives this “confirmation OK” and transmits “ACK” to the main control board C. The main control board C is the "ACK" from the payout control board H.
To receive. In this way, mutual confirmation of the main control board C and the payout control board H is performed immediately after the power is turned on.
If the mutual confirmation of the main control board C and the payout control board H is OK, the main control board C and the payout control board H respectively shift to the normal sequence.

As described above, according to the pachinko machine P of this embodiment, the main control board C controls the self confirmation key when the power is turned off (the confirmation key of the main control board C) and the payout control when the power is turned off. Discharge control board H as reference information transmitted from board H
Holds the confirmation key and the payout control board H after the power is turned on.
The confirmation key of the payout control board H newly transmitted from is compared with the held reference information (confirmation key of the payout control board H) to determine the normality of the payout control board H, and further, the payout control The board H has a key for confirming itself when power is turned off (a key for checking the payout control board H) and a key for checking main control board C as reference information transmitted from the main control board C when power is off. The confirmation key of the main control board C newly stored and transmitted from the main control board C after the power is turned on is compared with the held reference information (the confirmation key of the main control board C), and Since the normality is determined, the normality of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be mutually confirmed. That is, it is possible to mutually confirm whether or not the main control board C and the payout control board H have changed before power-off and after power-on. Specifically, even if one of the main control board C and the payout control board H is replaced with an unauthorized board when the pachinko machine P is powered off, the unauthorized board is detected when the pachinko machine P is powered on. The main control board C or the payout control board H
Can be prevented from fraud. In addition, it is possible to prevent an illegally modified control board (main control board C, payout control board H, or the like) from being attached to the pachinko machine P and being illegally used.

For example, even if one of the main control board C and the payout control board H is replaced with an unauthorized board when the power of the pachinko machine P is shut off after the game hall (pachinko store) is closed, etc. When the power is turned on, the illegal board can be easily detected, and the main control board C or the payout control board H can be prevented from being illegal. In addition, in order to make a fraudulent game such as making the symbols unjustly easy to align, the main control board C is tampered with (including replacement with an illegal board), or a main ball instruction from the main control board C, etc. Even if the payout control board H is tampered with (including replacement with an illicit board) in order to illicitly pay out a large amount of balls, etc. In the pachinko machine P of the present embodiment, since the normality of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be mutually confirmed, such fraud can be detected, and the fraud on the main control board C or the payout control board H can be prevented. it can. Further, it is possible to detect a failure of the main control board C or the payout control board H. Further, it is possible to detect disconnection between the main control board C and the payout control board H. From the above, a highly reliable pachinko machine P can be obtained.

Further, the confirmation key random number counters 26 and 36 of the MPUs 11 and 31 are provided after the comparison and determination of the confirmation keys until the next confirmation key is transmitted via the input / output ports 15 and 35. Since the self-confirmation key to be transmitted is updated, the normality of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be confirmed using the updated confirmation key, and the confirmation key has a fixed value. Compared with this, it is possible to further prevent fraud with respect to the main control board C and the payout control board H, and realize a high degree of security.

Further, the confirmation key random number counters 26, 36
Since the value of is used as the confirmation key, the normality of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be confirmed with a simple configuration.

Further, the confirmation key comparison / determination unit 27, 37
Is a reception monitoring circuit 28, 3 for monitoring whether or not a confirmation key is received from the control board of the other party within a predetermined time after the power is turned on.
8 is provided, and it is determined that the control board of the other party is abnormal based on the non-reception result that the confirmation key from the control board of the other party has not been received within the predetermined time after the power is turned on. Even if the confirmation key is not transmitted from the control board of the other party within a predetermined time after the power is turned on, the normality of the control board of the other party can be confirmed.

Further, the function stop circuit 2 of the MPUs 11 and 31
9 and 39 are based on the comparison and determination results of the confirmation key comparison and determination units 27 and 37 that the control board of the other party is abnormal.
Since the predetermined operation of the control board having the confirmation key comparison / determination units 27 and 37 is stopped, when the control board of the other party is abnormal, its own board, that is, the confirmation key comparison determined to be abnormal. The predetermined operation of the control board having the determination units 27 and 37 is stopped, and it is possible to prevent the use of the control board in an abnormal state.

Here, when the main control board C or the payout control board H is illegally modified and mounted on the pachinko machine P,
The sequence for detecting the unauthorized control board will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. 13 to 16 are sequence diagrams for detecting one of the main control board C and the payout control board H when the board is an illegal board.

First, a case will be described in which the payout control board H is one that has been tampered with (for example, one that has an illegitimate ROM mounted thereon) and the confirmation key is not transmitted to the main control board C. As shown in FIG. 13, when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on (including that due to elimination of power failure), the main control board C checks its own key (key for checking the main control board C).
Is sent to the payout control board H and the confirmation key from the payout control board H is waited to be received. However, when the confirmation key from the payout control board H is not received even after a predetermined time elapses,
Retry the above transmission and reception waiting (retry). If the confirmation key is not received from the payout control board H even if the number of retries reaches three times, for example, the time-out occurs, and the main control board C turns on the error lamp 23 and completes the sequence of the main control board C. To stop. In this way, even if the payout control board H has been tampered with and the confirmation key is not transmitted to the main control board C,
The main control board C can detect an illegal payout control board H.

Next, a case will be described in which the payout control board H is an unauthorized modification (for example, an unauthorized ROM is mounted) and a false confirmation key is transmitted to the main control board C. As shown in FIG. 14, when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on (including that due to elimination of power failure), the main control board C dispenses its own confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C). It transmits to the control board H, waits for the confirmation key from the payout control board H, and receives a false confirmation key from the payout control board H. The main control board C compares and determines whether or not the held confirmation key of the payout control board H when the power is turned off matches the false confirmation key of the payout control board H after the power is turned on. . Since the confirmation key from the payout control board H is a false key, the confirmation keys do not match, and the main control board C turns on the error lamp 23 and stops the entire sequence of the main control board C. In this way, the payout control board H has been tampered with,
Even when sending a false confirmation key to the main control board C,
The main control board C can detect an illegal payout control board H.

Next, a case will be described in which the main control board C is one that has been tampered with (for example, one that has an illicit ROM installed), and the confirmation key is not transmitted to the payout control board H. As shown in FIG. 15, when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on (including that due to elimination of power failure), the main control board C issues its own confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C). The payout control board H waits for the confirmation key from the main control board C without transmitting it to the board H, but when the confirmation key from the main control board C is not received even after a predetermined time elapses. , Retry the above waiting for reception. Even if the number of retries reaches 3, for example, the main control board C
When the confirmation key from is not received, the time-out occurs, and the payout control board H turns on the error lamp 23 and stops the entire sequence of the payout control board H. Thus, even if the main control board C is tampered with and the confirmation key is not transmitted to the payout control board H, the payout control board H can detect the unauthorized main control board C.

Next, a case will be described in which the main control board C has been tampered with (for example, an illicit ROM is mounted) and a false confirmation key is transmitted to the payout control board H. As shown in FIG. 16, when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on (including that due to elimination of power failure), the main control board C makes a false self-confirmation key (confirmation key of the main control board C). To the payout control board H. The payout control board H compares and determines whether the held confirmation key of the main control board C when the power is turned off and the false confirmation key of the main control board C after the power is turned on match. . Main control board C
Since the confirmation key from is a false one, the confirmation keys do not match, and the payout control board H displays the error lamp 23.
Is turned on and the entire sequence of the payout control board H is stopped. As described above, even when the main control board C is tampered with and the false confirmation key is transmitted to the payout control board H, the payout control board H can detect the unauthorized main control board C. it can.

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

(1) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the number of retries is three, but it may be any number.

(2) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the identification information (confirmation key) is held in the RAMs 13 and 33, but the identification information (confirmation key) may be held in the ROMs 12 and 32. Good.

(3) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the confirmation key (random number) is used as the identification information of each control board.
This confirmation key is not limited to numbers, but may be a combination of letters and symbols or numbers and the like.

(4) In the above embodiment, the main control board C is used.
After sending its own confirmation key (the confirmation key of the main control board C) to the payout control board H, the payout control board H performs the main control of its own confirmation key (the check key of the payout control board H). Although it is configured to send to the board C, the payout control board H sends its own confirmation key (the check key of the payout control board H) to the main control board C, and then the main control board C makes its own check. The key for confirmation (key for confirming the main control board C) may be transmitted to the payout control board H.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the confirmation key is appropriately updated during the normal sequence, that is, after the comparison determination of the confirmation key and before the power is cut off. The confirmation key may be updated only.

(6) In the above embodiment, the first control board is the main control board C and the second control board is the payout control board H. However, the first and second control boards are the main control board C and ,
It may be applied as two of various sub-control boards such as a payout control board H, a display control board, a lamp control board, and a sound control board.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the confirmation key of the control board of the other party transmitted when the power is turned off is stored as reference information. However, the confirmation key of the control board of the other party is fixed information (fixed). This fixed information is stored in advance as reference information, and the transmitted confirmation key (fixed value) of the control board of the other party is compared with the reference information to determine the normality of the control board of the other party. May be determined.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the error lamp 23 notifies the occurrence of an abnormality to the outside. However, an error buzzer may notify the occurrence of the abnormality to the outside, or the LCD 6 which displays a variable display. Or an external device such as a hall computer or the like that manages a game hall, or may be a speaker that outputs a sound effect related to the game or other device that outputs information about the game to the outside to notify the occurrence of an abnormality. An output circuit that outputs a signal indicating the occurrence of an abnormality may be provided to centrally manage the occurrence of the abnormality in the game hall.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the main control board C and the payout control board H mutually confirm normality, but the main control board C or the payout control board H is checked. The normality of the other control board may be confirmed using only one control board. That is, the main control board C
Only, the confirmation key of the payout control board H when the power is turned off is stored as reference information, and the confirmation key of the payout control board H after the power is turned on is compared with the stored reference information.
To determine the normality of the payout control board H, or only the payout control board H stores the confirmation key of the main control board C when the power is turned off as reference information, and the main control board after the power is turned on. The payout control board H may only determine the normality of the main control board C by comparing the confirmation key of C with the stored reference information.

(10) In the above-described embodiment, the confirmation key of the control board of the other party transmitted when the power is turned off is stored as reference information, and the confirmation key of the control board of the other party transmitted after the power is turned on is stored. Although the normality of the control board of the other party is judged by comparing with the stored reference information, the confirmation key transmitted first among the confirmation keys transmitted one after another while the power is on. May be stored as reference information, and the confirmation key transmitted later may be compared with the stored reference information to determine the normality of the control board of the other party. In this case, an abnormality (for example, failure or disconnection) of the control board of the other party during energization can be detected.

(11) The present invention may be applied to a pachinko machine or the like of a type different from the above embodiment. For example, once a big hit, including it, multiple times (for example, twice, 3
Times) It may be implemented as a pachinko machine (commonly referred to as a second-time right property and a third-time right property) such that the expected value of the big hit can be increased until the big hit state occurs. Further, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine which is in a special game state on condition that a ball is won in a predetermined area after the jackpot pattern is displayed. In addition to the pachinko machine,
It may be implemented as various game machines such as an arrangement ball type pachinko machine, a sparrow ball, and a game machine in which a so-called pachinko machine and a slot machine are integrated.

In the slot machine, for example, a symbol is changed by operating the operation lever in a state where the coin is inserted and the symbol effective line is determined, and the symbol is stopped and confirmed by operating the stop button. It is something. Therefore, the basic concept of the slot machine is
“Variable display means for confirming and displaying the symbols after variably displaying the symbol sequence consisting of a plurality of symbols is provided, and the variation of the symbols is started due to the operation of the starting operation means (for example, the operation lever), and the stop operation means. Due to the operation of (for example, the stop button) or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the fluctuation of the symbol is stopped, and it is advantageous for the player that the definite symbol at the time of the halt is a specific symbol. A slot machine provided with a special game state generating means for generating a special game state ". In this case, coins, medals, etc. are typical examples of the game medium.

As a specific example of a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are integrated, a variable display means for variably displaying a symbol sequence consisting of a plurality of symbols and then finally displaying the symbols is provided, and for ball launching. One that does not have a handle. In this case, the predetermined operation (button operation)
After throwing in a predetermined amount of balls based on, for example, the fluctuation of the symbol is started due to the operation of the operation lever, for example, due to the operation of the stop button, or after a predetermined time elapses, the fluctuation of the symbol is changed. It is stopped, and a jackpot state that is advantageous to the player is generated on condition that the definite symbol at the time of stop is a so-called jackpot symbol, and a lot of balls are paid out to the lower tray for the player. .

[0110]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, one of the first and second control boards transmits the identification information of itself to the other control board. The other control board includes a storage unit that stores the identification information of one control board as reference information in advance, and the reference information that stores the identification information transmitted from one control board in the storage unit. And a comparison / determination means for determining the normality of one of the control boards, the normality of the first control board or the second control board, which is the one control board, is It can be confirmed by the second control board or the first control board which is the control board, and a highly reliable gaming machine can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an NMI interrupt process executed by the main control board.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main process executed by a main control board.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an initialization process that is separately executed in the main process of the main control board and the payout control board when the power of the pachinko machine is turned on.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a comparison / determination process of a payout control board confirmation key, which is executed by the main control board.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an NMI interrupt process executed by a payout control board.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a main process executed in a payout control board of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a comparison / determination process of a confirmation key of the main control board, which is executed by the payout control board.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a normal mutual holding sequence of confirmation keys when the power is turned off.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a normal mutual holding sequence of confirmation keys when the power is turned on.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram for detecting an unauthorized payout control board by the main control board.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of detecting an unauthorized payout control board by the main control board.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram of detecting an unauthorized main control board in the payout control board.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of detecting an unauthorized main control board in the payout control board.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 31 ... MPU (transmission means) 15, 35 ... Input / output ports (transmission means) 13a, 33a ... Backup area (storage means) 26, 36 ... Confirmation key random number counter (random number generation means, update means) 27, 37 Confirmation key comparison determination unit (comparison determination unit) 28, 38 ... reception monitoring circuit (monitoring unit) 29, 39 ... function stop circuit (stopping unit) 50b ... power interruption monitor circuit (power interruption detection unit) C ... main control Substrate (first control substrate) H ... Dispensing control substrate (second control substrate)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine provided with a first control board and a second control board for performing game-related control in relation to each other, wherein one of the first and second control boards is an identification of itself. The other control board is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting information to the other control board, and the other control board receives the identification information of the one control board as reference information in advance and the one control board. A game machine characterized by comprising: a comparing and judging means for judging the normality of one control board by comparing the identification information with the reference information stored in the storage means. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means of the one control board transmits its own identification information to the other control board before and after the identification information of the other control board. The storage means stores the identification information previously transmitted by the transmission means as reference information, and the comparison / determination means of the other control board stores the identification information later transmitted by the transmission means in the storage means. A game machine characterized by determining the normality of one of the control boards by comparing it with the stored reference information. 3. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a power cutoff detecting means for detecting power cutoff, wherein the transmission means of the one control board receives a signal from the power cutoff detection means. When the power is turned off, the self-identification information is transmitted to the other control board, and after the power is turned on, the self-identification information is transmitted to the other control board, and the storage means of the other control board is transmitted by the transmission means. The identification information of one of the control boards when the power is turned off is stored as reference information, and the reference information is retained even after the power is turned on. A gaming machine characterized by comparing the identification information of one control board transmitted after power-on with reference information stored in the storage means to determine the normality of one control board. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the other control board transmits its identification information to one control board when the power is cut off upon receiving a signal from the power cut detection means. The control means is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting its own identification information to one of the control boards after the power is turned on, and the one control board stores the identification information transmitted from the other control board when the power is turned off as reference information. And a comparison / determination unit that compares the identification information transmitted from the other control board after the power is turned on with the reference information stored in the storage unit to determine the normality of the other control board. A gaming machine characterized by being present. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein, of the first and second control boards, the control board provided with the transmission means performs the transmission after the identification information is compared and determined. A gaming machine comprising an updating means for updating the self-identification information to be transmitted until the self-identification information is transmitted by the means.