JP2004229682A - Controller for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a control in harmonization with performance elements such as lamps. <P>SOLUTION: The controller for the game machine uses one of stereo outputs of a vocal LSI 13 for getting the voices outputted from the speaker 17 and the other for controlling the lamps or the like. In other words, the controller works to output the tone signal for designating the lamp blinking pattern from the vocal LSI 13 to be inputted into a tone decode circuit 21 of a lamp control board 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control device for a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent pachinko machines, main game processing such as jackpot lottery processing is performed on a so-called main control board, and display screens, speakers and lamps are controlled by display control boards, audio control boards, and lamp control boards. The board is configured to perform the control based on acquiring control data (control command) sent from the main control board, thereby reducing the processing load on the main control board. Normally, the main control board and the sub-control board are constituted by separate wiring boards, and are communicably connected by a harness.
[0003]
On the other hand, in order to further reduce the processing load on the main control board and to diversify the game presentation, a game configured to exchange control commands between sub-control boards such as a display control board and a voice control board There are also machines (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-262712 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-301250 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, sound data such as music and sound effects to be played during a game are usually created by a sound creator. Basically, the sound is designed to play according to the situation such as jackpots, reach, etc., but since the sound creator can not change software other than sound without permission, the speed at which the lamp blinks in time with the song In order to try to make subtle effects such as changing the movement or moving the movable body in accordance with the sound effects, cooperation with the programmer was necessary. As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, even if the control commands are exchanged between the sub-control boards, the inconvenience is not solved because the software for transmitting and receiving the control commands is designed by a programmer. . Therefore, conventionally, the sound creator was not involved in the design of the gaming machine except for the creation of the sound, and the degree of freedom in the design was small.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to make it easy to control effect elements such as lamps and movable bodies in accordance with sounds with respect to a control device for a gaming machine.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a main control unit that controls the progress of a game, a sound control unit that obtains a sound control signal from the main control unit, and outputs a sound according to the sound control signal, In the control device of the gaming machine having a production element control unit for controlling the production element including, the audio control unit is configured to include a sound generation circuit corresponding to stereo output, at least the output of the sound generation circuit One is connected to the input of the decoding circuit of the effect element control unit.
[0008]
Speaking of recent gaming machines, some gaming machines are provided with a plurality of speakers for stereo output, but many gaming machines have one monaural output speaker (sometimes two or more speakers are monaural). . Nevertheless, the audio generation circuit (audio LSI) may support stereo output. The present inventor has paid attention to this point, and has completed the present invention.
[0009]
That is, a signal corresponding to the control command of the effect element is created in the sound generation circuit, and this signal is transmitted from the surplus output terminal to the effect element control unit. The effect element control unit is provided with a decoding circuit for decoding the frequency of the signal output by the sound generation circuit. Then, when the decoding result corresponds to a command determined in design, the effect element control unit controls an effect element such as a lamp or a movable body. According to this configuration, it is necessary for the software programmer to prepare an instruction set corresponding to the control signal, but within the range of the instruction set, the sound creator freely selects and executes the control pattern of the directing element. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to precisely link the sound output from the speaker and the operation of the effect element. In addition, the stereo function of the audio generation circuit is not wasted.
[0010]
In the above configuration, the main control unit, the voice control unit, and the effect element control unit may be configured by arranging electronic circuit components on individual wiring boards. This configuration has been conventionally employed, and transmission and reception of control commands between the main control board and the voice control board and between the main control board and the effect element control board are performed by parallel communication. Therefore, there was a problem that the harness was bulky. However, according to the present invention, the input of the control signal to the effect element control board is performed from the sound generation circuit of the sound control board, so that the number of harnesses can be much smaller than in the case of parallel communication. (Two of signal and GND). If the number of harnesses is reduced, it is possible to configure a control device that is more resistant to noise.
[0011]
The signal input from the audio generation circuit to the decoding circuit can be a tone signal. It is relatively easy to use a commercially available tone decode IC to generate an intended control signal corresponding to a performance pattern based on a tone signal. Further, if the tone signal is generated by superimposing a plurality of frequency components, the control signal can be represented by a combination of frequencies, which is suitable for the present invention. Specifically, a DTMF (Dial Tone Multi Frequency) signal can be shown as such a tone signal.
[0012]
In a preferred aspect, the effect element control section includes a plurality of effect element control sections for controlling effect elements different from each other, and each of the effect element control sections has a separate decoding circuit, and one of the sound generation circuits. The audio output is branched and connected to the input of the decoding circuit. In short, one output and multiple inputs are used. A single sound generation circuit (specifically, a sound LSI) realizes various effects such as changing the blinking pattern of the lamp according to the progress of the music or operating the movable body in accordance with the sound effect It is possible to do.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine 100. FIG. The pachinko gaming machine 100 has a front glass door 2 forming a part of an underframe, and a game board 4 arranged inside the underframe and covered by the front glass door 2. The game board 4 forms a circular game area. A ball supply tray 14 is provided below the game board 4. The balls (game balls) prepared in the ball supply tray 14 are fired toward the game board 4 by a ball firing mechanism including the handle 16. Since a large number of nails are drilled in the game board 4, balls fired through the rails fall while being hit by the nails. The front glass door 2 is integrally provided with a frame lamp 22 that blinks during a game. A through hole group 20 for audio output is formed below the ball supply tray 14, and has a structure in which one speaker is arranged on the opposite side of the drawing.
[0014]
The game board 4 is provided with a liquid crystal display section 6 near its center. A display device using a light emitting element instead of a liquid crystal, or a reel type display device can also be employed. The liquid crystal display unit 6 displays characters such as numbers. Below the liquid crystal display section 6, a start chucker 10 (start port) is arranged. Below the start chucker 10, there are provided an attacker 12 (large winning opening) which is opened when a big hit occurs, and an out opening 18 for collecting balls. Board lamps 8a and 8b are arranged on the periphery of the game board 4 so as to surround the game area. These panel lamps 8a and 8b are also controlled to blink during the game, similarly to the frame lamps 22.
[0015]
Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the control device 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present invention. The control device 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a main control board 1 and sub-control boards such as a voice control board 5, a lamp control board 7, and a display control board 9. These control boards are configured by arranging electronic circuit components on individual wiring boards. Although a power supply board and the like may be provided in addition to the above, they are omitted in this specification.
[0016]
The main control board 1 includes a CPU 3 configured as a one-chip microcomputer including a ROM for storing programs and a work RAM. The audio control board 5 includes a CPU 11 to which an audio control signal is input from the main control board 1, an audio LSI 13 (audio generation circuit), an audio amplifier 15, and an audio ROM 19. The audio LSI 13 is a known device including an input / output interface, a sound source (FM, ADPCM), a sequencer, a mixer, a D / A converter, and the like. The lamp control board 7 includes a CPU 23, a tone decode circuit 21, and a drive circuit 25. The display control board 9 includes a CPU 27 and an image LSI 29. The image LSI 29 is a known device including a VRAM, a ROM, a D / A converter, and the like.
[0017]
The main control board 1 is electrically connected to a start winning detection unit 31 attached to the start chucker 10 and an attacker winning detection unit 33 attached to the attacker 12. Each of the winning detection units 31 and 33 can be configured by a contact type or non-contact type sensor (switch). The opening and closing of the attacker 12 configured as a variable winning opening is performed by switching between excitation and non-excitation of the attacker solenoid 35.
[0018]
When a ball wins the start chucker 10 and the attacker 12, a winning detection signal is generated by each of the winning detection units 31 and 33. The CPU 3 of the main control board 1 acquires a start winning detection signal from the start winning detecting unit 31, and executes a predetermined electrical process according to the signal acquisition timing. The electric process includes a winning / non-winning lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a big hit in the pachinko gaming machine 100. Specifically, a pattern (character combination) to be derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 6 is determined based on the result of the jackpot winning / pulling lottery process. Then, a display control signal (display control command) based on the determination is input from the CPU 3 of the main control board 1 to the CPU 27 of the display control board 9. The CPU 27 sends a control signal to the image LSI 29 according to the input display control signal. The image LSI creates an RGB signal and a SYNC signal and sends them to the liquid crystal display unit 6 to display a character and a background. When it is determined that a jackpot is to be generated by the winning / rejecting lottery process, a jackpot symbol (for example, a slotted number such as “777”) is derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 6 after a predetermined period of time fluctuation. . In the case of a slot machine, a jackpot lottery process is performed in response to a medal being inserted and the start lever being turned on.
[0019]
Next, the voice control board 5 obtains a voice control signal (voice control command) from the main control board 1 and creates a voice including music and sound effects that are played during the game. Specifically, when a voice control command is input from the CPU 3 of the main control board 1 to the CPU 11 of the voice control board 5, the CPU 11 of the voice control board 5 sends a control signal to the voice LSI 13 in accordance with the input voice control command. Send. In response to the input control signal, the audio LSI 13 reads out the data stored in the audio ROM 19 to create an analog audio signal and sends it to the audio amplifier 15. As a result, a sound is emitted from the speaker 17. In the present embodiment, only one speaker 17 is provided, or even if two or more speakers 17 are provided, sound is output as monaural.
[0020]
On the other hand, the audio LSI 13 supports stereo output, has two (plural) audio output terminals of a left channel and a right channel, and can output different audio signals simultaneously. One of the two audio output terminals is connected to the input of the audio amplifier 15 and supplies an audio signal to the speaker 17. The other is connected to the input terminal of the tone decode circuit 21 of the lamp control board 7. That is, the lamp control board 7 (production element control unit) receives the control signal sent from the audio LSI 13 (sound generation circuit) to trigger the panel lamps 8a and 8b and the frame lamp shown in FIG. It is configured to control the blinking of 22 (effect element).
[0021]
The control signal output from the audio LSI 13 to the lamp control board 7 can be, for example, a tone signal having a specific frequency. It is more preferable that the tone signal is a signal created by superimposing a plurality of frequencies (specifically, a DTMF signal). This is because a large number of control signals can be created with a small number of frequency combinations.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the tone decoding circuit 21 includes various filters such as an anti-aliasing filter 211, a dial tone filter 212, band-pass filters 213 and 214, frequency detection circuits 215 and 216, and an output circuit 217. Be composed. The output circuit 217 is a circuit including a signal discriminating circuit, a code converter / latch circuit, a timer control, and the like. As an IC including the above circuit, for example, an LC7385M DTMF receiver IC available from Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. can be shown. The CPU 23 of the lamp control board 7 acquires the 4-bit data Q1 to Q4 (decoded signals shown in FIG. 2) in response to the input of the tone valid signal (StD), and outputs the lamp corresponding to the input data. Execute control.
[0023]
The lamp control board 7 can be composed of a plurality of lamp control boards for individually controlling different types of lamps (panel lamps 8a and 8b and the frame lamp 22). Alternatively, a form is provided in which a dedicated control board for controlling the driving of an actuator (motor or solenoid) for operating a movable body (not shown) arranged on the game board 4 is provided, and a tone signal is input to this. The block diagram shown in FIG. 4 is a specific example.
[0024]
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the control device of the pachinko gaming machine includes a main control board 1, a display control board 9, a voice control board 5, a first lamp control board 37, a second lamp control board 39, and a motor control board. 41 (actuator control board). The first lamp control board 37 controls blinking of the panel lamps 8a and 8b. On the other hand, the second lamp control board 39 controls the blinking of the frame lamp 22. The motor control board 41 drives a motor 43 (actuator) for the movable body. Each of the first lamp control board 37, the second ramp control board 39, and the motor control board 41 includes a tone decoding circuit, and one audio output of the audio LSI 13 is branched, and the tone decoding circuit of each control board is provided. Each is connected to the input of the circuit.
[0025]
At first glance, it seems wasteful to separately prepare a control board and a microcomputer (processor) for controlling the panel lamps 8a and 8b and the frame lamp 22. However, as described below, it is significant in certain embodiments.
[0026]
Recently, there has been much debate about recycling pachinko and slot machines, and there is an urgent need for manufacturers to promote recycling. Speaking of pachinko gaming machines, it is already called "board buying", and when a new machine is replaced, it is shifting to a system in which only a main unit consisting of a gaming board and a control device can be purchased. When buying the board, the underframe including the handle and the ball supply tray is not replaced. Of course, we do not change the frame lamp either. However, since the drive circuit of the frame lamp is incorporated in the control device of the main body, there is no alternative but to replace it. In other words, a dedicated lamp control board for the frame lamp is prepared, fixedly mounted on the underframe, and the frame lamp is controlled by obtaining a control signal from a control device provided on the panel side. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce waste.
[0027]
In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, a lamp control board 37 for the board lamps 8a and 8b may be prepared, and a tone signal may be input to the board to control the blinking of the board lamps 8a and 8b. According to the mode in which the frame signal is controlled by the tone signal, the number of harnesses can be reduced (two signals and GND), so that it is not necessary to replace a new vehicle.
[0028]
In this embodiment, the control device of the pachinko gaming machine has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the gist of the present invention can be applied to the control device of the slot machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device provided in the pachinko gaming machine of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a tone decoding circuit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a case in which tone signals are input to a plurality of control boards in parallel.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 main control board (main control unit)
5. Voice control board (voice control unit)
7 Lamp control board (production element control unit)
13. Audio LSI (Sound Generation Circuit)
21 Tone decode circuit 8a, 8b Board lamp (production element)
22 Frame lamp (production element)
37 1st lamp control board (production element control unit)
39 2nd lamp control board (production element control unit)
41 Motor control board (production element control unit)
100 Pachinko machine 101 Control device

Claims (5)

A main control unit that controls the progress of the game, a voice control unit that obtains a voice control signal from the main control unit and outputs a voice according to the voice control signal, and a performance for controlling a performance element including lamps In the control device for a gaming machine having an element control unit, the audio control unit is configured to include a sound generation circuit corresponding to a stereo output, and at least one of the outputs of the sound generation circuit is provided by the effect element control unit. A control device for a gaming machine, which is connected to an input of a decoding circuit. The control device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the main control unit, the voice control unit, and the effect element control unit are configured by arranging electronic circuit components on separate wiring boards. 3. The control device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a tone signal is input from the voice generation circuit to the decoding circuit. The control device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the tone signal is obtained by superimposing a plurality of frequency components. The effect element control unit includes a plurality of effect element control units for controlling effect elements different from each other, each of the effect element control units individually including the decoding circuit, and one sound output of the sound generation circuit. The control device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device is branched and connected to inputs of the decoding circuit.

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