JP2008022909A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine having a display control function of reducing a processing load on a CPU when compressed image data is decoded to use an inexpensive CPU having a low processing capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The CPU 140 reads out the compressed image data from a ROM 142, and generates YUV image data by decoding moving image data by entropy decoding, DCT decoding, and motion compensation prediction decoding, and transfers the YUV image data to an auxiliary IC 145. The auxiliary IC 145 converts the received YUV image data to an RGB image data by color space conversion as the final processing for moving image reproduction, and transfers the RGB image data to the CPU 140. Therefore, the processing load on the CPU is reduced when decoding moving image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine having a display control function for making a lottery drawing by variably displaying a predetermined symbol on an image display device.

  Conventionally, game machines have been devised in various ways to improve their preferences. In particular, a gaming machine equipped with an image display device on a gaming area has various contrivances because the popularity and unpopularity of the gaming machine is determined depending on the display method of the image display device. As a game machine equipped with a typical image display device, for example, there is a so-called fever-type pachinko game machine, and this type of game is specially provided in an image display section of a special symbol display device as an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device. Three symbol display parts for displaying symbols are set, and a pseudo pattern showing a state where a picture, a character, a number, a symbol, a character, etc. as a special symbol is rotated on each symbol display part on the basis of a winning of a start winning opening. The variable display is displayed as an image, the variable display is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the stopped special symbols are matched (hereinafter also referred to as a slot game).

  As a result of the slot game, for example, when a special symbol combination (for example, the same special symbol combination) that constitutes a big hit at the time when two special symbols are stopped, it becomes reach, and the image display part is elaborate. Reach action is displayed, and if the special symbol that has been finalized when the last special symbol stops is a combination of special symbols that have been determined in advance (big hit symbol), the game will be a big hit. The state is shifted to a jackpot game that is extremely valuable to the player.

  In this jackpot game, generally, a plurality of rounds (for example, the first round to the 16th round) are converted into a state in which a big prize port called an attacker is advantageous to the player in a predetermined manner. The player can acquire a large amount of game balls (for example, about 2000) by this big hit game. In other words, the biggest concern for the player is to win this jackpot game, so the player is the most interesting and heats up when the game is in progress, when the gaming state is reach It becomes.

  Therefore, a recent gaming machine has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a slot game related to the jackpot game, in particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) in order to further improve the video game such as reach action displayed when the gaming state is reached. It has a display control board composed of electronic components such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), VDP (Video Display Processor), VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), etc. With this display control board, The video images that are displayed for reach actions, etc. are made more complex and elaborate.

Specifically, the CPU reads out the image control program data and image display image data stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area, creates image data, and stores the created image data in the VDP. Forward. When the VDP receives image data from the CPU, the VDP temporarily stores the image data in the VRAM and expands it, and then displays it on the image display unit of the special symbol display device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter referred to as the prior art).
JP 2004-159843 A

  However, in such a conventional technique, in order to display a complicated and elaborate image, a large amount of image data for image display must be stored in the ROM. Therefore, the ROM capacity increases and the cost increases. There is a problem of becoming. In order to suppress the increase in ROM capacity, a processing method in which the compressed image data is stored in the ROM and the CPU decodes the compressed image data with software can be considered. However, such compressed image data is stored in the software. In the decoding process, the processing load on the CPU is large, and if an inexpensive CPU is used, this process takes time and is not practical.

  That is, in the process of decoding compressed image data by software, if an inexpensive CPU is used, a moving image algorithm with a large processing load cannot be used, so the compression rate of the image data decreases, and as a result, the ROM capacity increases. It cannot be suppressed. In other words, in the process of decoding compressed image data with software, there is a problem that an expensive CPU with high processing capability is required and the cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the processing load of the CPU when decoding compressed image data, thereby reducing the processing capacity and low cost. An object is to provide a gaming machine having a display control function capable of using a CPU.

In order to solve such a problem, the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine comprising a display device provided with a display control means for displaying a predetermined moving image, as described in claim 1.
The display control means includes a storage means for storing compressed image data for reproducing a moving image on the display device, and an arithmetic processing means for sequentially decoding the compressed image data of the storage means and executing a moving image reproduction process. With
The arithmetic processing means includes: an arithmetic processing device that executes a part of the moving image reproduction processing by software; and an arithmetic processing circuit that executes a portion of the moving image reproduction processing that is not executed by the arithmetic processing device by hardware. It is characterized by having.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 2, in the gaming machine according to claim 1, the process executed by the arithmetic processing circuit is a color space conversion process which is a final process in the moving image reproduction process. Features.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the arithmetic processing circuit includes a conversion table that is pre-calculated in advance for a predetermined function in connection with execution of the color space conversion processing. It is provided.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine includes display control means for performing display control of a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and the display control means has a predetermined moving image on the display device, for example, two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Display moving images such as scroll display, reach action, and jackpot effect image. The display control means includes storage means and arithmetic processing means. The storage means stores compressed image data for reproducing a moving image on the display device, and the arithmetic processing means compresses the image data compressed by the storage means. Is read out and sequentially decoded (decoded) to execute a moving image reproduction process. That is, a predetermined moving image is displayed on the display device by the moving image reproduction process. Note that the memory means includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM.

  Here, the arithmetic processing means includes an arithmetic processing device and an arithmetic processing circuit, the arithmetic processing device executes a part of the moving image reproduction processing by software, and the arithmetic processing circuit is an arithmetic processing device of the moving image reproduction processing. The part that is not executed is executed by hardware. In other words, in the present invention, a part of the moving image reproduction process that was originally executed by software processing only by the arithmetic processing unit is handled by the arithmetic processing circuit as hardware. The arithmetic processing unit includes a central processing unit such as a CPU, and the arithmetic processing circuit includes, for example, a custom IC configured with a gate array or the like.

  According to the invention of claim 1 having such a configuration, the arithmetic processing device can reduce the processing load of the moving image algorithm for executing the moving image reproduction processing. It becomes possible to reduce the cost. In addition, by reducing the processing load of the video algorithm, the video compression rate in the video playback process does not decrease even if an inexpensive arithmetic processing device with low processing capacity is used. As a result, the processing speed of the video playback process is slow. There is no need to reduce the compression rate of the image data in the storage means.

  That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of the arithmetic processing device with a low processing capability, and to reduce the cost. There is an extremely remarkable effect that it is possible to prevent the speed from becoming slow and the capacity of the storage means from increasing.

  By the way, there are various kinds of processing that the arithmetic processing circuit as the hardware executes among several moving image reproduction processes, and this may be performed as follows. That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the process executed by the arithmetic processing circuit is a color space conversion process which is a final process in the moving image reproduction process. In this color space conversion process, three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are expressed from YUV image data expressed by luminance (Y), blue color difference (U), and red color difference (V). This is a process of converting to RGB image data expressed by gradation, and is a process with a heavy load in the moving image reproduction process.

  When the arithmetic processing circuit performs the color space conversion process, the arithmetic processing device performs processes such as entropy decoding, DCT decoding, and motion compensation predictive decoding as preprocessing, and YUV that has decoded moving image data. Image data is generated, and this YUV image data is transferred to the arithmetic processing circuit. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2 configured as described above, since the arithmetic processing circuit as hardware executes the color space conversion processing with a large load in the moving image reproduction processing, the moving image algorithm executed by the arithmetic processing device Can effectively reduce the processing load.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the arithmetic processing circuit is provided with a conversion table in which a predetermined function is pre-calculated in advance in connection with execution of the color space conversion processing. Yes. In other words, the arithmetic processing circuit executes the color space conversion process by referring to a conversion table in which a predetermined function is calculated in advance.

  According to the invention of claim 3 having such a configuration, there is a remarkable effect that the configuration of the arithmetic processing circuit can be simplified and the processing speed can be increased. In other words, it is possible to eliminate the pre-calculated conversion table and actually perform the calculation by hardware. However, if such a means is adopted, the processing time of the arithmetic processing circuit is delayed, and the number of gates is also increased. However, these problems can be solved by providing a conversion table in which a predetermined function is pre-calculated in advance in the arithmetic processing circuit.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall front view of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes an outer frame 22 fixed to a game island (not shown) and an inner frame 23 attached to the outer frame 22 so as to be opened and closed. The inner frame 23 includes a game board 21 that provides a player with a pachinko game, a hitting operation handle 2 that operates a hitting ball launching device 43 that is described later when operated by the player, and a game launched by the hitting ball launching device 43. A ball guide rail 3 for guiding a ball, a game region forming rail 4 provided so that the launched game ball flies within a certain range, and a game region surrounded by the ball guide rail 3 and the game region forming rail 4 5 and a return ball which is attached to the tip of the game area forming rail 4 and prevents the game ball launched into the game area 5 from returning to the firing path between the hit ball guiding rail 3 and the game area forming rail 4. A liquid crystal display that performs a stop valve 24, a windmill 20 that changes the game ball launched into the game area 5 in an unexpected direction, and a pseudo display (hereinafter also referred to as scroll display) showing a special symbol rotating. A special symbol display device 6 composed of a display (LCD, Liquid Crystal Display) and the like, and a start winning opening (electric tulip) 11 for causing the special symbol display device 6 to start scrolling display of the special symbols when a game ball wins. When the special symbol display device 6 scrolls the special symbol and the game ball wins the start winning slot 11, the game displays how many times the scroll ball is displayed after the scroll display is finished (usually a maximum of four times). Four on-hold LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 25 that sequentially perform lighting display of the on-hold memory for informing the user, and three special on the image display unit of the special symbol display device 6 When the display results in the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, the right symbol display unit 10 and the special symbol display device 6 that individually display the patterns are in a predetermined mode (big hit), the player A winning opening (attacker) 7 that is advantageously opened, a striking ball supply tray 12 for supplying game balls to the striking ball launching device 43, and a ball that does not fit in the striking ball supply tray 12 can be stored, A surplus ball tray 13 that can move a game ball to a storage ball box (not shown), a normal winning port 14 for paying out a prize ball by winning, a payout of a prize ball for a prize, a ball clogging, an abnormality, etc. A game effect lamp 15 that enhances the effect by flashing when the game state reaches a predetermined state (for example, a big hit), and an outlet for collecting the game balls provided at the bottom of the game area 5 16 And a glass door frame 17 that can be freely opened and closed on the inner frame 23, and a single-digit ordinary symbol, and when the ordinary symbol is a predetermined ordinary symbol (winning), A normal symbol display device 18 composed of a 7-segment LED or the like that opens the blades of the electric tulip, a normal symbol operation gate 19 that causes the normal symbol display device 18 to start displaying a variation of the normal symbol when the game ball passes, If the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 19 while the normal symbol display device 18 displays the variation of the normal symbol, after the variation display is finished, how many times the variation symbol is displayed (usually up to four times) The four hold LEDs 26 that sequentially turn on and off the hold memory for informing the person.

  In the gaming machine 1 configured as described above, first, a game ball is launched from the hit ball launching device 43 by the operation of the hitting operation handle 2 of the player, and passes between the hit ball guiding rail 3 and the game area forming rail 4. A game ball is launched into the game area 5 on the game board 21. Then, the game ball falls in the game area 5 by its own weight, and in the process of falling, the game ball 21 is changed in the direction of dropping by a game nail or a windmill 20 (not shown) implanted in the game board 21, In the case where the normal winning opening 14 is won, the normal symbol operating gate 19 is passed, or all the winning holes are not won, the winning hole 16 is collected.

  When a game ball wins the start winning opening 11, a predetermined prize ball is given to the player, and the game ball is detected by a start winning detection sensor 116 described later, and each symbol display unit 8 of the special symbol display device 6 is detected. , 9, 10 are displayed in a scrolled manner, and after a predetermined time, a slot game is performed in which a special symbol is stopped in the order of the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9, and a lottery is performed. When the special symbol of the part 8 and the special symbol of the right symbol display part 10 are stopped, a combination of special symbols constituting a big hit (for example, the special symbol of the left symbol display part 8 and the special symbol of the right symbol display part 10 are The special symbol display device 6 displays a predetermined reach action, and after that, the special symbol on the middle symbol display unit 9 is stopped. If the displayed special symbol is a combination of predetermined special symbols, it will be a big hit, and the attacker as the big prize opening 7 will be opened in a predetermined manner. In some cases, it will be off. Note that the special symbol combinations that are jackpots include those that are in a high probability state (so-called probability variation state) in which the probability of jackpot increases until the next jackpot occurs.

  Further, when the game ball wins the normal winning opening 14, a predetermined prize ball is given to the player. When the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 19, the game ball is detected by an operation gate detection sensor 121, which will be described later, the normal symbol is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 18, and a lottery is performed to confirm the display. When the normal symbol is a normal symbol determined in advance, it is a win and the blades of the start winning opening (electric tulip) 11 are opened for a predetermined time.

  Next, each board | substrate arrange | positioned at the back surface of the gaming machine 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the entire back surface of the gaming machine 1. Reference numeral 50 denotes a mechanism plate, which is attached to the inner frame 23 by a hinge or the like (not shown) so as to be freely opened and closed. An opening 53 is provided at a substantially upper center portion so that the back surface of the game board 21 faces. A ball storage tank 51 for storing game balls supplied from the game island is provided on the upper part of the mechanism plate 50, and the game balls supplied to the ball storage tank 51 pass through the tank rail 52 to the prize ball payout device 41. Thus, as described above, based on the winning of the game ball to the start winning port 11, the normal winning port 14, etc., the prize ball paying device 41 is driven and a predetermined prize ball is paid out to the player. The prize ball payout device 41 is also driven by inserting a player's money, operating a ball lending switch after inserting a prepaid card, etc., and lending (renting) a predetermined number of game balls.

  A special symbol display device 6 attached to the gaming machine 1 faces the opening 53, and a display control board 39 is integrally attached to the special symbol display device 6 on the back side of the special symbol display device 6. ing. Further, a main control board 44, a payout control board 40, a launch control board 42, a power supply board 36, a lamp control board 37, and a sound control board 38 are respectively attached to substantially the lower part of the mechanism board 50. A terminal board 45 is attached to the upper right corner of the.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main circuit configuration of the gaming machine 1. First, the main control board 44, which plays a central role in executing a game, temporarily executes a CPU 102 that executes a game progress control program, a ROM 103 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 102, and data that the CPU 102 processes. A RAM 104 for storing is provided. The main control board 44 also includes an input circuit 101, an output circuit 110, and a local bus 115 for connecting them, and the CPU 102 outputs based on signals from each sensor and switch acquired via the input circuit 101. A predetermined control program for controlling a later-described sub-control board connected to the circuit 110 and other various circuits and devices is executed.

  The input circuit 101 includes a start winning detection sensor 116 that sends a special symbol variation start signal when a winning of a game ball provided in the start winning opening 11 is detected, and a count switch 123 that detects a game ball won in the starting winning opening 11. When the passing of the game ball provided in the normal symbol operation gate 19 is detected, the operation gate detection sensor 121 that sends a normal symbol variation start signal, and the game that has won a prize in the big prize opening 7 by opening the big prize opening 7 A count switch 117 for detecting a ball, a hitting operation handle switch 119 that is turned on when the hitting operation handle 2 is turned and a game ball is launched, and a pressing operation that is provided at a predetermined position of the hitting operation handle 2 The ball-hitting operation stop switch 120 that turns off the operation of the ball-hitting device 43 and stops the game ball from being fired, and the game that has won a prize A safe ball detection sensor 122 that outputs a safe signal necessary for counting a ball as a safe ball and paying out a game ball as a prize, and a game ball as a prize ball or a rental ball paid out from the prize ball payout device 41 A payout ball detection sensor 124 for counting is connected.

  The output circuit 110 includes a lamp control board 37 that controls lighting / flashing of LEDs (for example, the hold LED 25 and the hold LED 26) and various display lamps (for example, the game effect lamp 15) provided on the game board surface, and a grand prize. A solenoid 106 for opening the attacker as the mouth 7, a solenoid 107 for opening the electric tulip as the start winning opening 11, and a voice for performing voice control for amplifying various sound effects from the speaker 113. An external information terminal 109 is connected to the control board 38 and a hall management computer (not shown) and the like, and outputs various information from the main control board 44 (for example, information related to jackpots, winning balls, rental balls, etc.) to the outside of the gaming machine 1. Is connected to a terminal board 45 provided with In addition, the output circuit 110 is connected to a firing control board 42 for controlling the operation stop and operation stop release of the hitting ball launching device 43 for firing a pachinko ball toward the game area 5.

  Further, the output control board 40 and the display control board 39 are connected to the output circuit 110. The payout control board 40 drives and controls the prize ball payout device 41 to perform payout control of prize balls and balls. The display control board 39 controls an image displayed on the special symbol display device 6 as an LCD, a number displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 as a 7-segment LED, and the like. The display control board 39 will be described in detail later.

  The lamp control board 37, the sound control board 38, the display control board 39, the payout control board 40, and the launch control board 42 function as sub control boards that play an auxiliary role in executing the game. Although not shown, the boards 37, 38, 39, 40, and 42 include a microcomputer mainly including a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., as with the main control board 44, and commands in one direction from the main control board 44. It operates based on (command signal etc.).

  For example, the payout control board 40 stores and holds the payout control CPU, the work area of the payout control CPU, the number of prize balls (rental balls) corresponding to each prize ball (rental) command from the main control board 44, and the like. A RAM having a storage area for storing data, a ROM storing control data, a control program for paying out a prize ball (rented ball), and the like. That is, the payout control board 40 receives a control signal such as a one-way strobe signal or a payout control command signal from the CPU 102 of the main control board 44 via an input circuit (not shown). The CPU recognizes the payout control command and controls the prize ball payout device 41 to perform payout control of the prize ball (rented ball).

  In this way, the control signal (strobe signal, command signal, etc.) is unidirectionally communicated from the main control board 44 to the sub control boards 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, that is, the sub control boards 37, 38, 39. , 40, and 42 to eliminate the input to the main control board 44 by reducing the input to the main control board 44 that controls the main control of the entire gaming machine 1, It is possible to eliminate as much as possible, and the game arcade can provide appropriate games to the player, and the circuit configuration and program relating to the communication between the two can be simplified, which facilitates the development and production of the gaming machine 1 and leads to cost reduction.

  In the case where the main control board 44, the payout control board 40, etc. are stored in the board BOX, it is desirable to adopt a so-called caulking structure that is sealed by a predetermined means so that a trace of opening the board BOX remains. As a result, fraud to the main control board 44, the payout control board 40, etc. can be eliminated. Further, the hitting operation handle switch 119 and the hitting operation stop switch 120 connected to the input circuit 101 may be directly connected to the launch control board 42. Further, the payout ball detection sensor 124 connected to the input circuit 101 of the main control board 44 may also input to the payout control board 40. These may be appropriately designed according to the functions and arrangement of various devices, the processing speed of each CPU, the capacity of a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, and the like.

  Next, the main circuit configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the circuit configuration of the main control board 44 and the sub control boards 37, 38, 39, 40, and 42 is mainly shown. However, the block diagram of FIG. The circuit configuration is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display control board 39 receives a control signal such as a one-way strobe signal or a display control command signal from the output circuit 110 of the main control board 44, so that the special symbol display device 6 Display control for image processing related to 2D or 3D scroll display, reach action, jackpot effect image, etc. displayed on the LCD is executed. For this reason, the display control board 39 includes a CPU 140, an SDRAM 141, a ROM 142, a VDP 143, a VRAM 144, an auxiliary IC 145, a local bus 147, and the like.

  The input interface (not shown) of the display control board 39 is provided with a buffer circuit composed of, for example, a transistor array whose input terminals are connected to a power source through a resistor, and a strobe signal input from the main control board 44 A display control command signal is output to an INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140. Thus, only signal input from the main control board 44 to the display control board 39 is permitted, and signal output from the display control board 39 to the main control board 44 is prohibited.

  The ROM 142 is a semiconductor memory that stores a display control program executed by the CPU 140, image data for reproducing a moving image on the LCD of the special symbol display device 6, 3D polygon data for drawing a three-dimensional image, and the like. Is a semiconductor memory used as a work area such as a work area or a stack area of a display control program executed by the CPU 140.

  The CPU 140 is a central processing unit that executes a display control program. When a strobe signal is input, the CPU 140 recognizes a display control command signal and uses the SDRAM 141 as a work area to perform display control from the ROM 142 and various kinds of display control programs. Image data and the like are read at any time, and after executing processing for reproducing a moving image, the image data is transferred to VDP 143.

  The auxiliary IC 145 performs color space conversion (CSC) with a large processing load as a final process in the moving image reproduction process, that is, the luminance (Y), the blue color difference (U), and the red color difference (V). A specific application composed of a gate array or the like for executing the conversion from YUV to be expressed to RGB expressed by the gradation of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) instead of the CPU 140 Integrated circuit.

  The VDP 143 reproduces a moving image on the LCD of the special symbol display device 6 based on the image data from the CPU 140. The VDP 143 has a two-dimensional address space independent of the CPU 140, and the VRAM 144 is mapped there. The VRAM 144 is a frame buffer memory for temporarily storing and developing image data processed by the VDP 143. The VDP 143 displays a moving image by switching one frame image displayed on the LCD every time a vertical synchronization signal is input (every 1/60 seconds, non-interlaced).

  Here, the moving image reproduction process executed by the display control board 39 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of moving image reproduction processing, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing moving image decoding sequentially executed by the CPU 140 and the auxiliary IC 145. In order to execute the moving image reproduction process, the CPU 140 first reads compressed image data stored in the ROM 142. Then, the CPU 140 decodes the compressed image data and transfers it to the auxiliary IC 145 in order to perform entropy decoding, DCT decoding (IDCT, Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform), motion compensation (Motion) as the moving picture decoding shown in FIG. Compensation) Perform predictive decoding.

  Entropy decoding decodes entropy-compressed image data. That is, entropy compression is a method that compresses data length by statistically analyzing pixel data and giving a code with a short bit number to data with a high incidence rate and a long bit number with low data. Is a process of decoding image data compressed by this method.

  In DCT decoding, image data compressed by DCT is decoded. That is, in order to convert the pixels constituting the image (YUV format) into a data format that can be easily compressed by entropy compression, it is DCT compression that changes the pixels constituting the image to a format represented by a cosine wave (cosine wave). DCT decoding is a process for decoding image data compressed in this format.

  In the motion compensation prediction decoding, image data subjected to motion compensation prediction compression is decoded. That is, the image is divided into blocks of 16 pixels in length and width, the movement of the object between frames (time series) is predicted, the predicted motion vector is used to recognize that the pixel block has moved, and A method of reducing the pixel block difference and compressing is motion compensation prediction compression, and motion compensation prediction decoding is a process of decoding image data compressed by this method.

  The CPU 140 performs entropy decoding, DCT decoding, and motion compensation predictive decoding in the moving image reproduction process to generate YUV image data obtained by decoding the moving image data, and transfers this YUV image data to the auxiliary IC 145. When the auxiliary IC 145 receives the YUV image data, the auxiliary IC 145 converts the YUV image data into RGB image data by performing color space conversion which is the final process of the moving image reproduction process.

The auxiliary IC 145 requires the following matrix calculation as color space conversion.
R = 1.164 (Y-16) +1.596 (V-128)
G = 1.164 (Y-16) -0.392 (U-128) -0.813 (V-128)
B = 1.164 (Y-16) +2.017 (U-128)
R, G, and B are each output from Y, U, and V by 8 bits, and A is fixed at 0xff. A represents the semi-transparency value of the dot. In the case of 0xff, there is no translucency and a clear RGB color is designated. On the other hand, in the case of 0x00, the color is completely transparent and the RGB color is not visible. In this normal conversion, since a moving image without a transparent part used for the background is displayed, the value of A is fixed to 0xff. Note that 0x indicates notation in hexadecimal, 0x00 is 0 in decimal, and 0xff is 255 in decimal.

  Since each output data is 8 bits, after the decimal point is rounded off, clipping to 0 to 255 is performed. Note that clip represents rounding to 0xff or 0x00 when the value exceeds 0xff (255) or becomes less than 0x00 (minus value) as a result of addition / subtraction, and clip (n) = (N <0)? 0: ((n> 255)? 255: n) is a C language description method. In addition, round indicates that the numerical value after the decimal point is rounded off, and int indicates that the numerical value after the decimal point is rounded down, and round (f)) = f> = 0? (Int) (f + 0.5): (int) (f−0.5) is a C language description method.

R = clip (round (YRGB [Y] + VR [V]))
G = clip (round (YRGB [Y] + UG [U] + VG [V]))
B = clip (round (YRGB [Y] + UB [U]))
A = 0xff
clip (n) = (n <0)? 0: ((n> 255)? 255: n) // 0-255 clipping
round (f)) = f> = 0? (Int) (f + 0.5): (int) (f−0.5) // rounding off To perform this operation, the auxiliary IC 145 is provided with a CSC conversion table in which the following functions are pre-calculated, The IC 145 obtains the following function with reference to this CSC conversion table.

YRGB [Y] = 1.164 (Y-16)
VR [V] = 1.596 (V-128)
UG [U] = − 0.392 (U−128)
UB [U] = 2.017 (U-128)
VG [V] =-0.813 (V-128)
FIG. 7 shows a YRGB [Y] conversion table as an example of the CSC conversion table. The YRGB [Y] conversion table shown in FIG. 7 uses a fixed-point type table in which the floating point is shifted by 8 bits to the left (256 times) and converted to an 18-bit fixed point so that the auxiliary IC 145 is easy to handle. Yes.

  As an example, a method of deriving a value of YRGB [Y] with a Y value of 0x5a is shown. Since the upper 4 bits of 0x5a are 5, the 5 rows on the vertical axis of the YRGB [Y] conversion table and the lower 4 bits are a, so a (on the horizontal axis of the YRGB [Y] conversion table The decimal column 10) is selected, so the value of YRGB [Y] is 0x05623. Actually, VR [V], UG [U], UB [U], and VG [V] conversion tables are also provided, and the CSC conversion table is created by these tables. The auxiliary IC 145 converts the YUV image data into RGB image data by referring to the CSC conversion table, that is, performs color space conversion.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the auxiliary IC 145 performs color space conversion to convert the YUV image data into RGB image data, the auxiliary IC 145 transfers the converted RGB image data to the CPU 140. When receiving the RGB image data from the auxiliary IC 145, the CPU 140 transfers the RGB image data to the VDP 143. Upon receiving the RGB image data from the CPU 140, the VDP 143 receives the RGB image data from the RGB image data on the LCD of the special symbol display device 6. Play a video.

  Next, game control executed by the main control board 44 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a game control process executed by the main control board 44. The CPU 102 executes each program stored in the ROM 103 every timer interrupt (4 msec), that is, each process of S40 to S50 described below. When this game control process is started, the CPU 102 first executes a random number update process in step S40. In this random number update processing, for example, a big hit random number counter for lottery whether or not to generate a big hit, a special symbol displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9 and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6 A special symbol determination random number counter for determining the fluctuation pattern, a fluctuation pattern determination counter for determining the fluctuation pattern of the special symbol, a random number counter for lottery whether or not to generate a hit, and a normal symbol to be fixedly displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 The random number used for the normal symbol determination random number counter or the like is updated. These random numbers are updated by means of incrementing (adding 1) each interrupt, for example, and resetting when a predetermined value is reached.

  When the random number update process of step S40 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S42 to execute the normal symbol game process, and then proceeds to step S44 to execute the hit process. In the normal symbol game process and the winning process, based on the fact that the game ball has passed the normal symbol operation gate 19, a command signal is sent to the display control board 39 by the normal symbol variation start signal from the operation gate detection sensor 121. When the number (for example, 1-9) as a normal symbol is variably displayed on the symbol display device 18 and a predetermined number (for example, 7) is fixedly displayed, it becomes a win, and the blade of the electric tulip as the start winning opening 11 is predetermined. Execute processing to release time. Note that the game balls that have passed through the normal symbol operation gate 19 while the normal symbol is being displayed are retained balls, and up to four retained balls are stored, and the four retained LEDs 26 are sequentially turned on or off to inform the player. After the normal symbol variation display is completed, the player is notified of how many times the lottery will be performed.

  Then, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S46 to execute a special symbol game process, and then proceeds to step S48 to execute a jackpot process. In the special symbol game process and the jackpot process, the CPU 102 sends a command signal to the display control board 39 by the special symbol variation start signal from the start winning detection sensor 116 based on the winning of the game ball to the start winning opening 11. Then, three special symbols are scroll-displayed on the LCD of the special symbol display device 6 with a predetermined variation pattern, and the predetermined symbol is displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed. Is displayed as a big hit, and a big win game is executed in which the big winning opening (attacker) 7 is opened in a predetermined manner (for example, the big winning opening 7 is opened for 30 seconds or until 10 game balls are won). When the game ball passes through a specific area in the special winning opening 7, the opening is repeated 16 times at the maximum).

  In this special symbol game processing and jackpot processing, the display control board 39 causes the VDP 143 to reach the LCD of the special symbol display device 6 based on the moving image reproduction processing executed by the CPU 140 and the auxiliary IC 145 as described above. Display images with various effects. Note that the game balls won in the start winning slot 11 while the special symbol is being scrolled are held balls, and up to four of these held balls are stored, and the four held LEDs 25 are sequentially turned on or off to give the player After the special symbol scroll display is finished, the player is informed of how many times the big winning lottery will be performed.

  Here, the special symbol combination that is a big win includes a specific big win symbol that has a high probability state (so-called probability fluctuation state) with a dramatic increase in the probability of a big hit until the next big hit occurs. . For example, when the special symbol is a number symbol of “1-14” in the gaming machine 1, “1, 1, 1” to “14, 14, 14” are set as a combination of special symbols that are big hits, Among them, the odd numbered numbers (“1, 1, 1” “3, 3, 3” “5, 5, 5” “7, 7, 7” “9, 9, 9” “11, 11, 11 ”“ 13, 13, 13 ”) is a specific big symbol, and other numbers are the same numbers (“ 2, 2, 2 ”,“ 4, 4, 4 ”,“ 6, 6, 6 ”,“ 8, 8, 8 ”,“ 10, 10, 10 ”,“ 12, 12, 12 ”,“ 14, 14, 14 ”) are normally set as big win symbols.

  When the specific big win symbol is confirmed and displayed, after the end of the jackpot game, the probability of jackpot and hit increases due to random number change processing, etc., the scroll display time of special symbols and the fluctuation display time of normal symbols are shortened, The opening time of the electric tulip as the start winning opening 11 is extended, that is, a gaming state (probability variation state) that is extremely advantageous for the player is generated, and this gaming state is continued until the next jackpot occurs. It has become. On the other hand, when the normal big winning symbol is confirmed and displayed, after the big hit game is finished, the normal game state is restored. In the case where the regular big symbol symbol is displayed in a fixed manner, the special big symbol symbol is displayed and confirmed until the special symbol scroll display is executed a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times). You may make it provide privilege other than a raise of jackpot probability (so-called short-time state).

  When the big hit process in step S48 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S50 and executes other processes. In the other processes of step S50, various processes are executed in addition to the processes of steps S40 to S48. For example, command signals are sent to the payout control board 40, the lamp control board 37, and the voice control board 38. , A process of paying out a predetermined number of award balls by winning a game ball, a process of lighting control of the game effect lamp 15 and the like in a predetermined manner according to the game state, and a process of amplifying sound effects from the speaker 113, etc. . Furthermore, a process of outputting a signal indicating that the jackpot process is in progress or the gaming state is in a high probability state from the external information terminal 109 to a hall management computer (not shown) outside the gaming machine 1 is also executed.

  As is clear from the above description, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the CPU 140 of the display control board 39 reads the compressed image data from the ROM 142 and decodes (decodes) the final process. The auxiliary IC 145 is caused to execute a color space conversion process (a process of converting YUV image data into RGB image data) with a large load. That is, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, a part of processing (color space conversion processing) of the video playback processing originally executed by the CPU 140 of the display control board 39 by software is executed by hardware. I am doing so.

  As a result, the CPU 140 can reduce the processing load of the moving image algorithm for executing the moving image reproduction processing. Therefore, the CPU 140 can be used even if it has a low processing capacity and is inexpensive, thereby reducing the cost. It becomes. That is, the CPU 140 does not need to execute a moving image algorithm with a heavy processing load when executing the moving image reproduction process.

  In addition, when an inexpensive CPU 140 having a low processing capacity is used, a moving image algorithm with a large processing load cannot be used, so that the moving image compression rate in the moving image reproducing process is lowered, and as a result, the processing speed of the moving image reproducing process is increased. Since the image data stored in the ROM 142 has to be slowed down and the compression rate of the image data stored in the ROM 142 has to be reduced, the capacity of the ROM 142 increases (for example, triples). Therefore, all of these problems can be solved even by using an inexpensive CPU 140 having a low processing capability.

  That is, according to the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, even if an inexpensive CPU 140 with a low processing capacity is used, the moving image compression rate in the moving image reproduction process does not decrease, and therefore the processing speed of the moving image reproduction process is reduced. It is not necessary to reduce the compression rate of the image data stored in the ROM 142. That is, according to the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, an expensive CPU with a high processing capacity is used even if an inexpensive CPU 140 with a low processing capacity is used. The same effect as that obtained can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the auxiliary IC 145 is provided with a pre-calculated CSC conversion table when the color space conversion process is executed, this simplifies the configuration of the auxiliary IC 145 and increases the processing speed. Can do. If the color space conversion process with a large load is executed, it can be actually calculated by hardware. However, if such a means is adopted, the auxiliary IC 145 slows down the processing time and further increases the gate. This problem can be solved by providing a pre-calculated CSC conversion table.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described based on drawing, a concrete structure is not limited to what was shown in embodiment, The change and addition in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention And the like are included in the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary IC 145 and the ROM 142 storing the compressed image data are connected to the CPU 140. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the auxiliary IC 145 and the compressed image are connected to the VDP 143. A new ROM 242 storing data may be connected. With such a configuration, the VDP 143 may execute the moving image reproduction process (entropy decoding, DCT decoding, motion compensated prediction decoding) according to the above description instead of the CPU 140. Even if it does in this way, the same effect as the above is acquired. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the display control board 39 according to another embodiment of the gaming machine 1.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the liquid crystal display (LCD) is used as the image display unit of the special symbol display device 6 has been described. However, this is not limited, and for example, a CRT display, a plasma display, an EL (Electro A luminescence display or the like may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the normal symbol display device 18 is composed of 7 segment LEDs. However, this is not limited, and for example, it may be composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) like the special symbol display device 6. In this case, the image displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 may be displayed using the auxiliary IC 145 in the same manner as the image displayed on the special symbol display device 6 described above. May be.

  In the present embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine has been described as an example of the gaming machine 1. However, this is not limited, and for example, a throttle gaming machine, an arrangement gaming machine, a jean ball gaming machine, a pinball gaming machine, a CPU, etc. It can be applied to various game machines equipped with microcomputers such as ROM, RAM and the like. Further, the present invention is not limited to a game machine, and may be applied to a display device that reads compressed image data stored in a storage device and displays an image based on the read image data on an image display unit.

Next, the main correspondence between the configuration of the claims and the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The display control means corresponds to the display control board 39, the display device corresponds to the special symbol display device (LCD) 6, the gaming machine corresponds to the gaming machine 1, the storage means corresponds to the ROM 142, and arithmetic processing. The means corresponds to the CPU 140 and the auxiliary IC 145, the arithmetic processing device corresponds to the CPU 140, the arithmetic processing circuit corresponds to the auxiliary IC 145, and the conversion table corresponds to the CSC conversion table.

It is a front view showing game machine 1 of this embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the whole back surface of the game machine 1 of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the main circuit structures of the game machine 1 of this embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the main circuit structures of the display control board 39 of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the moving image reproduction process of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the moving image decoding which CPU140 and auxiliary | assistant IC 145 of this embodiment perform. This is a YRGB [Y] conversion table shown as an example of the CSC conversion table of the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the game control process which the main control board 44 of this embodiment performs. It is the block diagram which showed the main circuit structures of the display control board 39 concerning other embodiment of the gaming machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... game machine, 2 ... hit control handle,
3 ... Hitting ball guide rail, 4 ... Game area formation rail,
5 ... gaming area, 6 ... special symbol display (LCD),
7 ... Grand prize opening (Attacker), 8 ... Left symbol display section,
9 ... middle symbol display part, 10 ... right symbol display part,
11 ... Starting prize opening (electric tulip), 12 ... Hit ball supply tray,
13 ... Extra ball tray, 14 ... Ordinary prize opening,
15 ... Game effect lamp, 16 ... Out port,
17 ... Glass door frame, 18 ... Normal symbol display device (7-segment LED),
19 ... Normal symbol operation gate, 20 ... Windmill,
21 ... Game board, 22 ... Outer frame,
23 ... Inner frame, 24 ... Return ball prevention valve,
25 ... Hold LED, 26 ... Hold LED,
36 ... Power supply board, 37 ... Lamp control board,
38 ... voice control board, 39 ... display control board,
40 ... payout control board, 41 ... prize ball payout device,
42 ... Launch control board, 43 ... Hitting ball launcher,
44 ... main control board, 45 ... terminal board,
50 ... Mechanism plate, 51 ... Sphere storage tank,
52 ... Tank rail, 53 ... Opening,
101 ... Input circuit, 102 ... CPU,
103 ... ROM, 104 ... RAM,
106 ... Solenoid, 107 ... Solenoid,
109: External information terminal, 110: Output circuit,
113 ... Speaker, 115 ... Local bus,
116 ... Starting winning detection sensor, 117 ... Count switch,
119 ... Hitting ball operation handle switch, 120 ... Hitting ball operation stop switch,
121 ... Actuation gate detection sensor, 122 ... Safe ball detection sensor,
123 ... Count switch, 124 ... Dispensing ball detection sensor,
140 ... CPU, 141 ... SDRAM,
142 ... ROM, 143 ... VDP,
144 ... VRAM, 145 ... auxiliary IC,
147 ... Local bus, 242 ... ROM

Claims (3)

In a gaming machine comprising a display device provided with a display control means for displaying a predetermined video,
The display control means includes a storage means for storing compressed image data for reproducing a moving image on the display device, and an arithmetic processing means for sequentially decoding the compressed image data of the storage means and executing a moving image reproduction process. With
The arithmetic processing means includes: an arithmetic processing device that executes a part of the moving image reproduction processing by software; and an arithmetic processing circuit that executes a portion of the moving image reproduction processing that is not executed by the arithmetic processing device by hardware. A gaming machine characterized by comprising.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the process executed by the arithmetic processing circuit is a color space conversion process that is a final process in the moving image reproduction process.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the arithmetic processing circuit is provided with a conversion table in which a predetermined function is calculated in advance in connection with execution of the color space conversion processing.

Images