JP2006239292A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a smaller size by reducing the depth dimensions concerning a game machine equipped with a display device capable of switching a plurality of images. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine, a display 32 is disposed on its front and has an image formation means. The image formation means is constituted of a liquid crystal display, a light guide plate for guiding light to the light guide display and a first light source which is so arranged as to make light be admitted into the light guide plate from the peripheral end face of the light guide plate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is configured to be attachable to a game board and includes a display device that displays an image using a liquid crystal display.

A technique related to the display device of the gaming machine described above is described in Patent Document 1.
The display device includes a liquid crystal display and a backlight unit disposed behind the liquid crystal display. The backlight unit is a unit that irradiates light on the back surface of the liquid crystal display, and includes a light source, a light guide plate that guides light from the light source to the back surface of the liquid crystal display, and a reflective plate that covers the back surface of the light guide plate. ing.
Thus, since the back surface of the light guide plate is covered with the reflection plate, the rear side cannot be seen from the front of the display device through the liquid crystal display and the light guide plate even when the light source is turned off. For this reason, when it is desired to switch and display the image by the liquid crystal display and the image by another display body, a half mirror is generally used as shown in Patent Document 2.
In the display device using the half mirror, as shown in FIG. 10, a first display body 91 is disposed at a position where it can be directly viewed from the front (left side) of the game board. A half mirror 95 larger than the display screen (not shown) is arranged in the foreground. Further, a second display body 92 is disposed above the half mirror 95 at a position where it is reflected in the half mirror 95 when viewed from the front of the game board. For this reason, the image of the first display body 91 and the image of the second display body 92 can be switched and displayed by illuminating either the first display body 91 or the second display body 92 with the light source. It becomes like this.

JP 2001-31944 A JP-A-6-339568

However, in the display device described above, the half mirror 95 larger than the display screen must be housed in the housing in a state where the half mirror 95 is inclined at a predetermined angle (generally 45 °). For this reason, a large space is required for housing the half mirror 95 in the housing, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the display device.
In addition, since the second display body 92 is visually recognized by the player in the state reflected in the half mirror 95, the video is reversed. For this reason, it is necessary to convert the second display body 92 into a mirror image and to perform molding or operation thereof, and the program creation is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a technical problem of the present invention is to reduce the size of a display device capable of switching a plurality of images to reduce the size and display the display device. It is to make it easy to program the device.

The above-described problems are solved by the inventions of the claims.
The invention of claim 1
“A gaming machine having a display device disposed on a front surface thereof, the display device comprising: a first video forming means for allowing a player to recognize a result of a win by lottery; and a first video forming means Comprising the second image forming means arranged almost directly behind,
The first image forming means includes a liquid crystal display, a light guide plate that guides light to the liquid crystal display, and a first light source that is arranged to allow light to enter the light guide plate from a peripheral end surface of the light guide plate. And
The light guide plate includes a plurality of concave diffusion pattern elements that reflect the light of the first light source incident from the peripheral end face of the light guide plate and strike the liquid crystal display on a surface opposite to the light emitting surface. ,
The diffusion pattern element is configured not to impair transparency in the thickness direction of the light guide plate when the first light source is turned off.
The gaming machine, wherein the second video forming means is visible as a second video through the liquid crystal display and the light guide plate of the first video forming means. ".

According to the present invention, by turning on the first light source of the first image forming means, the light of the first light source is guided to the liquid crystal display through the light guide plate, and the first image is displayed on the liquid crystal display. The Here, since the first image forming means is an image forming means that is directly observed by the player, the player can clearly recognize the winning result of the lottery. At this time, the second image forming means (second image) located behind the liquid crystal display and the light guide plate is not visible, and only the first image is displayed on the display device.
Next, when the first light source is turned off, the second image forming means (second image) can be seen from the front of the display device through the light-transmitting liquid crystal display and the light guide plate.
That is, it is possible to produce an unexpected effect in which the first light source is turned on to show the first video, and then the first light source is turned off to show the second video.
As described above, since the first image is displayed on the liquid crystal display or the second image is displayed with the liquid crystal display in a translucent state, the space in the housing is larger than when a half mirror is used. Do not need. For this reason, the depth dimension of the display device can be reduced, and the display device can be miniaturized.
In addition, since the half mirror is not used, it is not necessary to convert the display body into a mirror image and form it, and it becomes easy to create a program for the display device.

The invention of claim 2
“A gaming machine according to claim 1,
The spacing between the diffusion pattern elements in the light guide plate is configured such that the spacing decreases as the distance from the first light source increases so that the luminance distribution on the light exit surface of the light guide plate is substantially uniform. A gaming machine characterized by ".
According to the present invention, the light of the first light source that has entered the light guide plate from the peripheral edge surface of the light guide plate is reflected by the diffusion pattern element and emitted from the light output surface, so that the luminance distribution on the light output surface is substantially uniform. become able to.

The invention of claim 3
“A gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The diffusion pattern element is formed so that the cross-sectional shape thereof is a right triangle, one side sandwiching the right angle of the right triangle is parallel to the light exit surface, the other side is perpendicular to the light exit surface, and the right triangle A game machine characterized in that the hypotenuse is arranged on the first light source side. ".
According to the present invention, compared to the case where the diffusion pattern element is formed in, for example, an isosceles triangle shape, the plane area of the diffusion pattern element can be reduced and the transparency in the thickness direction of the light guide plate is increased.

The invention of claim 4
“A gaming machine according to claim 3,
A gaming machine, wherein a dimension of one side parallel to a light emitting surface in a right triangle representing a cross section of a diffusion pattern element is set to about 3 μm. ".
For this reason, the plane area of the diffusion pattern element can be very small.
The invention of claim 5
A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The game machine characterized in that the second image forming means is composed of a model as an accessory and a second light source that illuminates the model. ".
For this reason, the second image has a three-dimensional effect, and the power of production increases.

The invention of claim 6
A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The game machine characterized in that the second image forming means comprises a second liquid crystal display and a second light source for the liquid crystal display. ".
For this reason, the thickness dimension of the second image forming means can be reduced, and the depth dimension of the display device can be further reduced.
The invention of claim 7
“A gaming machine according to claim 6,
The liquid crystal display has a polarizing filter,
The polarization filter on the light exit side of the liquid crystal display that constitutes the second image forming means and the polarization filter on the light entrance side of the liquid crystal display that constitutes the first image formation means are arranged so that their polarization directions are equal. A gaming machine characterized by ".
According to the present invention, if the front liquid crystal display (the liquid crystal display of the first image forming means) is set to the transmissive state, the second image displayed on the rear liquid crystal display from the front of the display device through the front liquid crystal display. Will be able to see.

The invention of claim 8
A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A game machine, wherein the second image forming means is a self-luminous display. ".
For this reason, a dedicated light source is not required in the second image forming means.
The invention of claim 9
“A gaming machine according to claim 8,
A game machine, wherein the self-luminous display is a display using an organic EL element. ".
The invention of claim 10
“A gaming machine according to claim 8,
The game machine characterized in that the self-luminous display is a display that performs a Dodd matrix display using a light emitting diode. ".

  According to the present invention, since the depth dimension of the display device can be reduced, the display device can be downsized. In addition, since a half mirror is not used, it is not necessary to convert the display body into a mirror image and form it, and it becomes easy to create a program for the display device.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine that is one of gaming machines. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a main body frame and a glass door of the pachinko machine are opened, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a power supply system and a signal system of the pachinko machine. 3 to 5 are schematic longitudinal sectional views showing the configuration of the symbol display device, and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the operation principle of the liquid crystal unit of the liquid crystal display used in the symbol display device.

[Outline of pachinko machine]
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 includes an outer frame 10 and a main body frame 12 that is attached to the outer frame 10 so as to be openable and closable in a door shape. The main body frame 12 is a frame body that supports various electrical devices of the pachinko machine 1, such as the game board 20, the ball launching device 15, the payout device 16, and the like. A glass door 14 configured to cover the game board 20 and the like is attached to the front side of the main body frame 12 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame 12.
The game board 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a game board surface is provided on the front surface thereof. A guide rail 21 is provided on the game board surface, and the ball launch passage 23 and the game area 24 are partitioned by the guide rail 21. A game ball (not shown) launched by the ball launcher 15 is configured to be guided to the upper part of the game area 24 by the ball launch passage 23.
In the game board 20, a center accessory device 30 including a symbol display device 32 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the game area 24, and an accessory device such as a winning device or a windmill is provided around the center accessory device 30. Various kinds of equipment (not shown) such as guide nails and lamp decoration members are disposed.

[Outline of wiring block diagram of pachinko machine]
A power supply system and a signal system of the pachinko machine 1 will be briefly described based on a wiring block diagram (see FIG. 2).
The AC power supplied from the AC power source AC is supplied to the power distribution board 102 and the power supply board 104 on the main body frame 12 side after passing through the power switch S1, and after being converted into DC power by the power supply board 104, It is supplied to a payout control board 105 that controls payout. The DC power is supplied to the main control board 120, the sub control board 123, the symbol control board 34, and the like mounted on the game board 20 via the payout control board 105.
The AC power supplied from the AC power supply AC is also distributed and supplied to the interface board 108 by the distribution board 102.
The main control board 120 on the game board 20 side is a board that controls the progress of the game based on the game information stored in the RAM according to the program stored in the ROM, and the control signal (output signal) of the main control board 120 ) Is input to the sub-control board 123 and the payout control board 105 on the main body frame 12 side. The control signal (output signal) of the main control board 120 is also input to the special symbol display 33. The special symbol indicator 33 is an indicator composed of four LEDs, and displays the winning of the lottery by the combination of blinking of these LEDs. In general, it is difficult for the player to recognize the winning of the lottery from the on / off state of these LEDs.
The sub control board 123 controls peripheral devices such as the symbol control board 34 and the speaker 109 based on the control signal of the main control board 120. The symbol control board 34 converts the control signal from the sub-control board 123 into a display signal and transmits it to the symbol display device 32 to control the symbol display device 32.
The sub-control board 123 also controls the rear illumination 56 (described later) of the symbol display device 32.

[About symbol display device]
The symbol display device 32 is a device that produces an effect while variably displaying the decorative symbols at the time of the lottery based on the signal from the symbol control board 34, and the player can recognize the winning of the lottery from the stopped decorative symbols. The symbol display device 32 can also display game information such as a low probability state or a high probability state.
As shown in the schematic longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 3A, the symbol display device 32 includes a liquid crystal display unit 40 and an image forming unit 50 disposed behind the liquid crystal display unit 40.
The liquid crystal display unit 40 is a part constituting the first video C1 (see FIG. 3B), which is a symbol or the like that allows the player to recognize the result of winning by the lottery, and includes a square plate-like liquid crystal display 42. ing. The liquid crystal display 42 is configured by arranging a large number of liquid crystal units 140 (see FIG. 6), which are pixels of the screen of the liquid crystal display 42, in rows and columns.
As shown in FIG. 6A, each liquid crystal unit 140 includes a pair of liquid crystal molecules 146 arranged so as to sandwich the liquid crystal molecules 146 so that a large number of liquid crystal molecules 146 can be arranged in a twisted state of 90 °. Alignment films 141 and 142 are provided. On the inner surfaces of the alignment films 141 and 142, a large number of linear grooves 141m and 142m extending in a certain direction are formed at substantially equal intervals, and the liquid crystal molecules 146 are arranged along the linear grooves 141m and 142m. ing. The light incident side (upper side) alignment film 141 and the light output side (lower side) alignment film 142 are overlapped so that the linear grooves 141m and 142m are orthogonal to each other (so that the phase difference is 90 °). Therefore, a large number of liquid crystal molecules 146 are arranged in a state twisted by 90 ° between the pair of alignment films 141 and 142.

A transparent electrode (not shown) for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal molecules 146 sandwiched between the alignment films 141 and 142 is disposed outside the alignment films 141 and 142. Further, a light incident side polarizing filter 143 and a light emitting side polarizing filter 144 are provided outside the alignment films 141 and 142. The light incident side polarizing filter 143 is arranged so that the light L oscillating in the same direction as the linear groove 141m of the light incident side alignment film 141 can pass therethrough. The light exit side polarizing filter 144 is arranged so that the light L oscillating in the same direction as the linear groove 142m of the light exit side alignment film 142 can pass. That is, the light incident side polarizing filter 143 and the light emitting side polarizing filter 144 are arranged so that the polarization directions are shifted by 90 °.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, in a state where no voltage is applied to the transparent electrode, the light L that has passed through the light incident side polarizing filter 143 and the light incident side alignment film 141 is a large number of liquid crystal molecules 146. Is twisted by 90 °, and passes through the light-emitting-side alignment film 142 and the light-emitting-side polarizing filter 144.
On the other hand, when a voltage is applied to the transparent electrode, as shown in FIG. 6B, the liquid crystal molecules 146 are not twisted between the light incident side alignment film 141 and the light output side alignment film 142 in the direction of the electric field. It will be lined up. As a result, the light L that has passed through the light incident side polarizing filter 143 and the light incident side alignment film 141 travels straight along the arrangement of a large number of liquid crystal molecules 146, passes through the light output side alignment film 142, and then exits on the light output side polarized light. It is blocked by the filter 144.
Therefore, the first video C1 can be displayed by controlling the blocking / passing of the light L by turning on / off the voltage applied to the transparent electrode for each liquid crystal unit 140.

As shown in FIG. 3A or the like, the liquid crystal display unit 40 includes a rectangular light guide plate 44 disposed behind the liquid crystal display 42 and in parallel with the liquid crystal display 42. The light guide plate 44 is a transparent plate that uniformly emits light L1 of the cell light source 46 (described later) incident from one end surface 44e of the light guide plate 44 and irradiates the back surface (light incident surface) of the liquid crystal display 42. For example, it is made of acrylic or polycarbonate.
The light guide plate 44 includes a number of concave diffusion pattern elements 44p that reflect the light L1 on the surface opposite to the light emitting surface 44r. The diffusion pattern elements 44p are arranged in a direction (lateral direction) parallel to the one end face 44e on which the light L1 of the cell light source 46 is incident and a direction perpendicular to the one end face 44e (vertical direction). Yes. Then, as the distance from the cell light source 46 increases so that the distance between the diffusion pattern elements 44p in the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction can substantially uniform the luminance distribution of the light exit surface 44r, the distance increases. It is configured to be narrow.
The diffusion pattern element 44p is formed so that the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the one end surface 44e of the light guide plate 44 is a right triangle, and one side sandwiching the right angle of the right triangle is parallel to the light emitting surface 44r. The other side sandwiching the right angle is set at a right angle to the light exit surface 44r. Further, the hypotenuse of the right triangle is arranged on the cell light source 46 side.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the light incident on the one end surface 44e of the light guide plate 44 from the cell light source 46 repeats total reflection at the boundary portion between the light guide plate 44 and the atmosphere, and passes through the light guide plate 44. Go ahead. As the light travels in the light guide plate 44, it strikes the oblique side portion of the diffusion pattern element 44p and is irregularly reflected at this portion, and the light of the component that is smaller than the total reflection angle among the irregularly reflected light is the light exit surface. 44r is emitted to the outside.
Here, the width dimension W of the diffusion pattern element 44p is about 3 μm, and the apex angle of the diffusion pattern element 44p (the angle of the oblique side of the diffusion pattern element 44p with respect to a virtual straight line extending in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 44) is about 42 °. Is set to Thus, since the plane area of the diffusion pattern element 44p can be made very small, the diffusion pattern element 44p does not impair the transparency in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 44. The diffusion pattern element 44p is formed by a mold for manufacturing the light guide plate 44, for example.
FIG. 4B shows a light guide plate 160 that is generally used conventionally. The light guide plate 160 forms a diffusion pattern element 164 by printing using reflective ink, and is set so that the area of the diffusion pattern element 164 increases as the distance from the light source 166 increases. Furthermore, the back surface of the light guide plate 160 is covered with a reflection plate 167 in order to increase the reflection efficiency of light toward the front surface side. For this reason, the light guide plate 160 is not transparent in the thickness direction.
In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the path of light shown as diffusely reflecting the diffuse pattern elements 44p and 164 is representatively shown for the diffuse pattern elements 44p and 164 located at the approximate center of the light guide plates 44 and 160. For the other diffusion pattern elements 44p and 164, the light path is omitted in the middle from the viewpoint of easy viewing of the drawings.

The liquid crystal display unit 40 includes a support case 48 that supports the liquid crystal display 42 and the light guide plate 44 in parallel. The support case 48 is formed in a flat box shape that is thin in the front-rear direction, and a front window 48f that exposes the front surface of the liquid crystal display 42 is formed on the front side thereof. In addition, a rear window 48 b that exposes the rear surface of the light guide plate 44 is formed on the rear surface side of the support case 48.
Inside the support case 48, the aforementioned cell light source 46 used as the light source of the liquid crystal display 42 is disposed outside the one end surface 44 e of the light guide plate 44. The cell light source 46 is a linear light source having a length dimension substantially equal to the length dimension of one end surface 44 e (one side) of the light guide plate 44. The cell light source 46 is covered by a support case 48 so that the light L1 emitted from the cell light source 46 can enter the light guide plate 44 from one end surface 44e of the light guide plate 44 without leaking to the outside. Yes. Two cell light sources 46 are used as a set, and each cell light source 46 is arranged on the opposite side with the light guide plate 44 in between. For the cell light source 46, for example, a cold cathode tube which is a kind of fluorescent tube is used. That is, the cell light source 46 corresponds to the first light source of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the light L1 of the cell light source 46 enters from the one end face 44e of the light guide plate 44 and travels while totally reflecting through the light guide plate 44 as described above. Then, the direction is changed to the direction of the liquid crystal display 42 in contact with the diffusion pattern element 44p. Then, light having a component smaller than the total reflection angle exits from the light exit surface 44 r of the light guide plate 44 and strikes the liquid crystal display 42.
By configuring the liquid crystal display unit 40 as described above, when the liquid crystal display 42 is translucent and the cell light source 46 is turned off, the front window 48f and the liquid crystal display from the front of the liquid crystal display unit 40 are displayed. 42, the rear of the liquid crystal display unit 40 can be seen through the light guide plate 44 and the rear window 48b.
That is, the liquid crystal display unit 40 corresponds to the first image forming means of the present invention.

The image forming unit 50 of the symbol display device 32 is a portion constituting a second image C2 (see FIG. 5B) such as a background, and is formed in a small stage shape behind the liquid crystal display unit 40. . The image forming unit 50 includes a housing 52, and a model 54 as a three-dimensionally shaped object that can be seen as the second image C <b> 2 through the light-transmitting liquid crystal display 42 and the light guide plate 44 inside the housing 52. It is stored. As the model 54, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, there are various things such as passenger cars, roads and landscapes, vehicles such as airplanes and ships and their scenery, stories using character dolls, and the like. . Furthermore, a part of the model 54, for example, a vehicle or a character doll, can be made a movable structure.
A pair of accessory light sources 56 that illuminate the model 54 is provided inside the housing 52. Two of the accessory light sources 56 are used as a set, and are arranged at positions where each of the accessory light sources 56 can illuminate the model 54 almost evenly. The accessory light source 56 corresponds to the rear illumination 56 (see FIG. 2) controlled by the sub-control board 123. Like the cell light source 46, for example, a cold cathode tube which is a kind of fluorescent tube is used. Yes. That is, the accessory light source 56 corresponds to the second light source of the present invention, and the image forming unit 50 corresponds to the second image forming means of the present invention.
The accessory light source 56 of the image forming unit 50 and the cell light source 46 of the liquid crystal display unit 40 are configured to be switchable at a predetermined game timing based on signals from the sub-control board 123 and the symbol control board 34. .

[About the effects of the symbol display device according to this embodiment]
According to the symbol display device 32 described above, when the cell light source 46 is turned on by a signal from the symbol control board 34, the light L1 of the cell light source 46 passes through the light guide plate 44 as shown in FIG. The first image C1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 42. At this time, the accessory light source 56 is turned off, and the cell light source 46 is covered with the support case 48, so that the light L 1 of the cell light source 46 is not applied to the model 54 of the image forming unit 50. For this reason, the model 54 located behind the liquid crystal display 42 and the light guide plate 44 is not visible, and only the first video C1 (see FIG. 3B) is displayed on the symbol display device 32.
Next, when the accessory light source 56 is turned on by a signal from the sub-control board 123 and the cell light source 46 is turned off by a signal from the design control board 34, as shown in FIG. The model 54 of the image forming unit 50 becomes visible as the second image C2 through the light-transmitting liquid crystal display 42 and the light guide plate 44 from the front side.

Here, since the model 54 has a three-dimensional shape, the second image C2 has a three-dimensional effect, and can further give a powerful effect to the production.
As described above, the cell light source 46 and the accessory light source 56 are controlled by the signals from the symbol control board 34 and the sub control board 123 so that the first video C1 and the second video C2 can be switched instantaneously. It will be possible to produce an unexpected performance.
Furthermore, since the above-mentioned symbol display device 32 is a method of displaying the second video C2 behind the liquid crystal display 42 that displays the first video C1 in a translucent state, compared to the case of using a half mirror, A large space is not required in the housing of the symbol display device 32. For this reason, the depth dimension of the symbol display device 32 can be reduced, and the symbol display device 32 can be downsized.
Further, since the half mirror is not used, it is not necessary to convert the model 54 or the like into a mirror image and mold it, and the design of the symbol display device 32 can be facilitated.
Further, the diffusion pattern element 44p of the light guide plate 44 according to the present embodiment is formed so that the cross-sectional shape is a right triangle, and one side sandwiching the right angle of the right triangle is parallel to the light emitting surface 44r, the other side Is perpendicular to the light exit surface 44r, and the hypotenuse of the right triangle is disposed on the cell light source 46 side. For this reason, compared with the case where the cross-sectional shape of the diffusion pattern element 44p is formed in, for example, an isosceles triangle, the plane area of the diffusion pattern element 44p can be reduced, and the transparency of the light guide plate 44 in the thickness direction is increased.

[Embodiment 2]
Hereinafter, a pachinko machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The symbol display device 60 of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment is obtained by replacing the image forming unit 50 of the symbol display device 32 described in the first embodiment with a liquid crystal unit 40 (rear liquid crystal unit 40). This is the same as the symbol display device 32 according to the first embodiment.
Since the liquid crystal display 42, the light guide plate 44, and the cell light source 46 of the rear liquid crystal unit 40 are the same as the liquid crystal display 42, the light guide plate 44, and the cell light source 46 of the front liquid crystal unit 40 described in the first embodiment, the same numbers are used. The description is omitted.
The support case 49 of the rear liquid crystal unit 40 is formed in a thin flat box shape in the front-rear direction, and a front window 49f that exposes the front surface of the liquid crystal display 42 is formed on the front surface side with the rear surface side closed. ing. Here, since the light guide plate 44 of the rear liquid crystal unit 40 is not required to be transparent like the light guide plate 44 in the front liquid crystal unit 40, the diffusion pattern element 44p can be printed with diffuse reflection ink. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the concave diffusion pattern element 44p can be changed as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal display 42 (liquid crystal unit 140) of the rear liquid crystal unit 40 has a polarization direction of the light output side polarizing filter 144 so that the light incident side in the liquid crystal display 42 (liquid crystal unit 140) of the front liquid crystal unit 40. It arrange | positions so that it may become equal to the polarization direction of the polarizing filter 143. FIG. Therefore, when no voltage is applied to the front and rear liquid crystal units 140, that is, when the liquid crystal unit 140 is in a light transmitting state, the light L2 of the cell light source 46 of the rear liquid crystal unit 40 is as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the front and rear liquid crystal units 140 (liquid crystal display 42) can be passed.
Thus, by replacing the image forming unit 50 with the liquid crystal unit 40, the thickness dimension (depth dimension) of the image forming unit 50 can be reduced, and the symbol display device 60 can be further miniaturized.

[Other Embodiments of the Invention]
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the symbol display device 32 is composed of a single liquid crystal unit 40 and a single image forming unit 50 that are stacked one after the other, or the symbol display device 60 is stacked one after the other. Although the example comprised from the two liquid crystal units 40 shown was shown, it is not limited to this.
Further, although an example in which a line light source-like cold cathode tube is used as the cell light source 46, point light sources such as a plurality of light emitting diodes can be arranged in a line light source.
In the second embodiment, the rear liquid crystal unit 40 including the liquid crystal display 42 is used as the image forming unit 50. However, instead of the rear liquid crystal unit 40, a display that emits light, for example, an organic EL element is used. It is also possible to use a display that performs dod matrix display using the display or the light emitting diode. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the first video C1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 while the second video C2 is displayed on the display. As shown in the figure, the player's expectation can be enhanced by displaying the second video C2 during the production from the reach state to the big hit.
Moreover, it is also possible to use a display that performs segment display using a light emitting diode instead of the display. This eliminates the need for a dedicated light source in the image forming unit 50.
Further, in FIG. 5A, by adjusting the intensity of the light L2 of the accessory light source 56 in the image forming unit 50, the light L2 is guided to the liquid crystal display 42 by the light guide plate 44. It is also possible to display the first video C1. In other words, the composite image of the first video C1 and the second video C2 can be displayed on the symbol display device 32. As a result, it is possible to perform a powerful performance by cooperating the operation of the first video C1 and the operation of the second video C2.
Moreover, although the example which applies this invention to the symbol display apparatus 32 of the pachinko machine 1 was shown in 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, applying this invention to the display apparatus of game machines other than the pachinko machine 1 is shown. Is also possible.

[Means and effects of other inventions]
The inventions described in the first and second embodiments and not described in “Means for Solving the Problems” are listed below.
(1) Invention 1
“A gaming machine according to claim 7,
The liquid crystal display is composed of a large number of liquid crystal units that are the pixels of the screen of the liquid crystal display.
The liquid crystal unit includes a pair of alignment films arranged so as to sandwich the liquid crystal molecules so that a large number of liquid crystal molecules can be arranged in a twisted state of 90 °,
A transparent electrode capable of applying a voltage to the liquid crystal molecules so that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned without being twisted between the alignment films;
Sandwiching the pair of alignment films, and having a pair of entrance-side polarization filters and an exit-side polarization filter arranged so that the polarization direction is shifted by 90 ° according to the twist of the alignment of liquid crystal molecules,
The entrance side polarization filter of the liquid crystal display capable of displaying the first image and the exit side polarization filter of the liquid crystal display capable of displaying the second image are arranged so that the polarization directions are equal to each other. To play. "
As a result, the second image displayed on the rear liquid crystal display can be viewed from the front of the display device through the front liquid crystal display.
(2) Invention 2
“A gaming machine according to claim 6,
The second image forming means is arranged to make light incident on the second liquid crystal display, a second light guide plate that guides light to the liquid crystal display, and a peripheral edge surface of the light guide plate into the light guide plate. It consists of two light sources,
A gaming machine, wherein the second light guide plate has a diffusion pattern element printed with diffuse reflection ink. "
This facilitates the manufacture of the light guide plate.
(3) Invention 3
"A gaming machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
A gaming machine configured to turn off the first light source by turning on the liquid crystal display of the first image forming means when the second light source is turned on. "
As a result, the second image can be seen well from the front of the display device.

It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the main body frame and glass door of the pachinko machine concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention were opened. It is a block diagram showing a power supply system and a signal system of a pachinko machine typically. It is the model longitudinal cross-sectional view (A figure) showing the structure of the symbol display apparatus of a pachinko machine, and the schematic diagram (B figure) showing the display screen of a symbol display apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (A figure, B figure) showing a mode that it diffusely reflects, after light hits the diffusion pattern element of a light-guide plate. It is the model longitudinal cross-sectional view (A figure) showing the structure of the symbol display apparatus of a pachinko machine, and the schematic diagram (B figure) showing the display screen of a symbol display apparatus. It is a model perspective view (A figure, B figure) showing the operation principle of the liquid crystal unit of the liquid crystal display used for a symbol display apparatus. It is a model longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the symbol display apparatus of the pachinko machine concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a model perspective view showing the liquid crystal unit at the time of putting a liquid crystal display back and forth. It is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of a symbol display apparatus. It is a model longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the principle of operation of the conventional symbol display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

42 Liquid crystal display (first image forming means, second image forming means)
44 Light guide plate (first image forming means, second image forming means)
44r Light exit surface 44p Diffusion pattern element 46 Cell light source (first light source)
48 support case 50 image forming unit (second image forming means)
54 Accompaniment (second image forming means)
56 Light source for articles (second light source)
143 Light entrance side polarization filter 144 Light exit side polarization filter

Claims (1)

It is a gaming machine, and a display device is disposed on the front surface thereof, and the display device includes image forming means,
The image forming means includes a liquid crystal display, a light guide plate that guides light to the liquid crystal display, and a first light source that is arranged to allow light to enter the light guide plate from a peripheral end surface of the light guide plate. A featured gaming machine.