JP2004005223A - Random number generator and game machine with the same applied - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent regularity of numeric values read out when the numeric values are regularly read out from a random number storage area 11. <P>SOLUTION: Every time a numeric value in the random number storage area 11 is updated from a maximum random number value Nmax to zero, an initial count value of a down counter 32, that is, a numeric value stored in a time constant register 33, is changed to change a random number update period which is the update period of the numeric value in the random number storage area 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a random number generator and a gaming machine to which the random number generator is applied.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine, a random number generation device is incorporated in a control device, and a lottery using a random number generated by the random number generation device is performed. In the lottery using random numbers, for example, a jackpot lottery for determining whether or not to execute a jackpot game operation advantageous to the player, and after the jackpot game operation, a special mode (a so-called probable change mode or a time saving mode) is entered. There is a mode lottery for deciding whether or not.
[0003]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional random number generation device. The random number generation device includes a random number storage area 911 provided in a RAM in a microcomputer 91 provided in the control device, and a random number update processing unit that performs processing for updating a numerical value stored in the random number storage area 911. 912, a clock generation circuit 92 that generates a clock signal, and a random number update signal that specifies the update timing of the numerical value in the random number storage area 911 based on the clock signal from the clock generation circuit 92. CTC (Clock Timer Circuit) 93.
[0004]
The CTC 93 has a prescaler 931 that divides the clock signal from the clock generation circuit 92 at a predetermined frequency division ratio, and a count value triggered by the input of the clock signal (divided clock signal) divided by the prescaler 931 as a trigger. And a time constant register 933 that stores an initial count value of the down counter 932. After the initial count value stored in the time constant register 933 is set in the down counter 932, the count value of the down counter 932 is incremented each time the divided clock signal is input from the prescaler 931 to the down counter 932. The value is subtracted one by one from the value. Then, when the count value of the down counter 932 becomes zero, a random number update signal is output from the down counter 932 to the random number update processing unit 92. Further, an initial count value is newly set in the down counter 932. Thereafter, the above operation is repeatedly performed, and a random number update signal is output from the down counter 932 to the random number update processing unit 92 at a constant random number update period.
[0005]
The random number storage area 911 is formed of, for example, an up counter whose count value is updated in a range from zero to a predetermined maximum random number value Nmax (for example, Nmax = 631). When the random number update signal from the down counter 932 is input to the random number update processing unit 912, in response to the input, the random number update processing unit 912 increases the value in the random number storage area 911 by 1 (increment). Be updated. After the numerical value in the random number storage area 911 reaches the maximum random number value Nmax, when a random number update signal is further input to the random number update processing unit 912, the numerical value in the random number storage area 911 is returned to zero from the maximum random number value Nmax. . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the numerical values in the random number storage area 911 take all values from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax for every fixed period T (= random number update cycle × maximum random number value Nmax).
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, in a jackpot lottery performed in a pachinko machine, a numerical value in a random number storage area 911 is read by a CPU in the microcomputer 91 at a timing when a game ball enters a starting port provided in a game board. The read numerical value is compared with a predetermined jackpot numerical value. If the two values match, the jackpot is determined, and if the two values are different, a loss is determined.
[0007]
If there is no regularity in the ball entry timing (timing for reading a numerical value from the random number storage area 911) to the starting port, the numerical value read from the random number storage area 911 has no regularity, and each value from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax Since the probabilities of reading the values are all equal, it can be said that the numerical values read from the random number storage area 911 for the jackpot lottery are the random numbers generated by the random number generator at the timing of entering the starting port. However, as shown in FIG. 7, since the change of the numerical value in the random number storage area 911 has a periodicity, the timing of launching the game ball on the game board is adjusted so that the game ball is an integral multiple of the certain period T or If the user enters the starting port at a cycle of 1 / integer, regularity appears in the numerical value read from the random number storage area 911. In this case, the numerical value read from the random number storage area 911 cannot be said to be a random number. And 1).
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, and to obtain a numerical value generated by a numerical value generating means regularly (even when reading a numerical value from a random number storage area regularly). Another object of the present invention is to provide a random number generator in which the obtained numerical value is a random number having no regularity and a gaming machine to which the random number generator is applied.
[0009]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a numerical value generating means (11) updates a numerical value at a predetermined update cycle to repeatedly generate numerical values included in a predetermined range in a predetermined order. , 12), and updating cycle changing means (13, 14) for changing the updating cycle in response to the numerical value generating means generating one of the numerical values included in the predetermined range. Is a random number generator.
[0010]
It should be noted that the alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components and the like in embodiments described later. Hereinafter, the same applies in this section.
According to the present invention, the update cycle of the numerical value in the numerical value generating means (the cycle in which the numerical value generating means generates the numerical value) is changed in response to the numerical value generating means generating all the numerical values included in the predetermined range. You. As a result, the length of a period required for the numerical value generating means to generate all the numerical values included in the predetermined range changes, so that even if the numerical value generating means regularly obtains the numerical values, The resulting value is a random number with no regularity.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in response to the numerical value generating means generating one of the numerical values included in the predetermined range, the numerical value generating means thereafter determines the first numerical value to be generated. The random number generator according to claim 1, further comprising means (15).
According to the present invention, in response to the numerical value generating means generating all the numerical values included in the predetermined range, the numerical value generated first by the numerical value generating means is changed. It is possible to more reliably prevent the regularity from appearing in the obtained numerical value.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the random number generation device further includes an update signal output unit (3) that outputs an update signal that defines an update timing of a numerical value generated by the numerical value generation unit, The update cycle changing means may change the update cycle by changing a cycle at which the update signal output means outputs an update signal.
Specifically, as set forth in claim 4, the random number generation device further includes a clock generation means (2) for generating a clock signal at a constant cycle, and the update signal output means includes: Clock dividing means (31) for dividing a generated clock signal by a predetermined dividing ratio to generate a divided clock signal, and a count value in response to the input of the divided clock signal from the clock dividing means Is reduced by one, and a register (33) storing an initial count value of the down counter is provided. The updating cycle changing means includes an initial count stored in the register. By updating the value, the cycle in which the update signal output means outputs the update signal may be changed.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 5 is a random number generating means for generating a random number, a lottery executing means for performing a lottery using the random number generated by the random number generating means, and a game operation based on a result of the lottery by the lottery executing means. A game machine comprising a game operation control means for performing control, wherein the random number generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used as the random number generation means.
According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a good lottery using random numbers generated by the random number generation device.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a random number generation device according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. This random number generation device is incorporated in a control device of a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine, and various kinds of lotteries executed by a CPU in a microcomputer 1 provided in the control device (for example, advantageous to a player) And a clock generating circuit 2 for generating a clock signal. The clock generating circuit 2 generates a clock signal, and is connected to the clock generating circuit 2. CTC (ClockTimer Circuit) 3.
[0015]
The CTC 3 has a prescaler 31 that divides a clock signal from the clock generation circuit 2 at a predetermined division ratio, and a count value triggered by input of the clock signal (divided clock signal) divided by the prescaler 31. And a time constant register 33 for storing a value to be set as an initial count value in the down counter 32. After the value stored in the time constant register 33 is set as the initial count value, the down counter 32 decrements the count value by one each time a divided clock signal is input from the prescaler 31. When the value becomes zero, a random number update signal is output to the microcomputer 1. When the count value of the down counter 32 becomes zero, the value stored in the time constant register 33 at that time is set in the down counter 32 as a new initial count value. Thus, while the power of the gaming machine is turned on, the above-described operation is repeatedly performed, and every time the count value of the down counter 32 becomes zero, a random number update signal is output from the down counter 32 to the microcomputer 1. Is done.
[0016]
In the RAM incorporated in the microcomputer 1, for example, a random number storage area 11 composed of an up counter whose count value is updated in a range from zero to a predetermined maximum random number value Nmax (for example, Nmax = 631) is set. Have been. Further, the microcomputer 1 substantially has, for example, a random number update processing unit 12 realized by a program process executed by the CPU. The random number update signal output from the down counter 32 is supplied to the random number update processing unit 12, and the random number update processing unit 12 responds to the input of the random number update signal by reading the numerical value in the random number storage area 11. (Count value) is updated to a numerical value obtained by adding one. Further, when a random number update signal is input after the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 reaches the maximum random number value Nmax, the random number update processing unit 12 converts the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 to the maximum random number value Nmax. To zero. Thereby, the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is a period determined by multiplying the output cycle of the random number update signal from the CTC 3 (= random number update cycle) by the maximum random number value Nmax, and from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax. Takes all values.
[0017]
In various lotteries executed by the CPU in the microcomputer 1, numerical values in the random number storage area 11 are read out as random numbers at a predetermined timing. For example, in the jackpot lottery, the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is read at the timing when the game ball enters the starting port provided on the game board. In the jackpot lottery, the value read from the random number storage area 11 is compared with a predetermined jackpot value, and if the two values match, the jackpot is determined, and if the two values are different, it is determined to be out.
[0018]
As described in the section of “Problems to be Solved by the Invention”, in the conventional random number generator, since the random number update period, which is the update period of the numerical value in the random number storage area, is constant, the numerical value in the random number storage area is Indicates a periodic change in which all values from zero to the maximum random number value are taken every fixed period determined by multiplying the constant random number update cycle by the maximum random number value Nmax. For this reason, there is a problem in that by regularly reading numerical values from the random number storage area, the numerical values read from the random number storage area can have regularity.
[0019]
On the other hand, in this random number generation device, each time the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is updated from the maximum random number value Nmax to zero, the random number update cycle that is the update cycle of the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is changed. It has a configuration.
Since the random number update cycle is determined by multiplying the output cycle of the clock signal by the division ratio of the prescaler 31 and the initial count value of the down counter 32, the random number update cycle is changed, for example, by changing the initial count of the down counter 32. This can be achieved by changing the value, that is, the numerical value stored in the time constant register 33. Therefore, in order to change the numerical value stored in the time constant register 33, the microcomputer 1 determines the numerical value to be set in the time constant register 33 as the initial count value of the down counter 32. have. Further, the ROM built in the microcomputer 1 stores a register setting value table 14 which is referred to at the time of the determination processing by the register setting value determination processing unit 13.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the register set value determination processing unit 13 and the register set value table 14. The register setting value determination processing unit 13 performs a register setting value table 14 based on data stored in a B register 131, a C register 132, a D register 133, and an E register 134 built in the CPU in the microcomputer 1. Is specified, and the specified numerical value is determined as a numerical value to be set in the time constant register 33. Each of the registers 131 to 134 is a register capable of storing 8-bit data, and is used as a work register when the CPU performs various arithmetic processing.
[0021]
That is, when the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is updated from the maximum random number value Nmax to zero, the register setting value determination processing unit 13 responds to this, The lower 4 bits of data (numerical value) are added up. The data obtained by replacing the upper 4 bits of the sum data with zero is used as an index for specifying the value to be set in the time constant register 33 from the values stored in the register setting value table 14. Value. On the other hand, the register set value table 14 includes, for example, the addresses “00H”, “01H”, “02H”, “03H”, “04H”, “05H”, “06H”, “07H”, “08H”, “09H”. , "0AH", "0BH", "0CH", "0DH", "0EH", and "0FH", the random number update cycle is 1.2 msec, 1.4 msec, 1.6 msec, 1 msec, respectively. 0.8 msec, 2.0 msec, 2.2 msec, 2.4 msec, 2.6 msec, 2.8 msec, 3.0 msec, 3.2 msec, 3.4 msec, 3.6 msec, 3.8 msec and 4.0 msec. It is constituted by storing a numerical value to be set in the time constant register 33. After determining the index value as described above, the register setting value determination processing unit 13 specifies the address of the register setting value table 14 based on the index value, and stores the specified value in the time constant register 33. Determine the value to be set. Then, by setting the numerical value determined in this way in the time constant register 33, the numerical value stored in the time constant register 33 is changed, and the change of the random number update cycle is achieved.
[0022]
For example, when data “23H”, “00H”, “01H”, and “0EH” are stored in the B register 131, the C register 132, the D register 133, and the E register 134, respectively, the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is stored. Is updated from the maximum random number value Nmax to zero, the lower four bits of data “3H”, “0H”, “1H”, and “EH” in the data stored in the registers 131 to 134 are summed up, Data “02H” obtained by replacing the upper 4 bits of the sum data “12H” with zero specifies the value to be set in the time constant register 33 from the values stored in the register setting value table 14. Index value for Then, based on the index value, the address “02H” of the register setting value table 14 is designated, and the numerical value stored in the area of the address “02H” is determined as the numerical value to be set in the time constant register 33. . When the thus determined numerical value is set in the time constant register 33, a random number update signal is thereafter output from the CTC 3 (down counter 32) to the microcomputer 1 (random number update processing unit 12) at a period of 1.4 msec. The numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is updated at a period of 1.4 msec.
[0023]
As described above, the random number generating apparatus changes the random number updating cycle, which is the updating cycle of the numerical value in the random number storage area 11, every time the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is updated from the maximum random number value Nmax to zero. Configuration. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the length of a period required for the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 to be updated from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax changes. Is performed regularly, the read numerical value is a random number having no regularity. Therefore, in the gaming machine to which the random number generation device is applied, it is possible to perform a good lottery using the random number generated from the random number generation device.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a random number generation device according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. In FIG. 4, parts corresponding to the respective parts shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. In addition, the portions denoted by the same reference numerals have the same functions as those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore, detailed description of those portions will be omitted below.
In the random number generation device according to this embodiment, when the numerical values in the random number storage area 11 take all values from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax (when the count value of the up counter constituting the random number storage area 11 makes one round). In response, the initial value of the random number storage area 11 is set, and thereafter, the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 is updated from the initial value.
[0025]
More specifically, a random number initial value storage constituted by an up-counter whose count value is updated in a range from zero to a predetermined maximum value (for example, 631) is stored in a RAM incorporated in the microcomputer 1. An area 15 is set. The numerical value (count value) in the random number initial value storage area 15 is updated to a larger numerical value by one in response to the input of the random number update signal from the down counter 32 to the random number update processing unit 12. When a random number update signal is input after the numerical value in the storage area 15 reaches the maximum value, the numerical value in the random number initial value storage area 15 is returned from the maximum value to zero.
[0026]
When the numerical values in the random number storage area 11 take all values from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax, the numerical values in the random number initial value storage area 15 are read, and the read numerical values are stored in the random number storage area 11. Set as the initial value. The numerical value determined by the register setting value determination processing unit 13 is set in the time constant register 33, and the output cycle of the random number update signal given from the CTC 3 (down counter 32) to the microcomputer 1 (random number update processing unit 12) That is, the random number update period, which is the update period of the numerical value in the random number storage area 11, is changed.
[0027]
As a result, the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 becomes, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, every time the numerical value in the random number storage area 11 takes all values from zero to the maximum random number value Nmax. Is changed to a value (initial value) irrelevant to the previous value, and the update cycle is changed. Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent the numerical value read from the random number storage area 11 from having regularity, and as in the case of the first embodiment described above, In the gaming machine to which the generator is applied, a good lottery using the random numbers generated from the random number generator can be performed.
[0028]
The two embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention can be embodied in other forms. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the random number generator according to the present invention is applied to a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine is taken as an example, but the random number generator according to the present invention is not limited to a game machine. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus for encrypting and decrypting data using random numbers.
In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a random number generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a register set value determination processing unit and a register set value table;
FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in a random number generated by the random number generator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a random number generation device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in a random number generated by the random number generator of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional random number generation device.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in random numbers generated by a conventional random number generation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 microcomputer 2 clock generation circuit 3 CTC
11 Random number storage area 12 Random number update processing unit 13 Register setting value determination processing unit 14 Register setting value table 15 Random number initial value storage area 31 Prescaler 32 Down counter 33 Time constant register

Claims (5)

Numerical value generating means for repeatedly generating numerical values included in a predetermined range in a predetermined order by updating numerical values at a predetermined update cycle,
An update cycle changing means for changing the update cycle in response to the numerical value generating means generating one of the numerical values included in the predetermined range. In response to the numerical value generating means generating one of the numerical values included in the predetermined range, the numerical value generating means further includes initial value determining means for determining a numerical value to be generated first. The random number generator according to claim 1, wherein The random number generator further includes an update signal output unit that outputs an update signal that defines an update timing of the numerical value generated by the numerical value generation unit,
3. The random number generator according to claim 1, wherein the update cycle changing means changes the update cycle by changing a cycle at which the update signal output means outputs an update signal. The random number generation device further includes a clock generation unit that generates a clock signal at a constant cycle,
The update signal output means includes: a clock frequency dividing means for dividing a clock signal generated by the clock generating means at a predetermined frequency dividing ratio to generate a frequency-divided clock signal; A down counter whose count value is decremented by one in response to a signal input; and a register storing an initial count value of the down counter.
4. The update cycle changing means changes the cycle at which the update signal output means outputs an update signal by updating an initial count value stored in the register. Random number generator. Random number generating means for generating a random number;
Lottery executing means for performing a lottery using random numbers generated by the random number generating means,
Game operation control means for controlling the game operation based on the result of the lottery by the lottery execution means,
A gaming machine, wherein the random number generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used as the random number generation means.

Images