JP2005073842A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To check the display of a liquid crystal display panel within the visual field of the viewing line of a player which faces a pattern displaying window. <P>SOLUTION: This slot machine arranges a plurality of reels 8a, 8b and 8c on the outer peripheral surfaces of which a plurality of patterns are displayed, on the internal side of a front surface panel 11, and makes the outer peripheral surfaces of respective reels 8a, 8b and 8c facing a pattern displaying window 20 which is formed on the front surface panel 11 for displaying the patterns of respective reels 8a, 8b and 8c. At locations on both sides of the pattern displaying window 20, laterally long rectangular liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 of which the angles of visibility in the vertical direction are asymmetrical for the top and the bottom are vertically arranged in such a manner that the wider sides of the angles of visibility may respectively become inside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine whose game content is to align symbols that establish a winning combination on a winning line set in a symbol display window. In particular, the present invention incorporates a liquid crystal display panel for performing various displays. Related slot machines.

  In a typical slot machine, a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols on the outer peripheral surface are arranged inside the front panel. The outer peripheral surface of each reel faces a symbol display window formed on the front panel, and the player visually recognizes the symbol of each reel through the symbol display window. A plurality of winning lines are set in the symbol display window. When each reel stops rotating, the symbols of each reel are aligned along the winning line.

  In this type of slot machine, a lottery process for determining whether a winning combination is established for each game is executed. When a special combination such as a big bonus or a regular bonus is won in this lottery process, a special combination winning flag is set, and a special control that can establish the corresponding special combination is executed. This special control is to stop each reel so that specific symbols (for example, symbols such as “7” and “BAR”) that establish the corresponding special combination are aligned on the winning line. This special reel stop control is generally called "pull-in control".

  When specific symbols are arranged on the winning line by the pull-in control, a special combination is established, and the player can execute a special game called “bonus game”. A player can obtain a large number of medals by executing this special game. Note that the winning flag for a special combination is reset when a special combination is established, but is not reset unless a special combination is established, and is carried over from the next game onward. By the way, if you win a normal role called “small role” in the lottery process for each game, the winning flag of the small role will be set up, and for each reel, the predetermined symbol that establishes the corresponding small role will be on the winning line Retraction control is executed so that they are aligned. The winning flag for the small role is limited to one game, and if the small role is not established, it is immediately reset.

  In the conventional model, when a special role or the like is won in the lottery process, the player is notified of the winning by display or sound. Of these notification operations, a liquid crystal display plate capable of displaying various effects by moving images is used in recent models to perform notification by display. The liquid crystal display panel is incorporated in, for example, an upper panel above the symbol display window (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-33464 A

  However, the upper panel is located at a position far away from the symbol display window where the player always points his gaze, so if there is an effect display such as a notice, the player will bother to look in the direction of the liquid crystal display board. It is necessary to move. Even if the player who does not want to interrupt the game is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel, he / she simply shifts his / her line of sight in that direction, and this does not enhance the effect. Therefore, in order to enhance the effect without interrupting the game, it is necessary to dispose the liquid crystal display board in the direction in which the player always points his gaze, specifically in the direction of the symbol display window.

There is a space where a liquid crystal display panel can be installed on both sides of the symbol display window. Since this space has a vertically long shape, it is necessary to use a vertically long liquid crystal display panel.
However, a general liquid crystal display panel for image display (hereinafter referred to as “general-purpose liquid crystal display panel”) has a horizontally long rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. Since the viewing angles α1 and α2 are wide and symmetrical (α1 = α2), while the viewing angles β1 and β2 in the vertical direction y are narrow and vertically asymmetric (β1> β2), a general-purpose liquid crystal display panel is used. Has a problem in view angle. In the figure, Z indicates the normal direction.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problem, and by performing a device capable of installing a general-purpose liquid crystal display panel in a vertical orientation on both sides of the symbol display window, within the field of view of the line of sight toward the symbol display window. An object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine capable of confirming the display on a liquid crystal display panel.

  In the slot machine according to the present invention, a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols on the outer peripheral surface are arranged inside the front panel, and the outer peripheral surface of each reel faces the symbol display window formed on the front panel. A horizontally long liquid crystal display panel whose vertical viewing angle is vertically asymmetric is provided on both sides of the symbol display window, and the wide viewing angle side is on the inside. In this way, it is arranged vertically.

  In the slot machine configured as described above, when display is performed on each liquid crystal display panel, the viewing angle of each liquid crystal display panel is wide on the inside, so that it is not difficult for the player to see the display. Moreover, it is possible to confirm the display of each liquid crystal display panel from the visual field while keeping the line of sight toward the symbol display window. On the other hand, since the viewing angle of each liquid crystal display panel is narrow to the outside, it is difficult to see the display on each liquid crystal display board from the players on both sides, and it is possible to prevent the interference of games from both sides.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each liquid crystal display panel is provided outside the front panel and outside the symbol display window. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inner side of the front panel is a symbol display. You may provide each in a window.

  In a preferred embodiment, each liquid crystal display panel has a width equal to or less than the reel width and a height equal to or greater than the height of the symbol display window. If it is this size, it can be installed on both sides of the symbol display window due to the design of the slot machine, and various effects can be displayed.

  Each of the liquid crystal display panels can freely display a multicolored image. However, in a preferred embodiment, after a plurality of symbols (preferably, a symbol represented on a reel) are displayed in a variable manner (for example, scroll display), the fluctuations are displayed. Any symbol is displayed by stopping the display.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the result of the lottery process is notified by a combination of the symbols displayed on each liquid crystal display panel and the symbols on each reel displayed on the symbol display window, thereby making the game performance in the notification operation. You can have it.

  In the above-described embodiment, desirably, each liquid crystal display panel automatically stops the variable display after all the reels stop rotating.

  Furthermore, the slot machine according to the present invention further includes a stop button switch corresponding to each liquid crystal display panel, and each liquid crystal display panel displays a plurality of symbols in a variable manner and then responds to the operation of the stop button switch. Then, any symbols are displayed by stopping the variable display.

  According to the slot machine having the above-described configuration, the display of one of the symbols is displayed by stopping the variable display on each liquid crystal display panel by operating the stop button switch. Note that the stop button switch of this embodiment may be a dedicated switch, or may be a combination of other switches.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm the display of the liquid crystal display panel with the visual field while keeping the line of sight toward the symbol display window, so that the player does not interrupt the game. In addition, the effect of displaying the effect such as notification is enhanced. In addition, since the liquid crystal display panel can display with game characteristics, the fun of the game increases. Furthermore, it is difficult for the players on both sides to see the display on the liquid crystal display panel, so that it is possible to prevent game interference from both sides.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this slot machine, a machine body 1 is configured by attaching a door portion 3 to a front opening of a box-shaped main body portion 2 so as to be opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 2, a reel block 4, a circuit board 5, a bass output speaker 14, a power supply unit 10, a medal dispenser 6, and the like are incorporated in the main body 2.

  The reel block 4 has three reels 8a, 8b, and 8c and stepping motors 9a, 9b, and 9c for driving the reels integrally attached to a frame 7. Each reel 8a, 8b, 8c has a belt-like tape attached to its outer peripheral surface. This band-shaped tape has a symbol that establishes a special role called “Big Bonus”, a symbol that establishes a special role called “Regular Bonus”, and a symbol that establishes a small role. A predetermined number of symbols such as symbols are printed.

  The front surface of the door portion 3 is configured using a front panel 11, an upper panel 12, and a lower panel 13. Speakers 15 and 16 for outputting sound effects are arranged on both sides of the upper panel 12. Each panel 11, 12, and 13 is formed by performing silk screen printing on the surface of a transparent synthetic resin plate or tempered glass.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an uncolored and transparent symbol display window 20 surrounded by a color printing layer is formed in the center of the plate surface of the front panel 11. The reels 8 a, 8 b, 8 c of the reel block 4 are arranged behind the symbol display window 20 with the outer peripheral surface facing the symbol display window 20. The symbol display window 20 has a horizontal length so that three reels 8a, 8b, and 8c can be seen, and a vertical length so that the symbols 19 for three frames can be seen when the reels are stopped. These are each formed in a rectangular shape that is long horizontally.

  Liquid crystal display plates 30 and 31 are provided on both side positions of the symbol display window 20, respectively. The liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 are arranged outside the front panel 11 and outside the symbol display window 20, respectively, but as shown in FIG. 4, inside the front panel 11 and inside the symbol display window 20. Each can also be provided.

  By the way, since the width of the chassis of the slot machine is an industry standard fixed size (width 475 mm), the dimensions of the front panel 11 are also limited, and the width W is almost determined by the mechanism (for example, W = 370 mm). On the other hand, the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c tend to have a large width W1 (for example, W1 = 80 mm) so that the player can easily see the symbols. If the interval W2 between adjacent reels is set to 15 mm, for example, the width occupied by the three reels 8a, 8b, and 8c is W1 × 3 + W2 × 2, which is 270 mm. Accordingly, the width W3 of the space in which the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 can be installed is (370 mm-270 mm) / 2, which is 50 mm. Therefore, the width of the screen area of the practical liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 is about 40 mm, which is half the width of the reel. On the other hand, the height H of the liquid crystal display plates 30 and 31 needs to be set to be equal to or higher than the height of the symbol display window 20 in order to perform an effect described later (the effect shown in FIG. For example, H = 130 mm). Thus, each of the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 must have a vertically long shape in order to satisfy the mechanical constraints and functional requirements.

As shown in FIG. 11, as the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31, the viewing angles α1 and α2 in the horizontal direction x are symmetrical (α1 = α2 = 60 degrees in this embodiment), and the viewing angle β1 in the vertical direction y. A horizontally long rectangular shape (general-purpose liquid crystal display panel) in which β2 is vertically asymmetric (in this embodiment, β1 = 60 degrees, β2 = 35 degrees) is used. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 are arranged vertically so that the wide viewing angle side (β1 = 60 degrees) is inside. Each of the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 in the illustrated example has a height substantially equal to the height of the symbol display window 20, but as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may protrude from the upper side and the lower side up and down.
In this embodiment, the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 are installed in front of each other. However, the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 may be installed inclining inward toward the machine center.

  On the surface of the front panel 11, three horizontal winning lines L1 to L3 that connect the three symbols 19 of the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c that can be seen from the symbol display window 20 in the horizontal direction, and lower right and lower left The two diagonal winning lines L4 and L5 that are connected in the diagonal directions are shown. When the reels are stopped, the symbols 19 of the reels 8a, 8b, 8c are aligned on the five winning lines L1 to L5.

  At the lower position of the front panel 11, a stored number display 21, a payout number display 22, an accessory display 23, and the like are provided. These indicators 21 to 23 use 7 segment LEDs. The stored number display 21 displays the number of medals stored (credited) in the machine, and the payout number display 22 displays the number of medals paid out as a payout in the game. The accessory display 23 is used to display the number of times a prize has been established in a bonus game, the number of game executions, and the like. The medal stored in the machine (hereinafter referred to as “stored medal”) refers to a medal that is inserted from the medal insertion slot 24 and stored (credited) in the machine prior to the execution of the game. The game is executed using medals.

  Below the front panel 11, a medal slot 24, a start lever 25, three stop button switches 26a, 26b, 26c, a bet switch 27, and a settlement switch 28 are provided. A medal discharge port 17 and a medal tray 18 are provided below the lower panel 13. The start lever 25 is operated by the player to start the three reels 8a, 8b and 8c all at once. The three stop button switches 26a, 26b, and 26c are operated by the player to individually stop the corresponding reels 8a, 8b, and 8c.

The bet switch 27 is used by the player to instruct the machine to consume three stored medals for one game. When the bet switch 27 is pressed, three stored medals are withdrawn, but if there are only two remaining medals, two stored medals are withdrawn, and if there are only one, one stored medal is withdrawn. It is. The settlement switch 28 is operated by the player to instruct the settlement of the stored medal.
All five winning lines L1 to L5 are activated for the use of three stored medals. Only the central horizontal winning line L1 is enabled for the use of one stored medal, and only three horizontal winning lines L1 to L3 are enabled for the use of two stored medals. .

  When the winning line is activated by pressing the bet switch 27 and then the start lever 27 is operated, a lottery process is executed inside the machine. As a result of the lottery process, when a small role is won, a winning symbol of the small role is set, and when the stop button switches 26a, 26b, and 26c are pressed, a predetermined symbol that establishes the corresponding small role is validated. A pull-in control is performed to pull in and stop the winning line. As a result, it is easy to appear a pattern in which three symbols that make up the small combination that has won the lottery are arranged on the activated pay line. When the small combination is established, a predetermined number of medals are awarded to the player as a payout, and the small combination winning flag is reset.

  In the lottery process for each game, when a special bonus “Big Bonus” or “Regular Bonus” is won, a special winning flag is set and the stop button switches 26a, 26b, 26c are pressed. Then, a pull-in control is performed in which a specific symbol that establishes the corresponding special combination is pulled onto the activated pay line and stopped. As a result, on the activated pay line, a symbol that establishes the special combination that won the lottery is likely to appear. When three symbols are collected, the special combination is established, and the player is given a bonus bonus. An opportunity to run a special game called "Game" is given.

  As a result of the game, when two symbols for establishing a special combination are arranged on the winning line, but three are not arranged (when a special combination is not established), a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 30, 31 are provided. By scroll-displaying the symbols of FIG. 8 and stopping the scroll display after a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIGS. 8 (1) and (2), a special combination is established on the winning line (L1 in the illustrated example). One or two symbols (in the illustrated example, “7” symbol) are stopped, thereby notifying the player that a special role has been won by lottery processing. In this case, there is a difference in the probability (reliability) of winning the special combination depending on the number of symbols that establish the special combination. For example, when two symbols that establish a special role are stopped (in the case of FIG. 8 (1)), it is assumed that the probability of winning a special role is 100%, while the symbol that establishes a special role is When one is stopped (in the case of FIG. 8 (2)), it is assumed that the probability of winning a special combination is 50%.

  FIG. 9 shows another usage example of the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31. In this example, specific symbols (“7” symbol in the illustrated example) that make a special role for each of the first and second reels 8a and 8b are arranged on the winning line (L1 in the illustrated example). When the symbols of the third reel 8c are not aligned (when a special role is not established), one liquid crystal display panel 30 is driven to scroll and display a plurality of symbols, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, When the scroll display is stopped, if the symbol that establishes the special combination on the winning line stops, the special combination is established.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a liquid crystal display device in which two liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 are operated to display.
The liquid crystal display device of the illustrated example is configured by mounting a VDP (video display processor) 36, a character ROM 32, a sub CPU 33, a program ROM 34, a RAM 35, and the like on an image control board 37. An image control command for instructing the content of an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 is sent from the main substrate (not shown) to the sub CPU 33. The sub CPU 33 analyzes the image control command according to a program stored in the program ROM 34 and sends the analysis result to the VDP 36. The VDP 36 reads a pattern or character corresponding to the analysis result from the character ROM 32, calculates the address, color, rotation, enlargement, reduction, etc. of the pixel such as the read pattern or character based on the analysis result, and based on the calculation result Thus, the image signals of the three primary colors are sent to the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31. Since the images displayed on the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 have a point object relationship with the point P in FIG. 3 as the center, when displaying the same design on each liquid crystal display panel 30 and 31, the left and right and top and bottom are An image signal that is an inverted image is given.

  In the slot machine having the above-described configuration, when the display is performed on the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31, the inner viewing angle β1 is wide among the viewing angles β1 and β2 of the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 (this implementation). In the example, β1 = 60 degrees), and the display is not difficult to see. In addition, the player can check the display of the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 with his visual field while keeping his line of sight toward the symbol display window 20. On the other hand, since the viewing angle β2 outside the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 is narrow (β2 = 35 degrees in this embodiment), the display on the liquid crystal display panels 30 and 31 is difficult to see from both players. Can prevent the interference of games from.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine that is one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a front view of the slot machine showing an internal structure. It is a front view which shows the structure of a front panel. It is a front view which shows the structure of the other Example of a front panel. It is a top view which shows the viewing angle of the horizontal direction of each liquid crystal display panel. It is a side view which shows the viewing angle of the perpendicular direction of each liquid crystal display panel. It is a front view which shows the other Example of each liquid crystal display panel. It is a front view which shows the usage example of each liquid crystal display panel. It is a front view which shows the other usage example of each liquid crystal display panel. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a liquid crystal display device. It is a perspective view which shows the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display panel.

Explanation of symbols

8a, 8b, 8c Reel 11 Front panel 20 Pattern display window 30, 31 Liquid crystal display panel

Claims (8)

A plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols on the outer peripheral surface are arranged inside the front panel, and the outer peripheral surface of each reel is faced to a symbol display window formed on the front panel so that the symbols of each reel are displayed. Slot machine
A slot machine in which horizontally-long rectangular liquid crystal display plates whose vertical viewing angles are vertically asymmetric are arranged vertically on both sides of the symbol display window so that the wide viewing angles are on the inside. .   2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein each liquid crystal display panel is provided outside the front panel and outside the symbol display window.   The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein each liquid crystal display panel is provided inside the front panel and in a symbol display window.   4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein each liquid crystal display panel has a width equal to or less than a width of the reel, and a height equal to or greater than a height of the symbol display window.   5. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein each liquid crystal display panel displays a plurality of symbols in a variable manner, and then displays the symbols by stopping the variable display.   6. The slot machine according to claim 5, wherein a result of the lottery process is notified by a combination of a symbol displayed on each liquid crystal display panel and a symbol of each reel displayed on the symbol display window.   6. The slot machine according to claim 5, wherein each liquid crystal display panel automatically stops the variable display after all reels stop rotating. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a stop button switch corresponding to each liquid crystal display panel, wherein each liquid crystal display panel displays a plurality of symbols in a variable manner, and A slot machine that displays any symbol by stopping the variable display corresponding to the operation of the stop button switch.

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