JP2009213931A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine that increases excitement and enjoyment by sound. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine includes a variable display, wherein a plurality of electric sound convertors are disposed to surround the center of the variable display, and a transfer function of voice output outputted from these electric sound convertors is controlled by a voice output controller. Specifically, four loudspeakers 14A-14D are disposed to confront a game player on the upside and lower side and on the right and left around a turning barrel exposure window, and the transfer function of voice output to the four loudspeakers 14A-14D is controlled so that game information is converted to sound information and then output. Accordingly, a sound image of effective sound can be controlled in two dimensions according to the game state, whereby the game player's excitement and enjoyment can be further increased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine having a variable display device including a plurality of drums is known. As one of such gaming machines, a slot machine having a variable display device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This slot machine is a gaming machine that plays a game by rotating a plurality of spinning cylinders and then stopping the spinning cylinders.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-174739

  In the gaming machine such as the slot machine exemplified above, an effect by sound is performed as a preference during the game.

  However, the production by the conventional sound is insufficient as a production.

  The present invention proposes a gaming machine that can be enhanced by sound.

  The present invention provides a gaming machine having a variable display device, wherein a plurality of electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device, and a transfer function of an audio output output from these electroacoustic transducers Is controlled by an audio output controller.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve interest by sound.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming machine according to the present invention applied to a slot machine with the front door closed (No. 1). It is a perspective view of the slot machine in a state where the front door is opened. It is a top view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bass-reflex type speaker for low sounds. FIG. 3 is a perspective view with the front door closed when the gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a slot machine (No. 2). It is a circuit block diagram of the slot machine. It is an assembly perspective view of a left turn cylinder. It is an expanded view of the seal wound around the left rotating drum. It is a figure which shows the operation principle of a stepping motor. It is a connection diagram which shows the drive system of a stepping motor. It is a figure which shows the drive characteristic of a stepping motor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between an excitation signal (excitation data) and an excitation order pointer. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the content of the excitation time table at the time of an acceleration process, and an acceleration counter. It is a figure which shows the relationship at the time of the stop process of a rotating drum. It is a systematic diagram which shows the Example of an audio | voice output control system (the 1). It is a systematic diagram which shows the Example of an audio | voice output control system (the 2). It is a figure which shows the volume output characteristic of each speaker when controlling the sound image at the time of full rotation. It is a figure which shows the volume output characteristic of each speaker when controlling the sound image at the time of left turn rotation two-dimensionally. It is a figure which shows the volume output characteristic of each speaker when controlling the sound image at the time of right turn rotation two-dimensionally. It is a figure which shows the volume output characteristic of each speaker when controlling the sound image at the time of winning a prize in the upper stage and the lower stage enabling line in two dimensions. It is a figure which shows the volume output characteristic of each speaker when controlling the sound image at the time of winning a prize in the diagonal enabling line two-dimensionally. It is a flowchart which shows the example of an NMI interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a timer interruption process routine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing routine at the time of a power failure. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a main process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a rotation motor control processing routine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a motor control processing routine.

  First, invention groups that can be extracted from the present embodiment are shown as means n (n = 1, 2, 3,...), And will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configuration in the present embodiment is appropriately shown in parentheses, but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses.

(Means 1) “In a gaming machine having a variable display device,
A plurality of electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device,
A game machine characterized in that a transfer function of a sound output outputted from these electroacoustic transducers is controlled by a sound output controller. "
According to this gaming machine, since a plurality of electroacoustic transducers (sound wave emitters) are arranged so as to surround the center of the fluctuation display device, the transfer function of the audio output output from these electroacoustic transducers is If controlled by the audio output controller, the synthesized sound (sound image) of the audio output from the plurality of electroacoustic transducers can be freely moved in a two-dimensional plane surrounded by the plurality of electroacoustic transducers. Therefore, if the transfer function is controlled by the game information, the game information is output after being converted into sound information, and a lot of information can be transmitted to the player by sound.

(Means 2) “In the means 1, the sound image formed by the sound output from the plurality of electroacoustic transducers is controlled by controlling one or both of the level and phase of the sound output in the transfer function. A gaming machine characterized by being controlled two-dimensionally. "
According to this gaming machine, for example, by appropriately controlling the level (amplitude) of the sound output, the position of the sound image that is the synthesized sound of the plurality of sound outputs is within a two-dimensional plane surrounded by the plurality of electroacoustic transducers. It can be arbitrarily changed.

  The position of the sound image can be similarly changed by controlling the output phase instead of the level of the sound output, and the position of the sound image can be moved two-dimensionally by controlling both the sound output level and the phase. . In short, the position of the sound image can be varied two-dimensionally by controlling the transfer function of the sound output.

(Means 3) “A gaming machine characterized in that in the means 1, the transfer function is controlled according to the state of the game.”
According to this gaming machine, the transfer function of sound output is controlled according to the state of the game. Specifically, the level and phase of the audio output are controlled by the game state. By controlling the level of the plurality of sound outputs in synchronization with each other, a sound image that is a synthesized sound of the plurality of sound outputs moves two-dimensionally. As a result, the sound image can be varied according to the state of the game, and a sound image that matches the game can be obtained.

(Means 4) “A gaming machine characterized in that in the means 3, the game state is a type of start and stop of a game or winning a prize.”
According to this gaming machine, the transfer function of the audio output is controlled according to at least the start and stop of the game and the type of winning. Since the transfer functions of a plurality of sound outputs are controlled simultaneously, the sound image can be controlled two-dimensionally.

(Means 5) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 1, the variable display device is composed of a plurality of cylinders to which symbols are attached.”
According to this gaming machine, when a rotating cylinder having a symbol row arranged around it is used as the variable display device, the voice output is performed in accordance with the start and stop of a plurality of rotating cylinders and the types of winnings. The transfer function is controlled.

  By controlling this transfer function, the sound image can be changed in the direction of rotation of the plurality of turn cylinders, or the sound image can be changed in response to the rotation of the remaining turn cylinders by performing a rotation stop operation. That is, game information can be converted as sound information.

(Means 6) “In the means 5, the state of sound output to the electroacoustic transducer is controlled according to the type of winning determined by the start or stop of rotation of the spinning cylinder and the line of symbols arranged on the spinning cylinder. A gaming machine characterized by being played. "
According to this gaming machine, the position of the sound image is controlled in accordance with the rotation state of the rotating drum, and the symbol alignment line differs depending on the contents of the winning prize. The output state is controlled. For example, when winning symbols are aligned on the upper horizontal line, the sound effect is closer to the center by controlling the electroacoustic transducer group located on the upper side of the rotor exposure window so as to correspond to the upper winning line. Rather, it sounds like the sound image moves above it. In this way, by controlling the plurality of electroacoustic transducers according to the contents of a prize or the like, it is possible to perform sound image control according to the contents or type of the prize.

(Means 7) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 1, the number of the electroacoustic transducers is three.”
According to this gaming machine, three electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device. The three arrangement methods are arbitrary, and are usually arranged so that the electroacoustic transducers are respectively located at the vertices of a triangle (for example, a regular triangle). Then, it is possible to arbitrarily move the sound image by the synthesized sound of the sound output outputted from each of the two-dimensional plane constituted by the three electroacoustic transducers. If the movement of the sound image is taken into consideration, it is preferable to dispose the two apexes on the upper side of the variable display device.

(Means 8) “A gaming machine according to means 1, wherein four or more electroacoustic transducers are used.”
According to this gaming machine, four or more electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device. When four electroacoustic transducers are used, the arrangement of these four is arbitrary, but the most preferable is the vertical and horizontal positions that are not far from the variable display device. This is because such an arrangement position is the position of the player's eyes, which is almost the position of the variable display device.

  Since the sound image by the synthesized sound of the sound output output from each of the two electro-acoustic transducers can be moved arbitrarily, sound image control that matches the state of the game is possible. . In particular, when a rotating cylinder is used as a variable display device, normally three rotating cylinders are used, so that it is possible to control the sound image according to simultaneous or partial rotation of the three rotating cylinders. Because it becomes.

(Means 9) "In the means 8, four electroacoustic transducers are used,
These four electroacoustic transducers are arranged one above the other so as to sandwich the fluctuation display device, and
A gaming machine, wherein the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to pass through the center of the variable display device and to be parallel to a horizontal line horizontal to the display unit of the variable display device. "
According to this gaming machine, when a horizontal line that passes through the center of the variable display device and is parallel to the display unit of the variable display device is assumed, the pair of electroacoustic transducers is parallel to the assumed horizontal line. It is arranged above and below the variable display device. By doing so, it is possible to output a sound image in a two-dimensional plane centering on the variable display device in a balanced manner. Since a pair of upper and lower electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to be parallel to the horizontal line, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a rectangular shape or a trapezoidal shape.

(Means 10) “In the means 8, four electroacoustic transducers are used,
These four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in pairs on the left and right so as to sandwich the variable display device,
The four electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to pass through the center of the variable display device and to be parallel to a vertical line intersecting a horizontal line horizontal to the display unit of the variable display device. A gaming machine. "
According to this gaming machine, when a vertical line passing through the center of the variable display device and intersecting a horizontal line parallel to the display unit of the variable display device is assumed, the pair is parallel to the assumed vertical line. These electroacoustic transducers are arranged on the left and right of the fluctuation display device. By doing so, it is possible to output a sound image in a two-dimensional plane centering on the variable display device in a balanced manner. Since the pair of left and right electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to be parallel to the vertical line, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a rectangular shape or a trapezoidal shape.

(Means 11) “In the means 9 or 10, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in pairs above and below the variable display device,
The pair of electroacoustic transducers disposed above is positioned above the upper end of the variable display device, and the pair of electroacoustic transducers disposed below the variable display device is the lower end of the variable display device. A gaming machine characterized by being positioned below. "
According to this gaming machine, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a balanced manner above and below the upper and lower ends of the variable display device, respectively, so that the sound image can be widened in a two-dimensional plane, and a dynamic sound image can be obtained. Can produce.

(Means 12) “In the means 9 or 10, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in pairs above and below the fluctuation display device,
The pair of electroacoustic transducers arranged on the left side of the variable display device is located further left than the left end of the variable display device,
A pair of the electroacoustic transducers arranged on the right side of the variable display device are located further to the right than the right end of the variable display device. "
According to this gaming machine, since the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a balanced manner on both the left and right sides of the variable display device, it is possible to widen the two-dimensional plane of the sound image and create a dynamic sound image.

(Means 13) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 9, the four electroacoustic transducers are disposed so as to sandwich the variation display device and are located substantially in the vicinity of the four corners of the gaming machine main body.”
According to this gaming machine, the four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a well-balanced manner near the four corners of the gaming machine body across the variable display device, so that the spread of the two-dimensional plane of the sound image can be set to the maximum. A dynamic sound image can be created.

(Means 14) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 9, the four electroacoustic transducers are disposed so as to sandwich the variation display device and are positioned in the vicinity of the four corners of the front door of the gaming machine. "
According to this gaming machine, among the gaming machines, four electroacoustic transducers are arranged particularly on the front door, and four electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a well-balanced manner near the four corners of the front door with the variable display device interposed therebetween. As a result, sound effects will be output from the front door facing the player, and electroacoustic transducers will be placed at the four corners of the front door to maximize the spread of the two-dimensional plane of the sound image. It can be set, thereby creating a dynamic sound image.

(Means 15) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 7, means 8, means 9, or means 10, the electroacoustic transducers are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance or more.”
According to this gaming machine, the sound images of sound effects can be moved two-dimensionally by arranging the arrangement intervals of the plurality of electroacoustic transducers so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined interval or more. The sound image can be controlled (moved) according to the state, and the player's interest can be further enhanced.

(Means 16) “In the means 15, the predetermined interval is at least 20 cm or more.”
According to this gaming machine, since the electroacoustic transducers are separated from each other by 20 cm or more, the two-dimensional movement of the sound image due to the sound effect can be perceived more significantly.

(Means 17) "A gaming machine according to means 1, wherein the electroacoustic transducer has directivity."
According to this gaming machine, since the electroacoustic transducer has directivity, the directivity of the electroacoustic transducer can be changed as a result by simultaneously controlling the transfer functions of a plurality of audio outputs. As a result, the sound image position of the synthesized sound by a plurality of sound outputs can be arbitrarily varied in the two-dimensional plane.

(Means 18) "A gaming machine according to means 17, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a speaker."
According to this gaming machine, since a directional speaker is used as an electroacoustic transducer having a sound wave emitting function, a sufficient output volume can be secured even in a hall in which the gaming machine is installed. Therefore, it is possible to listen to the sound effect during the game without being masked by the sound effect emitted from other game machines.

(Means 19) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 18, the speaker is a speaker for middle and high sounds.”
According to this gaming machine, it is possible to enjoy the sound effect during the game more clearly by using the mid-high sound speaker.

(Means 20) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 8, the number of the electroacoustic transducers is five.”
According to this gaming machine, in addition to the control of the sound image by three or four electroacoustic transducers, by adding one electroacoustic transducer and using a total of five electroacoustic transducers, Powerful sound production becomes possible.

(Means 21) “A gaming machine characterized in that, in the means 20, the fifth electroacoustic transducer is disposed at the bottom of the gaming machine main body.”
According to this gaming machine, by arranging the electroacoustic transducer added to the bottom of the gaming machine main body, it is possible to make a sound effect from the player's feet and to realize an acoustic space full of realism.

(Means 22) "A gaming machine according to means 21, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a bass speaker."
According to this gaming machine, by using a low-frequency speaker as an electroacoustic transducer added to the bottom of the gaming machine body, the sound effect that reverberates from the player's feet is dedicated to the low-frequency sound. realizable. The electroacoustic transducer may be a heavy bass speaker.

(Means 23) "A gaming machine according to means 22, wherein the bass speaker is a bass reflex speaker."
According to this gaming machine, by using a bass reflex type speaker as a bass speaker, a bass environment can be realized even in a hall, and a powerful acoustic space can be realized.

(Means 24) “In the means 1, the gaming machine is
Sound data storage means each storing sound data corresponding to a plurality of electroacoustic transducers;
A controller for audio output control provided between the sound data and the plurality of electroacoustic transducers;
And a control unit that controls the read state of the sound data storage means according to the state of the game,
Based on the control signal from the control unit, the transfer function of the sound output formed by the sound data from the sound data storage means is controlled, and the sound image formed by the plurality of electroacoustic transducers is two-dimensionally obtained. A gaming machine that is controlled. "
According to this gaming machine, for example, in the case of a variable display device using a rotating cylinder as the variable display device, a state signal corresponding to the rotation state of the rotating cylinder or the type of winning is supplied to the control unit. By decoding, the transfer function of the sound output to the plurality of electroacoustic transducers is controlled. Since the transfer function of the audio output to the electroacoustic transducer (specifically, the level and / or phase of the audio output) can be varied by the state signal, the sound image formed by these electroacoustic transducers can be two-dimensionally Can be controlled.

(Means 25) “In the means 24, three or more electroacoustic transducers are used, and the plurality of electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device. Pachislot machines. "
According to this gaming machine, three or more electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device. For example, when four electroacoustic transducers are used, a suitable arrangement example is the vertical and horizontal positions that are not far from the variable display device. This is because the center of the gaming machine facing the player is almost the position of the variable display device.

  Since the sound image by the synthesized sound of the sound output output from each of the four electroacoustic transducers can be moved arbitrarily, sound image control that matches the state of the game is possible become. In particular, when a rotating cylinder is used as a variable display device, normally three rotating cylinders are used, so that it is possible to control the sound image according to simultaneous or partial rotation of the three rotating cylinders. Because it becomes.

(Means 26) "A gaming machine according to means 24, wherein the sound data is sound data for sound effects."
According to this gaming machine, since sound data for generating sound effects is stored in the sound data storage means, the sizes of sound data for a plurality of electroacoustic transducers are synchronized according to the state of the game. If it controls, the sound image (sound image by a sound effect) output from several electroacoustic transducers can be controlled as desired.

(Means 27) “In the means 24, the sound data storage means stores sound data having a volume level corresponding to a specific output volume characteristic selected according to the state of the game for each electroacoustic transducer. A gaming machine characterized by
According to this gaming machine, different output volume characteristics are selected depending on the state of the game, and sound data having a volume level in accordance with the output volume characteristics is stored in advance for each electroacoustic transducer. Once the output volume characteristic is determined, the sound image corresponding to the game state can be moved two-dimensionally simply by reading out sound data whose volume level changes with time. Thereby, the control of the transfer function in the audio output control system can be realized with a simple configuration.

(Means 28) “In the means 24, the sound data storage means stores the sound data selected according to the state of the game, and the phase of the read sound data or both the output sound volume level and the phase are stored. A gaming machine characterized in that a sound image by a sound effect is controlled two-dimensionally by varying according to the state of the game.
According to this gaming machine, the sound image can be controlled two-dimensionally in addition to controlling the output volume level of the sound data read from the sound data storage means in accordance with the state of the game. In addition to the output volume level, the volume output transfer function can also be controlled by controlling the phase of the audio output, so this phase control can also change the sound image in two dimensions, and the output volume level and its phase. The sound image can also be controlled two-dimensionally by controlling both of them simultaneously.

(Means 29) "A gaming machine according to means 24, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a directional speaker."
According to this gaming machine, since a directional speaker is used as an electroacoustic transducer (sound wave emitter), a sound effect having a sufficient volume can be obtained even in a hall with a high noise level. .

  (Means 30) "In any one of means 1 to 29, the gaming machine is a pachinko machine." Here, the pachinko machine has an operation handle as its basic structure, and a game ball according to the operation of the operation handle. Is started in a predetermined game area, and the variable display of the variable display device is started on the condition that the game ball wins an operating port arranged at a predetermined position in the game area. In addition, during the occurrence of a special gaming state, the winning ball placed at a predetermined position in the gaming area is opened in a predetermined manner so that a gaming ball can be won, and there is a value according to the number of winnings. It is a gaming machine that has been granted. The valuable value can be returned as a prize sphere, or valuable information corresponding to the valuable value can be written using a card-like recording medium such as a magnetic card.

  There are two types of pachinko machines: a special game state (big hit state) that is advantageous to a player who can acquire at least a large number of game balls, and a normal game state that is disadvantageous to a player who consumes game balls. There are different types of gaming modes.

  (Means 31) “In any one of means 1 to 29, the gaming machine is a slot machine.” Here, as a basic configuration of the slot machine, a plurality of games for identifying the gaming state according to the gaming state. A variable display device is provided that displays a fixed symbol after a symbol string consisting of symbols is variably displayed. When the start operation means (for example, an operation lever) is operated, the variation of the symbol is started and a stop operation is performed. Due to the operation of the means (for example, stop button) or after a predetermined time has passed, the change of the symbol is stopped, and it is advantageous for the player that the fixed symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol. This is a gaming machine provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state.

  The above-described gaming machines include a special gaming state (a jackpot state) that is advantageous to a player who can acquire at least a large number of gaming media, and a normal gaming state that is disadvantageous to a player who consumes the gaming media. There are two types of game modes. Typical examples of game media used in this type of gaming machine include coins and medals.

(Means 32) “In any one of means 1 to 29, the gaming machine is a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are fused.”
Such a gaming machine (multi-function machine) has, as its basic configuration, a variable display device that displays a fixed symbol after a symbol string composed of a plurality of identification information for identifying the gaming state according to the gaming state is variably displayed. In addition, the variation of the symbol is started due to the operation of the starting operation means such as the operation lever, and also due to the operation of the stopping operation means such as the stop button or when a predetermined time elapses. Special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player is provided on condition that the change of the symbol is stopped and the fixed symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol, and a game ball is used as a game medium At the same time, the game machine is configured so that a predetermined number of game balls are required at the start of fluctuation of the identification information, and a large number of game balls are paid out when a special game state occurs. That.

  The above-described gaming machines include a special gaming state (a big hit state) that is advantageous to a player who can acquire at least a large number of gaming balls, and a normal gaming state that is disadvantageous to a player who consumes the gaming balls. There are two types of game modes.

  Next, examples of the present invention will be described. The embodiment according to the present invention is a case in which a rotating drum with a symbol attached is used as a variable display device. Here, the variable display device is a general term for a device that displays a symbol after a symbol string composed of a plurality of symbols for identifying the game state according to the game state is variably displayed.

  1 is a perspective view of a slot machine 10 that is an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention with the front door closed, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine 10 with the front door opened, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof. FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are sectional views of the fifth electroacoustic transducer provided in the slot machine 10. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing another example of the slot machine 10, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection of the slot machine 10.

  In the slot machine 10 applied as this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the front door 12 is rotatably attached to the main body 11 with the left side as a rotation axis, and when the front door 12 is closed, as shown in FIG. The front door 12 is locked by the locking device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front door 12 is turned on and blinks as the game progresses, and various sound effects are sounded as the game progresses, and the game state is notified to the player. The four speakers 14 (14A to 14D) respectively provided on the upper, lower, left and right sides, the upper plate 15 on which the model name and the like are displayed, the left turning cylinder L, the middle turning cylinder M, and the right turning cylinder R can be seen through. The game panel 30, the operation unit 50 provided with various buttons 51, 53 to 56, 61 to 63, the start lever 52 and the medal insertion slot 57 in the vicinity of the middle stage, the model name, characters related to the game, and the like are displayed. A lower plate 16 and a medal tray 18 for receiving medals paid out from the medal payout port 17 are mounted.

  Inside the main body of the slot machine 10, a power supply box 85 as shown in FIG. 2 and a main control board C constituting a control device as shown in FIG. 6 are mounted. The power supply box 85 is attached and fixed near the top plate of the main body 11.

  The gaming panel 30 shown in FIG. 1 has exposed windows 31L, 31M, and 31R exposed to the outside so that the left and right rotating cylinders L, M, and R can be seen through. Five bet lamps 32, 33, 33, 34, 34 arranged on the left side of the exposure window 31L, and three display units (the number of credits) arranged below the exposure window 31 (31L, 31M, 31R) A display unit 35, a game number display unit 36, and a payout number display unit 37).

  The exposure windows 31L, 31M, and 31R are formed in such a size that each of the stopped left turn cylinder L, middle turn cylinder M, and right turn cylinder R can vertically expose three symbols (described later). . For this reason, 3 × 3 = 9 symbols can be visually recognized in a state where each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R is stopped. Then, a total of five lines including the upper, middle, and lower horizontal lines and a pair of diagonal lines indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 are appropriately activated according to the number of medals bet. The exposure windows 31L, 31M, and 31R can be combined into a single exposure window.

  Note that the activated line among the pattern alignment lines is a winning line (effective line), and “winning” is obtained when a combination that gives a predetermined prize is aligned with the effective line. If the symbol on the active line is “Cherry” among the three symbols of the left-handed cylinder L that has been stopped, a “winning” is awarded.

  Since the left rotating cylinder L, the middle rotating cylinder M, and the right rotating cylinder R are configured by similar units, the left rotating cylinder L will be described as an example here with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is an assembly perspective view of the left turn cylinder L, and FIG. 8 is a development view of the seal 47 wound around the left turn cylinder L. FIG. In the left-handed drum L, a seal 47 in which 21 symbols (identification elements) as shown in FIG. 8 are drawn at equal intervals is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical skeleton member 40 forming a cylindrical cage. The boss portion 41 of the cylindrical skeleton member 40 is attached to the drive shaft of the left-turn cylinder stepping motor 71L via a disk-like boss reinforcing plate 42.

  The left turning stepping motor 71L is fixed to a motor plate 43 suspended in the main body 11 (see FIG. 2) with screws 43a. The motor plate 43 has a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. A rotator index sensor (rotational position detection sensor) 44 is installed. A pair of these photosensors (not shown) constituting the rotating index sensor 44 are arranged in the sensor casing while maintaining a predetermined interval.

  A base end portion 45b of a sensor cut bun 45 extending in the radial direction is fixed to the boss reinforcing plate 42 integrated with the left rotating drum L with a screw 45c. The tip 45a of the sensor cut bun 45 is bent by approximately 90 ° and is aligned so that it can pass through the gap between both elements of the rotating index photosensor 44. Each time the left cylinder L makes one rotation, the cylinder index photo sensor 44 detects the passage of the tip 45a of the sensor cut bang 45 and outputs a detection signal to the main control board C each time it is detected. C can check and correct the angular position of the left cylinder L every rotation based on this detection signal. In addition, the seal | sticker 47 wound around each spinning cylinder uses what differs in the order and the generation frequency of the pattern drawn on each.

  The stepping motor 71L is set so that the left cylinder L makes one round by a drive signal of 504 pulses (also referred to as an excitation signal or an excitation pulse, the same applies hereinafter), and the rotational position is controlled by this excitation pulse. In other words, since the 21 symbols are sequentially exposed from the exposure window 31L when the left cylinder L makes one round, 24 pulses (= 504 pulses / 21 symbols) are required to switch from one symbol to the next. Then, the control for recognizing which symbol is exposed from the exposure window 31L or exposing any symbol from the exposure window 31L based on the number of pulses from when the detection signal of the rotating index sensor 44 is output. It can be performed.

  FIG. 9 is a connection diagram showing the operation principle of the stepping motor 71L. In this embodiment, a hybrid (HB) type two-phase stepping motor employing a 1-2 phase excitation method is used as the stepping motor 71L. The stepping motor is not limited to a hybrid type or two-phase, and various stepping motors such as a four-phase or five-phase stepping motor can be used.

  As is well known, the hybrid type stepping motor 71L includes a rotor (rotor) 60 disposed in the center and first to fourth poles 601 to 604 disposed around the rotor 60.

  The rotor 60 includes a front rotor 60a magnetized at the N pole and a back rotor 60b magnetized at the S pole, and teeth (small teeth) and teeth provided around the front rotor 60a. In between, it is attached to the rotating shaft in a state of being relatively shifted by ½ pitch so that the teeth provided around the back rotor 60b are positioned. A cylindrical magnet (not shown) is attached between the front rotor 60a and the back rotor 60b.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the exciting coils L0 and L2 are bifilar wound on the first and third poles 601 and 602, and the winding end of the exciting coil L0 and the winding start of the exciting coil L2 are connected. A predetermined DC power source + B (for example, +24 volts) is applied to. Similarly, the exciting coils L1 and L3 are bifilar wound on the second and fourth poles 602 and 604, and the winding end of the exciting coil L1 and the winding starting end of the exciting coil L3 are connected to each other. Power supply + B is applied.

  Here, as described above, an excitation signal is applied to the first excitation coil L0 to excite the first pole 601 to the S pole, and the phase exemplified by the third pole 603 to the N pole is the A phase. On the contrary, an excitation signal is applied to the third excitation coil L2 to excite the first pole 601 to the N pole, the phase for exciting the third pole 603 to the S pole is set to the A-phase, and the second The excitation signal is applied to the excitation coil L1 to excite the second pole 602 to the S pole, the phase for exciting the fourth pole 604 to the N pole is set to the B phase, and the excitation signal is applied to the fourth excitation coil L3. When applied, the second pole 602 is excited to the N pole, and the phase in which the fourth pole 604 is excited to the S pole is referred to as a B-phase.

  In the case of the one-phase excitation drive method, the rotor 60 is rotated in the clockwise direction (or counterclockwise) by sequentially applying excitation signals to the A phase, B phase, A-phase and B-phase. can do.

  That is, for example, when the A phase is first energized, the protrusion of the first pole 601 that is the S pole and the teeth of the front rotor 60a, the protrusion of the third pole 603 that is the N pole, and the teeth of the back rotor 60b are respectively When facing each other by the attractive force and then energizing the B phase, the protrusion of the second pole 602 and the teeth of the front rotor 60a that are the S pole, the protrusion of the fourth pole 604 that is the N pole and the teeth of the back rotor 60b Facing each other by suction force, and then energizing the A-phase, the protrusion of the first pole 601 and the teeth of the back rotor 60b that become the N pole, the protrusion of the third pole 603 that becomes the S pole and the front side When the teeth of the rotor 60a face each other by a suction force and then the B-phase is energized, the protrusion of the second pole 602 that becomes the N pole, the teeth of the back rotor 60b, and the fourth pole 604 that becomes the S pole Protrusion and front rotor 60 And teeth facing the respective suction force. By exciting in this order, the rotor 60 rotates clockwise in FIG. 9 (one-phase excitation drive).

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, 1-2 phase excitation driving is performed in which one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation are alternately performed. In the 1-2 phase excitation drive, excitation is performed according to the following excitation sequences (excitation order) (a) to (h).

That is, since excitation of only one phase is one-phase excitation, and two-phase excitation is an example of two phases simultaneously, as shown in FIG.
(A) Energize Phase A (1-phase excitation)
(B) Energize both A phase and B phase (2 phase excitation), (c) Energize B phase in the same manner,
(D) Energize both phase B and phase A-
(E) Energize the A-phase,
(F) Energize both A-phase and B-phase,
(G) Energize the B-phase,
(H) A drive system in which both the B-phase and the A-phase are energized and then returned to (a).
By adopting this 1-2 phase excitation drive, the angle change per step is about 0.714 ° per step of 1 phase excitation drive.

  Drive signals (drive signal data) for the stepping motors 71L, 71M, 71R are given to the motor driver 712 as excitation data (see FIG. 12). This excitation data is stored in the RAM 76 shown in FIG. 6, and an appropriate input / output processing circuit (input / output port) 80 is supplied to the input / output processing circuit (input / output port) 80 based on a command from the MPU 72 by a timer interruption process in a later-described cylinder control processing routine. Excitation data will be output. The excitation data determines the excitation phase for the stepping motors 71L, 71M, 71R, and an excitation signal (current) is supplied to the excitation phase.

  If the above-described excitation order is incorrect at the start of rotation, that is, initial excitation, the excitation intervals are short, or the excitation intervals are extremely uneven, the step-out may occur or the rotation may become unstable. Here, the excitation interval is a data writing interval to the output port in the input / output port 80 described later, and this means an output interval of excitation data from the output port in the input / output port 80.

  This will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the single bet lamp 32 is disposed on the left side of the middle horizontal line, and the two bet lamps 33 and 33 are disposed on the left side of the upper horizontal line and the lower horizontal line. The lamps 34 are arranged on the left side of the pair of diagonal lines.

  The credit number display unit 35 displays the number stored in the slot machine when the credit function described later is valid. The game number display unit 36, for example, how many times JAC (jack) at the time of a big bonus. It displays the number of times that the JAC symbol can be established and how many times the JAC symbol has been established during the JAC game. The payout number display unit 37 displays the number of payouts when the same symbols are aligned on the active line and a winning is made.

  As described above, the operation unit 50 includes the credit button 51, the start lever 52, the left turning cylinder stop button 53, the middle turning cylinder stop button 54, the right turning cylinder stop button 55, and the return button 56 provided on the front surface. And a medal slot 57, a one-bed bet button 61, a two-bed bet button 62, and a max bet button 63 provided in the horizontal step portion.

  The credit button 51 is configured to be a toggle type that is turned on when pressed once, turned off when pressed once, and switched on / off every time the push button is operated.

  When the credit button 51 is in the off state, the credit number display section 35 disappears, and medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 57 and medals paid out when winning are paid out from the medal payout opening 17 to the medal tray 18.

  When the credit button 51 is turned on, a number (“0” when turned off from on) is displayed on the credit number display portion 35, and the credit function is enabled.

  Here, the credit function is a function of storing the number of coins inserted from the medal slot 57 in the slot machine when the number of max bets exceeds three (here, three). Is displayed on the credit number display section 35 described above. When one or more credits are displayed on the credit number display unit 35 and the credit button 51 is pressed to turn it off, the displayed number of medals are paid out from the medal payout opening 17 to the medal tray 18 and the medals are paid out. Each time the credit number display unit 35 is decremented, the value is decremented by one and the display disappears after the value becomes zero.

  The start lever 52 is a lever that is pressed and operated by the player when starting the game, and automatically returns to the original position after the hand is released. When the start lever 52 is operated while a medal is bet, the start switch 52a (see FIG. 6) is turned on to generate a start command, and the start cylinders L, M, and R are simultaneously moved by the start command. Start spinning.

  The stop button 53 for the left turning cylinder, the stop button 54 for the middle turning cylinder, and the stop button 55 for the right turning case are used to stop the rotating left turning cylinder L, middle turning cylinder M, and right turning cylinder R, respectively. Is a button for pressing with a finger, and when each of the buttons 53, 54, 55 is pressed, a stop switch 53a for the left turning cylinder, a stop switch 54a for the middle rotation cylinder, and a stop switch 55a for the right rotation cylinder (FIG. 6) is turned on and a stop command is generated. The stop buttons 53, 54, and 55 are lit and displayed by lamps (not shown) while the cylinders L, M, and R are rotating at a constant speed, and are turned off when the rotation is stopped.

  The return button 56 is a button that is pressed when a medal inserted into the medal slot 57 is jammed. When this button is pressed, the jammed medal is returned from the medal payout opening 17.

  The medal insertion port 57 is an entrance for inserting medals, and the inserted medals are used for payout leading to a storage passage 91 leading to a hopper 86 provided inside or a medal payout port 17 as shown in FIG. It is guided to one of the passages 92. Switching between the storage passage 91 and the payout passage 92 is performed by a medal passage switching solenoid 66.

  Each bet button 61, 62, 63 is a button for determining the number of medals to bet in the game before the game is started. The procedure for betting medals is as follows.

  When the credit button 51 is in the off state (when the credit number display unit 35 is turned off), or when the credit button 51 is in the on state and the stored number and the bet number are zero (“0” is displayed in the credit number display unit 35) When a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 57 when it is displayed, a bet is placed.

  That is, when the first medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 57, the one bet lamp 32 is turned on, and the middle horizontal line corresponding thereto becomes the effective line, and the second medal is the medal insertion slot. Then, the two-bed bet lamps 33 and 33 are turned on, and a total of three lines including the upper horizontal line and the lower horizontal line corresponding thereto become effective lines, respectively. When inserted into the medal insertion slot 57, the three-bet lamps 34 and 34 are turned on, and each of a total of five lines including a pair of diagonal lines corresponding thereto becomes an effective line.

  When four or more medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 57, when the credit button 51 is off, that is, when the credit function is not effective, the medal is returned from the medal payout opening 17 to the medal tray 18, but the credit button 51 When is turned on, that is, when the credit function is valid, the number of medals inserted is stored in the slot machine with the valid line as it is, and the stored number is displayed on the credit number display section 35. The upper limit of the number of credits is determined (for example, 50), and when more medals are inserted, the medal payout port 17 returns the medal to the medal tray 18.

  When three or more medals are stored, when the one bet button 61 is pressed, the numerical value displayed on the credit number display section 35 is decremented by one and the one bet lamp 32 is turned on. When the middle horizontal line becomes an active line and the two-bet button 62 is pressed, the numerical value displayed in the credit amount display section 35 is decremented by two, and the one-bet lamp 32 and the two-bet lamp 33, 33 lights up, a total of three lines are activated, and when the maximum bet button 63 is pressed, the numerical value displayed in the credit amount display section 35 is decremented by three and all bet lamps 32, 33, 33, 34, and 34 are lit and a total of five active lines are activated.

  On the other hand, when two medals are stored, if the one-bet button 61 or the two-bet button 62 is pressed, the operation is the same as before, but if the maximum bet button 63 is pressed, the two-bet button 62 is When the single bet button 61 is pressed when only one medal is stored, the same operation is performed as before, but the two bet button 62 and the maximum bet button 63 are operated. When is pressed, the operation is the same as when the single bet button 61 is pressed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power box 85 includes a power switch 81, a reset switch 82, a setting key insertion hole 83, and the like. When the power switch 81 is turned on, the power switch 81 supplies power to each unit including the MPU 72. When the power switch 81 is turned on while the reset switch 82 is on, the contents of the RAM 76 are reset, and when it is simply turned on, the error state is reset.

  In the setting key insertion hole 83, when a setting key (not shown) (held by a hall manager or the like) is inserted, the setting key switch 83a (see FIG. 6) is turned on, and the setting state of the slot machine 10 (winning probability) Setting process) can be changed from “Setting 1” to “Setting 6”.

  The hopper 86 includes an auxiliary tank 87 that stores medals, and a payout device 88 that pays out medals in the auxiliary tank 87 to the medal payout outlet 17 through an opening 93 that leads to a payout passage 92. The payout device 88 feeds out medals to the opening 93 while rotating a medal sending rotary plate (not shown) by a hopper drive motor 65 (see FIG. 6).

  In order to effectively produce a game, in the present invention, processing for converting the game state into a sound state is performed. For this reason, in the present invention, electroacoustic transducers having a plurality of sound wave emitting functions are used, and sound images formed by the plurality of electroacoustic transducers are controlled two-dimensionally according to the state of the game.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the gaming machine main body 11 is provided with a plurality of electroacoustic transducers. In the embodiment, a medium-high sound speaker having directivity is used as the electroacoustic transducer. The directivity is required so that the synthesized sound (sound image) when the sound outputs from the plurality of electroacoustic transducers (speakers) are synthesized can be moved (variable) depending on the state of the game.

  A plurality of speakers are used. Specifically, three or more are used, and when the exposure window 31 (31L, 31R, 31M) of the rotator which is a variable display device is considered as one body, it is arranged so as to surround the center of the rotator exposure window 31. . The example described below is a case where four speakers are used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, four speakers 14 (14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> D) for forming a sound image are arranged at four positions on the front side of the gaming machine main body 11, up, down, left, and right. In this embodiment, four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged in the vicinity of the upper, lower, left and right ends of the front door 12 so as to sandwich the rotating cylinder exposure window 31 (31L, 31M, 31R).

  Further, in the embodiment, the position is on the inner door side of the front door 12 and above the upper end of the swivel exposure window 31 and further to the left of the left end. Therefore, in the example of FIG. A pair of speakers 14A and 14B are arranged at locations located on both sides.

  In addition, the start lever 52 and the stop buttons 53, 54, of the region below the lower end of the rotating cylinder exposure window 31 and further to the right of the right end, that is, the operation unit 50 in the example of FIG. A pair of speakers 14 </ b> C and 14 </ b> D are respectively disposed at both left and right ends of the region where 55 is disposed.

  In the four speakers 14A to 14D respectively arranged on the upper, lower, left and right sides, the vertical and horizontal intervals Hh and Hv need to be separated by a predetermined interval or more as shown in FIG. This is to make it possible to feel as if the sound image by the sound effect formed by the four speakers 14A to 14D has moved two-dimensionally.

  According to various experiments, sound images formed by the four directional speakers 14A to 14D cannot be effectively moved in terms of hearing unless their mounting intervals Hh and Hv are separated by a certain amount or more. It is because it became clear. According to various experiments, a two-dimensional displacement of the sound image could be confirmed if the distance was 20 cm or more.

  As shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the speakers 14A and 14B on the left and right sides of the upper plate 15, both can be separated from each other by 20 cm or more in the horizontal direction (= Hh). By disposing the speakers 14C and 14D, the two can be separated from each other by 20 cm or more. In addition, with this arrangement, it is possible to separate by 20 cm or more in the longitudinal direction (= Hv). Of course, although it is limited by the size of the gaming machine main body 11, the distance between the upper and lower speakers can be sufficiently separated from the above example. For example, in the portion constituting the medal tray 18 as shown in FIG. A pair of speakers 14C and 14D can be arranged 20 cm or more apart. Therefore, in an extreme example, four speakers 14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> D may be arranged near the four corners of the front door 12 or the gaming machine main body 11.

  For the four speakers 14A to 14D, speakers for medium and high sounds are used. This is because noise in the hall where the slot machine 10 is installed is taken into consideration. Since the level of noise in the hall is large except for the above, in order to make it easy to hear the sound effect during play, a speaker for medium and high sounds having directivity as described above is used. Of course, a speaker for all bands can also be used.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in addition to these four speakers 14A to 14D, another electroacoustic transducer is attached. This electroacoustic transducer is for bass, and is fixedly attached to the bottom of the main body 11 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.

  In this example, a bass reflex type speaker is used. Therefore, a duct (hole part) 98 is provided in the cabinet 96 as shown in FIG. 4, and a bass speaker 14E is attached to the upper part thereof. In this example, as shown in FIG. A cabinet 96 is attached and fixed beside the provided hopper 86. The loudspeaker 14E includes a heavy bass speaker.

  As described above, since the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged around the rotator exposure window 31 that is most watched by the player, the sound image of the sound effect is two-dimensionally according to the movement of the rotator and the contents of the winning prize. The player can learn that the game is being controlled, which further increases the interest in the game.

  By using the middle / high tone speaker as the electroacoustic transducer, a sufficient output volume can be secured even in the hall where the gaming machine is installed. Therefore, it is possible to listen to the sound effect during the game without being masked by the sound effect emitted from other game machines.

  An example of controlling the sound image two-dimensionally using the above-described plurality of speakers 14A to 14E will be described later.

  The arrangement of the speakers 14 arranged so as to surround the rotating cylinders L, M, and R, which are variable display devices, and particularly the arrangement of the four speakers 14A to 14D for sound image formation and the effects thereof are as follows.

  First, the four speakers 14A to 14D pass through the centers of the exposure windows 31L, 31M, and 31R of the rotating cylinders L, M, and R, which are display units of the variable display device, and the rotating cylinders L, M, and R When assuming a parallel horizontal line and a vertical line intersecting with the horizontal line, the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged so as to be parallel to the assumed horizontal line or vertical line. That is, the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged in a rectangular shape or a trapezoidal shape. The arrangement shape when the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged so as to be parallel to the horizontal line and the vertical line is rectangular. By doing so, it is possible to output a sound image in a two-dimensional plane centered on the drums L, M, and R in a balanced manner.

  Secondly, there are four speakers 14A to 14D arranged one above the other so as to sandwich the spinning cylinders L, M, R, and the pair of speakers 14A, 14B arranged above the spinning cylinders L, M, The pair of speakers 14C and 14D disposed above the upper ends of the rotating drums L and M and R can be disposed below the lower ends of the rotating drums L, M and R.

  By doing so, the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged in a well-balanced manner above and below the drums L, M, and R, so that the two-dimensional plane of the sound image can be widened and a dynamic sound image can be created. Can do.

  Thirdly, the pair of speakers 14A, 14C arranged on the left side of the spinning cylinders L, M, R is located further left than the left side, and the pair of speakers arranged on the right side of the spinning cylinders L, M, R 14B and 14D can be located further to the right than the right side.

  In this way, since the four speakers 14A to 14D are arranged in a well-balanced manner on the left and right sides of the rotating drums L, M, and R, it is possible to widen the two-dimensional plane of the sound image and create a dynamic sound image. it can.

  Fourthly, the four speakers 14A to 14D can be arranged near the four corners of the gaming machine main body 11 as described above, or can be arranged near the four corners of the front door 12, respectively. By doing so, the spread of the two-dimensional plane of the sound image can be set to the maximum, and thereby a dynamic sound image can be created.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 6, the main control board C is configured as a microcomputer centering on the MPU 72 which is an arithmetic processing means, and outputs a rectangular wave having a predetermined frequency in addition to the power supply box 85 described above. A clock circuit 78, a ROM 74 for storing processing programs, a working RAM 76 for temporarily storing data, an input / output port (input / output port) 80, and the like are connected to the MPU 72 via an internal bus 79.

  The main control board C has a detection signal from the drum index photosensor 44, a reset signal from the reset switch 82, an on / off signal from the setting key switch 83a, and each bet switch 61a, 62a, 63a bet signal, on / off signal from the credit switch 51a linked to the credit button 51, start command signal from the start switch 52a linked to the start lever 52, left, middle, right turn stop buttons 53, 54 55, 55, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a, 55a. Stepping motor 7 for the left, middle and right turn cylinders that drives the cylinder M and the right turn cylinder R L, 71M, such as the position detection signal from the 71R is input through the input port 80.

  From the main control board C, lighting signals to the upper lamp 13 and the 1 to 3 bet lamps 32, 33, 34, display signals to the credit number display unit 35, the game number display unit 36 and the payout number display unit 37, Driving signal to the hopper drive motor 65 that causes the dispensing device 88 to perform the dispensing operation, left turning cylinder L, middle turning cylinder M, left turning cylinder stepping motors 71L, 71M, 71R for driving the right turning cylinder R Drive signal (drive data), a drive signal to the medal path switching solenoid 66 for controlling whether the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 57 is guided to the hopper 86 or the medal payout outlet 17, and a plurality of speakers 14 (14A). To 14E) sound output control command signals (state signals related to the game state) for controlling sound effects and the like, display control frames for controlling the display content of the liquid crystal display 15 Such as de signal is outputted through the output port 80.

  The main control board C includes various counters such as a credit counter that counts the number of credits.

  The above-described MPU 72 includes a ROM 74 that stores various control programs and fixed value data executed by the MPU 72, and a work area that temporarily stores various data when executing the control program stored in the ROM 74. In addition to the RAM 76 for securing the memory, various processing circuits necessary for the slot machine 10 such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, a data transmission / reception circuit, etc. are built in, as is well known, although not shown.

  The ROM 52 and the RAM 76 constitute a main memory, and a program for executing the processes shown in various flowcharts shown in FIG. 22 and subsequent figures is stored in the ROM 74 described above as a part of the control program.

  In the RAM 76, a plurality of work areas (memory areas) are secured functionally. As is well known, in addition to a stack memory (stack memory area) (not shown) for storing the value of the program counter provided in the MPU 72, in this example, a memory 76a for storing a power failure flag, a stack pointer A stack pointer storage memory 76b for storing data, a checksum correction value memory 76c for storing a correction value related to a checksum of data stored in the RAM 76, a power recovery command buffer 76d used for power recovery, A memory area such as the power recovery command counter 76e is secured.

  As will be described later, a backup voltage is supplied to the RAM 76 from a power supply board 850 provided in the power supply box 85 so that data is not lost even after the power of the slot machine 10 is cut off.

  The stack pointer storage memory 76b set in the RAM 76 is a memory for saving and storing the value of the stack pointer in the MPU 72 when the slot machine 10 is powered off. The value of the stack pointer is saved in the stack pointer storage memory 76b in the initial stage of the power failure process (see step S33 in FIG. 24). At the beginning of the power recovery process, the return process for the stack pointer is performed, and the value stored in the stack pointer storage memory 76b is taken into the stack pointer in the MPU 72. The contents of the stack pointer are saved and saved in a stack memory provided in the backed up RAM 76.

  The checksum correction value memory 76c in the RAM 76 is a memory for storing a correction value for setting the checksum calculated from the data in the RAM 76 during power failure processing to “0 (zero)”.

  The power recovery command buffer 76d temporarily stores a power recovery processing command (power recovery command) transmitted from the main control board C to the sub control board S when the power is restored (when power failure is restored or power is turned on again). A buffer to store. The power recovery command is used as a command for informing the sub-control board S that the power recovery process shown in FIG. The power recovery command is transmitted to the sub-control board S in preference to the general command stored in the RAM 76.

  The power recovery command counter 76e is a counter that stores the number of bytes of the power recovery command stored in the power recovery command buffer 76d. The power recovery command has a 2-byte configuration, and is transmitted to the sub-control board S in units of bytes in the same way as other commands (speaker driving commands and the like).

  In addition to the I / O device such as the sub control board S, the input / output port 80 includes an external centralized terminal board 89 capable of transmitting information to a hall management device (not shown) and the like, and a power failure provided on the power supply board 850. A monitoring circuit 850b and the like are connected.

  The power supply board 850 is equipped with a power supply unit 850a for supplying driving power to the electronic devices of the slot machine 10 including the main control board C, the power failure monitoring circuit 850b described above, and the like.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 850b monitors the power-off state, and generates a power failure signal 851 not only at the time of a power failure but also at the time of power-off by the power switch 81. Therefore, the power failure monitoring circuit 850b monitors the stabilized drive voltage of 24 VDC in this example output from the power supply unit 850a, and determines that the power supply is cut off when the drive voltage drops to, for example, less than 22 volts. The power failure signal 851 is output. The power failure signal 851 is supplied to each of the MPU 72 and the input / output port 80, and the MPU 72 recognizes this power failure signal 851 to execute a power failure process described later.

  The power supply unit 850a is configured to output a stabilized voltage of 5 volts used as a drive voltage in a control system such as the main control board C even when the output voltage is reduced to less than 22 volts. As a time during which the stabilization voltage is output, a sufficient time is secured to execute the power failure processing by the main control board C.

  When the stepping motor 71 (71L, 71M, 71R) described above is used as the spinning cylinder drive motor of the slot machine 10, drive characteristics as shown in FIG. 11 are required.

  This drive characteristic includes an acceleration period Ta from when the start button 52 (which may be a start operation lever) is operated until the stepping motor 71 starts rotating and reaches a constant constant speed rotation, a constant speed rotation period Tb, In relation to the operation of the stop buttons 53 to 55, the operation is divided into a stop period Tc including a predetermined slip (slip used for symbol adjustment).

  While there is no restriction on how much the acceleration period Ta must be, when the stop buttons 53 to 55 are not operated, the time obtained by adding the constant speed period Tb to the acceleration period Ta must be 30 seconds or more. There is a regulation that must be done. During the stop period Tc, it is required to fix the excitation phase for the drive motor within about 190 msec at the maximum after the stop buttons 53 to 55 are operated.

  In the acceleration period Ta, it is necessary to shift to the constant speed rotation state as soon as possible. For this purpose, an interruption to the excitation phase for the stepping motor 71 (switching from the excitation phase of 1-phase excitation to 2-phase excitation and 2) It is sufficient to speed up the switching from phase excitation to one-phase excitation). However, as described above, step-out and instability of rotation may be promoted. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the optimum interrupt processing that realizes the shortest acceleration processing without causing step-out or rotation instability.

  When an excitation signal is applied to the excitation coil by interrupt processing, it is necessary to set an appropriate interrupt timing for the excitation phase. For this purpose, especially during the acceleration of the motor, at least until the rotational fluctuation of the rotor 60 is suppressed, the excitation is performed. Holds the excitation state for the initial excitation phase to which the signal is applied.

  Basically, it is considered that step-out and rotational instability are difficult to resolve unless the state of initial excitation (excitation at zero initial speed) is maintained to some extent. This is due to the convergence of the rotational swing (micro vibration accompanied by reciprocation) generated when the teeth of the rotor 60 are attracted to the teeth of the poles 601 to 604 by the attractive force generated by the initial excitation. I will be involved. Although it differs depending on the inertia of the rotating cylinders L, M, R, etc., according to the experiment, since the rotor 60 stopped after repeating the reciprocation (cycle) in 30 msec for 5 to 6 reciprocations, the rotational vibration was eliminated. However, in order to perform the acceleration process, it has been found that at least a time of 150 to 180 msec after the initial excitation is required as a time for fixing (holding) by the same excitation phase.

Here, when the minimum timer interruption time for the MPU 72 described above is set to 1.49 msec and the time required for the rotation shake to stop is about 180 msec, the minimum stabilization time exceeding this time is set. It is set as the time for fixing the initial excitation phase. In this embodiment, 1.49 msec × 130 interrupt = 193.7 msec is set as the minimum stable time, that is, the initial excitation holding time. It is also possible to select a time shorter than this, that is, a time approximately equal to the time required for the rotation fluctuation to stop, as 1.49 msec × 121 interrupt = 180.29 msec as the initial excitation holding time.

  Excitation data for the excitation signal shown in FIG. 12 (excitation data 09H shown in the excitation order 2 in this example) is input from the input / output port 80 so that excitation is continuously performed for 130 interruption periods (H is a hexadecimal display). Is output to the motor driver 712.

  In the acceleration period Ta, if the acceleration period for initial excitation is the first acceleration period and the acceleration period until the constant speed rotation is the second acceleration period, the rotor 60 is rapidly moved in the second acceleration period. Accelerate to. In this example, as shown in FIG. 13, the second acceleration period is set shorter than the first acceleration period.

  When the acceleration period Ta is set to about 317.37 msec, 123.67 msec corresponding to 83 interrupts is selected as the second acceleration period, and the excitation phase is set so that the predetermined rotation speed is reached in the second acceleration period. Interrupt processing is executed. Therefore, during the second acceleration period, an interruption process for the excitation phase of the excitation signal is frequently performed.

  In addition, there is a problem whether the excitation phase of initial excitation is one-phase excitation or two-phase excitation. In the initial excitation in which the rotation of the rotor 60, that is, the rotating cylinders L, M, and R is zero, it is necessary to rotate the rotor 60 with a high torque. The two-phase excitation is more preferable. This is because of the following reasons.

  First, in a hybrid (HB) type two-phase stepping motor adopting a 1-2 phase excitation method as a stepping motor, two-phase excitation can be considered in addition to one-phase excitation as an initial excitation phase during acceleration. One-phase excitation drives only a specific excitation phase, and the rotational torque at the initial speed is obtained by this one-phase excitation. On the other hand, the two-phase excitation drives two specific excitation phases simultaneously, and the rotational torque at the initial speed is obtained by the two-phase excitation.

  Although it differs depending on the size of the rotor and the inertia, in the case of a normal slot machine, it is possible to accelerate the rotor from the initial speed zero even with one-phase excitation. However, in the case of one-phase excitation, the generated rotational torque is small, so that a sufficient initial speed may not be obtained and smooth rotation may not be expected. When a sufficient initial speed cannot be obtained, it becomes easy to step out. From the viewpoint of the player, it is preferable that the acceleration time Ta is as short as possible in order not to detract from the player's interest.

  From when the brakes are applied to the rotating cylinders L, M, and R, until the rotating cylinder actually stops, it slides and stops by a predetermined step angle. When rotating the rotating drum including this deviation, it is necessary to perform acceleration processing while absorbing this angular deviation, so it is preferable that the electromagnetic attraction force in the initial excitation is as large as possible.

  In the case of two-phase excitation, since the attractive force is larger than that of one-phase excitation, the generated rotational torque is also increased by that amount. As a result, the acceleration time from acceleration to constant speed rotation is one-phase excitation. It can be shortened than the case of. Further, even if slipping occurs when the rotating drum is stopped, the generated suction force is large, so that it is possible to quickly absorb the rotational sway associated with this rotational angle deviation. Therefore, considering these matters comprehensively, the initial excitation is preferably the two-phase excitation rather than the one-phase excitation.

  An interruption example as shown in FIG. 13 is suitable as an interruption process for causing the initial excitation to be set to two-phase excitation and to reach a predetermined rotational speed in a short time within the second acceleration period.

  In FIG. 13, the first acceleration period is an initial excitation period, and in this embodiment, two-phase excitation is performed as described above. For the two-phase excitation, for example, the earliest excitation order 2 can be selected from the excitation orders shown in FIG. Of course, different excitation orders (excitation order 4, excitation order 6 or excitation order 8) may occur depending on the excitation phase when rotation is stopped. The excitation state is maintained for 130 interrupts (193.7 msec) after the excitation signal is applied in synchronization with the interrupt timing every 1.49 msec.

  In the second acceleration period, the 1-2 phase excitation is alternately repeated. However, the interrupt timing to the excitation phase, in other words, the phase excitation holding period, as shown in FIG. The excitation holding period of excitation is finely controlled. In this embodiment, when the second acceleration period is entered, one-phase excitation (excitation order 3 in FIG. 12) following two-phase excitation is performed for eight interrupts, and therefore, phase excitation holding for eight interrupts is performed. In order to reduce the excitation time by setting the interrupts to be gradually shorter so that the two-phase excitation is performed for 7 interrupts (excitation order 4), the excitation phase is switched sequentially at the minimum interrupt interval. The interrupt is set so that it can transit to 1-2 phase excitation.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the last excitation phase in the second acceleration period is two-phase excitation and this is one interrupt, the first excitation phase in the next constant speed rotation period is one-phase excitation. Moreover, one interrupt is the minimum interrupt interval. In this way, the interrupt processing timing in the second acceleration period is shortened sequentially as it approaches constant speed rotation, so that high-speed acceleration processing can be realized in a short time and smooth transition to constant speed rotation is possible. Is possible.

  The second acceleration period shown in FIG. 13 is an example when the overall acceleration period Ta is set to approximately 317.37 msec. Therefore, when the overall acceleration period Ta is set to a value different from this. Needless to say, the second acceleration period is selected according to the value, and the interrupt process different from the interrupt process shown in FIG. 13 is performed accordingly.

  The brake processing of the rotating cylinders L, M, and R is as follows. After the stop button is operated, the rotating cylinders L, M, and R must be stopped within a predetermined time ts (= 190 msec) shown in FIG. 14 including the slip process (rotation process for 1 to 4 symbols). .

  When the brake process is performed after the slip process, the 1-2 phase excitation is switched to the 4-phase excitation. The rotating cylinders L, M, and R can be smoothly stopped without rotating the rotation by the four-phase excitation.

  The timing (interrupt timing) for switching from 1-2 phase excitation to 4 phase excitation is immediately after the two phase excitation. This is because stepping motors 71L, 71M, and 71R are easier to specify the rotational position when the two-phase excitation is performed than the one-phase excitation, so that the stop position accuracy is improved by performing the stop process immediately after the two-phase excitation. Because you can.

  The generation process of the drive signal for driving the stepping motor 71 which is the above-described drum drive motor may be performed in a timer interrupt processing routine periodically issued to the MPU 72 shown in FIG. Excitation data (see FIG. 12) in accordance with the excitation order stored in the RAM 76 is used as the drive signal, and the corresponding excitation data is supplied to the motor driver 712 according to this excitation order.

  Therefore, the excitation data stored in the RAM 76 is read from the RAM 76 and written to the output port of the input / output port 80 every time a timer interrupt occurs. The excitation data written in the input / output port 80 is immediately supplied to the motor driver 712, thereby energizing the corresponding excitation coils L0 to L3.

  By the way, as described above, the speaker 14 provided on the front door 12 of the main body synchronizes with the state of the game, and outputs a sound effect from this, so that the player feels more realistic in the hall. Conventionally, sound effects are output at the start and stop of the rotating drum and when winning a prize. In other words, even if the sound effect is output, when the event occurs, such as when the rotation starts or stops, the sound effect is only emitted from the speaker. It is only recognized, and it can be said that it is insufficient as a sound production. There is no production of sound that converts game information as sound information.

  For example, if the sound image (synthetic sound image) of the sound effect can be moved in accordance with the rotation or stop of the rotating drum or the rotating direction of the rotating drum according to the type (content) of the winning line or the winning line, This is because it is possible to perceive the state (game information) as sound information, which can further enhance the interest of the player.

  In the present invention, as described above, two-dimensional control of a sound image is realized by using at least three, preferably four electroacoustic transducers (speakers) 14A to 14D. A more preferable example is to use a speaker for bass in addition to the four speakers 14A to 14D.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of an audio output control system that realizes control of this two-dimensional sound image. In the example of FIG. 6, this audio output control system is provided in the sub-control board S. Since the sub-control board S also functions as a control board for controlling the upper lamp 13 and the LCD 15 as described above, the sub-control board S is used to control the game input via the input / output port 80. Starting with the control unit 102 composed of an MPU for decoding a status signal indicating a status and executing a predetermined control process, the upper lamp 13 and the LCD 15 are controlled, and the status signal is decoded to read out sound data. A ROM (or flash memory) 103 storing a control program and the like for execution, a working RAM 104 and the like are mutually connected to the above-described MPU 102 via an internal bus 105.

  The audio output control system converts the sound data (compressed data) stored in the memory means 112 into analog data by converting the sound data (compressed data) stored in the memory means 112, which is sound data storage means storing sound data (sound source as sound effects) An audio output controller 110 that outputs an output signal (sound effect signal) is provided.

  The audio output controller 110 includes a data decompression unit 110A for decompressing audio data, a filter unit 110B for imparting a predetermined frequency characteristic to the decompressed sound data, and four D / A for a plurality of decompressed sound data. The conversion unit 110C is further configured by a signal processing unit (not shown) such as a voice synthesis unit for the bass speaker 14E provided as necessary.

  A read control signal for the memory unit 112 for instructing which speaker data corresponding to which speaker 14A to 14D is selected from the memory unit 112 is supplied from the MPU 72 in the main control board C via the input / output port 80. It is generated in the control unit 110A based on the game state signal.

  The audio output signals obtained from the audio output controller 110 are supplied to the corresponding speakers 14A to 14E via the amplifiers 114A to 114E, respectively, and sound effects are emitted toward the player.

  In the present invention, the transfer function of the sound output is controlled according to the state of the game. The elements of this transfer function are the output level (amplitude), phase, frequency, etc. constituting the sound output. In the embodiment, the output level (output volume level) of the sound output is exemplified as a transfer function of the sound output to be controlled.

  Next, sound data stored in the memory unit 112 will be described.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of sound data are prepared corresponding to each of the speakers 14A to 14D to be supplied to the plurality of speakers 14A to 14E (actually the speakers 14A to 14D). As the sound data for the speaker 14E, the speaker 14A itself is used, or the sound data of the speakers 14A to 14D is synthesized.

  The sound data corresponding to each of the speakers 14A to 14D is composed of a plurality of sound data groups so that different sound effects can be selected according to the state of the game. For example, since the number of medals to bet differs depending on the symbols arranged on the active line, the sound effect can be selected according to the type of winning, or the sound effect can be selected according to the big bonus BB or the regular bonus RB. ing.

  As described above, the sound data for the fifth speaker 14E is not the dedicated data but the sound data of the first to fourth speakers 14A to 14D, if a dedicated storage area can be provided in the memory means 112 as described above. You may synthesize it. In this case, the speech synthesizer described above is used. In this example, the sound data for the speaker 14A is used as the sound data for the speaker 14E, but the output level is constant.

  The sound data is digitally compressed data having a volume level that changes with time according to a specific sound output pattern. The specific sound output pattern is a pattern in which the volume level is patterned so that the sound image of the sound effect moves two-dimensionally according to the contents of the spinning cylinders L, M, R and the winnings. The sound data of different levels are stored so that they can be sequentially selected by the read clock. Details will be described later.

  At least a game status signal is input to the control unit 110A via the input / output port 80. Here, the status signal is a signal that indicates that the start lever 52 has been pressed, which stop buttons 53 to 55 have been pressed, and which active line has been won.

  In the control unit 110A, by decoding this state signal, it is first determined whether the signal is for rotating or stopping the rotating cylinders L, M, R, and which sound effect is selected. Or which sound output pattern is selected from the sound data group.

  In the D / A converter 110C, sound data related to each speaker 14 read from the memory means 112 is converted into an analog signal. In this example, since the sound data has an 8-bit configuration, the output volume can be adjusted in 255 stages.

  When using the four speakers 14A to 14D except for the low sound, the sound output control system is configured as shown in FIG. Since only the bass speaker 14E shown in FIG. 15 is omitted, the details are omitted.

  The sound effects reproduced from the five speakers 14A to 14E are usually the same type of sound effects. However, sound effects that are not related to each other can be output synchronously or asynchronously.

  Next, the audio output pattern will be described with reference to FIG. The sound output pattern differs depending on how the sound image is moved. How to move the sound image depends on the winning pattern as described above.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of sound image control when all the rotating cylinders L, M, and R are rotating by operating the start lever 52. When moving the sound image two-dimensionally, it is only necessary to control the transfer function of the sound output. Basically, as described above, the output volume of the four speakers 14A to 14D arranged with the rotator exposure window 31 interposed therebetween is adjusted. Realize by adjusting. The volume of the bass speaker 14E is adjusted in the same manner as the output volume of the speaker 14A.

  In FIG. 3, when the rotating cylinders L, M, and R rotate from the upper side to the lower side, the analog audio signals supplied to the speakers 14A to 14D are controlled so that the sound image also moves in the same direction as the rotation direction. The

  In this case, a pair of speakers 14A and 14C and speakers 14B and 14D arranged above and below are paired and the volume is controlled as shown in FIGS. 17A to 17D. For example, the output volume (output level or sound pressure level) based on the analog audio signal supplied to the upper speaker 14A is gradually controlled from the maximum volume to the minimum volume over a predetermined time, as indicated by a straight line La in FIG. On the other hand, the volume of the speaker 14C located on the lower side is controlled so as to gradually increase as shown by the straight line Lc in FIG.

  As a result, since the volume of the speaker 14A is maximized at the beginning, the sound image is localized on the speaker 14A side, and finally, the sound image is localized on the speaker 14C side because the volume of the speaker 14C is maximized. During that time, the sound from both speakers 14A and 14C is synthesized, and the volume gradually shifts from the upper speaker 14A side to the lower speaker 14C side due to the imbalance of the output volume, so that the sound image also gradually decreases from the upper side. Sounds like moving to the side. That is, since the speaker 14A is controlled to be in a fade-out state and the speaker 14C is controlled to be in a fade-in state, the sound image also moves two-dimensionally from top to bottom. By repeating this volume control at a predetermined cycle, the sound image can be controlled as if it is rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating drum.

  As a result of the same control for the other speakers 14B and 14D, if the volume control of the left and right speakers 14A and 14B and 14C and 14D is synchronized as shown in FIG. 17, the sound effects to be emitted are synthesized. As a result, it can be heard as if the center of the rotating drum M is rotating from the top to the bottom.

  The output volume characteristic when the volume is periodically changed may be a straight line La to Ld as shown in FIG. 17, or may be a characteristic curve as shown by a chain line or a broken line. The embodiment is an output volume characteristic that varies linearly. The sound effect is output in synchronization with the operation of the start lever 52 and stops in synchronization with the operation of the stop buttons 53-55.

  As shown by a straight line Le in FIG. 17E, the output sound volume characteristic of the low-frequency speaker 14E is the same as that of the speaker 14A. Of course, if the voice output of the output volume characteristic lines La to Ld may be arbitrarily combined using the voice synthesizer, the voice outputs of all the output volume characteristic lines La to Ld are used, and the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is also possible to have a flat output volume characteristic as shown.

  When all of the four speakers 14A to 14D are driven, the sound image moves in the vicinity of the central spinning drum M as described above, so that the sound effect used when only the central spinning drum M is rotating is also used. All of these four speakers 14A to 14D are used.

  When only the left cylinder L is rotating, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, only the pair of speakers 14A and 14C installed on the left side are driven. As a result, the sound effect can be heard from the left side of the main body 11, and the sound volume can be moved two-dimensionally by setting the output volume characteristic as shown in FIG. It can be heard as if the sound image is rotating synchronously.

  Therefore, when only the clockwise cylinder R is rotating, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, only the pair of speakers 14B and 14D installed on the right side are driven. As a result, the sound effect can be heard from the right side of the main body 11, and the sound volume can be moved two-dimensionally by setting the output volume characteristic as shown in FIG. It can be heard as if the sound image is rotating synchronously.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of sound image control when the aligned symbols are aligned on a winning line (effective line). As shown in FIG. 1, there are five patterns in total, including three horizontal lines in the upper, middle and lower stages, and two diagonal lines.

  When the upper line is a winning line, only the pair of speakers 14A and 14B installed on the upper side of the spinning cylinder exposure window 31 are driven. At that time, for example, when the sound image is controlled so as to move from the left to the right, the pair of output volumes is controlled so that the straight lines La and Lb in FIG. In this way, the sound image is localized around the upper part of the rotating cylinder exposure window 31 or moves around the upper part (rotates toward the right), so that it is possible to generate a sound effect as if it corresponds to the upper winning line.

  On the other hand, when the lower line is a winning line, only the pair of speakers 14C and 14D installed on the lower side of the spinning cylinder exposure window 31 are driven. At that time, for example, when the sound image is controlled to move from the left to the right, the pair of output volumes is controlled so as to be the straight lines Lc and Ld in FIG. 20B. In this way, the sound image is localized around the lower part of the rotating cylinder exposure window 31 or moves near the lower side (rotates toward the right), so that it is possible to generate sound effects as if corresponding to the lower winning line.

  Therefore, when the center line is a winning line, all of the four speakers 14A to 14D installed above and below the spinning cylinder exposure window 31 are driven. In this way, the sound image is localized in the vicinity of the center of the rotating cylinder exposure window 31 or moves around the center from the left (rotates toward the right), so that it is possible to generate sound effects as if corresponding to the winning line in the center. .

  Considering the sound image control as described above, when the diagonal line is a winning line, the output volume may be controlled as shown in FIG. FIG. 21 shows an example in which the sound image is controlled from the upper left to the lower right in the case of a diagonal line that descends to the right.

  First, in order that the sound image is localized at the upper left at the beginning of the repetition period and the sound image is localized at the lower right at the end of the repetition period, the speakers 14A and 14D have output volume characteristics such as straight lines La and Ld in FIG. Such sound data is used. On the other hand, the remaining speakers 14B and 14C use sound data that has a mountain-shaped output sound volume characteristic such that the middle part of the repetition cycle is convex as shown by the curves Lb and Lc in FIG.

  With such an output volume characteristic, when the sound effects emitted from the four speakers 14A to 14D are synthesized, the output synthesized volume sounds like increasing gradually from the upper left to the lower right. Can be moved diagonally. Therefore, by repeating this control periodically, it can be heard that the sound image rotates in an oblique direction.

  It is also possible to rotate the sound image clockwise or counterclockwise. When rotating clockwise, the output volume may be controlled as in speakers 14A → 14B → 14D → 14C. Therefore, the two-dimensional movement of the sound image can be freely produced by combining the output sound volume characteristics of the four speakers 14A to 14D.

  The output volume control described above is merely an example, and various modifications can be made. Rather than controlling the output volume linearly, it is possible to control the volume of the volume by controlling it in a broken line according to the hall where the slot machine 10 is installed.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the sound data itself having the output sound volume characteristic shown in FIG. 17 and subsequent figures is stored in the memory means 112, and the sound data itself having different sound volume levels is sequentially read from the memory means 112 over time. As described above, when the speakers 14A to 14E are driven, the output sound volume as shown in FIG. As described above, in addition to the case where the volume level itself and the necessary output pattern are stored in the memory means 112 in advance, audio data having the same volume level is stored, and output volume characteristics as shown in FIG. And it can also be generated each time on the audio output controller 110 side so as to be an output pattern. Also, rather than storing sound data in correspondence with individual speakers, only one sound data is stored in one sound effect, and this is used as a common data sharing configuration for a plurality of speakers 14. You can also. In this case, the sound output controller 110 may be provided with a volume adjusting unit that gives a desired output volume characteristic to each of the speakers 14A to 14D.

  In the above-described embodiment, an arbitrary sound image is generated by controlling the volume level (amplitude) as a transfer function of the sound output. However, other transfer functions, for example, by changing the phase, the sound image can be generated. It is possible to move. The sound image can be varied by adjusting the volume level and the read phase of the sound data in synchronization or asynchronously.

  When three speakers 14 are used, they may be arranged in a triangular shape so as to surround the center of the rotating cylinder exposure window 31. In this case, for example, the speakers 14 are arranged in an equilateral triangle (inverted triangle) so that two vertices are on the upper side. This is because the player often has the upper surface from the center portion of the rotator exposure window 31 as a confronting position with the eye line in many cases.

  Next, processing contents of a typical processing program installed in the MPU 72 described above will be described.

[Power failure flag generation processing]
The power failure flag is generated when a power failure occurs (including power-off when the power switch 81 is turned off). When a power failure occurs, a power failure signal 851 is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 850 b to the NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) terminal of the MPU 72. When the power failure signal 851 is received, the MPU 72 sets a power failure flag and executes the interruption processing (NMI interruption processing) at the time of the power failure shown in FIG.

  When the power failure flag is set, the power failure processing is executed in the timer interruption processing (see FIG. 23), and if the game is in progress, the game control interruption processing is executed. The power failure flag is reset by a power recovery process (see FIG. 25) by turning on the power again.

  In the power failure process shown in FIG. 24, the control is terminated with the checksum calculated from the data in the RAM 76 including the correction value set to “0”. Whether the data in the RAM 76 is normally backed up by checking the checksum of the RAM 76 as a process at the time of power-on including the restoration of the power failure and checking whether the value considering the correction value is “0”. Judging. Therefore, the checksum of the RAM 76 is calculated in a state where the value of the checksum correction value memory 76c is once reset (cleared) to “0” during power failure processing. The 2's complement of the calculated checksum is stored in the checksum correction value memory 76c as a checksum correction value. By including this correction value, the checksum of the RAM 76 becomes “0”.

[NMI interrupt processing]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of NMI interrupt processing. A power failure signal 851 is generated in the power failure monitoring circuit 850b due to the occurrence of a power failure. When the main control board C receives the power failure signal 851 via the NMI terminal, the main control board C executes NMI interrupt processing.

  In the NMI interrupt processing, first, the data in the A register (accumulator) and F register (flag register) provided in the MPU 72 are saved in the stack area provided in the RAM 76 (step S1). Next, after the power failure flag is set (step S2), the data saved in the stack area is returned to the A register and the F register again (step S3). With this return processing, the NMI interrupt processing ends.

  If the power failure flag can be set without destroying the contents of both the A register and the F register, the save and return processing (steps S1 and S3) to the stack area can be omitted.

[Timer interrupt processing]
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of timer interrupt processing periodically executed by the main control board C. In this example, a timer interrupt is generated every 1.49 msec. The timer interrupt process is divided into a preceding interrupt process for the MPU 72 and other processes (other interrupt processes). The other interrupt processes are executed after the preceding interrupt process is completed.

  In the case of the processing group of FIG. 23 as the preceding interrupt process, the register saving process (step S11), the power failure flag state determination process (step S12), the watchdog timer process (step S14), and the interrupt end declaration process (step S15) are performed. Here are four interrupt processes.

  Therefore, in the timer interrupt processing shown in FIG. 23, first, all the registers in the MPU 72 used in the main processing (step S61 in FIG. 25) (AF, BC, DE, HL, IX and IY registers in this example) Is saved in the stack area of the RAM 76 (step S11).

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the power failure flag is set (step S12). When the power failure flag is set, the power failure process shown in FIG. 24 is executed (step S13), and when it is not set, the processing is skipped.

  After the power failure process or the power failure process is skipped, a plurality of timer interrupt processes (other timer interrupt processes) as described below are sequentially executed. The following (Process 1) and (Process 2) belong to the preceding timer interrupt process.

  (Processing 1) A watchdog timer clearing process for initializing (clearing) the value of the watchdog timer for monitoring the occurrence of malfunction (step S14). The watchdog timer clearing time is substantially constant.

  (Process 2) An interrupt end declaration process for giving an interrupt permission to the MPU 72 itself (Step S15). This interrupt end declaration process also takes almost constant processing time.

When the preceding timer interrupt processing as described above is completed, other timer interrupt processing is executed. In the other timer interruption processing, excitation data generation processing (rotation motor control processing) for the stepping motor 71 that is a rotation drive motor is performed in advance, for the reason described above. That means
(Process 3) Stepping motor control process for driving the stepping motors 71L to 71R, which are the respective rotating drum drive motors, for rotating the left, middle and right rotating drums L, M, R (step S16). Since this motor control process is nothing but a process of outputting the corresponding drive signal (excitation data), the processing time (drive signal generation process and output process) is substantially constant.

  Specific examples of other timer interrupt processing other than the rotating drum drive motor generation control processing are shown below.

  (Process 4) Switch status reading process for reading the status of various switches (82, 83a, etc.) connected to the input / output port 80 (step S17). This switch state reading process does not change much depending on the state of the game, so the processing time is almost constant.

  (Process 5) A sensor monitoring process (step S18) for monitoring the state of various sensors (64 and the like) connected to the input / output port 80. Since the type of sensor to be sensed is fixed, the processing time of this sensor monitoring process is almost constant.

  (Process 6) Timer subtraction process for subtracting the value of each counter or timer (step S19). Since the subtraction processing time differs depending on the counter value and the timer value, it can be said that this processing time is not constant but indefinite.

  (Process 7) A counter process for counting the number of bets when one bet, two bets or three bets and the number of payouts at that time (step S20). Since the betting mode and the number of payouts differ depending on the winning mode, the processing time is naturally different.

  (Process 8) Command output process for transmitting a command or the like to the sub-control board S (Step S21). Since various commands for voice output and display differ depending on game modes, this command processing is not constant.

  (Process 9) A segment data setting process for setting segment data to be displayed on each of the credit number display unit 35, the game number display unit 36, and the payout number display unit 37 (step 22). Since the display of the number of credits, the number of games, and the display of the number of payouts all differ depending on the game mode or the winning state, it can be said that the processing time is also indefinite.

  (Process 10) A segment data display process for supplying the segment data set in the segment data setting process to the display units 35 to 37 and displaying the corresponding numbers, symbols, etc. (Step 23). Since the generation and output of segment data differ depending on what numbers and symbols are displayed, the processing time in this case is indefinite.

  (Process 11) Port output process for outputting output data from the input / output port 80 to the corresponding I / O device (step 24). Since port output processing also differs depending on the number of target I / O devices and the like, the processing time is not strictly constant.

  After executing the timer interrupt processing from (Process 1) to (Process 11), the values of the registers (AF, BC, DE, HL, IX, and IY registers) saved in the stack area are stored in the MPU 72, respectively. Return to the corresponding register (step S25). Thereafter, an interrupt permission process (step S26) for permitting the next timer interrupt is performed, and this series of timer interrupt processes is terminated.

  Of the timer interrupt processes described above, the preceding timer interrupt process is first executed as an initial process of the MPU 72 which is the central processing unit, and immediately after this preceding timer interrupt process, the control process for the rotating drum drive motor is performed. Without disturbing the initial processing, it is possible to output a drive signal to the drum drive motor at regular time intervals.

  In FIG. 23, as the preceding timer interrupt process, there are four register saving processes (step S11), a power failure flag state determination process (step 12), a watchdog timer process (step S14), and an interrupt end declaration process (step S15). I mentioned timer interrupt processing, but I'm not bound by that number. Among these processes for the MPU 72, if at least one timer interrupt process is included, and actually two or more timer interrupt processes are included, the process can be handled as a preceding timer interrupt process.

  Further, the above-described drive signal generation and output process (process 3) for the rotating drum drive motor is in the middle of each preceding timer interrupt process (eg, step S11) even at the beginning of a plurality of preceding timer interrupt processes (before step S11). And before or after step 14).

  This is because the preceding timer interrupt process is an initial process for the MPU 72 which is substantially constant, and therefore, this cylinder drive motor control process (before the first preceding timer interrupt process or during each preceding timer interrupt process) ( This is because even if the processing 3) is interposed, there is no change in making the output interval of the drive signal constant.

  Therefore, if there is a timer interrupt process other than the preceding timer interrupt process, and any one of the processing times is substantially constant, immediately after the timer interrupt process in which the process time is almost constant, Even if the rotating drum drive motor control process is executed, there is no problem.

  For example, the switch state reading process (process 4) and the sensor monitoring process (process 5) described above as the category of other timer interrupt processes have almost the same processing time. After the interrupt process (process 4) or (process 5), the rotating drum drive motor control process can also be performed.

[Power failure processing]
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a power failure process executed by the main control board C. The power failure process is executed in the timer interrupt process as described above.

  This power failure process is performed immediately after the register saving process among the timer interrupt processes described above, and therefore can be executed without interrupting other interrupt processes. Therefore, during the process of sending a power recovery command or the like, during the reading of the switch status (on / off), the contents of the counter are being updated, and this power failure process is not executed by interrupting each process. Therefore, in other words, the power failure processing is not executed at irregular timing, so that it is not necessary to create a power failure processing program considering that it is executed at irregular timing. This simplifies the processing program for power failure processing and reduces the program capacity. The same applies to the power recovery process.

  Further, as shown in steps S32 and S42 described later, the process may be returned (returned) to the timer interrupt process after the power failure process is executed, but the power failure process is executed immediately after the register saving process (see FIG. 23). Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the above-described register saving process and its restoration process during the power failure process. Accordingly, the processing program for power failure processing is simplified and the program capacity can be reduced.

  Returning to FIG. 24, the power failure process will be described. In the power failure process, it is confirmed whether or not the value of a command counter (not shown) that handles a normal command is an odd number, that is, whether or not the command transmission is finished (step S31). If it is in the middle of transmission, a return command is executed to stop the power failure process (step S32).

  Since command data is transmitted in units of 1 byte, one command transmission is completed with two timer interrupts. If the value of the command counter used when buffering the command as in step S31 is an odd number, it means that the transmission of the command data of the second byte of the command data has not been completed. Is issued a return instruction to the timer interrupt processing, and the power failure processing is not executed (step S32).

  The command data of the second byte that has not been transmitted is transmitted in the command output process that occurs during the next timer interrupt process executed after the return instruction (step S21 in FIG. 23R> 3). At the next timer interrupt processing timing, this command transmission processing is completed.

  In this way, at the beginning of the power failure process, it is determined whether or not the command transmission has been completed. When the transmission is incomplete, the transmission process is given priority. After the unit command transmission process is completed, the power failure process is performed. If executed, there is no need to construct a power failure processing program or a power recovery processing program that takes into account that the power failure processing is executed in the middle of command transmission. As a result, the power failure processing program can be simplified and the capacity of the program memory (ROM 74) can be reduced.

  Since the timer interrupt process needs to be executed twice to complete the transmission of the unit command, the timer interrupt process can be executed at least three times or more, and is sufficient to execute the process of FIG. 24 (steps S31 to S38) described later. It is assumed that the power supply unit 850a provided on the power supply board 850 is configured so that the output of the stabilization voltage (5 volts) used as the drive voltage of the control system is held for a long time.

  As a result, even if a power failure occurs in the middle of command transmission, the main control board C can normally execute the power failure process. Incidentally, in the embodiment, since the timer interruption period is 1.49 msec, the drive voltage continues to be output for more than + α, for example, 30 msec after a power failure occurs (1.49 msec × 3 times = 4.47 msec). It has become.

  Now, as shown in step S31 of FIG. 24, if the transmission of the command is completed, the interruption process after step S33 is executed. First, the stack pointer value of the MPU 72 is saved in the stack pointer storage memory 76b in the RAM 76, the value of the checksum correction value memory 76c is cleared (= 0), and the output port of the input / output port 80 is set. The output state is cleared and all actuators (not shown in FIG. 6) are turned off (steps S33, S34, S35).

  Thereafter, all the values in the RAM 76 are added to calculate a checksum (step S36). A two's complement is obtained from the calculated checksum, and this is newly written in the checksum correction value memory 76c as a checksum correction value (step S37). By using the correction value obtained by this calculation process, the checksum of the RAM 76 becomes zero. By setting the checksum of the RAM 76 to zero, subsequent writing to the RAM 76 is prohibited (step S38).

  Thereafter, the power failure signal 851 is read from the input / output port 80, and the state of the power failure signal 851 (ON or OFF) is confirmed (step S39). This state confirmation is repeated until the drive voltage of the control system becomes equal to or lower than the stabilization voltage (5 volts), and during that time, infinite loop processing is performed (step S39).

  As a result of checking the state of the power failure signal 851, if the power failure signal 851 is not output (turned on), that is, if the power failure signal 851 is turned off, the power failure state has been recovered (step S39). ), Writing to the RAM 76 is permitted, and after resetting the power failure flag, a return instruction is executed to return to the timer interrupt processing shown in FIG. 23 (steps S40, S41, S42).

  In this power failure process, firstly, saving processing from a plurality of registers provided in the MPU 72 is not performed, so that return processing to these registers is not required even when a return instruction is executed. As a result, the capacity of the power failure processing program can be reduced as described above.

  Second, since the power failure process is a subroutine configuration and is executed by a call instruction, the return to the timer interrupt process only needs to execute a return instruction, and the return process is simplified.

  Third, transition to timer interrupt processing is performed by execution of the return instruction, and when this timer interrupt processing is executed, the state after execution is re-output to the output port of the input / output port 80. As described above, even if all output ports are cleared by the power failure process, the output state of the cleared output port can be restored to the original state only by executing the return command.

  Fourth, since the power failure signal 851 is checked not only during the process during power failure, but also after the power failure signal 851 is not output, the power failure flag is erroneously caused by noise, for example. Even if it has been set, control can be returned to normal without entering an infinite loop.

  The reconfirmation process of the power failure signal 851 shown in step S39 may be performed at any timing after the checksum of the RAM 76 is calculated. This is because the checksum calculation process of the RAM 76 requires a relatively long processing time, and therefore, after the checksum calculation process, the reconfirmation process of the power failure signal 851 can be performed at any time. Therefore, the reconfirmation process of the power failure signal 851 may be performed before or after the process of step S37. When the power failure signal 851 is reconfirmed before and after step S37, this reconfirmation processing is executed only once. After the write prohibition processing to the RAM 76 (step S38), the determination processing is performed. An infinite loop configuration is not performed.

[Main processing]
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a main process in the main control board C executed after the power is turned on.

  When the power switch is turned on or the power is turned on again due to a power failure recovery, this main process is executed. First, the value of the stack pointer is set in the MPU 72, and an interrupt mode that permits interrupt processing is set (steps S51 and S52). Next, initialization processing such as various settings for the register group in the MPU 72, the I / O device, and the like is performed (step S53).

  When these initialization processes are completed, the power failure flag is set, the reset state, and the on / off state of the reset switch 82 are respectively confirmed (steps S54 and S55). Here, when the power failure flag is set, it means that the power failure process has been executed when the power is turned off, in other words, the data is backed up in the RAM 76. When the reset switch 82 is in the ON state, it indicates that all the data written to the RAM 76 or the backed up data is cleared (= 0) by the operation of the operator (such as the hall manager).

  Therefore, when the power failure flag is set as in steps S54 and S55 and the reset switch 82 is turned off, the data clear process of the RAM 76 is no longer necessary. In this case, the RAM clear process is skipped. Then, the process proceeds to step S57 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when the power failure flag is reset as in steps S54 and S55, or when the reset switch 82 is in the ON state, a clear process for the RAM 76 is executed and all data written in the RAM 76 is cleared. (Step S56).

  In step S57, the ON / OFF state of the setting key switch 83a is confirmed. If the setting key switch 83a is in the ON state, the RAM 76 is cleared and a six-stage probability setting process corresponding to the operation position of the setting key switch 83a is executed (steps S58, S59). ). By the probability setting process, the winning probability of the game is switched to six stages. When the setting key switch 83a is in the off state, the process directly proceeds to the processing after step S60.

  In step S60, the on / off state of the power failure flag is confirmed again. As a result of executing the clear process on the RAM 76 in step S56 or step S58, when the backup data in the RAM 76 is cleared, the power failure flag is reset. Therefore, when the reset state of the power failure flag is confirmed, the normal game Each process (main process) is executed (steps S60 and S61).

  Thus, the game mode of the slot machine 10 is repeatedly executed as the main process.

  In step S60, when the power failure flag is set, the process proceeds to power recovery processing. The fact that the power failure flag is set means that the processing route such as steps S54-S55-S57-S60 has passed through, as is apparent from the processing of FIG. This means that step S60 has been reached without executing any subroutine processing such as S56, S58 or S59. Therefore, since the data in the RAM 76 is not rewritten at all, the power recovery process needs to check whether the data in the RAM 76 is normal.

  For this purpose, first, the checksum value of the RAM 76 is checked (step S62). If the value is normal, that is, if the checksum value including the checksum correction value is zero, the backup processing for the RAM 76 is regarded as normal and is restored. Electric processing (steps S63 to S67) is executed. This is because the correction value is set so that the checksum value of the RAM 76 becomes zero when the backup data is written to the RAM 76 in the power failure process as described above.

  In step S62, if the checksum value is abnormal, that is, if the checksum value is not zero, there is a high possibility that the data has been destroyed during the backup process of the RAM 76. Therefore, in such a case, interrupt processing is prohibited (step S68), and all the output ports in the input / output port 80 are cleared to control all the actuators connected to the input / output port 80 to the OFF state. At the same time, an error is displayed to notify the hole manager or the like that a backup error has occurred (steps S69 and S70).

  Next, the power recovery process will be described.

  In this power recovery process, first, the value of the stack pointer storage memory 76b is written to the stack pointer of the MPU 72, and the state of the stack is restored to the state before the power is turned off (step S63). Next, a command (recovery command) used in the power recovery process is written to the recovery command buffer 76d prepared in the RAM 76, and the number of data of the written command is written to the power recovery command counter 76e in units of bytes (step S64). ).

  When writing the power recovery command to the power recovery command buffer 76d, one byte of the power recovery command to be transmitted first among the power recovery commands is written to the lower address (first address + 1), and the upper address (first address) The power recovery command for the remaining 1 byte to be transmitted later is written in (address). This is because the transmission order (in bytes) of the power recovery command is determined based on the value of the power recovery command counter 76e. By transmitting the power recovery command to the sub control board S, it is possible to notify the sub control board S of the execution of the power recovery process.

  After the power recovery process, as shown in FIG. 25, the game state is stopped and the automatic settlement setting storage process is performed, and then the switch state initialization process is performed (steps S65 and S66). Thereafter, the power failure flag is reset and the return instruction RET is executed, thereby completing the power recovery process (step S67).

  As a result of execution of the return instruction, the value of the program counter of the MPU 72 becomes a value obtained by incrementing the value of the program counter stored in the stack area (step S13 for performing power failure processing) by one, as shown in FIG. This time, the watchdog timer process (step S14), which is the next process after the power failure, is executed.

[Rotating drum motor control process]
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. FIG.

  When the preceding timer interrupt process for the MPU 72 as shown in steps S11, S14, and S15 is completed in the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 23, the process then shifts to a control process (other timer interrupt processes) for the rotating drum drive motor.

  This rotating drum drive motor control process also has a subroutine configuration, and when the initialization process is completed as shown in FIG. 26 (step S81), in the original motor control process routine (step S100), a stepping motor that is mainly a drive motor. A generation process of a drive signal for rotation control for 71 (specifically, excitation data to be described later, hereinafter referred to as excitation data) is performed, and the generated excitation data is temporarily stored in the RAM 76. The generation processing time is substantially constant, and in the motor control processing routine, in addition to excitation data generation processing, symbol offset processing and symbol number update processing are performed.

  Excitation data generation processing for rotation control (excitation data acquisition processing from the RAM 76) and the like are sequentially executed for the respective spinning cylinders L, M, and R. Excitation data generation processing for one rotating cylinder, for example, the rotating cylinder L, is performed using rotation control data (described later) for the rotating cylinder L provided in the work area of the RAM 76, and the generation processing is completed. Then, in order to make a transition to the next spinning cylinder, for example, excitation data generation processing for the spinning cylinder M, the transition process (address changing process) to the working area for the spinning cylinder M is performed after software. Is returned to the motor control processing routine (steps S82, S83, S100).

  When the rotation control processing for all the three spinning cylinders L, M, and R, that is, the excitation data generation processing, is completed (step S83), the excitation for each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R among the data stored in the RAM 76. Data is output to the input / output port 80 (step S84).

  Since the output to the input / output port 80 is a data writing process to the corresponding output port of the input / output port 80, the motor driver 712 is supplied simultaneously with the writing of excitation data to the input / output port 80. . As a result, the stepping motor 71 is immediately energized to the excitation phase designated by the excitation data, and the rotor 60 is excited.

  In other words, the control process (step S16) for the stepping motor (rotating motor) 71 in the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 23 is executed by the output process to the input / output port 80 without waiting for the result of another timer interrupt process. Therefore, the excitation data can always be output at a substantially constant cycle (timer interrupt cycle) even during constant speed rotation, including during motor acceleration, or during stoppage.

  By performing such a timer interruption process, a stable excitation process for the stepping motor 71 is realized, so that step-out and instability of rotation can be eliminated. This is because if the excitation period is short at the beginning of motor acceleration or the length of the excitation period is uneven, step-out is likely to occur, and if the length of the excitation period is frequent even during constant speed rotation, unstable rotation occurs. It is easy.

  FIG. 27 shows a specific processing example of the motor control processing routine S100 described above. In this motor control process, at least a wait timer, an acceleration counter, and an excitation order pointer (all of which are software processes using the RAM 76) are used.

  Here, when one timer interruption period is a unit excitation time T, an excitation time (number of timer interruptions) in the same excitation mode is set by the wait timer. An example is shown in FIG. In the first acceleration period, the two-phase excitation mode (acceleration order 1) is continuously executed for 130 units, that is, 130 interrupts. The total excitation time at that time is 130 × 1.49 msec. This is because the timer interruption is performed every 1.49 msec.

  Therefore, for example, in the second acceleration period, in the acceleration order 2, the one-phase excitation mode is continuously executed over 8 units (= 8 interrupts = 8 excitation times).

  The acceleration counter is for designating the acceleration order in FIG. In the case of FIG. 13, the acceleration process is composed of 25-step excitation patterns (acceleration order 1 to 25). In order to designate a specific acceleration position, a counter value from “0” to “24” may be designated as shown in FIG. 13, so that the initial value of the acceleration counter is originally “24” or “0”. As will be described later, in the software configuration of this embodiment, the initial value set in the acceleration counter is “25”.

  Since each data of FIG. 13 is tabulated and stored in the ROM 74, the data of FIG. 13 may be referred to as an excitation time and acceleration counter table.

  The excitation order pointer is a pointer used when determining the excitation phase for the stepping motor 71 shown in FIG. When the stepping motor 71 of 1-2 phase excitation is used, 1-phase excitation and 2-phase excitation are alternately performed, and the phase excitation pattern at that time is 8 patterns as shown in FIG. Which excitation data is acquired as output excitation data at which phase excitation and which is temporarily stored in the RAM 76 is designated by the value (0 to 7) of this excitation order pointer.

  The value of the excitation order pointer at the start of rotation differs depending on which pattern the excitation phase used when the motor was stopped immediately before, as will be described later. During rotation, it is used while sequentially updating the excitation order pointer value.

  Subsequently, the motor control process will be described with reference to FIG. 27 in relation to the operation of the start button 52 and the stop buttons 53 to 55. The following description is only an example of processing for the stepping motor 71 for controlling one cylinder.

[No. Processing before operation of start button 52]
The initial value of the wait timer before operating the start button 52 is zero, and the value of the acceleration counter is also zero. Therefore, when the motor control process is called, since the value of the wait timer is first zero (step S101), the process proceeds to step S111 to check the value of the acceleration counter. Since the value of the acceleration counter is also zero, in this case, the output excitation data is set to zero and stored in step S112. Thereafter, the process returns to the timer interrupt processing routine of FIG. Since the output excitation data is zero, the stepping motor 71 is in a rotation stopped state in the mode before the start button 52 is operated.

[No.2. Processing when start button 52 is operated]
The operation of the start button 52 is detected in each process of the normal game in the process step S61 shown in FIG. When it is detected that the start button 52 has been operated, the value of the acceleration counter is set to “25” in this processing step S61.

  Even if the start button 52 is operated, the value of the wait timer is still zero, so in this case as well, the process proceeds to step S111 through step S101 to determine the value of the acceleration counter. Since the value of the acceleration counter is set to “25”, in this case, a subtraction process is executed in step S121. As a result, since the value of the acceleration counter is not zero (step S122), an excitation time value (see FIG. 13) corresponding to the acceleration counter value after subtraction is acquired in step S131, and the acquired excitation time value is Set to the wait timer.

  Since the subtraction process in step S121 is a process of decrementing by 1, the value of the acceleration counter after the subtraction is “24”. In this case, as apparent from the table of FIG. The value (= 130) of the excitation time (130 interrupt) corresponding to “24” is set in the wait timer. Thus, the continuous phase excitation time (= 130 × 1.49 msec) corresponding to the first acceleration period is set.

  When the process for setting the wait timer is completed, an update process for incrementing the excitation order pointer by “1” is executed (step S132). Then, the excitation data corresponding to the updated excitation order pointer value (in this example, “5”) is obtained from the table shown in FIG. 12, and the excitation data (06H) is output excitation data for the rotor L. Is stored in the RAM 76 (step S134). The stored excitation data is simultaneously output to the input / output port 80 as shown in FIG. 26 after obtaining the excitation data for the other stepping motor for the cylinder drive.

  Thereafter, the value of the symbol offset is updated, and the process of detecting one rotation of the spinning cylinder by the spinning cylinder index sensor 44 (see FIG. 7) shown in step S135 and subsequent steps is performed. Of these steps, steps S144 and S145 are the rotating cylinder abnormality process, which is a process when the rotating cylinder does not rotate normally despite the excitation data being applied, and steps S151 to S154 are the stepping motor 71. Is a rotation stop process (brake process).

  As will be described later, if the motor acceleration process is normal, the above steps S144 to S154 are skipped and the process returns to the timer interrupt routine shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, the counter value “25” is set in the acceleration counter, and excitation data for starting the motor is supplied to the stepping motors 71L, 71M, and 71R for the three cylinders L, M, and R, respectively. The rotor starts. When the next timer interruption time comes, the motor control processing routine S100 is called again. The processing at this time will be described next.

  In this case, the value of the wait timer is “130” (step S101). At this time, a subtraction process for subtracting 1 from the value of the wait timer is executed, and the process returns to the timer interrupt routine (step S102). As a result, the values of the acceleration counter and the excitation order pointer hold the same values as at the previous timer interruption. That is, the motor acceleration process by the same excitation phase (in this example, two-phase excitation) is continued.

  The motor acceleration process using the same excitation phase is continuously performed for a total of 130 interrupts, and the wait timer is subtracted each time a timer interrupt occurs. As a result, when 130 interrupt is performed, the value of the wait timer becomes zero (step S101).

  On the other hand, since the value of the acceleration counter does not change at all during the first acceleration period, when the value of the wait timer becomes zero, the process proceeds to step S121 via step S111, and the acceleration counter is subtracted for the first time. The The excitation time (8 interrupts) corresponding to the acceleration counter value “23” subtracted by 1 is acquired from the table of FIG. 13, and the acquired value (= 8) of the excitation time is set in the wait timer (step) S122, S131).

  At the same time, the value of the excitation order pointer is incremented to “6”, and excitation data “02H” (one-phase excitation) corresponding to the value “6” of this excitation order pointer is stored in the RAM 76 as output excitation data (step). S132, S134). Thereafter, similar output excitation data acquisition processing is performed for the other spinning cylinders M and R, and when the acquisition processing of output excitation data is completed for all the spinning cylinders L, M, and R, these output excitation data are obtained. Are output to the input / output port 80, respectively, and the second acceleration period process is started. Accordingly, at the beginning of the second acceleration period, one-phase excitation is continuously performed for 8 interrupts.

  The first of the processes in the second acceleration period is a process corresponding to the acceleration order 2 (see FIG. 13). In the acceleration process in the acceleration order 2, when the timer interruption is completed for eight interruptions (steps S101 and S102), the value of the acceleration counter is further subtracted (step S121), so that the value of the excitation order pointer is “7”. Since the excitation data “03H” is read from the table of FIG. 12, continuous acceleration processing for 7 interrupts is performed by two-phase excitation.

  In this way, while the acceleration counter is sequentially subtracted, the excitation data designated by the excitation order pointer is sequentially read out and the acceleration process is executed during the second acceleration period, so the value of the acceleration counter in step S121 is finally reached. Becomes “0”. When the value of the acceleration counter becomes “0”, this value is checked in step S122. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S123, and processing for setting the value of the acceleration counter to “1” is executed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S131, and a value (= 1) corresponding to the excitation time (one interrupt) corresponding to the acceleration counter value “0” when subtracted in step S121 is set in the wait timer. Thereafter, the excitation order pointer is updated, and in this example, excitation data “01H” corresponding to the pointer of “0” is read from the table of FIG. 12 and set as output excitation data (steps S132 and S134). . Therefore, when the value of the acceleration counter in step S121 becomes “0”, excitation is performed for one timer interrupt.

  Even if the value of the acceleration counter is set to “0” in step S121, “1” is added in the process of step S123. Therefore, in the next timer interruption process, as the next processing step of the acceleration order 25 (FIG. 13) which is the excitation order, the process proceeds to step S121 via step S111 and the acceleration counter is subtracted again. As a result, the value of the acceleration counter becomes “0” again. In step S131, the excitation time (= 1) corresponding to the acceleration order 25 of FIG. 13 is set in the wait timer. Further, the excitation order pointer is updated to “2” in the process of step S132. As a result, the excitation phase is changed to the two-phase excitation and the excitation process is performed for one interrupt.

  That is, after the acceleration order 25, the addition and subtraction processing of the acceleration counters “0” and “1” is alternately repeated in steps S121 and S123, and excitation is always performed by one interrupt. Is a rotation mode in which one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation are alternately repeated. This is nothing but the constant speed process. In other words, when the excitation process proceeds to the acceleration order 25, the mode changes to the constant speed rotation mode thereafter.

[3. Processing when the stop button is pressed]
Now, when the user presses any stop button 53-55 in this constant speed rotation mode and performs an operation to stop the rotation, the rotation of the rotation is stopped by the following process.

  Prior to the rotation stop process, the symbol offset and symbol number will be described. As shown in FIG. 27, when the excitation order pointer is updated in the processing system of the acceleration counter, the symbol offset value is updated at the same time, and the rotating cylinder L by the rotating index sensor 44 (see FIG. 7) is updated. Is detected (steps S136 and S137). When the rotating index sensor 44 detects one rotation (one rotation) of the rotating cylinder L, both the symbol offset counter and the symbol number counter are reset to zero (step S137).

  The symbol numbers indicate the symbol numbers shown in FIG. 8 as serial numbers. Since 21 symbols are prepared in total, the symbol numbers take values from “0” to “20”. Since the symbol offset is a value obtained by dividing one symbol into 24 equal parts in the rotation direction of the rotating drum L, it takes a value of “0” to “23”. When the symbol offset value becomes “24”, the symbol number is updated and the symbol offset value is reset to 0 (steps S141 and S142).

  Even if the brake is applied, the rotor 60 slides and stops for 3 to 4 phases. As described above, the excitation phase at the time of starting the motor is preferably two-phase excitation, and the operation of the stop buttons 53 to 55 is performed so that the brake is started immediately after the two-phase excitation, that is, at the timing of the one-phase excitation. Regardless of the timing, it is necessary to know the motor stop timing (rotating cylinder stop timing).

  Therefore, as a process after the symbol number update process or the symbol offset is reset in step S142, a process step for determining the turning stop time as in step S151 is set. In step S151, it is determined whether the excitation phase currently being output is the two-phase excitation and whether the symbol offset value is within the predetermined offset value.

  Here, whether the current excitation phase is two-phase excitation may be referred to the value of the excitation order pointer, and whether the predetermined offset value is exceeded may be referred to the symbol offset value. Considering the symbol offset value means that the greater the symbol offset value, the greater the relative displacement of the symbol position when the adjacent rotating cylinder stops. This is because when the human discriminating power is taken into account, when the offset is 4 offset or more, it is possible to clearly recognize the shift of the design. Therefore, it is necessary to execute the rotation stopping process when the design offset value is 4 or less.

  Therefore, when this condition is not satisfied, the routine returns to the timer interrupt processing routine of FIG. 23. However, when the spinning cylinder stop condition of step S151 is satisfied, and when any of the stop buttons 53 to 55 is pressed, the stop pattern is stopped. Is set, and the set stop symbol (symbol number) is compared with the current symbol number (step S152). And when both symbols correspond, when the conditions of step S151 are satisfied, the process shifts to a brake process (step S153). The stop symbol refers to a symbol corresponding to the winning combination that is selected when the start button 52 is operated.

  In this brake processing, brake excitation data setting processing is performed. In this example, the four phases are set to be excited simultaneously. Furthermore, the brake time is set in the wait timer. In this example, since 159 interrupts (= 236.91 msec) are selected as the brake time, “159” is set in the wait timer. In addition, the acceleration counter is reset (= 0).

  When the wait timer is set to the above-described value (= 159), the processing of steps S101 and S102 is performed for 159 interrupts, and during that time, the excitation data for braking is continuously output and the rotor 60 is completely stopped.

  After step S153, an adjustment process is performed on the excitation order pointer used at the next rotation (step 154). The excitation order pointer adjustment process takes into account the slip of the rotor 60. As described above, at the time of the brake processing, the rotor 60 almost stops after slipping for about 3 to 4 phases, so when the brake is applied with the excitation order pointer “0” shown in FIG. 12, for example, the excitation order pointer It is estimated that the rotor 60 is stopped at the position “4”, and in this example, the adjustment of the excitation phase is advanced by “4 excitation phases”. As a result, the value of the excitation order pointer after the update in step S132 is “5”.

[Re-acceleration processing and abnormal processing]
As already described, during the motor acceleration period, the value of the symbol offset is updated in accordance with the addition / subtraction of the acceleration counter, and the symbol offset is updated each time a timer interrupt occurs during constant speed rotation (step S135). When the updated value is “24”, the symbol number is updated and the symbol offset value is reset (steps S141 and S142). Further, after the symbol number is updated, the processing steps of steps S141-S143-S151 are not performed until the value does not exceed the maximum value “21” and the symbol offset exceeds the maximum value “24”. The design number update and the design offset update and reset process continue. Further, the symbol number and the symbol offset are reset each time the rotating drum L makes one rotation (steps S136 and S137).

  By performing this process, it is possible to determine which symbol passes through the exposure window based on the symbol number, and to determine which position of the symbol is located in the exposure window 31L based on the value of the symbol offset. Can do.

  The stepping motor 71 is normally accelerated by the start button 52, and the above-described situation is reproduced in the case of normal rotation that reaches constant speed rotation. However, if normal rotation is not achieved without normal acceleration, or if the rotation is stopped by deliberately holding the rotating drum, the following abnormal rotation processing is performed.

  First, since the acceleration process is completed by one rotation of the rotating cylinder, in the normal case, when the acceleration process is performed, the first rotation of the rotating cylinder should be detected by the rotating cylinder index sensor 44. . However, if the acceleration process is abnormal, the symbol number update process proceeds even if the first rotation of the rotating drum is not detected in step S136 (steps S141 and 142).

  As is clear from FIG. 7, there are up to 21 symbol numbers. From zero, it is from “0” to “20”. However, when such an abnormal state occurs, the symbol number is further updated and its number is updated. Even when the value reaches the maximum value “21” (steps S141 and S142), the counter addition / subtraction process is performed in step S121 at the next excitation phase switching timing. Then, the symbol offset value is updated as before (steps S122 and S135).

  In that case, the value of the symbol number is checked in step S143 through step S141. Since the symbol numbers are from “0” to “20”, when the update maximum value “21” is exceeded, it can be regarded as an abnormal rotation state. Even in this case, in consideration of the variation in the operation of the stepping motor 71, in this example, when the symbol offset advances by 4 offsets or more (step S144), it is determined that the rotation state is abnormal for the first time, and the abnormality process is performed (step S145). . In this case, the reacceleration setting process is performed, the initial value “25” is set in the acceleration counter, and the process returns to step S111 again from the next timer interruption period to perform the reacceleration process.

  The stepping motor 71 has variations in operation, and ideally one rotation = 504 pulses. However, in some cases, it is possible to make one rotation with 503 pulses or 505 pulses. Minute is set as the abnormality detection value.

  Further, when the rotating cylinder does not rotate for some reason, for example, when the rotating of the rotating cylinder is intentionally suppressed, the rotating cylinder index sensor 44 causes the rotating cylinder to be detected by the rotating cylinder index sensor 44 in the same manner as described above. Only one symbol number is continuously updated without detecting one rotation. As a result, when the addition / subtraction processing is performed in the acceleration counter by the next interruption when the update value of the symbol number reaches the maximum value “21”, the symbol offset is updated (steps S121 and S135), and the symbol offset value is changed. When it is equal to or less than the maximum value “24” (step S141), the process proceeds to step S143. Since it is checked in step 143 that the symbol number has been updated to the maximum value “21”, when the symbol number has the maximum value “21”, it is regarded as an abnormal state and the updated symbol is rotated. When the symbol offset is shifted by 4 offsets or more (step S144), the process proceeds to step 145 and the same abnormality process as described above is executed. This abnormality process is repeated until the reset switch 82 is operated.

  When the number of abnormal processes in step S145 exceeds a prescribed number (for example, three times), a process for notifying this abnormal state (flashing process for an abnormal lamp provided in the hall, buzzer notification process for a hall manager, etc.) ) Can also be taken.

  In the above-described embodiment, a two-phase stepping motor employing a 1-2 phase excitation method is used as the drive motor. However, a 4-phase stepping motor employing a 3-4 phase excitation method or 4-5 is also used. It is also possible to use a 5-phase stepping motor that employs a phase excitation method.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, using the plurality of electroacoustic transducers arranged around the variable display device as described above, a sound image that is a synthesized sound of reproduced sound from the plurality of electroacoustic transducers is obtained. It can be moved in two dimensions.

  As a result, the sound effects move two-dimensionally according to the start and stop state of the game, or according to the type of game prize, so that the state of the game can be perceived as a change in the state of the sound. The production of sound effects that match the gaming state can be realized and the player's interest can be further enhanced.

  The present invention is not limited to the gaming machines of the above-described embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiments, when the rotating cylinder is used as the variable display device, the number of the rotating cylinders may be two or more, and the variable display device including the rotating cylinder may be a vertical type or a horizontal type. The rotating directions of the rotating cylinders do not need to be aligned in the same direction, and the present invention can be applied to a gaming machine having rotating cylinders that rotate in reverse directions. The present invention may be applied to any slot machine such as B type, C type, A type and C type composite type, B type and C type composite type, etc. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a multi-function machine in which a slot machine and a pachinko machine are combined, and in any case, it is clear that the same effects as those in the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  The present invention can be applied to a gaming machine such as a slot machine having a variable display device using a plurality of cylinders.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine, 11 ... Main body, 12 ... Front door, 14A-14D ... Middle / high tone speaker, 14E ... Low tone speaker, 30 ... Game panel, 31L, 31M, 31R ... Exposed window, 40 ... Cylindrical Skeletal member, 41 ... boss portion, 42 ... boss reinforcing plate, 43 ... motor plate, 44 ... rotor index photo sensor, 45 ... sensor cut van, 47 ... seal, 51 ... credit button, 52 ... start lever, 76 ... counterclockwise Stop button for torso, 54 ... Stop button for inward cylinder, 55 ... Stop button for inward cylinder, 71L ... Stepping motor for inward cylinder, 71M ... Stepping motor for inward cylinder, 71R ... Stepping motor for inward cylinder, 72 ... MPU, L ... left cylinder, M ... medium cylinder, R ... right cylinder, 76 ... RAM, C ... main control board, S ... sub control board, 110 ... voice Force controller, 112 ... sound data storage RAM.

Claims (1)

In a gaming machine having a variable display device,
A plurality of electroacoustic transducers are arranged so as to surround the center of the variable display device,
A game machine characterized in that a transfer function of a sound output outputted from these electroacoustic transducers is controlled by a sound output controller.

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