JP2008036037A - Lever device for game machines - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lever device for a game machine, which is capable of detecting various information in details regarding a game player's operation. <P>SOLUTION: The lever device 7 for the game machine is equipped with the lever 71 having the operation section 710 operated by game players at the end, the detection sensor 72 containing piezoelectric element 70 composed so as to transform according to the displacement of the operation section 710, the electromotive force detection means to detect electromotive force of piezoelectric element 70, and the signal output means to output the control signals according to the electromotive force toward the slot machine side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lever device for a gaming machine that is applied to a gaming machine that gives a prize in accordance with a combination of symbols that are stopped and displayed.

  Conventionally, as a gaming machine such as a so-called slot machine, for example, a plurality of reels that variably display symbols, a start lever for capturing a player's operation to start a game, and symbol variation are stopped. Some have stop buttons provided corresponding to each reel so as to capture the player's operation. In such a gaming machine, an internal lottery is performed in response to an operation of the start lever, a plurality of reels start symbol variation, and a corresponding reel is stopped according to an operation of a stop button. This gaming machine gives a player a privilege such as a prize according to a combination of symbols visually recognized from the player side when all the reels are stopped.

  As a lever device including the start lever, for example, there is a combination of a start lever supported in a swingable state and a photo sensor that detects the swing of the start lever. As the start lever, for example, there is a start lever having a spherical operation unit attached to the front end and a shutter that blocks light supplied to the photosensor on the rear end side. In a lever device including such a start lever, the light guide path to the photosensor is opened according to the operation of the start lever, and the sensor output can be reversed from the off state to the on state. According to this lever device, it is possible to detect the operation of the start lever based on on / off of the sensor output according to the opening or shutting of the light guide path leading to the photosensor.

  However, the conventional lever device for gaming machines has the following problems. In other words, the lever device can only detect whether or not the start lever has been operated based on the on / off of the sensor output associated with the opening or closing of the light guide path leading to the photosensor. There is a problem that information on the information may not be sufficiently detected.

JP 2000-107345 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lever device for a gaming machine capable of finely detecting information related to a player's operation.

The present invention includes a lever provided on the distal end side with an operation unit operated by a player,
A detection sensor including a piezoelectric element configured to be deformed according to the displacement of the operation unit;
An electromotive force detecting means for detecting an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element;
A gaming machine lever device comprising signal output means for outputting a control signal corresponding to the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means to the gaming machine side (Claim 1).

  The lever device for a gaming machine according to the present invention includes the detection sensor including the piezoelectric element configured to be deformed according to the displacement of the operation unit, and the electromotive force detection unit that detects an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element. I have. The signal output means outputs the control signal according to the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means.

  The piezoelectric element has a characteristic of generating the electromotive force having a magnitude corresponding to the degree of temporal deformation in the deformation process, that is, the deformation speed. In the gaming machine lever device, the piezoelectric element is configured to be deformed in accordance with the operation of the operation unit. Therefore, the piezoelectric element in the gaming machine lever device can generate the electromotive force having a magnitude corresponding to the operation speed when operating the operation unit. The operation speed of the operation unit is an index that can reflect the player's operation intention, for example, whether the player has operated the operation unit quickly and vigorously or lightly and gently. According to the gaming machine lever device, it is possible to detect information related to the operation, such as the operation speed of the player, through the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means.

  As described above, the lever device for a gaming machine of the present invention has an excellent characteristic that information relating to the operation of the player can be detected.

  The gaming machine in the present invention may be a slot machine in a narrow sense using coins and medals as a game medium, or a parrot (R) using a pachinko ball as a game medium. That is, the gaming machine does not mean the slot machine in the narrow sense but means a slot machine in the broad sense including the parrot and the like.

The piezoelectric element is formed by bonding two substantially flat piezoelectric members, and is preferably arranged so as to bend and deform according to the displacement of the operation portion. ).
Although the piezoelectric member can generate an electromotive force in response to tensile deformation or compression deformation, for example, the amount of deformation that can occur in a piezoelectric member made of a piezoelectric ceramic material or the like is very small.

  The piezoelectric element formed by bonding the two substantially flat piezoelectric members and generating the electromotive force according to the curved deformation is a so-called piezoelectric bimorph element. In this piezoelectric bimorph element, one of the piezoelectric members can be compressively deformed and the other piezoelectric member can be tensilely deformed in accordance with the curved deformation. When such a piezoelectric bimorph element is employed, the bending deformation amount can be ensured with respect to the minute tensile or compressive deformation amount of each piezoelectric member. If a large amount of bending deformation can be ensured, the balance of the magnitude relationship between the amount of displacement input to the piezoelectric bimorph element and the amount of displacement of the operation portion can be appropriately approximated. Therefore, when the piezoelectric bimorph element is employed, there is a possibility that a structure for inputting the displacement of the operation unit to the piezoelectric bimorph element can be realized relatively easily.

Further, the operation portion of the lever is configured to be operated in two directions opposite to each other.
The electromotive force detection means is configured to detect the positive / negative of the electromotive force,
The signal output means is preferably configured to output, as the control signal, an operation direction signal indicating the operation direction of the operation unit based on the sign of the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means. (Claim 3).

  In this case, the game direction of the gaming machine can be variously changed by using the operation direction signal. For example, if the change direction of the symbol in the symbol change display means is changed according to the operation direction represented by the operation direction signal, the game of the gaming machine can be changed. Furthermore, for example, if the lottery table or random number table used for the internal lottery of the role is changed according to the operation direction indicated by the operation direction signal, or if the effect is changed, the game can be made more diverse, It can enhance interest.

The signal output means controls the operation signal indicating that the lever is operated when the magnitude of the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means is equal to or greater than a predetermined first reference value. It is preferable that the signal is output as a signal.
In this case, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the operation signal is generated based on the operation of the operation unit that generates the electromotive force having a magnitude less than the first reference value. That is, the operation signal can be generated only when the operation unit is operated at an operation speed capable of generating the electromotive force equal to or higher than the first reference value. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the operation signal is output due to an erroneous operation of the operation unit that is not intended by the player.

  In addition, the signal output means detects the electromotive force within a predetermined interval, the electromotive force being less than the first reference value and greater than or equal to the second reference value for a predetermined number of times. Preferably, when detected by the means, an abnormal signal indicating that an abnormal operation has been performed is output as the control signal.

Here, among the so-called Goto teachers who illegally play gaming machines using equipment etc., there are those who try to operate the operation unit illegally using timing generators such as sensory devices. . Among such Goto teachers, there are those who operate the operation unit at a timing while tapping the operation unit lightly. On the other hand, when the second reference value smaller than the first reference value is set in the signal output means as described above, it is possible to detect an operation such as tapping the operation unit lightly. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned lever device for gaming machines, it is possible to detect an operation that may be a fraudulent action by a so-called Goto. The abnormal signal can be output for such an operation.
Note that a predetermined time interval may be set as the predetermined interval, and after the previous game in the gaming machine is completed (reel is completely stopped), the next game is started (reel of the reel). You can also set the time interval until restart.

Further, a storage means for storing the electromotive force data value detected by the electromotive force detection means over a predetermined interval, and the electromotive force based on the electromotive force data value stored in the storage means. Signal processing means for calculating the fluctuation period of
The signal output means outputs, as the control signal, an abnormal signal indicating that an abnormal operation has been performed when the fluctuation period of the electromotive force belonging to a predetermined period range is calculated by the signal processing means. It is also preferable to be configured (claim 6).

  For example, if orthogonal transform such as Fourier transform is used, temporal variation can be transformed into the frequency domain, and the frequency or period at the time of variation can be calculated. By converting the electromotive force fluctuation in the predetermined section into the frequency domain as described above, the electromotive force fluctuation period, that is, the operation period of the operation unit can be detected. Then, based on the operation cycle of the operation unit, for example, it is possible to detect fraud using a timing generator such as a sensory device.

  As the signal processing means for calculating the electromotive force fluctuation period, as described above, means for performing orthogonal transformation such as Fourier transformation and cosine transformation can be used. Furthermore, the data value of the electromotive force stored in the storage means may be temporally continuous analog data or temporally discrete digital data. In particular, in the case of digital data, high-speed arithmetic processing is possible based on calculation processing such as discrete Fourier transform and discrete cosine transform.

(Example 1)
This example relates to a gaming machine 1 in which a gaming machine lever device 7 using a piezoelectric bimorph element 70 is incorporated. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The gaming machine lever device 7 (hereinafter simply referred to as the lever device 7) includes, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lever 71 provided with an operation unit 710 operated by a player on the distal end side, and an operation unit. A detection sensor 72 including a piezoelectric element 70 configured to be deformed according to the displacement of 710, an electromotive force detection means 73 for detecting an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element 70, and an electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means 73 Signal output means 74 for outputting a corresponding control signal toward the gaming machine 1 (hereinafter referred to as the slot machine 1) is provided.
Hereinafter, this content will be described in detail.

  The slot machine 1 of this example incorporates the lever device 7 described above. In the description of this example, first, the configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described, and then the detailed configuration and functions of the lever device 7 incorporated in the slot machine 1 will be described.

  The slot machine 1 of this example has an external configuration as shown in FIG. In the slot machine 1, the front part facing the player is formed by a front frame 10 provided with a symbol display window 11. The front frame 10 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 530 and a pair of left and right speakers 520 on the upper side in the vertical direction of the arrangement area of the symbol display window 11, and a base unit that forms the base of the slot machine 1 on the lower side in the vertical direction. 100.

  As shown in the figure, the symbol display window 11 includes a left symbol display window 11L, a middle symbol display window 11C, and a right symbol display window 11R. Each symbol display window 11L, C, R is formed so as to display three symbols 20 that are continuous in the variation direction for each reel 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the portion corresponding to the symbol display window 11 in the front frame 10 is formed of a transparent resin plate so that the symbol 20 can be seen from the player side. According to the symbol display windows 11 provided at three locations corresponding to each reel 2, nine symbols 20 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns as a whole can be displayed. For the nine symbols 20 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, winning lines 111 to 115, which are the arrangement direction of symbols to be awarded, are set. As the winning lines, there are three winning lines 111 to 113 in the horizontal direction and two winning lines 114 and 115 in the oblique direction.
A credit number display unit 551 for displaying the number of credits and a prize number display unit 552 for displaying the number of medals paid out by winning are arranged on both sides below the arrangement area of the symbol display window 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reel 2 is arranged on the inner side visible from the player through the symbol display window 11. The reel 2 includes a left reel 2L corresponding to the left symbol display window 11L, a middle reel 2C corresponding to the middle symbol display window 11C, and a right reel 2R corresponding to the right symbol display window 11R. Each of the reels 2L, C, and R is held by a holding member 22 that is bent so as to have a substantially L-shaped cross section based on a flat plate member made of metal. Each of the reels 2L, C, and R is arranged so as to be substantially coaxial with the inside of the holding member 22 having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each reel 2 includes a stepping motor 23 and a back lamp unit 24 fixed to the holding member 22 via a stay 221, and a rotating wheel 25 having a symbol 20 disposed on the outer periphery. The stepping motor 23 is fixed so that the output shaft 231 is positioned along the axis of the rotating wheel 25. The rotating wheel 25 is fixed so as to rotate integrally with the output shaft 231.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rotating wheel 25 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and 21 symbols 20 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface thereof. FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement of the symbols 20 on the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R on a plane. As shown in the figure, in this example, the arrangement order of seven types of symbols 20 is changed for each reel 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating wheel 25 that forms the pattern 20 is such that the inner peripheral side cannot be seen through when viewed from the player side, and can sufficiently transmit light. The translucency is set in.
The back lamp unit 24 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the rotating wheel 25 so as to face the symbol display window 11 with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating wheel 25 interposed therebetween. The back lamp unit 24 holds an LED (not shown) for illuminating the symbol 20 located in the symbol display window 11 from the inner peripheral side.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, each reel 2 </ b> L, C, R is fixed to the holding member 22 side via a reference position piece (not shown) provided on the rotating wheel 25 side and a stay 221. The rotation position detection mechanism is provided in combination with the reference position detection unit 66. The reference position piece is a member to be detected provided at one reference position in the rotation direction of each rotating wheel 25. The reference position detector 66 is configured to detect the rotation position of each reel 2 with high accuracy by detecting the reference position piece. The detailed configuration of the reference position detection unit 66 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 100 is formed so as to protrude relatively toward the player with respect to the symbol display window 11 located behind the player. The base portion 100 has a table-like operation surface 14 at the upper end adjacent to the arrangement area of the symbol display window 11, and has a medal tray 15 for paying out medals at the lower end, and the operation surface 14, the medal tray 15, Between the two, an operation panel 13 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation surface 14 is provided with a bet button 64 for betting medals credited (stored) by the credit function and a medal insertion slot 630 for inserting medals bet on the game. The operation panel 13 protrudes from a substantially spherical operation portion 710 constituting the lever device 7, and includes an adjustment button 65 for paying out credited medals and a stop button 61 for stopping symbol variation. Are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bet button 64 includes a max bet button 643 for designating 3 bets as the maximum bet number as a game bet number and a single bet button 641 for designating 1 bet as a minimum bet unit. The max bet button 643 is a button for generating a 3-bet signal representing the number 3 of game bets which is the maximum bet number. The single bet button 641 is a button for generating a 1 bet signal representing the number of game bets 1.

  Instead of the slot machine 1 of this example, a slot machine of a so-called max betting machine that bets three medals for each game (game) may be used. In this case, as the bet button 64, it is preferable to provide only the max bet button 643 for generating a 3-bet signal and omit the single bet button 641 for generating a 1-bet signal.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lever device 7 is a device in which a lever body 7A and a lever substrate 7B are combined. The lever main body 7A has a lever 71 provided with a spherical operation portion 710 operated by a player on the tip side. The lever substrate 7B forms an electromotive force detection means 73, a signal output means 74, and an abnormality detection means 731. The lever device 7 is configured to output a control signal corresponding to the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means 73. When the operation unit 710 is properly operated, the lever device 7 outputs an operation signal (in this example, a fluctuation start signal; hereinafter referred to as a fluctuation start signal) indicating that the operation is effective as a control signal. . The detailed configuration of the lever device 7 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the stop button 61 is configured to generate a variable stop signal, which is a control signal for the reel 2, at the timing when the player operates. The stop button 61 of this example is a combination of a left stop button 61L corresponding to the left reel 2L, a middle stop button 61C corresponding to the middle reel 2C, and a right stop button 61R corresponding to the right reel 2R.

  The liquid crystal display unit 530 includes a liquid crystal display as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display unit 530 performs a flag notification effect for notifying the player of the internal winning flag. The liquid crystal display unit 530 of this example is configured to display various effect screens for effecting a game in addition to the flag notification effect.

Next, the slot machine 1 of this example has a mechanical configuration as shown in FIG.
The control board 3 for controlling the overall operation of the slot machine 1 and each part electrically connected to the control board 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. For the control board 3, in addition to the above configuration, a inserted medal detection unit 63 that detects a medal inserted as a game medium, a reel drive unit 51 that rotationally drives the reel 2, and a rotational position of the reel 2 are detected. A reference position detecting unit 66 for performing the game, a medal paying unit 54 for paying out medals, various display units 55 for producing a game, a set value operating unit 68 for setting a set value representing the player's advantage, and a speaker. An audio output unit 52 that controls 520 is electrically connected to a decorative lamp unit 56 that visually produces a game.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the inserted medal detection unit 63 is configured to output an insert signal each time a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 630. Three insert signals correspond to the 3-bet signal. In the slot machine 1 of this example, when a medal is inserted or the bet button 64 is pressed, the lever device 7 is set to an effective state.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the reel driving unit 51 includes a stepping motor 23 that can be controlled in units of steps, and is configured to rotationally drive the rotating wheel 25 of the reel 2 by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 23. It is. The stepping motor 23 rotates by one step for each control pulse fetched from the control board 3. The reel drive unit 51 captures the variation start signal to start the rotation of the rotating wheel 25 and captures the variation stop signal to stop the rotating wheel 25. Note that the reel driving unit 51 of this example rotates the rotating wheel 25 at a rotation speed of 80 rotations per minute.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the reference position detection unit 66 has a sensor that detects the passage of the reference position piece (not shown) of each reel 2L, C, R and outputs a detection signal. In this example, the rotation position of each reel 2 is calculated based on the number of control pulses generated by the control board 3 after the detection signal is generated, that is, the number of steps the stepping motor 23 rotates after passing the reference position piece. To do. According to the reference position detection unit 66 of this example, the rotation position of each reel 2L, C, R can be detected with a resolution of 400 steps / rotation. After the reel 2 is stopped, the symbol 20 (the symbol located on the winning line) that each reel 2L, C, R stops and displays can be calculated based on the detection result of the reference position detector 66.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the medal payout unit 54 is configured to pay out a predetermined number of medals to the medal tray 15 under the control of the control board 3.
The set value operation unit 68 is for changing a set value for setting the winning combination probability of the bonus combination in six stages by using the setting key 680.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the control board 3 has a CPU 31, ROM 33 and RAM 34 as memory means, and an I / O unit 32 as an input / output interface. The CPU 31 executes a software program stored in the ROM 33 to thereby extract a random number extracting means 48 for extracting random numbers, a winning combination determining means 49 for determining a winning combination, a display control means 45 for controlling the reel driving unit 51, and an internal winning combination. Each function of the internal lottery means 42 for lottery is realized.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ROM 33 stores a winning random number table (not shown) used for the lottery of the internal winning combination. The winning random number table defines a range of random numbers for each internal winning combination to win.
The random number extraction means 48 is means for extracting a random number by an internal calculation of the CPU 31. The random number extraction means 48 of this example is configured to extract a random number using the fluctuation start signal of the start lever 62 as a trigger signal and input it to the internal lottery means 42.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the internal lottery means 42 refers to the winning random number table based on the random number extracted by the random number extracting means 48 to determine the internal winning combination, and turns on the internal winning flag corresponding to the internal winning combination. Is set to The internal winning combination that the internal lottery means 42 of the present example draws is seven types of combinations including a BIG bonus, a REG bonus, a 10 combination, a 5 combination, a 4 combination, a 2 combination, and a replay combination.

  Note that the small winning combination flag, which is the internal winning flag for the small winning combination, disappears at the end of the game regardless of whether or not a prize is won, and the bonus flag, which is the internal winning flag for the bonus combination, is carried over to the next game until winning. Therefore, if the small role cannot be won in the internal winning game, it will be so-called missed. On the other hand, once the bonus flag is established, it is valid until the bonus combination is won.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the display control unit 45 starts the symbol variation of the reel 2 in response to the variation start signal and stops the symbol variation of the reel 2 in response to the variation stop signal. Means. The display control means 45 inputs a control pulse to the reel driving unit 51 and rotates the stepping motor 23 by one step for each pulse. The display control unit 45 counts the number of control pulses input to the reel driving unit 51, that is, the number of steps that the stepping motor 23 has rotated. In this example, the number of steps generated after the latest detection signal is counted by resetting the number of steps to zero each time the detection signal of the reference position piece of each reel 2 is captured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the display control means 45 is so-called pull-in control that stops symbols within a predetermined pull-in range determined by rules (rules for game machine certification, type verification, etc.) on the winning line. Is to implement. Specifically, the display control unit 45 takes in the number of control pulses input to the reel driving unit 51 using the above-described variation stop signal as a trigger signal, that is, the number of steps of the stepping motor 23. Based on the number of steps, the Vita symbol, which is the symbol 20 instantaneously positioned on the winning line, is calculated, and the four symbols 20 following the Vita symbol at the head are used as the symbols within the predetermined pull-in range. Set.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the display control means 45 performs so-called pull-in control in which, if there is a winning symbol in the predetermined pull-in range, the winning symbol is stopped on the winning line. . On the other hand, when there is no winning symbol within the predetermined drawing range, the display control means 45 pulls the lost symbol onto the winning line and stops it so as to avoid winning a winning combination other than the internal winning. As the pull-in control by the display control means 45, in addition to the control method as described above, another control method using a stop pattern table can be adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the winning combination determining means 49 is counted by the display control means 45 for each stepping motor 23 corresponding to each reel 2L, C, R after the reels 2L, C, R are stopped. Capture the number of steps above. Then, the winning combination determining means 49 obtains the type of the symbol 20 stopped on the winning lines 111 to 115 and determines whether or not a winning combination is established for the combination of the symbols 20.

Next, a detailed configuration of the lever device 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 8.
As described above, the lever device 7 of this example includes the lever main body 7A having a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the lever substrate 7B including the electromotive force detection means 73, the signal output means 74, and the like. In FIG. 7, the lever substrate 7B is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7, the lever main body 7A is configured to be fixed in a state of being inserted into a substantially circular mounting hole (not shown) drilled in the operation panel 13. The lever body 7A includes a lever 71 having an operation portion 710 attached to the tip thereof and a piezoelectric element 70 (a piezoelectric bimorph element in the present example, hereinafter referred to as a piezoelectric bimorph element 70) in which a substantially flat piezoelectric member 700 is bonded. And a bottomed substantially cylindrical element holder 75 for housing the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 and a substantially cylindrical sleeve 76 for swinging and supporting the lever 71.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lever 71 includes a lever shaft 711 made of a metal material having a substantially shaft shape and a substantially spherical operation portion 710 made of a resin material.
The operation unit 710 is a member for a player to operate by hand. A bottomed screw hole 710a drilled toward the center is formed at one place on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion 710.

  The lever shaft 711 is formed with a male screw portion 711a at an end portion facing the outside of the slot machine 1 in the assembled state. The male screw portion 711 a is a portion formed so as to be screwed into the screw hole 710 a of the operation portion 710. The lever shaft 711 is provided with a slit-like groove portion 712 that sandwiches and fixes the end portion of the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 with no gap at the end portion opposite to the side where the male screw portion 711a is formed. Further, the lever shaft 711 is formed by drilling a through hole 713 for penetrating the support pin 761 of the sleeve 76 in the middle in the axial direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lever shaft 711 has a contact portion 714 on the outer periphery on the male screw portion 711 a side for restricting the swing range by contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 76. Further, a flange-shaped flange portion 715 for engaging with a spring 77 for biasing the lever shaft 711 to the neutral position is provided at the end portion on the groove portion 712 side.

  The sleeve 76 is a member made of a resin material having a substantially cylindrical shape as described above. The sleeve 76 is formed by fixing a support pin 761 for swinging and supporting the lever shaft 711 substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. A small-diameter portion 762 having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the end portion located on the inner side of the slot machine 1 is provided on the inner periphery of the sleeve 76. The small diameter portion 762 forms a corner portion 763 for locking the spring 77. The sleeve 76 is formed on the outer periphery thereof with a fixing structure (not shown) for fixing to the mounting hole of the slot machine 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the element holder 75 is a member made of a resin material having a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom. The element holder 75 is provided with a pair of holding portions 751 positioned with a gap enough to sandwich the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 inside the bottomed end portion. Further, the element holder 75 has a pair of signal lines 721 for taking out the electromotive force of the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 on the bottom surface.

  The pair of signal lines 721 held on the bottom surface of the element holder 75 is electrically connected to the end of the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 sandwiched between the gaps of the holding part 751. One signal line 721 is electrically connected to one plate-like piezoelectric member 700 constituting the piezoelectric bimorph element 70, and the other signal line 721 is electrically connected to the other plate-like piezoelectric member 700. It is. The end portion on the opening side of the element holder 75 is configured to externally fix the sleeve 76.

  As described above, the piezoelectric element of this example is a so-called piezoelectric bimorph element 70 in which two piezoelectric members 700 having a substantially flat rectangular shape and having substantially the same shape are bonded together. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 is an element configured to cause one piezoelectric member 700 to undergo expansion deformation and the other piezoelectric member 700 to undergo compression deformation in accordance with the curved deformation. is there. One end portion of the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 is housed and held in a groove portion 712 provided at the end portion of the lever shaft 711, and the other end portion is supported by a holding portion 751 provided in the element holder 75.

  In the lever main body 7A, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lever 71 is swingably supported with respect to a sleeve 76 that is externally fixed to the end portion of the element holder 75. In the lever device 7 of this example, the end portion of the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 is fixed to the groove portion 712 of the lever shaft 711 as described above. Therefore, when the lever 71 swings, the groove portion 712 is displaced in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, and the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 can be curved and deformed in accordance with this displacement. When the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 is curved and deformed, one piezoelectric member 700 constituting the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 undergoes tensile deformation and the other piezoelectric member 700 undergoes compressive deformation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the lever substrate 7 </ b> B includes an electromotive force detection unit 73 that detects an electromotive force of the detection sensor 72, and a signal output unit 74 that outputs a control signal toward the control substrate 3. And an abnormality detection means 731 for counting an abnormality counter and managing an abnormality flag.

  The electromotive force detection means 73 is electrically connected to the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 constituting the detection sensor 72 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8. The electromotive force detection means 73 detects the electromotive force of the detection sensor 72 and compares it with a preset reference value. In the electromotive force detection means 73 of this example, the first reference value S1 and the second reference value S2 smaller than the first reference value S1 are set as the reference values. The first reference value S1 is a reference value for detecting a player's operation to start the symbol variation of the reel 2. The second reference value S2 is a reference value for detecting an operation that may be fraudulent by the player.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 8, the signal output unit 74 captures from the electromotive force detection unit 73 that an electromotive force exceeding the first reference value S <b> 1 has been detected, and detects an abnormality in the abnormality detection unit 731. It is configured to monitor the flag. The signal output means 74 outputs the fluctuation start signal (operation signal) when the fact that the electromotive force exceeding the first reference value S1 has been detected in the state where the abnormality flag is off can be captured. On the other hand, when the abnormality flag of the abnormality detection means 731 is set to the on state, an abnormality signal is output.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 8, the abnormality detection means 731 detects that an electromotive force that is less than the first reference value S1 and greater than or equal to the second reference value S2 has been detected. It is configured to take in from the means 73. The abnormality detection means 731 integrates the number of fetches using an abnormality counter. The abnormality detection unit 731 sets the abnormality flag to the on state when the counter value of the abnormality counter reaches five times. In this example, every time the reel 2 starts to fluctuate, the counter value of the abnormality counter is reset to zero. Thus, a game period from when all the reels 2 are stopped until the reels 2 start to rotate again is set as a predetermined section, and an illegal act in the predetermined section is detected.

  In general, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 8, the piezoelectric member 700 has a characteristic that an electromotive force is generated in the process of displacement and no electromotive force is generated after the deformation. Therefore, in the lever device 7 of this example, an electromotive force can be generated when the displacement of the operation unit 710 proceeds by the player's operation. Thereafter, when the player releases the operation unit 710 by releasing it, the operation unit 710 tries to return to the original position by the biasing force of the spring 77. At this time, the piezoelectric bimorph element 70 in a curved deformation state tries to return to its original state, and an electromotive force opposite to that described above is generated in the return process.

  Furthermore, the piezoelectric member 700 has a characteristic of generating an electromotive force having a magnitude corresponding to the displacement speed, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, according to the lever device 7 of the present example, an electromotive force having a magnitude is generated according to the operation speed at which the player operates the operation unit 710. Here, the operation speed can generally be generated according to the operation force when the player operates the operation unit 710. Therefore, according to the lever device 7, it can also be said that an electromotive force having a magnitude corresponding to the operation force when the player operates the operation unit 710 can be generated.

  The electromotive force that can be generated in the lever device 7 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C. FIG. 8A is a graph showing a change in electromotive force when the player strikes the operation unit 710 (FIG. 1) strongly. FIG. 8B is a graph showing a change in electromotive force when the player taps the operation unit 710 slowly. FIG. 8C is a graph showing a change in electromotive force when the player taps the operation unit 710 intermittently. In each figure of FIG. 8, time is defined on the horizontal axis and the magnitude of electromotive force is defined on the vertical axis.

  When the player operates the operation unit 710, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first peak voltage P1 can be generated as an electromotive force according to the displacement caused by the operation. Thereafter, when the player opens the operation unit 710, the operation unit 710 may be displaced in the opposite direction according to the biasing force of the spring 77 (FIG. 1) that biases the operation unit 710 to the neutral position. Then, a second peak voltage P2 that is reversed in positive and negative following the first peak voltage can be generated. Then, a signal waveform is obtained that gradually attenuates in response to the vibration of the operation unit 710 caused by the urging force of the spring 77 while alternately and repeatedly generating electromotive forces.

  As is known from a comparison between FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, when the operation unit 710 is hit strongly, the amplitude of the signal waveform tends to be larger than when the operation unit 710 is hit slowly. In this example, the first reference value S1 is set for the electromotive force. In the lever device 7 of this example, when the electromotive force larger than the first reference value S1 is generated, the signal output means 74 outputs the fluctuation start signal. FIG. 8A shows the fluctuation of the electromotive force when an operation to the extent that the fluctuation start signal can be output is performed, and FIG. 8B shows the fluctuation of the electromotive force based on the operation within the range where the fluctuation start signal is not output. ing.

  Furthermore, when the so-called Goto uses a device such as a sensory device to measure the timing and hit the ton and the operation unit 710, an electromotive force having a substantially constant magnitude is generated at a substantially constant period as shown in FIG. 8C. It can occur repeatedly. In the lever device 7 of this example, as shown in the figure, the second reference value S2 is set for an unauthorized operation. The lever device 7 of this example is configured to output an abnormal signal when an electromotive force not less than the second reference value S2 and less than the first reference value S1 is repeatedly generated five times.

  Next, the flow of the reel starting process by the slot machine 1 incorporating the lever device 7 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the starting process of the reel 2. Here, first, as in step S101, it is determined whether or not the detection sensor 72 of the lever device 7 has detected the electromotive force. Further, as in steps S102 and S103, it is determined whether or not all the reels 2 are stopped or already bet. When all the reels 2 are stopped and the bet has been made, it is determined whether or not the detected electromotive force is equal to or more than the first reference value S1 as in step S104.

  When an electromotive force equal to or greater than the first reference value S1 is detected, symbol variation of all reels 2 is started as in step S105. Thereby, a new game is started. Further, as shown in step S106, the value of the abnormality counter is reset to zero, thereby preparing for the detection of an illegal lever operation when starting the next game.

  On the other hand, when the detected electromotive force is less than the first reference value S1 (step S104), the process proceeds to step S115, and it is determined whether or not the detected electromotive force is greater than or equal to the second reference value S2. If it is equal to or greater than the second reference value S2, the abnormality counter of the abnormality detection means 731 (see FIG. 2) is incremented by one. Then, as in step S117, it is determined whether or not the counter value of the abnormality counter has reached 5. When the abnormality counter reaches 5, an abnormality signal is output as in step S118, and an abnormality display (not shown) is output to the liquid crystal display unit 530 of the slot machine 1.

  When the abnormal display is performed as described above, it waits until the reset signal by the operation of the employee such as the floor staff of the game hall can be taken in as in step S119. The slot machine 1 of this example is configured to transfer the abnormal signal to the management device (not shown) when the abnormal signal of the signal output means 74 is taken in. Therefore, in this example, the management device can quickly detect an action that may be fraudulent. Once the slot machine 1 that has output the abnormal signal continues to display the abnormal display until the employee performs a reset operation, the game cannot be resumed. Thereafter, when the reset signal based on the reset operation can be captured, normal display is performed as in step S120, and the abnormality counter of the abnormality detection means 731 is reset to zero.

  As described above, according to the slot machine 1 of this example, it is possible to finely detect information related to the operation when the player operates the lever device 7. According to this lever device, it is possible to detect an operation intention including a fraudulent purpose such as a go-to action using a timing generator such as a sensory device.

  In addition, according to the lever device 7 of the present example, it is possible to detect the operation direction acting on the operation unit 710 based on the positive / negative of the electromotive force generated by the piezoelectric bimorph element 70. The lever device 7 may be configured to output an operation direction signal representing the operation direction according to the detected operation direction. In this case, for example, the playability can be changed by the effect of changing the change direction of the symbol in accordance with the operation direction represented by the operation direction signal, and the game can be enjoyed by the player. Can be increased.

  It is also possible to store in the storage means the variation in electromotive force within a predetermined interval from when the reel 2 is completely stopped in the previous game to when the lever is operated. In this case, the fluctuation cycle of the electromotive force can be calculated by performing orthogonal transformation such as Fourier transformation and cosine transformation on the data series in the predetermined section. Based on the fluctuation cycle of the electromotive force, that is, the operation cycle of the operation unit 710, it is possible to detect the goto action more accurately using a sensory device or the like. The data series in the predetermined section may be a temporal discrete data series (digital data series) or an analog data series that is temporally continuous.

(Example 2)
In this example, the configuration of the detection sensor is changed based on the lever device of the first embodiment. The contents will be described with reference to FIG.
In this example, in place of the piezoelectric bimorph element of the first embodiment, a piezoelectric element 70 in which a piezoelectric material is formed in a substantially block shape is employed.

  The lever shaft 711 constituting the lever 71 of this example is formed by forming a pedestal portion 715 of the piezoelectric element 70 on the outer periphery extended to the opposite side of the operation portion 710 with the through hole 713 interposed therebetween. The bottomed substantially cylindrical sleeve 76 forms a receiving portion 765 with which the piezoelectric element 70 disposed on the pedestal portion 715 contacts. In the lever device 7 of this example, the distance d2 in the axial direction from the through hole 713 to the pedestal 715 is set to be sufficiently smaller than the distance d1 from the operation unit 710 to the through hole 713. In the lever device 7, by setting the relationship between the distance d <b> 1 and the distance d <b> 2 as described above, a large displacement amount of the operation unit 710 is ensured according to a slight deformation amount of the piezoelectric element 70.

  In the lever device 7, the piezoelectric elements 70 are arranged at two positions facing each other across the lever shaft 711. The lever 71 is held at a neutral position by two piezoelectric elements 70. Therefore, according to the lever device 7 of the present example, the operation in two directions can be detected as in the lever device of the first embodiment. Instead of this, it is also possible to configure the lever device 7 so that one piezoelectric element 70 can be omitted and only an operation in one direction can be detected.

According to the lever device 7 of this example, as with the lever device of the first embodiment, it is possible to finely detect information related to the operation when the player operates the operation unit 710.
Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure of the lever device (lever device) for game machines in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the lever device according to the first embodiment. The front view which shows the game machine (slot machine) in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing three reels extracted in the first embodiment. The expanded view which expands and shows the symbols arranged in the outer periphery of each reel in Example 1. FIG. The system block diagram which shows the structure of the game machine (slot machine) in Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure at the time of operating the lever device (lever device) for game machines in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in electromotive force of a piezoelectric element in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of reel start processing in the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the lever device (lever device) for game machines in Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 gaming machine (slot machine)
10 Front frame body 2 Reel 20 Design 7 Lever device (lever device) for gaming machines
70 Piezoelectric elements (piezoelectric bimorph elements)
700 Piezoelectric member 71 Lever 710 Operation unit 711 Lever shaft 72 Detection sensor 73 Electromotive force detection means 731 Abnormality detection means 74 Signal output means

Claims (6)

A lever provided on the distal end side with an operation unit operated by a player;
A detection sensor including a piezoelectric element configured to be deformed according to the displacement of the operation unit;
An electromotive force detecting means for detecting an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element;
A lever device for a gaming machine comprising: signal output means for outputting a control signal corresponding to the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means toward the gaming machine side.   2. The piezoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein two piezoelectric members each having a substantially flat plate shape are bonded to each other, and are arranged so as to bend and deform according to the displacement of the operation portion. Lever device for gaming machines. In Claim 1 or 2, said operation part in said lever is constituted so that it can operate in two directions opposite to each other,
The electromotive force detection means is configured to detect the positive / negative of the electromotive force,
The signal output means is configured to output an operation direction signal indicating an operation direction of the operation unit as the control signal based on the sign of the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means. Lever device for gaming machines.   4. The signal output unit according to claim 1, wherein the lever is operated when the magnitude of the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined first reference value. A lever device for a gaming machine, which is configured to output an operation signal indicating the effect as a control signal.   5. The signal output means according to claim 4, wherein the electromotive force having a magnitude less than the first reference value and greater than or equal to the second reference value is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times in a predetermined interval. A lever device for a gaming machine, wherein when detected by the power detection means, an abnormal signal indicating that an abnormal operation has been performed is output as the control signal. 5. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the electromotive force data value detected by the electromotive force detection device is stored over a predetermined interval, and the electromotive force stored in the storage device is stored. Signal processing means for calculating a fluctuation period of the electromotive force based on a data value of power,
The signal output means outputs, as the control signal, an abnormal signal indicating that an abnormal operation has been performed when the fluctuation period of the electromotive force belonging to a predetermined period range is calculated by the signal processing means. A lever device for a gaming machine characterized by being configured.

Images