JP2005152125A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable versatile performances along with a higher reliability in the recognition of the patterns by shortening the time of starting the spin drums. <P>SOLUTION: The distance is measured using a detection member provided with steps or inclinations on the outer circumference part corresponding to the patterns, as arranged aside from the reels, to acquire the positional information per symbol unit. To achieve the recognition of the symbol, the distance is computed from the phase difference between the reference projection signal emitted to the detection member and the received signal reflected from the detection member and the symbol number previously defined corresponding to the loaded distance data undergoes indexing (distance-symbol conversion TBL) to extract the valid pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine suitable for use in, for example, reel symbol recognition in a pachinko or slot machine.

In a slot machine, a reel mechanism having three rows of reels is usually incorporated on the front surface of the main body, and a display panel as a display device for performing so-called effect display is provided on the side (right wall surface) of these reels. Yes.
In such a configuration, when the rotation start knob is pressed by the player, the game starts, and the reels of the three rows are rotated at a predetermined speed, and when the stop button is pressed next, the reels are sequentially stopped. When a specific pattern (for example, the number 7) drawn on the three stopped reels is aligned on the winning line, it becomes a “hit”, and the player is notified by displaying the jackpot on the display panel. Like to give.

By the way, in order to recognize the above-described reel design, conventionally, a physical initial such as a recognition protrusion is provided at the rotation reference position of the reel, and the number of steps by the stepping motor is counted from that position as the origin. Was.
In addition, a technique for providing an initial for each symbol and recognizing the symbol position is also known (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

JP-A-1-201290 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-201291 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-201292

However, according to the background art described above, the contents of the memory built in the gaming machine may be lost or destroyed due to disturbance noise or the like based on the solenoid, which may cause malfunction. Further, when the stepping motor is out of step, etc., the gaming machine becomes unclear which symbol is currently displayed.
In this case, it was necessary to detect the initial again. This adversely affects the start-up time of the rotating drum, causing the player to feel uncomfortable, causes incorrect display, and restricts rotation control and rotation operation so that the stepping motor does not step out. There was a problem such as.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by adopting a configuration in which position information can be acquired on a pattern basis, the start-up time of the rotating drum is shortened, and the reliability when recognizing the pattern is improved. The purpose is to provide a gaming machine that can enhance and produce various effects.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a gaming machine including a variable display device having a reel provided with a plurality of types of identification information, and is formed on an inner surface of the reel, and corresponds to each of the patterns. A pattern recognizing means for recognizing the effective pattern by measuring a distance between the detection member rotating with the reel and a detection member that rotates with the reel and acquiring position information in a pattern unit; It is characterized by having.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a gaming machine including a variable display device having a reel provided with a plurality of types of identification information, and is formed on an inner surface of the reel, and the distance difference between the patterns is changed. A symbol recognizing means for recognizing the effective pattern by measuring a distance between the detection member that rotates together with the reel having an inclination in a range in which the detection can be detected, and obtaining a positional information in a symbol unit. It is characterized by having.

  In the present invention, the symbol recognition means calculates a distance based on a phase difference between a reference projection signal emitted to the detection member and a light reception signal reflected from the detection member, and outputs the distance data. It is characterized by comprising distance data output means and effective design detection means for extracting the effective design by indexing a predefined design number corresponding to the distance data.

According to the present invention, the position information can be acquired in units of symbols by measuring the distance using a detection member provided with a step on the outer peripheral portion corresponding to the pattern, and thereby the start of the reel Time can be shortened and a variety of performances are possible. In addition, the position information can be acquired in units of symbols by measuring the distance using a detection member provided with an inclination on the outer periphery corresponding to the pattern, separately from the reel, The start-up time of the rotating drum can be shortened, and a variety of effects can be achieved.
Further, the distance is calculated based on the phase difference between the reference projection signal emitted to the detection member and the received light signal reflected from the detection member, and a predefined symbol number corresponding to the acquired distance data is indexed. Thus, by extracting the effective pattern, it is not necessary to count the number of steps by the step motor, and the reliability at the time of pattern recognition is improved. It is also an effective means for an illegal act of changing the display of the reel picture by hand.

  Hereinafter, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a spinning machine (hereinafter referred to as “slot machine”) installed in an amusement hall or the like will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external structure of the slot machine 100, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the slot machine 100.
In FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 includes a front door 101 facing a player, and a box-shaped housing 102 to which the front door 101 is attached so as to be openable and closable.
The front door 101 basically has a mechanically strong structure in which a front panel molded of hard plastic or the like is attached to a metal frame (not shown), and the upper panel portion 103 is formed by the front panel. A middle panel portion 104 and a lower panel portion 105 are configured.

The upper panel portion 103 is provided with an effect lamp 103a, sound emitting portions 103b and 103c to which speakers are attached, and an effect display display device 103d formed by a liquid crystal display or the like.
The middle panel portion 104 is provided with a reel device 200 having a plurality of (three in this embodiment) reels R1, R2, and R3 at a substantially central position. Further, a substantially rectangular transparent window WD formed of a transparent hard plastic plate is attached to the front surface of the reel device 200, thereby protecting the reel device 200 from the outside and allowing the player to reel through the transparent window WD. R1, R2, and R3 can be seen. Further, a frame-shaped edge WP is integrally formed on the periphery of the transmission window WD, and the edge WP has a function of a so-called decorative plate and a function of sealing the front surface of the slot machine 100.

At the lower end of the middle panel portion 104, an operation portion 104a for operation by a player is provided, and a medal insertion portion MD for inserting game medals is provided. In addition, bet buttons BET (B1, B2, B3) for presenting the number of medals per game are provided on the operation surface of the operation unit 104a, and further, on the front thereof, an instruction to start one game is given. Start lever ST and three stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3 for individually stopping the rotating reels R1, R2, R3.
Of these, the stop buttons SP1, SP2, and SP3 are arranged in association with the positions of the reels R1, R2, and R3, respectively.

  An image (not shown) related to the game contents of the slot machine 100 is drawn on the lower panel unit 105, and a discharge port 105a and a tray 105b for paying out a medal acquired by the player, and a speaker are provided. A provided sound emitting unit 105c is provided.

Next, the back surface structure of the front door 101 and the internal structure of the housing 102 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state where the front door 101 is unlocked and opened from the housing 102.
In the figure, speakers SR and SL constituting sound emitting portions 103b and 103c are provided on the upper surface of the rear surface of the front door 101, and a display device 103d is provided between the speakers SR and SL.

  Furthermore, at the lower part of the reel device 200, a distribution mechanism G0 for distributing the input inserted from the medal insertion unit MD according to whether it is a regular game medal or a foreign object, and a game medal distributed by the distribution mechanism G0 are provided. A guide member G1 that guides the hopper device HP provided on the housing 102 side, a guide member G2 that guides and discharges the foreign matter distributed by the distribution mechanism G0 to the discharge port 105a, and is output from the hopper device HP. A guide member G3 for guiding and outputting a payout medal to the discharge port 105a is provided, and a speaker SW is attached in the vicinity of the discharge port 105a so as to correspond to the sound emitting unit 105c.

  In the housing 102, a main power supply device PWU, an auxiliary storage portion SHP for storing game medals overflowing from the hopper device HP, and reels R1, R2, R3 facing the transmission window WD on the front door 101 side. And a main control unit 400 including an electric circuit board for centrally controlling the entire operation of the slot machine 100 is provided.

  In the housing 102, a main power supply device PWU, an auxiliary storage portion SHP for storing game medals overflowing from the hopper device HP, and reels R1, R2, R3 facing the transmission window WD on the front door 101 side. And a main control unit 400 including an electric circuit board for centrally controlling the entire operation of the slot machine 100 is provided.

Here, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the main control unit 400 is formed by a semiconductor memory or the like in which a system program for managing the entire operation of the slot machine 100 and an execution program for the slot machine game are stored in advance. A main control board 400a having a storage unit and a microprocessor (not shown) for executing these programs.
Also, the sub control board 400b and the reel control unit 400c, which are formed by separate electric circuit boards from the electric circuit board on which the main control board 400a is mounted, perform distributed control in accordance with commands from the main control board 400a, and input. A port 400d and input / output ports 400g and 400h are provided.

  In the above-described configuration, the game is started when the player operates the bet buttons BET (B1, B2, B3) and the start lever ST disposed on the operation unit 104a, and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3 are started at an appropriate timing. By sequentially operating (300), the jackpot lottery is started. These operation contents are taken in via the input port 400d, and a big hit lottery process including a lottery is executed by the main control board 400a. The display device is driven or turned on.

  The distribution mechanism GO and the hopper device HP are connected to and controlled by the main control board 400a via the input / output ports 400g and 400h. Further, the sub control board 400b includes an acoustic control unit 400i, an illumination control unit 400j, and a display device control unit 400k. The acoustic control unit 400i has speakers SL, SR, SW, and the illumination control unit 400j has an effect lamp. 103a, 104a, 104b are connected.

Then, according to the contents of the effect control commanded from the main control board 400a according to the progress of the game, etc., the sound control unit 400i controls the sound effect by the speakers SL, SR, SW, and the illumination control unit 400j has the effect lamp 103a, The lighting effects are controlled by 104a and 104b.
The reel control unit 400c controls an electric motor (not shown) provided in the reel device 200, and controls rotation, braking, and stopping of the reels R1, R2, and R3. Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the reel device 200 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the reel device 200, and FIG. 5 shows an example of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the reel.
Here, three rows of reels R1, R2, and R3 are provided, and symbols such as “7”, “Cherry”, “Apple”, and “Star” are arranged on each reel, and based on the player's stop operation, A predetermined symbol combination corresponding to the winning mode of the game is controlled to stop by a random number lottery by displaying three predetermined symbols. Each symbol is assigned a symbol number “00” to “20” for recognition.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a reel mounted on the reel device 200. Here, a side view of the reel R1 is shown.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a reel, reference numeral 62 denotes a boss, and reference numeral 63 denotes a frame plate (detection member) formed integrally with or detachable from the reel 61 which is a constituent element of the present invention. The frame plate 63 is integrally formed on the inner surface of the reel 61, and steps a to n are provided at positions corresponding to the respective patterns, and rotates together with the reel 61.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the reel. Here, the frame plate 63 is formed integrally or detachably on the inner surface of the reel 61, and is formed in a slope shape without a step unlike the example shown in FIG.
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 64 denotes a distance sensor. The distance sensor 64 is assumed to be an infrared sensor that calculates the distance based on the phase difference between the reference light projection signal emitted to the frame plate 63 and the light reception signal reflected from the frame plate 63 and outputs the data. Yes.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the arrangement of the distance sensor 64. Here, the reel plane is shown, and it is attached to the side surface position facing the frame plate 63, measures the distance from the frame plate 63 formed in a slope shape, and acquires the position information in symbol units. is there.
Although the distance sensor 64 is not shown in the reel 61 shown in FIG. 6, the distance sensor 64 is arranged at the same position as in FIG. 8, and measures the distance from the frame plate 63 in which a step is formed.

An exploded perspective view of the reel device 200 is shown in FIG. Here, the slope-shaped frame plate 63 shown in FIG. 8 is illustrated as the frame plate 63 formed integrally with the reel 61.
As shown in FIG. 9, a boss 62 is mounted in a reel 61 including a frame plate 63, and further assembled on a reel substrate 60. A motor 67 and a back lamp assembly 69 are mounted on the reel substrate 60, and a distance sensor (not shown) is mounted on the sensor base.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the reel control unit 400c. The reel control unit 400c has a program ROM 402, a RAM 403, an input (I) port 404, and an input / output (I / O) port 405 with a plurality of lines for address, data, and control, with the MPU 401 (microcomputer) as a core. The system bus 406 is configured to be commonly connected.
The RAM 403 stores a distance-symbol conversion table. As shown in FIG. Correspondence with distance data output from the distance sensor 64 is shown.

  A distance sensor 64 is connected to the input port 404, and a reel 61 is connected to the input / output port 405. The MPU 401 reads the program recorded in the program ROM 402 and sequentially executes it, thereby taking in the distance between the frame plate 63 and the distance sensor 64 installation position via the distance sensor 64, and the distance-design conversion TBL assigned to the RAM 403. Referring to FIG. Is supplied to the main board 400a via the PU 401.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for symbol conversion. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the MPU 401 first takes distance data (analog signal) from the distance sensor 64 mounted on the reel device 200 via the I port 404 (S151), and the taken distance value d is defined. (S152). If it is within the specified range, the process proceeds to S153. Here, it is checked whether or not the reel 61 is operating normally, and the process proceeds to S153 as long as the reel 61 does not run away.
Next, the MPU 401 refers to the distance-symbol conversion TBL 403 allocated to the RAM 403 (S153), and based on the previously acquired distance data, the corresponding symbol No. Are indexed (S154). If there is a hit (distance value d is within the definition range), the corresponding symbol number is output to the main board 400a (S155). If no hit is found, the process returns to S151 and the subsequent steps are repeated. In this way, for each pattern, the corresponding pattern No. Is supplied to the main board 400a to promote recognition of the currently displayed picture.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the reel device 200. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those of the embodiment of the reel 61 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are the same as those shown in FIGS.
Here, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the detection member 63 is formed separately from the reel 61, arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the motor 67, and has a small turning radius. ing. This minimizes the effects of shaft runout.
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 60 is a reel substrate, reference numeral 65 is a sensor base, reference numeral 66 is a sensor base, reference numeral 67 is a motor for rotating the reel 61 and the detection member 63, reference numeral 68 is a motor base, and reference numeral 69 is a back. The lamp assembly, 70 is a back lamp LED.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views showing still another embodiment of the reel device 200, wherein FIG. 11A is a front view and FIG. 11B is an exploded plan view.
In the figure, members denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 10 are the same as those shown in FIG. Here, in addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, symbol detection means that displaces the distance relative to the thrust direction of the motor shaft is used to minimize distance measurement errors due to rotation unevenness.
In FIG. 11, reference numeral 71 denotes a boss hole.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing the configuration of a motor drive system shown to prevent rotational blur due to bias of inertia, where FIG. 12A is a plan view and FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a gear 611 is engraved on the outer peripheral portion of the reel 61, and power is transmitted via a gear 612 fitted to the motor 67 shaft and an intermediate gear 613. It has a transmitted structure.
The gaming machine can recognize which picture is displayed instantaneously based on the distance data given from the distance sensor, and further, the rotational torque compared to the structure in which the motor 67 directly drives the reel 61 as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reel device 200 from being stepped out.

As described above, according to the present invention, the position information can be acquired in units of symbols by measuring the distance using the detection member 63 provided with a step or an inclination in the outer peripheral portion corresponding to the pattern. . Further, the distance is calculated based on the phase difference between the reference light projection signal emitted to the detection member 63 and the light reception signal reflected from the detection member, and the MPU 401 controls the distance in advance according to the captured distance data. By indexing the defined symbol number and extracting an effective symbol, it is unnecessary to count the number of steps by the step motor, and the reliability at the time of symbol recognition is improved. It is also an effective means for an illegal act of changing the display of the reel picture by hand.
In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, only the symbol detection of the slot machine has been illustrated and described. However, the same effect can be obtained even when used for the symbol detection of the pachinko.

It is a top view which shows a slot machine external structure. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a main control unit. It is a perspective view of a reel device. It is a figure which shows an example of the symbol arrange | positioned at the outer peripheral surface of a reel. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the reel mounted in a reel apparatus. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of a reel. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of a distance sensor. It is a disassembled perspective view of a reel apparatus. It is the figure shown with the disassembled perspective view about other embodiment of a reel apparatus. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of a reel apparatus. It is a figure which shows embodiment of a motor drive system. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a reel control part. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of distance-symbol conversion TBL. It is the figure which showed the process sequence for symbol conversion with the flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

60 reel substrate 61 reel 62 boss 63 detection member (frame plate)
64 Distance sensor 65 Sensor base 66 Sensor base 67 Motor 68 Motor base 69 Back down assembly 70 Back lamp LED
200 reel device 400a main board
400c reel control unit 401 MPU
403 RAM (distance-design conversion TBL)

Claims (3)

A gaming machine including a variable display device having a reel provided with a plurality of types of identification information,
A detection member formed on an inner surface of the reel, provided with a step at a position corresponding to each pattern, and rotated together with the reel;
The distance between the detection member is measured, and the symbol recognition means for recognizing the effective symbol by acquiring position information in symbol units;
A gaming machine characterized by comprising: A gaming machine including a variable display device having a reel provided with a plurality of types of identification information,
A detection member that is formed on the inner surface of the reel and rotates together with the reel having an inclination in a range in which the distance difference between the patterns can be detected;
The distance between the detection member is measured, and the symbol recognition means for recognizing the effective symbol by acquiring position information in symbol units;
A gaming machine characterized by comprising: The symbol recognition means
A distance data output means for calculating a distance based on a phase difference between a reference projection signal emitted to the detection member and a received light signal reflected from the detection member, and outputting the distance data;
An effective design detecting means for extracting the effective design by indexing a predefined design number corresponding to the distance data;
The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images