JP2007305151A - Microcomputer element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily detect the illegal alteration of a control program and data stored in a ROM of a microcomputer of a game machine. <P>SOLUTION: This microcomputer element 1 obtained by packaging at least a ROM 12 capable of only data reading, a RAM 13 capable of data reading and writing and a microcomputer chip 10 with a CPU 11 for performing an operation formed comprises a reading means composed of a read program stored in the ROM 12 to sequentially read data stored in a prescribed area of the ROM 12 and output the data as serial data when the power is supplied or reset, and an electrooptical converting element 32 for inputting the serial data read by the reading means to convert the serial data into an optical signal, wherein light output from the electrooptical converting element can be introduced to an optical fiber 24 introduced from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a microcomputer element capable of detecting fraud such as program alteration and data rewriting. In particular, the present invention can be applied to a microcomputer element that controls a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that emits a winning ball according to a winning mode.

In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a throttle machine, in order to control a game of the gaming machine, a ROM storing a program and data for controlling the game is stored in a CP.
A one-chip microcomputer element formed on the same chip as U has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-17756). And in the industry where a gaming machine is installed, in order to make this gaming machine more euphoric, fraud such as rewriting a control program or data in the ROM is likely to occur. In order to prevent this fraud, this microcomputer element is provided with an identification circuit for detecting whether or not the program written in the built-in ROM is fraudulent.

However, the microcomputer element checks mainly by comparing the ID given by the inspection organization stored in the ROM with the ID inputted from the external verification device. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to deal with fraud in which the ID itself is falsified. Also, for fraud detection, the device-specific I
There is a problem that a collation device storing D must be prepared.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to make it possible to easily detect unauthorized tampering of control programs and data stored in the ROM of a gaming machine microcomputer. is there.

The structure of the invention for solving the problem is at least in a microcomputer element in which a microcomputer chip in which a ROM that can only read data, a RAM that can read and write data, and a CPU that performs operations is packaged is packaged. At a predetermined timing, read means comprising a read program that sequentially reads data stored in a predetermined area of the ROM and outputs it as serial data, and inputs serial data read by the read means And an electro-optical conversion element that converts the light signal into an optical signal that can be introduced into an optical fiber introduced from the outside. The predetermined timing is preferably at power-on or reset.

In the present invention, at a predetermined timing, the read program stored in the ROM of the built-in ROM of the one-chip microcomputer is activated, and the data stored in the predetermined area of the built-in ROM is sequentially output. The data is output as serial data to an electro-optical conversion element arranged in the microcomputer element. Then, an optical signal is output from the electro-optical conversion element. This optical signal can be easily output to an external device by introducing the tip of the optical fiber from the outside of the microcomputer element into the arrangement portion of the electro-optical conversion element of the element.

Thus, the data (including the program code) read to the external device is compared with the regular data, and it can be determined whether or not the program and data in the ROM of the microcomputer are falsified. Moreover, since the output of this data is output as an optical signal through the electro-optical conversion element, it is unidirectional, and it is possible to prevent unauthorized execution of rewriting programs and data in the ROM using this terminal. Is done.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on specific examples.

  The present invention is a case where the microcomputer element 1 is used in a pachinko machine.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a microcomputer element 1 according to this embodiment. On the semiconductor chip 10, a CPU 11 for executing a calculation, a ROM 12 that stores a control program and data for the CPU 11, and a RAM 1 that temporarily stores data
3. A clock 16 for outputting a synchronization signal of the operation of the CPU 11, a counter timer 14, and an input / output port 15 for inputting / outputting parallel data are formed. A large number of lands 20 are formed in the periphery of the chip 10, and the lands 20 are electrically connected by leads 30 and gold wires 35 arranged around the chip 10.

A laser diode 32 that is electrically connected to two specific leads 30 a and 30 b among the many leads 30 is provided. These chip 10 and lead 30
The laser diode 32 is molded from the mold resin 22. However, the optical signal output surface of the laser diode 32 is not covered with the mold resin 22, and an introduction hole 34 through which the optical fiber 24 can be introduced from the outside is formed above the optical signal output surface of the laser diode 32. . By inserting the tip of the optical fiber 24 into the introduction hole 34, serial data of the optical signal output from the laser diode 32 can be taken out.

As shown in FIG. 6, a control unit 42 having a printed circuit board 41 and covered with a box is disposed on the back surface of the game board 40 of the pachinko machine. The microcomputer element 1 is disposed on the printed circuit board 41, and a through hole 43 is formed in the front surface of the control unit 42. The optical fiber 24 is passed through the through hole 43,
By introducing the tip of the optical fiber 24 into the introduction hole 34 of the microcomputer element 1, the above optical signal can be led out to the outside.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer element 1 will be described. Figure 3 shows ROM
12 is an address map, and stores a reading program related to the present invention from address Y000. The area where this program is stored is not open for use by users such as pachinko machine manufacturers, so that the program from address Y000 is started when power is supplied to the microcomputer element 1 or at reset. It is configured. The address after address X000 is an area where programs and data developed by the user are stored, and is an area open to the user's use. This user area program and data are subject to falsification.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the CPU 11 of the microcomputer element 1.

When power is supplied to the microcomputer element 1 or the microcomputer element 1 is reset, execution of the read program of this embodiment is started from address X000 of the ROM 12. In step 100, the start address X of the user area of the ROM 12
000 is set in variable A. Next, in step 102, data D (A) at address A is read. Next, in step 104, the data D (
A) is converted into serial data and output to the output terminal 20a to the laser diode 32 in step 106. This serial data corresponds to “0” and “1” and is pulse width modulated data as shown in FIG. One period T of data is a fixed value, and the length of L level has a meaning as a signal. That is, “0” is L level only for 1/3 interval of one cycle, and “1” is L level only for 2/3 interval of 1 cycle. The laser diode 32 outputs light only during this H level period and stops outputting light only during the L level period. Regardless of the data of “0” and “1”, the timing at which the optical signal is stopped, that is, the falling timing of the signal is constant at the period T, so that the external device can easily detect the pulse width.

Next, in step 108, the read variable A is updated by 2 bytes (one word). Next, at step 110, it is determined whether or not the read variable A has become larger than the final address A _end of the user area of the ROM 12. Read variable A is R
If it does not exceed the final address A _end , it is necessary to output the data at the next address, so the process returns to step 102 and the data at the next address is read out. In this way, up to the final address A _end of the user area of the ROM 12,
Data is read out and output to the outside as a serial optical signal.

Next, if it is determined in step 110 that reading has been completed up to the final address A _end of the user area, the process proceeds to step 112, where the program is executed from the start address X000 of the user area in the ROM 12 and one chip. A predetermined process of the microcomputer element 1 is executed. Since the element 1 is mounted as a control device for the pachinko machine, a predetermined game is controlled by executing a program from the head address X000.

On the other hand, the program code and data stored in the user area of the ROM 12 input to the external device via the optical fiber 24 are compared with the regular code and data to determine whether or not the alteration has been performed. . When it is determined that tampering has been performed, power supply to the microcomputer element 1 is immediately stopped.

In the above embodiment, the microcomputer element 1 is used as a control device for a pachinko machine. However, a game machine such as a throttle machine or the like that is controlled by a microcomputer and may be illegally used. It can be applied to everything.

The block diagram which showed the structure of the microcomputer element used by the present Example. The block diagram which showed the plane and side surface cross section of the microcomputer element. The block diagram which showed the address assignment of ROM built in the microcomputer element. The flowchart which showed the process sequence of the data reading program by CPU of the microcomputer element. The block diagram which showed the state of the signal output. The block diagram which showed a mode that the microcomputer element was arrange | positioned by the pachinko machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microcomputer element 10 ... Semiconductor chip 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Land 30 ... Lead 20a ... Output terminal 22 ... Mold resin 24 ... Optical fiber 32 ... Laser diode 34 ... Introduction hole 40 ... Game board 41 ... Printed circuit board 42 ... Control unit 43 ... Communication hole

Claims (2)

At least in a microcomputer element packaged with a ROM that can only read data, a RAM that can read and write data, and a microcomputer chip on which a CPU that performs operations is formed,
Reading means comprising a reading program that sequentially reads data stored in the ROM and stored in a predetermined area of the ROM at a predetermined timing and outputs the data as serial data;
An electro-optical conversion element that inputs serial data read by the reading means and converts it into a corresponding optical signal,
A microcomputer element characterized in that light output from the electro-optical conversion element can be introduced into an optical fiber introduced from outside. 2. The microcomputer element according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is when power is turned on or reset.

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