JP2007151923A - Lighting device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device for a game machine capable of securing a wide irradiation angle while using light emitting diodes without generating unevenness in the irradiation on the surface of reels, suitable for illuminating the reels to achieve high-quality presentation with light. <P>SOLUTION: A reflection wall part 101b is disposed to orthogonally cross a base board on which light emitting diodes 102 are mounted, and a translucent light diffusion plate 104 is obliquely held across the base board, the reflection wall and a distal end part. The light diffused by the light diffusion plate is applied to the reels 10a, 10b and 10c, so that the reels can be widely and efficiently irradiated and the visual effect of symbols, etc. can be enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device for a gaming machine that is provided in a gaming machine such as a slot machine that displays a plurality of symbols arranged on a peripheral surface of a reel by rotating the reel, and more particularly, to efficiently light the reel. The present invention relates to a lighting device for gaming machines such as brightly displaying symbols by irradiating well.

  Generally, in a gaming machine such as a slot machine, three rotatable reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on a cylindrical peripheral surface are provided in a housing. Each reel variably displays symbols by rotating, and winning or losing of a game such as winning or losing is determined based on a combination of symbols displayed through a display window formed on the front surface of the slot machine. It is like that.

  Conventionally, an illuminating device using a cold cathode fluorescent tube or the like for irradiating light to a reel as a light source is provided on the back side of the front panel on which the display window is formed, and the illuminating device irradiates the reel. The pattern is displayed brightly and clearly.

  However, the lighting device comprising a cold cathode fluorescent tube has a limit on the switching speed between turning on and off, and is not suitable for performing high-level effects such as switching the lighting state of the symbol in accordance with the operation of rotating and stopping the reel. Met.

  On the other hand, in recent years, since the development of blue light-emitting diodes, high-intensity light-emitting diodes that can emit white light in a single package have begun to spread, and in addition to the low power consumption and long life characteristics inherent to light-emitting diodes, sufficient responsiveness Since it has (switching speed), the possibility is attracting attention as a light source of an illumination device such as a reel in a gaming machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-296090 A

  By the way, the conventional illumination device using a cold cathode fluorescent tube or the like as a light source has a sufficient irradiation angle for improving the visibility of the reel. Since it is close to the light source and the irradiation angle is narrow, when a large number of light emitting elements constituting the light source are arranged, irradiation unevenness or the like occurs on the surface of the reel, and a sufficient visual effect cannot be exhibited as it is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and a gaming machine in which a wide irradiation angle is secured and a visual effect can be enhanced while using a light emitting element close to a point light source such as a light emitting diode as a light source. It aims at providing the illuminating device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device for a gaming machine that can improve the visibility of symbols without causing uneven irradiation on the surface of the reel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighting device for a gaming machine suitable for lighting a reel, such as lighting or blinking light at a high speed to enable a higher level of production than before.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 illuminates a rotatable reel that displays a plurality of symbols arranged on the circumferential surface through a display window formed on a front panel facing the player. A lighting device for a gaming machine for carrying out the above, a board on which a light emitting element is mounted, a reflecting section that intersects the board and reflects light emitted from the light emitting element, and a side surrounded by the board and the reflecting section And a diffusing plate disposed on the substrate.

  According to the lighting device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, the light emitted from the light emitting element is directly or partially reflected on the reflecting portion and indirectly incident on the diffusion plate. Transmitted and scattered and emitted to the outside. As a result, the irradiation efficiency is improved, and diffused light is generated to obtain a wide irradiation angle. Therefore, for example, even when a light-emitting diode close to a point light source is used as the light source of the lighting device, the reel can be irradiated uniformly over a wide range, and the visual effect is enhanced by improving the visibility of symbols and the like.

  Invention of Claim 2 is the illuminating device for game machines of Claim 1, Comprising: The said diffuser board has the normal line from the rotation-axis direction of the said reel thru | or the peripheral surface of the said reel on the said display window side. It is directed and arranged.

  According to the lighting device for a gaming machine according to claim 2, the reel can be efficiently irradiated in a wide range and efficiently on the display window side facing the player, and the visual effect is improved by improving the visibility of the symbols and the like. Can do.

  According to the gaming machine lighting device of the present invention, it is possible to generate diffused light and obtain a wide irradiation angle, and to efficiently irradiate the reel over a wide range to improve the visibility of symbols and the like. Therefore, for example, a light emitting diode close to a point light source can be used as the light source of the lighting device, and low power consumption and long life can be achieved.

  Moreover, if the light is lit or blinked at high speed by the light emitting diode, it is possible to perform a high-level production that has not been achieved in the past.

  Hereinafter, a reel illuminating device 100 that illuminates a reel of a slot machine will be described as a preferred embodiment of the illuminating device according to the present invention. First, the structure of a slot machine 1, which is an embodiment of a gaming machine on which the reel lighting device 100 is mounted, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the slot machine 1, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure inside the housing 2 with the front door 3 of the slot machine 1 opened.

  In the slot machine 1, a front door 3 having a so-called front mask formed on the side facing the player is attached to an opening of a housing 2 which is a substantially rectangular box body so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). ing. The front mask is roughly divided into an upper panel portion, a middle panel portion, and a lower panel portion from the top, and these are integrally formed of a hard plastic designed to enhance the visual effect as a decorative board. In addition, a tray unit 4 including a tray for storing medals is provided below the lower panel portion.

  The upper panel is equipped with an effect lamp consisting of an upper lamp 5 with a built-in high-intensity light emitting diode (LED), which lights up or flashes when reaching or hitting a jackpot, giving the player a visual appeal. Yes. In addition, sound emitting portions 7a and 7b each having a built-in speaker are provided at the left and right positions of the upper panel portion, and a game is produced with sound effects and musical sounds. Further, an image display unit 8 provided with a liquid crystal display unit is formed at a central position between the sound emitting units 7a and 7b.

  The image display unit 8 displays a moving image that is appropriately selected according to the progress of the game to give the game a story, or a more dynamic image in the case of a big hit such as a bonus game. Is displayed, causing the player to have a high payout expectation.

  Side lamps 6a and 6b as effect lamps incorporating light emitting diodes are provided on both sides of the middle panel portion in the middle stage. A middle panel plate 9 as a front panel on which a substantially rectangular transparent display window 9a is formed is attached to the center of the middle panel portion. And through this display window 9a, it is comprised so that a player can see three cylindrical reels 10a, 10b, 10c provided in the housing | casing.

  For example, 21 symbols including a plurality of different types are arranged at almost equal intervals on the peripheral surfaces of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and the three vertical and horizontal three columns facing the display window 9a The player can see through the display window.

  Below the middle panel 9 is formed a table-like portion called a console that slightly protrudes forward, which includes a medal insertion portion 11 having an insertion slot for inserting medals used in the game, and a game Are provided with a bet button 12, a start lever 13, and three stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c.

  The bet button 12 is a push-type button switch for presenting the number of medals bet on the game. The start lever 13 is a lever switch for instructing to rotate the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c all at once. The start lever 13 is turned on when a lever having a spherical operation knob at the tip is tilted in any of the vertical and horizontal directions. When the hand is released from the lever, the spring is automatically returned to the original position by the urging force of the spring and is turned off.

  The stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c are push-type button switches for individually instructing to stop the rotation of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and are arranged in parallel corresponding to the arrangement of the reels.

  On the panel 15 constituting the lower panel portion of the front mask, for example, a picture (not shown) of an appearing character is printed and displayed for allowing the player to recognize the model type of the slot machine 1 and the like.

  The tray unit 4 provided at the lowermost part of the front door 3 has a medal payout opening 16 for paying out medals by a prize payout or the like, and a sound emitting unit 17 that has a built-in speaker and generates effect sound according to the progress of the game. Are arranged.

  Next, the internal structure of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a main control board 21 that performs overall control of the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is attached to an upper position inside the housing 2. The main control board 21 is a microcomputer-based control board on which electronic components such as an interface circuit having a matching function when communicating with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral devices, and is housed in a transparent board case. The housing 2 is fixed so as not to be detached.

  A reel unit 10 in which three reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are arranged in parallel in the axial direction is formed in a predetermined frame facing the display window 9a formed on the front door 3 side. is set up. The reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are rotationally driven by stepping motors provided on the respective rotation shafts, and the main control board 21 is arranged in a four-phase manner via a rotating device board (not shown) attached to the top of the reel unit 10. The drive pulse signal is sent to each stepping motor to perform the rotation operation control and stop position control of each reel.

  Below the reel unit 10, there is provided a hopper unit 22 that stores medals inserted from the medal insertion portion 11 on the front surface and discharges the medals from the medal discharge port 22a to the tray unit 4 at the time of a prize payout. . The auxiliary tank 23 adjacent to the hopper unit 22 is provided to collect medals overflowed by the hopper unit. Further, a main power supply device 24 composed of a constant voltage source is housed and disposed in the sheet metal case at the bottom of the housing 2.

  Next, on the rear surface side of the front door 3, speakers 31a and 31b facing the sound emitting portions 7a and 7b are attached at the upper position. Also, a liquid crystal display unit (not shown) as an image display device for displaying an image on the image display unit 8 and a microcomputer-based sub control board 32 are attached between the speakers 31a and 31b. Yes. The sub-control board 32 controls the display of the effect image by the liquid crystal display unit described above, the illumination control using the effect lamps such as the upper lamp 5 and the side lamps 6a and 6b, and the sound emission units 7a, 7b and 17 This is a control board that mainly performs control related to the effect of the game, such as effect sound effect control using, for example.

  Below the sub-control board 32, a middle panel unit 33 is formed by forming a transparent display window 9a or the like for seeing through the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c on the middle panel plate 9 to form a unit. Further, on the back side of the middle panel unit 33, a reel illumination device 100 according to the present invention for irradiating the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c is disposed inside the upper edge of the display window 9a.

  Further, on the inner side of the lower edge of the display window 9a, there is a central display board 34 for relaying signals of operation switches such as the start lever 13 and stop buttons 14a, 14b, 14c to the main control board 21 on the housing 2 side. It is assembled.

  A medal selector 35 is attached to the lower position of the central display board 34. The medal selector 35 is a device that determines whether or not a medal inserted into the medal insertion unit 11 on the front surface is appropriate. The medal selector 35 is equipped with a medal sensor composed of a photo interrupter, and the medal sensor detects a medal that the medal selector 35 determines to be appropriate, and outputs a medal acceptance signal to the main control board 21. To do. The main control board 21 performs a process of internally storing medals by adding credits and storing them in the memory every time a medal acceptance signal is received.

  Further, below the medal selector 35, a medal receiving passage 36 for guiding the medals determined to be appropriate and distributed to the hopper unit 22, and a medal (or foreign object) that has been excluded and dropped by the medal selector 35 as inappropriate are paid to the front. A flow chute 37 for guiding to the outlet 16 and a medal payout passage 38 for guiding the medals discharged from the hopper unit 22 to the medal payout outlet 16 on the front are provided. Furthermore, the speaker 39 is each attached to the lower part by the side of the back surface of the front door 3 so that it may oppose the sound emission part 17 of the saucer unit 4 mentioned above.

  The slot machine 1 having such a structure enters a standby state when winning in the previous game and the payout of medals are completed, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this state, when the player inserts a medal from the medal insertion unit 11, the medal is added to the credit and stored internally.

  When the player presses the bet button 12 in this state, a part of the credited medal is bet on the game and the game starts. When the player tilts the start lever 13, the main control board 21 rotates all the reels 10a, 10b, 10c at the same time, and at the same time, the winning combination is randomly drawn by internal processing (this is referred to as “ Internal lottery).

  Next, when the player presses the stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c in an arbitrary order, the main control board 21 sequentially stops the corresponding reels accordingly. Then, after all the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are stopped, the main control board 21 determines whether or not the combination of symbols displayed on each reel matches the combination of symbols related to the above-mentioned winning lottery. Determine whether. When they match, the winning is confirmed, and the number of medals corresponding to the type of winning combination is added to the credit and awarded. When the upper limit of credit is exceeded due to the payout of the winning prize, the surplus number of medals is paid out to the tray unit 4 from the medal discharge port 16.

  As described above, the player of the slot machine 1 performs a game operation for rotating and stopping the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and loses the bet medals if the symbols displayed in the display window 9a are not variably displayed. If a winning combination is achieved with a combination of symbols, it is possible to acquire more medals than the betted number, so that it is possible to enjoy a win / lose game with an interest in increasing the number of medals depending on skill and luck.

  Next, the reel lighting device 100 according to the present invention mounted on a gaming machine such as the slot machine described above will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the reel lighting device 100.

  The reel lighting device 100 includes a support body 101 having a substantially L-shaped cross-section, a long LED substrate 103 on which a plurality of high-intensity light-emitting diodes 102 are mounted as light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting diodes 102 emit light. And a colorless translucent light diffusing plate 104 provided on the side.

  The support 101 has a base portion 101a in which a concave groove 101aa for accommodating and fixing the LED substrate 103 is formed, and a reflective surface 101ba on the side where the light emitting diode 102 is mounted (the concave groove 101aa side). The reflection wall portion 101b is orthogonal to the portion 101a, and is integrally formed by performing sheet metal plastic processing or cutting processing of a metal such as aluminum having gloss on the surface.

  The light diffusing plate 104 has a flat plate shape, and is slanted on the respective tip portions of the base portion 101a and the reflecting wall portion 101b so as to close a space (irradiation side space) surrounded by the support body 101 that is bent in an L shape. Passed and fixed. The light diffusing plate 104 has substantially the same length as the longitudinal direction of the base portion 101a so as to close the irradiation side space of all the light emitting diodes 102 arranged. However, in FIG. The right side part is shown broken away.

  The operation of the reel lighting device 100 having such a structure will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. According to the figure, a part of the light emitted from the light emitting diode 102 (direct light DL) is diffused while passing through the light diffusing plate 104, and diffusion-modulated diffused light SL that does not use the light emitting diode 102 as a radiation light source. Radiated to the outside. Further, another part of the light emitted from the light emitting diode 102 (reflected light RL) is reflected by the reflecting surface 101ba of the reflecting wall 101b, passes through the light diffusion plate 104, and is also emitted to the outside as diffused light SL. Is done.

  In this way, the reel illumination device 100 radiates the diffused light SL to the outside, so that a wide irradiation angle and high irradiation efficiency can be obtained even when the light emitting diode 102 close to a point light source is used as the light source of the illumination device.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing a partially broken internal structure of the slot machine 1 on which the reel lighting device 100 is mounted. As shown in the figure, the reel illuminating device 100 has an inner edge of the upper edge of the display window 9a of the middle panel unit 33 such that the normal line of the light diffusing plate 104 is slightly forward from the rotation axis of the reels 10a, 10b, 10c. It is arranged.

  The reel illumination device 100 arranged in such a state can irradiate the peripheral surfaces of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c facing the display window 9a entirely without any unevenness. As a result, the visual effect can be enhanced by improving the visibility of the reel design and the like.

  Further, the reel lighting device 100 can employ a high-intensity light emitting diode 102 as a light source, thereby reducing power consumption and extending the life.

  Furthermore, light can be switched on and off at a higher speed than a conventional reel illuminating device using a cold cathode fluorescent tube as a light source. Thus, for example, the light can be specified in synchronization with the rotation of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c. It is also possible to produce a more advanced visual effect, such as assisting the timing of pressing by irradiating only the pattern.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external structure of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing an internal structure by opening a front door of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a perspective view showing an external structure of an embodiment of a reel lighting device according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the reel illuminating device shown in FIG. 3, and is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an internal structure of the slot machine by cutting a part of the reel lighting device shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine 2 ... Housing | casing 3 ... Front door 4 ... Receptacle unit 5 ... Upper lamp | ramp 7a, 7b ... Sound emission part 8 ... Image display part 9 ... Middle panel board 9a ... Display window 10 ... Reel unit 10a, 10b, 10c ... reel 11 ... medal insertion part 12 ... bet button 13 ... start lever 14a, 14b, 14c ... stop button 15 ... panel 16 ... medal payout port 17 ... sound emitting part 21 ... main control board 22 ... hopper unit 22a ... medal discharge port DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Auxiliary tank 24 ... Main power supply device 25 ... Power supply device board 31a, 31b ... Speaker 32 ... Sub control board 33 ... Middle panel unit 34 ... Central display board 35 ... Medal selector 36 ... Medal receiving passage 37 ... Flow chute 38 ... Medal Discharge passage 39 ... Speaker 100 ... Reel illumination device 101 ... Support body 101a ... Base part 101aa Groove 101b ... reflection wall portion 101ba ... reflecting surface 102 ... light-emitting diodes 103 ... LED substrate 104 ... light diffuser plate

Claims (2)

A lighting device for a gaming machine for illuminating a rotatable reel that variably displays a plurality of symbols arranged on a peripheral surface through a display window formed on a front panel facing a player,
A substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted; a reflecting portion that intersects the substrate and reflects light emitted from the light emitting element; and a diffusion plate disposed on a side surrounded by the substrate and the reflecting portion. A lighting device for a gaming machine.   2. The lighting device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion plate is disposed such that a normal line thereof is directed from a rotation axis direction of the reel to a peripheral surface of the reel on the display window side.

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