JP2007111113A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of correctly executing peripheral control of a game. <P>SOLUTION: A short-circuit and a solder bridge of a signal line and a signal pin occur at adjoining signal lines (pins). A connector 207 of a main control device 110 is so formed that the signal pins are aligned adjacently in the order of bit as shown in Fig. 8(a). When a first byte of a putout initialization command is defined as AAH (1010B) and a second byte is defined as 55H (0101B), the adjoining signal lines or signal pins of the connector 207 can be alternately set or reset by the output of the putout initialization command. When the putout control device 111 can correctly input the putout initialization command, this game machine can detect that the signal lines and the signal pins have neither short-circuit nor the solder bridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine, a spinning machine (slot machine), or a fusion machine thereof (for example, a spinning game machine using a gaming ball that uses a gaming ball to perform a spinning game). It is about.

In some pachinko machines, the main control device performs main control of the game in order to disperse the control burden of the game. In addition to the main control device, a payout control device for paying out game balls, and a liquid crystal display Peripheral control devices such as a sound lamp control device that performs games using LCDs, lamps, and speakers are provided, and these peripheral control devices are controlled by outputting commands from the main control device. There is what I did. Command output from the main control device to the peripheral control device is performed in only one direction from the main control device to the peripheral control device in a parallel manner.
JP 2001-58071 A

  A normal command cannot be output if a signal pin of a connector connecting the main control device and the peripheral control device or a signal line around the connector is short-circuited or disconnected. However, as described above, since the command is output only in one direction from the main controller to the peripheral controller, the main controller cannot detect such an abnormality, and as a result, an incorrect command is output to the peripheral controller. Continue to be. If an incorrect command is output to the peripheral control device, there is a problem that the peripheral control of the game cannot be performed normally.

  On the other hand, when the communication between the main control device and the peripheral control device is performed in both directions, the main control device can check whether the output command has been normally input by the peripheral control device. Confirmation processing must be added to the device and the peripheral control device, which increases the control burden. These problems are common problems that occur not only in pachinko machines but also in slot machines and fusion machines of pachinko machines and slot machines.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of normally performing game peripheral control.

  In order to achieve this object, the gaming machine according to claim 1 is a main control means for performing main control relating to a game, and peripheral control means for performing peripheral control relating to the game based on a command output from the main control means. And the main control means includes: an output circuit that outputs a plurality of bits of data in a parallel manner; a main connector that serves as an output end of data output from the output circuit; and the output circuit and the main connector. Output to the peripheral control means via the peripheral control means, the peripheral control means from the peripheral connector serving as the input terminal of the data output from the main connector of the main control means, from the output circuit of the main control means An output circuit for inputting the data inputted through the peripheral connector in a parallel manner, and outputting means of the main control means , For at least one command to be output to the peripheral control unit is for data for inverting the signal of adjacent pins that data.

  The gaming machine according to claim 2 is the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the output means of the main control means outputs the command to the peripheral control means by dividing the command into a plurality of times. Of at least one of the commands to be output to the data, among the data to be output in a plurality of times, the first predetermined data is data that inverts the signal of the adjacent pin of the main connector or peripheral connector, and the second predetermined data The data of the first time is the inverted data of the first predetermined data.

  The gaming machine according to claim 3 is the gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein each pin of the main connector or the peripheral connector is arranged in a line, and the output means of the main control means is the first predetermined time. The odd-numbered pin data of the main connector or the peripheral connector is set as the data of the main connector or the peripheral connector, and the odd-numbered pin data of the main connector or the peripheral connector is reset as the second predetermined data. Is reset and the data of the even-numbered pins is set.

  The gaming machine according to claim 4 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output means of the main control means is a command that is output to the peripheral control means when the gaming machine is initialized. The data is data that inverts the signal of the adjacent pin.

  The gaming machine according to claim 5 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main control means includes a backup means for storing a gaming state when the power is turned off even after the power is turned off; And a power recovery means for returning the gaming state to the state before the power interruption based on the stored contents of the backup means, and the output means of the main control means is the peripheral when the power recovery by the power recovery means In the command output to the control means, the data is data that inverts the signal of the adjacent pin.

  The gaming machine according to claim 6 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main control means detects a winning by means of a winning detection means for detecting a winning in the game and the winning detection means. A payout instructing means for instructing the peripheral control means by the command to pay out the number of game media corresponding to the detected winning, and the peripheral control means When a command for giving a payout is input, a payout executing means for paying out a number of game media according to the instruction is provided.

  The gaming machine according to claim 7 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the main control means is an effect determining means for determining an effect in the game, and an effect determined by the effect determining means. Effect instruction means for instructing the peripheral control means by means of the command, and the peripheral control means, when a command for instructing the effect by the effect instruction means is input, the effect execution for executing the instructed effect Means.

  The gaming machine according to claim 8 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the peripheral control means is data input by the input circuit, and the command is divided into a plurality of times and output. Exclusive OR means for taking an exclusive OR for each bit of the data inputted at the first predetermined time and the data inputted at the second predetermined time, and exclusive by the exclusive OR means As a result of the logical OR, when there is a reset bit, an abnormality determination unit that determines that the input command is abnormal, and a command input by the input circuit by the abnormality determination unit is determined to be abnormal An abnormality notification means for notifying that effect is provided.

  A gaming machine according to claim 9 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the peripheral control means is data input by the input circuit, and the command is divided into a plurality of times and output. Among the received data, the addition means for adding the data inputted at the first predetermined time and the data inputted at the second predetermined time, and when there is a reset bit as a result of the addition by the addition means, An abnormality determining means for determining that the received command is abnormal, and an abnormality notifying means for notifying that when the command input by the input circuit is determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determining means.

  The gaming machine according to claim 10 is the gaming machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the abnormality notification means notifies the external device provided outside the gaming machine that a command determined to be abnormal is input. It is to inform.

  The gaming machine according to claim 11 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the peripheral control means receives a command that is not determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination means during notification by the abnormality notification means. When it is input by the input circuit, it is provided with notification canceling means for canceling the notification.

  A gaming machine according to a twelfth aspect is the gaming machine according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the command can be output only in one direction from the main control means to the peripheral control means. .

  The gaming machine according to claim 13 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the command is composed of 2 bytes, and the output means of the main control means sends one byte at a time to the peripheral control means. The output is an exclusive OR by the exclusive OR means or the addition result by the addition means is FFh.

  The gaming machine according to claim 14 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the command is such that the main control means sets a starting point at which the passing of a ball triggers a lottery for giving game value. The command is for reporting the ball entering the starting port to the peripheral control means.

  According to the gaming machine of the first aspect, the command is output from the output circuit to the peripheral control means by the parallel system via the main connector by the output means of the main control means. Data outputted from the output circuit of the main control means via the main connector is inputted in parallel by the input circuit via the peripheral connector of the peripheral control means. In this case, the output means of the main control means uses at least one command output to the peripheral control means as data for inverting the signal of the adjacent pin. Therefore, the main connector or the peripheral connector, the adjacent pin of the input / output terminal of the IC or the signal line around it is short-circuited, or the main connector or the peripheral connector, any pin of the input / output terminal of the IC or the pin thereof When the signal line connected to is disconnected, the peripheral control means cannot normally receive the command, and can detect an abnormality in the main connector or the peripheral connector, or an abnormality in the surrounding signal lines. . Therefore, since the game can be executed without such an abnormality, the command can be normally output from the main control means to the peripheral control means, and the peripheral control of the game can be normally performed.

  According to the gaming machine of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the gaming machine of the first aspect, the following effect can be obtained. The output means of the main control means outputs the command to the peripheral control means in a plurality of times, and among the data to be output in a plurality of times for at least one of the commands to be output to the peripheral control means, The first predetermined data is data that inverts the signal of the adjacent pin of the main connector or the peripheral connector, and the second predetermined data is inverted data of the first predetermined data. Therefore, when the adjacent pin of the main connector or the peripheral connector or the peripheral signal line is short-circuited, or any of the pins of the main connector or the peripheral connector or the signal line connected to the pin is disconnected. The peripheral control means cannot normally receive the command. Therefore, it is possible to detect an abnormality of the main connector or the peripheral connector, or an abnormality of a signal line in the vicinity thereof.

  According to the gaming machine of the third aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the following effect is produced. The output means of the main control means sets the data of the odd-numbered pins of the main connector or the peripheral connector as the first predetermined data and resets the data of the even-numbered pins, while the second predetermined data The data of the odd-numbered pins of the main connector or the peripheral connector is reset and the data of the even-numbered pins is set. Therefore, when the main connector or the peripheral connector has each pin arranged in a line, the adjacent pin of the main connector or the peripheral connector is short-circuited and any one of the pins or the signal line connected to the pin is disconnected. Can be detected.

  According to the gaming machine of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the following effect is achieved. The output means of the main control means uses the data to invert the signal of the adjacent pin in the command output to the peripheral control means when the gaming machine is initialized. Since the command is a command that is always output after the game machine is manufactured and before the game is started, the command can be used to ensure that the main connector or the peripheral connector, the IC input / output terminal is abnormal, or the peripheral There is an effect that abnormality of the signal line can be detected.

  According to the gaming machine of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the following effect is achieved. The main control means includes a backup means for storing the gaming state when the power is turned off even after the power is turned off, and a power restoring means for restoring the gaming state to the state before the power is turned off based on the stored contents of the backup means at the time of power recovery. The output means of the main control means uses the data to invert the signal of the adjacent pin in the command output to the peripheral control means at the time of power recovery by the power recovery means. Since the command is a command that is always output at the time of power recovery, it is possible to reliably detect abnormality of the main connector or peripheral connector, the input / output terminal of the IC, or abnormality of the peripheral signal line. There is an effect.

  According to the gaming machine of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the following effect is achieved. When a winning is detected by the winning detection means of the main control means, an output means is executed by the payout instructing means, and the payout of the number of game media corresponding to the detected winning is output by the command, and the main connector and the peripheral connector Via the peripheral control means. When the command is input through the input circuit of the peripheral control means, the number of game media designated by the command is paid out by the payout executing means. As described above, the peripheral control means performs the game medium payout control, but detects an abnormality of the main connector or the peripheral connector, or an abnormality of the signal line in the vicinity thereof, and performs the payout control in a state without such abnormality. Since it can be executed, there is an effect that the game medium can be normally paid out. In addition, there is an effect that the fraudulent act can be detected even when a fraudulent act is performed regarding the payout of the game medium.

  According to the gaming machine of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the following effect is achieved. When the effect of the game is determined by the effect determining means of the main control means, the output means is executed by the effect instructing means, and the determined effect is output by the command and the peripheral control means via the main connector and the peripheral connector. Is directed to. When the command is input through the input circuit of the peripheral control means, the effect instructed by the command is executed by the effect execution means. As described above, the peripheral control means performs the effect control in the game, but detects the abnormality of the main connector or the peripheral connector or the abnormality of the signal line in the vicinity thereof, and executes the effect control in a state without such abnormality. Since this is possible, there is an effect that the game can be normally performed.

  According to the gaming machine according to the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the gaming machine according to any one of the second to seventh aspects, the following effect is achieved. Of the data inputted by the input circuit and outputted by dividing the command into a plurality of times, the bit-wise exclusion of the data inputted at the first predetermined time and the data inputted at the second predetermined time Logical OR is taken by exclusive OR means. If there is a reset bit as a result of the exclusive OR, the abnormality determination unit determines the abnormality of the input command, and the abnormality notification unit notifies the fact. Therefore, only a normal command can be input as a valid command, and if a command is input but there is a command determined to be abnormal, it can be notified to the player and the store clerk of the game hall. There is an effect.

  According to the gaming machine of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the second to seventh aspects, the following effect is produced. Of the data inputted by the input circuit and outputted by dividing the command into a plurality of times, the data inputted at the first predetermined time and the data inputted at the second predetermined time are added by the adding means Is added. If there is a reset bit as a result of the addition, the abnormality determining means determines the abnormality of the input command, and the abnormality notifying means notifies that fact. Therefore, only a normal command can be input as a valid command, and if a command is input but there is a command determined to be abnormal, it can be notified to the player and the store clerk of the game hall. There is an effect.

  According to the gaming machine of the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the following effect is produced. When the abnormality notification unit of the peripheral control unit inputs a command determined to be abnormal, the abnormality notification unit notifies the external device of the fact, so that it is possible to report the abnormality of the gaming machine to the administrator of the game hall. is there. In addition, if it is configured so that the notification by the abnormality notification means is not performed in the gaming machine but only to the external device, when a command determined to be abnormal as a result of the player's misconduct, Without being noticed by the player who has performed the cheating, the cheating can be notified to the manager of the game hall. Therefore, there is an effect that it can be used for extraction of a fraudulent person.

  According to the gaming machine of the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects, the following effect is achieved. The notification release unit of the peripheral control unit cancels the notification of abnormality when a command that is not determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination unit is input during notification by the abnormality notification unit, that is, when a normal command is input. . Therefore, even when a command that is determined to be abnormal due to the influence of noise or the like is temporarily input, by inputting a normal command, the notification of the abnormality can be canceled and the game can be continued normally. There is an effect.

  According to the gaming machine of the twelfth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the following effect is achieved. Even if the command is output only in one direction from the main control means to the peripheral control means, the peripheral control means can detect an abnormality in the main connector or the peripheral connector, or an abnormality in the signal lines around it. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the gaming machine of the thirteenth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the gaming machine according to any one of the eighth to twelfth aspects, the following effect is achieved. The command is composed of 2 bytes, and is output to the peripheral control means byte by byte by the output means of the main control means. When the input 2-byte data becomes FFh as a result of exclusive OR by the exclusive OR means or addition by the addition means, the command is not invalidated and is effectively input by the peripheral control means. Is done. As described above, since the validity / invalidity of the command can be determined in units of 1 byte, there is an effect that the determination process can be made efficient.

  According to the gaming machine of the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the gaming machine according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the following effect is achieved. Since the command is used for reporting the entrance to the starting port that triggers a lottery for giving game value, it is always output from the main control means to the peripheral control means when a game is performed. Therefore, there is an effect that the disconnection of the signal line or the like can be surely confirmed by executing the game.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as “pachinko machine”) will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board 13 of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 is formed in an outer frame 11 in which an outer shell is formed by a wooden frame combined in a substantially rectangular shape, and has an outer shape substantially the same as the outer frame 11. The inner frame 12 is supported so as to be openable and closable. In order to support the inner frame 12, metal hinges 18 are attached to the outer frame 11 at two upper and lower portions on the left side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and the side on which the hinge 18 is provided is used as an opening / closing axis. The frame 12 is supported to be openable and closable toward the front front side.

  A game board 13 (see FIG. 2) having a large number of nails, winning holes 63, 64 and the like is detachably mounted on the inner frame 12 from the back side. A ball ball game is performed when the ball flows down the front surface of the game board 13. The inner frame 12 has a ball launch unit 112a (see FIG. 4) that launches a ball to the front area of the game board 13 and a launch that guides the ball launched from the ball launch unit 112a to the front area of the game board 13. A rail (not shown) or the like is attached.

  On the front side of the inner frame 12, a front frame 14 that covers the upper side of the front surface and a lower dish unit 15 that covers the lower side of the front frame 14 are provided. In order to support the front frame 14 and the lower plate unit 15, metal hinges 19 are attached at two upper and lower positions on the left side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1). 14 and the lower pan unit 15 are supported so as to be openable and closable to the front front side. The locking of the inner frame 12 and the locking of the front frame 14 are respectively released by inserting a dedicated key into the key hole 21 of the cylinder lock 20 and performing a predetermined operation.

  The front frame 14 is assembled with decorative resin parts, electrical parts, and the like, and a window part 14c formed in an approximately elliptical shape is provided at a substantially central part thereof. A glass unit 16 having two plate glasses is disposed on the back side of the front frame 14, and the front surface of the game board 13 can be seen on the front side of the pachinko machine 10 through the glass unit 16. On the front frame 14, an upper plate 17 that stores balls is formed in a substantially box shape that protrudes forward and the upper surface is opened, and prize balls and rental balls are discharged to the upper plate 17. The bottom surface of the upper plate 17 is formed to be inclined downward toward the right side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and the ball thrown into the upper plate 17 is guided to the ball launch unit 112a by the inclination. A frame button 22 is provided on the upper surface of the upper plate 17. This frame button 22 is used when, for example, changing the effect pattern of the variable display displayed on the third symbol display device 81 (see FIG. 2) or changing the effect contents at the reach effect. Is operated by.

  In addition, the front frame 14 is provided with light emitting means such as various lamps around it (for example, a corner portion). These light emitting means change the light emission mode by turning on or blinking according to the change of the game state at the time of big hit, predetermined reach or the like, and play a role of enhancing the effect effect during the game. On the peripheral edge of the window portion 14c, there are provided electric decoration portions 29 to 33 incorporating light emitting means such as LEDs. In the pachinko machine 10, these lighting parts 29 to 33 function as stage lamps such as jackpot lamps, and the lamps 29 to 33 are lit by lighting or blinking of the built-in LEDs at the time of jackpot or reach stage. Alternatively, it flashes to notify that the jackpot is being hit or that the reach is one step before the jackpot.

  Further, in the upper left part of the front frame 14 as viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), there is provided a display lamp 34 which has built-in light emitting means such as an LED and can display when a prize ball is being paid out and when an error occurs. Further, a small window 35 is formed by attaching a transparent resin from the back side so that the back side of the front frame 14 can be visually recognized, on the lower side of the right illumination part 32, and a sticking space K1 on the front side of the game board 13 (FIG. 2 (see 2) is visible from the front surface of the pachinko machine 10. In addition, in the pachinko machine 10, a plated member 36 made of ABS resin that is chrome-plated is attached to an area around the electric decoration parts 29 to 33 in order to bring out more gorgeousness.

  A ball rental operation unit 40 is disposed below the window 14c. The lending operation unit 40 includes a frequency display unit 41, a lending button 42, and a return button 43. When the ball lending operation unit 40 is operated in a state where a bill or a card is inserted into a card unit (ball lending unit) (not shown) arranged on the side of the pachinko machine 10, Loans are made. Specifically, the frequency display unit 41 is an area in which the remaining amount information such as a card is displayed, and the built-in LED is lit to display the remaining amount as the remaining amount information. The ball lending button 42 is operated to obtain a lending ball based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and the lending ball is supplied to the upper plate 17 as long as there is a remaining amount on the card or the like. Is done. The return button 43 is operated when requesting the return of a card or the like inserted into the card unit. In addition, in a pachinko machine in which a ball is lent directly to the upper plate 17 from a ball lending device or the like without using a card unit, a so-called cash machine does not require the ball lending operation unit 40. In this case, the ball lending operation unit 40 It is also possible to add a decorative seal or the like to the installation portion of the parts so that the component configuration is common. A pachinko machine using a card unit and a cash machine can be shared.

  In the lower plate unit 15 located on the lower side of the upper plate 17, a lower plate 50 for storing a ball that could not be stored in the upper plate 17 is formed in a substantially box shape having an open upper surface. Yes. On the right side of the lower plate 50, an operation handle 51 that is operated by a player to drive a ball into the front surface of the game board 13 is disposed, and the operation of the ball launching unit 112a is permitted inside the operation handle 51. And a variable resistor (not shown) for detecting a rotation operation amount of the operation handle 51 by a change in electric resistance. When the operation handle 51 is rotated clockwise by the player, the touch sensor is turned on and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes corresponding to the operation amount, and according to the rotation operation amount of the operation handle 51. A ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor that changes, and the ball is driven into the front surface of the game board 13 with a jump amount corresponding to the player's operation.

  In the lower part of the front of the lower plate 50, a ball removal lever 52 is provided for operation when discharging the balls stored in the lower plate 50 downward. The ball removal lever 52 is always urged to the right, and the bottom opening formed on the bottom surface of the lower plate 50 is opened by sliding it to the left against the urge. The ball naturally falls from the bottom opening and is discharged. The operation of the ball removal lever 52 is normally performed in a state where a box (generally referred to as “a thousand box”) for receiving the balls discharged from the lower plate 50 is placed below the lower plate 50. As described above, the operation handle 51 is disposed on the right side of the lower plate 50, and the ashtray 53 is attached on the left side of the lower plate 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 13 includes a wooden base plate 60 cut into a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, a large number of ball nails, windmills and rails 61 and 62, a general winning opening 63, The ball entrance 64, the variable winning device 65, the variable display device unit 80, and the like are assembled, and the peripheral edge thereof is attached to the back side of the inner frame 12. The general winning hole 63, the first winning hole 64, the variable winning device 65, and the variable display device unit 80 are disposed in a through hole formed in the base plate 60 by router processing, and a wood screw is provided from the front side of the game board 13. It is fixed by etc. Further, the front center portion of the game board 13 can be viewed from the front side of the inner frame 13 through the window portion 14 c of the front frame 14. Below, the structure of the game board 13 is demonstrated.

  An outer rail 62 formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate into a substantially arc shape is planted on the front surface of the game board 13, and the strip-shaped metal plate is located at an inner position of the outer rail 62 in the same manner as the outer rail 62. The arc-shaped inner rail 61 formed by the above is planted. The inner rail 61 and the outer rail 62 surround the outer periphery of the front surface of the game board 13, and the front and rear are surrounded by the game board 13 and the glass unit 16. A game area to be played is formed. The game area is a substantially circular area that is formed in front of the game board 13 and is defined by the two rails 61 and 62 and the arc member 70.

  The two rails 61 and 62 are provided for guiding the ball fired from the ball launching unit 112a to the upper part of the game board 13. A return ball preventing member 68 is attached to the front end portion of the inner rail 61 (upper left portion in FIG. 2) to prevent a situation where a ball guided to the upper part of the game board 13 once returns to the ball guide path again. Is done. A return rubber 69 is attached to the tip of the outer rail 62 (upper right part in FIG. 2) at a position corresponding to the maximum flying portion of the sphere. Is bounced back to the center while being attenuated. A resin arc member 70 formed by providing an arc connecting the rails on the inner surface side between the lower right end of the inner rail 61 and the upper right end of the outer rail 62 is a base. The plate 60 is driven and fixed.

  A first symbol display device 37 provided with a plurality of LEDs 37a, which are light emitting means, and a 7-segment display 37b is disposed in the upper right part of the game area when viewed from the front (upper right part of FIG. 2). The first symbol display device 37 displays information corresponding to each control performed by the main control device 110, and mainly displays the gaming state of the pachinko machine 10.

  The plurality of LEDs 37a indicate whether the pachinko machine 10 is changing in a certain time, in a short time, or in a normal state by a lighting state, whether it is changing or not by a lighting state, or stopped. Whether the symbol is a symbol corresponding to a probable jackpot, a symbol corresponding to a normal jackpot, or an out symbol is indicated by a lighting state, or the number of reserved balls is indicated by a lighting state. The seven-segment display device 37b displays the number of rounds that are a big hit and an error display. The LEDs 37a are configured so that the emission colors (for example, red, green, and blue) of the LEDs are different from each other, and various gaming states of the pachinko machine 10 can be suggested with a small number of LEDs by a combination of the emission colors.

  It should be noted that the fact that the pachinko machine 10 described above is in a probabilistic state is a state in which the jackpot probability is increased and it is easy to shift to the special game state. During the probability change of the present embodiment, the game is in a state where the probability of hitting the second symbol is increased and the ball easily enters the first entrance 64. In addition, the fact that the pachinko machine 10 is in a short time is a game in which the jackpot probability remains as it is, only the hit probability of the second symbol is increased, and the ball easily enters the first entrance 64. The machine 10 is in a normal state when the game is not in the midst of probability change and time saving (the state where neither the big hit probability nor the second symbol hit probability is up). Further, according to the gaming state of the pachinko machine 10, it is possible to change the time when the electric accessory (not shown) attached to the first entrance 64 is opened or the number of times when it is released per hit. .

  The game area is provided with a plurality of general winning ports 63 through which 5 to 15 balls are paid out as winning balls when the balls win. In addition, a variable display device unit 80 is disposed in the central portion of the game area. The variable display device unit 80 includes a third symbol display device 81 configured by a liquid crystal display (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”) that displays the third symbol in a variable manner with a winning at the first entrance 64 as a trigger, There is provided a second symbol display device 82 composed of a light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as “LED”) that variably displays the second symbol with the passage of the second entrance 67 as a trigger.

  The display content of the third symbol display device 81 is controlled by a display control device 114 to be described later, and for example, three symbol sequences of left, middle, and right are displayed. Each symbol row is composed of a plurality of symbols, and these symbols are vertically scrolled for each symbol row so that the third symbol is variably displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 81. Further, in the present embodiment, the third symbol display device 81 is constituted by a large 8-inch LCD, and the variable display device unit 80 surrounds the outer periphery of the third symbol display device 81 so as to surround the center frame 86. Is arranged. In the third symbol display device 81 of the present embodiment, the display of the gaming state accompanying the control of the main control device 110 is performed by the first symbol display device 37, whereas the display of the first symbol display device 37 is performed. The decorative display according to is performed. Note that the third symbol display device 81 may be configured using, for example, a reel instead of the LCD.

  When a ball enters the first entrance 64 before the stop symbol (any one of the probable jackpot symbol, the normal jackpot symbol, or the off symbol) is displayed on the first symbol display device 37, The number of balls entered is suspended up to a maximum of 4, and the number of suspensions is indicated by the first symbol display device 37 and the number of lighting of the holding lamp 85. Four hold lamps 85 are provided corresponding to the maximum number of holds, and are arranged symmetrically above the third symbol display device 81. In the present embodiment, the winning at the first entrance 64 is configured to be held up to 4 times, but the maximum number of times of holding is not limited to 4 times, but 3 times or less, Or you may set to the frequency | count (for example, 8 times) of 5 times or more. In addition, the hold lamp 85 is deleted, and the number of times the variable display is held based on the winning at the first entrance 64 is numerically held in a part of the third symbol display device 81, or the area divided into four is held. You may make it display in a different aspect (for example, a color and a lighting pattern) by the frequency | count. In addition, since the number of times of holding is indicated by the first symbol display device 37, the lighting display by the holding lamp 85 may not be performed.

  The second symbol display device 82 includes a second symbol display unit 83 and a holding lamp 84, and each time the ball passes through the second entrance 67, the display unit 83 displays a display symbol (second symbol). The symbol “○” and “x” in FIG. 1 are alternately lit to display a variation, and the variation display is stopped when the variation display stops at a predetermined symbol (in this embodiment, the symbol “◯”). The entrance 64 is configured to be activated (opened) for a predetermined time. The number of passes through the second entrance 67 of the sphere is suspended up to a maximum of 4 times, and the number of suspensions is displayed by the above-described first symbol display device 37 and is also lit on the hold lamp 84. The second symbol variation display is performed by switching on and off of a plurality of lamps in the display unit 83 as in the present embodiment, as well as the first symbol display device 37 and the third symbol display device. A part of 81 may be used. Similarly, the hold lamp 84 may be turned on by a part of the third symbol display device 81. In addition, the passage of the second entrance 67 is not limited to 4 times as in the case of the 1st entrance 64, and is not limited to 4 times, or 3 times or less (for example, (8 times). Further, since the number of times of holding is indicated by the first symbol display device 37, the lighting display by the holding lamp 84 may not be performed.

  Below the variable display device unit 80, a first entrance 64 into which a sphere can enter is disposed. When a ball enters the first entrance 64, a first entrance switch (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on, and the first entrance switch is turned on. The main controller 110 performs a lottery lottery, and a display corresponding to the lottery result is indicated by the LED 37 a of the first symbol display device 37. The first entrance 64 is also one of the entrances through which 5 balls are paid out as prize balls when a ball enters.

  A variable winning device 65 is disposed below the first ball opening 64, and a horizontally-long rectangular specific winning port (large opening) 65a is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. In the pachinko machine 10, when the lottery in the main controller 110 is a big hit, after a predetermined time (fluctuation time) has elapsed, the LED 37a of the first symbol display device 37 is turned on so as to become a big hit stop symbol. The stop symbol corresponding to the jackpot is displayed on the third symbol display device 81 to indicate the occurrence of the jackpot. Thereafter, the gaming state transitions to a special gaming state (big hit) where the ball is easy to win. In this special gaming state, the special winning opening 65a that is normally closed is opened for a predetermined time (for example, until 30 seconds have elapsed or ten balls have been won).

  The specific winning opening 65a is closed when a predetermined time elapses, and after the closing, the specific winning opening 65a is opened again for a predetermined time. The opening / closing operation of the specific winning opening 65a can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), for example. The state in which the opening / closing operation is performed is a form of a special gaming state advantageous to the player, and the player is given out a larger amount of prize balls than usual in order to give a gaming value (game value). Is done.

  Specifically, the variable winning device 65 includes a horizontally-long rectangular opening / closing plate that covers the specific winning opening 65a, and a solenoid for opening / closing driving the lower side of the opening / closing plate as an axis. The special winning opening 65a is normally closed so that a ball cannot be won or difficult to win. In the case of a big hit, the solenoid is driven to tilt the opening / closing plate downward and the ball temporarily forms an open state in which the ball is likely to win the specific winning opening 65a. Operates to alternate states.

  Note that the special gaming state is not limited to the above-described form. When the game area is provided with a large opening that is opened and closed separately from the specific winning opening 65a, and the LED 37a corresponding to the jackpot is turned on in the first symbol display device 37, the specific winning opening 65a is opened for a predetermined time, and the specific winning opening A special gaming state is defined as a game state in which a large opening provided separately from the specific winning port 65a is opened for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times when the ball 65 is opened into the specific winning port 65a. You may make it form.

  Adhesive spaces K1, K2 for adhering certificate papers, identification labels, etc. are provided at the left and right corners on the lower side of the game board 13. Can be visually recognized through the small window 35.

  Further, the game board 13 is provided with an out port 66 and a second entrance (through gate) 67. A ball that has not entered any of the winning openings 63, 64, 65a is guided to a ball discharge path (not shown) through the out opening 66. A number of nails are planted on the game board 13 in order to appropriately disperse and adjust the falling direction of the ball, and various members (instruments) such as a windmill are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, control board units 90 and 91 and a back pack unit 94 are mainly provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 10. The control board unit 90 is unitized by mounting a main control board (main control apparatus 110), an audio lamp control board (audio lamp control apparatus 113), and a display control board (display control apparatus 114). The control board unit 91 is unitized by mounting a payout control board (payout control apparatus 111), a firing control board (launching control apparatus 112), a power supply board (power supply apparatus 115), and a card unit connection board 116. The back pack unit 94 includes a back pack 92 and a dispensing unit 93 that form a protective cover. The main control device 110, the sound lamp control device 113 and the display control device 114, the payout control device 111 and the firing control device 112, the power supply device 115, and the card unit connection board 116 are housed in the board boxes 100 to 104, respectively. . Each of the board boxes 100 to 104 includes a box base and a box cover that covers an opening of the box base, and the box base and the box cover are connected to store each control device and each board.

  Further, the substrate box 100 (main control device 110) and the substrate box 102 (dispensing control device 111 and launch control device 112) connect the box base and the box cover so that they cannot be opened by a sealing unit (not shown) (caulking structure). Consolidated). In addition, a seal (not shown) is attached to the connecting portion between the box base and the box cover over the box base and the box cover. This seal seal is made of a brittle material. If the seal is to be peeled off in order to open the substrate boxes 100, 102, or if the substrate boxes 100, 102 are forcibly opened, the box base side and the box cover are removed. Cut to the side. Therefore, it is possible to know whether or not the substrate boxes 100 and 102 have been opened by checking the sealing unit or the sealing seal.

  The payout unit 93 includes a tank 130 that is located at the top of the back pack unit 94 and opens upward, a tank rail 131 that is connected to the lower side of the tank 130 and is gently inclined toward the downstream side, and downstream of the tank rail 131. A case rail 132 that is vertically connected to the side, and a payout device 133 that is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 132 and that pays out a ball by a predetermined electrical configuration of the payout motor 216 (see FIG. 4). ing. The tank 130 is successively replenished with balls supplied from the island equipment of the game hall, and a required number of balls are paid out by the payout device 133 as appropriate. A vibrator 134 for applying vibration to the tank rail 131 is attached to the tank rail 131.

  The payout control device 111 is provided with a state return switch 120 and a 7-segment LED 121. The firing control device 112 is provided with a variable resistor operation knob 122, and the power supply device 115 is provided with a RAM erase switch 123. The state return switch 120 is a switch operated to eliminate ball clogging (return to a normal state) when a payout error occurs, such as a ball clogging in the payout motor 216 (see FIG. 4). The LED 121 is a display for notifying the state of the payout control device 111. The operation knob 122 is a variable resistor that is operated to adjust the firing force of the firing solenoid. The RAM erase switch 123 is a switch that is operated when the power is turned on to return the pachinko machine 10 to the initial state.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

  The main controller 110 is equipped with an MPU 201 as a one-chip microcomputer that is an arithmetic unit. The MPU 201 includes a ROM 202 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 201 and fixed value data, and a memory that temporarily stores various data when the control program stored in the ROM 202 is executed. A certain RAM 203 and various other circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are incorporated. Various commands are sent from the main control device 110 to the sub control device by the data transmission / reception circuit in order to instruct the operation to a peripheral control device (sub control device) such as the payout control device 111 or the sound lamp control device 113. However, such a command is transmitted from the main controller 110 to the sub controller only in one direction.

  The RAM 203 stores the contents of the internal registers of the MPU 201, the return address of the control program executed by the MPU 201, and the work area (work area for storing various flags and counters, I / O values, etc. Area). The RAM 203 is configured to hold (backup) data by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 115 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off, and all data stored in the RAM 203 is backed up.

  An input / output port 205 is connected to the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 via a bus line 204 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 205 is connected to the payout control device 111 via the connectors 207 and 217 and the sound lamp control device 113 via the connectors 208 and 228, respectively. In addition, the input / output port 205 is connected to various switches 206 including a first symbol display device 37, a second symbol display device 82, an external output terminal plate 261, a switch group and a sensor group not shown. A hall computer 262 can be connected to the external output terminal plate 261, and data or the like can be output from the main controller 110 to the hall computer 262 via the external output terminal plate 261.

  The payout control device 111 drives the payout motor 216 to perform payout control of prize balls and rental balls. The MPU 211 as an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 212 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 211, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 213 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  The RAM 213 of the payout control device 111, like the RAM 203 of the main control device 110, has a stack area for storing the contents of the internal registers of the MPU 211, the return address of the control program executed by the MPU 211, and various flags and counters. And a work area (work area) in which values such as I / O are stored. The RAM 213 is configured to be able to retain (backup) data by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 115 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off, and all data stored in the RAM 213 is backed up.

  In the work area of the RAM 213, a total prize ball number memory 213a, an upper command storage buffer 213b, a payout error flag 213c, and a payout permission flag 213d are provided.

  The total prize ball number memory 213a is a memory for storing the total number of unpaid prize balls to be paid out by the payout control device 111. A ball that has been driven into the game area wins one of the winning holes 63, 64, 65a, and when this is detected by the main control device 110, a payout of the number of prize balls according to the winning is a prize ball command. (See FIG. 7), the main controller 110 instructs the payout controller 111. In the total prize ball number memory 213a, the number of payout of prize balls designated by the prize ball command is added and stored. If the value of the total prize ball number memory 213a is not 0, the prize ball is paid out, and the value is decremented by 1 every time one prize ball is detected. The payout of prize balls is performed until the value of the total prize ball number memory 213a becomes zero.

  The upper command storage buffer 213b is a buffer for storing the upper command (first byte command) among the 2-byte commands output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 shown in FIG. The main controller 110 outputs a payout return command, a payout initialization command, and 15 types of prize ball commands to the payout control device 111. These upper commands (99H) are output to the upper command storage buffer 213b. , AAH, F0H to FEH) are stored. The contents of the upper command storage buffer 213b are cleared to 0 when a lower command (second byte command) is input.

  The payout error flag 213c is a flag that is turned on when the payout control device 111 cannot normally input the 2-byte command output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 shown in FIG. When the payout error flag 213c is turned on, a character “C” is displayed on the 7-segment LED 121 by the state notification process (S906 in FIGS. 17 and 21), and the occurrence of a command error is notified. The payout error flag 213c once turned on is turned off when a normal command of 2 bytes is input. When the payout error flag 213c is turned off, the error display of the 7 segment LED 121 is also canceled.

  The payout permission flag 213d is a flag for permitting the payout of the winning ball or the loaned ball, and is turned off in the start-up process (S808, S811, S812 in FIG. 16), but is normal output from the main control device 110. Is turned on when a command (such as a payout initialization command, a payout power recovery command, or a prize ball command) is input. That is, the payout permission flag 213d is a flag for confirming that the main control device 110 is up.

  An input / output port 215 is connected to the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 via a bus line 214 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110 is connected to the input / output port 215 via connectors 207 and 217, and a 7-segment LED 121, a payout motor 216, a firing control device 112, an external output terminal plate 261, and the like are connected to each other. . Although not shown, the payout control device 111 is connected to a prize ball detection switch for detecting a prize ball that has been paid out. The prize ball detection switch is connected to the payout control device 111 but is not connected to the main control device 110.

  The 7-segment LED 121 is a display (display means) for notifying the state of the payout control device 111. When the payout control device 111 inputs a command output from the main control device 110, and it is determined that the command is an unspecified command (invalid command), the 7-segment LED 121 causes the character “C” to be displayed. Displayed to notify the occurrence of a command error. In addition, a hall computer 262 can be connected to the external output terminal plate 261, and data or the like can be output from the payout control device 111 to the hall computer 262 via the external output terminal plate 261. Errors generated in the payout control device 111 can also be output to the hall computer 262 via the external output terminal board 262.

  The launch control device 112 controls the ball launch unit 112a so that the launch strength of the ball according to the rotational operation amount of the operation handle 51 is obtained when the main control device 110 gives an instruction to launch a ball. The ball launching unit 112a includes a launching solenoid and an electromagnet (not shown), and the firing solenoid and the electromagnet are permitted to be driven when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, it corresponds to the amount of rotation of the operation handle 51 on the condition that the touch sensor detects that the player is touching the operation handle 51 and the firing stop switch for stopping the firing is not operated. Then, the launch solenoid is excited, and the ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the operation amount of the operation handle 51.

  The sound lamp control device 113 outputs sound in a sound output device (such as a speaker (not shown)) 226, outputs light on and off in a lamp display device (such as the lighting units 29 to 33 and the display lamp 34), and the display control device 114. The setting of the display mode of the 3rd symbol display apparatus 81 performed etc. is controlled. The MPU 221 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 222 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 221, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 223 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  An input / output port 225 is connected to the MPU 221 of the sound lamp control device 113 via a bus line 224 including an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110 is connected to the input / output port 225 via connectors 208 and 228, and the display control device 114, the audio output device 226, the lamp display device 227, and the like are connected to the input / output port 225, respectively.

  The display control device 114 controls the change display of the third symbol on the third symbol display device (LCD) 81. The display control device 114 includes an MPU 231, a ROM (program ROM) 232, a work RAM 233, a video RAM 234, a character ROM 235, an image controller 236, an input port 237, an output port 238, and bus lines 239 and 240. It has. The input side of the input port 237 is connected to the output side of the sound lamp control device 113, and the output side of the input port 237 is connected to the MPU 231, ROM 232, work RAM 233, and image controller 236. A video RAM 234 and a character ROM 235 are connected to the image controller 236, and an output port 238 is connected via a bus line 240. A third symbol display device 81 is connected to the output side of the output port 238. Even if the pachinko machine 10 is a different model with different winning probability for winning the jackpot and the number of prize balls to be paid out in one jackpot, there is a model having the same specifications as the symbols displayed on the third symbol display device 81. Therefore, the display control device 114 is made into a common part to reduce the cost.

  The MPU 231 of the display control device 114 controls the display content of the third symbol display device 81 based on the symbol display command input from the sound lamp control device 113. The ROM 232 is a memory for storing various control programs executed by the MPU 231 and fixed value data. The work RAM 233 is a memory for temporarily storing work data and flags used when the MPU 231 executes various programs. The character ROM 235 is a memory that stores data for effects such as symbols (background symbols and third symbols) displayed on the third symbol display device 81. The video RAM 234 is a memory for storing effect data displayed on the third symbol display device 81, and the display content of the third symbol display device 81 is changed by rewriting the contents of the video RAM 234.

  The image controller 236 adjusts the timing of the MPU 231, the video RAM 234, and the output port 238 to intervene in reading and writing data, and reads display data stored in the video RAM 234 at a predetermined timing to read the third symbol display device 81. Is displayed.

  The power supply device 115 includes a power supply unit 251 for supplying power to each unit of the pachinko machine 10, a power failure monitoring circuit 252 that monitors power interruption due to a power failure and the like, and a RAM erase switch circuit 253 having a RAM erase switch 123. ing. The power supply unit 251 supplies a necessary operating voltage to each of the control devices 110 to 114 through a power supply path (not shown). As its outline, the power supply unit 251 takes in a voltage of 24 volts AC supplied from the outside, a voltage of 12 volts for driving various switches, solenoids, motors, etc., a voltage of 5 volts for logic, a RAM A backup voltage or the like for backup is generated, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each of the control devices 110 to 114 using the 12 volt voltage, the 5 volt voltage, and the backup voltage.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 252 is a circuit for outputting a power failure signal SG1 to each NMI terminal of the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 and the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 when the power is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 252 monitors the voltage of 24 VDC, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 251, and determines that a power failure (power shutdown) occurs when this voltage is less than 22 volts, Power failure signal SG1 is output to main controller 110 and payout controller 111. Based on the output of the power failure signal SG1, the main controller 110 and the payout controller 111 recognize the occurrence of the power failure and execute the NMI interrupt process. Note that the power supply unit 251 outputs a voltage of 5 volts, which is a drive voltage of the control system, for a time sufficient to execute the NMI interrupt processing even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts becomes less than 22 volts. Is maintained at a normal value. Therefore, the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 can normally execute and complete the NMI interrupt process.

  The RAM erase switch circuit 253 is a circuit that outputs a RAM erase signal SG2 for clearing backup data to the main controller 110 when the RAM erase switch 123 is pressed. When the RAM control signal SG2 is input when the pachinko machine 10 is turned on, the main controller 110 clears the backup data (contents of the RAM 203).

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the display content of the 3rd symbol display apparatus 81 is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a display screen of the third symbol display device 81, and FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram schematically showing area division setting and effective line setting of the display screen, FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an actual display screen.

  The third symbol is composed of ten types of main symbols with numbers from “0” to “9” and one type of sub-pattern of petal shape formed smaller than the main symbol. Each main symbol is composed of numbers from “0” to “9” on the rear symbol consisting of a wooden box, of which the main symbols with odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are A large number is added to almost the front of the wooden box. On the other hand, the main symbols with even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are attached to the front of the wooden box almost fully, and attached symbols imitating characters such as furoshiki and helmets, An even number is small in green on the lower right side of the attached symbol, and is added so as to be displayed on the front side of the attached symbol.

  Further, in the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, when the lottery result by the main controller 110 is a big win, a variable display in which the same main symbols are arranged is performed, and a big hit occurs after the variable display is finished. It is configured as follows. When shifting to the high probability state (probability variation state) after the big hit, the variable display in which the main symbols (corresponding to “high probability symbols”) to which odd numbers are added is arranged is performed. On the other hand, when shifting to the low probability state after the big hit, the variable display is performed in which the main symbols to which the even numbers are added (corresponding to “low probability symbols”) are arranged. Here, the high probability state means a state in which the subsequent jackpot probability is increased as an added value after the jackpot is ended, that is, a so-called probability fluctuation (probability change). In addition, the normal state (low probability state) means a time when the probability of hitting is not probable, and a state where the jackpot probability is a normal state, that is, a state where the probability of jackpot is lower than that during the probability change.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the display screen of the 3rd symbol display device 81 is roughly divided into two vertically and the lower 2/3 is the main display area Dm in which the 3rd symbol is variably displayed. The upper third is a sub display area Ds for displaying a notice effect and a character.

  In the main display area Dm, three symbol rows Z1, Z2, and Z3 of left, middle, and right are displayed. In each of the symbol rows Z1 to Z3, the above-described third symbols are displayed in a prescribed order. That is, in each of the symbol rows Z1 to Z3, the main symbols are arranged in ascending or descending numerical order, and one sub symbol is arranged between the main symbols. For this reason, a total of 20 third symbols of 10 main symbols and 10 sub-designs are set in each symbol row, and each symbol row Z1 to Z3 is scrolled from top to bottom with periodicity. The display is changed. In particular, the main symbol numbers are arranged in descending order in the left symbol row Z1, and the main symbol numbers are arranged in ascending order in the middle symbol row Z2 and the right symbol row Z3.

  In the main display area Dm, the third symbols are displayed in the upper, middle, and lower three rows for each symbol row Z1 to Z3. Accordingly, the third symbol display device 81 displays a total of nine third symbols of 3 rows × 3 columns. In the main display area Dm, five effective lines, that is, an upper line L1, a middle line L2, a lower line L3, a right rising line L4, and a left rising line L5 are set. In each game, the variable display stops in the order of the left symbol row Z1 → the right symbol row Z3 → the middle symbol row Z2, and the combination of jackpot symbols on any active line at the time of the stop (in this embodiment, A jackpot video is displayed as a jackpot if the same combination of main symbols) is arranged.

  The sub display area Ds is horizontally long above the main display area Dm, and is further equally divided into three notice areas Ds1 to Ds3 in the left-right direction. Here, the left and right notice areas Ds1 and Ds3 are normally covered with a double-open opaque door that is electrically opened and closed by a solenoid (not shown), and sometimes the solenoid is excited and the door is on the front side. It is a display area that is visible to the player when it is opened. The center notice area Ds2 is a display area that is always visible without being covered by the door.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, on the actual display screen, a total of nine main symbols and sub-designs of the third symbol are displayed in the main display area Dm. In the sub display area Ds, the left and right doors are closed, and the left and right notice areas Ds1, Ds3 are covered and the display screen cannot be visually recognized. If either one of the left and right doors or both doors are opened during the variable display, a video is displayed in the left and right notice areas Ds1 and Ds3, and it is easy for the player to change to a big hit than usual. It is suggested. In the center notice area Ds2, a predetermined character (a boy with a bee in this embodiment) usually performs a predetermined action and sometimes performs a special action different from the predetermined action or another character appears. The announcement effect is performed by putting out. The display screen of the third symbol display device 81 is divided into upper and lower display areas Dm and Ds in principle, but the third symbol and characters are displayed larger across the display areas Dm and Ds. A display effect can be performed.

  Next, a counter and the like provided in the RAM 203 of the main controller 110 will be described with reference to FIG. These counters and the like are used by the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 to perform jackpot lottery, display setting of the first symbol display device 37, lottery of display results of the second symbol display device 82, and the like.

  For the jackpot lottery or display setting of the first symbol display device 37, the first hit random number counter C1 used for the jackpot lottery, the first hit type symbol counter C2 used for the jackpot symbol selection, and the stop pattern selection counter C3, a first initial value random number counter CINI1 used for setting the initial value of the first random number counter C1, and variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 used for variation pattern selection are used. The second symbol random number counter C4 is used for the lottery of the second symbol display device 82, and the second initial random number counter CINI2 is used for setting the initial value of the second random number counter C4. Each of these counters is a loop counter that adds 1 to the previous value every time it is updated and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value.

  Each counter is updated at an interval of 4 ms, which is an execution interval of the main process (see FIG. 10), or at an interval of 2 ms, an execution interval of the timer interrupt process (see FIG. 13), and the updated value is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 203. Stored in the counter buffer. The RAM 203 is provided with a holding ball storage area composed of one execution area and four holding areas (holding first to fourth areas). In each of these areas, the first entrance 64 is provided. The values of the first random number counter C1, the first type counter C2, and the stop pattern selection counter C3 are stored in accordance with the winning timing of the ball.

  Each counter will be described in detail. The first random number counter C1 is configured so that, for example, 1 is added in order within a range of 0 to 738, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 738), it returns to 0. In particular, when the first random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 at that time is read as the initial value of the first random number counter C1. Further, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the first per-random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 738), and each time the timer interrupt process (see FIG. 13) is executed. It is updated once and updated repeatedly within the remaining time of the main process (see FIG. 10). The value of the first per-random number counter C1 is updated, for example, periodically (in this embodiment, once for each timer interrupt process), and the stored ball is stored in the RAM 203 at the timing when the ball wins the first entrance 64. Stored in the area. The number of random number values that are jackpots is set at low probability and high probability, and the number of random numbers that are jackpots at low probability is 2, and the value is “373, 727” There are 14 random numbers that are big hits at high probability, and the values are "59, 109, 163, 211, 263, 317, 367, 421, 479, 523, 631, 683, 733".

  The first hit type counter C2 determines the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 at the time of the big hit. In the present embodiment, the first hit type counter C2 is incremented one by one within the range of 0 to 4, and the maximum value ( That is, it is configured to return to 0 after reaching 4). The value of the first hit type counter C2 is updated, for example, periodically (once every timer interruption process in this embodiment), and the stored ball is stored in the RAM 203 at the timing when the ball wins the first entrance 64. Stored in the area. In addition, the value of the random number that becomes a high probability state after the jackpot is “1, 2, 3”, the value of the random number that becomes the low probability state after the jackpot is “0, 4”, and two types of hits are determined. The Therefore, the display mode corresponding to the stop symbol displayed on the first symbol display device 37 is a display mode corresponding to two types of jackpots of a high probability state and a low probability state, and one type of display mode corresponding to a deviation. Any one of the three display modes is selected.

  The stop pattern selection counter C3 is, for example, incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 238, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 238). In the present embodiment, the stop pattern selection counter C3 selects the effect pattern displayed on the third symbol display device 81, and after reaching, the final stop symbol is shifted by one before and after the reach symbol. “Stop before and after detachment reach” (for example, a range of 0 to 8), and “Leach other than detachment before and after detachment” (for example, a range of 9 to 38) after the reach has occurred and the final stop symbol stops other than before and after the reach design. The three stop (effect) patterns are selected as “completely out” (for example, a range of 39 to 238) that does not cause reach. The value of the stop pattern selection counter C3 is updated, for example, periodically (once every timer interrupt process in this embodiment), and the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203 at the timing when the ball wins the first entrance 64. Stored in

  Further, the stop pattern selection counter C3 is provided with a plurality of tables having different ranges of random number values from which the stop pattern is selected. This depends on whether the current state of the pachinko machine 10 is a high-probability state or a low-probability state, in which area of the holding ball storage area each random number value is stored (ie, the number of holdings), etc. This is to change the stop pattern selection ratio.

  For example, in a high probability state, a table with a wide random value range of 10 to 238 corresponding to the stop pattern of “completely out” is selected so that a jackpot is likely to occur and a reach effect is not selected more than necessary. It becomes easy to select “completely off”. In this table, “front / rear out of reach” is narrowed to 0-5, and “reach other than front / rear out of reach” is also narrowed to 6-9, making it difficult to select “rear out of front / rear out of reach” or “reach out of front / rear out of reach”. Further, if each random number value is not stored in the holding ball storage area in a low probability state, a disturbance corresponding to the stop pattern of “completely off” in order to secure the time for the ball to enter the first entrance 64. A table with a narrow numerical value range of 51 to 238 is selected, and “completely out” is difficult to select. In this table, the range of random numbers corresponding to the stop pattern of “reach other than front / rear deviation” is as wide as 9 to 50, and “reach other than front / rear deviation” is easily selected. Therefore, in the low probability state, the ball entry time to the first entrance 64 can be secured, and therefore, the variable display by the third symbol display device 81 is easily performed continuously.

  Of the two variation type counters CS1 and CS2, one variation type counter CS1 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 198, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 198) and then returns to 0. On the other hand, the other variation type counter CS2 is, for example, incremented by 1 in order within a range of 0 to 240, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 240). In the following description, CS1 is also referred to as “first variation type counter”, and CS2 is also referred to as “second variation type counter”.

  A rough display mode such as so-called normal reach, super reach, premium reach, or the like is determined by the first variation type counter CS1. Specifically, the determination of the display mode is determination of the variation time of the symbol variation. Further, the second variation type counter CS2 determines a variation time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the final stop symbol (in this embodiment, the middle symbol) stops after the occurrence of reach. Based on the variation time determined by the variation type counters CS1 and CS2, the display control device 114 determines the reach type of the third symbol displayed on the third display device 81 and the detailed symbol variation mode. Accordingly, a variety of variation patterns can be easily realized by combining these variation type counters CS1 and CS2. It is also possible to determine the symbol variation mode only by the first variation type counter CS1, or to determine the symbol variation mode similarly by the combination of the first variation type counter CS1 and the stop symbol. The values of the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are updated once every time a main process (see FIG. 10) described later is executed once, and are repeatedly updated within the remaining time in the main process.

  For example, the value of the variation type counter CS3 is sequentially incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 162, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 162). In the following description, CS3 is also referred to as a “third variation type counter”. The 3rd symbol display device 81 of this Embodiment performs the decorative production according to the display mode of the 1st symbol display device 37, and can slide the symbol which is changing in addition to the variation of a symbol. A notice effect such as passing a notice character for notifying the occurrence of the reach effect is performed. The effect pattern of the notice effect is selected by the variation type counter CS3. Specifically, the time required for the notice effect is added to the variable time, or on the contrary, the variable time is subtracted to shorten the variable display time, or an effect pattern that does not add or subtract the variable time is selected. . As with the stop pattern selection counter C3, the variation type counter CS3 is provided with a plurality of tables with different ranges of random values from which the production pattern is selected, and whether the current state of the pachinko machine 10 is in a high probability state Depending on the low probability state or in which area of the reserved ball storage area each random value is stored, the selection ratio of each effect pattern is different.

  As described above, the variation time of the symbol variation is determined by the variation type counters CS1 and CS2, and the time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time is determined by the variation type counter CS3. Therefore, the final fluctuation time until the final stop symbol stops is determined by the fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3.

  The second random number counter C4 is configured as a loop counter that is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 250, for example, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 250). In this embodiment, the value of the second random number counter C4 is updated periodically, for example, every timer interrupt process, and the ball has passed through the second entrance (through gate) 67 on either the left or right side. Obtained when detected. The number of random number values to be won is 149, and the range is “5 to 153”. The second initial value random number counter CINI2 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the second per-random number counter C4 (value = 0 to 250), and once per timer interrupt process (see FIG. 13). In addition to being updated, it is repeatedly updated within the remaining time of the main process (see FIG. 10).

  Next, a command output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating commands output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111. The command is composed of 2 bytes, and is output as 8-bit parallel data from the main controller 110 to the payout controller 111 via the connectors 207 and 217 in the order of the first byte and the second byte. In the first byte of the command, the most significant bit is set (“1”), and in the second byte, the most significant bit is reset (“0”). Therefore, the payout control device 111 can determine whether the input data is the first byte or the second byte of the command by setting or resetting the most significant bit.

  Note that the pachinko machine 10 does not necessarily use all of the commands shown in FIG. That is, there is also a pachinko machine 10 that uses only a part of the commands shown in FIG. For example, there is a pachinko machine 10 in which only a payout return command, a payout initialization command, a 5-ball award payout command, and a 15-ball award payout command are used.

  Data input / output between the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 is performed only in one direction from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111. This is because the number of input signals to the main control device 110 that performs the main control of the game is reduced as much as possible to suppress illegal acts on the main control device 110. For this reason, even if the output command data changes due to noise, signal line disconnection or short, fraud, etc., the main control device 110 cannot detect it and cannot detect an abnormality.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the command output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 is composed of 2 bytes and these are added or exclusive ORed one byte at a time, the least significant 1 byte after the operation Is set to FFH. Therefore, in the payout control device 111, the input 2-byte command is added or exclusive-ORed byte by byte, and if the result is not FFH, the command is determined not to be a normal command and the command input Is invalidated, and a letter “C” is displayed on the 7-segment LED 121 provided in the payout control device 111 to notify a command error.

  Commands output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 include a prize ball command for instructing the payout of prize balls. Since the prize ball command has a great influence on the player and the game hall, even if the output of the command is only one direction from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111, it is input by the payout control device 111. It is configured so that it can be determined whether or not the command is normal.

  If there is a break in the signal line that outputs the prize ball command, it can be reliably detected by the above method (the result of addition or exclusive OR is FFH). That is, if any one of the signal lines is disconnected, the data (bit) of the signal line is always the same data (“0 and 0” or “1 and 1”) in both the first byte and the second byte. Therefore, when the first byte and the second byte of the command are added or exclusive ORed, the bit corresponding to the broken signal line becomes 0, and the result of the addition or exclusive OR does not become FFH. It is.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the payout control device 111 is started up, the payout return command and the payout initialization command that are always output from the main control device 110 are used, and signal lines for transmitting these commands, It is possible to detect whether or not there is a short (solder bridge) in the connectors 207 and 217 connecting the signal lines.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an arrangement of signal pins of the connector 207 provided in the main control device 110, and FIG. 8B is an illustration of an arrangement of signal pins of the connector 217 provided in the payout control device 111. FIG.

  A short of a signal line or a signal pin or a solder bridge occurs in an adjacent signal line (pin). As shown in FIG. 8A, the connector 207 of the main controller 110 has signal pins arranged adjacent to each other in bit order. Therefore, by setting the first byte of the payout initialization command to AAH (1010B) and the second byte to 55H (0101B), the adjacent signal line or signal pin of the connector 207 is changed according to the output of the payout initialization command. Alternately set or reset. Therefore, when the payout control device 111 can normally input the payout initialization command, it is possible to detect that there is no short circuit or solder bridge in these signal lines or signal pins.

  The connector 217 of the payout device 111 has signal pins arranged in two stages as shown in FIG. 8B. Therefore, by setting the first byte of the payout return command to 99H (1001B) and the second byte to 66H (0110B), the signal lines adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions of the connector 217 are output according to the output of the payout return command. Alternatively, the signal pins can be set or reset alternately. Moreover, by setting the first byte of the payout initialization command to AAH (1010B) and the second byte to 55H (0101B), the signal line or signal pin diagonally adjacent to the connector 217 is output according to the output of the payout initialization command. Can be set or reset alternately. Accordingly, when the payout control device 111 can normally input the payout return command and the payout initialization command, it is possible to detect that there is no short circuit or solder bridge in these signal lines or signal pins.

  The connector 217 may be configured with the arrangement shown in FIG. 8A, or the connector 207 may be configured with the arrangement shown in FIG. 8B. Furthermore, the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 may be connected using a connector other than the arrangement shown in FIG. 8A or 8B. In such a case, the payout return command and the payout initialization command are configured as data that alternately sets or resets signal lines or signal pins adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions of the connector.

  Next, each control process executed by the MPU 201 in the main controller 110 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 15. The processing of the MPU 201 is roughly divided into a startup process that is started when the power is turned on, a main process that is executed after the startup process, and a timer that is started periodically (in this embodiment, at a cycle of 2 ms). There are an interrupt process and an NMI interrupt process activated by the input of the power failure signal SG1 to the NMI terminal. For convenience of explanation, the timer interrupt process and the NMI interrupt process are described first, and then the startup process The main process will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt process. The timer interrupt process is executed by the MPU 201 of the main control device 110, for example, every 2 ms. In the timer interrupt process, first, a process for reading various winning switches is executed (S501). That is, the state of various switches connected to the main controller 110 is read, and the state of the switch is determined and the detection information (winning detection information) is stored. Next, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are updated (S502). Specifically, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (738 in the present embodiment). Then, the updated value of the first initial value random number counter CINI 1 is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203. Similarly, the second initial value random number counter CINI2 is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (250 in the present embodiment), and the updated value of the second initial value random number counter CINI2 Is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203.

  Further, the first per-random number counter C1, the first per-type counter C2, the stop pattern selection counter C3, and the second per-random number counter C4 are updated (S503). Specifically, 1 is added to each of the first per-random number counter C1, the first per-type counter C2, the stop pattern selection counter C3, and the second per-random number counter C4, and these counter values are the maximum values (this embodiment) Then, when 738, 4, 238, 250) are reached, they are cleared to 0. Then, the updated values of the counters C1 to C4 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203.

  After that, the start winning process (see FIG. 14) accompanying the winning to the first entrance 64 is executed (S504), the firing control process is executed (S505), and the timer interruption process is ended. In the firing control process, it is detected that the player is touching the operation handle 51 by the touch sensor, and the firing of the ball is turned on / off on the condition that the firing stop switch for stopping the firing is not operated. It is a process to decide. When the launch of the sphere is on, the launch control device 112 is instructed to launch the sphere.

  The start winning process executed in the process of S504 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the ball has won the first entrance 64 (start winning) (S601). If it is determined that the ball has won the first entrance 64 (S601: Yes), whether or not the number N of the operation reserved balls of the first symbol display device 37 is less than the upper limit (4 in the present embodiment). Is determined (S602). If there is a winning at the first entrance 64 and the number of operation-reserved balls N <4 (S602: Yes), the number N of operation-reserved balls is incremented by 1 (S603), and further updated in step S503. The values of the first per-random number counter C1, the first per-type counter C2, and the stop pattern selection counter C3 are stored in the first area among the free reserved areas in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203 (S604). On the other hand, if there is no winning at the first entrance 64 (S601: No), or even if there is a winning at the first entrance 64, if the number N of operational reserves is not N <4 (S602: No). , S603 and S604 are skipped, the start winning process is terminated, and the process returns to the timer interrupt process.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the NMI interrupt process. The NMI interruption process is a process executed by the MPU 201 of the main controller 110 when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut down due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. By this NMI interrupt processing, information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203. That is, when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, the power failure signal SG1 is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 to the NMI terminal of the MPU 201 in the main controller 110. Then, the MPU 201 interrupts the control being executed and starts the NMI interrupt process, stores the power-off occurrence information in the RAM 203 as a setting of the power-off occurrence information (S701), and ends the NMI interrupt process. To do.

  The above NMI interrupt process is executed in the same manner in the payout and emission control device 111, and information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 213 by the NMI interrupt process. That is, when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, the power failure signal SG1 is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 to the NMI terminal of the MPU 211 in the payout and emission control device 111, and the MPU 211 interrupts the control being executed. Then, the NMI interrupt process is started.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing start-up processing executed by the MPU 201 in the main control device 110. This start-up process is activated by a reset interrupt process at power-on. In the start-up process, first, an initial setting process associated with power-on is executed (S101). Specifically, a predetermined value set in advance in the stack pointer is set, and the sub-side control devices (peripheral control devices such as the audio lamp control device 113 and the payout control device 111) become operable. In order to wait, a wait process (1 second in this embodiment) is executed. Next, access to the RAM 203 is permitted (S103).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the RAM erase switch 123 provided in the power supply device 115 is turned on (S104). If it is turned on (S104: Yes), the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, if the RAM erasure switch 123 is not turned on (S104: No), it is further determined whether or not the information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203 (S105), and if not stored (S105: No). Since the backup data is not stored, in this case as well, the process proceeds to S110.

  If power failure occurrence information is stored in the RAM 203 (S105: Yes), a RAM determination value is calculated (S106). If the calculated RAM determination value is not normal (S107: No), that is, the calculated RAM determination is performed. If the value does not match the RAM determination value stored when the power is shut off, the backed up data has been destroyed, and the process proceeds to S110 even in such a case. Note that the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value at the work area address of the RAM 203, as will be described later in the processing of S213 in FIG. Instead of the RAM determination value, the validity of the backup may be determined based on whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM 203 is correctly stored.

  In the processing of S110, a payout initialization command (see FIG. 7) is transmitted in order to initialize the payout control device 111 serving as a sub-side control device (peripheral control device) (S110). Upon receiving this payout initialization command, the payout control device 111 clears an area (working area) other than the stack area of the RAM 213, sets an initial value, and enters a state in which game ball payout control can be started ( FIG. 20). After transmitting the payout initialization command, main controller 110 executes initialization processing (S111, S112) of RAM 203.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 10, when RAM data is initialized when the power is turned on, for example, at the start of business in the hall, the power is turned on while pressing the RAM erase switch 123. Therefore, if the RAM erase switch 123 is pressed during the start-up process, the RAM initialization process (S111, S112) is executed. Similarly, initialization processing (S111, S112) of the RAM 203 is executed even when the information on occurrence of power interruption is not set or when a backup abnormality is confirmed by the RAM determination value (checksum value, etc.). . In the RAM initialization process (S111, S112), the used area of the RAM 203 is cleared to 0 (S111), and then the initial value of the RAM 203 is set (S112). After the initialization process of the RAM 203 is executed, the process proceeds to S113.

  On the other hand, if the RAM erasure switch 123 is not turned on (S104: No), information on occurrence of power shutdown is stored (S105: Yes), and if the RAM judgment value (checksum value etc.) is normal ( S107: Yes), the information on the occurrence of power interruption is cleared while the backed up data is held in the RAM 203 (S108). Next, a payout return command (see FIG. 7) at the time of power recovery for returning the sub-side control device (peripheral control device) to the gaming state when the drive power supply is cut off is transmitted (S109), and the process proceeds to S113. To do. When the payout control device 111 receives this payout return command, the payout control device 111 is in a state where the payout control of the game ball can be started while holding the data stored in the RAM 213 (see FIG. 20).

  In the process of S113, an interrupt is permitted and the process proceeds to a main process described later.

  Next, the main process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this main process, the main process of the game is executed. As an outline, each process of S201 to S206 is executed as a periodic process of a 4 ms cycle, and the counter update process of S209 and S210 is executed in the remaining time.

  In the main process, first, output data such as a command updated in the previous process is transmitted to each control device (peripheral control device) on the sub-side (S201). Specifically, the presence / absence of winning detection information detected in the switch reading process of S501 is determined, and if there is winning detection information, a winning ball command corresponding to the number of acquired balls is transmitted to the payout control device 111. As shown in FIG. 7, the prize ball command is composed of 15 types of two-byte commands FE01H to F00FH. By this external output processing, a total of 2 bytes are successively transmitted through the connectors 207 and 217. The byte is transmitted (output) to the payout control device 111. In addition, by this external output process, a variation pattern command, a stop symbol command, a stop command, an effect time addition command, etc. required for the variation display of the third symbol by the third symbol display device 81 are transmitted via the connectors 208 and 228. It is transmitted (output) to the sound lamp control device 113. Furthermore, when launching a sphere, a sphere launch signal is transmitted (output) to the launch control device 112.

  Next, each value of the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 is updated (S202). Specifically, 1 is added to the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3, and when the counter values reach the maximum values (198, 240, and 162 in this embodiment), they are cleared to 0, respectively. Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS 1, CS 2, and CS 3 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203.

  When the update of the variation type counters CS1, CS2 and CS3 is completed, the winning ball counting signal and the payout abnormality signal received from the payout control device 111 are read (S203), and the process for displaying on the first symbol display device 37 is performed. A variation process for setting a variation pattern of the third symbol and the like by the three symbol display device 81 is executed (S204). Details of the variation process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After the end of the variation process, a large opening opening / closing process for opening or closing the specific winning opening (large opening) 65a of the variable winning device 65 is executed in the case of the big win state (S205). That is, the specific winning opening 65a is opened for each round of the big hit state, and it is determined whether the maximum opening time of the specific winning opening 65a has elapsed or whether a specified number of balls have won the specific winning opening 65a. When any of these conditions is met, the specific winning opening 65a is closed. The opening and closing of the specific winning opening 65a is repeated for a predetermined number of rounds.

  Next, display control processing of the second symbol (for example, “◯” or “x” symbol) by the second symbol display device 82 is executed (S206). Briefly, on the condition that the ball has passed through the second entrance (through gate) 67, the value of the second random number counter C4 is acquired at the timing of the passage, and the second symbol display device 82 is obtained. In the display unit 83, the second symbol variation display is performed. Then, the lottery of the second symbol is performed based on the value of the second winning random number counter C4, and when the winning state of the second symbol is reached, the electric accessory attached to the first entrance 64 is released for a predetermined time.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203 (S207). If the information on the occurrence of power interruption is not stored in the RAM 203 (S207: No), a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252. SG1 is not output and the power supply is not shut off. Therefore, in such a case, it is determined whether or not the execution timing of the next main process has been reached, that is, whether or not a predetermined time (4 ms in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the previous main process (S208). If the predetermined time has already passed (S208: Yes), the process proceeds to S201, and the processes after S201 described above are repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not yet elapsed from the start of the previous main process (S208: No), the first time is within the remaining time until the predetermined time is reached, that is, until the next main process is executed. The initial value random number counter CINI1, the second initial value random number counter CINI2, and the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 are repeatedly updated (S209, S210).

  First, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are updated (S209). Specifically, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (738, 250 in this embodiment). . Then, the updated values of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are stored in the corresponding buffer areas of the RAM 203, respectively.

  Next, the fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2 and CS3 are updated (S210). Specifically, 1 is added to the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3, and when the counter values reach the maximum values (198, 240, and 162 in this embodiment), they are cleared to 0, respectively. Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 are stored in the corresponding buffer areas of the RAM 203, respectively.

  Here, since the execution time of each process of S201-S206 changes according to the state of the game, the remaining time until the next main process execution timing is not constant and varies. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the update of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 using the remaining time, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 (that is, , The initial value of the first per-random number counter C1 and the initial value of the second per-random number counter C4) can be updated at random. Similarly, the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 can be updated at random.

  In the process of S207, if the power failure occurrence information is stored in the RAM 203 (S207: Yes), the power failure is caused by the occurrence of a power failure or the power is turned off, and the power failure monitoring circuit 252 outputs the power failure signal SG1. As a result, since the NMI interrupt process of FIG. 15 has been executed, the power-off process after S211 is executed. First, the generation of each interrupt process is prohibited (S211), and a power-off notification command indicating that the power has been cut off is sent to other control devices (peripheral control devices such as the payout control device 111 and the sound lamp control device 113). It transmits to (S212). Then, the RAM determination value is calculated and stored (S213), access to the RAM 203 is prohibited (S214), and the infinite loop is continued until the power supply is completely shut down and the process cannot be executed. Here, the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value in the stack area and work area to be backed up in the RAM 203.

  It should be noted that the process of S207 is performed at the end of a series of processes corresponding to the game state change performed in S201 to S206, or at the end of one cycle of the processes of S209 and S210 performed within the remaining time. It is running. Therefore, in the main process of the main controller 110, the occurrence information of the power supply interruption is confirmed at the timing when each setting is completed. Therefore, when returning from the power interruption state, the process is performed after the start-up process is completed. It can start from the process of S201. That is, the process can be started from the process of S201 as in the case where the process is initialized in the startup process. Therefore, in the process at power-off, the stack pointer is not stored in the initial setting process (S101) without saving the contents of each register used by the MPU 201 to the stack area or saving the value of the stack pointer. By setting to a predetermined value (initial value), it is possible to start from the process of S201. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the control burden on the main control device 110 and to perform accurate control without causing the main control device 110 to malfunction or run away.

  Next, the variation process (S204) will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the variation process, first, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is currently being hit (S301). The jackpot includes the jackpot game displayed on the third symbol display device 81 and the middle of a predetermined time after the jackpot game ends. As a result of the determination, if it is a big hit (S301: Yes), this processing is terminated as it is.

  If it is not a big hit (S301: No), it is determined whether or not the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is changing (S302), and if the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is not changing. (S302: No), it is determined whether or not the number N of active suspension balls is greater than 0 (S303). If the number N of active balls is 0 (S303: No), this process is terminated as it is. If the number of the operation reservation balls N> 0 (S303: Yes), 1 is subtracted from the number N of operation reservation balls (S304), and the data stored in the storage ball storage area is shifted (S305). This data shift process is a process for sequentially shifting the data stored in the reserved first to fourth areas of the reserved ball storage area to the execution area side. The reserved first area → the execution area, the reserved second area → The data in each area is shifted such as the first hold area, the third hold area → the second hold area, the fourth hold area → the third hold area. After the data shift process, the fluctuation start process of the first symbol display device 37 is executed (S306). The variation start process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the process of S302, if it is determined that the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is changing (S302: Yes), it is determined whether or not the change time has passed (S307). The display time during fluctuation of the first symbol display device 37 is determined according to the fluctuation pattern selected by the fluctuation type counters CS1 and CS2 and the addition time selected by the fluctuation type counter CS3. If it has not elapsed (S307: No), the display of the first symbol display device 37 is updated (S308). In the present embodiment, among the LEDs 37a of the first symbol display device 37, for example, if the currently lit LED is red until the variation time elapses after the variation starts, the red LED is Turn off and turn on the green LED. If the green LED is on, turn off the green LED and turn on the blue LED. If the blue LED is on, turn on the blue LED. A display mode is set for turning off the red LED and turning on the red LED. The variation process is executed every 4 ms. However, if the LED lighting color is changed for each variation process, the player cannot confirm the change in the LED lighting color. Therefore, in order to make the player confirm the change of the LED lighting color, each time the change process is executed, a counter (not shown) is counted by 1 and when the counter reaches 100, the LED is turned on. The color is changed, and the lighting color of the LED is changed every 0.4 s. The counter value is reset (cleared to 0) when the lighting color of the LED is changed.

  On the other hand, if the variation time of the first symbol display device 37 has elapsed (S307: Yes), a display mode corresponding to the stop symbol of the first symbol display device 37 is set (S309). Whether or not the stop symbol is set is determined according to the value of the first random number counter C1, and if it is a big hit, the symbol that becomes a high probability state after the big hit by the value of the first hit type counter C2 Or a symbol that is in a low probability state is determined. In this embodiment, a red LED is turned on when a high probability state is reached after a big hit, a green LED is turned on when a low probability state is reached, and a blue LED is turned on when it is out of place. . In addition, although the lighting of each LED is released when the next fluctuation display is started, it may be turned on only for a few seconds after the fluctuation stops.

  When the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 corresponding to the stop symbol is set in the process of S309, the variation stop of the third symbol display device 81 is stopped to synchronize with the lighting of the LED in the first symbol display device 37. A command is set (S310). When the sound lamp control device 113 receives this stop command, it instructs the display control device 114 to stop. When the variation time elapses, the third symbol display device 81 stops the variation, and receives the stop command, whereby one variation effect in the third symbol display device 81 ends.

  Next, the variation start process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the variation start process (S306), first, it is determined whether or not a big hit is made based on the value of the first hit random number counter C1 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area (S401). Whether or not it is a big hit is determined based on the relationship between the first random number counter value and the mode at that time. As described above, “373,727” is a winning value among the numerical values 0 to 738 of the first per random number counter C1 at a normal low probability, and “59, 109, 163, 211, 263, 317, 367 at a high probability. , 421, 479, 523, 631, 683, 733 "is the winning value.

  When it is determined that it is a big hit (S401: Yes), the value of the first hit type counter C2 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area is confirmed, and the display mode for the big hit is set (S402). ). In the process of S402, based on the value of the first hit type counter C2, whether to shift to the high probability state or shift to the low probability state after the big hit is set. When the transition state after the big hit is set, the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 (the lighting state of the LED 37a) is set. Further, based on the transition state after the jackpot, the jackpot stop symbol of the third symbol display device 81 is set by the display control device 114. That is, the stop symbol in the 3rd symbol display apparatus 81 can be set by setting the transition state after the big hit in the process of S402. Of the numerical values 0 to 4 of the first hit type counter C2, when “0, 4”, the state shifts to the low probability state, and when “1, 2, 3”, shifts to the high probability state.

  Next, a variation pattern at the time of jackpot is determined (S403). When the variation pattern is set in the process of S403, the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set and the variation time of the third symbol until the third symbol display device 81 stops at the jackpot symbol is determined. The At this time, the values of the fluctuation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203 are confirmed, and rough symbol fluctuations such as normal reach, super reach, and premium reach are determined based on the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1. In addition to determining the variation time, the variation time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the final stop symbol (in the present embodiment, the middle symbol Z2) stops after the occurrence of reach is determined based on the value of the second variation type counter CS2. decide.

  The relationship between the numerical value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the variation time, and the relationship between the numerical value of the second variation type counter CS2 and the variation time are respectively defined in advance by a table or the like. However, the fluctuation time can be set using only the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1 without using the value of the second fluctuation type counter CS2, and can be set only with the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1. Whether or not to set with both values of both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 is appropriately determined according to the value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the game conditions each time.

  If it is determined in the process of S401 that it is not a big hit (S401: No), the display mode at the time of disconnection is set (S404). In the process of S404, the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is set to the display mode corresponding to the off symbol, and based on the value of the stop pattern selection counter C3 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area, An effect to be displayed on the third symbol display device 81 is set as to whether the reach is front / rear out of reach, reach other than front / rear out, or complete out. In the present embodiment, as described above, the range of values corresponding to each stop pattern of the stop pattern selection counter C3 depends on whether the state is a high probability state, a low probability state, and the operation suspension number N. Different tables are set up.

  Next, the variation pattern at the time of detachment is determined (S405), the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set, and the variation time of the third symbol until the third symbol display device 81 stops at the detachment symbol. Is determined. At this time, as in the process of S403, the values of the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203 are confirmed, and the normal reach, super reach, and premium reach are determined based on the value of the first variation type counter CS1. In addition, the fluctuation time (in other words, the middle symbol Z2 in the present embodiment) is stopped after the reach has occurred based on the value of the second fluctuation type counter CS2 For example, the number of fluctuation symbols) is determined.

  When the process of S403 or the process of S405 is completed, the effect time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time determined by the first and second type counters CS1 and CS2 is determined (S406). At this time, the addition / subtraction of effect time is determined based on the value of the third type counter CS3 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203, the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set, and the third symbol display The variation time of the device 81 is set. In the present embodiment, the effect time addition / subtraction is determined according to the value of the third variation type counter CS3 when the variation display time is not changed and when the variation display time is added for one second, the variation display time is set to 2. In the case of adding seconds, four types of addition values are determined for the case of subtracting 1 second from the variable display time.

  In addition, when the variable display time is added or subtracted, a notice effect that increases the expected value of the jackpot on the third symbol display device 81 (for example, a slip effect that causes the change time of the variable symbol to be longer than usual and is accompanied by a slip) An effect of displaying a notice character is produced, for example, an effect of making the change time of one change symbol shorter than usual and stopping it immediately). In addition, when the value of the first random number counter C1 is a big hit, since the probability that the added value of 2 seconds is selected is set high, the player expects a big hit by confirming the notice effect. Can do.

  Next, a variation pattern command is set according to the variation pattern (variation time) determined in S403 or S405 (S407), and a stop symbol command is set according to the stop symbol set in S402 or S404. (S408). Then, an effect time addition command is set according to the added value of the effect time determined in the process of S406 (S409), and the process returns to the variation process.

  Next, payout control executed by the MPU 211 in the payout control device 111 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 21. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a startup process of the payout control device 111, and this startup process is executed when the power is turned on. First, an initial setting process associated with power-on is executed (S801). Specifically, a predetermined value set in advance is set in the stack pointer, and an interrupt mode is set. Then, the RAM access is permitted (S802), and an external interrupt vector is set (S803).

  Thereafter, a data backup process is executed for the RAM 213 in the MPU 211. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 213 (S804). If not stored (S804: No), the backup data is not stored, so the process proceeds to S811. Transition. If power failure occurrence information is stored in the RAM 213 (S804: Yes), a RAM determination value is calculated (S805). If the calculated RAM determination value is not normal (S805: No), that is, the calculated RAM determination is performed. If the value does not match the RAM determination value stored when the power is turned off, the backed up data has been destroyed. In such a case as well, the process proceeds to S811. As will be described later in the processing of S917 in FIG. 17, the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value at a work area address in the RAM 213. Instead of the RAM determination value, the validity of the backup may be determined based on whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM 213 is correctly stored.

  In the RAM initialization process of S811 and S812, all areas of the RAM 213 are cleared to 0 (S811), and then the initial value of the RAM 213 is set (S812). Thereafter, the peripheral devices of the MPU 211 are initialized (S809), an interrupt is permitted (S810), and the process proceeds to the main process.

  On the other hand, if the occurrence information of power interruption is set (S804: Yes) and the RAM judgment value (checksum value etc.) is normal (S806: Yes), the data backed up in the RAM 213 is retained. In addition to clearing the information on the occurrence of power interruption (S807), the payout permission flag 213d is turned off (S808) in order to wait for the payout of the prize ball. Thereafter, the peripheral devices of the MPU 211 are initialized (S809), an interrupt is permitted (S810), and the process proceeds to the main process.

  Next, the main process executed by the MPU 211 in the payout control apparatus 111 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this main process, first, a winning ball command, a payout return command, and a payout initialization command from the main control device 110 are received, and a command determination process for determining the type of these commands is performed (S901). Although details of the command determination process will be described later, in this process, when a normal command transmitted from the main control device 110 is received, the payout permission flag 213d is turned on and the payout of the winning ball or the loaned ball is permitted.

  That is, after execution of the command determination process (S901), the state of the payout permission flag 213d is determined (S902), and if the payout permission flag 213d is not turned on (S902: No), the main controller 110 is still in the started state. Therefore, in such a case, the command determination process (S901) is repeatedly executed until the payout permission flag 213d is turned on in the command determination process (S901). On the other hand, if the payout permission flag 213d is turned on in the processing of S902 (S902: Yes), the main control device 110 has already started up. In such a case, the state return switch 120 is checked and the state is checked. When it is determined that the return operation is started, the state return operation is executed (S903).

  Thereafter, the setting of the lower pan full tank state or the lower pan full tank release state is executed according to the change in the state of the lower pan 50 (S904). That is, when the lower pan 50 is determined based on the detection signal of the lower pan full switch, the lower pan full state is set when the lower pan is full. , Set the lower pan full release state. Further, the setting of the tank ball absence state or the tank ball absence release state is executed according to the change in the state of the tank ball (S905). That is, the tank ball no switch state is determined based on the detection signal of the tank ball no switch, and when the tank ball is not used, the tank ball no state setting is executed. Perform configuration. Thereafter, the presence / absence of a notification state is determined. If there is a notification state, notification is made by the 7-segment LED 121 provided in the payout control device 111 (S906). The state notification process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, prize ball payout processing is executed by each processing from S907 to S909. That is, if the prize ball cannot be paid out and the value of the total prize ball number memory 213a for storing the number of prize balls is not 0 (S907: No, S908: No), the prize ball is paid out. The ball control process is started (S909). On the other hand, if the prize ball cannot be paid out (S907: Yes) or if the value of the total prize ball number memory 213a is 0 (S908: Yes), the process proceeds to a rental ball payout process.

  In the ball lending payout process from S910 to S912, if a ball lending payout request is not received and a ball lending payout request from the card unit is received (S910: No, S911: Yes), the ball lending is paid out. The ball rental control process is started. On the other hand, if the rental ball cannot be dispensed (S910: Yes) or if a rental ball dispensing request has not been received (S911: No), the process proceeds to S913. Similarly, after the ball rental control process (S912) is completed, the process proceeds to S913.

  In the process of S913, the control of the vibrator 134 (vibration motor control) is executed on the condition that the ball is clogged (S913). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the occurrence information of power interruption is stored in the RAM 213 (S914). If the occurrence information of power interruption is not stored (S914: No), the power failure signal SG1 is received from the power failure monitoring circuit 252. Since it is not output and the power supply is not shut off, in such a case, the process proceeds to S901, and the main process from S901 to S913 is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if the occurrence information of power interruption is stored in the process of S914 (S914: Yes), the result of the power failure is output due to the occurrence of a power failure or the power is turned off and the power failure monitoring circuit 252 outputs the power failure signal SG1. This means that the NMI interrupt process of FIG. 15 has been executed. Therefore, in such a case, the generation of each interrupt process is prohibited (S915), and the command determination process is executed again in order to prevent the reception of a command transmitted from the main controller 110 (S916). Then, the RAM determination value is calculated and stored in the RAM 213 (S917), access to the RAM 213 is prohibited (S918), and the infinite loop is continued until the power supply is completely shut down and the process cannot be executed. Here, for example, the RAM determination value is a checksum value in the stack area and the work area to be backed up in the RAM 213.

  In the process of S914, since the information on the occurrence of power interruption is confirmed at the timing when one cycle of the main process of the payout control device 111 ends, the process is started up when returning from the state before the power interruption. After the process is completed, the process can be started from S901. In other words, the main process can be started in the same manner as when initialized in the startup process. Therefore, in the process at power-off, the contents of each register used by the MPU 211 are not saved in the stack area, or the stack pointer value is not saved in the initial setting process (S801) without saving the stack pointer value. By setting to a predetermined value (initial value), the process can be started from S901. Therefore, the control burden on the payout control device 111 can be reduced, and accurate control can be performed without causing the payout control device 111 to malfunction or run away. In addition, since the power-off process is executed at the timing when each process is completed, the amount of information to be backed up in the RAM 213 can be reduced.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a command determination process executed in the main process of the payout control device 111. The command determination process determines whether or not the received command is a normal command, and executes a process corresponding to the command if the received command is a normal command.

  First, it is checked whether there is a new reception command (S1001). If there is no new reception command (S1001: No), this process is terminated. If there is a new reception command (S1001: Yes), it is determined whether the reception command is the first byte data or the second byte data (S1002). As described above with reference to FIG. 7, if the most significant bit is set, it is the first byte data (S1002: Yes). In this case, is the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b 0? (S1003).

  When 2 bytes of command are received, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0. Therefore, if the command is normal, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is 0 when the first byte data is received. Therefore, if the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is not 0 (S1003: No), some abnormality has occurred, so the payout error flag 213c is turned on (S1004), and the process proceeds to S1005. On the other hand, if the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is 0 (S1003: Yes), the process of S1004 is skipped and the process proceeds to S1005. In the process of S1005, the received first byte data is written into the upper command storage buffer 213b and stored (S1005).

  In the process of S1002, if the received command is not the first byte data but the second byte data (S1002: No), the received command is the second byte data and the upper command is stored in S1005 process. The value stored in the buffer 213b, that is, the first byte data is added (S1006). If the result of the addition is FFH (S1007: Yes), since the received command is normal, it is checked whether the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is F0H or more (S1008).

  As shown in FIG. 7, if the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is F0H or more (S1008: Yes), the received command is a prize ball command. (S1009). On the other hand, if the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is not equal to or greater than F0H (S1008: No), the received command is a payout return command or a payout initialization command. In such a case, a state setting process is executed ( S1010). After execution of the winning ball payout number setting process or the state setting process, the process proceeds to S1001, and the above-described process is repeated. The prize ball payout number setting process or the state setting process will be described later.

  In the process of S1007, if the result of the addition of the first byte data and the second byte data is not FFH (S1007: No), some abnormality has occurred. Therefore, in such a case, the payout error flag 213c is turned on (S1011) to indicate the occurrence of a command error, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0 (S1012), and the received 2-byte command is displayed. Disable it. Thereby, malfunction of the payout control apparatus 111 due to reception of an abnormal command can be prevented. After the process of S1012, the process proceeds to S1001, and the above-described process is repeated.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a prize ball payout number setting process (S1009) executed in the command determination process. In the prize ball payout number setting process, the value of the total prize ball number memory 213a is updated according to the received prize ball command.

  First, it is checked whether or not the number of prize balls of the received prize ball command is 1 or more and 15 or less (S1101). Otherwise (S1101: No), an incorrect prize ball command is received (FIG. 7). reference). Therefore, in such a case, the received command is invalidated and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the number of prize balls of the received prize ball command is 1 or more and 15 or less (S1101: Yes), the number of prize balls designated by the prize ball command is added to the total prize ball number memory 213a (S1102). The added number of prize balls is paid out by the above-described prize ball control process (S909). Thereafter, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0 (S1103), and in preparation for receiving the next command, the payout permission flag 213d is turned on (S1104), and the payout of the winning ball is permitted. Further, the payout error flag 213c is turned off (S1105), and this process is terminated.

  In this way, since the payout error flag 213c is turned off by receiving a normal command, even when an abnormal command is temporarily input due to noise or the like, by inputting the normal command, The command error notification can be canceled and the game can be continued normally.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the state setting process (S1010) executed in the command determination process. In the state setting process, a process according to the payout return command or the payout initialization command is executed.

  If the received command is a payout return command (S1201: Yes), the process proceeds to S1206. Then, the payout permission flag 213d is turned on (S1206), the payout of the prize ball is permitted, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0 (S1207), and a payout error is further prepared in preparation for reception of the next command. The flag 213c is turned off (S1208), and this process ends.

  If the received command is a payout initialization command (S1201: No, S1202: Yes), the state of the payout permission flag 213d is checked (S1203). If the payout permission flag 213d is off (S1203: No), the payout initialization command is normally received. In this case, the work area of the RAM 213 is cleared to 0 (S1204), and is initialized to the work area. An initial value for the hour is set (S1205), and the work area of the RAM 213 is initialized.

  Thereafter, as in the case of receiving the payout return command, the payout permission flag 213d is turned on (S1206), the payout of the winning ball is permitted, and the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0 (S1207). In addition, the payout error flag 213c is turned off (S1208), and the process is terminated.

  Even if the received command is a payout initialization command (S1201: No, S1202: Yes), if the payout permission flag 213d is on (S1203: Yes), one of the normal ones shown in FIG. Upon receiving the command, the prize ball payout control is enabled. Therefore, in such a case, in order to avoid initialization of the work area of the RAM 213, the processing from S1204 to S1206 is skipped, and the processing proceeds to S1207. Thereafter, the value of the upper command storage buffer 213b is cleared to 0 (S1207), the payout error flag 213c is turned off (S1208) in preparation for the reception of the next command, and this process is terminated.

  If the received command is neither a payout return command (S1201: No) nor a payout initialization command (S1202: No), it means that an incorrect prize ball command has been received (see FIG. 7). In this case, the received command is invalidated and this process is terminated.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a state notification process (S906) executed in the main process. In the status notification process, first, the status of the payout error flag 213c is confirmed (S1301), and if it is turned on (S1301: Yes), the character “C” is displayed on the 7-segment LED 121 to generate a command error. Notification is made (S1302). On the other hand, when the payout error flag 213c is not turned on (S1302: No), or after the processing of S1302, other states of the payout control device 111 such as the full state of the lower plate 50 and the storage state of the tank balls. (S1303), and this process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, a command output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 is composed of 2 bytes, and these are added or exclusive ORed one byte at a time. In addition, the least significant byte after the calculation is set to FFH. Therefore, in the payout control device 111, the input 2-byte command is added or exclusive-ORed byte by byte, and if the result is not FFH, the command is determined not to be a normal command and the command input Is invalidated, and a letter “C” is displayed on the 7-segment LED 121 provided in the payout control device 111 to notify a command error. Therefore, since the payout control device 111 can input only normal commands as valid commands, it is possible to normally perform payout control of games and prevent payouts that are not specified or due to fraudulent acts. .

  In addition, when a command that is not normal is input, the 7 segment LED 121 notifies the fact (occurrence of a command error), so that when the pachinko machine 10 is disconnected or an illegal act is performed on the pachinko machine 10. In the event of a failure, it is possible to quickly detect and deal with them. Further, when a normal command is input during command error notification, the command error notification is terminated. Therefore, even when an abnormal command is temporarily input due to the influence of noise or the like, the notification can be canceled and the game can be continued normally by inputting the normal command.

  Further, when the payout control device 111 is started up, the payout return command and the payout initialization command that are always output from the main control device 110 are used to connect the signal lines for transmitting these commands and the signal lines. Whether or not there is a short (solder bridge) in the connectors 207 and 217 can be detected. Therefore, since the game can be executed without such an abnormality, it is possible to normally output a command from the main control device 110 to the peripheral control device 111 and to normally perform prize ball payout control.

  In an inspection performed at a production factory before shipment of the pachinko machine 10, it is possible to check for disconnection or short-circuit by simply turning on the power of the pachinko machine 10 and turning on the power after initializing the contents of the RAM. Therefore, it is not necessary to open the front frame 14 and put a ball into the general winning entrance 63 or the first entrance (starting entrance) 64 for inspection, and the inspection process can be made more efficient. .

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on each embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be easily made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  In the present embodiment, the command output from the main control device 110 to the payout control device 111 has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the command is output from the main control device 110 to the sound lamp control device 113 and other peripheral devices. The present invention may be applied to a command output to the control device. When applied to a command output to the audio lamp control device 113, it can be configured to perform a game effect only when a normal effect command is input, so that the game effect control is performed normally. Can be made. In such a case, the signal line is set so that adjacent pins are alternately set / reset according to the arrangement of the signal pins of the connectors 208 and 228 that connect the main controller 110 and the sound lamp controller 113. Configure commands to detect shorts and solder bridges.

  When an abnormal command is input, the occurrence of a command error is notified by the 7-segment LED 121. Instead of this, a lamp (lamp display device (lighting unit) provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10 is used instead. 29 to 33 and the display lamp 34))) may be turned on or blinked, or a predetermined error sound or the like may be output from a speaker (audio output device 226) for notification. Furthermore, the occurrence of the command error may be output to the hall computer 262 via the external output terminal board 261. If the occurrence of the command error is output to the hall computer 262, the occurrence of the error can be immediately reported to the game hall manager. In addition, if the pachinko machine 10 is configured not to notify the command error but to output only to the hall computer 262, if a player enters an abnormal command as a result of cheating, It is possible to notify the manager of the game hall of the cheating without being noticed by the player who cheated. Therefore, it can be used for extracting fraudsters.

  Furthermore, although the present embodiment is applied to a command composed of 2 bytes, the present invention may be applied to a command composed of 3 bytes or more or a command composed of 1 byte. For example, when the command is composed of 3 bytes or more, addition or exclusive OR is performed on the first predetermined input data and the second predetermined input data, and the result is determined. . Further, the first predetermined input data and the second predetermined input data are set so that the outputs of the adjacent signal pins of the connector are alternately set / reset. On the other hand, when the command is composed of 1 byte, for example, addition and exclusive OR are performed on the upper 4 bits of data and the lower 4 bits of data, and the result is determined. In such a case, the command is output 4 bits at a time, and the 4-bit data is set so that the outputs of the adjacent signal pins of the connector are alternately set / reset.

  The command was output from the main controller 110 as 8-bit parallel data. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, it may be configured to output the data bit by bit by a serial method. In this case, data input by a peripheral control device such as the payout control device 111 is, for example, grouped together every 4 bits or 8 bits into one group of data, and the addition of the data of that group and the data of another group or An exclusive OR may be performed to check whether the output command is normal or not.

  Although the payout return command shown in FIG. 7 is composed of 9966H and the payout initialization command is composed of AA55H, it may be composed of AA66H and 9955H, 5566H and AA99H. Further, the connectors 207, 208, 217, and 228 are constituted by the two-row array connectors shown in FIG. 8B, and the output pins of the input / output port 205 of the main controller 111 that outputs commands to these connectors are arranged in one row. The input pins of the input / output ports 215 and 225 of the payout control device 110 and the sound lamp control device 113 for inputting commands output from these connectors may be arranged in a line.

  In the present embodiment, the winning that is detected by the winning detection means is that the ball that has been driven into the game area wins any of the winning openings 63, 64, 65a. However, when the present invention is applied to a slot machine or a game ball using spinning game machine that uses a game ball to perform a spinning game, the winning detected by the winning detection means depends on the operation of the start lever. It becomes the lottery result performed in the game machine.

  You may implement this invention in the pachinko machine etc. of a type different from the said embodiment. For example, once a big hit, a pachinko machine that raises the expected value of the big hit until a big hit state occurs (for example, two times or three times) including that (for example, a two-time right item, a three-time right item) May also be implemented. Further, after the jackpot symbol is displayed, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine that generates a special game that gives a player a predetermined game value on the condition that a ball is won in a predetermined area. Further, the present invention may be implemented in a pachinko machine that has a special area such as a V-zone and has a special gaming state as a necessary condition for winning a ball in the special area. Further, in addition to the pachinko machine, the game machine may be implemented as various game machines such as an alepatchi, a sparrow ball, a slot machine, a game machine in which a so-called pachinko machine and a slot machine are integrated.

  In the slot machine, for example, a symbol is changed by operating a control lever in a state where a symbol effective line is determined by inserting coins, and a symbol is stopped and confirmed by operating a stop button. Is. Accordingly, the basic concept of the slot machine is that it is provided with a display device for confirming and displaying the identification information after variably displaying the identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and resulting from the operation of the starting operation means (for example, the operation lever). The variation display of the identification information is started, and the variation display of the identification information is stopped and fixedly displayed due to the operation of the operation means for stop (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses. It is a slot machine that generates a special game that gives a player a predetermined game value on the condition that the combination of identification information at the time is a specific condition. In this case, the game medium is typically a coin, medal, etc. Take as an example.

  In addition, as a specific example of a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are fused, a display device is provided that displays a symbol after a symbol string composed of a plurality of symbols is variably displayed, and has a handle for launching a ball. What is not. In this case, after throwing a predetermined amount of spheres based on a predetermined operation (button operation), for example, the change of the symbol is started due to the operation of the operation lever, for example, due to the operation of the stop button, or With the passage of time, the variation of the symbol is stopped, and a special game that gives a predetermined game value to the player is generated on the condition that the determined symbol at the time of stoppage is a so-called jackpot symbol. In this case, a large amount of balls are paid out to the lower tray.

  The form of the gaming machine of the present invention is shown below. The gaming machine described in each claim is a pachinko gaming machine. Above all, the basic configuration of a pachinko gaming machine is provided with an operation handle, and a ball is launched into a predetermined game area according to the operation of the operation handle, and the ball is placed in an operation port disposed at a predetermined position in the game area. As a necessary condition for winning a prize (or passing through the operating port), the identification information dynamically displayed on the display device is confirmed and stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special gaming state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning opening) disposed at a predetermined position in the gaming area is opened in a predetermined manner so that a ball can be won, and a value corresponding to the number of winnings is obtained. Examples include those to which values (including data written on magnetic cards as well as premium balls) are given.

  The gaming machine described in each claim is a slot machine. Above all, the basic configuration of the slot machine is “equipped with variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and for operating the starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). As a result, the dynamic display of the identification information is started, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed. The game machine is provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on the condition that the confirmed identification information is specific identification information. In this case, examples of the game media include coins and medals.

  The gaming machine described in each claim is a combination of a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine. Among them, the basic configuration of the merged gaming machine includes “a variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and a starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). Due to the operation of the identification information, the change of the identification information is started. Special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on the condition that the fixed identification information at the time of stoppage is specific identification information, and using a ball as a game medium, and the identification information The game machine is configured such that a predetermined number of balls are required at the start of the dynamic display, and a large number of balls are paid out when the special gaming state occurs.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the game board of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view of a pachinko machine. It is the block diagram which showed the electrical structure of the pachinko machine. (A) is the figure which showed typically the area division setting and effective line setting of the display screen, (b) is the figure which illustrated the actual display screen. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary of various counters. It is the figure which showed the command output to the payout control apparatus from the main control apparatus. (A) is the figure which showed the arrangement | sequence of the signal pin of the connector provided in a main control apparatus, (b) is the figure which showed the arrangement | sequence of the signal pin of the connector provided in a payout control apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the starting process performed by MPU in a main controller. It is the flowchart which showed the main process performed by MPU in a main controller. It is the flowchart which showed the fluctuation | variation process performed in the main process of FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a change start process executed in the change process of FIG. 11. It is the flowchart which showed the timer interruption process. It is the flowchart which showed the start winning process performed in the timer interruption process of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the NMI interruption process performed with the main control unit and the payout control unit. It is the flowchart which showed the starting process performed by MPU in a payout control apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the main process performed by MPU in a payout control apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the command determination process performed in the main process of FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing prize ball payout number setting processing executed in the command determination processing of FIG. 18. FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the state setting process performed in the command determination process of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the status alerting | reporting process performed in the main process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines (game machines)
64 First entrance (start)
110 Main control device (main control means)
111 Dispensing control device (one of the peripheral control means)
112 Launch control device (one of the peripheral control means)
113 sound lamp control device (one of peripheral control means, effect execution means)
114 Display control device (one of peripheral control means, effect execution means)
115 Power supply (backup means)
121 7-segment LED (part of abnormality notification means)
205 I / O port (output circuit)
207, 208 connector (main connector)
213c Discharge error flag 215,224 Input / output port (input circuit)
217,228 connector (peripheral connector)
261 External output terminal board 262 Hall computer (external device)
S108 to S109 Power recovery means S201 Output means, payout instruction means, effect instruction means S306 Effect start processing (effect determination means)
S501 winning detection means S909 payout execution means S1006 addition means S1011 and S1012 abnormality determination means, invalidation means S1105 and S1208 notification release means S1302 abnormality notification means

Claims (14)

In a gaming machine comprising main control means for performing main control related to a game, and peripheral control means for performing peripheral control related to the game based on a command output from the main control means,
The main control means includes
An output circuit for outputting a plurality of bits of data in a parallel manner;
A main connector serving as an output end of data output from the output circuit;
Output means for outputting to the peripheral control means via the output circuit and the main connector,
The peripheral control means includes
A peripheral connector serving as an input end of data output from the main connector of the main control means;
The data output from the output circuit of the main control means, comprising an input circuit for inputting data input through the peripheral connector in a parallel manner,
The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the output means of the main control means uses at least one command output to the peripheral control means as data for inverting the signal of an adjacent pin. The output means of the main control means is
The command is divided into a plurality of times and output to the peripheral control means,
Of at least one of the commands to be output to the peripheral control means, among the data to be output in a plurality of times, the first predetermined data is data that inverts the signal of the adjacent pin of the main connector or peripheral connector. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the second predetermined data is inverted data of the first predetermined data. In the main connector or the peripheral connector, each pin is arranged in a line,
The output means of the main control means sets the odd-numbered pin data of the main connector or the peripheral connector as the first predetermined time data and resets the even-numbered pin data, while the second predetermined time data. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein data of odd-numbered pins of the main connector or peripheral connector is reset and data of even-numbered pins is set as the data of the above.   2. The output means of the main control means, in a command output to the peripheral control means at the time of initialization of a gaming machine, uses the data as data for inverting the signal of an adjacent pin. 4. The gaming machine according to any one of 3. The main control means includes
Backup means for storing the gaming state when the power is turned off even after the power is turned off,
A power recovery means for returning the gaming state to the state before the power interruption based on the stored contents of the backup means at the time of power recovery;
The output means of the main control means is characterized in that, in a command output to the peripheral control means at the time of power recovery by the power recovery means, the data is data that inverts the signal of an adjacent pin. Item 5. A gaming machine according to any one of Items 1 to 4. The main control means includes
A winning detection means for detecting a winning in the game;
A payout instructing means for instructing the peripheral control means by the command to pay out a number of game media corresponding to the detected winning when the winning is detected by the winning detection means;
The peripheral control means includes
6. A payout executing means for paying out a number of game media according to the instruction when a command instructing payout of game media by the payout instructing means is input. The gaming machine described in Crab. The main control means includes
Production determining means for determining the production in the game;
An effect instruction means for instructing the peripheral control means by the command the effect determined by the effect determination means,
The peripheral control means includes
The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising an effect executing unit that executes an instructed instruction when a command instructing an effect by the effect instructing unit is input. The peripheral control means includes
Of the data input by the input circuit, the command is divided into a plurality of times and the bit-exclusive exclusion of the data input at the first predetermined time and the data input at the second predetermined time An exclusive OR means for taking a logical OR,
As a result of the exclusive OR by the exclusive OR means, when there is a reset bit, an abnormality determination means for determining that the input command is abnormal,
8. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising abnormality notifying means for notifying that when the command input by the input circuit is determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determining means. 9. Gaming machine. The peripheral control means includes
An adding means for adding the data inputted at the first predetermined time and the data inputted at the second predetermined time among the data inputted by the input circuit and outputted by dividing the command into a plurality of times When,
As a result of the addition by the adding means, when there is a reset bit, an abnormality determining means for determining that the input command is abnormal,
8. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising abnormality notifying means for notifying that when the command input by the input circuit is determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determining means. 9. Gaming machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the abnormality notifying means notifies an external device provided outside the gaming machine that a command determined to be abnormal has been input.   The peripheral control unit includes a notification release unit that cancels the notification when a command that is not determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination unit is input by the input circuit during the notification by the abnormality notification unit. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein:   12. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the command is configured to be output only in one direction from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit.   The command is composed of 2 bytes, and is output to the peripheral control means byte by byte by the output means of the main control means. The exclusive OR by the exclusive OR means or the addition by the addition means The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the result of FFh is FFh. The main control means includes a starting opening that triggers a lottery for giving a game value by passing a ball,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the command is a command to inform the peripheral control means of a ball entering the starting port.

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