JP2004174099A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine preventing malfunctions such as skipping in reading a control command and detection of winning and entering of game balls. <P>SOLUTION: This pinball game machine is provided with a main control board 40 mainly controlling a game operation and a put-out control board 44 putting out the game balls based on the control command transmitted from the main control board 40 via a first signal wire. This machine is also provided with a second signal wire transmitting machine information data from the put-out control board 44 to the main control board 40. The main control board 40 is provided with a first waiting process ST23 executing the initial setting after applying the power supply and waiting till receiving a preparation completion signal CMPL from the second signal wire, and a shift process ST24 shifting to a regular operation state on conditions of receiving the preparation completion signal CMPL. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrange ball machine, and a sparrow ball game machine, and in particular, has the same circuit configuration and can be applied to both a pachinko machine and an arrange ball machine without adverse effects. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The arrangement ball machine has a configuration in which a plurality of continuous entrances in which 16 entrances are arranged in a horizontal row are provided at a lower portion of the game board, and a launching device for launching the game balls onto the game board is provided. Then, the launching device launches 16 game balls for each game, and determines the winning combination based on a combination of winning symbols corresponding to the entered ball entrances, and proceeds to the entrance of 16 game balls. One game has been completed after confirming the entry of the ball. Therefore, a firing pause time of about 2 seconds occurs for each game. On the other hand, the pachinko machine does not have the concept of one game in the arrangement ball machine or the break of the game in which the firing pause time is not present, so that the game balls can be continuously fired.
[0003]
However, the launching device that launches the game ball is the same for both the arrangement ball machine and the pachinko machine, and the hitting hammer is intermittently driven by the firing motor, and the hitting hammer hits the game ball at the firing position. It is configured to be fired. The payout operation of prize balls is also common regardless of the type of gaming machine, and the payout operation is performed based on a main control unit that mainly controls the game operation and a control command from the main control unit. Generally, the payout control unit is configured to execute the payout control unit. In general, the operation of the firing device is permitted or prohibited by the control of the payout control unit.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional ball game machine employs a configuration in which the main control unit shifts to a steady operation state after the power is turned on regardless of the state of the payout control unit, so that a malfunction may occur. As the most prominent example, there is a risk that a payout control unit that has not been prepared may miss a control command output by the main control unit when returning from a power failure.
[0005]
In addition, in the conventional ball game machine, the game ball can be fired regardless of the state of the main control unit.In an extreme case, the game ball may be shot even if the fired game ball has won or entered. Since the preparation of the control unit has not been completed, the main control unit may not be able to detect this.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a ball game machine in which a control command is not missed or a malfunction such as a prize of a game ball or a ball cannot be detected is prevented. As an issue.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a main control unit that mainly controls a game operation and a game ball based on a control signal transmitted from the main control unit through a first signal line. And a payout control unit for paying out, in the ball game machine, a second signal line for transmitting device information from the payout control unit to the main control unit is provided, and the main control unit performs an initial operation after power-on. A first standby unit that waits until receiving a preparation completion signal from the second signal line after executing the setting operation; and a transition that shifts the main control unit to a steady operation state on condition that the preparation completion signal is received. Means.
[0008]
In the present invention, a steady game operation of the main control unit is not started until the preparation operation of the payout control unit is completed, so that a smooth operation such as a payout operation and a firing operation of the game ball is ensured. The control signal transmitted through the first signal line is not particularly limited, but is a 16-bit control command in the case of the embodiment. It should be noted that the control signal may be transmitted all at once by a single transmission operation, or may be transmitted a plurality of times as in the embodiment. The device information is not particularly limited as long as the device information includes a preparation completion signal. Preferably, the device information is information on payout of game balls, and more preferably, error information on payout of game balls. These points are the same in the case of the invention according to claim 4.
[0009]
Preferably, the transition unit transmits a control signal for permitting the launch of a game ball through the first signal line to the payout control unit, before transitioning the main control unit to a steady operation state. I have. Further, the payout control unit is configured to directly or indirectly control the launching device of the game ball, and permits the operation of the launching device of the game ball based on a control signal received from the first signal line. It has become. In this case, more preferably, the launch speed of the game ball is set in accordance with the permission of the operation of the launch device. With such a configuration, the same circuit can be used for both a pachinko machine and an arrange ball machine, and the versatility of the device configuration is enhanced.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 4 includes a main control unit that mainly controls a game operation, and a payout control unit that pays out game balls based on a control signal transmitted from the main control unit through a first signal line. In the ball-and-ball game machine, a second signal line for transmitting information from the payout control unit to the main control unit is provided, and the payout control unit performs an initial setting operation after turning on power, and A signal output unit for outputting a ready signal to two signal lines, a second standby unit for waiting for a predetermined time after receiving a predetermined control signal from the first signal line, and a case where the predetermined control signal is received Includes a speed setting means for setting the firing speed of the game ball firing device based on the control signal, and thereafter shifting the payout control unit to a steady operation state.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 4 is preferably configured such that, as the operation of the firing device is permitted, the firing speed of the firing device configured to be set in multiple stages is also set, If a predetermined control signal is not received after a lapse of a predetermined time, safety means for setting the firing speed of the firing device to a minimum is further provided.
[0012]
Further, in each of the above inventions, it is preferable that the control signal is data having a plurality of bits and the preparation completion signal is a data having a length of 1 bit. Similarly, the payout control section in the steady operation state includes a total prize ball number calculating means (ST11) for updating the total number of prize balls to be paid out based on the control signal received from the first signal line, The driving means (ST16) for driving the payout device to pay out, the payout monitoring means (ST9) for continuously grasping the prize balls paid out by the operation of the payout device, and the total updated by the total prize ball number calculating means. The number of payout prize balls grasped by the payout monitoring means is subtracted from the number of prize balls, and if the subtraction result is zero, data output means (ST14) which operates to output the prize ball completion signal to the second signal line. , ST16).
[0013]
In each of the above inventions, the main control unit in the steady operation state includes a data input unit (ST42) for monitoring a signal output from the payout control unit to the second signal line, and a prize ball from the second signal line. It is preferable to include a permission means (ST43) for outputting a control signal for permitting restart of the firing operation of the game ball to the payout control unit when receiving the completion signal.
[0014]
Here, the control signal for permitting the restart of the firing operation of the game ball is easily shared with the preparation completion signal. In this case, it is preferable that the preparation completion signal is turned on after the RAM area initialization process of the payout control unit. Further, it is preferable to set the state to the OFF state at the start of the payout operation and return to the ON state at the end of the payout operation.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Although the present invention is suitably applied to a pachinko machine and an arrangement ball machine, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an arrange ball machine will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of an arrangement ball machine according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board of the arrangement ball machine.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, a front frame 1 is pivotally attached to the front side of an arrangement ball machine main body 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. A glass door 3 and a front plate 4 are mounted on the front frame 1, and a game board 5 is detachably mounted on the rear side thereof. An upper plate 6 is mounted on the front plate 4, and a ball sweeping lever 7 is provided at a front edge of the upper plate 6. A lower plate 8 and a firing handle 10 of a firing device 9 are provided below the front frame 1.
[0017]
The firing device 9 includes a firing handle 10, a hammer 12 for hitting a game ball of the firing unit 11, and a firing motor 13 that operates when the firing handle 10 is operated to drive the hammer 12 in the hitting direction. ing. Then, when the player operates the firing handle 10, game balls supplied one by one from the upper plate 6 to the firing unit 11 are hit by the hitting hammer 12 and fired. In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the firing motor 13 (M1), and the firing motor 13 is mounted on the back side of the front frame 1 via a mounting plate or the like. The mounting plate is provided with a launch control board 45 incorporated in a protective case.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 18 for guiding a game ball fired by the firing device 9 is provided on a front surface of the game board 5, and an upper entrance port is provided at a central portion surrounded by the guide rail 18. 19, fluctuating design display device 20, central entrance 21, lower entrance 22, upper left entrance 23, upper right entry point entrance 24, left and right passing entrances 25 and 26, lower left starting entrance 27, a lower right entrance 28, etc. are arranged, a multiple entrance 29 is arranged below these, and an obstacle nail group is provided near the upper side of the multiple entrance 29. .
[0019]
The variable symbol display device 20 has three symbol display portions 30 to 32, which are activated when a game ball enters the starting entrance 27, and the display symbols of the symbol display portions 30 to 32 are changed. It fluctuates for a certain period of time. In addition to the opening / closing plate 33, the central entrance 21 is divided into three passages, and the central passage is set in the operation area 34. The multiple entrances 29 are provided with 16 entrances 35 in a horizontal line, and are covered by a lower cover 36 from the front side. The lower cover 36 is provided with a winning symbol display lamp 38 in addition to the numbers from “1” to “16” indicating the 16 winning symbols. The prize display section 37 is provided with 16 prize symbol display lamps 38 vertically corresponding to the respective entrances 35 of the multiple entrances 29 in a horizontal row. When a ball is entered, a winning symbol display lamp 38 corresponding to the entrance 35 is lit.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the arrangement ball machine according to the embodiment. The arrangement ball machine shown in the figure has a main control board 40 for mainly controlling a game operation, a lamp control board 41 for blinking lamps, a symbol control board 42 for controlling the operation of the variable symbol display device 20, Control board 43 for realizing a typical game effect, a payout control board 44 for driving a payout motor M1 to pay out game balls, a firing control board 45 for driving a firing motor M2 to fire game balls, a prepaid It mainly comprises a card unit 46 for accepting cards and renting out game balls, and a frequency display board 47 for driving a balance display section of a prepaid card.
[0021]
The main control board 40, the lamp control board 41, the symbol control board 42, the audio control board 43, and the payout control board 44 are each configured by a computer circuit having a one-chip microcomputer. An individual control operation is realized based on a 16-bit control command CMD from the main control board 40.
[0022]
In the case of this embodiment, a first signal line capable of transmitting 8-bit data at a stretch from the main control board 40 to each of the sub-control boards 41 to 44 is provided. On the other hand, the control command CMD has a 16-bit configuration in which 8-bit MODE data indicating an outline of the operation and 8-bit EVENT data indicating the details of the operation are combined. Thus, the data is transmitted by twice transmission processing every 8 bits.
[0023]
The control command CMD transmitted from the main control board 40 to the payout control board 44 includes a “fire stop command” for stopping the firing of a game ball and a game at a speed of about 0.601 (seconds / piece) between firing intervals. "Launching restart command 1" for firing a ball, "Launching restart command 2" for firing a game ball at a firing interval of about 0.501 (seconds / piece), and any one of 1 to 16 Or 16 kinds of "prize ball number designation commands" for designating the payout of the number of game balls.
[0024]
In this embodiment, a second signal line capable of transmitting 5-bit data (device information data) from the payout control board 44 to the main control board 40 is provided. Although the device information data is not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the left and right ball counting signals BCT (R) and BCT (L) output each time a game ball is paid out, the replenishment signal STOP, and the lower tray full. A signal UNDER and a prize ball completion signal CMPL are provided, and these signals are output from the payout control board 44 when necessary.
[0025]
Here, the left and right ball counting signals BCT (R) and BCT (L) are counting signals from the left and right counting switches for detecting the passage of game balls paid out with the rotation of the payout motor M1. Further, the out-of-supply detection signal STOP indicates that the supply of the ball to the gaming machine has been interrupted, and the under tray signal UNDER indicates that the gaming ball paid out to the player has clogged the under tray.
[0026]
The ball counting signals SCT from the left and right counting switches are supplied to the main control board 40 as they are, and are used in the subtraction processing of the control program of the payout control board 44 (ST14 in FIG. 6 described later) to complete the prize ball. This contributes to the generation of the signal CMPL and the like. On the other hand, the replenishment detection signal STOP and the lower tray signal UNDER, which are error signals, are output to the main control board 40 on condition that they maintain an abnormal level for a predetermined time (for example, 0.2 seconds).
[0027]
Then, the main control board 40 receiving these error signals (STOP, UNDER) transfers the same as it is to the external terminal 48 and transmits an appropriate control command corresponding to the error signal to the lamp control board 41. . The main control board 40 outputs the left and right ball count signals BCT (L) and BCT (R) to the external terminal 48 without any processing, but the signal output to the external terminal 48 is For example, it is referred to at the time of a trial test of a gaming machine in a public organization.
[0028]
By the way, in the case of the arrangement ball machine, one game is completed at the stage where all of the 16 game balls fired enter one of the entrances. Therefore, the main control board 40 transmits a “fire stop command” to the payout control board 44 at the stage of detecting the firing of the sixteenth game ball in one game. Then, the payout control board 44 that has received the “shooting stop command” outputs an L-level firing signal SG to the firing control board 45 to prohibit the firing operation of the game ball.
[0029]
In addition, the main control board 40 constantly monitors the entry of game balls into the entrance, performs a determination process of determining a winning combination each time a game ball enters, and performs a prize associated with the formation of the winning combination. If a ball exists, the number of prize ball designation commands (meaning 16 prize balls) is transmitted to the payout control board 44 the number of times corresponding to the winning combination. If there is no prize ball, after confirming that 16 game balls have entered the entrance, a "launch restart command 2" is transmitted to the payout control board 44. In this case, after transmitting the last "prize ball number designation command", the "fire restart command 2" is transmitted on condition that the prize ball completion signal CMPL (1 bit data) is received from the payout control board 44. I have.
[0030]
Note that completion of one game in the arrangement ball machine may be any of the following conditions instead of the above configuration. That is, (a) after confirming by the main control board that 16 game balls have been fired, when 2.0 seconds have elapsed, (b) by confirming by the main control board that 16 game balls have entered. Then, 0.5 seconds (a winning symbol confirmation time) elapses, and (c) the main control board confirms the payout of the prize ball by receiving the prize ball completion signal. Then, after one game is completed, first, the winning symbols may be hidden, and then the firing of the game balls may be permitted by transmitting a firing restart command.
[0031]
When the payout control board 44 receives the "prize ball number designation command", the payout motor M1 is driven to execute a payout operation of a required number of game balls. When the payout control board 44 confirms the payout of all the prize balls, the payout control board 44 transmits the prize ball completion signal CMPL to the main control board 40 and receives the “launch restart command 2” from the main control board 40. The condition is such that the launch operation of the game ball on the launch control board 45 is permitted. The permission operation of the firing operation is specifically realized by returning the firing signal SG from the L level to the H level and outputting the signal to the firing control board 45.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the above-described firing signal SG, a firing clock signal Φck is supplied from the payout control board 44 to the firing control board 45. The firing clock signal Φck is a reference clock for generating drive pulses (ΦA, ΦB, ΦA bar, ΦB bar) for rotating the firing motor M2, which is a stepping motor, and a “fire restart command” from the main control board 40 at the start of the game operation. 2 "(a control command for an arrangement ball machine), a firing clock signal Φck having a frequency F2 is output.
[0033]
On the other hand, at the start of the game operation, when the “fire restart command 1” (a control command for the pachinko machine) is received from the main control board 40, or after the start of the operation, after the lapse of a predetermined time (about 96 mS), If the “restart command” has not been received, the emission clock signal Φck having the frequency F1 is output. Here, the frequency is set to F1 <F2, so that even if a control command is missed, it is possible to prevent a game ball from being fired at a speed higher than the regulation.
[0034]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the frequency of the firing clock signal is changed in accordance with the control command received from the main control board 40 at the time of starting the game operation, the same circuit configuration (and control program) is paid out. With the control board 44, an arrangement ball machine or a pachinko machine can be realized.
[0035]
Subsequently, based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6, the operation contents of the main control board 40 and the payout control board 44 of the arrangement ball machine according to the embodiment will be described in confirmation. First, the control operation of the main control board 40 will be described. The control program of the main control board 1 is executed after the power is turned on and usually ends with an infinite loop process (ST28). A timer interrupt processing (prohibitable interrupt) program (FIG. 5) activated when the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined value, and an NMI processing program (non-maskable interrupt) driven by an NMI (Non Maskable interrupt) signal to back up the register value of the CPU. (Shown).
[0036]
In the system reset processing program (main routine) shown in FIG. 4, first, the CPU sets itself to the interrupt disabled state, and initializes each part of the one-chip microcomputer including the CPU core (ST21). Next, the CPU (the Z80 CPU in the embodiment) sets itself to the interruption mode 2 (ST22), and then acquires the winning ball completion signal CMPL from the input port and determines the level thereof.
[0037]
In this embodiment, when the payout control board 44 normally completes the initial setting operation, it outputs an H level prize ball completion signal CMPL to the main control board 40 (see ST5 in FIG. 6). Therefore, the main control board 40 shifts to the next operation on condition that the award ball completion signal CMPL changes to the H level (ST23).
[0038]
When the prize ball completion signal CMPL becomes H level, the CPU of the main control board 40 outputs either the “fire restart command 1” or the “fire restart command 2” to the payout control board 44. As described above, the “launch restart command 1” is for a pachinko machine and the “launch restart command 2” is for an arrange ball machine. In this embodiment, the “launch restart command 2” is a payout control board. 44.
[0039]
Then, the payout control board 44 that has received the "fire restart command 2" outputs the firing clock signal Φck of the frequency F2 to the fire control board 45, so that the firing operation at a firing interval of about 0.501 seconds / piece becomes possible. . As described above, in this embodiment, after confirming that the payout control board 44 has started up normally, the launching speed of the game ball is set. Therefore, the payout control board 44 sets the launching speed of the game ball. There is no mistake.
[0040]
When the processing of step ST24 is completed as described above, the CPU next determines the value of the RAM clear signal (ST25). The RAM clear signal is a signal indicating whether or not to initialize the RAM area, and has a value corresponding to the ON / OFF state of the initialization switch. Now, assuming that the power is turned on by operating the initialization switch, the determination in step ST3 becomes Yes, the work area of the RAM is cleared to zero, and the CPU is set to the interrupt permission state (EI) (ST27). . Then, a random number generation process is performed in an infinite loop (ST28).
[0041]
On the other hand, when the power is turned on without operating the initialization switch, the content of the backup flag BFL is determined following the determination in step ST25 (ST26). The backup flag BFL is data indicating whether or not backup data has been normally saved in the NMI process. In this embodiment, the backup flag BFL is set to 5AH at the final stage of the NMI process, and the process proceeds to step ST31 in FIG. The processing is cleared to zero.
[0042]
Therefore, if the content of the backup flag BFL is 5 AH in the determination of step ST26, it is determined that the NMI process has been completed normally, and the 16-bit data read from the SP storage area of the RAM is replaced by the CPU. Write to the stack pointer SP (ST29). Next, the data in the RAM area that has been backed up in the NMI process when the power is turned off is read, and a process necessary for restarting the process is performed (ST30). Then, after the backup flag BFL is cleared to zero, the operation before the power is turned off is restarted (ST31, ST32).
[0043]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of an interrupt processing program of a timer interrupt INT (prohibitable interrupt) generated every 2 ms during the infinite loop processing (ST28) of the main routine of the main control board 40 shown in FIG. However, only parts relevant to the present invention are described.
[0044]
When a timer interrupt occurs, the contents of each register are saved in the stack area (ST40), and then the necessary control operation is executed (ST41). Next, data input processing that may be received from the payout control board 44 is executed (ST42). As described above, the signals that may be received from the payout control board 44 include the left and right ball count signals BCT, the replenishment detection signal STOP, the lower tray signal UNDER, and the prize ball completion signal CMPL. However, since the left and right ball count signals BCT are only transferred to the external terminal 48, the ball count signal BCT is not input in the process of step ST42, and other signals are input.
[0045]
Next, the CPU performs appropriate processing based on the input data in step ST24 (ST43). For example, when the main control board 40 receives the prize ball completion signal CMPL after transmitting the last “prize ball number designation command (16 prize balls)” in each game, the payout control board 44 is renewed. It outputs "Launch restart command 2". By this operation, the payout control board 44 that has received the “launch restart command 2” restarts the launch operation of the game ball and shifts to the next game.
[0046]
On the other hand, if the prize-ball completion signal CMPL cannot be received within a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) after transmitting the last “prize-ball number designation command (16 prize balls)” of each game. , A control command indicating a prize ball shortage error is output to the lamp control board 41, and an error signal is also output to the external terminal 48.
[0047]
The same applies to the case where the replenishment detection signal STOP or the lower tray signal UNDER is received. When the above processing is completed, other necessary game control processing is executed (ST44), and the saved register is returned to complete the timer interrupt processing (ST45).
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the payout control board 44 that operates in response to the main control board 40 that operates as described above. The operation of the payout control board 44 can be roughly summarized as a main routine (FIG. 6A) started after the power is turned on and repeated in an infinite loop, and an interrupt processing routine started by a strobe signal STB from the main control board 40. (FIG. 6 (b)), a timer interrupt routine (FIG. 6 (c)) started every fixed time (2mS), and a non-maskable routine started by receiving an NMI signal from the power supply board 7 when the power supply voltage drops. And an NMI routine (not shown).
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 6B, in the reception interrupt routine, a control command is obtained from the input port, stored in the command buffer area of the RAM, and the process ends (ST100). Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, in the timer interrupt routine, the interrupt confirmation flag is rewritten to 5AH, and the process ends (ST200). The value of this interrupt confirmation flag is checked in step ST8 of the main routine, and the processing of the main routine proceeds on condition that this value is 5AH. That is, in the interrupt waiting process (ST8) of the main routine, the process waits for the interrupt confirmation flag to reach 5AH, and when it reaches 5AH, rewrites the interrupt confirmation flag to 00H and proceeds to the process of step ST9. Therefore, the processing after step ST9 is repeatedly executed every 2 mS.
[0050]
The operation of the main routine (FIG. 6A) will be described based on the above operation. When the power is turned on, the CPU sets itself to the interrupt disabled state (ST1), and then performs the initial setting of each part of the one-chip microcomputer (ST2). Next, after the RAM area of the one-chip microcomputer is cleared to zero (ST3), the CPU is returned to the interrupt enabled state (ST4).
[0051]
Since the initial processing of the payout control board 44 is completed by the above processing, the CPU next outputs the winning ball completion signal CMPL (ST5). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the award winning completion signal CMPL is raised from the L level to the H level. As described above, the main control board 40 that has received the prize ball completion signal CMPL at the H level outputs the “fire restart command 1” or the “fire restart command 2”, so that the CPU of the payout control board 44 Then, the process waits until the next "restart command" is received (ST6).
[0052]
Then, upon receiving the "firing restart command", the firing clock signal Φck is set to an appropriate value, and the process proceeds to step ST8. On the other hand, if the “shooting restart command” is not received even after the lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 96 mS), the firing clock signal Φck is set for the pachinko machine, and the process proceeds to step ST8. Therefore, even if a trouble occurs during the initial operation, the game ball firing speed for the arrangement ball machine is not set in the pachinko machine. Although the arrangement ball machine may be set to the game ball launch speed for the pachinko machine, the launch speed can be reset because the launch restart command 2 is received again at the start of each game.
[0053]
After the above processing, the processing of steps ST8 to ST16 is repeated in an infinite loop, and the infinite loop processing of ST8 to ST16 is executed at regular intervals (2 mS) by the above-described interrupt waiting processing (ST8). You. In the infinite loop processing, first, a switch input signal is obtained through an input port (ST9). This is a process for confirming whether or not a game ball has been paid out by the rotation of the payout motor M1. When an error occurs, a corresponding switch input signal is obtained.
[0054]
Subsequently, a subtraction process (−1) of an 8-bit or 16-bit timer is performed (ST10). Since the infinite loop processing is executed every 2 ms, one unit time of the subtraction timer means 2 ms.
[0055]
When the timer subtraction processing is completed, the control command obtained by the reception interruption processing is analyzed (ST11). If the newly received control command is a “prize ball number designation command” that defines the number of game balls to be paid out, the newly designated prize ball number is added to the total prize ball number counter TOTAL. As described above, by the command analysis process (ST11), the total number of gaming balls to be paid out from the gaming machine is sequentially updated based on the received control command.
[0056]
Next, after performing a communication process (ST12) with the prepaid card unit 46 and a ball lending process (ST13) to be settled by the prepaid card, award ball processing (ST14), motor processing (ST15), and data output processing (ST16) is performed, and the process returns to step ST8.
[0057]
The motor process (ST15) is a preparation process for rotating the payout motor M1. Specifically, drive data (Φ1 to Φ4) for the payout motor M is generated and stored in the work area of the RAM. I have. As a result of receiving the "prize ball number designation command", at the timing of starting the payout operation of the game balls, necessary data is stored in the work area of the RAM in order to change the prize ball completion signal CMPL from the H level to the L level. Store.
[0058]
On the other hand, the data output process (ST16) is a process of outputting various data including the drive data (Φ1 to Φ4) and the prize ball completion signal CMPL from the output port. Therefore, at the timing when the rotation of the payout motor M1 is started by the data output process (ST16), the prize ball completion signal CMPL changes from the H level to the L level accordingly (FIG. 7B). reference). In this embodiment, the total number of prize balls TOTAL is not paid out at once, but is paid out in 25-ball increments in multiple stages.
[0059]
The prize ball process (ST14) is a process for managing the number of prize balls to be paid out, and determines the number of game ball payouts based on the value of the total prize ball counter TOTAL updated in the command analysis process (ST11). Then, the payout motor M1 is rotated by the data output processing (ST16), and the value of the total prize ball number counter TOTAL is subtracted by referring to the payout state of the game balls grasped by the data input processing (ST9). The operation end timing of M1 is determined.
[0060]
More specifically, in the prize ball processing (ST14), as a result of the data output processing (ST16), it is confirmed whether or not the gaming ball is actually paid out based on the processing result of the data input processing (ST9), The value of the total prize ball counter TOTAL is reduced by the number of game balls actually paid out. If the total prize ball counter TOTAL becomes zero, which is the end of the payout operation of the payout motor M1, in the data output process (ST16), the H-level prize ball completion signal CMPL is output from the main control board 40. (See FIG. 7B). It is to be noted that the main control board 40 transmits the “firing restart command” to the payout control board 44 on condition that the prize ball completion signal CMPL is received, as described above.
[0061]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific description does not particularly limit the present invention. For example, in the case of the embodiment, a lamp control board 41, a symbol control board 42, a sound control board 43, a payout control board 44, and a firing control board 45 are separately provided as sub-control boards with the main control board 40 as a center. However, the control boards may be appropriately combined. For example, the function of the payout control board 44 and the function of the launch control board 45 can be achieved by a single circuit board, or a one-chip microcomputer having a built-in circuit for generating the launch clock Φck on the launch board 45 is provided. The designation command from the control board 40 can be received directly or indirectly via the payout control board 44.
[0062]
Further, in the embodiment, the content of designating the firing speed is included in the firing permission signal, but it is needless to say that separate signals may be used.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a ball game machine that prevents the occurrence of malfunctions such as a missed reading of a control command, a winning of a game ball, and a failure to detect a ball.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an arrangement ball machine according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board of the arrangement ball machine.
FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the arrangement ball machine.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation content of a main routine of a main control board.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a timer interrupt operation of the main control board.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control program for a payout control board.
FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the payout control board.
[Explanation of symbols]
40 Main control unit (main control board)
44 payout control unit (payout control board)
CMPL ready signal
ST23 First waiting means
ST24 Transition means

Claims (8)

In a ball game machine including a main control unit that mainly controls a game operation and a payout control unit that pays out game balls based on a control signal transmitted from the main control unit through a first signal line,
A second signal line for transmitting device information from the payout control unit to the main control unit is provided, and the main control unit includes:
A first standby unit that waits until receiving a ready signal from the second signal line after performing an initial setting operation after power-on;
A transition means for transitioning the main control unit to a steady operation state on condition that the preparation completion signal is received. 2. The transition means, prior to transitioning the main control unit to a steady operation state, transmits a control signal to the payout control unit for permitting the emission of game balls through the first signal line. The ball game machine described in 1. The payout control unit is configured to directly or indirectly control the game ball launching device, and allows the operation of the game ball launching device based on a control signal received from the first signal line. The ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein In a ball game machine including a main control unit that mainly controls a game operation and a payout control unit that pays out game balls based on a control signal transmitted from the main control unit through a first signal line,
A second signal line for transmitting information from the payout control unit to the main control unit is provided, and the payout control unit includes:
A signal output means for outputting a ready signal to the second signal line after performing an initial setting operation after power-on;
A second standby unit that waits for a predetermined time thereafter until receiving a predetermined control signal from the first signal line;
When the predetermined control signal is received, a speed setting means for setting a firing speed of the game ball firing device based on the control signal, and thereafter shifting the payout control unit to a steady operation state. A ball game machine characterized by the following. As the operation of the launching device is permitted, the firing speed of the launching device configured to be set in multiple stages is also set, and a predetermined control signal is transmitted even after the predetermined time has elapsed. The ball game machine according to claim 4, further comprising safety means for setting a firing speed of the firing device to a minimum when not receiving. The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control signal is a plurality of bits of data, and the preparation completion signal is a 1-bit data. In the payout control unit in the steady operation state,
A total winning ball count calculating means (ST11) for updating the total number of winning balls to be paid out based on the control signal received from the first signal line, and a driving means (ST16) for driving a payout device to pay out the winning balls. A payout monitoring means (ST9) for continuously grasping the prize balls paid out by the operation of the payout device; and a payout prize grasped by the payout monitoring means from the total prize balls updated by the total prize ball number calculation means. 7. A data output means (ST14, ST16) which operates to output the prize ball completion signal to the second signal line when the number of balls is subtracted and the subtraction result is zero. The ball game machine according to any one of the above. In the main control unit in a steady operation state,
A data input unit (ST42) for monitoring a signal output from the payout control unit to the second signal line; and when receiving a prize ball completion signal from the second signal line, restarting the firing operation of the game ball. The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising permission means (ST43) for outputting a permission control signal to the payout control unit.

Images