JP2011152475A - Game machine using token and token detection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability of a detection of a foreign matter in detection of tokens passing through a route. <P>SOLUTION: When pulsed light emitting signals are output to a first light emitting part 216a and a second light emitting part 216b, the properties of the pulse signals are changed. For example, the pulse signals are so output to change the pulse amplitude or the pulse width. Thereby a first light receiving part 220a and a second light receiving part 220b receive the light synchronously with the light emission signals of the pulse properties and output light receiving signals according to the light quantity determined by the pulse amplitude/pulse width. A self-luminous foreign matter performs pulsed light emission, however, its light emission has no pulse properties changed described in the above, so that the light emitting foreign matter is highly reliably detected based on coincidence state between the change state of the pulse signals for the light emission and output state of the light receiving signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine that starts a game upon receiving a medal, and more particularly to medal detection in the gaming machine.

As a gaming machine using medals, for example, a slot machine is well known, and a game starts when a medal is inserted. At the start of the game, in addition to detecting that a medal has actually been inserted, it is also required to determine the authenticity of the inserted medal. Various proposals have been made to meet such demands (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-261778 A

In this patent document, the light emitted from the light emitting part is reflected by a detection object, and the attenuation of reflected light when the light is reflected by the surface of a foreign object other than a medal is used. And, as a result of such reflected light attenuation between the medal and the other foreign matter, there is a difference in the light receiving level at the light receiving unit when there is no medal and when there is a transparent foreign matter. Used for detection and authenticity determination (foreign matter determination).

In addition, the emission of light at the light emitting unit is pulsed based on the pulse signal output of a fixed period, and synchronization of the light emission pulse and the light reception signal pulse at the light receiving unit improves the accuracy of foreign object determination Is planned.

By the way, it is also expected that a luminescent foreign substance that emits light and outputs a light reception signal to the light receiving unit is thrown into the gaming machine instead of the medal. Such a luminescent foreign material is configured to emit light in a pulse shape, and its pulse cycle may be adjusted. Then, if the light emission period of the luminescent foreign object coincides with the period of the pulse signal that causes the emission of the light emitting unit in the gaming machine, the luminescent foreign object will pretend to be a medal and erroneously determine the luminescent foreign object as a medal. There is a risk that it will end.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in medal detection in a gaming machine using medals, and an object thereof is to improve the reliability of foreign object detection.

In order to solve at least a part of this problem, in the gaming machine of the present invention, when detecting a medal passing through the medal path, the light emitting unit emits light and the light receiving unit receives the light. The output state of the received light signal is changed according to the received light quantity. In such light emission, the detection object is irradiated with light by changing the property of light emitted from the light emitting unit and applied to the detection object. As the properties of the light, for example, when the light is emitted in the form of a pulse, the color of the light can be exemplified in addition to the pulse amplitude and the pulse width that determine the amount of the light. To do.

As described above, when light emission is performed by changing the properties of light, if a so-called transmissive optical system is configured by the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, the properties of the light receiving portion change when the medal is not in the medal path. In the case of the reflection type optical system, the light receiving unit does not output the light receiving signal when the medal is not in the medal path. On the other hand, if the medal is in the medal path, the light is blocked by the transmissive optical system and the light receiving unit does not output a light reception signal, and the reflective optical system reflects the medal if the medal is in the medal path. The received light is received by the light-receiving unit, and the light-receiving unit outputs a light-receiving signal in accordance with the change in properties of the emitted light whose properties have changed. Based on the coincidence between the change in the properties of the emitted light (emitted light) with the change in the properties of the light and the output status of the light reception signal output by the light receiving unit corresponding thereto, the transmission type or the reflection type However, the presence / absence of the medal and the authenticity determination (determination of authenticity) are made, and in accordance with the result, specifically, the game machine is allowed to continue the game if it is an authentic medal. If it is a foreign object pretending to be a medal, it is decided to stop the game.

In the case of a light emitting foreign object as a foreign object that simulates the passage of the medal M, the light emission / non-light emission switching control status is adjusted in advance before the game machine is turned on, but the light emission / non-light emission switching control status is changed. This is not what we expect. Therefore, there is a significant difference between the case where the genuine medal M is inserted and the case where the foreign matter is inserted, where the property change state of the emitted light (emitted light) and the coincidence state of the output state of the received light signal are different. Is seen. As a result, according to the gaming machine of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the reliability of foreign object detection can be improved, and the continuation permission and gaming stop of the gaming machine according to the detection result of the foreign object detection Increased reliability.

Even if the light emitting foreign matter changes the switching control state between light emission and non-light emission, it is difficult to match this change state with the light property change state in the gaming machine in which these foreign matters are inserted. If the state of change of the light property is changed for each gaming machine, the switching control state of light emission and non-light emission in the light emitting foreign material must be adjusted for each gaming machine, and such adjustment is difficult. Therefore, the reliability of foreign object detection increases.

As described above, the gaming machine according to the present invention, which changes the light property, has a pulse property (pulse amplitude, pulse) that causes a change in the amount of light emitted when light is emitted in a pulsed manner. It is possible to distinguish between a mode of changing the width) and a mode of changing the color of light. Therefore, first, an aspect in which the properties of the pulse when light is emitted in a pulse shape will be described.

Thus, in the gaming machine of the present invention in which the properties of the pulse are changed, a pulse signal is generated, the pulse signal is output to the light emitting unit, and the pulsed light is emitted from the light emitting unit. Thus, if the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit constitute a so-called transmission type optical system, the light receiving unit outputs a light reception signal in a pulse form when the medal is not in the medal path, and if it is a reflection type optical system, The light receiving unit does not output a light reception signal. On the other hand, if the medal is in the medal path, the light is blocked by the transmissive optical system and the light receiving unit does not output a light reception signal, and the reflective optical system reflects the medal if the medal is in the medal path. The received light is received by the light receiving unit, and the light receiving unit outputs a light reception signal in a pulse shape. Based on the state of change in the property of the pulse signal that causes the pulsed light emission and the corresponding state of the output state of the pulsed light reception signal output by the light receiving unit, whether it is a transmission type or a reflection type Then, the presence / absence of the medal and the authenticity determination (determination of being a genuine medal) are made. Specifically, if the medal is a genuine medal, the game machine is allowed to continue the game, and the medal If it is a foreign object that mimics the above, it will decide to stop the game.

Next, a state of the above-described light emitting foreign object detection in the gaming machine of the present invention of the above aspect will be described.
First, detection of luminescent foreign matter in the transmission type optical system and the reflection type optical system will be described.

In a gaming machine having a transmission type optical system, it is assumed that a light emitting foreign object is inserted instead of a medal. This light emitting foreign substance makes the light emitting part side of the optical system non-translucent, and emits light in a pulse form on its back surface, that is, on the light receiving part side of the optical system, thereby imitating the passage of medals. Here, it is assumed that the luminescent foreign matter emits light with a period adjusted outside. Then, in the transmissive optical system, the light receiving unit outputs a pulsed light reception signal synchronized with the pulse emitted by the light emitting foreign matter. In the gaming machine of the present invention, the light emission state of the light emitting unit in the optical system is a pulsed light emission depending on the pulse signal output to the light emitting unit, and the property of the pulse signal that causes a change in the amount of emitted light, for example, At least one of the pulse amplitude and pulse width has changed. Therefore, the pulse signal that changes its properties due to the pulsed light emission in the light emitting part and the pulsed light reception signal in the light receiving part based on the light emission of the light emitting foreign matter that has been externally adjusted pulsed light emission The pulse amplitude or pulse width, which is the property of both pulse signals, hardly coincides. Even if the signal (pulse amplitude, pulse width) of the light emitting foreign matter matches the pulse signal (pulse amplitude, pulse width) for light emission of the light emitting part, the present invention is characterized by the properties (pulse amplitude, Since the pulse width is changed, the state in which the pulse signal properties match does not continue. In addition, if both the pulse properties of the pulse amplitude and the pulse width are changed, the pulse signal property that causes the adjusted pulsed light emission in the light emitting foreign matter matches the pulse property of the pulsed received signal. Can hardly happen. Even if the light emitting foreign object has a sensor for detecting the light emitting state of the light emitting unit, the sensor of the sensor can be used to detect the pulsed light emission state of the light emitting unit, specifically the characteristics of the pulse signal such as pulse amplitude and pulse width. Since this increases complexity and size, it is expected that the feasibility of such a light-emitting foreign substance mounted on the sensor is low at a size that is assumed to be a medal.

In a gaming machine having a reflection type optical system, it is assumed that a light emitting foreign object is inserted instead of a medal. In this case, the light-emitting foreign substance simulates the passage of the medal by allowing the reflected light to reach the light-receiving unit by emitting light in a pulse shape toward the light-receiving unit side of the optical system. Even in this case,
As described above, there is no coincidence between the state of the property change of the pulse signal that has undergone a property change and the output state of the pulsed light reception signal at the light receiving unit based on the light emission of the light emitting foreign matter. Even if the change states of the two match, the matching state cannot be continued as described above.

As a result, according to the gaming machine of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the reliability of foreign object detection can be improved, and the continuation permission and gaming stop of the gaming machine according to the detection result of the foreign object detection Increased reliability.

The gaming machine of the present invention may be configured as follows. For example, when a pulse signal such as a pulse amplitude and a pulse width is changed to generate a pulse signal, a change state of the property of the pulse signal can be set. In this way, since the pulse property changes at every setting, the property change state of the pulse signal that has undergone property change due to the pulsed light emission at the light emitting unit, and the pulse obtained at the light receiving unit due to the above foreign matter Therefore, it is possible to make it more difficult to match the output status of the light reception signals, and to further improve the reliability of foreign object detection. Such property change setting can be performed at a predetermined timing. For example, the power-on timing of the gaming machine, the operation timing of the setting operation unit by the user, the cycle timing for each predetermined time, the predetermined gaming state in the gaming machine What is necessary is just to set the change state of the property of a pulse signal at the timing of at least one of the transition timings to (for example, jackpot winning prize). In this way, the pulse property changes at every set timing, so that the reliability of foreign object detection can be further improved.

In the above gaming machine of the present invention, it is assumed that at least two optical systems are provided along the medal path, and the two optical systems are a first optical system and a second optical system. In the pulse signal output to the first optical system via the light emission control unit and the pulse signal output to the second optical system via the light emission control unit, the property of the pulse signal is changed. Accordingly, the pulse signal of the first optical system and the pulse signal of the second optical system can be individually generated. By doing so, the first optical system and the second optical system can have different characteristics of pulsed light emission (light emission) at the light emitting portion due to different pulse characteristics, so that the above-described light emitting foreign matters are the first and second light emitting foreign substances. When sequentially passing through these optical systems, coupled with highly reliable foreign object detection in each optical system, the reliability of foreign object detection in the gaming machine of the present invention having both optical systems can be further improved. In this case, if the property change of the pulse signal is caused by the pulse amplitude and the pulse width, the light amounts of the pulsed light emission, more specifically, the light emission of each light emission at the time of the pulsed light emission in the first and second optical systems. The amount of light is different. Therefore, it becomes difficult to control the pulsed light emission of the light emitting foreign matter so that the light emission amount is different for each optical system, so that the reliability of foreign matter detection is increased.

Next, an aspect in which the color of light is changed will be described. In the gaming machine of this aspect of the present invention, when detecting a medal passing through the medal path, a light emitting unit that irradiates a plurality of types of light for each color, and a light emitting unit that irradiates the light for each color. The color of the light emitted from the light emitting unit is changed using a plurality of light receiving units that receive the color light. The emitted light whose color has changed in this way is received by the light receiving unit corresponding to the color of the light, and a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of received light is obtained from the light receiving unit. In this case, the light receiving unit that receives the light changes in order of the color change of the light emitted from the light emitting unit, and corresponds to the light emission signal output for light emission of the light emitting unit and the color of the light emitted from the light emitting unit. Based on the state of coincidence with the light reception signal of the light receiving unit that has received the light of the color, whether the transmission type or the reflection type, whether or not there is a medal and authenticity determination (determination of being a genuine medal) In accordance with the result, specifically, if it is a genuine medal, the game machine is allowed to continue the game, and if it is a foreign object imitated by the medal, the game is decided to be stopped.

Assuming that the above-mentioned light emitting foreign matter is inserted in place of a medal into the gaming machine of the present invention having such a configuration, in many cases, the light emitting foreign matter emits a single color of light (for example, white light), so that the light emitting unit In the plurality of light receiving units prepared to receive the light of each color of the light to be irradiated, the light receiving order of the light receiving units does not change in the order of the color change of the light emitted from the light emitting unit. Therefore, foreign matter can be detected from the presence or absence of such a change in the light receiving sequence of the light receiving unit, and the reliability can be improved.

When irradiating light of a plurality of colors from the light emitting part, so-called RG which is the three primary colors of light
By providing the light emitting source of B in the light emitting unit and adjusting the output of each light emitting source, light of a plurality of types of colors can be emitted from the light emitting unit. In addition, in order to obtain a plurality of light receiving units that receive light of each color emitted by the light emitting unit, each of the light receiving units is provided with a filter of each color of RGB, for example. Only the passed light can be received by the respective light receiving portions. For example, in a light receiving unit equipped with a red filter, light is received only when the light emitting unit emits red light and a light reception signal is output, but even if green or blue light is emitted from the light emitting unit The color of the light is not received and the light reception signal is not output. The same applies to the light receiving unit provided with the blue filter and the light receiving unit provided with the green filter, and these light receiving units are switched following the color change of the light emitted from the light emitting unit.

As described above, in the gaming machine of the present invention in which the color of light from the light emitting unit is sequentially changed, the order of appearance of colors when changing the color of light emitted from the light emitting unit can also be set. In this way, since the order of the light emitting units that receive light changes every time the color expression order is set, even if the light emitting foreign matter can emit light of a plurality of types of colors, the light emitting unit of the present invention Because it is difficult to change the color of the light-emitting foreign matter in the same order as the color change in the light, and the change of the light-receiving part that follows the color change order of the light emitted from the light-emitting part can be made less likely, the reliability of foreign matter detection Can be further enhanced. The color expression order can be set at a predetermined timing. For example, the power-on timing of the gaming machine, the operation timing of the setting operation unit by the user, the cycle timing for every predetermined time, the predetermined timing in the gaming machine What is necessary is just to set the color expression order at least at one of the transition timings to the gaming state (for example, jackpot winning prize). In this way, the order in which the colors are emitted from the light emitting unit changes at each set timing, so that it is possible to further improve the reliability of foreign object detection.

The present invention can be applied to a medal detection device and a medal detection method passing through a medal path in addition to the gaming machines described above. The medal detection device and the detection method of the present invention can also increase the reliability of foreign object detection with a simple configuration.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the slot machine 100. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the internal structure of the slot machine 100. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medal identification mechanism 200. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an appearance of a medal detection unit 210. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which fractures | ruptures and shows the medal detection part 210. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the mode of two pairs of optical systems which have a light emission part and a light-receiving part. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the slot machine 100. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the mode of light emission in the light emission part 216, and the mode of light reception in the light-receiving part 220 with a functional block. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the detection of a medal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the detection of the said light emission foreign material in case the light emission foreign material which joined the non-light-transmitting body and the light-emitting body has applied to the optical axis. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st modification which applied the pulse property change of the light emission signal to the reflection type optical system. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the 2nd modification which made the pulse property of the pulse signal output to the light emission part 216 of two optical systems differ for every optical system. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically the structure of the optical system in a 3rd modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the light emission condition from each light emission part of RGB based on the light emission color expression signal, and the light reception condition in each light reception part of RGB. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the color order of the light inject | emitted from the light emission part in a 3rd modification is set.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. In this embodiment, a slot machine 100 which is an example of a gaming machine in which medal detection is indispensable will be described. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the slot machine 100, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of an internal structure of the slot machine 100. As shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the slot machine 100 is provided with a front door 103 that can be opened and closed with respect to a hollow box-shaped main body 102, and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The main body 102 is a member constituting the skeleton of the slot machine 100 and houses various devices necessary for the slot game. However, since the main body 102 is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, only the detailed details will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 102 is provided with various symbols and the like on the upper upper part thereof and is rotatably provided with three rotating drums 111, and a hopper device 112 and a power supply box 113 are provided on the lower inner part thereof. The hopper device 112 receives the medals in the auxiliary tank 112a for storing medals from the front door 1.
Pay out to the medal payout exit 114 on the 03 side. The power supply box 113 is connected to the slot machine 10
Power is supplied to various devices including the control device 120 that controls 0 games.

The front door 103 is provided with a window 103a on the front face of each of the rotating drums 111, a button group operated by a player, a line indicator lamp, a medal slot 104, and a medal payout port 11.
And a medal tray 115 for receiving medals from 4. Further, the front door 103 has, on the rear side thereof, a key cylinder 118 for locking the door, a medal identification mechanism 200, a medal supply path 116, a medal discharge path 117, and the like in addition to the control device 120 described above. The medal identification mechanism 200 also functions to distribute medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 104 to the medal supply path 116 and the medal discharge path 117. That is, the medal identification mechanism 200 has a well-known distribution mechanism that selects a medal that can be used and a medal that is not usable according to the medal diameter, and the medal inserted from the medal slot 104 is incompatible with the slot machine 100. If it is a medal, it is selected by the medal identification mechanism 200, and the medal discharge path 1 located below the medal identification mechanism 200.
17 is discharged.

On the other hand, if the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 104 is a medal that matches the slot machine 100, the medal selected by the medal identification mechanism 200 is discharged to the medal supply path 116. The medal replenishment path 116 extends from the front door 103 to the back (the back side of the main body 102), and when the front door 103 is in a closed state, its tip is positioned above the auxiliary tank 112a. It is configured. As a result, medals suitable for the slot machine 100 are guided by the medal identification mechanism 200 and the medal replenishment path 116, replenished to the auxiliary tank 112a, and stored in the tank.

In addition, the medal identification mechanism 200 acquires a sensor signal necessary for authenticity determination and counting of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 104 and transmits the signal to the control device 120. Control device 1
20 performs authenticity determination and counting of medals based on a sensor signal from the medal identification mechanism 200. Such sensor signal acquisition will be described later together with the configuration of the medal identification mechanism 200.

Here, the state of the game by the slot machine 100 will be briefly described. When the player inserts a medal into the medal slot 104 of the front door 103, the medal is the medal slot 1
The medal identification mechanism 200 is passed through a medal path (to be described later) that guides a medal from 04 to the medal identification mechanism 200. The medal identification mechanism 200 distributes and sends the medals to the hopper device 112 if the medals passing through the medal path are appropriate as described above.
The medals are discharged to the outside through the medal discharge path 117. Along with this distribution, the medal identification mechanism 200 outputs a sensor signal, which will be described later, to the control device 120.
A medal authenticity is determined at 20, and if it is a genuine medal, the game can be started.
If it is not a genuine medal, the control device 120 notifies the fact by an indicator lamp of the front door 103 or the like.

When the game can be started, the player operates the start lever 105 of the front door 103. If it does so, since the control apparatus 120 will rotate the rotating drum 111, respectively, a player will press the stop button 106 corresponding to the rotating drum 111. FIG. In response to the pressing, the control device 120 stops the rotating drum 111. Then, the prize medal is discharged to the medal tray 115 based on the coincidence state of the diagonally vertical and horizontal patterns of the three rotating drums 111 that are stopped.

Next, the medal identification mechanism 200 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the medal identification mechanism 200. As illustrated, the medal identification mechanism 200 includes a medal path 202 that guides the inserted medal M. The medal path 202 is formed so that medals pass in one row, and the medal M is received from the medal insertion path 104 of the front door 103 through the medal replenishment path 116 (see FIG. 2) and passed downstream. The medal path 202 includes a main path 203 having a trajectory curved from the upper side of the apparatus to the right side of the apparatus and a discharge path 204 of a trajectory extending straight downward from the upper side of the apparatus. The main path 203 passes the medal M along the curved trajectory and sends the medal to the medal supply path 116 of FIG. 2 described above. The discharge route 204 is a passage switching piece 205 installed at a route branch point of the main route 203.
The medal M is sent out to the medal discharge path 117 by the path switching by the driving. The passage switching piece 205 projects into the medal route 202 by a solenoid (not shown), thereby switching the route. Note that such path switching with solenoid driving is performed according to the result of the above-described medal distribution based on the diameter, and is also performed by a return switch operation by the player when a medal is jammed. In each of the above-described medal paths, the medal installation location is a ridge, and the medal M is conveyed so as to roll while touching the top of the ridge.

The medal identification mechanism 200 includes a medal detection unit 210 in the middle of the main path 203.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the appearance of the medal detection unit 210, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the medal detection unit 210 in a broken view. As shown in these drawings, the medal detection unit 210 has a body 212.
And is fixed to the casing of the medal identification mechanism 200 with screws. The medal detection unit 210 includes an optical path forming body 214 protruding from the body 212 on the front side of the medal M passing through the main path 203 (the front side in the drawing of FIG. 3), and a light emitting diode is formed on the base of the forming body. Light emitting unit 21
6 is 2 pieces.

The light (emitted light) emitted from the light emitting unit 216 is a small-diameter through hole 2 on the front side of the light emitting unit 216.
The light travels along the optical path 17 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 218 at the tip of the optical path forming body 214. Reflective surface 21
8 is formed so as to be inclined as shown in the figure, the reflected light from the reflecting surface 218 travels obliquely toward the body 212 with the locus indicated by symbol A in the figure as the optical axis. That is, the medal detection unit 210 emits light from a direction that obliquely intersects the medal surface with respect to the medal M passing through the main path 203.

The medal detection unit 210 includes a light receiving unit 220 including a photosensor in the body 212.
From the positional relationship that the reflecting surface 218 is located on the front end side of the optical path forming body 214, the light receiving portion 220 is located on the body 212 side, and the medal M is located between the optical path forming body 214 and the light receiving portion 220. The unit 220 receives light from the light receiving unit 220 from a direction obliquely intersecting the medal M passing through the main path 203, and changes the output state of the received light signal according to the received light amount. From this positional relationship between the light emitting unit 216 and the light receiving unit 220, the light emitting unit 216 and the light receiving unit 22.
0 constitutes a light transmission type detection unit that emits light to detect the medal M passing through the main path 203, and this detection unit emits light emitted from the light emitting unit 216 and received by the light receiving unit 220. The optical axis,
It is inclined with respect to the medal M.

The medal detection unit 210 forms a pair of optical systems with the light emitting unit 216, the reflection surface 218, and the light receiving unit 220 as a pair, and two pairs of these optical systems are incorporated in the body 212. FIG.
These are explanatory drawings schematically showing the state of two pairs of optical systems having a light emitting part and a light receiving part. In the following description, in order to distinguish the two pairs of the above optical systems, the light emitting part and the light receiving part of each optical system are distinguished by adding subscripts a and b, and the first light emitting part 216a, These are called the second light emitting unit 216b, the first light receiving unit 220a, and the second light receiving unit 220b.

As schematically shown in FIG. 6, an optical system (first optical system) having a first light emitting part 216a and a first light receiving part 220a, an optical having a second light emitting part 216b and a second light receiving part 220b. system(
The second optical system is separated from the second optical system by a predetermined interval, that is, the interval at which the light emitting unit / light receiving unit is incorporated into the medal detection unit 210. When the medal M passes the main path 203, first, the medal passage is detected from the transition of the received light amount of the first light receiving unit 220a by the first optical system, and then the received light amount of the second light receiving unit 220b by the second optical system. Detected from the transition. Since the distance between both optical systems along the path of the medal M passing through the main path 203 is predetermined, and the passing speed of the medal M in the main path 203 is also known in advance, The presence / absence detection of medal passage in the main path 203, that is, medal detection is performed based on the deviation of the light reception timing (medal passage time difference). Such medal detection processing is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, but an outline thereof will be described later.

Here, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the configuration related to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the slot machine 100.

The control device 120 includes a control unit 121 that controls the overall apparatus. This control unit 121
Is composed mainly of a CPU that executes logical operations, and stores a game program and the like,
In cooperation with a RAM or the like that temporarily stores data, medal detection, medal authenticity determination, medal counting, display device control, rotation control of the rotating drum 111, and the like are performed. The control unit 121 includes a CPU and a medal number counter, and includes a reset switch 122, a start lever 105, a first light emitting unit 216a, a second light emitting unit 216b, a first light receiving unit 220a, a second light receiving unit 220b, and various types. It is connected to a sensor / switch group 123, a display device, a rotating drum, and other control target device group 124. As a configuration related to the present invention, the first light emitting unit 216a, the second light emitting unit 216b, the first light receiving unit 220a, and the second light receiving unit 220b are raised, and the control device 120 includes the first and second light emitting units. The light emission is controlled in a pulsed manner according to a predetermined rule, and the first and the second are adjusted in accordance with the light emission period of the light emitting part.
In response to the light reception signal (sensor output) from the light receiving unit, medal detection and authenticity determination of the inserted medal are performed. Here, a state of medal detection will be briefly described.

As described above, the control device 120 controls the light emission of the first light emitting unit 216a and the second light emitting unit 216b in a pulsed manner according to a predetermined fixed period, so that the light receiving unit of each optical system does not pass a medal. Periodically outputs a pulsed light reception signal (ON signal) according to the pulse of the light emitting unit. On the other hand, when the medal M is inserted, the first light emitting unit 21 of the first optical system is accompanied with the passage of the medal.
The light 6a is blocked, and then the light from the second light emitting portion 216b of the second optical system is blocked. If the distance between the first optical system and the second optical system is larger than the medal diameter, after the first light receiving unit 220a of the first optical system has not received the light of each pulsed light emission of the first light emitting unit 216a, , First light emitting unit 2
In 16a, light is received (pulsed ON signal output), and the second light receiving unit 220b of the second optical system continues to receive no light of each pulsed light emitted from the second light emitting unit 216b, and finally the second light emitting unit 21.
Light is received (pulsed ON signal output) at 6b. Based on this light reception timing, the medal M is detected.

On the other hand, the distance between the first optical system and the second optical system is often made smaller than the medal diameter in order to shorten the path. In such a case, as the medal M passes, the first optical system, the second
Although the pulsed light from the light emitting unit is blocked in the order of the optical system, after the light is blocked simultaneously by both optical systems, the light from the light emitting unit is received again in the order of the first optical system and the second optical system. The light is received by the unit. Therefore, the output of the pulsed light reception signal at the light receiving unit in each optical system is first caused by the non-light reception (OFF signal) period at the first light receiving unit 220a in the first optical system as the medal passes. Yes, then
During the period of no light reception (OFF signal) in both optical systems, the first light receiving unit 220a in the first optical system receives light (pulsed ON signal output) and the second light receiving unit 220b in the second optical system does not receive light. During the period of (OFF signal), the period of light reception (pulsed ON signal output) in both optical systems is continuous.
The medal M is detected from the transition of the input of the pulse signal.

Next, true medal detection, foreign object detection imitating a medal, light emission by the light emitting unit 216, and light reception by the light receiving unit 220 will be described. FIG. 8 shows the light emitting section 2
16 is an explanatory view schematically showing the state of light emission at 16 and the state of light reception at the light receiving unit 220 together with functional blocks, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the state of medal detection. FIG. 9 shows the case where the left side has a medal and the right side has no medal.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control device 120 cooperates with the authenticity determination program stored in the ROM of the control unit 121 described in FIG. 7, the CPU, and the like, and a signal generation unit 131, a light emission control unit 132, A detection unit 133, a game continuation determination unit 134, and a pulse setting unit 135 are configured. The signal generation unit 131 generates a pulse signal. When the pulse signal is generated, as shown in FIG. 8, the property of the pulse signal is changed to generate the pulse signal. That is, this signal generator 1
31 generates a pulse signal so that the pulse amplitude changes, or generates a pulse signal so that the pulse width changes. In this case, such a change in the pulse property can be changed to any one pulse property, and two or more pulse properties can be changed. For example, with a fixed pulse period, one of the pulse amplitude and pulse width of each pulse,
Alternatively, both can be changed. Such a change in pulse amplitude and pulse width causes a change in the amount of emitted light. Then, the pulse setting unit 135 indicates the state of the change in the pulse property, the power-on timing to the slot machine 100, the operation timing of the setting operation unit (not shown) by the user, the cycle timing at every predetermined time (every regular time), the slot machine 10
It is set at a timing such as a transition timing to a predetermined gaming state (for example, a big winning prize) at 0.

As described above, when the pulse property changes, the period from the time when the medal M reaches the optical axis of each optical system shown in FIG. 6 until the medal M deviates from the optical axis, that is, the optical system of the medal M During the passage period, a pulse signal for generating a plurality of pulses is generated. As a method for changing the pulse amplitude and the pulse width, for example, there is a method of changing the pulse amplitude and the pulse width according to a random number generated by a random number generator. It is also possible to change the pulse amplitude and the pulse width as the pulse property with a predetermined change pattern.

The light emission control unit 132 outputs the pulse signal generated by the signal generation unit 131 to the first light emission unit 216a and the second light emission unit 216b of both optical systems, and emits light from each light emission unit in a pulse shape. The detection unit 133 includes a pulse signal and a first light receiving unit 220a and a second light receiving unit 220b in both optical systems.
Based on the state of synchronization with the light reception signal output by and the output state of the light reception signal, it is detected whether the detection target is a genuine medal as described later. The game continuation determination unit 134 includes a detection unit 133.
In accordance with the detected result, the game continuation permission and the game stop of the slot machine 100 are determined. The medal M detection in the slot machine 100 having such a configuration is as follows.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 9, when the medal M passes through the main path 203 (not shown), the medal M has an optical axis that is reflected from the light emitting unit 216 by the reflecting surface 218 and reaches the light receiving unit 220. It takes. Since the medal M is usually made of metal, the medal M blocks light emitted from the light emitting unit 216 (reflected light from the reflecting surface 218). As a result, the light receiving unit 220 does not receive the light that could be received until then, which means that the control device 120 receives a light reception signal (minimum level signal = zero level signal) corresponding to no light reception. When the medal M further passes through the main path 203 and escapes from the optical axis, the light receiving unit 220 emits light from the light emitting unit 216 (reflecting surface 218) as shown on the right side.
The reflected light at (1) is directly received, and a received light signal corresponding to the received light amount is output to the control device 120. That is, the light reception signal changes (increases) from the minimum level as the medal M passes through the main path 203. Such transition of the received light signal level is manifested in each of the pulsed received light signals that have received the light of each pulse since the light emission is pulsed.

By the way, as described above, light emission from the light emitting unit in both optical systems is pulsed light emission after the signal generating unit 131 has changed to a pulse property. For example, although the light emission period is constant because the pulse period is constant, the pulse amplitude of each pulse is changed or the pulse width of each pulse is changed. The first light emitting unit 216a and the second light emitting unit 216b emit light in a state where the amount of emitted light changes. And the corresponding 1st light-receiving part 220a and the 2nd light-receiving part 220b receive the light from each light-emitting part at the timing which matched the pulse period in the condition where the medal M is not on the optical axis, A light reception signal corresponding to the amount of received light is output to the control device 120, and the output is a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of light corresponding to the pulse width or pulse amplitude of each pulse. This light reception signal is output as a light reception signal having a magnitude corresponding to each pulse width or pulse amplitude in accordance with the pulse period in the light emitting section.

The control device 120 generates a received light signal (sensor output) based on the transition of the received light amount as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first light receiving unit 220a of the first optical system and the second light receiving unit 220b of the second optical system are input within a predetermined time (time for the medal M to pass through both optical systems). The control device 120 sequentially receives such signal inputs from both optical systems, thereby detecting the passage of the medal M and performing medal counting. Based on the matching state of the light emission pulse and the light reception signal pulse, the control device 120 performs the following. In this way, the authenticity of the inserted medal (passed medal) is also determined.

When a genuine medal M is inserted, in each optical system, the medal M is applied to the optical axis from the state where the medal M is not applied to the optical axis as the medal M passes through the optical system. Then, the medal M is not applied to the optical axis. Such a relationship with the optical axis will be described in association with pulsed light emission by the light emitting unit 216 and light reception by the light receiving unit 220. In a state where the medal M does not reach the optical axis because the medal M does not reach the optical system, for example, the light emitting unit 216 emits light in a pulse shape with a pulse characteristic of a pulse amplitude change or a pulse width change with a constant pulse period. In this case, the light reception signal output at the light receiving unit 220 is obtained in synchronization with the light emission pulse cycle at the light emitting unit 216, and the output level of the light reception signal depends on the pulse width change or pulse amplitude change at the light emitting unit 216. Correspondingly changed. The control device 120 determines the synchronization status of the light reception signal pulse from the light receiving unit 220 and the light emission pulse from the light emitting unit 216 from the output state of the pulse signal to the light emitting unit 216 and the input state of the light reception signal from the light receiving unit 220. As well as grasping, it is possible to take correspondence between the change in the output level of the received light signal and the change in pulse width or pulse amplitude in the light emitting unit 216. As a result, it is determined that the medal M has not reached the optical system.

When the medal M is put on the optical axis from such a state, the light receiving unit 220 does not receive the light even though the light emitting unit 216 emits a pulsed light due to light shielding by the medal M. Is the minimum level corresponding to no light reception. Next, when the medal M passes through the optical system and the medal M is not hung on the optical axis, the light receiving unit 220 emits the light emitting unit 21.
The light receiving signal output at the timing synchronized with the pulsed light emission of 6 and the signal output at the signal level changed corresponding to the pulse width change or pulse amplitude change in the light emitting unit 216 are performed. Therefore, the control device 120 detects the passage of the medal M in the optical system from the synchronization state with such a pulse signal and the input state of the light reception signal pulse corresponding to the pulsed light emission state in the light emitting unit 216. The authenticity of the medal M is determined from the signal input status at the above input intervals from both optical systems.

If it is determined that the medal M is a genuine medal, the control device 120 permits the game of the subsequent slot machine 100 to continue, so that the player can play a game that involves operating the start lever 105 and the stop button 106. It can be performed. On the other hand, the control device 120
As described later, assuming that the detection object is not a genuine medal M,
Control various devices. For example, the operation of the start lever 105 and the stop button 106 is invalidated so that the game cannot be performed, and various display devices, speakers, and the like are notified that an unauthentic medal M has been detected.

Next, a case where a light emitting foreign object is applied to the optical axis will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of detection of a light emitting foreign object when a light emitting foreign object in which a non-translucent body and a light emitting body are joined to the optical axis.

As described above, the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment includes the medal detection unit 2 of the transmission type optical system.
10, the light emitting foreign matter that falsifies the passage of the medal M is not transmitted on the light emitting unit 216 side, in this embodiment, the reflective surface 218 side that irradiates the medal M with light, as shown in FIG. It has a light emitter that emits light in a pulsed manner on its back surface, that is, on the light receiving unit 220 side. In other words, the light-emitting foreign matter blocks the light from the light-emitting unit 216 with a non-transparent material, and controls the light-emitting state while emitting light in a pulsed manner to the light-receiving unit 220 with the light-emitting material, thereby imitating the passage of the medal M. To do.

In the case of imitating the passage of the medal M with such a light emitting foreign material, the light emission state of the light emitter, specifically,
The pulse width, pulse amplitude, etc. of the pulse-like light emission have been adjusted once externally, imitating the pulse-like light emission of the light emission part 216 of the medal detection part 210 in this embodiment. Then, in the medal detection unit 210 which is a transmission type optical system, the light receiving unit 220 outputs a pulsed light reception signal synchronized with the pulse emitted by the light emitting foreign matter. However, in the medal detection unit 210, the first and second
The light emission state of the light emitting unit 216 in the optical system is a pulsed light emission with a constant period depending on the pulse signal output to the light emitting unit 216 (see FIG. 8), and the pulse amplitude as the property of the pulse signal The pulse width is changing.

Therefore, the light receiving unit 22 based on the change state of the pulse signal that has changed its property due to the pulsed light emission in the light emitting unit 216 and the light emission of the light emitting foreign material that emits light in the externally adjusted light emission state.
The output situation of the pulsed light reception signal at 0 hardly coincides. Even if the light emission state of the light emitting foreign matter matches the state of the property change of the pulse signal for light emission of the light emitting unit,
Since the property of the pulse signal output to the light emitting unit 216 of the medal detection unit 210 changes, it is impossible to continuously match the light emission state of the light emitting foreign object with the property change state of the pulse signal. For this reason, when a genuine medal M is inserted and when a light emitting foreign material that imitates the medal M is inserted, the output state of the light receiving signal of the light receiving unit due to the property change of the pulse signal for light emission of the light emitting unit ( There is a significant difference between the output state of the light receiving signal of the light receiving unit (the light emitting foreign body number infant) according to the light emitting state of the light emitting foreign body and the genuine medal M. As a result, according to the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, it is possible to improve the reliability of detecting the luminescent foreign matter,
It is possible to improve the reliability of the game machine continuation permission and the game stop decision according to the detection result of the foreign object detection.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the two optical systems are arranged side by side, the light emitting foreign matter is received by the light receiving unit 22.
It is necessary to simulate the state that the medal M sequentially passes through both optical systems through the pulsed light emission of the light emitting portion of the 0 side light emitter. However, as described above, since the pulse property of the pulsed light emission in the light emitting unit 216 of each optical system is changed in each optical system, it is difficult to simulate the passing of the medal through the pulsed light emission of the light emitting portion. is there.

Further, in the slot machine 100 of this embodiment, when the pulse characteristics such as the pulse amplitude and the pulse width as shown in FIG. 8 are changed to generate the pulse signal, the change state of the characteristics of the pulse signal is set to the pulse. This is set in part 135. For this reason, since the pulse property changes each time the pulse property change state is set by the pulse setting unit 135, the state of the property change of the pulse signal that has undergone property change due to the pulsed light emission in the light emitting unit 216 Thus, it is possible to make it more difficult to match the output status of the pulsed light reception signal obtained by the light receiving unit 220 with the light emitting foreign matter. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to further improve the reliability of detection of the luminescent foreign matter. In particular, the property change setting of the pulse signal includes the power-on timing to the slot machine 100, the operation timing of the setting operation unit (not shown) by the user, the periodic timing at every predetermined time (every regular time), the predetermined gaming state ( For example, it is performed at the timing of transition to jackpot prize. Therefore, the light emission state of the light emitter in the light emitting foreign matter, specifically, the pulse amplitude and pulse width of the pulse-like light emission, and the like are determined according to the medal detection unit 21 in the present embodiment.
It is more difficult to make external adjustments in advance by imitating the pulsed light emission of the 0 light emitting unit 216. In addition, even if the light emission state of the light emitter in the light emitting foreign material is once adjusted to imitate the light emission state of the light emitting unit 216, the light emission state can be shifted by the setting of the property change at each timing described above. . Therefore, it is possible to further improve the reliability of detecting the luminescent foreign matter.

In addition, in this embodiment, the light emitting unit 216 that is an emission source of light is incorporated on the same side as the light receiving unit 220, specifically, the body 212 of the medal detection unit 210, and the reflected light on the reflection surface 218 is oblique to the medal M. To be irradiated. Therefore, compared with the case where the light emitting unit 216 and the light receiving unit 220 are arranged to face each other and the medal M is irradiated with light obliquely, the size can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, two pairs of optical systems having a light emitting unit 216 and a light receiving unit 220 are provided, and both optical systems are incorporated into one medal detection unit 210 to achieve a so-called one package. Therefore, workability required for installation and maintenance of the two pairs of optical systems can be improved.

Next, a modified example will be described. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a first modification in which the pulse property change of the light emission signal is applied to the reflection type optical system. This first modification includes a reflective optical system so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 216 is reflected by the medal M and the light emitting foreign material and reaches the light receiving unit 220, and the light emission signal output to the light emitting unit 216 is shown in FIG. As described in FIG. 8, it is characterized in that the output is performed while changing the pulse property.

In the slot machine 100 of the first modified example having such a reflection type optical system, the light-emitting foreign matter thrown in place of the medal M is emitted in a pulse shape toward the light receiving unit 220 side of the optical system and reflected. By allowing the light to reach the light receiving unit 220, the passing of the medal is simulated. Even in this case, as described above, there is no synchronization between the pulse signal whose property has changed and the pulsed light reception signal in the light receiving unit 220 based on the light emission of the light emitting foreign matter. Even if the signal periods coincide, the period coincidence state does not continue and synchronization cannot be established.

Therefore, even in the slot machine 100 of the first modified example shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to achieve the effects of improving the reliability of foreign object detection described above.

Next, a second modification will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second modification in which the pulse characteristics of the pulse signals output to the light emitting units 216 of the two optical systems are different for each optical system. In the second modification, a pulse signal having a change in pulse amplitude is output for the first light emitting unit 216a of the first optical system, and the first optical system is used for the second light emitting unit 216b of the second optical system. It is characterized in that it outputs a pulse signal different from the above, for example, a pulse signal whose pulse width has changed as shown in the figure.

In the second modification, the first light emitting unit 216a and the second optical system 216a of the first optical system have different pulse characteristics.
The pulsed light emission (light emission) at the second light emitting unit 216b of the optical system is set to a different property. Therefore, when the light emitting foreign matter passes through the first and second optical systems sequentially, the foreign matter detection and the comparison with high reliability based on the pulse signal synchronization and the light reception signal output state in each optical system are considered. Thus, the foreign object detection reliability in the slot machine 100 of the second modified example having both optical systems can be further improved. In addition, since the first light system 216a and the second light system 216b have different light emission states (pulse properties) between the first optical system and the second optical system, light emitting foreign matter is applied to both optical systems. If the light emission conditions of the light emitting foreign matter for each optical system are the same, these foreign matters can be easily detected, and the reliability of foreign matter detection is further enhanced. In addition, even if the light emission status of the light emitting foreign material differs for each optical system, the pulse signal synchronization and light reception signal output in any optical system can be made by setting the pulse property change of the light emission signal as described above. From the situation, the detection of these foreign substances can be reliably detected, and the foreign objects can be detected with high reliability.

Next, a third modification will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the optical system in the third modification. As shown in the figure, this third modification is provided with three light emitting portions for emitting light of the three primary colors of light to the light emitting portion 216, and three light receiving selectively each of the three primary colors of light. It is characterized in that it includes a light receiving unit.

As shown in the figure, the slot machine 100 of the third modified example includes an R light emitting unit 216R that emits red light, a G light emitting unit 216G that emits green light, and a B light emitting unit 216B that emits blue light. And the light emitting unit 216, and the RGB output switching unit 300 controls the emission of light from the light emitting units of the respective colors. The RGB output switching unit 300 includes a CPU and a ROM in the control unit 121.
Of the program (not shown), and based on the emission color expression signal described later,
Light is emitted from any one of the R light emitting unit 216R, the G light emitting unit 216G, and the B light emitting unit 216B. In this case, the emission color expression signal is generated in cooperation with a program (not shown) of the CPU and ROM of the control unit 121.

Further, since the slot machine 100 of this modification receives the reflected light reflected by the reflecting surface 218, the red filter 220Rf, the light receiving unit 220R for receiving red light, the green filter 220Gf, and for receiving green light. The light receiving unit 220G, the blue filter 220Bf, and the light receiving unit 220B for receiving blue light, and the light receiving unit 220. Light receiving unit 220R
˜220B is a light receiving unit having the same configuration, and receives light of a color defined by the filter with a filter in front of the light receiving unit, and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of received light of that color.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the light emission state from each RGB light emitting unit and the light receiving state at each RGB light receiving unit based on the emission color expression signal. As shown in FIG. 14, in the slot machine 100 of the third modified example, an emission color expression signal for controlling the emission of each RGB light emitting unit is output to each light emitting unit, and the R light emitting unit 216R and the G light emitting unit are output. Light is repeatedly emitted from these light emitting units in the order of 216G and B light emitting unit 216B. Thus, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 218 and reaching the detection target such as the medal M changes its color in the order of red, green, and blue. The emitted light whose color has been changed in this manner (the reflected light from the reflecting surface 218) corresponds to the light receiving portions 220R-2 corresponding to the color of the light.
Each of the light receiving units 220R to 220B outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the corresponding color. In this case, the light receiving unit 220 that receives light in the order of emission of light emitted from the R light emitting unit 216R, the G light emitting unit 216G, and the B light emitting unit 216B, that is, in the order of color change.
R to 220B vary.

In the example of FIG. 14, the R light emitting unit 216R, the G light emitting unit 216G, and the B light emitting unit 216B repeatedly emit light of each color in this order, and the light receiving unit 220R, the light receiving unit 220G, and the light receiving unit 220B.
In this order, the light reception signal is repeatedly output. Then, the slot machine 100 of the third modified example
Corresponds to the light emission signal (see FIG. 14) output for the sequential light emission of the R light emission unit 216R, the G light emission unit 216G, and the B light emission unit 216B, and the color corresponding to the color of the emitted light from each of the light emission units. The presence / absence and authenticity determination (determination of being a genuine medal) of the medal M is made based on the synchronization state with the light reception signals of the light receiving units 220R to 220B that have received the light of the light and the output state of the light reception signal. Depending on the result, the continuation of the game of the slot machine 100 is permitted as described above, and if it is a foreign object pretending to be a medal, the game is decided to be stopped.

Assuming that the above-mentioned light emitting foreign matter is thrown in place of a medal in the slot machine 100 of the third modified example having the above-described configuration, in many cases, the light emitting foreign matter emits a single color light (for example, white light). In the plurality of light receiving portions 220R to 220B prepared so as to receive light of each color of RGB by the RGB filters 220Rf to 220Bf, the change in the light receiving order of the light receiving portions following the order of color change of the emitted light from the light emitting portion is as follows. I don't get up. The white light emitted from the light emitting foreign matter is converted into light of RGB colors by the RGB filters 220Rf to 220Bf and received by all of the light receiving units 220R to 220B. Therefore, such light receiving parts 220R to 220
Also from the presence or absence of a change in the light receiving sequence of B, it is possible to detect a light emitting foreign material and to improve its reliability.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the color order of light emitted from the light emitting unit in the third modification is set. That is, FIG. 15 is an example in which the order of colors is changed according to, for example, a random number generated by a random number generator. In this way, the light receiving units 220R to 220B that receive light each time the color expression order is set. The order changes. For this reason, even if the luminescent foreign matter can emit light of each color of RGB, it is difficult to change the color of the luminescent foreign matter in the same order as the color change set as shown in FIG. The light receiving unit 22 in the order of the color change of the light emitted from the unit.
Changes from 0R to 220B can be made more difficult to occur. Therefore, the reliability of detecting the luminescent foreign matter is increased. Furthermore, the color expression order includes, for example, the power-on timing to the gaming machine, the operation timing of the setting operation unit by the user, the cycle timing at every predetermined time (every time), the predetermined gaming state in the slot machine 100 (for example, If it is set at the transition timing to the big hit prize), the order in which the colors of the light emitted from the light emitting section appear changes at each set timing, so that it is possible to further improve the reliability of detection of the light emitting foreign matter.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to above-described embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it is possible to implement in various aspects. For example, in the above-described embodiment and modification, the emitted light DL of the light emitting unit 216 is reflected by the reflecting surface 218, and the reflected light is irradiated as the emitted light DL onto a detection object such as a medal M or a light emitting foreign object. The light emitting unit 216 itself may be disposed at the installation location of the reflection surface 218 so that the detection target is directly irradiated with the emitted light DL of the light emitting unit 216.

Further, the slot machine for playing using the medal M has been described as an example, but the present invention is a gaming machine other than the slot machine that uses the medal M and includes a medal detection device and a medal path. It can also be applied as a medal detection method for passing.

Furthermore, the color change described with reference to FIG. 15 may be caused to change in a different period instead of every fixed period, or the light emission quantity for each color may be different in light emission in each color of RGB. You can also In this way, the light receiving units 220R to 220 corresponding to the respective RGB colors.
In B, since a difference occurs in the amount of received light, it is difficult to emit light with a difference in the amount of received light in the case of a light emitting foreign material capable of emitting light of each color of RGB. Will rise more.

Further, when the pulse amplitude and pulse width of the pulse signal output to the light emitting unit 216 are changed as described above, the state of the change can be made different for each slot machine 100. In this way, even if the light emission state of the light emitting foreign material changes, it becomes more difficult to match the state of this change with the state of the change in the pulse property in the slot machine 100 into which these foreign materials are inserted. Sexuality increases. The same applies to the slot machine 100 configured to change the color of light for each light emitting unit.

Since the light emission from the light emitting unit 216 is pulsed light emission based on the pulse signal, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 216 is changed by the change in the pulse amplitude and the pulse width, but the light emission from the light emitting unit 216 is performed. When performing continuous energization, the current value of the energization current can be changed to cause a change in the amount of light.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Slot machine 102 ... Main body 103 ... Front door 103a ... Window 104 ... Medal insertion slot 105 ... Start lever 106 ... Stop button 111 ... Revolving drum 112 ... Hopper device 112a ... Auxiliary tank 113 ... Power supply box 114 ... Medal payout opening 115 ... Medal tray 116 ... Medal replenishment route 117 ... Medal discharge route 118 ... Key cylinder 120 ... Control device 121 ... Control unit 122 ... Reset switch 123 ... Various sensors / switch group 124 ... Control target device group 131 ... Signal generation unit 132 ... Light emission control Numeral 133 ... Detection unit 134 ... Game continuation determination unit 135 ... Pulle setting unit 200 ... Medal identification mechanism 202 ... Medal route 203 ... Main route 204 ... Discharge route 205 ... Path switching piece 210 ... Medal detection unit 212 ... Body 214 ... Optical path formation Body 216 ... Optical part 216a ... 1st light emission part 216b ... 2nd light emission part 216R ... R light emission part 216G ... G light emission part 216B ... B light emission part 217 ... Through-hole 218 ... Reflecting surface 220 ... Light reception part 220B ... Light reception part 220Bf ... Filter 220G ... Light receiving unit 220Gf ... Filter 220R ... Light receiving unit 220Rf ... Filter 220Rf ... Filter 220a ... First light receiving unit 220b ... Second light receiving unit 300 ... RGB output switching unit M ... Medal

Claims (1)

A gaming machine that uses medals to play,
A medal path to guide the medal
A light-emitting unit that emits light and a light-receiving unit that changes an output state of a light-receiving signal according to the amount of received light, and irradiates the detection target that passes through the medal path with light from the light-emitting unit. An optical system for obtaining the received light signal;
A light emission property changing unit that changes the property of light emitted from the light emitting unit and applied to the detection target, and irradiates the detection target with light.
Based on the coincidence between the change state of the property of the light applied to the detection object and the output state of the light reception signal of the light receiving unit that receives the light of the changed property, the detection object is authentic A detection unit for detecting whether it is a medal;
A gaming machine comprising: a game continuation determining unit that determines whether to allow the game machine to continue and to stop the game according to a detection result of the detection unit.

Images