JP2005174731A - Two-wire proximity switch and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a two-wire proximity switch that can be used even in an environment wherein static electricity of excessive wave height is repeatedly inputted, and prevent the reduction of operating time due to the evasion of failure and maintenance. <P>SOLUTION: With respect to the two-wire proximity switch comprising a coil to which a detected body approaches, a detection circuit for detecting the approach connected to the coil, and two output sections that make the detection circuit connectable to the outside, the end part of the coil and the output sections are connected by a surge protection means protecting the detection circuit from a surge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a two-wire proximity switch that detects a detected object such as a metal game ball that is built in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, and a gaming machine including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique has been proposed that uses a wiring pattern on a mounting board as a microgap for electrostatic discharge to provide a proximity sensor with excellent electrostatic resistance to a charged game ball. The proximity sensor has a micro gap in a part of a wiring pattern on the surface of a printed circuit board, and discharges static electricity that has entered from a power line pattern or the like into a stable potential pattern through the micro gap (see Patent Document 1). ).

  In addition, a linear two-wire proximity switch has been proposed in which a wiring pattern is processed as a lightning rod in a through hole (inside the coil) of a proximity switch through which a game ball passes, and an electrostatic discharge protrusion is provided. When an electronic game ball enters the through hole, the electronic device quickly reaches a stable potential (before discharging to other circuit portions of the switch) via a current collecting pattern on the lightning rod (protrusion). The structure of discharging prevents destruction of electronic components and malfunction of circuits (see Patent Document 2).

However, these conventional technologies have improved countermeasures against static electricity, but are not perfect.
For example, in winter, static electricity of several tens of thousands of volts may be charged on the game ball or the human body, and excessive static electricity of several tens of thousands of volts is repeatedly applied 1000 times or more inside the pachinko gaming machine.
In such a severe use condition in which excessive static electricity is frequently applied, an event with a low probability that is not expected under a normal condition occurs.

More specifically, the enameled wire used as the detection coil is formed by covering the outer periphery of a metal wire made of a copper material with a protective layer.
Since the protective layer is very thin, it is technically difficult to completely cover the outer periphery with a protective layer, creating a very small gap called a pinhole in the manufacturing process and generating a bare exposed portion of the metal wire. To do.

  If the number of pinholes is less than or equal to a certain reference value on a certain length of enameled wire, the pinhole is allowed as normal insulation and is shipped as it is. This is because even if the coil is formed with such an enameled wire, there is no possibility that the pinholes come into contact with each other and short-circuit, and therefore it can be used without any problem in a normal use environment. is there.

  However, since excessive static electricity is frequently applied under the severe use conditions as described above, excessive static electricity that should originally be applied to the discharge protrusion may be directly applied to the detection coil via the pinhole. Occur.

  As described above, when static electricity is rarely applied directly to a portion other than the discharge protrusion, the electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board is discharged, resulting in problems such as component destruction.

  On the other hand, the DC 2-wire proximity switch has lower wiring costs than the 3-wire type and can be easily connected to an external circuit. However, the electrostatic strength of the proximity switch varies depending on the connection method with the external circuit. There was also.

  More specifically, since the DC 2-wire proximity switch outputs its sensing operation by switching the circuit current value, it is a system in which a resistance load is always connected to the external circuit and the potential change at both ends is detected.

  Therefore, depending on which of the two output terminals provided in the DC 2-wire proximity switch is connected to the resistive load, the output terminal to which the resistive load is not connected has a stable potential, and the output terminal to which the resistive load is connected is It is no longer a stable potential.

  For this reason, static electricity can be discharged without problems if the above-described discharge protrusion is connected to the stable potential side. However, if the discharge protrusion is connected to the output terminal on the side where the resistance load is connected, the discharge potential is increased to the stable potential. It becomes difficult to discharge.

  That is, when the impedance of the resistive load is larger than the equivalent impedance of the internal circuit of the 2-wire proximity switch when viewed from the output end, the static electricity that has entered from the discharge protrusion is blocked by the resistive load and tends to flow easily. As a result, the circuit is destroyed and burnt out.

  Thus, since the electrostatic strength of the DC 2-wire proximity switch depends on the connection method of the resistive load, it has been impossible to exhibit a sufficient effect unless it is correctly connected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-45194 JP-A-6-295648

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a two-wire proximity switch that can be used even in an environment in which excessively high static electricity is repeatedly applied, and prevents a failure and a reduction in operating time due to maintenance. For the purpose.

  The present invention includes a two-wire proximity including a coil that is to be detected approaches, a detection circuit that is connected to the coil to detect the approach, and two output units that allow the detection circuit to be connected to the outside. The switch is a two-wire proximity switch in which an end portion of the coil and the output portion are connected by a surge protection means for protecting the detection circuit from a surge.

The object to be detected includes a detection object such as a metal sphere forming a pachinko ball.
The coil includes a coil formed of a member such as a conductive wire (such as enameled wire) in which a metal wire (such as copper wire) is covered with a protective member (such as insulating enamel).

  The detection circuit is configured by a circuit that detects the approach of the detected object to the coil, such as a detection circuit configured by an oscillation circuit and a detection circuit, or a detection circuit configured by an oscillation circuit, a detection circuit, and an output circuit. including.

  The output unit includes an output unit that outputs to the outside, such as an output end or a peripheral portion of the output end.

The surge protection means includes a means for protecting against a surge, such as a micro gap or an arrester.
Note that. Surge refers to general transient overvoltage and overcurrent caused by static electricity.

  According to the above configuration, it can be used even in an environment where static electricity with excessive wave height is repeatedly applied, and it is possible to avoid failure of the 2-wire proximity switch and to prevent a reduction in operating time due to maintenance.

  As an aspect of the present invention, the connection of the surge protection means, one end of the coil and the two output parts are connected by the third surge protection means and the fourth surge protection means, respectively, and the other end of the coil The end portion and the two output portions can be connected by the first surge protection means and the second surge protection means, respectively.

  As a result, the detection circuit can be reliably protected from the surge applied to the coil regardless of which side of the output unit the load resistance of the external circuit is connected to.

  Also, as one aspect of the present invention, one end of the coil is connected to one of the output units by a connection line, and the detection circuit is connected to the connection line, the other end of the coil, and the other of the output unit. And the other end of the coil and the two output portions are connected by the first surge protection means and the second surge protection means, respectively, and one of the coils is connected. An end portion and the other of the output portions can be connected by a third surge protection means.

  Accordingly, it is possible to reliably protect the detection circuit from the surge applied to the coil with the minimum necessary surge protection means regardless of which side of the output section the load resistance of the external circuit is connected to.

As an aspect of the present invention, surge input means for inputting a surge can be provided at one of the end portions of the coil.
The surge input means includes means formed such that a protrusion is formed by a part of the wiring pattern or a protrusion formed by a metal member so that the surge is input when a surge occurs.

  With the configuration, the generated surge can be guided to the surge input means, and the surge can be guided to the surge protection means to protect the detection circuit from the surge.

In addition, the present invention can be a gaming machine provided with the two-wire proximity switch.
The gaming machine includes a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.
With the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can comfortably play a game by avoiding a situation in which a pachinko ball winning or the like cannot be detected during a game due to a failure of a two-wire proximity switch.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a two-wire proximity switch that can be used even in an environment where static electricity with excessive wave height is repeatedly applied, and it is possible to prevent failure and decrease in operation time due to maintenance.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the two-wire proximity switch 1 will be described with reference to the exploded perspective view shown in FIG.

  The two-wire proximity switch 1 has a front end portion of a circuit board 10 mounted on a coil spool 4 that winds a through coil 5 shown in the center of the figure, and shields the upper and lower sides of the coil spool 4 with shield rings 3 and 6. Are housed in upper and lower cases 2 and 7.

The coil spool 4 is formed so that the circuit board 10 can be mounted while winding the through coil 5.
The circuit board 10 includes output terminals 11c and 11d and coil connection terminals 11a and 11b. The coil connection terminals 11a and 11b wind the coil wire ends 5a and 5b of the penetration coil 5 several times to electrically connect the penetration coil 5 and the circuit board 10.

  Through holes 3a and 6a through which the pachinko balls pass are formed in the shield rings 3 and 6, and the coil spool 4 is sandwiched and covered in a state where the pachinko balls can pass.

The case 2 includes a through-hole 2a through which a pachinko ball passes, and an attachment / detachment protrusion 2b for attachment / detachment.
The case 7 is provided with a through-hole 7a through which a pachinko ball passes and an attachment / detachment projection 7b for attachment / detachment.

  With the above configuration, the circuit board 10 and the penetrating coil 5 are connected, and the penetrating coil 5 is covered with the shield rings 3 and 6, and as shown in the perspective view of FIG. And the two-wire proximity switch 1 can be formed.

  The two-wire proximity switch 1 configured as described above is in a state in which the surge input terminal (current collection pattern) 12e serving as a lightning rod is exposed closest to the pachinko ball A passing through the through hole B. Most surges generated when the ball A passes can be input to the surge input terminal 12e.

The two-wire proximity switch 1 is provided in, for example, a start chuck, a winning opening, and a specific area provided in a game board of a pachinko machine.
In addition to the 2-wire proximity switch 1, the pachinko machine has a power supply device that supplies power to each device, a receiving port (medium processing device) that accepts input of a medium such as a pachinko ball, and an injection strength of the pachinko ball. Handle that allows adjustment (launch control device), special symbol display device that operates special symbols in accordance with winnings in the start chucker, medium payout device that pays out media such as pachinko balls based on games, and game processing by controlling them As is well known, it is configured to include a control device for executing the above.

  Next, printed wiring formed on the wiring board 10 will be described together with a top view of the circuit board 10 shown in FIG. 3 and a bottom view of the wiring board 10 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, an upper surface wiring pattern 11 is provided on the upper surface of the wiring board 10 with a copper foil as an electronic component mounting surface so that the electronic component 9 (FIG. 1) can be mounted.
Output terminals 11c and 11d connected to the outside are formed on the right side of the upper surface wiring pattern 11 in the figure.

  Each of the output terminals 11c and 11d is formed with one through hole 13 in the circuit board 10 and electrically connected to the bottom wiring pattern 12 (described later) on the back side of the circuit board 10 through the through hole 13. Connected to.

  In addition, coil connection terminals 11a and 11b are formed on both side ends (upper and lower ends in the figure) to which the coil wire ends 5a and 5b (FIG. 1) of the through coil 5 are wound and connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface of the wiring board 10 is provided with a bottom surface wiring pattern 12 made of copper foil as a surge discharge generating surface.
The bottom surface wiring pattern 12 has a surge input terminal (current collection pattern) 12e formed on the front end side (left side in the figure), coil connection terminals 12a and 12b formed on both side ends (upper and lower ends in the figure), and a rear end side (illustration). The output end side wirings 12c and 12d are formed on the right side).

  Each of the output end side wirings 12c and 12d is formed with one through hole 13 in the circuit board 10 and electrically connected to the output terminals 11c and 11d of the upper surface wiring pattern 11 through the through hole 13. Connected.

  In addition, the coil connection terminal 12a and the coil connection terminal 11a (FIG. 3), and the coil connection terminal 12b and the coil connection terminal 11b (FIG. 3) are respectively wound around the coil wire ends 5a and 5b of the through coil 5 several times. Since the soldering is performed, the patterns of the coil connection terminal portions on the front surface and the back surface are electrically connected.

  The surge input terminal 12e and the coil connection terminal 12a are connected to each other as shown, and a microgap 14c is formed in the vicinity of the output end side wiring 12d, and static electricity is formed in the vicinity of the output end side wiring 12c. A micro gap 14d is formed as a discharging means.

  The coil connection terminal 12b forms a microgap 14b in the vicinity of the output end side wiring 12c, and forms a microgap 14a in the vicinity of the output end side wiring 12d.

  Further, a micro gap 14e is formed in the vicinity of the output terminal 11c and the output terminal 11d.

  These micro gaps 14 (14a to 14e) are formed in the shape of the bottom surface wiring pattern 12, and as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, the convex portions 15 and the concave portions 16 are formed close to each other.

  The convex portion 15 and the concave portion 16 are such that the central distance N between the central portion of the convex portion 15 and the central portion of the concave portion 16 is shorter than the side end distance M between the side end portion of the convex portion 15 and the side end portion of the concave portion 16. In this way, it is formed with a mountain-shaped terminal (convex portion 15 protruding in a triangle) and a V-shaped terminal (concave portion 16 recessed in a V-shape) having different angles.

  With the above configuration, when a surge is input from the surge input terminal 12e or the coil connection terminal 12a illustrated in FIG. 4, the surge flows to the output end side wiring 12d or 12c through the micro gap 14c or 14d and passes through the through hole 13. Thus, a surge can be output from the output terminal 11c or 11d.

  When a surge is input from the coil connection terminal 12b, the surge flows to the output end side wiring 12d or 12c through the micro gap 14a or 14b, and can be output from the output terminal 11c or 11d through the through hole 13. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the micro gap 14 is formed with the central distance N shorter than the side edge distance M, so that the discharge location can be specified to some extent, and the convex portion 15 and the concave portion 16 are opposed to each other. Therefore, it can be used for a long time with little consumption.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the two-wire proximity switch 1 will be described with reference to the circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

The two-wire proximity switch 1 includes a through coil 5, an oscillation circuit 25, a detection circuit 26, an output circuit 27, an output terminal (power supply terminal V _H ) 11c, an output terminal (power supply terminal V _L ) 11d, and a micro gap 14 (14a To 14e).

  An oscillation circuit 25 is connected to the coil wire ends 5a and 5b of the penetration coil 5 (same as the above-described coil connection terminals 11a and 11b and the output end side wirings 12c and 12d), and a detection circuit is connected to the oscillation circuit 25. 26, an output circuit 27 is connected to the detection circuit 26, and output terminals 11c and 11d are connected to the output circuit 27.

The oscillating circuit 25 constitutes an LC oscillating circuit by the through coil 5 and the internal capacitance, and oscillates at a constant frequency and transmits the output to the detecting circuit 26.
The detection circuit 26 and the output circuit 27 constitute a signal processing unit that detects the proximity of a metal body such as a pachinko ball based on a change in the oscillation state of the oscillation circuit 25.

  Also, coil end portions 21 and 22 that are peripheral portions of the coil connection terminals 12a and 12b that connect the coil wire ends 5a and 5b of the through coil 5, and output portions 23 and 24 that are peripheral portions of the output terminals 11c and 11d, Are connected by micro gaps 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, respectively.

  More specifically, the coil end 21 is connected with a microgap 14 a that connects the coil end 21 and the output unit 23, and a microgap 14 b that connects the coil end 21 and the output unit 24. Thus, two systems of micro gaps are connected so that two output systems (output units 23 and 24) are connected to one input system (coil end 21).

The coil end portion 22 is connected to a micro gap 14 c that connects the coil end portion 22 and the output portion 23 and a micro gap 14 d that connects the coil end portion 22 and the output portion 24. Thus, two systems of micro gaps are connected so that two output systems (output units 23, 24) are connected to one input system (coil end 22).
Further, a surge input terminal 12e is connected to the coil end portion 22.

Further, the output unit 23 and the output unit 24 are connected by a micro gap 14e. The micro gap 14e mainly has a role of absorbing a surge superimposed on the power supply line.
In this embodiment ((A) in FIG. 6), an external load Rx is connected to the output unit 24 side.

  With the above configuration, when a pachinko ball approaches the penetrating coil 5, this can be detected. More specifically, the conductance of the penetrating coil 5 increases due to the approach of the pachinko ball to the penetrating coil 5, so that the oscillation condition of the oscillating circuit 25 changes, the amplitude decreases, and falls below a predetermined threshold value. Due to the decrease in the amplitude or the oscillation level, the detection circuit 26 can detect the approach or passage of the pachinko ball and output an object detection signal via the output circuit 27.

  Even when a surge is applied to the surge input terminal 12e or the through coil 5, each circuit (oscillation circuit 25) is connected to the surge regardless of whether the external load Rx is connected to the output unit 23 or 24. The detection circuit 26 and the output circuit 27) can be protected.

  That is, when an external load Rx is connected to the output unit 24 side as shown in FIG. 6A, when a surge such as static electricity input to the through coil 5 tries to enter from the coil end 21, It discharges from the output part 23 to the power supply Vcc through the micro gap 14a which is a direction without load resistance. Meanwhile, in the micro gap 14b, there is no electrostatic discharge due to the impedance of the load, and all the surges that have entered pass through the micro gap 14a.

  Further, when a surge such as static electricity input to the through coil 5 or the surge input terminal 12e tries to enter from the coil end portion 22, it is discharged from the output portion 24 to the power source Vcc through the micro gap 14c which is a direction having no load resistance. To do. Meanwhile, in the micro gap 14d, there is no electrostatic discharge due to the impedance of the load, and all the surges that have entered pass through the micro gap 14c.

  When the load Rx is connected to the output part 23 side as shown in FIG. 5B, when a surge such as static electricity input to the through coil 5 tries to enter from the coil end part 21, the load Rx is in a direction without load resistance. It discharges from the output part 23 to the power supply GND through a certain micro gap 14b. Meanwhile, in the micro gap 14a, there is no electrostatic discharge due to the impedance of the load, and all the surges that have entered pass through the micro gap 14b.

  Further, with this configuration, when a surge such as static electricity input to the through coil 5 or the surge input terminal 12e attempts to enter from the coil end portion 22, the power is supplied from the output portion 24 via the micro gap 14d, which is a direction having no load resistance. Discharge to GND. Meanwhile, in the micro gap 14c, there is no electrostatic discharge due to the impedance of the load, and all the surges that have entered pass through the micro gap 14d.

  In this way, each circuit (oscillation circuit 25) can be used even when the load Rx is connected to either of the output terminals 11c and 11d by two micro gaps in which two output systems are connected to one input system. The detection circuit 26 and the output circuit 27) can be protected from surge.

  In other words, the plurality of micro gaps 14 (14a to 14d), the coil end portions 21 and 22 on the through coil 5 side, and the output side output portions 23 and 24 are connected in parallel (micro gaps 14a and 14d) and Even if the load Rx is connected to any one of the output terminals 11c and 11d by connecting each other in the cross relationship (micro gaps 14b and 14c) in parallel, each circuit (the oscillation circuit 25, the detection circuit 26, The output circuit 27) can be protected from surges.

  Further, by providing such two types of micro gaps in each of the coil end portions 21 and 22, a surge can be reliably discharged regardless of which of the coil end portions 21 and 22 enters. The above-described surge input terminal 12e can obtain the same effect even when connected to the coil end 21 side.

  Pachinko machines are frequently charged with static electricity by charged players, etc. Especially in winter, static electricity of several tens of thousands of volts may be charged immediately after a user wearing a woolen cloth walks a carpet. With this configuration, the two-wire proximity switch 1 can be protected from such static electricity.

  In addition, such proximity switches require a high level of static electricity resistance required for a single unit, require design know-how, and it is desirable that the number of wires be as small as possible in view of the system configuration. Where it is difficult to achieve technical compatibility of the number of wires (two-wire system), the two-wire proximity switch 1 can realize technical compatibility.

  In other words, an electrostatic discharge route that leads directly to the drive power supply terminal can be secured regardless of the connection method of the external load, so that even if high-voltage static electricity entry is repeated, there is no electrostatic breakdown of the internal circuit, and it has good electrostatic resistance 2 A linear proximity switch 1 can be provided.

  Furthermore, by electrically connecting the surge input terminal 12e to either one of the coil end portions 21 and 22, a microgap dedicated to the surge input terminal 12e becomes unnecessary, wiring can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. it can.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described together with a bottom view of the wiring board 10 shown in FIG. 7 and a circuit block explanatory diagram shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the micro gaps 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14e are provided, and the micro gap 14d (FIG. 4) of the previous embodiment is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the coil end portion 22 and the output portion 24 are connected by a connection line 31, and the oscillation circuit 25, the detection circuit 26, and the output circuit 27 are connected to the connection line 31. .

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  With the above configuration, the number of micro gaps can be reduced, and the circuit configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, the load Rx can be appropriately discharged regardless of which side of the output units 23 and 24 is connected, and each circuit (the oscillation circuit 25, the detection circuit) can be discharged. The circuit 26 and the output circuit 27) can be protected from surges.

  The surge input terminal 12e described above may be connected to the coil end 21 side. In this case, the same effect can be obtained, and each circuit (the oscillation circuit 25, the detection circuit 26, and the output circuit 27) can be protected from the surge.

In each of the above embodiments, other electrostatic discharge means such as an arrester may be provided instead of the micro gap 14.
Thereby, a more stable countermeasure against static electricity can be taken.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The coil of the present invention corresponds to the through coil 5 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The surge input means corresponds to the surge input terminal 12e,
The surge protection means corresponds to the micro gaps 14a to 14d,
The first surge protection means and the second surge protection means correspond to the micro gaps 14a and 14b,
The third surge protection means corresponds to the micro gap 14c,
The fourth surge protection means corresponds to the micro gap 14d,
The other end of the coil corresponds to the coil end 21,
One end of the coil corresponds to the coil end 22,
The other of the output units corresponds to the output unit 23,
One of the output units corresponds to the output unit 24,
The detection circuit corresponds to the oscillation circuit 25, the detection circuit 26, and the output circuit 27,
The detected object corresponds to the pachinko ball A,
Pachislot machines are compatible with pachinko machines,
The present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a two-wire proximity switch. The external appearance perspective view which shows the integrated two-wire type proximity switch. The top view of a wiring board. The bottom view of a wiring board. The enlarged view of a micro gap. The circuit block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a 2-wire type proximity switch. The bottom view of the wiring board of 2nd Embodiment. The circuit block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the 2-wire type proximity switch of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 2-wire type proximity switch 5 ... Through-coil 12e ... Surge input terminal 14a-14d ... Micro gap 21, 22 ... Coil end part 23, 24 ... Output part 25 ... Oscillation circuit 26 ... Detection circuit 27 ... Output circuit 31 ... Connection Line A ... Pachinko ball

Claims (5)

A two-wire proximity switch including a coil that is to be detected approaches, a detection circuit that is connected to the coil to detect the approach, and two output units that allow the detection circuit to be connected to the outside. ,
A two-wire proximity switch in which the end of the coil and the output are connected by surge protection means for protecting the detection circuit from surge. Connection of the surge protection means,
One end of the coil and the two output portions are respectively connected by third surge protection means and fourth surge protection means,
The two-wire proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the coil and the two output portions are connected by a first surge protection means and a second surge protection means, respectively. One end of the coil is connected to one of the output units with a connection line, and the detection circuit is connected to the connection line, the other end of the coil, and the other of the output unit,
Connection of the surge protection means,
The other end of the coil and the two output parts are respectively connected by the first surge protection means and the second surge protection means,
The two-wire proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein one end of the coil and the other of the output part are connected by a third surge protection means. The two-wire proximity switch according to claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising surge input means for inputting a surge to one of the end portions of the coil. A gaming machine comprising the two-wire proximity switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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