JP2007014529A - Game input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize individual operations executing a plurality of different electrical inputs. <P>SOLUTION: An input casing 2 is mounted on a mount structure 5 projecting to the front side from the front face 4 of a game machine frame 3, a front half part in the upper face 6 of the input casing 2 is provided with a single large push button 7, the rear half part of the upper face 6 is separately provided with four small push buttons 8 each one in a front, rear, right, and left respectively, and the upper face of the large push button 7 is formed in a position higher than the upper face 12 of the small push buttons and projects upward, so that the heights of the large push button 7 and the small push buttons 8 are different. When the player operates to push the large push button 7, the player can thus appropriately operates the large push button 7 without erroneously pushing a small push button 8 and, when the player operates to push a small push button 8, the player can appropriately operates the small push button 8 without erroneously pushing the large push button 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game input device in which individual operations for performing a plurality of different electrical inputs are appropriate.

Known game input devices include card readers and operation panels provided on the front of a gaming machine frame. In the case of a card reader, it is operated when the game ends, a prize ball display section used as necessary, an amount display section for displaying the amount recorded on the inserted card, a card insertion slot for inserting a card, A clearing button is provided in order from top to bottom on the front surface of the card reader which is convex in an arc. However, since the player has a structure in which a clearing button is provided only as a member for operating an electrical input related to the game, a plurality of different electrical inputs cannot be operated. In the case of the operation panel, a plurality of switches configured as a return swing type are arranged in order from left to right on the front surface of the operation panel that is flat in the vertical direction. As the plurality of switches, for example, a stop switch for stopping all the symbols that are changing, or a bet switch that inputs the number of bets, and a start switch that starts changing the symbols, Three are stop switches. However, since a plurality of switches are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction with respect to the flat front surface in the vertical direction, the player can definitely operate when operating the leftmost switch or the rightmost switch. There is a drawback that it is difficult to operate one specific switch among the plurality of switches existing in the section.
JP-A-11-76594 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-267267

  The problem to be solved by the invention is that a specific member is difficult to operate when a plurality of members for operating electrical inputs related to a game are assembled.

  The gaming input device according to the present invention is configured to push down a plurality of different electrical inputs to an input housing provided on the front surface of the gaming machine frame protruding from the front side of the gaming machine frame. In the game input device provided with the provided push button, the main feature is that the upper surface of at least one push button is set at a higher position than the upper surfaces of the other push buttons. The front surface of the gaming machine frame is configured by the front surface of the dish structure provided on the front surface of the gaming machine frame, and the dish structure body, the upper dish portion, and the lower dish portion are provided on the front surface of the dish structure body. It is located below the upper pan and adjacent to the left side of the lower pan and is attached to the front of the pan so that it protrudes forward from the front of the pan. It may be mounted from above.

  In the game input device according to the present invention, the upper surface of at least one push button is set at a position higher than the upper surfaces of the other push buttons, so that the player operates to individually depress one of the plurality of push buttons. In this case, there is an advantage that the push button intended by the player can be appropriately pushed down without being pushed down by mistake. The front surface of the gaming machine frame is configured by the front surface of the dish structure provided on the front surface of the gaming machine frame, and the dish structure body, the upper dish portion, and the lower dish portion are provided on the front surface of the dish structure body. It is located below the upper pan and adjacent to the left side of the lower pan and is attached to the front of the pan so that it protrudes forward from the front of the pan. If the player is mounted from above, there is an advantage that the game input device does not get in the way when the player operates the balls of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion.

  1 to 4 show the best mode for carrying out the invention. FIG. 1 shows a schematic end view of the game input device 1 cut along the line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the game input device 1. FIG. 2 b shows a side view of the game input device 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the game input device 1, the mounting structure 5, and the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3. FIG. 4 shows the gaming machine frame 3 from the front side.

  The structure of the game input device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2 a, the game input device 1 includes an input housing 2. The input housing 2 is attached to an attachment structure 5 that projects forward from the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3. The upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 is circular when the game input device 1 is viewed from above. That is, the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 is circular in plan view. On the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2, one large push button 7 and four small push buttons 8 are provided. The large push button 7 and the small push button 8 constitute a push button for individually depressing a plurality of different electrical inputs. The difference in shape between the large push button 7 and the small push button 8 is that the large push button 7 has a larger planar area than the small push button 8. The large push button 7 is disposed in the front half of the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. The small push buttons 8 are arranged one by one in the front and rear, right and left in the rear half of the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. The front half of the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 is a portion on the side farther from the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3. The rear half of the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 is a portion closer to the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3. In the rear half of the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2, a recess 9 is formed as a recess from the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 into a shape such that four small push buttons 8 are arranged and comprehensively bordered. It is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 2 b, the large push button 7 is mounted so as to be lifted and lowered so that it is lifted upward by a spring not shown and does not come out of the input housing 2. As described above, when the large push button 7 is attached to the input housing 2, the upper surface 11 of the large push button 7 projects upward from the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. When the large push button 7 is most depressed by a person against the spring force of the spring, the upper surface 11 of the large push button 7 is the same surface as the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 or the same surface. Is positioned slightly above the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. The small push button 8 is attached to the input housing 2 so as to be lifted and lowered so that the small push button 8 is lifted upward by a spring (not shown) and does not come out of the input housing 2. As described above, when the small push button 8 is attached to the input housing 2, the upper surface 12 of the small push button 8 does not protrude upward from the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. A plurality of switches (not shown) corresponding to the large push button 7 and the small push button 8 are provided inside the input housing 2. Then, when the large push button 7 moves up and down, a switch corresponding to the large push button 7 operates. When the small push buttons 8 are moved up and down individually, switches corresponding to the small push buttons 8 are operated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the attachment structure 5 is attached to the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3, the upper surface 10 of the attachment structure 5 gradually descends from the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3 toward the front side. A slope that forms a slope is formed. The included angle θ1 formed by the upper surface 10 of the mounting structure 5 and the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3 is set to 95 degrees, for example. The upper surface 6 of the input housing 2 forms an arc surface that gradually protrudes upward from all the circular edges toward the center. The top surface 11 of the large push button 7 forms an arc surface parallel to the top surface 6 of the input housing 2 when viewed from the side and the front side. The upper surface 12 of the small push button 8 forms a flat surface. The front small push button 8 is disposed in the concave portion 9 so that the upper surface 12 gradually becomes a downward slope as it goes from the front side to the rear side. The rear small push button 8 is arranged in the recess 9 so that the upper surface 12 is horizontal. The bottom surface 13 of the recess 9 forms an inclined surface that gradually becomes downwardly descending from the front side to the rear side.

  Therefore, the upper surface 11 of the large push button 7 arranged in front of the small push button 8 is set at a position higher than the upper surface 12 of the small push button 8 and protrudes upward, and the heights of the large push button 7 and the small push button 8 are different. Therefore, when the player operates to push down the large push button 7, the large push button 7 can be appropriately operated without pushing down the small push button 8 by mistake, and the player pushes down the small push button 8. When operating in such a manner, the small push button 8 can be appropriately operated without erroneously pressing down the large push button 7.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the attachment structure to the attachment structure 5 of the game input device 1 is demonstrated. The input housing 2 includes a pair of elastic engagement portions 16 on a planar circular body 15. The pair of elastic engagement portions 16 are positioned on a diameter passing through the center of the input housing 2 and are relatively heeled. The pair of elastic engagement portions 16 includes an elastic piece 17 provided on the body 15 and a hook 18 protruding outward from the elastic piece 17. The lower part of the elastic piece 17 is connected to the lower part of the body 15, and the upper part and the left and right side parts of the elastic piece 17 are separated from the body 15 by the gap 19, so that the elastic piece 17 is shaped like a cantilever. Provided. The hook 18 protrudes from the upper part of the elastic piece 17 to the outside in the diameter direction of the input housing 2. The direction in which the pair of elastic engagement portions 16 are opposed to each other is a direction orthogonal to the center line passing through the center of the large push button 7 and the front and rear small push buttons 8 on the upper surface 6 of the input housing 2. On the upper part of the body 15, a flange portion 20 is formed as a ridge that protrudes outward in the diameter direction of the body 15 and continues in the same direction as the circumference of the body 15. A positioning projection 21 is provided on the lower surface of the flange portion 20.

  The attachment structure 5 includes a decorative container 25 made of synthetic resin and an attachment skeleton 26 made of metal. The decorative container 25 has a shape that surrounds an internal space protruding inward from the back surface, opens on the back surface, and protrudes to the front side. The side surface 27 of the decorative container 25 has both inclined surfaces that inwardly incline from the left and right sides of the back surface of the decorative container 25 toward the front, and an arc surface that converges to the center in the left and right direction from the inclined surfaces to the front. And form. An insertion hole 28 penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the upper surface 10 of the decorative container 25 constituting the upper surface 10 of the mounting structure 5. The insertion hole 28 connects the interior space of the decorative container 25 and the outside above the upper surface 10 of the decorative container 25. That is, the internal space has a shape that opens on the back and top surfaces of the decorative container 25 and is closed by the side surfaces 27 and the bottom surface 29 of the decorative container 25. The insertion hole 28 is a part that accommodates the flange portion 20 of the input housing 2. The planar size of the insertion hole 28 is the same as the planar size of the flange portion 20 so as to accommodate the flange portion 20 without rattling. The depth from the top surface 10 of the decorative container 25 in the insertion hole 28 is shallower than the vertical dimension of the flange portion 20. A portion located directly below the insertion hole 28 in the internal space is formed as a trunk housing portion 30. The planar size of the trunk housing part 30 is smaller than the planar size of the insertion hole 28 and is the same as the planar size of the trunk 15 so as to accommodate the trunk 15 of the input housing 2 without rattling. is there. A portion where the body accommodating portion 30 and the insertion hole 28 are connected to each other constitutes a seat 31. A positioning recess 32 is provided at the edge of the insertion hole 28. A pair of hook receiving portions 33 are provided on the inner surface of the trunk housing portion 30 in a plan view as depressions from the inner surface toward the side surface 27 of the decorative container 25.

  In order to attach the game input device 1 to the attachment structure 5, when the bottom of the input housing 2 is inserted from the top of the decorative container 25 into the trunk housing portion 30 via the insertion hole 28, the game input device 1 is positioned. The protrusion 21 is fitted into the positioning recess 32 of the decorative container 25, the flange portion 20 of the game input device 1 is fitted into the insertion hole 28 of the decorative container 25, and the hooks 18 of the pair of elastic engagement portions 16 are inward from the decorative container 25. After the elastic piece 17 of the pair of elastic engagement portions 16 is bent inward with the connecting portion with the decorative container 25 as the center, the bottom surface of the flange portion 20 contacts the receiving seat 31 and the hook 18 The elastic piece 17 is restored to the outside and the hook 18 is fitted into the hook receiving portion 33 as it meets the hook receiving portion 33. As a result, the lower portion of the flange portion 20 is accommodated in the mounting structure 5, the upper portion of the flange portion 20 protrudes above the upper surface 10 of the mounting structure 5, and the game input device 1 is fixed to the mounting structure 5. Attached to.

  The attachment skeleton 26 is disposed so as to close the opening on the back side of the internal space of the decorative container 25. Then, a set screw 34 such as a tapping screw is attached outside the figure formed inside the decorative container 25 via a screw insertion hole outside the figure formed in the attachment skeleton 26 from the back side of the attachment skeleton 26. The attachment skeleton body 26 is attached to the back side of the decorative container 25 by being fastened to the part. When the attachment skeleton body 26 is attached to the decorative container 25 in this way, left and right removal gaps 35 are formed between the attachment skeleton body 26 and the decoration container 25 on the back side of the decoration container 25. Thereby, a tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted into the interior space of the decorative container 25 from the back side of the mounting structure 5 via the left and right removal gaps 35. The attachment skeleton 26 is provided with wiring holes 36 and screw holes 37 as a plurality of attachment holes. The wiring hole 36 is formed as a through hole in the front-rear direction. Through the wiring hole 36, a covered electric wire to a connector provided in the game input device 1 attached to the attachment structure 5 is passed. The plurality of screw holes 37 have a structure in which a female screw is formed on the inner surface of the through hole in the front-rear direction formed one by one at four locations around the wiring hole 36.

  The case where the game input device 1 attached to the attachment structure 5 as described above is removed from the attachment structure 5 will be described. An operator inserts a tool such as a screwdriver into the internal space from the back side of the decorative container 25 via one removal gap 35 and pushes the elastic piece 17 of one elastic engagement portion 16 inward to bend it. While releasing the engagement between the hook 18 and the hook receiving portion 33, the hook 18 is pushed upward. With the state secured, the operator inserts a tool such as a screwdriver into the inner space from the back side of the decorative container 25 via the other removal gap 35 and the elastic piece 17 of the other elastic engagement portion 16. Is pushed inward to bend and push upward while releasing the engagement between the hook 18 and the hook receiving portion 33. As a result, the engagement between the pair of elastic engagement portions 16 and the hook receiving portion 33 is released. Then, the game input device 1 is removed from the attachment structure 5 by the operator lifting the game input device 1 upward.

  On the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3 for mounting the mounting structure 5, a structure housing portion 38 is formed as a recess from the front surface 4 to the back side. The structure housing portion 38 is provided with a wiring hole 39 and a plurality of screw insertion holes 40 as through holes in the front-rear direction. And the back side part 42 which protruded in the back side rather than the parting edge part 41 in the back side of the structure housing | casing part 38 in the structure body accommodating part 38 with the back surface of the attachment structure 5 turned to the front 4 side of the gaming machine frame 3 The parting edge 41 of the structure housing portion 38 is inserted into contact with the front surface 4 around the structure housing portion 38 in the gaming machine frame 3, and the structure housing portion 38 is covered with the mounting structure 5. Thereafter, a plurality of set screws 43 are individually fastened from the back side of the gaming machine frame 3 to the screw holes 37 of the mounting structure 5 via the screw insertion holes 40 separately. As a result, the attachment structure 5 protrudes forward from the front surface of the gaming machine frame 3 and is fixedly attached to the gaming machine frame 3.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the structure of the gaming machine frame 3 provided with the game input device 1 will be described. The gaming machine frame 3 includes a movable frame 52 that can be opened and closed on the front side of the fixed frame 51, and a front door 53 and a dish structure 54 that can be opened and closed on the front side of the movable frame 52. The fixed frame 51 is also called an outer frame to be attached to a gaming machine installation structure called an island of a game store. The movable frame 52 is also referred to as a front frame for attaching parts necessary for a game such as a game board or a control device. The movable frame 52 is centered on the hinge 55 located on the left side, and can be opened on one side so as to open to the front side and close to the rear side on the front side of the fixed frame 51. The front door 53 and the dish structure 54 can be individually opened so that the hinge 56 located on the left side is centered, and the front door 53 and the dish structure 54 are opened to the front side and closed to the rear side of the movable frame 52. A locking device 57 is provided on the right side of the movable frame 52. An unillustrated launching mechanism is provided on the front surface of the movable frame 52 that is covered with the closed dish structure 54. The front door 53 is also called a panel frame, and includes a window 58 that penetrates in the front-rear direction and a panel 59 that covers the window 58 from the back side. The panel 59 has a plate shape made of a material having a property of transmitting light, such as glass or synthetic resin.

  The dish structure 54 includes a game input device 1, an upper dish portion 60, a lower dish portion 61, an upper ball removal operation body 62, a lower ball removal operation body 63, and a firing operation mechanism 64. The game input device 1 is disposed below the upper plate portion 60 and adjacent to the left side of the lower plate portion 61, and is disposed on the front surface 65 of the plate structure 54 so as to protrude forward from the front surface 65 of the plate structure 54. It is attached. Therefore, the front surface 65 of the dish structure 54 constitutes the front surface 4 of the gaming machine frame 3. When the game input device 1 is thus attached to the dish structure 54, the large push button 7 is disposed on the front side of the small push button 8, and the small push button 8 is disposed on the rear side of the large push button 7. Therefore, since the game input device 1 is disposed below the upper plate portion 60 and adjacent to the left side of the lower plate portion 61, the player operates the balls of the upper plate portion 60 and the lower plate portion 61. The game input device 1 does not get in the way. As in the case where the game input device 1 is disposed below the upper plate 60 and adjacent to the left side of the lower plate 61, the game input device 1 is provided in a portion that is difficult to see from the front side of the gaming machine frame 3. Even in this case, the large push button 7 is arranged in front of the small push button 8, and the large push button 7 projects upward from the small push button 8. Therefore, when the player operates to push the large push button 7, the small push button 8 is not pushed down by mistake, and the large push button 7 can be appropriately operated, and the player can operate the small push button 8. When operating to push down, there is an advantage that the small push button 8 can be appropriately operated without mistakenly pushing down the large push button 7. This is because the large push button 7 and the small push button 8 are clearly different in height.

  The upper dish portion 60 is a container that protrudes forward from the front surface 65 of the dish structure 54 and is recessed from the upper side to the lower side that opens upward, and receives balls such as balls used for games, prize balls, and rental balls. . The lower dish portion 61 is located below the upper dish portion 60, protrudes forward from the front surface 65 of the dish structure 54, and is recessed from the upper side to the lower side opened to the upper side. The ball discharged from the upper platen part 60 is received as the pulling operation body 62 is operated. As the player operates the lower ball removal operation body 63, the ball is discharged downward from the lower dish portion 61. The launch operation mechanism 64 is operated by the player to launch a ball.

  The movable frame 52 is closed and supported by the fixed frame 51 so as not to be opened and closed by a lock mechanism outside the figure, and the front door 53 and the dish structure 54 are closed and supported by the movable frame 52 so as not to be opened and closed by a lock mechanism outside the figure. In this state, when a store clerk in the gaming store inserts a key plate (key) (not shown) from the front side of the gaming machine frame 3 into the key hole of the locking device 57 and rotates the key plate, for example, 90 degrees to the right side, the fixed frame 51 The support form by the lock mechanism between the movable frame 52 and the movable frame 52 is released. After the release of this support mode, the store clerk pulls the movable frame 52 forward, whereby the movable frame 52 is opened to the front with the hinge as the center. Further, when the key plate inserted into the keyhole of the locking device 57 is rotated 90 degrees to the left, for example, the support form by the lock mechanism of the movable frame 52 and the front door 53 is released. After the release of this support mode, the store clerk pulls the front door 53 to the front side, whereby the front door 53 is opened to the front side around the hinge. As described above, when the store clerk operates the unlocking operation body (not shown) provided on the movable frame 52 in the state where the front door 53 is opened to the front side, the movable frame 52 and the dish structure 54 are supported by the lock mechanism. The form is released. After the release of this support mode, the clerk pulls the dish structure 54 forward, whereby the dish structure 54 is opened to the front about the hinge.

  At least the front door 53 is opened, the front surface of the game board (not shown) is directed to the front side, and the game board is mounted from the front side of the movable frame 52 to the inside. The front door 53 is closed and supported by the lock mechanism so that it cannot be opened and closed. The dish structure 54 is closed and supported by the lock mechanism so that it cannot be opened and closed. The movable frame 52 is closed. The player operates the firing operation mechanism 64 in a state where the lock mechanism is supported by the fixed frame 51 so as not to be opened and closed, and the ball is put in the upper platen 60, and the firing operation mechanism 64 is an electrical corresponding to the operation amount. The resistance value of the variable resistor as an output is output to a control device (not shown), and the control device drives the firing mechanism at a constant cycle of 1 to less than 100 per minute for the firing output corresponding to the resistance value. Launches the balls supplied from the upper plate 60 one by one toward the game board one by one.

  A case where the player operates to push down the large push button 7 or the small push button 8 of the game input device 1 will be described. In this case, the ball fired from the launching mechanism toward the game board wins the start prize component in the game area in the process of flowing down the game area on the front side of the game board, and the ball detector of the start prize part is the start prize part When a signal for detecting the winning of a ball is output to the control device, the control device performs a winning lottery process and instructs the symbol display to start symbol variation. The symbol display appears through the window 58 and panel 59 to be placed in the gaming area. Then, after the symbol display starts the symbol variation, the control device instructs the symbol display to end the symbol variation so as to reflect the result of the winning lottery process. As a result, the symbol display stops the symbol reflecting the winning lottery process. Thereafter, the control device opens and closes an opening / closing body of a variable prize component called an attacker or a big prize opening in the game area. As a result, there is a possibility that the ball flowing down the game area will win the variable prize component, and the pachinko game is in a game state advantageous to the player.

  In such a pachinko machine, the symbol change by the symbol display starts with the winning of the ball to the starting winning component, and the final stop symbol stops after the reach state where a plurality of symbols are stopped and displayed in the same symbol When the player presses down the large push button 7 within a predetermined time after that, the operation signal of the switch corresponding to the large push button 7 is input to the control device, and the control device displays the final stop symbol displayed by the symbol display. The symbol display is controlled so that the symbol display stops and displays a symbol different from the final stop symbol. For example, in the case where the final stop symbol in the reach state is “7”, when the player depresses the large push button 7, the final stop symbol “7” changes to “8” and is stopped or displayed. After the final stop symbol “7” changes to “8”, it changes to “9” and is stopped. That is, when the player presses down the large push button 7, the control device performs a process of prompting the symbol display to change the symbol.

  Further, when the player does not press the small push button 8 in the state where the symbol change by the symbol display accompanying the winning of the ball to the start winning component has not started, the operation signal of the switch corresponding to the small push button 8 is controlled. Input to the device, and the control device performs processing for prompting selection of a character displayed on the symbol display. For example, when the player depresses the small push button 8, the character changes from “dog” to “cat”. When the player likes the changed character, the player presses down the large push button 7. As a result, when the player selects and confirms that the character after the change is displayed on the symbol display, the control device performs a character selection confirmation process. In other words, when the player presses down the small push button 8, the control device performs a process of prompting selection of the character to be displayed on the symbol display, and the player is in a predetermined time after the process of prompting the selection of the character. When the push button 7 is pressed down, the control device performs processing for prompting confirmation of selection of a character to be displayed on the symbol display.

  Two or more large push buttons 7 may be provided, and one, two, three, five or more small push buttons 8 may be provided. A plurality of push buttons are formed to have the same planar area, the upper surface of at least one push button is set to be higher than the upper surfaces of other push buttons, and the plurality of push buttons are mounted on the input housing 5 Good.

The schematic diagram of the end surface which cut | disconnected a figure of FIG. 2 along the AA line (best form). It is a game input device, Comprising: a figure is a top view, b figure is a side view (best form). The exploded perspective view of the game input device (best form). The exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine (the best form).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game input device 2 Input housing | casing 3 Gaming machine frame 4 Front surface of gaming machine frame 5 Mounting structure 7 Large push button 8 Small push button 11 Upper surface of large push button 12 Upper surface of small push button 54 Dish structure 65 Front surface 60 of dish structure Plate part 61 Lower plate part

Claims (2)

  A game that includes an input housing that projects forward from the front of the gaming machine frame and is provided on the front of the gaming machine frame, and a push button that is provided to push down a plurality of different electrical inputs on the input housing. In the input device, the upper surface of at least one push button is set at a position higher than the upper surfaces of other push buttons.   The front surface of the gaming machine frame is configured by the front surface of the dish structure provided on the front surface of the gaming machine frame, and the dish structure body, the upper dish portion, and the lower dish portion are provided on the front surface of the dish structure body. It is located below the upper pan and adjacent to the left side of the lower pan and is attached to the front of the pan so that it protrudes forward from the front of the pan. The game input device according to claim 1, wherein the game input device is mounted from above.

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