JP2008006065A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which houses even a large liquid crystal driving circuit board for driving a large liquid crystal panel within a front glass door and improves reliability in display of a liquid crystal panel, in the game machine where the liquid crystal panel is fixed to the front glass door provided in front of a game board. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine comprises: the game board having a transparent part; a plane light source arranged in the rear part of the transparent part; the liquid crystal panel arranged in front of the transparent part; and the liquid crystal driving circuit which drives the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel is fixed to the front glass door provided in front of the game board, and arranged on a liquid crystal driving circuit board where the liquid crystal driving circuit is fitted to the edge of the front glass door. The main surface of the liquid crystal driving circuit board is formed along a direction intersecting the front glass door. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko machine that launches a game ball in a game area of a game board and plays a game, and in particular, a game in which a liquid crystal display is provided on at least a part of a front glass window that protects the front part of the game area. Related to the machine.

  Pachinko machines in which a central player device including a display such as a liquid crystal panel is provided in a game area of a game board have been widely commercialized. In recent years, the content displayed on the display has greatly affected the characteristics of the gaming machine. Therefore, the display screen is enlarged using a display composed of a large color liquid crystal panel, and the content is provided to the player. Gaming machines have been developed to make a deeper impression. While the display size has increased, the area through which game balls can pass within the game area has been reduced at the expense of the game machine, and it has been launched while watching the fun of the original game balls and the movement of the game balls. There was also a problem that the search for a launch technique such as trial and error was lacking.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine in which a display device is disposed in close contact with the back surface of a glass plate of a front glass window of a gaming machine so that a game ball can pass behind the display device. Since the display device does not obstruct the passage area of the game ball, even if the display screen of the display device is enlarged, the area through which the game ball can pass in the game area is not reduced. However, since the player behind the display unit cannot visually recognize the 7-segment display unit described in the example of Patent Document 1 or a liquid crystal display unit equipped with a general backlight, If the display screen of the device is enlarged, the area where the movement of the game ball can be visually recognized is narrowed, and the player cannot enjoy the fun of the movement of the game ball inherent to the pachinko machine.

  In Patent Document 2, a liquid crystal panel is disposed in close contact with the back surface of a glass plate located in front of a front glass window composed of two glass plates, separately from a display in a central player device attached to a game board. Furthermore, a gaming machine is disclosed in which a backlight light source for irradiating light to the liquid crystal panel is provided between the two glass plates. The light source is composed of a plurality of high-brightness LEDs, and is disposed on the side and rear of the transparent liquid crystal panel so that the light source does not hinder the player from viewing the game area. In this gaming machine, obstacles such as nails can be installed in the gaming area on the gaming board behind the liquid crystal panel in the same manner as in a normal gaming machine, and a display comprising a liquid crystal panel and a light source is provided in the gaming area. There is no narrowing of visual recognition.

  Also in Patent Document 3, a liquid crystal panel is closely arranged on the back side of a glass plate located on the front side of a front glass window composed of two glass plates separately from a display in a central player device attached to a game board. A gaming machine is disclosed. A light source for irradiating the liquid crystal panel with light is composed of an LED substrate in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged on the substrate, and is disposed on a side portion of the liquid crystal panel. The light from the LED substrate is diffused by the light diffusion sheet, and the light is distributed over the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel.

In the gaming machines disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, a display using a liquid crystal panel with a front glass window is provided as an auxiliary or additional effect for the display in the central accessory device.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-063232 JP 2004-337398 A JP-A-2005-205174

  Liquid crystal driving as a control unit including a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel in a gaming machine in which the liquid crystal panel is disposed in close contact with the back surface of the glass plate located on the front side of the front glass window made of a plurality of glass plates The circuit board must be installed anywhere inside the gaming machine.

  By the way, the liquid crystal panel has transparent electrodes arranged in a matrix over the entire surface, and a driving current corresponding to an information signal is supplied to the transparent electrodes to turn on / off predetermined pixels and to display an image at a predetermined position. Is displayed. In general, input terminals for inputting drive current are provided at intervals along at least one side of the liquid crystal panel. In addition, the input terminal and the liquid crystal drive circuit board are provided with a path (lead wire) for supplying a drive current on a one-to-one basis. Here, when the size of the liquid crystal panel is increased and the number of pixels is increased, the number of input terminals is also increased, and the liquid crystal driving circuit substrate as a control unit is increased. In addition, the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal drive circuit board must be connected using a wide flat cable corresponding to the number of input terminals. In this case, if the liquid crystal drive circuit board is provided in the board housing portion of the gaming machine main body, the flat cable needs to be routed to the main body through the vicinity of the hinge portion of the front glass window. However, the front glass window is frequently opened and closed, for example, to adjust a nail planted in the game area, and the flat cable is frequently bent at the hinge portion. Thereby, the conducting wire in the flat cable may be broken to cause poor conduction. On the other hand, as in the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 3, for example, if the liquid crystal driving circuit board can be accommodated in the frame portion of the front glass window so that the player cannot visually recognize it, there is no need to route the flat cable to the main body. However, the liquid crystal driving circuit board as a control unit for driving a particularly large liquid crystal panel is large and has a small space to be accommodated in the frame portion of the front glass window.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a front glass door for a gaming machine in which a liquid crystal panel is fixed to a front glass door provided in front of a game board, even for a large liquid crystal driving circuit board that drives a large liquid crystal panel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can be housed inside and can improve the display reliability of a liquid crystal panel.

  A gaming machine according to the present invention includes a gaming board having a transparent portion, a planar light source disposed behind the transparent portion, a liquid crystal panel disposed in front of the transparent portion, and a liquid crystal driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel is fixed to a front glass door provided in front of the game board, and the liquid crystal drive circuit is mounted on an edge of the front glass door. The main surface of the liquid crystal driving circuit board is along a direction intersecting the front glass door.

  According to the present invention, since the liquid crystal driving circuit board is attached to the front glass door, the flat cable for connecting the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal driving circuit board is directed from the front glass door to the gaming machine main body. There is no need to arrange them. Therefore, the wiring can be simplified, and there is no conduction failure of the drive current from the liquid crystal drive circuit to the liquid crystal panel due to opening and closing of the front glass door, and the display reliability of the liquid crystal panel is improved. In addition, since the liquid crystal drive circuit board is fixed to the edge of the front glass door so that the main surface of the liquid crystal drive circuit board crosses the front glass door, the liquid crystal drive circuit in the plane of the front glass door The accommodation space for the substrate can be reduced. That is, even a large liquid crystal driving circuit board for driving a large liquid crystal panel can be accommodated in the front glass door.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  The gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that launches a game ball in a gaming area of a gaming board and plays a game. The gaming machine main body has a front glass door attached to be freely opened and closed, and the front glass door is positioned in front of the game area of the game board in a closed state in combination with the main body. The front glass door includes a frame having a central window at the center, and the gaming area of the game board is visible through the central window of the frame when the front glass door is combined with the main body and closed. . That is, the shape of the central window is provided substantially along the game area. Above the central window of the front glass door is a decorative body that extends in the horizontal direction and projects forward from the front glass door. A part of the decorative body is formed of a transparent or translucent lens member. The interior of the decorative body is hollow and forms a storage portion. A plurality of light sources such as light emitting diodes are arranged and housed along the inner wall of the housing portion, and light from the light sources can be emitted to the outside of the decorative body through the lens member. A light source drive circuit board including a drive circuit for driving these light sources is housed in the housing portion.

  A multi-layer glass plate assembly including a multi-layer glass in which a plurality of glass plates are laminated with a space therebetween is attached to the central window of the frame so as to be openable and closable from the front glass door to the rear. In the state where the multilayer glass plate assembly is closed in combination with the front glass door, the central window is closed from the rear of the frame body by the multilayer glass. Thereby, the game ball falls between the game board and the multilayer glass assembly in the game area. In addition, in a multi-layer glass plate assembly, stacking a plurality of glass plates at intervals is a fraud that changes the advancing direction of the game ball in the game area using a magnet from the outside of the gaming machine. This is to prevent it.

  A transparent portion is provided in at least a part of the game area of the game board. Obstacles such as nails and windmills are provided on the surface facing the front of the transparent part, and a game ball can pass through the front of the transparent part. A planar light source is provided behind the transparent portion of the game board, and light having a substantially uniform intensity distribution can be emitted forward through the transparent portion. The light source is generally a plurality of fluorescent lamps, and may be a plurality of light emitting diodes. A light diffusing plate is attached to the back of the liquid crystal panel to make it uniform as if it were a flat light source. It emits light.

  A substantially rectangular liquid crystal panel is accommodated between the multiple glass layers of the multiple glass plate assembly. In a state where the front glass door is combined with the main body and the multi-layer glass plate assembly is closed with the front glass door (game state), at least a part of the liquid crystal panel is located in front of the transparent portion. In other words, at least a part of the liquid crystal panel is provided with light from a planar light source from behind the passage of the game ball in front of the transparent portion. The upper edge of the substantially rectangular liquid crystal panel is located outside the central window. That is, the upper edge of the liquid crystal panel is in a position where it cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the gaming machine through the central window. Input terminals for driving the liquid crystal panel along the upper edge of the liquid crystal panel are provided in parallel with each other.

  A liquid crystal driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel is disposed on the liquid crystal driving circuit substrate. The liquid crystal driving circuit board and the input terminal of the liquid crystal panel are connected with a short flat cable or directly. The liquid crystal drive circuit board is fixed to the upper end portion of the liquid crystal panel so as to extend along a direction intersecting the multilayer glass plate assembly. In other words, the liquid crystal driving circuit board is attached so as to protrude forward while extending substantially horizontally in the vicinity of the upper end of the liquid crystal panel or the upper end of the multilayer glass plate assembly. In order to prevent malfunction of the liquid crystal driving circuit board, a plastic board case is attached so as to cover it. The liquid crystal driving circuit board and the substrate case are housed inside the housing portion of the decorative body of the front glass door having an opening toward the rear in a state where the multilayer glass plate assembly is combined with the front glass door and closed. On the other hand, in a state where the multi-layer glass plate assembly is opened rearward from the front glass door, the liquid crystal driving circuit board and the substrate case are located outside the housing portion of the decorative body of the front glass door. That is, the liquid crystal drive circuit board and the substrate case can freely enter and leave the interior of the front glass door decorative body by opening and closing the multilayer glass plate assembly.

  As described above, since the liquid crystal driving circuit board is not housed in the main body portion and is provided on the front glass door side where the liquid crystal panel is installed, a flat cable including many signal lines between the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal driving circuit board. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the display reliability of the liquid crystal panel due to the disconnection of the flat cable. Furthermore, even if the main surface of the liquid crystal driving circuit board is along the direction intersecting the front glass door, the liquid crystal panel is enlarged and the area of the liquid crystal panel occupying the area of the front glass door is large. The liquid crystal driving circuit board can be installed on the front glass door without interfering with the liquid crystal panel. Moreover, since the liquid crystal driving circuit board is arranged so as to protrude forward from the multi-layer glass plate assembly (liquid crystal panel), an opening toward the rear of the decorative body at the top of the front glass door provided in the conventional gaming machine The liquid crystal driving circuit board can be accommodated in the accommodating portion having a space, and space saving can be achieved.

  Further, an embodiment of the gaming machine incorporating the above-described control device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the gaming machine 1 is a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that launches a game ball toward the game area 3a of the game board 3 by operating the player's handle 2. . The game board 3 is a unit body integrally formed with the game board frame 3 ′, and is fixed to the main body 6. On the game board 3, a guide 3b for defining a game area 3a is erected. The gaming area 3a is substantially circular like the conventional gaming machine, and its front surface is covered with the front glass door 4 in the gaming state. The front part of the upper half of the game area 3a is also covered with the liquid crystal panel 5.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, the liquid crystal panel 5 is incorporated in the multilayer glass body 4 b of the front glass door 4. Further, a transparent portion 22 is provided behind the liquid crystal panel 5 of the game board 3, and a backlight unit 21 is installed behind the transparent portion 22. Since the backlight unit 21 is behind the game board 3, the player can visually recognize the game area 3 a of the game board 3 through the liquid crystal panel 5. On the gaming area 3a including the transparent portion 22, as in the conventional gaming machine, an obstacle for changing the falling flow path of a gaming ball such as a nail or a windmill, or an opportunity for internal lottery is given. A prize opening, a central equipment device, etc. are installed (not shown). That is, the player can visually recognize these items and the game balls passing through them.

  In the conventional gaming machine, when the area ratio of the liquid crystal panel 3 to the game area 3a is increased, the area where the game ball can fall is narrowed or the fall of the game ball cannot be visually recognized. In the present embodiment, such a problem does not occur even if the area ratio of the liquid crystal panel 3 to the game area 3a is large. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the backlight unit 21 is arranged behind the liquid crystal panel 5, the liquid crystal panel 5 can be irradiated more uniformly and with high luminance, and the visibility is high centering on the moving image. It is possible to provide an image display. The liquid crystal panel 5 displays various types of game information during the game, and advertisements / promotions at other times. In particular, the game area 3a, which has not been given any role during non-game play, can be used efficiently as a space for advertising / promotion according to the present embodiment.

  Note that the present invention may be any gaming machine in which the liquid crystal panel 5 is attached to a part of the multilayer glass body 4b of the front glass door 4 regardless of the presence or absence of the central accessory device. That is, the central accessory device may be installed behind the liquid crystal panel 5. Needless to say, according to the present embodiment, such a central accessory device can also be visually recognized by the player via the liquid crystal panel 5.

  The front glass door 4 includes a substantially rectangular frame 4a having a substantially rectangular central window 4a1 at the center. The frame 4a is pivotally supported on the side of the main body 6 of the gaming machine 1 by two hinges 11 at the top and bottom. Further, the multi-layer glass body 4b is pivotally supported on the side of the frame body 4a by two hinges 12 at the upper and lower positions between the hinges 11. Usually, the multilayer glass body 4b abuts against the frame body 4a from behind and closes the central window 4a1. The multi-layer glass body 4b is in contact with the frame body 4a and is closed so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body 6 as an integrated front glass door 4. Furthermore, the game area 3a is formed as a closed space between the game board 3 and the multi-layer glass body 4b in a state in which the front glass door 4 is closed in contact with the main body portion 6. A game ball falls in such a closed space.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the multilayer glass body 4 b is a laminated body in which two or more glass plates 4 b 1 are laminated at intervals. The peripheral edge of the glass plate 4b1 is fitted and fixed to the fixed frame 13 to constitute a multilayer glass assembly. A light-shielding film 14 is provided on the rear rear surface of the front glass plate 4b1 so that the player can not visually recognize the area other than the game area 3a.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the liquid crystal panel 5 is disposed between the two glass plates 4b1 of the multilayer glass body 4b, and the upper end portion of the liquid crystal panel 5 is the multilayer glass body 4b. Located outside of. The position of the liquid crystal panel 5 in the multi-layer glass body 4b is determined so that the player can visually recognize the symbols and the like displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 through the glass plate 4b1 positioned in front of this. The For example, the liquid crystal panel 5 is disposed so that the display surface faces forward, and is in close contact with the back surface of the glass plate 4b1 positioned at the forefront of the glass plate 4b1 constituting the multilayer glass body 4b. An image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 is controlled by a liquid crystal driving circuit 51 that receives a signal from the CPU 50.

  The multi-layer glass body 4b is formed by laminating glass plates 4b1 at intervals in order to prevent cheating from changing the falling path of the game ball using a magnet from the outside of the gaming machine. In this embodiment, since the liquid crystal panel 5 is interposed between the two glass plates 4b1, the magnetic force is more difficult to transmit through the multilayer glass body 4b. Therefore, as described above, fraud can be prevented more reliably.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6, each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 5 extends along the upper end of the liquid crystal panel 5 extending further upward from the upper part of the multilayer glass body 4 b. Input terminals for blinking are arranged (not shown). A substantially rectangular plate-like liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a including a liquid crystal drive circuit 51 for supplying current to these input terminals is fixed along the upper end of the liquid crystal panel 5 and protrudes forward. In this embodiment, the input terminal and the liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a are connected by a flat cable 53 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), but they may be directly connected. For example, a socket may be provided on the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a, and the end portions of the liquid crystal panel 5 where the input terminals are arranged may be fitted into the socket. According to this embodiment, even if an element or the like on the liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a breaks down, the liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a can be immediately replaced, so that maintenance work can be performed quickly. The liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a is accommodated in a board case 51b that covers the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a for protection from noise or the like that may cause an external malfunction.

  Here, the main surface of the substantially rectangular plate-like liquid crystal drive circuit board 51 a is provided at the upper end of the liquid crystal panel 5 so as to extend along the direction intersecting the main surface of the liquid crystal panel 5. That is, the main surface of the liquid crystal drive circuit substrate 51a is also along the direction intersecting the main surface of the plate-like multilayer glass body 4b. In the gaming state, the main surfaces of the game board 3, the front glass door 4, the multi-layer glass body 4b, and the liquid crystal panel 5 are all parallel and vertically upright, so the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a. The main surface extends substantially in the horizontal direction, and the main surface extends along the direction intersecting the main surface of the game board 3 or the like.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, when the front glass door 4 is viewed from the front, a decorative body 15 is formed on the upper portion of the frame 4a so as to protrude forward. Yes. A part of the decorative body 15 is formed of a lens body made of a transparent acrylic lens or the like. The interior of the decorative body 15 is hollow, and a light source 16 such as a light emitting diode or a light bulb is housed in the hollow housing portion 15a along the inner wall. The light from the light source 16 is guided to the outside through the lens body of the decorative body 15. A light source driving circuit board 16a including a driving circuit for driving the light source 16 is also accommodated in the accommodating portion 15a.

  Here, the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a and the board case 51b are the decorative body of the frame body 4a in a state in which the multilayer glass body 4b is pivoted about the hinge 12 and is in contact with the front glass door 4 from behind. 15 are accommodated without interfering with the light source 16 and the light source drive circuit board 16a. That is, the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a and the board case 51b can freely enter and leave the housing portion 15a of the decorative body 15 by opening the multilayer glass body 4b.

  3 and 4 in particular, as described above, the backlight unit 21 of the liquid crystal panel 5 is on the opposite side with the liquid crystal panel 5 and the game board 3 interposed therebetween. The light emitted from the backlight unit 21 passes through the transparent part 22 provided in a part of the game area 3 a of the game board 3 and reaches the liquid crystal panel 5. In this embodiment, since the distance between the backlight unit 21 and the liquid crystal panel 5 is farther than a liquid crystal display equipped with a general backlight, the light from the backlight unit 21 is well guided to the liquid crystal panel 5. It is preferable to provide the light control plate 23 behind the transparent portion 22 so as to be removed. The light control plate 23 is a combination of, for example, a lens and a light diffusion plate, and controls the traveling direction of light.

  According to the embodiment described above, the area ratio of the liquid crystal panel 5 in the game area 3a is very large as compared with the conventional gaming machine. Therefore, powerful images can be provided. On the other hand, since the number of pixels increases, the number of input terminals for driving the same also increases, and the width of the flat cable for connecting the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a and the same also increases. If an attempt is made to route such a wide flat cable toward the main body 6, the movement at the hinges 11 and 12 will be hindered. In this embodiment, since the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a is provided in the front glass door 4, such a problem does not occur. Further, since only a few wirings and / or power supply wirings for sending image data signals need to be routed on the main body 6 side, many wirings for connecting the liquid crystal panel 5 and the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a. As compared with the case where the flat cable including the cable is routed to the main body 6 side, troubles due to disconnection in the vicinity of the hinges 11 and 12 can be reduced.

  When the liquid crystal panel 5 is further increased in size, the liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a is increased in size, and the space outside the liquid crystal panel 5 of the front glass door 4 is reduced. However, according to the present embodiment, since the main surface of the liquid crystal drive circuit board 51a is arranged along the direction intersecting the front glass door 4, this can be accommodated even in a reduced space. Moreover, since the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a is accommodated in the accommodating portion 15a of the decorative body 15 of the front glass door 4, it is not necessary to provide a new space for accommodating the liquid crystal driving circuit board 51a.

It is a front view of the gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part of the gaming machine according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the game machine by this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Handle 3 Game board 3a Game area 4 Front glass door 4a Frame body 4b Multi-layer glass body 4b1 Glass plate 5 Liquid crystal panel 6 Main body part 11 and 12 Hinge 13 Fixed frame body 14 Light shielding film 15 Decoration body 15a Storage part 16 Light source 16a Light source drive circuit board 21 Backlight unit 22 Transparent portion 23 Light control board 50 CPU
51 Liquid Crystal Drive Circuit 51a Liquid Crystal Drive Circuit Board 51b Board Case 53 Flat Cable

Claims (6)

A game board having a transparent portion, a planar light source disposed behind the transparent portion, a liquid crystal panel disposed in front of the transparent portion, and a liquid crystal driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel,
The liquid crystal panel is fixed to a front glass door provided in front of the game board, and the liquid crystal driving circuit is disposed on a liquid crystal driving circuit board attached to an edge of the front glass door,
A gaming machine, wherein a main surface of the liquid crystal driving circuit board is along a direction intersecting the front glass door. A storage part in which a light source is disposed along an inner wall of the front glass door is provided at an edge of the front glass door, and a light source drive circuit board including a drive circuit for driving the light source is stored in the storage part. ,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the liquid crystal driving circuit board. The front glass door comprises a frame having a central window, and a multi-layer glass plate assembly composed of a plurality of glass plates provided in the central window of the frame so as to be opened and closed.
The liquid crystal panel is disposed between the plurality of glass plates, and the liquid crystal driving circuit board is attached to the multilayer glass plate assembly so that a main surface thereof is along a direction intersecting the glass plate. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.   4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal driving circuit board is attached so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction and to protrude forward from the multilayer glass plate assembly.   The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the storage portion is provided above the central window, and the liquid crystal driving circuit board is attached to an upper edge portion of the multilayer glass plate assembly.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal driving circuit board is housed in a board case.

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