JP2004070158A - Game board - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the number of components for protecting light emitting elements of a display unit. <P>SOLUTION: A slot machine (game board) 100 is equipped with a display unit which has a plurality of light emitting diodes 700 arranged in matrix and is dynamically turned on. Then the fruit machine 100 is equipped with a column driving part 701 which drives the light emitting diodes selectively by columns, a row driving part 702 which drives the light emitting diodes 700 selectively by rows, and an output interface which outputs a pulse signal including a reference pulse signal (A0) and frequency-divided pulse signals (A1 to A3) of the reference pulse signal (A0) as a pulse signal for selecting the light emitting diodes 700 by the rows. Further, the slot machine 100 is equipped with address decoders 703 and 704 which decode the pulse signal from the output interface and indicate rows of light emitting diodes to be driven to the row driving part 702, and a protecting circuit 705 which outputs a signal for stopping the driving of the light emitting diodes 700 to the column driving part 701. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine (pachislot) and a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine having a display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to improve the playability, a gaming table such as a slot machine and a pachinko machine is provided with various indicators, for example, to display figures and characters according to a game state. As such a display, for example, a display has been proposed in which a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs are arranged and drive-controlled by a dynamic lighting method.
[0003]
Here, the drive control by the dynamic lighting method is advantageous in that the number of drivers and the like can be reduced as compared with the static lighting method, but on the other hand, in order to obtain sufficient luminance of the light emitting element, a larger current is required than in the static lighting method. It is necessary to supply a current to the light emitting element, and a current higher than the rated current may be supplied in some cases. For this reason, if any abnormality occurs in the drive circuit, an excessive current may flow through the light emitting element, and the light emitting element may be damaged.
[0004]
Therefore, in the case of the dynamic lighting method, it has been proposed to provide a protection circuit for protecting the light emitting element. As such a protection circuit, for example, a protection circuit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-165892 has been proposed. In this protection circuit, an OR of each signal for selecting an LED to emit light is input to a monostable multivibrator, and if any of the signals becomes abnormal, for example, the signal goes high for a certain time or longer. This is detected by the monostable multivibrator, and a signal for stopping light emission of the LED is output.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines, the number of components is required to be reduced for reasons such as cost reduction. However, conventional protection circuits do not always reduce the number of components. Even in the protection circuit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-165692, each signal needs to be ORed, and an OR circuit is required in proportion to the number of light emitting elements.
[0006]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game console capable of reducing the number of components in protecting a light emitting element of a display.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a matrix, in a gaming table equipped with a dynamically lit display,
A column driving unit that selectively drives the light emitting elements in column units;
A row driving unit that selectively drives the light emitting elements in row units;
A pulse signal for selecting the light-emitting elements in row units, a reference pulse signal, and a frequency-divided pulse signal of the reference pulse signal, wherein one or a plurality of pulses are set according to the number of rows of the light-emitting elements. An output unit that outputs a pulse signal including the divided pulse signal of
A decoding unit that decodes a pulse signal from the output unit and instructs the row driving unit of a row of the light emitting elements to be driven,
A stop signal output unit that outputs a signal to stop driving of the light emitting element to the column drive unit based on the reference pulse signal;
Is provided.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a slot machine will be described as an example, but the present invention is also applicable to other gaming machines such as pachinko machines. FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0009]
In the center of the slot machine 100 shown in FIG. 1, three reels (a left reel 110, a middle reel 111, and a right reel 112) each having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface are housed. It is configured to be able to rotate. In the present embodiment, each symbol is printed on a later-described band at an equal interval by an appropriate number (for example, 21 symbols), which is attached to each of the reels 110 to 112.
[0010]
When viewed from the player, three symbols on the reels 110 to 112 are displayed in a vertical direction from the respective symbol display windows 101 to 103, so that a total of nine symbols can be seen. By rotating each of the reels 110 to 112, the combination of symbols seen by the player changes.
[0011]
In the present embodiment, in order to display the combination of symbols in a variable manner, a plurality of reels provided with a plurality of types of symbols are provided in a plurality of rows, and each reel is configured to be rotatable. , It is also possible to change the combination of pictures in a similar manner. Further, in the present embodiment, three reels are provided inside the center of the slot machine 10, but the number of reels and the installation positions of the reels are not limited thereto.
[0012]
On the back of each of the reels 110 to 112, a backlight (not shown) for illuminating each symbol displayed on each symbol display window 101 to 103 is arranged. It is desirable that the backlight be shielded for each symbol so that the individual symbols can be evenly illuminated.
[0013]
The winning display lamp 120 is a lamp indicating a winning line that is valid for each game. The activated pay line is determined in advance by the number of game media (medals are assumed in the present embodiment) inserted into the slot machine 100. For example, when one medal is inserted, the middle horizontal winning line 104 is inserted, and when two medals are inserted, the upper horizontal winning line 105 and the lower horizontal winning line 106 are added, and three medals are added. When a number of coins is inserted, the five lines, in which the lower right pay line 107 and the lower left pay line 108 are added, are activated as pay lines. The number of winning lines is not limited to five.
[0014]
The start lamp 121 is a lamp that informs the player that the reels 110 to 112 are in a rotatable state. The re-game lamp 122 is a lamp for notifying a player that the current game is re-gameable (medal does not need to be inserted) when a re-game which is one of the winning combinations in the previous game is won. . The notification lamp 123 is a lamp that notifies a player that a specific winning combination has been internally won in an internal lottery described later. The payout number display 124 is a display for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to the player as a result of winning a certain winning combination.
[0015]
The number-of-games display 125 is a display for displaying the number of games during a special game described later, the number of winnings of a predetermined winning combination, and the like. The stored number display 126 is a display for displaying the number of medals that are electronically stored in a control unit (to be described later) of the slot machine 100. The medal insertion lamp 127 is a lamp that informs that the player can insert medals through the medal insertion slot 132. The effect lamp 128 is an effect lamp for notifying a player of internal information of the slot machine 100. The medal insertion buttons 130 to 131 are buttons for inserting a predetermined number of medals electronically stored in a control unit of the slot machine 100 described below.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, each time the medal insertion button 130 is pressed, a maximum of three coins are inserted one by one, and when the medal insertion button 131 is pressed, a maximum of three coins are inserted. The medal insertion slot 132 is an insertion slot for a player to insert a medal when starting a game. That is, the medal can be inserted electronically by the medal insertion button 130 or 131, or an actual medal can be inserted from the medal insertion slot 132.
[0017]
The start lever 133 is a lever for starting the rotation of the reels 110 to 112. That is, when the desired number of medals is inserted into the medal insertion slot 132 and the start lever 133 is operated, the reels 101 to 112 start rotating.
[0018]
The stop buttons 134 to 136 are buttons for individually stopping the reels 110 to 112 whose rotation has been started by operating the start lever 133. Note that a light-emitting body may be provided inside each of the stop buttons 134 to 136, and when the stop buttons 134 to 136 can be operated, the light-emitting body can be turned on to notify the player.
[0019]
A storage / payout button 137 is used to settle a medal electronically stored in a control unit (to be described later) of the slot machine 100 and to discharge the medal to a tray 151 from a medal payout port 150 (to be described later). It is a button for switching between the inserted four or more medals and a storage function for electronically storing up to 50 medals obtained by winning.
[0020]
The door key 138 is a key hole for unlocking the front door of the slot machine 100. The panel illuminating lamp 140 is an illuminating lamp that illuminates, from the back, the title configuration drawn on the panel or the winning combination. The medal payout port 150 is a payout port for paying out medals paid out by winning. The medal tray 151 is a container for storing medals paid out from a medal payout exit.
[0021]
The sound hole 152 is a hole for outputting the sound of a speaker provided inside the slot machine 100 to the outside. The upper lamp 160 is a decorative lamp for exciting a special game or the like to be described later.
[0022]
The illuminant display 170 is a display for displaying internal information of the slot machine 100 and the like. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the luminous element display 170 includes a plurality of luminous elements arranged in a matrix and is driven by a dynamic lighting method. In this embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) is used as a light emitting element, but another light emitting element may be used. In the present embodiment, a light emitting diode protection circuit is provided as will be described later. For example, in a transmission test or the like at the time of debugging, the light emitting diode is prevented from being damaged due to an excessive current at the time of abnormality.
[0023]
Next, the circuit configuration of the control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
(Configuration of main control unit)
The slot machine 100 includes a main control unit that controls a central part of the game, a sub-control unit that controls a display device or the like according to a command command transmitted from the main control unit, and a light-emitting device that responds to a command command from the sub-control unit. And a luminous body control unit for controlling the body display 170.
[0025]
First, the configuration of the main control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The main control unit includes a CPU 200 as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire main control unit, a data bus and an address bus for the CPU 200 to transmit and receive signals to and from each IC, and a system clock of the main control unit. An oscillator for generating, a ROM 204 for recording commands and data for controlling the main controller, a RAM 205 for temporarily storing data such as the number of stored medals, an interface for transmitting and receiving to and from each device, And a random number generation circuit for generating a counter value used in the internal lottery.
[0026]
The CPU 200 controls each IC described later using a clock obtained by dividing the clock oscillated from the crystal oscillator 201 by the clock circuit 202 as a system clock. For example, when the frequency of the crystal oscillator is 12 MHz, the frequency is divided by the clock circuit 202 and the system clock becomes 6 MHz.
[0027]
The CPU 200 is connected to each IC via a data bus and an address bus, specifies each IC via the address bus, and transmits and receives instruction signals via the data bus. Further, a timer circuit 203 is connected to the CPU 200 via a bus for setting a time for constantly monitoring the level of a sensor described later and a transmission cycle of a motor driving pulse.
[0028]
That is, when the power is turned on, the CPU 200 transmits data for frequency division stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 204 described later to the timer circuit 203 via the data bus. Then, the timer circuit 203 determines a reference time for constantly monitoring a level of a sensor described later and a reference time for transmitting a motor drive pulse based on the received frequency division data. The timer circuit 203 transmits the reference time to the CPU 200 as an interruption time. Therefore, the CPU 200 monitors devices described later based on the timer interruption time.
[0029]
For example, when the system clock of the CPU 200 is set to 6 MHz, the frequency division value of the timer circuit 203 is set to 1/256, and the data for frequency division of the ROM 204 is set to 44, the reference time is 256 × 44 ÷ 6 MHz = 1.877 ms. Become.
[0030]
Next, the CPU 200 stops the ROM 204 storing a program for controlling each IC, a stop position of the reel, lottery data of a winning combination, and the like, and stops the number of medals and reels inserted from the medal insertion slot 132. A RAM 205 for temporarily storing data such as a position is connected.
[0031]
Further, an input interface 206 for receiving an external signal is connected to the CPU 200. For example, a settlement / storage sensor 205, a medal acceptance sensor 206, a stop button sensor 207, The start lever sensor 208 and the medal insertion sensor 209 are accessed. That is, the CPU 200 monitors the level signal of each sensor every interruption time (1.877 ms in the above example).
[0032]
The settlement / storage sensor 205 is provided on the settlement / storage button 137 in FIG. 1. When the settlement / storage sensor 205 is at the H level, the CPU 200 switches the storage function to the settlement function and the settlement function to the storage function. Switching is in progress. Two medal acceptance sensors 206 are provided inside the medal insertion slot 132, and detect the level of each sensor to determine whether or not a medal has passed. The stop button sensor 207 is provided for each of the stop buttons 134 to 136, and detects an operation of the stop button by the player. The start lever sensor 208 is provided on the start lever 133 and detects a start operation of the player.
[0033]
The medal insertion sensor 209 is installed on each of the medal insertion buttons 130 and 131, and detects whether or not to insert the number of medals electronically stored in the RAM 205 as gaming medals.
[0034]
That is, the CPU 200 electronically inserts one stored medal when the medal insertion sensor 209 corresponding to the medal insertion button 130 is at the H level, and when the medal insertion sensor 209 corresponding to the medal insertion button 131 is at the H level. , And a maximum of three stored medals are inserted electronically. Here, the maximum of three means that two coins are inserted when the number of stored medals is two, and one when one is stored. Each sensor may be a non-contact sensor or a contact sensor (switch).
[0035]
An output interface 210 for transmitting a command to a sub-control unit described later is connected to a data bus of the CPU 200. The transmission of the command from the main control unit to the sub control unit is transmitted for each step of the game basic processing described later. For example, when a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, a medal insertion command is transmitted, and when the start lever 133 is operated, a start command is transmitted. Therefore, the sub control unit can sequentially grasp the game state of the main control unit by receiving these commands.
[0036]
Further, the CPU 200 has an output interface 218 and an input interface 219 connected to an address bus via an address decode circuit 212. The CPU 200 transmits and receives signals to and from external devices via these interfaces.
[0037]
The output interface 218 includes a reel motor drive unit 213 for driving a reel, a hopper motor drive unit 214 for driving a hopper motor for paying out medals stored in a bucket from a medal payout port 150, and a winning line. 120, a start lamp 121, a re-game lamp 122, a notification lamp 123, a game lamp 215 for detecting a signal for turning on / off the medal insertion lamp 127, a payout number display 124 for displaying the payout number, and a display of the number of games. A 7-segment display 216 such as a game number display 125 for displaying the number of stored games and a stored number display 126 for displaying the stored number is connected.
[0038]
The CPU 200 inputs a signal of the index sensor 217 via the input interface 219. The index sensor 217 is installed at a predetermined position on the reel mounting frame, and is set to the H level every time a projection provided on the reel member passes through the index sensor 217. Upon detecting this signal, the CPU 200 determines that the reel has made one revolution with the index sensor as a reference position, and resets the reel position to zero.
[0039]
A random number generation circuit 220 is connected to the CPU 200 via a data bus. The random number generation circuit 220 is an increment counter that increments the clock oscillated from the crystal oscillator 201 and the crystal oscillator 211 until a predetermined value is reached, and outputs a count value at a certain point in time to the CPU 200. Is used for various lottery processes. The random number generation circuit 220 according to the present embodiment includes two random number counters. For example, a counter that increments a value from 0 to 65535 using the clock frequency of the oscillator 201 and a counter that increments a value from 0 to 16777215 using the clock frequency of the oscillator 211 are provided.
[0040]
Therefore, when the clock frequency of the oscillator 201 is 12 MHz and the clock frequency of the oscillator 211 is 14.318 MHz, the time required for each counter in one week is 4.477 ms and 1398.1 ms. Therefore, if the time required for one game is 4.1 seconds, each counter is updated 902 to 903 times.
[0041]
(Configuration of sub-control unit)
Next, the circuit configuration of the sub control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The sub-control unit controls each display device according to a command command transmitted from the main control unit, and includes a data bus and an address for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the CPU 300 as an arithmetic processing device and each IC. A bus, an oscillator 301 for generating a system clock for the sub-control unit, a ROM 310 for recording commands and data for controlling the sub-control unit, a RAM 304 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted and received, And an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the device.
[0042]
The CPU 300 uses a clock oscillated from a clock 301 which is a crystal oscillator as a system clock. In the sub control unit according to the present embodiment, the oscillated clock is corrected by the clock correction circuit 302. The CPU 300 is connected to each control IC via a data bus and an address bus. That is, the CPU 300 designates each IC via the address bus, and transmits and receives each command signal via the data bus.
[0043]
A timer circuit 303 for setting a time for constantly monitoring a lamp, a switch, and the like, which will be described later, is connected to the CPU 300 via each bus. Since the setting of the reference time of the sub control unit is the same as that of the main control unit, the description is omitted.
[0044]
A RAM 304 for temporarily storing data for transmitting and receiving signals to and from each display is connected to the CPU 300 via each bus. The CPU 300 is connected to an input / output interface 305 for transmitting and receiving external signals. The input / output interface 305 displays the symbols of the reels 110 to 112 appearing in the symbol display windows 101 to 103 on the back. A backlight 306 for more illumination, a door sensor 307 for detecting the opening and closing of the front door, and a reset switch 308 for clearing data in the RAM 304 are connected.
[0045]
An input interface 309 for receiving a command from the main control unit via the data bus is connected to the CPU 300, and sub-controls such as effects for enlivening the entire game based on the command received from the input interface 309 are performed. Done. Further, the CPU 300 is connected via a data bus and an address bus to a ROM 310 in which a lighting pattern for controlling a backlight and data for controlling a display are stored. Therefore, the CPU 300 obtains necessary data from the ROM 310 via the data bus and controls each display.
[0046]
The tone generator IC 311 is connected to the data bus and the address bus of the CPU 300. The sound source IC 311 controls sound according to a command from the CPU 300. The sound source IC 311 is connected to a ROM 312 in which sound data is stored. The sound source IC 311 amplifies the sound data obtained from the ROM 312 by the amplifier 313 and outputs the sound data from the speaker 314. The player can hear the sound output through the sound hole 152.
[0047]
An address decoder 315 for selecting an external IC is connected to the CPU 300 in the same manner as the main control unit. The input interface 309 for receiving a command from the main control unit is connected to the address decoder 315. , An input interface 321 for inputting a signal from a light emitter control unit described later, a clock IC 322, and an output interface 324 for outputting a signal to the seven segments. .
[0048]
Further, a demultiplexer 319 is connected to the output interface 320. The demultiplexer 319 analyzes the signal transmitted from the output interface 320 and transmits the signal to each display. That is, the demultiplexer 319 controls signals to the panel illumination lamp 140, the upper lamp 160, and the effect lamp 128 according to the data received from the CPU 300.
[0049]
The CPU 300 transmits a command to the light emitter control unit described later via the demultiplexer 319. Conversely, the CPU 300 receives a signal from the light emitter control unit via the input interface 321. That is, the CPU 300 performs two-way communication with the light emitter control unit via the demultiplexer 319 and the input interface 321.
[0050]
Specifically, when a command transmitted from the sub-control unit is received by the illuminant control unit, the illuminant control unit performs processing such as displaying, for example, a figure or a character of a fish school on the illuminant display 170 described later. Is executed. When the predetermined display is completed, the illuminant control unit transmits a message to that effect to the sub control unit. Therefore, since the sub-control unit can confirm that the command of the command transmitted by the sub-control unit has been executed, it is possible to synchronize the display timing, and it is possible to prevent the illuminator display 170 from malfunctioning. .
[0051]
A clock IC 322 is connected to the CPU 300 via a data bus and an address bus. Thereby, the sub control unit can acquire the time. Further, a 7-segment display 323 is connected to the CPU 300 via an output interface 324, so that the setting information of the sub-control unit can be displayed to a person in the hall where the slot machine 100 is installed.
[0052]
(Configuration of illuminant control unit)
Next, the circuit configuration of the light emitter control unit will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The illuminant display unit controls the display circuit 405 according to a command transmitted from the sub control unit.
[0053]
The light emitter control unit includes a CPU 400 as an arithmetic processing unit, a data bus and an address bus for transmitting and receiving signals to and from each IC, an oscillator 402 for generating a system clock of the light emitter control unit, The ROM 410 stores data and a program for controlling the display circuit 405, a RAM 404 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted and received, and an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the display circuit 405.
[0054]
The CPU 400 uses the clock frequency oscillated from the crystal oscillator 402 as the system clock of the light emitter control unit. The clock correction circuit 401 also performs clock correction in the light emitter control unit in the same manner as the sub control unit.
[0055]
The CPU 400 is connected to each IC via a data bus and an address bus, similarly to the sub control unit. The CPU 400 is connected to each bus with a timer circuit 403 for setting a time for scanning signal lines of the matrix driving units 701 and 702 of the light emitting diode 700 described later. The scanning time of the light emitting diode is the same as that of the main control unit. When the power is supplied to the CPU 400, the CPU 400 transmits data stored in a predetermined area of a ROM 410 to be described later to the timer circuit 403 via a data bus. Determined by That is, the timer circuit 403 calculates a reference time from the received data, and transmits the elapse of the reference time to the CPU 400 at predetermined time intervals. Then, the CPU 400 receives the reference time and transmits a signal to the display circuit 405. In the light emitter control unit according to the present embodiment, the system clock is set to 20 MHz and the reference time is set to 1.0 ms.
[0056]
Next, an input interface 408 for receiving a command transmitted from the sub-control unit and an output interface 409 for transmitting an answer signal for synchronizing the luminous body control unit and the sub-control unit are provided to the CPU 400. Are connected via each bus. The CPU 400 includes a ROM 410 storing a program for controlling transmission and reception of data and signals for displaying predetermined graphics and characters on a display circuit 405, which will be described later, and data for controlling the display circuit 405. RAM 411 as a work area for temporarily storing is connected via each bus.
[0057]
The CPU 400 includes a serial interface 406 for transmitting a serial signal to the column driving unit 701 of the light emitting diode 700 and an output interface 407 for transmitting a signal to the row driving unit 702 of the light emitting diode 700. Connected through. The CPU 400 analyzes the command received from the sub control unit, acquires data to be displayed on the display circuit 405 from the ROM 410, and controls the column and row driving units 701 and 702 for each reference time set by the timer circuit 403. The control causes the light emitting diode 700 to display a predetermined figure or character.
[0058]
(Outline of the game)
Next, the outline of the gaming configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0059]
In the medal acceptance process S500, it is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted. There are two cases of inserting medals: inserting medals from the medal insertion slot 132, and inserting medals that are stored electronically by depressing the medal insertion button 130 or 131. When a medal is inserted, it is determined whether or not the start lever 133 has been operated in a start operation receiving process S510.
[0060]
In the start operation receiving process S510, when the start lever 133 is operated, the number of inserted medals is determined, and valid pay lines 104 to 107 are determined.
[0061]
In the internal lottery process S520, the value of the counter is obtained from the random number generation circuit 220 and stored in a predetermined area set in the RAM 205, and the CPU 200 determines the obtained value of the counter and the lottery stored in the ROM 204 in advance. An internal lottery is performed to determine whether the internal winning of the winning combination is successful or not by collating with the data. Note that the result of the internal lottery of the winning combination is transmitted to the sub-control via the output interface 210, so that the sub-control unit can also grasp the result of the internal lottery.
[0062]
In the reel rotation processing S530, the rotation of the reels 110 to 112 is started in response to the operation of the start lever 133. After the reels 110 to 112 rotate, the CPU 200 proceeds to the reel stop processing S540 after waiting for the reels 110 to 112 to rotate at a constant speed.
[0063]
In the reel stop processing S540, the operation of the stop buttons 134 to 136 is received. At this time, the player can be notified of acceptance of the stop button by turning on the illuminant incorporated in the stop buttons 134 to 136.
[0064]
When any of the stop buttons 134 to 136 is operated, the reels are displayed in a predetermined number of sliding symbols according to the result of the internal lottery of the winning combination with reference to the reel stop positions developed in the RAM 205. The windows are stopped. Thereafter, the CPU 200 determines whether or not all the reels 110 to 112 have stopped, and proceeds to the winning determination processing S550 if stopped.
[0065]
In the winning determination process S550, it is determined whether the symbol combination on the activated winning line is the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination, among the symbol combinations stopped and displayed on the symbol display window.
[0066]
The outline of the winning determination processing S550 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The bands shown in FIG. 6 are attached to the reels 110 to 112 of the slot machine 100 according to the embodiment.
[0067]
The numbers described on the left side of the band in FIG. 6 indicate the symbol numbers, and the CPU 200 controls the rotation and stop of the reel based on the numbers. Then, in the reel stop processing S540, when the stop buttons 134 to 136 are operated and the symbol combination stopped on the winning line of the symbol display window is determined to be the symbol combination of the predetermined winning combination, a winning is achieved.
[0068]
For example, when the symbol of the left band 21 (white 7), the symbol of the middle band 16 (white 7), and the symbol of the right band 7 are displayed on the winning line 104, the winning of the specific role is achieved and the predetermined number of medals is determined. Is paid out to the tray from the medal payout exit 150, and in this case, the special game is started from the next time. Therefore, the player aims at a predetermined symbol so that the predetermined symbol combination stops on the winning line.
[0069]
If it is determined that there is a prize, one game is ended by paying out a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning combination from the medal payout exit 150 to the receiving tray 151 in the medal payout process S560. Hereinafter, the game proceeds by repeating the above-described processing.
[0070]
(Display circuit 405)
Next, the circuit configuration of the display circuit 405 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. The display circuit 405 selectively turns on / off the light emitting diode 700 of the light emitting device display 170 by the CPU 400 controlling the row driving unit 702 and the column driving unit 701 via the output interface 407 and the serial interface 406. Circuit.
[0071]
In the present embodiment, four sets of light emitting diodes 700 are arranged in a matrix with 8 × 8 as one set, and further four blocks are arranged in the horizontal direction as one block, thereby forming a dot matrix of 16 rows × 64 columns. It is configured in a shape. Therefore, by providing two 8-bit address decoders (703 and 704), 16 rows are designated. In the present embodiment, for convenience of description, the vertical direction of the light emitting diode 700 is referred to as a row, and the horizontal direction is referred to as a column. In the present invention, any of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is referred to as a row or a column. Is also good. Further, the number of rows and the number of columns are not limited to 16 × 64.
[0072]
A0 to A3 are signal lines to which pulse signals for selecting the light emitting diodes 700 on a row basis are supplied. The pulse signals are output from the output interface 407 under the control of the CPU 400. In the case of the present embodiment, A0 to A2 are supplied with a pulse signal for selecting the light emitting diodes 700 to be turned on in row units for each of the address decoders 703 and 704, and A3 switches between the address decoder 703 and the address decoder 704. Pulse signals are supplied, and these are used to select 16 rows.
[0073]
As shown in FIG. 8A, the signal line of A0 has one interrupt cycle (1 ms), A1 has two interrupt cycles (2 ms), A2 has four interrupt cycles (4 ms), and A3 has Each signal is transmitted in eight interrupt cycles (8 ms).
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 8B, for example, the row number 0 is: (A0, A1, A2, A3) = (0, 0, 0, 0), and the row number 1 is (A0, A1, A2, A3). ) = (1, 0, 0, 0), and the row number 2 is: (A0, A1, A2, A3) = (0, 1, 0, 0), and the row number 15: (A0, A1, After (A2, A3) = (1, 1, 1, 1), the process returns to the line number 0, and thereafter, the line numbers 0 to 15 are sequentially repeated.
[0075]
Therefore, the CPU 400 scans each row of the luminous element display 170 every 1 ms.
[0076]
Here, the pulse signal of the shortest cycle (maximum frequency) supplied to A0 is referred to as a reference pulse signal. A1 to A3 are pulse signals obtained by dividing this reference pulse signal. As described above, in the present embodiment, the pulse signal that configures the light emitting diode 700 in units of rows is configured by the reference pulse signal and the frequency-divided pulse signal.
[0077]
The frequency-divided pulse signals (the number and frequency) are set according to the number of rows of the light emitting diodes 700. That is, it is sufficient that the address decoders 703 and 704 are sufficient to specify each row of the light emitting diodes 700.
[0078]
For example, when the number of rows is four or less, the frequency-divided pulse signal is one and the frequency is １ ／. When the number of rows is eight or less, there are two frequency-divided pulse signals, and the frequencies are 1/2 and 1/4. That is, when the number of frequency-divided pulse signals is k, the frequency of the k-th frequency-divided pulse signal is N / 2 with respect to the frequency N of the reference pulse signal. ^k And the frequency of the (k-1) th divided pulse signal is N / 2 ^k-1 The same applies hereinafter.
[0079]
The frequency-divided pulse signal may be generated from the reference pulse signal by counting the reference pulse signal or the like. However, if the frequency is set to the above-described frequency, the frequency-divided pulse signal may not be directly generated from the reference pulse signal but may be generated independently. In this document, the frequency-divided pulse signal includes any of them.
[0080]
In the present embodiment, the output unit that outputs the pulse signal outputs both the reference pulse signal and the frequency-divided pulse signal from the output interface 407. For example, a circuit that generates the reference pulse signal, It is also possible to constitute the output section from another circuit that generates a frequency-divided pulse signal from a reference pulse generated from the circuit.
[0081]
Next, the address decoders 703 and 704 decode each pulse signal output from the output interface 407 and output a signal indicating the row of the light emitting diode 700 to be driven to the row driving unit 702.
[0082]
The row driving unit 702 is a circuit that selectively drives the light emitting diodes 700 in row units. For example, the row driving unit 702 is an amplifier circuit such as a transistor, and a signal line of a row number scanned by each of the address decoders 703 and 704. Output current.
[0083]
Next, FIG. 9A is a circuit diagram of the column driving unit 701. The column driving unit 701 is a circuit for selectively driving the light emitting diodes 700 in column units. In the case of the present embodiment, four column driving units 701 are provided, and each column driving unit 701 drives 16 columns. Is assumed. The column driving unit 701 selectively grounds the light emitting diodes 700 in each column based on the serial signal transmitted from the serial interface 406 under the control of the CPU 400. As a result, the light emitting diode 700 selected by both the row driver 702 and the column driver 701 is turned on.
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 9A, the column driver 701 receives a 64-bit serial signal transmitted from the serial interface 406 from the SIN terminal, and sequentially inputs the serial signal to the 16-bit shift register.
[0085]
The serial signal is input to the shift register every time an interrupt time (for example, 2.5 MHz) of the system clock divided by 8 is input to the CLOCK terminal. The 64-bit serial signal is sequentially input from the SOUT terminal to the SIN terminal of the adjacent column driving unit.
[0086]
Thereafter, when an interrupt signal every 1 ms is input from the CPU 400 to the LATCH terminal in synchronization with the scanning of the address decoders 703 and 704, the bit information of the 16-bit register is latched by the latch circuit 701a. That is, the CPU 400 controls the LATCH signal to be input to the LATCH terminal immediately after the row signal is output. Note that when outputting the row signal, the CPU 400 may switch the address after outputting a turn-off signal to the STROBE terminal shown in FIG. 9A to prevent flicker.
[0087]
The signal latched by the latch circuit 701a is input to the FET 701c via the AND gate 701b, and the FET 701c switches to ground the terminal of the light emitting diode 700 in the selected column. Since the STROBE terminal is normally set at the (L) level, the (H) level is always input to the AND gate 701b. In addition, a signal from a luminous body protection circuit 705 described later is input to the BEO terminal.
[0088]
Next, the luminous body protection circuit 705 will be described. In the present embodiment, the display circuit 405 is controlled by a dynamic lighting method. In the dynamic lighting method, since the light emitting diode emits light with high luminance and is used, a current larger than the rated current is generally applied as compared with the static lighting method. For example, a current of 50 mA, which is 2.5 times the rated current of 10 mA to 20 mA, is applied.
[0089]
For this reason, if any abnormality occurs, for example, some trouble may occur in the sub-control unit, and an excessive current may be applied to the light emitting diode 700 to damage it.
[0090]
The luminous body protection circuit 705 is a circuit for protecting the light emitting diode 700 in such a case, and drives the column driving unit 701 to drive the light emitting diode 700 based on the reference pulse signal supplied to the signal line A0. It functions as a stop signal output unit that outputs a signal to stop.
[0091]
Hereinafter, an example of the configuration of the luminous body protection circuit 705 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a monostable multivibrator 705a is used for the light emitter protection circuit 705. In the present embodiment, HD74HC4538 is assumed as the multivibrator 705a. In this IC, two monostable multivibrators are incorporated in one package, but only one is used in this embodiment.
[0092]
In the present embodiment, the luminous body protection circuit 705 detects the reference pulse signal of the signal line A0 where the signal changes most frequently. No divided pulse signal is detected.
[0093]
An inverted signal of the reference pulse signal is input to the B terminal of the monostable multivibrator 705a of the illuminant protection circuit 705, and the A terminal is grounded. These ORs are taken by an OR gate. In the monostable multivibrator 705a, a (H) level signal is output to the Q terminal by using a transition point of the falling signal input from the OR gate as a trigger, and the discharging of the capacitor 705b connected between the terminals T1 and T2 is performed. Start. Conversely, charging of the capacitor 705b is started with the transition point of the rising signal input from the OR gate as a trigger (in this case, the Q terminal remains at the (H) level).
[0094]
Therefore, since the reference pulse signal changes between the (H) level and the (L) level in a cycle of 1 ms, a change point occurs every 1 ms, and the capacitor 705b repeats discharge and charge every 1 ms. The battery has been charged for a certain amount.
[0095]
However, for example, when some abnormality occurs in the sub control unit or when the reference pulse signal has a constant value for a predetermined time due to noise or the like, that is, when the reference pulse signal has a (H) level or a (L) level, Since the signal of the change point is not input, the discharge of the capacitor 705b is continuously started with the first rising signal as a trigger.
[0096]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the capacitance of the capacitor is 0.1 μF, the resistance of the resistor 705c is 470 kΩ, and the discharge time (time constant T = 0.7 × R × C) is 32.9 ms. When the discharge of the capacitor 705b ends, the signal at the Q terminal changes from the (H) level to the (L) level.
[0097]
FIG. 8C is a timing chart of the reference pulse signal of the A0 signal line and the signal output from the Q terminal. The upper timing chart in the figure shows the case where the reference pulse signal remains at the (H) level for a predetermined time, and the (L) level signal is output from the Q terminal 7 ms after the falling signal is triggered. FIG.
[0098]
On the other hand, the lower timing chart in the figure shows the case where the reference pulse signal remains at the level for a predetermined time (L). 3) shows a mode in which a level signal is output.
[0099]
When the (L) level signal is output from the Q terminal of the luminous body protection circuit 705, the BEO terminal of the column driving unit 701 is set to (L) as shown in FIGS. Level, and the AND gate on the BEO terminal side becomes (L) level. Therefore, even if the signal latched by the column driver 701 is at the (H) level, the signal of the AND gate 701b input to the FET 701c is at the (L) level, and the FET 701c is turned off. No current flows through the light emitting diode 700, which can be turned off, thereby preventing the light emitting diode 700 from being damaged.
[0100]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the light emitting diode 700 can be protected while employing the dynamic lighting method. Further, it is sufficient to monitor only the reference pulse signal, and it is not necessary to individually monitor the signal supplied to each light emitting diode 700, so that the number of circuit components can be reduced.
[0101]
The resistor 705c provided in the light emitter protection circuit 705 is a variable resistor as shown in FIG. 9B, so that the installer of the slot machine 100 can arbitrarily set the discharge time of the capacitor 705b. You can also do so. That is, a switch or the like for controlling the resistance of the resistor 705c is provided in the slot machine 100, and in the case of debugging, the discharge time of the capacitor 705b is set to a short time to protect the light emitting diode 700 from damage. The discharge time can be set to a long time in consideration of the low occurrence of malfunction.
[0102]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming table capable of reducing the number of components in protecting a light emitting element of a display.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main control unit of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sub control unit of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a light emission control unit of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a game basic process of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a band attached to a reel of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a display circuit 405 of the slot machine 100.
FIG. 8A is a timing chart of pulse signals supplied to signal lines A0 to A3, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a relationship between pulse signals of the signal lines A0 to A3 and a selected row; (C) is a diagram showing the relationship between the reference pulse signal and the signal output from the light emitter protection circuit 705.
9A is a block diagram of a column driving unit 701, and FIG. 9B is a block diagram of a luminous body protection circuit 705.

Claims (3)

In a gaming table having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a matrix and having a dynamically lit display,
A column driving unit that selectively drives the light emitting elements in column units;
A row driving unit that selectively drives the light emitting elements in row units;
A pulse signal for selecting the light-emitting elements in row units, a reference pulse signal, and a frequency-divided pulse signal of the reference pulse signal, wherein one or a plurality of pulses are set according to the number of rows of the light-emitting elements. An output unit that outputs a pulse signal including the divided pulse signal of
A decoding unit that decodes a pulse signal from the output unit and instructs the row driving unit of a row of the light emitting elements to be driven,
A stop signal output unit that outputs a signal to stop driving of the light emitting element to the column drive unit based on the reference pulse signal;
A game console comprising: The game console according to claim 1, wherein the stop signal output section outputs the signal when the reference pulse signal has a constant value for a predetermined time. Furthermore,
Display means for variably displaying a combination of symbols,
Lottery means for judging the success or failure of the internal winning of the predetermined winning combination by lottery,
Determining means for determining a winning based on whether or not the combination of the symbols displayed by the display means is a predetermined combination of pictures corresponding to the internally won winning combination. The gaming table according to claim 1, wherein:

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