JP2009060947A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of surely preventing execution of a fraudulent game by altered electronic components. <P>SOLUTION: In a socket 110 for a CPU chip 120 for controlling the game operation of a slot machine 1, a re-mounting prevention mechanism comprising a shutter member 112a capable of closing a pin hole 111 and a solenoid 150a for locking the shutter member is provided inside a main body. Normally, by the projection of the plunger of the solenoid, the shutter member is locked to the position of opening the pin hole. When the peeling of a sealing sticker 200 for sealing the CPU chip or the like is detected for instance, the plunger is withdrawn to cancel locking and the shutter member is moved to a position of closing the pin hole by energization of a spring 114a. Thus, the re-mounting of the CPU chip is inhibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to slot machines, pachinko machines, and other gaming machines, and more particularly, to gaming machines in which measures are taken to prevent fraud.

  For example, in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, a plurality of control boards composed of CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. are installed inside and stored in a ROM of a main control board called a main control board. The entire game operation is controlled according to the system program. For example, in the case of a slot machine, the above-mentioned main control board draws a jackpot or manages the number of winnings that occur continuously at the time of the jackpot. Numeric data related to game wins and losses, such as the number of times, that is, the appearance of the game, is preset in the ROM.

  Note that the CPU provided on the main control board of the gaming machine described above is generally packaged in one chip together with a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM and other interface circuits related to signal input / output. is there. Usually, such a dedicated microcomputer chip (hereinafter referred to as “CPU chip”) is detachably attached to the main control board via a socket.

  By the way, among the players, the above-mentioned ICs (electronic parts) such as CPU chips and ROMs are illegally extracted and replaced with other ICs (back ROMs) whose data has been altered so that the game can be played under more favorable conditions. Some people try to get a high dividend unfairly. Such misconduct not only loses the fairness of the game, but also causes great damage to the hall.

Therefore, conventionally, a sealing sticker is pasted on the main control board of the gaming machine so as to straddle both the CPU chip and the socket (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and the board itself is a special sealing called “caulking”. It is housed in a transparent substrate case that is closed via the attaching means.
That is, when the seal seal is cut, the trace remains, so that the fact that the CPU chip has been cheated can be easily found even from the outside of the transparent substrate case.

  In addition, an electrical resistance having a predetermined resistance value is arranged on the seal seal to form a connection circuit, and when the seal seal is peeled off, the connection circuit is cut along with a part of the seal to prevent the seal from being changed. A detection system that detects the cutting of the seal has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  According to this prior art, since the occurrence of fraud is detected, it is possible to notify the surrounding alarm and the monitoring computer at an early stage, thereby preventing the completion of fraud. It becomes possible.

JP 2007-000332 A JP 2007-011676 A

However, in the prior arts of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example, when the seal seal is peeled off without being cut using a sharp razor blade or the like, there is an improper trace on the re-sealed seal seal. It is assumed that the sensor does not react because the connection circuit is not cut off, and it is not always a sufficient countermeasure against fraud.
In addition, the hall side may suffer a great deal of damage due to unauthorized modification of the CPU chip (ROM).

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and monitoring such as enabling the rapid and reliable detection of peeling or cutting of a seal seal that seals an electronic component such as a CPU or ROM mounted on a control board. It aims at providing the gaming machine provided with the means. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can reliably prevent an unauthorized game from being executed by a modified electronic component.

  Means effective for solving the above-described problems will be described while showing functions or effects as necessary. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the component corresponding in the embodiment in this specification is suitably illustrated with a code | symbol etc. with a code | symbol, these specific structures do not limit this invention.

  Means 1. Game operation by an electronic control circuit including a predetermined electronic component (CPU chip 120) that is detachably mounted on at least one surface of the board (main control board 100) via a socket (socket 110) Is a gaming machine (slot machine 1) in which the electronic component is controlled, and an abnormality (for example, peeling / cutting of the seal seal 200, removal of the CPU chip 120 from the socket 110, etc.) occurs in the socket to which the electronic component is mounted It is characterized in that a shutter member (shutter members 112a and 112b) capable of irreversibly closing a pin hole (pin hole 111) for inserting a lead pin of the electronic component when the electronic component is detected is provided.

  According to this means, when an abnormality occurs, the socket pin hole is closed by the shutter member, so that the electronic component is prevented from being reattached to the socket, and illegal game play by the modified electronic component is surely prevented. To do.

  Mean 2. The socket (socket 110) is engaged with a spring member (springs 114a and 114b) that urges the shutter member in a direction in which the pin hole is always closed, and a plunger (plungers 150aa and 150ba) that protrudes in a non-energized state. And a solenoid (solenoid 150a, 150b) for locking the shutter member at a position where the pin hole is opened and for releasing the locking by retracting the plunger in an energized state. To do.

  According to this means, when the gaming machine is in a normal state, the solenoid is turned off, the plunger is protruded, and the shutter member is held at a position where the pin hole of the socket is opened. Thereby, mounting | wearing and operation | movement to the socket of an electronic component are permitted. When an abnormality occurs, the solenoid is energized and the plunger is retracted to release the locked state. At this time, the shutter member is moved by the urging of the spring member to close the pin hole. As a result, when an abnormality occurs, the electronic component is prevented from being reattached to the socket, and the illegal game execution by the modified electronic component is surely prevented.

  Means 3. Monitoring means (monitoring circuit 130) for detecting peeling or cutting of a sealing seal (sealing seal 200) for sealing the attachment / detachment of the electronic component from the socket, and when the monitoring means detects peeling or cutting of the sealing seal And driving means (driver 140) for driving the shutter member and closing the pin hole by regarding this as an abnormality.

  According to this means, when the monitoring means detects an abnormality such as peeling or cutting of the seal seal, the driving means drives the shutter member to close the pin hole of the socket. As a result, the electronic component is prevented from being reattached to the socket, and illegal game play by the modified electronic component is surely prevented.

  Means 4. At least a pair of terminal electrodes (terminal electrodes 104a and 104b) are formed on the substrate adjacent to opposite side ends of the socket, and the sealing seal has conductivity and extends over the electronic components to the terminal electrodes. Sealing is performed by sticking, and the monitoring means detects peeling or cutting of the sealing seal by detecting a change in electrical resistance between the terminal electrodes.

  According to this means, the monitoring means immediately detects peeling or cutting of the seal seal by detecting an increase in electrical resistance between the terminal electrodes. Then, by driving the shutter member to close the pin hole, the electronic component is prevented from being remounted in the socket, and illegal game play by the modified electronic component is prevented.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, the socket for mounting a predetermined electronic component includes the shutter member that can irreversibly close the pin hole. For example, when an abnormality such as peeling or cutting of a sealing seal that seals an electronic component on a control board occurs, the socket pin hole is closed with a shutter member, thereby preventing re-mounting of the electronic component into the socket, It is possible to reliably prevent an illegal game from being executed by the modified electronic component.

  Hereinafter, a slot machine 1 will be described as a preferred embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the slot machine 1. The slot machine 1 includes a casing including a rectangular box-shaped cabinet 2 and a front door 3 attached to the cabinet 2 so as to be opened and closed. In a normal state, as shown in FIG. 1, the front door 3 is locked with the cabinet 2 closed.

  On the front side of the front door 3, a so-called front panel is formed as a decorative board facing the player. In the upper part of the front panel, an upper lamp 5 and corner lamps 6a and 6b incorporating high-brightness LEDs, and left and right sound emitting parts 7a and 7b incorporating speakers are disposed.

  A liquid crystal display device 8 is disposed at the center of the upper portion of the front panel. The upper lamp 5, the corner lamps 6a and 6b, and the liquid crystal display device 8 are used as effect means for producing a game.

  A middle panel 9 made of a flat resin plate is provided in the middle part of the front panel, and three pieces inside the cabinet 2 are displayed through a display window 9a which is a rectangular transparent region formed in the center of the middle panel 9. The reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are visible. Each of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c can be rotated independently, and three vertical and three horizontal symbols (not shown) drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are displayed in a variable manner via the display window 9a. It has come to be.

  Below the middle panel 9 is formed a table-like console 18 that slightly protrudes forward. The console 18 includes a medal insertion unit 11 for inserting medals to bet on the game, a bet button 12 for instructing an operation to start the game, and a start for rotating the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c. The lever 13 and stop buttons 14a, 14b, 14c, etc. for stopping the rotation of the reels 10a, 10b, 10c are arranged at predetermined positions.

  A lower panel 15 is attached to the lower part of the front panel, which is a substantially rectangular plastic plate on which, for example, a picture (not shown) of an appearing character is printed so that the player can recognize the model type of the slot machine 1 and the like. It has been.

  At the bottom of the front panel, a medal payout opening 16 for paying out medals at the time of winning or the like, and a tray 4a for storing medals paid out from the medal payout opening 16 are formed. Is attached. In addition, the lower plate member 4 is formed with sound emitting portions 17a and 17b with built-in speakers at the left and right positions, respectively.

  In the slot machine 1 having such a configuration, a game operation is controlled by a main control board 100 (see FIG. 2) described later composed of a microcomputer. That is, the slot machine 1 enters a standby state when winning in the previous game and completing the payout of medals, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this state, when the player presses the bet button 12, a medal is bet on the game from the medal (credit) stored inside, and the game starts. When the start lever 13 is tilted in this game start state, the main control board 100 can simultaneously rotate the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c and simultaneously perform pull-in and stop control to the effective line set in the display window 9a. Lots of symbol combinations, that is, lottery of internal roles.

  When any internal combination is won by this internal lottery (the winning internal combination is also referred to as “internal winning combination”), the result is set in an internal winning flag set in a predetermined storage area of the RAM of the main control board 100. Is done. The state where the internal winning flag is set and the winning is decided is referred to as “internal winning state”.

  Next, the main control board 100 sequentially stops the corresponding reels as the stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c are pressed. After the main control board 100 detects that all the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c have stopped, a winning combination that is referred to by the above-described internal winning flag and a combination of symbols that each reel displays on the active line is displayed. It is determined whether or not the combination of the symbols related to. Then, when the symbols match in any active line, the winning is determined, and credits are added by the number of medals to be paid out. If the credit exceeds the upper limit as a result of the payout, medals corresponding to the number exceeding the upper limit are paid out to the player from the medal payout opening 16.

  In this way, the player of the slot machine 1 loses the bet medals if the symbols displayed in a variable manner are not obtained by performing a game operation for rotating / stopping the reels 10a, 10b, 10c. By aligning, winning can be achieved and more medals than bet can be obtained, so that it is possible to enjoy a game with an interest of increasing medals by skill and luck.

  Next, a sealing seal 200 for sealing the detachment of the CPU chip 120 mounted on the board of the main control board 100 via the socket 110, and a monitoring unit for monitoring the peeling and cutting of the sealing seal 200 will be described. . Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the main control board 100 in a state where the CPU chip 120 is mounted in the socket 110. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partial cross-sectional structure of main control board 100 and socket 110 in the state shown in FIG.

  Here, the CPU chip 120, which is an example of a predetermined electronic component, is a one-chip dedicated to gaming machines in which a CPU core, a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and other interface circuits related to signal input / output are integrated. It functions as a microcomputer and has the form of a discrete IC in which these chip sets are packaged. In the case of a gaming machine that does not employ a dedicated one-chip microcomputer or a sub-control board, a sealed seal of an electronic component such as a discrete CPU or ROM may be selected as a monitoring target.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the socket 110 is fixed by soldering on the board of the main control board 100, and the CPU chip 120 is mounted on the socket 110 to control the slot machine 1. An electronic control circuit is configured.

  In the main control board 100, a pair of terminal electrodes is located on the mounting surface 100a (upper side surface in FIG. 3) on the side where the socket 110 and other electronic components are mounted, at a position close to both opposing ends of the socket 110. 104a and 104b are provided.

  The terminal electrodes 104a and 104b are integrally printed in through holes 105a and 105b that penetrate the main control board 100 and connect the mounting surface 100a and the wiring surface 100b (lower surface in FIG. 3) with a conductive material. Yes. That is, the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b are formed so as to have substantially the same surface with respect to the mounting surface 100a so that the thickness can be ignored. And each is connected to the below-mentioned monitoring circuit 130 which monitors peeling and cutting | disconnection of the sealing seal | sticker 200 via the wiring 101,102 by the side of the wiring surface 100b.

  The seal seal 200 is formed of a material that has conductivity and is easily broken, such as an aluminum foil. Further, the seal seal 200 straddles the CPU chip 120 mounted on the socket 110, and the respective end portions are in electrical contact with the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b through conductive adhesive such as silver paste, respectively. Affixed to the mounting surface 100a. Thus, the CPU chip 120 is sealed through the seal seal 200, and the CPU chip 120 cannot be detached from the socket 110 unless the seal seal 200 is peeled off or cut.

  Further, the seal seal 200 is formed of a material that breaks with a shearing force smaller than the sticking force to the main control board 100, or has a slit or a broken hole that breaks with a shearing force smaller than the sticking force. An easily broken portion (not shown) is formed. That is, when the seal seal 200 is to be peeled off from the main control board 100, it is broken (cut) at any part, so that the fact that the CPU chip 120 is detached from the socket 110 or the removal is not reached. The fact that the seal is once released is left as a cut mark.

  Further, in order to be able to detect such a fact quickly and reliably, the main control board 100 of the present embodiment is provided with monitoring means as shown in the block diagram of FIG. As shown in the figure, the monitoring circuit 130 is a circuit for detecting a change in electrical resistance between the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b. For example, the detection resistor 131, a constant current source 132 connected in parallel to the detection resistor 131, and a limiter A resistor 133 and a differential circuit 134, which is an operational amplifier that amplifies an increase in voltage across the detection resistor 131 and outputs a detection signal, and the like.

  In a state where the seal seal 200 correctly seals the CPU chip 120, the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b are electrically short-circuited by the conductive seal seal 200. As a result, the voltage drop due to the detection resistor 131 becomes almost zero, and the differential circuit 134 outputs a low level (L) signal. On the other hand, when the seal seal 200 is peeled off or cut from one of the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b, the terminal electrodes 104a and 104b are electrically opened, and the detection resistor 131 is detected by the monitoring current from the constant current source 132. And the differential circuit 134 outputs a high level (H) signal. Accordingly, the monitoring circuit 130 monitors the peeling and cutting of the seal seal 200, and outputs a high level (H) detection signal to the driver 140 for driving the solenoids 150a and 150b when the seal seal 200 peels or cuts.

  Here, the solenoids 150a and 150b provided in the socket 110 actuate a mechanism for preventing the CPU chip 120 from being remounted. Accordingly, an embodiment of the socket 110 having the electronic component remounting prevention mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  FIG. 5A is a plan view of the socket 110, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing a structure inside the socket 110 by cutting a part thereof. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are partial cross-sectional side views showing the internal structure by partly breaking the socket 110, and each showing before and after the operation of the anti-remounting mechanism. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the socket 110 according to the present embodiment is formed with a predetermined number of pin holes 111 into which the lead pins 121 of the CPU chip 120 are inserted in two rows at the side end of the main body. It is a so-called DIP (Dual Inline Package) type IC socket. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the socket 110 is provided with shutter members 112a and 112b that are movable so as to open and close each arrangement of the pin holes 111 in a sealed state in the main body. ing. Between the shutter members 112a and 112b and the bottom wall 113 in the center of the socket 110, springs 114a and 114b as spring members are provided in an elastically compressed state, and each shutter member 112a and 112b is supported by the springs 114a and 114b. The pin holes 111 are each urged in a direction to always close. However, in a normal state (initial state) in which the CPU chip 120 is mounted, all the pin holes 111 are set open so that the lead pins 121 can be inserted into the contact terminals 115 and contacted. .

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, in a normal state, the pull type solenoids 150a and 150b are in an OFF state (non-energized state), and the plungers 150aa and 150ba protrude. In this state, the plungers 150aa and 150ba pass through the locking grooves 112aa and 112ba of the shutter members 112a and 112b so as to cross each other, thereby locking the shutter members 112a and 112b at a position where the pin hole 111 is opened. .

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, when the seal seal 200 is peeled or cut to release the seal of the CPU chip 120 and the driver 140 is operated to turn on the solenoids 150 a and 150 b (energized state). As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the plungers 150aa and 150ba are retracted, and the above-described locked state is released. In this state, the shutter members 112a and 112b are pushed out to the positions where the pin holes 111 are closed by the biasing forces of the springs 114a and 114b.

  That is, when the CPU chip 120 is detached from the socket 110 in a state where the seal is released, all the pin holes 111 are completely blocked by the biased shutter members 112a and 112b. Further, the re-mounting prevention mechanism including the shutter members 112a and 112b, the springs 114a and 114b, the solenoids 150a and 150b, and the like is provided in a sealed state in the main body of the socket 110 as shown in FIG. The shutter members 112a and 112b cannot be opened by an operation from the outside, and therefore the reattachment of the CPU chip 120 can be reliably prevented.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CPU chip in which data and programs related to the balls are remodeled by including the remount prevention mechanism that irreversibly closes the pin hole 111 of the socket 110 to which the CPU chip 120 is mounted. It is possible to reliably prevent an illegal game from being executed by replacing 120.

  In addition, since the monitoring circuit 130 immediately detects that the seal seal 200 of the CPU chip 120 has been peeled off or cut, fraud can be detected when an unauthorized person accesses the seal seal 200. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unfair acts from being completed in advance.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the shutter members 112a and 112b close all the pin holes 111 when the seal of the seal seal 200 is released has been described. However, only some of the pin holes 111 are detected when an abnormality occurs. Even if it is closed, the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, the means for monitoring the peeling and cutting of the seal seal 200 is not limited to the method of detecting the electrical resistance described in the present embodiment. For example, peeling or the like based on the change in eddy current flowing through the surface layer of the seal seal 200 is performed. A sensor of a detection method or a sensor of a method based on a communication state such as an IC tag embedded in the seal seal 200 may be adopted. Further, the trigger for operating the remount prevention mechanism (the shutter members 112a and 112b, the solenoids 150a and 150b, etc.) is not limited to the case where the disconnection such as peeling of the seal seal 200 is detected, and the CPU chip 120 is detached from the socket 110. Or when other abnormalities are detected.

  At the same time as closing the pin hole 111 of the socket 110, for example, lamps such as the upper lamp 5 and corner lamps 6a and 6b of the slot machine 1, speakers such as the sound emitting portions 7a, 7b, 17a and 17b, or the liquid crystal display device 8 Or the like may be provided on the sub-control board or the like with an abnormality notification means for outputting an alarm of occurrence of abnormality (injustice). Further, the abnormality notification means may notify the hall computer, which is a hall management computer, of the occurrence of an abnormality (injustice) through communication. In this way, by notifying the surroundings, the hall computer, etc. at the same time when the illegal act is performed, the illegal act on the illegal acter can be stopped, and the hall side can respond promptly and accurately.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a slot machine that is an embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a main control board in a state where a CPU chip is mounted in a socket in the slot machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partial cross section of the main control board shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram of the monitoring means by one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which fractured | ruptured and represented the top view and one part of the socket by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a side view in which a part of the socket shown in FIG. 5 is broken and is a view showing before and after the operation of the remount prevention mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 2 Cabinet 3 Front door 4 Lower plate member 5 Upper lamp 6a, 6b Corner lamp 7a, 7b Sound emission part 8 Liquid crystal display device 9 Middle panel 9a Display window 10a, 10b, 10c Reel 11 Medal insertion part 12 Bet button 13 Start lever 14a, 14b, 14c Stop button 15 Lower panel 16 Medal payout port 17a, 17b Sound emitting part 18 Console 100 Main control board 100a Mounting surface 100b Wiring surface 104a, 104b Terminal electrode 105a, 105b Through hole 110 Socket 111 Pin hole 112a, 112b Shutter member 112aa, 112ba Locking groove 113 Bottom wall 114a, 114b Spring 115 Contact terminal 120 CPU chip 121 Lead pin 130 Monitoring circuit 131 Detection resistor 132 Constant current source 133 Limiting resistor 34 differential circuit 140 driver 150a, 150b solenoid 150aa, 150ba plunger 200 seals seal

Claims (4)

A gaming machine in which a gaming operation is controlled by an electronic control circuit including a predetermined electronic component that is detachably mounted on at least one surface of a board via a socket,
The socket on which the electronic component is mounted is provided with a shutter member that can irreversibly close a pin hole for inserting a lead pin of the electronic component when occurrence of an abnormality is detected. Gaming machine. In the socket, a spring member that urges the shutter member in a direction that always closes the pin hole,
A solenoid that locks a plunger that protrudes in a non-energized state to lock the shutter member at a position where the pin hole is opened, and retracts the plunger in a powered state to release the locking. The gaming machine according to claim 1. Monitoring means for detecting peeling or cutting of a seal seal that seals the removal of the electronic component from the socket;
And a driving means for driving the shutter member to close the pin hole by regarding the monitoring means as detecting that the seal seal has been peeled or cut. The gaming machine according to 1 or 2. At least a pair of terminal electrodes are formed on the substrate adjacent to opposite opposite side ends of the socket, and the sealing seal has conductivity and is sealed by being attached to each terminal electrode across the electronic component. ,
The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring unit detects peeling or cutting of the seal seal by detecting a change in electrical resistance between the terminal electrodes.

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