JP2007229163A - Lottery device and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lottery device capable of improving game properties by making a game player hardly predict a variation of a symbol displayed on a lottery result display position and a game machine provided with the lottery device. <P>SOLUTION: The sphere lottery device 50 is provided with a spherical lottery ball 51 as a lottery rotary-body displaying a lottery result of a computer lottery with a lottery result display part 60. The ball 51 is driven to individually independently turn to make displacement by rotation angles around three virtual rotary axes by a first stator 52, a second stator 53 and a third stator 54 functioning as drive parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lottery apparatus, and more specifically, has a lottery rotator that is integrally provided with a plurality of types of symbols, and calculates a lottery result of a computer lottery calculated by executing a predetermined lottery program. It is related with the lottery apparatus displayed using.

  Conventionally, as this type of lottery apparatus, a reel member that rotates around a single rotating shaft as a lottery rotating body having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface, which the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 has. There is a reel lottery device equipped with. This reel lottery device displays symbols in a variable manner and stops them by a mechanical method of controlling the rotation of reel members. On the other hand, as a lottery device, there is also a video slot lottery device that displays symbols in a variable manner and displays them in a stopped manner by controlling the display of virtual lottery results of computer lottery results. A reel lottery device that displays a lottery result using a mechanical reel, rather than a video slot lottery device that displays a lottery result on a virtual reel on the display, is like a player actually performing a physical lottery. There is a production effect. Furthermore, since the symbol arrangement is much more difficult to change than the video slot lottery device, the player is concerned that the symbol arrangement will be changed without his knowledge and he will be forced into a disadvantaged situation. There are few things. This is because in the reel lottery apparatus, symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel member are fixed, and therefore, it is much more difficult to change the symbol arrangement than in the video slot lottery apparatus.

JP 2000-061027 A

However, since the reel member on which the symbol is fixedly drawn at a predetermined position can rotate only in the circumferential direction around a single rotation axis, the position for displaying the lottery result (hereinafter referred to as the lottery result display position). The display order of symbols displayed in () is monotonous. For example, in the case of a reel member of a slot machine, while the reel member is rotating, symbols arranged above the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position are sequentially displayed at the lottery result display position. . That is, there is one symbol display order pattern displayed at the lottery result display position. Even in the case of a reel member that can be rotated in the reverse direction, the order in which the symbols arranged on the reel member are displayed at the lottery result display position can be reversed, and a certain symbol can be placed at the lottery result display position. The symbol that is displayed and displayed next is a symbol arranged above or below the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position, and the display order of the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position is monotonous. I do not get. In such a reel lottery device using reel members, when the player remembers the arrangement of the symbols of the reel members, the display order of the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position is monotonous, so that the lottery result is displayed. It is easy for the player to predict the change of the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position. It is disadvantageous to improve the game performance of the lottery device when the display order of the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position is monotonous and the change in the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position is easy for the player to predict. is there.
In addition to the lottery device using the reel member, if the lottery device includes a lottery rotator that rotates only by one rotation shaft, symbols are displayed at the lottery result display position in the order in which the symbols are arranged on the lottery rotator. Therefore, the lottery is easy for the player to predict the change in the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to improve game performance by making it difficult for a player to predict changes in symbols displayed at the lottery result display position. It is to provide a lottery device that can perform the game and a gaming machine equipped with the lottery device.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is a lottery system in which a lottery rotator integrally including a plurality of types of symbols, a drive unit that rotationally drives the lottery rotator, and a predetermined lottery program are executed. A lottery control unit that performs computer lottery for calculating a result and a control for rotating the lottery rotator by controlling the drive unit, and distinguishing symbols corresponding to the lottery result of the computer lottery from other symbols A lottery apparatus having a drive control unit that controls to stop the rotation of the lottery rotator so as to stop display in a possible state, the entire outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator constitutes a curved surface, and the drive units are mutually connected The lottery rotator is driven to rotate so that a rotational movement obtained by combining rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible. And it is characterized in Rukoto.
In this lottery apparatus, the entire outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator forms a curved surface, and lottery is performed so that a rotation operation obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible. Since the rotator is driven to rotate, when the lottery rotator is rotationally driven, the next symbol to be displayed is arranged in any direction up, down, left, or right with respect to the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position. There may also be symbols that have been made. Further, depending on the arrangement of the symbols with respect to the lottery rotator, the symbols arranged obliquely with respect to the symbols displayed at the lottery result display position may be displayed next at the lottery result display position. As described above, the lottery rotator of the lottery apparatus has a rotational surface obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other, with the entire outer peripheral surface forming a curved surface. Since the number of symbols displayed in the lottery result display position is increased, and the player remembers the arrangement of the symbols relative to the lottery rotator, the lottery result is displayed. It is possible to make it difficult for the player to predict the change in the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position.

The lottery device according to the first aspect of the present invention is the lottery apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the driving unit has a driving force for rotating the lottery rotator in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator. The lottery rotator is rotationally driven by moving the outer peripheral surface relative to the contact member by the driving force.
In this lottery apparatus, the contact member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator transmits the drive so that the outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator moves relative to the contact member. The drive can be transmitted to the lottery rotator without using a drive transmission member fixed to the body. If there is a drive transmission member fixed to the lottery rotator, a symbol cannot be provided on the surface of the lottery rotator where the drive transmission member is attached. On the other hand, if there is no drive transmission member fixed to the lottery rotator, a symbol can be provided at any position of the lottery rotator.

The invention according to claim 3 is the lottery apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact member is a vibrator that generates vibration, and the driving unit is driven by the driving force based on the vibration generated by the vibrator. The lottery rotator is rotationally driven.
In this lottery device, an ultrasonic motor that rotationally drives the lottery rotator by a driving force based on vibration generated by a vibrator can be used as a drive source of the drive device. By using the ultrasonic motor, it is possible to realize a drive device that can be driven at low speed and high torque.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lottery apparatus according to the second aspect, the driving unit rotates the contact member to generate a frictional force generated at a contact portion between the contact member and an outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator. The lottery rotator is rotationally driven as a driving force.
In this lottery device, a motor that rotates the contact member can be used as a drive source of the drive device, and a relatively inexpensive motor using a conventional electromagnetic action can be used.

The invention according to claim 5 is the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising an attitude detector for detecting the attitude of the lottery rotator, wherein the drive controller is detected by the attitude detector. Is used to control the rotation of the lottery rotator.
In this lottery device, even if there is a deviation in the transmission of drive from the drive source to the lottery rotator and an error occurs between the target orientation of the lottery rotator and the actual posture of the lottery rotator, Can be corrected to be close to the target posture.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is the lottery apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotating body posture detecting unit includes a photographing unit that photographs the lottery rotating body facing at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotating body. And a posture of the lottery rotator is detected based on an image photographed by the photographing unit.
In this lottery apparatus, image sensing that detects the posture of the lottery rotator based on an image photographed by the photographing unit is used.

In addition, in the lottery device according to claim 5, the rotating body posture detecting unit includes an angular velocity detecting unit that detects an angular velocity acting on the lottery rotating body in the previous period, and the lottery rotating unit includes: The posture of the lottery rotator is detected based on the detection result.
In this lottery apparatus, the posture of the lottery rotator is detected using the detection result of the angular velocity detector.

The invention according to claim 8 is the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the lottery rotator comprises the plurality of types of symbols on an outer peripheral surface. Is.
In this lottery apparatus, symbols can be provided on the entire lottery rotator by providing symbols on the outer periphery of the lottery rotator.

The invention according to claim 9 is the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the lottery rotator is disposed inside the spherical container whose inside can be visually recognized from the outside. A symbol display member having a kind of symbol on the outer peripheral surface is fixedly arranged.
In this lottery apparatus, by providing a symbol display member inside a spherical container whose inside can be visually recognized from the outside, a plurality of types of symbols can be arranged not only in a spherical shape but also in other shapes.

The invention of claim 10 is the lottery device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, and a game control unit for controlling the progress of the game using the lottery result by the lottery device. And a gaming machine characterized by including:
In this gaming machine, the entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface, and a lottery rotation that is rotationally driven so as to be able to perform a rotational operation obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other. Since the lottery device having the body is provided, it is possible to make it difficult for the player to predict the change of the symbol displayed at the lottery result display position before the lottery result is displayed.

According to the first to tenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to make it difficult for the player to predict a change in the symbol that appears at the lottery result display position, and to improve the game performance.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, since a symbol can be provided at any position of the lottery rotator, an excellent effect that the game performance can be further improved is achieved.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, a driving device capable of low-speed, high-torque rotational drive can be realized, and therefore, an excellent effect that the rotational drive of the lottery rotator can be finely controlled. Played.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, the use of a relatively inexpensive motor utilizing a conventional electromagnetic action as a driving source has an excellent effect that the cost of the driving unit can be reduced. The
In particular, according to the invention of claim 5, since the actual posture of the lottery rotator can be corrected so as to be close to the target posture, the desired symbol can be kept in the desired state even if the drive transmission is deviated. The outstanding effect that it can display on a lottery result display position is show | played.
In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the use of image sensing as the posture detection unit provides an excellent effect that posture detection can be realized with high accuracy.
In particular, according to the seventh aspect of the invention, the posture detection unit can perform the posture detection using the detection result of the angular velocity detection unit, thereby achieving an excellent effect that the posture detection can be realized with high accuracy. The
In particular, according to the invention of claim 8, by providing a symbol on the entire lottery rotator, there is an excellent effect that a wide area where the symbol can be installed can be secured.
In particular, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, even if a spherical lottery rotator is used, the symbol can be arranged in a solid body other than the spherical shape.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 10, there is provided a gaming machine equipped with a lottery device that can make it difficult for a player to predict a change in a symbol that appears at the lottery result display position and can improve game performance. An excellent effect of being able to be produced.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a lottery apparatus provided in a slot machine installed in a casino, separately from a lottery portion made of a reel member, will be described.
First, a basic configuration of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the slot machine according to the present embodiment.
The slot machine 1 includes a box-shaped casing 2 and a front panel 3 attached to the front side of the casing 2 so as to be openable and closable. The front panel 3 includes a display window 4 that is a display unit for displaying a part of a reel member, which will be described later, a coin insertion slot 5a and a bill insertion slot 5b constituting a money receiving unit, a spin button 6 as an operation unit, and BET buttons 7a and 7b, a credit settlement button 8, a speaker 9, a coin tray 10 having a return tray 10a, an effect panel 11, a count indicator 12, and the like are provided. A lottery ball display window 15, which will be described in detail later, is provided above the display window 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the internal structure of the slot machine 1.
Inside the housing 2, three reel members 16a, 16b, and 16c in which two or more types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface in a predetermined order are incorporated. In addition, a main control circuit board 17 on which an electronic circuit is formed by a CPU, a ROM, and other various electronic components, a coin discharging device 18 having a hopper device 18a capable of storing a large number of coins, and the like are also incorporated. The three reel members 16a, 16b, and 16c (hereinafter referred to as “left reel”, “middle reel”, and “right reel” in turn) are each driven to rotate by a reel drive motor (not shown) configured by a stepping motor. It has become. In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c are substantially equally divided in the circumferential direction, and each division is a symbol display area. In each symbol display area, a plurality of types of symbols such as a star symbol, a sun symbol, a lightning symbol, and a seven symbol are printed in a predetermined order. In the present embodiment, there is also a blank symbol display area, and this symbol display area does not include a symbol.

FIG. 4 is a detailed front view showing a part of the front panel 3.
In the figure, three symbol display areas at predetermined rotational positions of the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c are visually recognized by the player through the display window 4. In the illustrated state, three symbol display areas including a lightning bolt symbol 4c, a blank 4e, and a star symbol 4a are stopped on the left reel 16a, and a star symbol 4a, a lightning symbol 4c, and a sun symbol 4b are included on the middle reel 16b. The three symbol display areas are stopped and displayed, and the three symbol display areas including the lightning symbol 4c, the seven symbol 4d, and the blank 4e are stopped and displayed on the right reel 16c. In the present embodiment, if the condition that the same symbol is included in any two or more of the nine symbol display areas that are stopped and displayed in the display window 4, the award corresponding to the type and the number of the symbols is given. A so-called scatter determination method winning determination method for determining that a prize has been won is adopted. When winning, coins as a game value medium are paid out to the coin tray 10, or a special game mode in which a special game such as a free game can be performed is entered.
The count display 12 displays a credit display unit 12a for displaying the amount of credit corresponding to the amount of money inserted by the player from the coin insertion slot 5a or the bill insertion slot 5b. An acquired credit display unit 12c that displays an acquired credit amount acquired by the player according to the progress result is provided. In addition, a BET display unit (not shown) for displaying the credit amount bet by the player by operating the BET buttons 7a and 7b is provided.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c. Since the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c have the same structure, only the left reel is shown in FIG. 5 for convenience.
In FIG. 5, a reel frame 101 which is a rotating body has five spoke portions and a circular ladder-shaped portion formed of a transparent member such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin). It is shaped like a “wheel-drive” that is a breeding tool. The five spoke portions extend radially from the shaft portion connected to the reel drive motor 28 which is a drive portion, and one of the spoke portions protrudes by receiving the detection plate 103 inside the circular ladder portion. It is provided as follows. When the reel drive motor 28 rotates, the reel frame 101 rotates. Further, a backlight device 102 for irradiating light toward the front side of the slot machine 1 is fixedly arranged inside the reel framework 101. A reel band 106 constituting an outer peripheral surface is wound around the reel frame 101. Further, on the back side of the backlight device 102, a reel position sensor 25 made of a transmissive photosensor is provided. The reel position sensor 25 detects the detection plate 103 when the reel frame 101 rotates to a predetermined rotation angle. By this detection, the CPU described later can recognize the rotational position of the left reel 16a, and as a result, can grasp the position of each symbol display area on the reel outer peripheral surface. In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of symbols such as a star symbol, a sun symbol, a lightning symbol, and a seven symbol are printed in each symbol display area on the reel band 106.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the backlight device 102 as seen from the front side of the slot machine 1.
As shown in the figure, the interior of the backlight device 102 is divided into three parts, and light emitting units 102a, 102b, and 102c are provided, respectively. When each of the light emitting units 102a, 102b, and 102c emits light, the three symbol display areas visually recognized from the display window 4 shown in FIG. 4 are each irradiated with light from the inside of the reel. By this light irradiation, the symbols in each symbol display area can be viewed brightly with respect to the player. A known LED device or the like can be used as such a light emitting unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a part of the electric circuit of the slot machine 1.
As shown in the figure, the slot machine 1 includes a main control circuit board 17 as a game progression unit and a sub control circuit board 21. In the present embodiment, the control circuit board is divided into the main control circuit board 17 and the sub control circuit board 21. However, the functions of these circuit boards are realized by one circuit board. May be. In this case, only one CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. are required.

  The main control circuit board 17 includes a CPU 17a, a clock generation circuit 17b, a ROM 17c, a RAM 17d, a random number generation circuit 17e, a data transmission circuit 17f, a transmission timing control circuit 17g, an input port 17h, an output port 17i, and the like. The clock generation circuit 17b outputs a clock signal having a predetermined frequency to the CPU 17a. The ROM 17c stores various control programs and data such as a lottery table, which will be described later, and outputs them to the CPU 17a. The RAM 17d temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 17a. In addition, the random number generation circuit 17e generates a random number every predetermined cycle and outputs the data to the CPU 17a.

The CPU 17a of the main control circuit board is connected to the 1BET button 7a, the Max BET button 7b, the spin button 6, the credit settlement button 8, the insertion sensor 22, the left reel position sensor 25, and the middle reel position sensor 26 via the input port 17h. The output signal from the right reel position sensor 27 is input. An output signal from the discharge sensor 23 is also input.
The CPU 17a outputs a control signal to the left reel drive motor 28, the middle reel drive motor 29, the right reel drive motor 30, the discharge motor 18b of the coin discharge device 18 and the count display 12 through the output port 17i. It is like that.

  The sub control circuit board 21 is disposed on the back side of the front panel 3, and includes a CPU 21a, a clock generation circuit 21b, an effect ROM 21c, a RAM 21d, an acoustic ROM 21e, an acoustic LSI 21f, a display control circuit 21g, an amplifier circuit 21h, A data input circuit 21i, a control ROM 21j, a drive control circuit 21k, and the like are provided. The clock generation circuit 21b outputs a clock signal having a predetermined frequency to the CPU 21a. The effect ROM 21c stores a display control program for the effect panel 11 for performing various effects for the player, and outputs these to the CPU 21a as necessary. The effect panel 11 is composed of a dot matrix in which a large number of light emitters are arranged, and emits only a predetermined light emitter in accordance with a control signal from the display control circuit 21g, so that the entire light emitter has a still image such as a predetermined picture or character. Alternatively, an image such as a moving image is displayed. The RAM 21d temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 21a. The acoustic ROM 21e stores acoustic data as various kinds of sound information, and outputs them to the acoustic LSI 21f as necessary. The drive control circuit 21k, which will be described later in detail, controls the driving of a lottery rotator of a sphere lottery device 50, which will be described later in detail, in accordance with a control command from the CPU 21a.

Next, the game flow of the slot machine 1 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of one game in the present embodiment.
Before playing the game, first, the player needs to insert a coin or a bill into the coin slot 5a or the bill slot 5b as preparation. When a player inserts a coin or banknote, the type and amount of the coin or banknote are detected by the insertion sensor 22, and the detection signal is sent to the CPU 17 a of the main control circuit board 17. As a result, the CPU 17a increases the credit data stored in the RAM 17d by an amount corresponding to the input amount. In addition, the CPU 17a updates the display count value of the credit indicator in the count indicator 12.

  When the player performs a bet operation by operating the BET buttons 7a and 7b (S1), the operation content is sent to the CPU 17a of the main control circuit board 17 as a BET operation signal. Thereby, the CPU 17a performs control for reducing the display count value of the credit indicator by the number of bets. Thereafter, the CPU 17a is in a state in which an operation signal from the spin button 6 can be received, and an operation on the spin button 6 by the player is effective.

  When the player operates the spin button 6 (S2), the operation signal is input to the CPU 17a of the main control circuit board 17. As a result, the CPU 17a functions as a credit processing unit, and performs bet processing for reducing the credit amount corresponding to the BET operation signal from the credit data in the RAM 17d (S3). In addition, the CPU 17a receives the operation signal from the spin button 6 and generates a start signal. Then, the CPU 17a outputs the start signal as a drive start command to the drive drivers of the reel drive motors 28, 29, and 30 of the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c. The reel drive motors 28, 29, 30 are driven in response to this drive start command, and rotate all the reels 16a, 16b, 16c (S4). As a result, each symbol display area on the outer peripheral surface of each reel passes through the display window 4 in sequence, and a variable display in which symbols are switched one after another when viewed from the display window 4 is performed.

  The CPU 17a also sends the generated start signal to the random number generation circuit 17e as a random number generation command. Receiving this random number generation command, the random number generation circuit 17e generates three random numbers (S5), and sequentially sends these random numbers to the CPU 17a. Each random number corresponds to each reel 16a, 16b, 16c. The CPU 17a functions as a determination unit together with the random number generation circuit 17e. When the CPU 17a receives the three random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 17e, the CPU 17a checks each random number against a stop position table stored in the ROM 17c. This stop position table is individually prepared for each reel 16a, 16b, 16c. The rotation stop position of each reel 16a, 16b, 16c is determined by each random number and each stop position table.

  Here, when a table in which the number of random numbers assigned to each rotation stop position is set equal to each other is used as the stop position table, the probability that various symbols are stopped and displayed on the display window 4 is changed, and the winning probability of each prize is changed. There is only a method for changing the number of various symbols on the outer peripheral surface of each reel. However, in order to reduce the size of the slot machine 1, it is necessary to reduce the reel diameter to some extent, and there is a limit to increasing the number of symbol display areas that can be displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel. Therefore, in reality, only about 20 symbol display areas can be formed per reel. As a result, even if a symbol is included in each symbol display area, the difference in winning probability between the prizes cannot be increased, and it becomes difficult to provide a high payout prize.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a stop control method called a so-called virtual reel method or virtual reel method is adopted. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the random number range that can be generated by the random number generation circuit 17e is the number of symbol display areas on each reel 16a, 16b, 16c, that is, the rotation at which each reel 16a, 16b, 16c can stop. Set more than the number of stop positions. In the stop position table corresponding to each reel 16a, 16b, 16c, the number of random numbers assigned to each rotation stop position is set to be different in some or all of the rotation stop positions. Use. Based on the random number generated by the random number generation circuit 17e by such setting, it has as many symbol display areas as the random number range that can be generated by the random number generation circuit 17e and is included in these symbol display areas. Control is performed as if the rotation stop position of a virtual reel (virtual reel) having a ratio of various symbols different from that of each reel 16a, 16b, 16c is determined. By such control, the actual rotation stop position of each reel 16a, 16b, 16c corresponding to the determined rotation stop position of the virtual reel is determined. Therefore, in the present embodiment, various symbols are stopped and displayed on the display window 4 regardless of the number of symbol display areas on the actual reels 16a, 16b, and 16c or the ratio of the various symbols included in the symbol display areas. Can change the probability. As a result, it is possible to increase the difference in winning probabilities between the prizes and to provide a high payout prize.

  On the other hand, the CPU 17a functions as a winning determination unit together with the random number generating circuit 17e. When the CPU 17a receives three random numbers sent from the random number generating circuit 17e, the combination of these random numbers is stored in a winning determination table stored in the ROM 17c. A winning determination process for determining whether or not a prize has been won is also performed (S6). Awards can be broadly classified to allow players to advance a payout award (dividend payout award) that pays out an amount of credit corresponding to the award, or a bonus game that is a special game such as an event or free game or feature game. There is an award (bonus award). Then, the CPU 17a determines a prize to be won in the current game based on the combination of random numbers and the prize determination table, or determines a loss when no prize has been won. The ROM 17c stores at least two types of winning determination tables, that is, a winning determination table used for a base game and a winning determination table used for a special game.

  After completing the winning determination process, the CPU 17a outputs a drive stop command to the reel drive motors 28, 29, 30 so that the reels 16a, 16b, 16c stop at the determined rotation stop position. The reel drive motors 28, 29, 30 that have received the drive stop command stop at the rotation stop position (rotation angle) according to the drive stop command (S7). As a result, a predetermined number of symbol display areas corresponding to the respective rotation stop positions are displayed on the display window 4, and the player can visually recognize the symbols included in these symbol display areas.

  When the payout of the payout is determined in the winning determination process (S8: Yes, S9: Yes), the CPU 17a of the main control circuit board 17 performs sub-control after the rotation of each reel 16a, 16b, 16c is stopped. Various effects are controlled using the circuit board 21. Then, the CPU 17a functions as a payout processing unit, and performs payout processing for adding the credit amount corresponding to the winning prize to the credit data stored in the RAM 17d (S10).

Further, when a bonus prize is determined in the winning determination process (S8: Yes, S9: No), the CPU 17a of the main control circuit board 17 stops the rotation of the reels 16a, 16b, 16c, Various effects are controlled using the control circuit board 21. In the present embodiment, the game control format by the CPU 17a is switched from the normal game control format to a bonus game control format for controlling a bonus game such as an event or a bonus game according to the winning prize. (S11).
In this embodiment, in a bonus game that is performed when a bonus award is won, a free game in which the player can play the game without betting coins is performed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the bonus game during the bonus game period.
When shifting to this bonus game, a bonus game period in which a total of 10 bonus games can be performed is reached. When this bonus game period ends, the game returns to the normal game. When winning the bonus game, the CPU 17a sets the remaining game number data stored in the RAM 17d to “10” and outputs a control signal for setting the display count value to “10” on the bonus count display 12b. (S21).

  In the bonus game, a lottery similar to the lottery in the normal game (hereinafter referred to as “bonus lottery”) is performed. However, in this bonus lottery, a bonus lottery table different from the stop position table used in the base game lottery is used.

  Here, in the slot machine 1, when a transition is made to a bonus game, the CPU 17a executes a bonus lottery program stored in the ROM 17c, thereby functioning as a first lottery means. First, a bonus lottery table is read from the ROM 17c. read out. When the spin button 6 is operated by the player (S22), all the reels 16a, 16b, 16c are started to rotate via the reel drive motors 28, 29, 30 as in the case of the normal game. (S23), the bonus lottery is performed (S24). This bonus lottery also performs a winning determination process for determining whether or not the random number data sent from the random number generation circuit 17e has been won in comparison with the bonus lottery table (S25).

  The CPU 17a executes a stop control program stored in the ROM 17c, so that the reel drive motors 28, 29 are stopped so that the reels 16a, 16b, 16c stop at the rotation stop position of the lottery result of the bonus lottery. , 30, a drive stop command is output. The reel drive motors 28, 29, 30 that have received the drive stop command stop at the rotation stop position (rotation angle) according to the drive stop command (S26).

  If it is decided to win any of the prizes by the bonus lottery (S27: Yes), the slot machine 1 shifts from the bonus game to another special game called an upgrade game (S28). On the other hand, when the game is lost without winning due to the bonus lottery, the CPU 17a controls to reduce the remaining game number data stored in the RAM 17d by “1” and to reduce the display count value of the bonus count display 12b by “1”. Perform (S29). Until the remaining game number data becomes “0”, the player can play the bonus game (S30).

Next, the upgrade game will be described.
The upgrade game is a lottery game that is performed using a sphere lottery device 50 that includes a spherical lottery ball 51 as a lottery rotator whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface, which will be described later in detail. The lottery balls 51 are provided with symbols having numbers 1 to 10 on the surface thereof, and the numbers stopped in the lottery result display section, which will be described in detail later, will be the outcome of the lottery using the lottery balls.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the upgrade game.
First, the CPU 17a executes an upgrade game control program stored in the ROM 17c. As a result, the upgrade game is advanced in the slot machine 1. In this upgrade game, the CPU 17a executes a ball lottery program as a predetermined lottery program stored in the ROM 17c, thereby functioning as a second lottery means and performing ball lottery (S41). In this ball lottery, random number data sent from the random number generation circuit 17e is checked against the ball lottery table. This ball lottery table associates the numbers drawn on the surface of the lottery balls 51 of the sphere lottery device 50 with the random numbers. In this embodiment, the winning probability of each number is set to 1/10.

  When the lottery result in the ball lottery is obtained, drive control of the ball lottery device 50 is performed (S42). Specifically, the CPU 17a on the main control circuit board 17 outputs lottery result data indicating the lottery result from the data transmission circuit 17f. The lottery result data is input to the data input circuit 21i on the sub control circuit board 21 and received by the CPU 21a. Receiving this, the CPU 21a reads out and executes the drive control program from the control ROM 21j. First, a control signal for driving the lottery ball 51 to the sphere lottery device 50 via the drive control circuit 21k as the drive control unit. Output. Thereby, the lottery ball 51 rotates, and it is possible to perform an effect as if a real physical lottery using a sphere is being performed on the player. When the predetermined period has elapsed, the CPU 21a makes the player visually check the lottery result display data from the lottery ball display window 15 with respect to the ball lottery device 50 via the drive control circuit 21k based on the received lottery result data. A control signal for stopping at a position where it can be output. Thereby, the player can visually recognize the result of the ball lottery through the lottery ball display window 15.

  In the ball lottery, the CPU 17a executes the stop control program stored in the ROM 17c when the symbols of numbers “1” to “10” are selected. Then, the driving of the middle reel 16b is resumed, and when the symbols on the middle reel 16b are displaced by the number of the number symbols obtained from the lottery result of the ball lottery, the middle reel 16b is stopped (S43). At this time, after the driving of the middle reel 16b is resumed, the middle reel 16b may be driven and controlled so as to stop and display all the symbols shifted by the number of the number symbols obtained by the lottery result of the ball lottery. The middle reel 16b may be driven so as to pause each symbol, and the middle reel 16b may be driven and controlled so that the shifted symbol is finally stopped.

  Here, if the symbols in the nine symbol display areas after the middle reel 16b is shifted by the number of symbols displayed by the ball lottery are arranged corresponding to winning, it corresponds to the winning prize. A payout process for paying out the amount of credit is performed (S45).

In this embodiment, the upgrade game is repeated until the result of the ball lottery becomes an even number (S46: No). That is, if the outcome is an odd number (S46: Yes), the upgrade game can be repeated. When the result of the ball lottery becomes an even number (S46: No), the upgrade game is completed, and the bonus game is returned to.
When the upgrade game ends and returns to the bonus game, the remaining game count data of the bonus game holds the state before the transition to the upgrade game. When returning from the upgrade game to the bonus game, the CPU 17a performs control to reduce the remaining game number data stored in the RAM 17d by “1” and to reduce the display count value of the bonus count display 12b by “1”. (S31). When the remaining game number data becomes “0”, the bonus game is ended and the game shifts to the normal game, and when it is not “0”, the bonus game is continued (S32). Therefore, when the player shifts from the normal game to the bonus game, the player has a chance to play the upgrade game up to 10 times.

Next, the sphere lottery apparatus 50 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described. The sphere lottery apparatus 50 is used for the ball lottery when the game is shifted to the upgrade game at the time of bonus lottery.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a sphere lottery apparatus 50. FIG. 1A is a perspective explanatory view of the sphere lottery apparatus 50, and FIG. 1B is a front explanatory view of the sphere lottery apparatus 50 when the sphere lottery apparatus 50 is viewed from the lottery sphere display window 15.

As shown in FIG. 1A, around a lottery ball 51 which is a spherical lottery rotating body whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface, a first stator 52 is provided as a drive unit which is a contact member and includes a vibrator. The second stator 53 and the third stator 54 are arranged. The first stator 52, the second stator 53, and the third stator 54 are fixed to a lottery device holding member 55.
By applying a high-frequency AC voltage to piezoelectric elements (not shown) included in the three stators 52, 53, and 54, a traveling wave whose phase progresses with time is excited on the surface of the stator. The lottery ball 51 in FIG. 6 starts rotating due to the frictional force with the stator.
The first stator 52 transmits driving in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing to the lottery balls 51. Similarly, the second stator 53 transmits driving in the rotational direction indicated by arrow B in the drawing, and the third stator 54 transmits driving in the rotational direction indicated by arrow C in the drawing. The drive control circuit 21k as a drive control unit controls the rotation drive of the lottery balls 51 by controlling the first stator 52, the second stator 53, and the third stator 54. Further, the drive control circuit 21k executes the ball lottery program stored in the ROM 17c to rotate the lottery balls 51 based on the lottery result calculated by the CPU 17a that is a lottery control unit for calculating the lottery result. Stop. In FIG. 1A, the positive direction of the X-axis is the direction in which the front panel 3 and the lottery ball display window 15 are present and face the player.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, the lottery ball 51 which is a lottery rotator has two numerical symbols 100 each consisting of “1” to “10” as a plurality of kinds of symbols on the outer peripheral surface. Twenty numerical symbols 100 are integrally provided. In order to make it possible to distinguish the numeric symbol 100 corresponding to the lottery result from the other numeric symbols 100, the lottery ball display window 15 includes a lottery result display portion 60 including a circular frame portion 60a. Then, the drive control circuit 21k stops the rotation of the lottery ball 51 in a state where the numerical symbol 100 corresponding to the lottery result calculated by the CPU 17a is displayed in the circular frame portion 60a of the lottery result display unit 60. The drive of the 1st stator 52, the 2nd stator 53, and the 3rd stator 54 is controlled.

The three stators 52, 53, and 54 are arranged so that their respective rotation axes are not parallel to the rotation axes of the other two stators. Thereby, by adjusting the output as an ultrasonic motor for each of at least two stators, the lottery balls 51 can rotate around the two coordinate axes, for example, the rotation direction around the Y axis, the Z axis, Can be driven to rotate in the direction of rotation around the center. That is, the lottery ball 51 is rotationally driven so as to be able to perform a rotational motion obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other, such as the Y axis and the Z axis. Can be rotated.
Further, the three stators 52, 53, and 54 are arranged so that the three rotation axes of the stator are not on the same plane. Thereby, by adjusting the output as the ultrasonic motor for each of the three stators, the lottery balls 51 rotate around the three coordinate axes, that is, around the Y axis and the Z axis described above. Not only the direction but also the rotational direction around the X axis can be driven to rotate. Thereby, the lottery balls 51 are rotationally driven so that a rotational motion obtained by synthesizing rotational components around three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other, such as the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, is possible. Three-degree-of-freedom rotational drive is possible.
When the lottery rotator is a reel member that rotates only on one rotation axis, a symbol is displayed on the lottery result display unit, and then the symbol displayed on the lottery result display unit is above the displayed symbol. Or it is limited to the symbol which adjoins below. On the other hand, if the lottery ball 51 is rotationally driven so as to be able to perform the rotational motion obtained by synthesizing the rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes that are orthogonal to each other as in the ball lottery device 50, The symbols that are not limited to the left and right can be displayed on the lottery result display section. As shown in FIG. 1B, after the symbol “1” is displayed on the lottery result display section 60, “2”, “3”, “ All symbols “4”, “8”, “9”, and “10” can be displayed on the lottery result display unit 60. In particular, the lottery ball 51 is rotationally driven so as to be able to perform a rotational motion obtained by combining rotational components around three virtual fixed axes that are orthogonal to each other. It is also possible to perform rotation such as turning upside down while 100 is displayed.

In the present embodiment, a ring-shaped stator is used as a vibrator, and the lottery balls 51 are rotated by contacting the vibrating stator surface and the lottery balls 51. The structure for driving the lottery balls 51 to rotate by the driving force based on them is not limited to this structure. The present invention is applicable as long as the sphere is rotationally driven using a vibrator so that a rotational motion obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible.
By using an ultrasonic motor that is driven to rotate by a driving force based on the vibration generated by such a vibrator, it is possible to rotate at a lower speed and with a higher torque than a conventional electromagnetic motor. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a speed reducer using gears in order to rotate at low speed and high torque, it is possible to reduce the size of the drive unit and the entire lottery device.

Next, the posture detection of the lottery ball 51 which is a lottery rotator will be described.
Since the lottery balls 51 of the present embodiment are those in which the rotational drive is transmitted by the frictional force with the stator, slippage occurs between the stator and the outer peripheral surfaces of the lottery balls 51, resulting in a shift in the drive transmission. There is a fear. When the drive transmission is deviated, the lottery ball 51 is deviated between the target posture and the actual posture with respect to the drive control. In the present embodiment, in order to correct the deviation between the target posture of the lottery balls 51 and the actual posture, the posture detecting unit that detects the posture of the lottery balls is provided, and drive control is performed using the detection result of the posture detecting unit. The circuit 21k controls the driving of the three stators 52, 53, and 54.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory side view of the sphere lottery apparatus 50 for explaining the posture detection unit of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 11, the sphere lottery apparatus 50 includes a CCD camera 70 as a photographing unit and an image discriminating device 21m that discriminates an image photographed by the CCD camera 70 as posture detecting units. The CCD camera 70 is disposed at a position facing the back of the outer circumferential surface of the lottery ball 51 with respect to a location facing the lottery result display unit 60 on the outer circumferential surface of the lottery ball 51. When the symbol 100a corresponding to the lottery result of the computer lottery is displayed on the lottery result display unit 60, the image information acquired by the CCD camera 70 is the predetermined image information of the symbol 100b provided directly behind the symbol 100a in the lottery ball 51. Whether or not they match is identified by the image discrimination device 21m.

  The image discriminating device 21m is preliminarily input with image information of the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51, and identifies which portion of the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51 is captured by the image information acquired by the CCD camera 70. Can do. When the image information acquired by the CCD camera 70 matches the predetermined image information, the drive control circuit 21k performs control to stop the driving of the stators 52, 53, and 54 and stop the rotation of the lottery ball 51. On the other hand, when the image information acquired by the CCD camera 70 does not match the predetermined image information, the image discriminating device 21m identifies at which position on the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51 the image information is stored. Data is transmitted to the CPU 21a. Based on this position information, the CPU 21a calculates how the lottery ball 51 needs to be driven in order to calculate and correct the deviation of the actual posture from the target posture, and the result is used as a drive control circuit. To 21k. Accordingly, the drive control circuit 21k controls the three stators 52, 53, and 54 so that the actual posture becomes the target posture.

  In the present embodiment, the lottery ball 51 provided with the CCD camera 70 at a position directly behind the opposing portion of the lottery result display unit 60 has been described. However, since the posture of the lottery ball 51 can be detected by shooting anywhere on the surface of the lottery ball 51, the CCD camera 70 may be provided anywhere as long as it is a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51. As the image discrimination device 21m, a known device used for image sensing can be used. The timing for correcting the deviation between the target posture of the lottery balls 51 and the actual posture is not limited to when the rotation of the lottery balls 51 is stopped. If the deviation is small, the lottery balls 51 are driven to rotate. When starting the rotational drive after stopping, the rotational drive may be started after correcting the deviation of the posture.

In the present embodiment, the case where the scatter determination method is used as the winning determination method has been described as an example. However, according to the arrangement relationship of various symbols included in the symbol display area stopped and displayed on the display window 4, A method other than the scatter determination method may be adopted as long as it determines whether or not. For example, if the condition that the same symbol is included in each symbol display area on a predetermined winning line extending over each reel 16a, 16b, 16c is satisfied, it is determined that the winning corresponding to the type of the symbol is won. It is also possible to adopt a determination method.
In the present embodiment, the sphere lottery apparatus 50 using the sphere lottery balls 51 as the lottery rotator has been described. As a lottery rotator, a driving force is transmitted to the surface of the lottery rotator so that it can be rotationally driven so that a rotational motion obtained by synthesizing rotational components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible. As long as it is not limited to a sphere, a polyhedron having a large number of surfaces close to a sphere may be used. Further, the shape of the entire outer peripheral surface constituting the curved surface is not limited to a sphere, and may be an ellipsoid.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the sphere lottery apparatus 50 includes the sphere lottery balls 51 as the lottery rotator for displaying the lottery results of the computer lottery on the lottery result display unit 60, and includes the first stator 52, which is the drive unit, The lottery balls 51 are rotationally driven by the two stators 53 and the third stator 54 so that the lottery balls 51 can be rotated by combining rotational components around three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other. As a result, the display order pattern of symbols displayed at the lottery result display position increases, and even if the player remembers the arrangement of symbols relative to the lottery rotator, the lottery result is displayed at the lottery result display position. It is possible to make it difficult for the player to predict the change of the symbol, and to improve the game performance.

[Modification 1]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration using a so-called ultrasonic motor that performs rotational driving by a driving force based on the driving generated by the vibrator has been described as the driving unit. The configuration of the drive unit that rotationally drives the lottery ball 51 that is the lottery rotator whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface is not limited to this.
Hereinafter, Modification 1 in which the lottery ball 51 is rotationally driven by using the frictional force generated at the contact portion between the contact member and the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51 as the lottery rotator as the driving force by rotating the contact member will be described.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a drive unit of the sphere lottery apparatus 50 according to the first modification.
The drive unit of the first modification includes drive rollers 80x, 80y, and 80z as contact members and DC motors 82x, 82y, and 82z as drive sources, and the DC motors 82x, 82y, and 82z are drive control units. It is controlled by the drive control circuit 21k. The driving rollers 80x, 80y, and 80z are driven to rotate by being transmitted from the DC motors 82x, 82y, and 82z via the rotation shafts 81x, 81y, and 81z. The rotational driving of the driving rollers 80x, 80y, 80z is transmitted to the lottery balls 51 by the frictional force generated at the contact portion between the driving rollers 80x, 80y, 80z and the outer peripheral surface of the lottery balls 51, and the lottery balls 51 are rotationally driven. The lottery balls 51 include a first drive roller 80x that transmits rotational drive around the X axis, a second drive roller 80y that transmits rotational drive around the Y axis, and a third drive roller 80z that transmits rotational drive around the Z axis. Thus, the rotational drive can be performed so that the rotational motion obtained by synthesizing the rotational components around the three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible.
In addition, a DC motor that rotates by receiving a voltage can be used as a drive source, and the cost of the drive unit can be reduced compared to a drive unit that uses an ultrasonic motor.

[Modification 2]
In the embodiment described above, the sphere lottery apparatus 50 in which the lottery balls 51 include the symbol 100 on the outer peripheral surface has been described. The symbols are not limited to those arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51. Hereinafter, Modification 2 in which the lottery ball 51 is a spherical container whose inside can be visually recognized from the outside, and a symbol display member having a plurality of types of symbols on the outer peripheral surface is fixedly arranged inside the lottery ball 51 will be described.
FIG. 13 is a perspective explanatory view of a sphere lottery apparatus 50 according to the second modification.
As shown in FIG. 13, the lottery ball 51 includes a spherical transparent case 51a and a die 51b as a symbol display member fixed inside the transparent case 51a. Symbols (not shown) are provided on each of the six faces of the die 51b. In the sphere lottery device 50 according to the second modification, when the lottery ball 51 is rotationally driven, the die 51b fixedly disposed together with the transparent case 51a is also rotationally driven. Then, the lottery ball 51 is controlled to stop so that the surface of the die 51b having a symbol indicating the lottery result of the computer lottery comes to the lottery result display position. Thereby, the lottery result of the computer lottery can be displayed. In this way, the lottery balls 51 are formed by the transparent case 51a, and the symbol display member is fixed inside, so that even if the symbol display member is a solid body that is not a sphere, two or three virtual fixings that are orthogonal to each other. The drive can be performed so that the rotation operation obtained by synthesizing the rotation components around the axis is possible.

[Modification 3]
In the above-described embodiment, the spherical lottery device 50 using the image sensing by photographing the outer peripheral surface of the lottery ball 51 using the CCD camera 70 as the posture detection unit that detects the posture of the lottery ball 51 has been described. The posture detection unit is not limited to one that detects the posture from the outside of the lottery ball 51. Hereinafter, Modification 3 in which the lottery ball 51 is provided with an angular velocity detection unit that detects an angular velocity acting on the lottery ball 51 and the posture of the lottery ball 51 is detected based on the detection result of the angular velocity detection unit will be described.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the posture detection unit in the sphere lottery apparatus 50 according to the third modification.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the ball lottery apparatus 50 includes a gyro sensor 71 that is an angular velocity detector as an attitude detector. The gyro sensor 71 detects the angular velocity acting on the lottery ball 51, and transmits the data to the CPU 21a via the in-ball communication device 72 and the out-ball communication device 73. The CPU 21a calculates the position information of the lottery ball 51 based on the angular velocity data. Based on this position information, if the lottery ball 51 is deviated from the target posture, how should it be driven to calculate and correct the deviation? And the result is transmitted to the drive control circuit 21k. Thereby, the drive control circuit 21k controls the three stators 52, 53, and 54 so that the actual posture becomes a desired posture.

In Modification 3, an in-ball communicator 72 is provided in the lottery ball 51, and an out-ball communicator 73 fixed to the slot machine 1 body is provided outside the lottery ball 51. Communication between the ball and the external ball communication device 73 is performed wirelessly. Since the lottery ball 51 can be rotationally driven with three degrees of freedom, it is difficult to wire the angular velocity data detected by the gyro sensor 71 in the lottery ball 51 to the CPU 21a outside the lottery ball 51 by wire. . Therefore, as in the third modification example, data is transmitted via the in-ball communication device 72 and the outside ball communication device 73 that perform communication exchange wirelessly, thereby providing communication wiring from the gyro sensor 71 to the CPU 21a. There is no need.
Furthermore, it is difficult to supply power from the power supply outside the lottery ball 51 to the gyro sensor 71 and the ball communicator 72 provided in the lottery ball 51 that can be rotationally driven with three degrees of freedom. On the other hand, in Modification 3, a power generator 74 is disposed in the lottery ball 51 and power is supplied from the power generator 74 to the gyro sensor 71 and the ball communicator 72. Thereby, it is not necessary to supply electric power into the lottery balls 51 from an external power source. The power generator 74 generates power by the rotational motion of the lottery balls 51. For example, a vibration power generation device that includes a piezoelectric element and generates power by vibrations generated by the rotational motion of the lottery balls 51 may be used. it can.

[Modification 4]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the sphere lottery device 50 including the lottery balls 51 is used as a mechanism for displaying the lottery result of the second lottery of the slot machine 1 has been described. Hereinafter, as a fourth modification, another application example of a lottery apparatus including a lottery rotator whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface will be described.
FIG. 15 is a detailed front view showing the vicinity of the display window on the front panel of the slot machine 1 of the fourth modification. As shown in FIG. 15A, in the fourth modification, instead of the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c of the embodiment, three spheres provided with lottery balls 51 that are lottery rotators whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface. The lottery device 50 is arranged so that a part of the lottery balls 51 can be confirmed from the display window 4. In this way, by using the lottery rotator whose entire outer peripheral surface forms a curved surface instead of the reel member of the slot machine, it is possible to make it difficult for the player to predict changes in the three symbols displayed on the display window 4. . As shown in FIG. 15A, when three ball lottery devices 50 are arranged side by side, the space required in the horizontal direction becomes larger than that in which three reel members are arranged. Therefore, in order to save space in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 15B, one of the ball lottery devices 50 may be arranged to be shifted upward.

  In the above-described embodiment, Modification 1 and Modification 4, the configuration in which the sphere lottery device is applied to a slot machine has been described. The sphere lottery apparatus having the features of the present invention is not limited to the one applied to the slot machine, but can be applied as a lottery apparatus that displays the lottery result of the computer lottery only by the sphere lottery apparatus.

Explanatory drawing of the sphere lottery apparatus used at the time of the upgrade game in the slot machine according to the embodiment, (a) is a perspective explanatory view of the sphere lottery apparatus, (b) is a front explanatory view of the sphere lottery apparatus. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the slot machine. The schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the slot machine. The detailed front view which shows a part of front panel of the slot machine. The disassembled perspective view which shows the reel of the slot machine. The perspective view which looked at the backlight device of the slot machine from the front side of the slot machine. The block diagram which shows a part of electric circuit of the slot machine. The flowchart which shows the flow of one game in the slot machine. The flowchart which shows the flow of the bonus game during the bonus game period of the slot machine. The flowchart which shows the flow of the upgrade game which advances with the slot machine. Side explanatory drawing of the sphere lottery device of the slot machine. Side surface explanatory drawing of the sphere lottery apparatus of the slot machine concerning the modification 1. FIG. The perspective explanatory drawing of the spherical body lottery apparatus which concerns on the modification 2. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the attitude | position detection part in the spherical body lottery apparatus which concerns on the modification 3. FIG. Arrangement explanatory drawing of the sphere lottery device of the slot machine concerning the modification 4, (a) is the explanatory drawing which arranged the sphere lottery device instead of the conventional reel member, (b) is horizontal compared with (a) Explanatory drawing of the arrangement | positioning which can aim at the space saving of a direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 2 Housing | casing 3 Front panel 4 Display window 16a, 16b, 16c Reel 17 Main control circuit board 21 Sub control circuit board 50 Sphere lottery device 51 Lottery ball 52 First stator 53 Second stator 54 Third stator 102a, 102b, 102c light emitting unit

Claims (10)

A lottery rotator integrally including a plurality of types of symbols;
A drive unit that rotationally drives the lottery rotator;
A lottery control unit that performs a computer lottery to execute a predetermined lottery program and calculate a lottery result;
The lottery rotator is controlled so as to rotate the lottery rotator by controlling the driving unit and to stop and display symbols corresponding to the lottery result of the computer lottery in a state distinguishable from other symbols. In a lottery apparatus having a drive control unit that performs control to stop rotation,
The entire outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator constitutes a curved surface,
The drive unit is configured to rotate the lottery rotator so that a rotation operation obtained by synthesizing rotation components around two or three virtual fixed axes orthogonal to each other is possible. Lottery equipment to do. The lottery apparatus according to claim 1,
The drive unit includes a contact member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator and transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the lottery rotator to the lottery rotator, and the driving force causes the outer peripheral surface to be transferred to the lottery rotator. A lottery apparatus characterized in that the lottery rotator is rotationally driven by being moved relative to a contact member. The lottery apparatus according to claim 2,
The contact member is a vibrator that generates vibration, and the drive unit is configured to rotate the lottery rotator by the driving force based on the vibration generated by the vibrator. Lottery device. The lottery apparatus according to claim 2,
The drive unit rotates the contact member and causes the frictional force generated at the contact portion between the contact member and the outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotator to be the driving force, and rotates the lottery rotator. Characteristic lottery equipment. In the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4,
An attitude detection unit for detecting the attitude of the lottery rotator,
The lottery apparatus, wherein the drive control unit performs control to stop the rotation of the lottery rotator using a detection result of the posture detection unit. The lottery apparatus according to claim 5,
The rotating body posture detecting unit includes a photographing unit that photographs the lottery rotating body so as to face at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the lottery rotating body, and the lottery rotating body based on an image photographed by the photographing unit. The lottery apparatus is characterized in that it detects the attitude of the player. The lottery apparatus according to claim 5,
The rotary body posture detection unit includes an angular velocity detection unit that detects an angular velocity acting on the lottery rotary body in the first half of the lottery rotary body, and detects the posture of the lottery rotary body based on a detection result of the angular speed detection unit. A lottery apparatus characterized by being. In the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,
The lottery rotator comprises the plurality of types of symbols on an outer peripheral surface. In the lottery apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,
The lottery apparatus, wherein the lottery rotator has a symbol display member provided with a plurality of types of symbols on the outer peripheral surface thereof fixedly arranged inside a spherical container whose inside can be visually recognized from the outside. The lottery device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9,
A gaming machine comprising: a game control unit that controls the progress of a game using a lottery result obtained by the lottery device.

Images