JP2012100771A - Control device for motor of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device for a motor of a game machine, which changes over a low-speed operation and a high-speed operation concerning reel rotation control for the symbol variable display of the game machine.SOLUTION: The control device of the motor for the game machine gets a stepping motor, which receives a stepping period signal and changes excitation force by the unit of one step of each stepping period, controlled by a microstep control circuit that outputs a microstep excitation signal to perform gradual change by microstep unit obtained by dividing one step of each microstep period signal. The microstep control circuit includes a changeover means for performing changeover between hardware control for outputting the microstep excitation signal and software control for allowing the microstep control circuit to output the microstep excitation signal by a signal to be output by the software of a CPU.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine using a motor used for symbol display and symbol variation display in games.

  As a typical example of such a gaming machine using a motor, there is one in which a reel member is rotationally controlled by a motor, for example. Such a gaming machine controls the rotation of the reel member based on the result of this jackpot determination, a reel having a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface, a jackpot determination means for determining whether or not to generate a jackpot winning by lottery. And a game processing control means for performing a variable display game of symbols. In these gaming machines, the effect of controlling the rotation of the reel member plays an important role in raising the player's interest, so that the reel member can be rotated at a very low speed, rotated at a high speed, or Control is performed to frequently perform forward and reverse driving. In general, a two-phase stepping motor is employed as a motor for controlling the driving of the reel member.

  Here, in order to control the rotation of the reel member, a microstep control is well known as a control method for performing a low-speed rotation more smoothly by using a stepping motor. The driving method of the stepping motor is controlled to rotate by the step angle set by various driving methods such as 2-phase and 1-2-phase excitation by giving a phase difference to the driving voltage of each phase. The microstep control changes the excitation signal of the stepping motor with several steps of microstep amplitude, and the period in which the microstep amplitude changes is greater than the step angle of the stepping motor for each microstep period set as the microstep period. It is possible to control the rotation to be controlled by various excitation methods such as two-phase and 1-2-phase excitation at a microstep angle that is a fine step angle. In order to microstep control the stepping motor in this way, a commercially available microstep control IC may be employed. These commercially available microstep control ICs have a step angle set by various driving methods such as 2-phase, 1-2-phase excitation, or 2W1-2-phase excitation as a driving method by inputting an external reference clock. Only the forward rotation and the reverse rotation are configured, and the motor speed is determined by the pulse width of the reference clock. (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2632332 JP 2009-82328 A

  As described above, microstep control can be realized by hardware control. For this reason, it is possible to control by using a micro-control IC, and it is also possible to control by configuring an electric circuit with the same function as the micro-control without using the micro-control IC. Such micro-step control by hardware control is advantageous when high-speed driving is performed. However, if a plurality of rotation control speeds are prepared, or if control such as changing the rotation control speed is performed halfway, the hardware The configuration becomes complicated, and a microstep control circuit cannot be realized with an economical and practical circuit scale.

On the other hand, microstep control can also be realized by software control. For example, microstep control can be realized by inputting either a microstep period, a microstep amplitude, or both as a control signal to the excitation drive unit of the stepping motor by a software function mounted on the CPU. Microstep control by software outputs a microstep period signal and microstep amplitude signal by software, so control such as changing the speed of rotation control of the stepping motor in the middle is more difficult than hardware control. It becomes easy. However, since a control signal such as a microstep period signal and a microstep amplitude signal is output by a software function mounted on the CPU, when the stepping motor is driven at a high speed, processing for the CPU to output these control signals The amount is enormous and the CPU is heavily loaded, making it impractical.

  Other circuit configurations for hardware control of microstep control are possible. The microstep period signal or the microstep amplitude signal is stored in the ROM, and the microstep period signal or the microstep amplitude signal stored in the ROM according to the rotational speed of the stepping motor to be driven, Alternatively, a configuration is possible in which both are read and the stepping motor is driven from the excitation drive unit based on the read value. Even in such a microstep control method by hardware control using a ROM, data for microstep control of various patterns is stored in the ROM, so that the rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed halfway. Although it is possible to perform such control, there is a limit to storing various rotation control patterns in the ROM in advance.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems as described above, and can control driving at a plurality of rotational speeds, high-speed rotation and low-speed rotation, or changing the rotation speed in the middle, with a simple circuit configuration, The purpose is to provide a control method that does not place a burden on the amount of software processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention, a stepping motor that receives a stepping cycle signal and performs rotation control by changing the excitation force in units of one step for each stepping cycle (for example, In the gaming machine configured to include the reel motor R90 in the embodiment, the stepping motor is provided for each microstep period signal (for example, output signal of the microstep period signal circuit R10 in the embodiment) created from the stepping period signal. The microstep control circuit (for example, the reel control unit 160 in the embodiment) that outputs a microstep excitation signal that changes stepwise in units of microstep that divides one step by m (m is a natural number) Control circuit is micro step excitation Switching between hardware control for outputting a signal (for example, an output signal of the excitation drive unit R70 in the embodiment) and software control for outputting a microstep excitation signal by the microstep control circuit according to a signal output by a software function of the CPU. A switching means is provided in the microstep control circuit.

  With this configuration, when the rotation of the stepping motor is controlled, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be switched between hardware control and software control, and the rotation speed can be easily changed and controlled. .

  In order to achieve the above object, in the game machine motor control apparatus according to the present invention, when the software function of the CPU rotates the stepping motor at a low speed, the switching means is switched to software control, and the stepping motor is rotated at a high speed. In this case, it is desirable to switch the switching means to hardware control.

With this configuration, if the rotation of the stepping motor is controlled by software control, the amount of processing required for the CPU becomes enormous and there is a risk that the processing time for the CPU to perform other processing may be lost. By doing so, the processing load on the CPU can be reduced. By using software control during low-speed operation, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed in fine steps, and a wide range of effects can be provided to the player.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention, the microstep control circuit is a numerical value n storage circuit (for example, n is a natural number) that outputs a plurality of stored numerical value n signals (n is a natural number). Numerical value n storage circuit R05) in the embodiment and a numerical value n signal output from the numerical value n storage circuit, and a microstep period signal circuit that outputs a microstep period signal obtained by multiplying the stepping period signal by n or 1 / n (For example, the microstep period signal circuit R10, the frequency multiplication circuit R11, or the frequency division circuit R12 in the embodiment) and a microstep number circuit (for example, the embodiment) that outputs a plurality of stored numerical m signals (m is a natural number). Microstep number circuit R15) and a m-number microphone output from the microstep number circuit A microstep setting circuit that receives a step number signal and sequentially outputs a microstep setting signal that is a numerical value of 0 to m for each of the microstep period signals output from the microstep period signal circuit (for example, in the embodiment) Microstep setting circuit R30) and a microstep amplitude signal circuit that outputs a microstep amplitude signal corresponding to a microstep obtained by dividing one step into m for each microstep setting signal output from the microstep setting circuit (for example, implementation) Excitation step for dividing the predetermined excitation force into m based on the microstep amplitude signal output from the microstep amplitude signal circuit and generating the excitation force changing stepwise. Part (e.g. A drive unit R70), preferably has a.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the output signals of various circuit portions of the microstep control circuit. When changing the rotation speed, the rotation speed can be finely changed.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the gaming machine motor control apparatus according to the present invention, the switching means inputs the microstep period signal circuit to the numerical n storage circuit and the input / output circuit of the CPU (for example, The first switch circuit (for example, the switch S1 of the embodiment) that is switched so as to be connected to any one of the input / output circuit 40 of the embodiment, the input of the microstep setting circuit, the input of the microstep number circuit, and the CPU A second switch circuit (for example, switch S2 in the embodiment) for switching to be connected to any one of the output circuits, an input of a microstep setting circuit, either the microstep period signal circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU A third switch circuit (for example, switch S3 in the embodiment) that switches to connect to the A fourth switch circuit (for example, switch S4 in the embodiment) that switches the input of the amplitude signal circuit to be connected to either the microstep setting circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU, and the input of the excitation drive unit It is desirable to have at least one of a fifth switch circuit (for example, switch S5 in the embodiment) that is switched to be connected to either the microstep amplitude signal circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU. .

  With this configuration, it is possible to control the various steps of the microstep control circuit so that the microstep operation can be changed by a signal output from the software function of the CPU. Therefore, when providing a hot effect to the player, it becomes possible to provide a fine effect by software control.

In order to achieve the above object, the control device for a motor for a gaming machine according to the present invention controls the operation state of the microstep periodic signal circuit by inputting the output signal of the microstep periodic signal circuit to the input / output circuit of the CPU. A first monitoring function for monitoring, a second monitoring function for monitoring the operating state of the microstep amplitude signal when the output signal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit is input to the input / output circuit of the CPU, and an output signal of the excitation drive unit Is preferably input to an input / output circuit of the CPU, and is provided with at least one of a third monitor function for monitoring an operation state of the excitation drive unit.

  With such a configuration, the stepping motor rotates by the excitation signal output from the microstep control circuit, but a step-out phenomenon may occur due to a frictional force or the like generated in the rotation-controlled reel member. By monitoring each part of the microstep control circuit, it is possible to monitor whether or not the microstep control circuit generates a predetermined control signal, and stepping is performed when the microstep control circuit generates a predetermined control signal. It becomes easy to determine whether or not the motor is out of step. Further, when switching between hardware control and software control, if the control is largely different from the control signal output in hardware control, the stepping motor may perform an unnatural rotation. If the software control is performed with the control signal value that is not significantly different from the value of each control signal in the hardware control that has been monitored, the stepping motor will not change unnaturally. In this way, it is possible to prevent the doubt that the game store is performing an operation that is disadvantageous to the player due to the unnatural rotation of the stepping motor.

  In order to achieve the above object, a control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention changes a numerical value n signal output from a numerical value n storage circuit or a numerical value n signal output from a software function of a CPU to change the stepping motor. It is desirable to change the rotation speed of the motor.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the value n in both hardware control and software control. It becomes possible to change the rotation speed more finely.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention changes the microstep number signal output from the microstep number circuit or the microstep number signal output from the software function of the CPU. It is preferable to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the number of microsteppings in both hardware control and software control. It becomes possible to change the rotation speed more finely.

  In order to achieve the above object, the control device for a motor for a gaming machine according to the present invention changes a microstep periodic signal output from a microstep periodic signal circuit or a microstep periodic signal output from a software function of a CPU. Thus, it is preferable to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the microstepping cycle signal in both hardware control and software control. It becomes possible to change the rotation speed more finely.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention, the CPU software function can change the microstep periodic signal based on the output of the microstep periodic signal circuit by the first monitor function. desired.

  With this configuration, when switching from hardware control to software control, the stepping cycle signal is set to a significantly different value, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor changes unnaturally, giving the player distrust. Can be prevented.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention changes the microstep setting signal output from the microstep setting circuit or the microstep setting signal output from the CPU software function. It is preferable to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the microstepping setting in both hardware control and software control. It becomes possible to change the rotation speed more finely.

In order to achieve the above object, the control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention changes the microstep amplitude signal output from the microstep amplitude signal circuit or the microstep signal output from the software function of the CPU. It is desirable to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor.
With this configuration, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed by changing the microstep amplitude signal in both hardware control and software control. It becomes possible to change the rotation speed more finely.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the game machine motor control device according to the present invention, the software function of the CPU changes the microstep amplitude signal based on the output of the microstep amplitude signal circuit by the second monitor function. Is desired.

  With this configuration, when switching from hardware control to software control, the step amplitude signal is set to a significantly different value, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor changes unnaturally, giving the player distrust. Can be prevented.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention, the software function of the CPU can switch between hardware control and software control based on the output of the excitation drive unit by the third monitor function. preferable.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling distrust due to the unnatural change in the rotation speed of the stepping motor in the control for changing the rotation speed of the reel member.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine motor control device according to the present invention preferably controls the rotation speed of a reel having a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface by a stepping motor.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to provide a more advanced presentation than before in order to increase the player's interest by changing and controlling the rotation speed of the reel member.

  The apparatus for controlling a motor for a gaming machine according to the present invention controls the rotation speed by hardware control when a reel driven by a stepping motor is rotated at high speed, and by software control when rotating the reel at a low speed. Rotational speed control is possible, and high-speed rotation control and low-speed rotation control, driving at multiple rotation speeds, and control to change the rotation speed in the middle, with a simple circuit configuration and burden on the software processing amount It can be realized with a control method that does not apply.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine PM shown as an example of the gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a rear view which shows the game board of the said pachinko machine PM. It is a perspective view of the reel unit of the pachinko machine. It is a front view of the reel unit of the pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the reel which comprises the said reel unit. It is a front view which shows the symbol drawn on the symbol display surface part of a reel member. It is the block diagram which showed the control function of the pachinko machine. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement in the case of two-phase excitation of a stepping motor. It is a circuit diagram which shows the circuit structure of the reel control part of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the frequency multiplication circuit which comprises the reel control part of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the frequency dividing circuit which comprises the reel control part of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the microstep amplitude signal circuit which comprises the reel control part of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows another micro step amplitude signal circuit which comprises the reel control part of 1st Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram of the micro control IC which comprises the reel control part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a terminal arrangement | sequence diagram of the micro control IC which comprises the reel control part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows the microstep amplitude signal circuit which comprises the reel control part of 3rd Embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows switch control and monitor connection between CPU and a reel control part. It is a time chart which shows switching of software control and hardware control.

  First, a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine PM described as an example of the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine PM is configured to have a rectangular frame size and a rectangular frame size adapted to the front of the opening of the outer frame 101 that forms a vertically-oriented fixed holding frame. The front frame 102 is attached to the front left and upper hinges 103a and 103b so that it can be opened / closed and attached / detached side by side, and is normally engaged with the outer frame 101 using a locking device 104 provided on the right side of the front. Kept in a combined closed state.

  On the front side of the front frame 102, a glass door 105 that can be seen through the game board 120 through a transparent plate material such as a polycarbonate plate or a glass plate that has a rectangular shape matched to the front area of the front frame 102 and is attached to the center portion; The upper ball tray 106 that aligns the game balls stored in the ball tray and guides them one by one to the ball hitting device 109 (not shown) can be opened / closed and opened / removed sideways by a hinge mechanism built in the left edge. It is assembled and normally held in a closed state covering the front surface of the front frame 102 using the locking device 104 and a lock mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 106 is provided with a prize ball payout outlet for prize ball payout. A lower part of the upper ball tray 106 is provided with a sound emitting unit that emits sound from a speaker (not shown) that generates sound effects according to the game development status. In addition, a lower ball tray 107 for storing game balls is provided below the front frame 102, and an operation handle 108 for performing a game ball launch operation is attached along with the lower ball tray 107.

The game board 120 includes a decorative board (also referred to as veneer) 121 having a predetermined design cell attached to a surface of a laminated plywood having a thickness of about 19 mm cut into a predetermined shape. A game area PA is defined inside the front surface of the decorative plate 121. In the game area PA, a first start winning tool 124, a big prize tool 126, a general winning tool, and a symbol display device 200 for displaying a predetermined symbol so that a player can visually recognize the game according to the progress of the game are attached. At the lower end of the game area PA, a first start winning opening 124, a second starting winning opening 125, a general winning opening, a large winning opening 126, and a normal symbol operating gate 128 are provided. An out-port 127 is provided through which game balls that have fallen without winning through these award ports are discharged to the back side of the game board 120. The symbol display device 200 is located almost at the center of the game board 120 and displays a “special symbol” consisting of a combination of three-digit symbols in a variable manner. Of these special symbols, all three digits are of the same type. A combination of these patterns is referred to as a “hit pattern”.

  If there is a winning at the first starting winning opening 124 or the second starting winning opening 125, a predetermined number of winning balls (for example, five balls) are paid out to the player from the winning ball payout exit of the upper ball tray 106, The symbol display device 200 is activated, and the symbol variation is started. As a result of this change, when the symbol to be stopped and displayed is a winning symbol, a “hit game” advantageous to the player is generated.

  In this jackpot game, the big prize opening 126 that is normally closed is opened. When there is a prize at the big prize opening 126, a predetermined number (for example, 15 balls) of prize balls are paid out to the player from the prize ball payout exit. The special winning opening 126 is temporarily closed when a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses after being opened or when a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls) has been won. Then, if there is a prize in a V zone (not shown) provided inside the big prize opening 126 while the big prize opening 126 is open, the big prize opening 126 is once closed and then opened again. It is supposed to be. Thereby, the opening of the special winning opening 126 can be continued up to 16 times. Further, when the big winning opening 126 has been opened 16 times, or when there is no winning in the V zone while the big winning opening 126 is opened, the big hit game is ended.

  Although not shown, the back set board of the pachinko machine PM is provided with a prize ball path for paying out prize balls. That is, on the back side, a tank member for storing and supplying game balls, an alignment rod member for aligning and flowing down game balls supplied from the tank member, and a predetermined number of game balls supplied from the alignment rod member are received. A prize ball waiting path for waiting and holding the game balls, a ball paying device for paying out the game balls waiting in the prize ball waiting path based on predetermined winning conditions, and the game balls paid out from the ball paying apparatus up and down A prize ball path such as a prize ball payout path leading to the ball trays 106 and 107 is provided. In addition, on the front side of the base frame body, an out ball and a safe ball that are located below the window and are discharged to the back side of the game board 120, a ball that is discharged from the middle of the winning ball path by the ball removing mechanism, and the like A collecting route (not shown) for collecting the game balls is formed, and a ball discharge route (not shown) is formed on the back side of the base frame body to discharge the game balls gathered connected to the collecting route to a collection bucket on the gaming facility side.

  A game control device 130 for comprehensively controlling the operation of the pachinko machine PM is attached to the main board at each part on the back of the back set board. The game control device 130 will be described with reference to FIG. The main board payout control device command transmission / reception means 139 controls and monitors the payout device 174, the firing device 175, and the firing handle 176 via the payout device 160. Further, the lamp control unit 155 and the sound control unit 156 control the hold lamp 170, the effect lamp 171 and the speaker 172 to control the operation of the effect lighting and the sound effect. Furthermore, a power supply board 129 for supplying power to these control boards and various electronic devices is provided. The main board game control device 130 performs processing in the case of power interruption by the power interruption processing means 136 and the power interruption recovery processing means 137 of the power supply board 129.

In addition to the main board, a circuit board such as an external terminal board (not shown) as an external connection device that outputs various game information to a gaming machine management device (management computer) installed in the gaming hall can be attached and detached. The pachinko machine PM is configured by connecting each circuit board and electronic device with a wire harness. In addition, an error display device (error LED) is provided below the payout control device 160 for notifying the circuit board including the main board of any abnormal operation or the like on a screen using a light emitting diode. It has been.

  Next, the structure of the reel unit 210 to which the stepping motor according to this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the game board 120 of the pachinko machine PM, and a reel unit 210 is attached to the approximate center of the game board 120. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reel unit 210 (the lower right in the drawing is a rear perspective view of the third reel). FIG. 4 is a front view of the reel unit 210 as viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine PM. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the first reel module 211 constituting the reel unit 210. FIG. 5A is a reference piece member 211a, FIG. 5B is a reel member 211b, and FIG. 5C is a motor unit 211c. It is. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a symbol drawn on a symbol display surface portion of each reel member of the first to third reel modules.

As shown in FIG. 2, a reel unit 210 is attached to the game board 120 from the back side of the game board 120 via a cover member that guides a safe ball called an inner cover.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reel unit 210 mainly includes a first reel module 211, a second reel module 212, a third reel module 213, and a reel module housing portion 214 that houses these three reel modules. ing. Note that the first reel module 211, the second reel module 212, and the third reel module 213 are made of a common member, and the first reel module 211 is illustrated as a reel module 211 unless necessary in this embodiment. Common explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the reel module 211 includes a reference piece member 211a, a reel member 211b, and a motor unit 211c. The reference piece member 211a is configured such that the center is formed in a substantially circular shape and the protruding sides are formed in a cross shape from the center. Here, one side of the projecting side is formed longer than the other three sides, and a light shielding part 226 that shields light from a reference sensor described later is formed on this side. The reel member 211b includes four rim portions extending radially from the center and a symbol display surface portion 222 formed horizontally from the rim portion. The reel member 211b is formed with reference piece member attaching portions 223, 224, 225 for attaching the reference piece member 211a, and the reel members 211b are provided with attaching portions 223, 224, 225 formed on the reference piece member 211a. And are mated. The motor unit 211c includes a motor base 231, a motor 230, and a backlight unit 240. The backlight unit 240 is configured to irradiate the symbol display surface part 222 of the reel member 211b from the inside. The rotation shaft 221 of the motor 230 is fitted into the central hole 221 of the reel member 211b and the central hole 221 of the reference piece member 211a, and the reel member 211b and the reference piece member 211a are rotated by the rotation of the motor 230. It has become. Further, a photo interrupter 227 having a slit portion is attached to the outer edge portion of the motor 230 of the motor unit 211c, and the light shielding portion 226 of the reference piece member 211a is attached at a position where the slit portion is passed along with the rotation of the reel member 211b. Yes.

Here, the symbol display in the reel unit will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the reel member of the first reel module is referred to as a first reel member 211b, the reel member of the second reel module is referred to as a second reel member 212b, and the reel member of the third reel module is referred to as a third reel member. FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of symbols drawn on the symbol display surfaces of the first reel member 211b, the second reel member 212b, and the third reel member 213b. Three symbols from the top of the symbols drawn on each symbol display surface portion are displayed as one symbol by combining the symbols on the three symbol display surface portions of the first to third reel members. The symbols below the fourth from the top display different symbols for each symbol display surface portion of each reel member. As described above, the reel unit 210 has the backlight unit 240. The backlight unit 240 irradiates the symbol display surface portion 222 from the inside using an LED as a light source. When the symbol display surface portion 222 is viewed from the outside, the symbol is the backlight portion. It is brightly irradiated from the inside by 240 and can be visually recognized from the front of the pachinko machine PM as shown as the symbol display device 200 in FIG.

  Next, the detection of the initialization position of the rotation of the reel member will be described. In FIG. 6, the reference piece member attached to the reference piece member 211a shown in FIG. 5 (a) is a protrusion protruding on the right side of the third design drawn on the design display surface of the first reel member 211b. And the projection protruding to the right of the second symbol from the top drawn on the symbol display surface portion of the second reel member 212b is the light shielding portion of the reference piece member attached to the second reel member 212b. Thus, the protrusion protruding to the right of the uppermost symbol drawn on the symbol display surface portion of the third reel member 213b is a model of the light shielding portion of the reference piece member of the third reel member 213b.

  A photo interrupter 227 shown in FIG. 5C includes a light receiving portion, a light emitting portion, and a slit portion. The light shielding portion 226 shown in FIG. 5A rotates according to the rotation of the reel member 211 and passes through the slit portion of the photo interrupter 227 in FIG. 5C, so that the light receiving portion and the light emitting portion of the photo interrupter 227 Shade and transmit light between them. As described above, when the light blocking unit 226 passes through the slit portion of the photo interrupter 227, the light emitted from the light emitting unit of the photo interrupter 227 is blocked by the light blocking unit, and it is detected that the light is blocked by the light receiving unit. The position where the photo interrupter 227 detects the light shielding is set as the initial position of the reel member rotation. It is also possible to detect how many times the first to third reel members have rotated.

  In the reel unit configured as described above, the first to third reel members rotate when the motor 230 of the first to third reel modules is rotationally driven by the excitation signal from the reel control unit. Here, the motor 230 is a stepping motor, and the game controller attached to the main board controls the rotation of the stepping motor so as to variably display the symbols drawn on the symbol display surface portion of the reel member 211. Hereinafter, the control function of the pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control function of the pachinko machine. The game control device 130 includes a winning determination unit 131, a special symbol variation control unit 132, a special game execution unit 133, a probability variation game execution unit 134, a variation time shortening game execution unit 135, a power cut processing unit 136, and a power interruption return processing unit. 137, command output means 138, and payout control apparatus command transmission / reception means 139.

  The game control device 130 is electrically connected to the first special symbol starting port 124, the second special symbol starting port 125, the general winning port, the big winning port 126, and the normal symbol operating gate, respectively, and has won each winning port. The whole game is controlled by detecting means and driving means for detecting this. Specifically, for the falling movement of the game ball hit by the player, a winning is detected at the first special symbol starting port 124, the second special symbol starting port 125, the general winning port 126, and the big winning port 126. The first special symbol winning opening and the second special symbol starting opening correspond to the first starting winning opening 124 and the second starting winning opening in the description of the game board. A sensor provided at each winning opening detects a winning of a game ball. Further, when it is detected that the game ball has passed through the normal symbol operation gate 128, a detection signal is input to the game control device, so that a winning determination means 131, a special symbol variation control means 132, a special game in the game control device 130 are provided. The execution means 133, the probability variation game execution means 134, and the variation time reduction game execution means 135 each determine the control content of predetermined symbol variation control according to the game state of the player.

When the control content of the symbol variation control is determined, the first and second special symbol display devices 140, the normal symbol display device 141, and the gaming state display device 142 are controlled. On the other hand, commands for controlling various display devices as effects according to the fluctuation of the first and second special symbols and effects of game effects,
The command output unit 138 transmits the command to the command receiving unit 151 mounted on the sub control board 150. The command analysis unit 152 of the sub-control board analyzes the received command, and whether the reel control content determination unit 153 performs the jackpot effect driving or the normal variation effect driving according to the variation of the first and second special symbols, Determine the content of the production.

  As described above, in the gaming machine, the symbol effect occupies an important part for increasing the player's interest, so the functions for improving the reliability such as the operation check drive, the error notification drive, and the test mode drive are reels. Control is performed by the control content determination unit 153. Furthermore, a stop symbol determining unit 154 that determines a stop symbol is mounted on the sub-control device.

  When the reel control content determination unit 153 determines the reel control content by a command from the game control device 130, the sub CPU 14 mounted on the sub control board 150 rotates the stepping motor mounted on the reel unit 165 at a rotational speed. Control is performed such that a control signal for control is output from the reel control unit. The change control of the rotation speed of the reel member is important for increasing the interest of the player in the gaming machine. For this reason, when displaying the symbol drawn on the symbol display surface portion of the reel member, it is preferable to display the symbol by changing the rotation speed such as rotating at a high speed and displaying at a low speed. . For this reason, the reel control unit is configured not to perform high-speed and low-speed two-stage rotation speed control but also to perform fine speed control or change the rotation speed during rotation.

The operation of the stepping motor will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is an operation diagram of the stepping motor, and FIG. 8B is an operation diagram showing a microstep operation of the stepping motor. Although there are various driving methods for the stepping motor, the case of two-phase excitation is shown in FIG. 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrated on the right side of FIG. 8A indicate how the rotor rotates. In the stator, drive windings are arranged every 90 ° in the order of A phase, B phase, A ⁻ phase, and B ⁻ phase. The left side of FIG. 8A shows the excitation signal of the winding of each phase in four steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 of each phase. An excitation signal that is an excitation current flows in each phase in each step, and the rotor that was between the A phase and the B phase in the first step rotates in units of 90 ° as the step progresses one by one. ing.

The microstepping operation of the stepping motor will be described with reference to FIG. Here, compared with the case of the two-phase excitation of the microstepping motor shown in FIG. 8A, the excitation signal changed in one step in FIG. The excitation signal increases in steps, and the excitation signal decreases in four microsteps. In this way, on the left side of FIG. 8B, the windings of each phase change stepwise in microsteps that are 1/4 times the excitation signal value of each step in the two-phase excitation of FIG. 8A. . Looking at the A phase, the amplitude of the excitation signal of the A phase, which was 0 excitation signal in the first micro step, increased by 4 micro steps in the fifth micro step. The state in which the amplitude of the excitation signal is increased by 4 microsteps is the same as the magnitude of the A-phase excitation signal in FIG. B phase other than the phase A, A ^- Phase, B ^- phase of the excitation signal of the phase changes stepwise as also illustrated. The right side of FIG. 8B shows the state from the first micro step to the fourth micro step in the left diagram in which the B phase excitation signal decreases stepwise and the A phase excitation signal increases stepwise. It is a figure and shows a mode that a rotor rotates because the B-phase excitation signal decreases stepwise and the A-phase excitation signal increases stepwise. In the operation of the stepping motor in FIG. 8A, the rotation is rotated by 90 ° every time the step proceeds. In the microstep operation in FIG. 8B, 90 ° is set to 1/4 in each microstep operation. The figure shows a state where it is rotated 22.5 ° corresponding to the doubled angle and rotated 90 ° in 4 micro steps. Further, it is shown that the excitation signal of each phase changes by 25%.

The microstep motor of FIG. 8B shows an example in which the rotor rotates 22.5 ° every microstep, but 4 microsteps as shown in FIG. As in the example corresponding to steps, the number of microsteps is not limited to four. The number of microsteps can be set to various values. Further, although the description has been given of the case of two-phase excitation as the stepping motor driving method, there are various methods for driving the stepping motor, such as three-phase excitation, 1-2 phase excitation, and other driving methods. It is not limited to phase excitation.

  Further, one step of the stepping motor is 90 °, and in the microstep operation in which m = 4, the case of rotating 22.5 ° in one microstep is shown. This is because the windings of each phase are arranged at 90 ° intervals in FIG. 8, and the windings of each phase can be arranged at a smaller angle. For example, the windings of each phase may be arranged at 45 ° intervals, and a total of eight windings may be arranged. In this case, one step already described is 45 °, and each one microstep is 11.25 °. As described above, various arrangements of the windings are possible, and the arrangement is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG.

  In addition, the pulse period for determining the microstep period can be set to various pulse periods, and the rotation speed of the rotor can be changed by changing the microstep period. Because of this mechanism, there are a plurality of methods for changing the rotational speed of the rotor of the microstep motor. In one method, when the microstep period is fixed to a predetermined microstep period, the rotational speed of the rotor changes if the microstep number setting is changed. For example, if the number of microsteps is doubled, the rotational speed of the rotor becomes 1/2. Another method is to change the rotation speed of the rotor if the microstep period is changed. For example, if the microstep period is doubled, the rotational speed of the rotor is halved. In order to change the rotation speed of the microstep motor, two of the microstep period and the number of microsteps may be changed. It is also possible to change the rotation speed by other methods, and other methods will be described later.

The reel control unit of the first embodiment is shown as a control device for a motor for gaming machines embodying the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration applied to each of the first to third reel controllers. Further, each of the first to third reel control unit A phase in the case of two-phase excitation, B-phase, A ^- Phase, B ^- circuits corresponding to each of the windings of the phases, but is required, FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a circuit configuration applied to one phase. If the stepping motor is two-phase excitation, a circuit for four phases of A-phase, B-phase, A ^- phase, and B ^- phase is required.

  The reel control unit according to the first embodiment has a software control function for outputting an excitation signal to the reel control unit so that the stepping motor performs microstep control based on a command signal from the sub CPU. A hardware control function for outputting an excitation signal for performing microstep control of the stepping motor in the control unit is provided, and the hardware control function and the software control function can be switched by the control signal of the sub CPU 14. Hereinafter, the operation of the reel control unit by hardware control will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the reel control unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a frequency multiplying circuit R11 which is one implementation example of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 constituting the reel control unit 160 shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a frequency divider circuit R12, which is another example of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10. FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing one implementation example of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 constituting the reel control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing another example of implementation of the microstep amplitude signal circuit shown in FIG.

The reel controller 160 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 includes a reference clock generation circuit R20, a numerical value n storage circuit R05, a microstep period signal circuit R10 that determines an output period of a basic clock for microstep control, and a microstep number circuit. R15, a microstep setting circuit R30, a microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and an excitation drive unit R70. The signal input unit to each circuit unit includes switching means switches S1 to S5 with a control signal input unit by software to be described later. Is provided.

  The numerical value n storage circuit R05 is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM, and a plurality of numerical values n (n is a natural number) for multiplying the reference frequency by n or 1 / n are stored in the circuit. The numerical value n is output to the circuit R10. The microstep period signal circuit R10 receives the reference clock fref from the reference clock source R20, and based on the numerical value n signal output from the numerical value n storage circuit R05, the reference clock frequency fref of the reference clock source R20 is multiplied by n, or 1 / The microstep period signal multiplied by n is output to the microstep setting circuit R30. The microstep number circuit R15 outputs a plurality of numerical values m to the microstep setting circuit R30. The microstep setting circuit R30 is a microstep setting signal that is a numerical value from 0 to m for each microstep periodic signal input from the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 based on the input of the numerical value m from the microstep number circuit. Are sequentially output to the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. The microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 outputs a microstep amplitude signal in the PWM signal format or the PAM signal format to the excitation drive unit R70 based on the microstep setting signals sequentially input from the microstep setting circuit R30 to 0 to m. Output. The excitation drive unit R70 outputs an excitation signal for driving each winding of the reel motor R90 based on the microstep amplitude signal input from the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. Here, the reel motor R90 corresponds to the motor 230 of the reel module that constitutes the aforementioned reel unit.

  Further, the reel control unit 160 is provided with switches S1 to S5 which are switching means for switching between hardware control and software control. The switch S1 is between the output terminal of the numerical value n storage circuit R05 and the input terminal of the microstep period signal circuit R10, and the switch S2 is between the output terminal of the microstep number circuit R15 and the input terminal of the microstep setting circuit R30. S3 is between the output terminal of the microstep period signal circuit R10 and the input terminal of the microstep setting circuit R30, and the switch S4 is between the output terminal of the microstep setting circuit R30 and the input terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. The switch S5 is provided between the output terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 and the excitation drive unit R70.

  Details of the operation of each function of the reel controller 160 configured as described above will be described below. In the numerical value n storage circuit R05, a plurality of numerical values n (n is a natural number) are stored in the ROM. The micro-step periodic signal circuit R10 passes through the input / output circuit 40 based on the numerical value n stored in the ROM, which is the numerical value n storage circuit R05 (n is a natural number), or based on the control function implemented by the sub CPU 14 in the ROM 15. Thus, the numerical value n signal is input via the switch S1 for switching whether the numerical value n is input. A reference clock fref is separately supplied from the reference clock supply source R20 to the microstep period signal circuit R10. The reference clock supply source R20 may be supplied from a reference clock circuit provided for the reel control unit, or may be shared with a reference clock for the sub CPU 14 for operating the sub CPU. As will be described later, considering that the rotation speed of the stepping motor is controlled by switching between hardware control and software control, the reel control unit operates in synchronization with the clock, so the reel control It is preferable that the reference clock supply source R20 on which the unit operates and the reference clock for the sub CPU 14 be the same reference clock supply source.

The microstep periodic signal circuit R10 may be the frequency multiplier circuit R11 or the frequency divider circuit R12. FIG. 10 shows a case where the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 is constituted by a frequency multiplication circuit R11. A reference clock is supplied from the reference clock supply source R20 with a clock period of fref and input to one input terminal of the phase comparison circuit. The output of the phase comparison circuit is input to an LPF (low path filter), the harmonic component is removed and input to the VCO circuit which is a voltage controlled oscillator, and the output of the VCO circuit is input to the 1 / n frequency divider circuit. The 1 / n frequency dividing circuit can be constituted by a counter circuit, for example. A clock is input to the input of the counter circuit, and the output of the counter circuit is input to the comparison circuit. A numerical value n is input to the other input of the comparison circuit, and the output of the counter circuit is compared with the numerical value n. When the numerical value n matches, the signal output from the comparison circuit is relative to the clock cycle input to the counter circuit. The pulse signal has a period divided by a period of 1 / n. When the output of the VCO circuit is input to this counter circuit, a pulse signal having a frequency 1 / n times the oscillation frequency of the VCO output is output from the 1 / n divider circuit, and the other input terminal of the phase comparison circuit Is input. The phase comparator compares the phase of the reference clock input from the reference clock supply source R20 with the phase of the output pulse signal of the 1 / n frequency dividing circuit, thereby forming a PLL circuit (phase locked loop circuit) as a whole. A clock having a frequency n times that of the output fref of the reference clock supply source R20 is output from the VCO circuit.

  FIG. 11 shows a case where the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 is constituted by a frequency divider circuit R12. The frequency divider circuit R11 can be realized with the same circuit configuration as the 1 / n divider circuit included as a component in the frequency multiplier circuit R11 of FIG. In FIG. 11, the reference clock fref is input from the reference clock supply source R20 to the counter circuit constituting the 1 / n frequency dividing circuit. Since the comparison circuit compares the count value output from the counter circuit with the numerical value n, when the counter circuit counts up to the numerical value n, an output signal is output from the comparison circuit, thereby supplying a reference clock. A clock signal having a frequency of 1 / n with respect to the reference clock frequency fref of the source R20 is output from the 1 / n frequency dividing circuit.

  As a configuration example of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10, a case where it is realized by using the frequency multiplication circuit R11 and a case where it is realized by using the frequency dividing circuit R12 are shown. In any circuit configuration, by comparing with the numerical value n, a clock pulse having a frequency n times or 1 / n times the reference clock frequency output from the reference clock supply source R20 is output. . In both FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the numerical value n is preferably selected and controlled by the switch S1 that controls whether the numerical value n is input from the numerical value n storage circuit R05 realized by the ROM or the numerical value n is input from the sub CPU. Further, it is desirable that the numerical value n is not a single value, but is controlled so that the optimal numerical value n for the gaming state is input from a plurality of numerical values according to the gaming state of the gaming machine. When changing the speed while the reel member is rotationally controlled, the reference clock supply source R20 is preferably shared with the reference clock for operating the sub CPU 14, but in such a case, the sub CPU 14 Since the reference clock frequency is already a high frequency clock of several hundred MHz, it is conceivable to use the frequency divider circuit R12 instead of the frequency multiplier circuit R11.

  The pulse signal output from the microstep cycle signal circuit R10 becomes a microstep cycle signal for controlling the stepping motor at the microstep cycle. The microstep period signal is input to a microstep setting circuit R30 that outputs a microstep setting signal. Here, a switch S2 is provided at the input of the microstep setting circuit R30, and a microstep number signal of a numerical value m output from the microstep number circuit R15 is input, or a microstep number signal is input from the sub CPU 14. The switch S2 may be operated so as to select whether or not.

  Alternatively, the switch S3 is provided at the input of the microstep setting circuit R30, and a microstep period signal output from the microstep period signal output from the microstep period signal circuit R10 is input, or the microstep period is output from the sub CPU 14. The switch S3 may be operated so as to select whether a signal is input.

  The microstep setting circuit R30 is a circuit that determines a microstep by multiplying the step number of the stepping motor by 1 / m (m is a natural number) based on the microstep number signal of the numerical value m output from the microstep number circuit R15. Become. In the microstep operation shown as an example in FIG. 8B, the excitation signal is stepped by a microstep that is 1/4 times the excitation signal of a predetermined stepping motor by microstep obtained by dividing one step of the stepping motor into four. By changing the shape of the rotor, the rotation of the rotor of each phase of the stepping motor is controlled to rotate at a rotation angle of 22.5 °, which is 1/4 times the rotation angle of 90 ° in a predetermined step. The operation was shown. In the example shown as an example in FIG. 8B, m is 4, and the microstep setting circuit R30 sequentially counts up and outputs a numerical value from 0 to m = 4 for each input microstep period signal. In this case, the microstep setting circuit R30 sequentially outputs numerical values up to 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Here, in what microstep the stepping motor is operated can be freely set, and is not limited to m = 4.

  When the number of microsteps is increased from m = 4 to m = 16, the stepping motor rotates at microsteps obtained by dividing one step by four times 16 microsteps. In this case, since the rotation angle in one step is 90 °, the rotation angle in the case of m = 16 is 5.625 °. If the microstep period at which the microstep changes is the same period, the rotation speed of the stepping motor changes by a quarter of the number of microsteps compared to the rotation speed of the stepping motor of m = 4. Slow rotation speed. As described above, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed by changing the number of micro steps m.

  The microstep setting circuit R30 can be composed of a counter circuit. The microstep number signal from the microstep number signal is selectively controlled by the switch S2 or input to the microstep setting circuit R30, or the microstep period signal from the microstep period signal circuit R10 is switched. Input is controlled under selection by S3. The maximum count number of the counter circuit is set by the input microstep number signal of the numerical value m, and the counter circuit constituting the microstep setting circuit R30 counts up every time the microstep period signal is input. Microstep setting signals, which are numerical values up to m, are sequentially generated and output.

  The output of the microstep setting circuit R30 is input to the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. Here, a switch S4 is provided at the input terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. The switch S4 is connected to the output terminal of the microstep setting circuit R30 and receives a microstep setting signal which is a numerical value from 0 to m from the microstep setting circuit R30, or is connected to the sub CPU 14 and from the sub CPU 14. The switch S4 is controlled so as to select whether to input a microstep setting signal that is a numerical value from 0 to m.

The microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 is a circuit that generates a microstep amplitude signal proportional to a numerical value from 0 to m in accordance with the input microstep setting signal that is a numerical value from 0 to m. As the microstep amplitude signal, it is possible to output a PWM signal (pulse width modulation signal) or a PAM signal (pulse amplitude modulation signal). The PWM signal outputs an output pulse with a pulse width proportional to the stage of the microstep to be driven, rather than an output signal being output at all the time it is desired to drive when driving to the stepping motor. Suitable for constructing circuits with low voltage. Since the PAM signal passes an excitation signal proportional to the stage of the microstep, the power supply is used efficiently, but it is necessary to configure the circuit with a higher voltage than the PWM signal. Examples of using PAM signals are increasing because they can achieve high efficiency and reduced power consumption, but when applied to the reel rotation control of gaming machines, they are not limited to either PWM signals or PAM signals. Absent.

  FIG. 12 shows a circuit of a microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 that generates a PWM signal. A microstep setting signal, which is a numerical value from 0 to m, is input to the D / A conversion circuit R51 from the microstep setting circuit R30 or the CPU by selection and control by the switch S4 for each period of the microstep period signal. An analog voltage proportional to the input numerical value 0 to m is created by the D / A conversion circuit R51. An analog voltage value proportional to a numerical value of 0 to m created by the D / A conversion circuit R51 is input to the + input terminal of the comparator. A sawtooth wave oscillating at a high frequency is input to the negative input terminal of the comparator. With this configuration, when the value output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is a large value close to m, the analog output of high voltage is output from the D / A conversion circuit R51 at the output terminal of the comparator. Since the voltage value is output and the time to reach a higher potential than the sawtooth wave is long, a wide-width pulse signal is output from the comparator. When the value output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is a small value close to 0, a low voltage analog voltage value is output from the D / A conversion circuit R51, and the time during which the potential becomes higher than the sawtooth wave is short. For this reason, a short-width pulse signal is output from the comparator. In this way, a PWM signal is output.

  FIG. 13 shows a circuit of a microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 that generates a PAW signal. The microstep setting signal, which is a numerical value from 0 to m, is input from the microstep setting circuit R30 or the sub CPU 14 to the D / A conversion circuit R51 for each period of the microstep period signal under selection control by the switch S3. An analog voltage proportional to the input numerical value 0 to m is created by the D / A conversion circuit R51. An analog voltage value proportional to a numerical value of 0 to m created by the D / A conversion circuit R51 is input to the + input terminal of the comparator. The output signal of the comparator is negatively fed back to the negative input terminal of the comparator. When the value output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is a large value close to m, a high voltage analog voltage value is output from the D / A conversion circuit R51 and is input to the comparator. Outputs an output current proportional to the output voltage of the D / A conversion circuit R51. When the value output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is a small numerical value close to 0, a low voltage analog voltage value is output from the D / A conversion circuit R51, so that the output of the comparator is a D / A conversion circuit. An output current proportional to the output voltage of R51 is output. In this way, the PAM signal proportional to the numerical value from 0 to m output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is output.

  For example, a PWM signal from the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 is input to the excitation drive unit R70. Here, a switch S5 is provided at the input terminal of the excitation drive unit R70 and is connected to the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 to receive the microstep amplitude signal or connected to the sub CPU 14 to receive the microstep amplitude signal. The switch S5 is controlled so as to select and control.

The operation of the reel control unit 160 in hardware control has been described above with reference to FIGS. As described above with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 9, each circuit input stage of the reel control unit 160 is provided with switches S1 to S5 as switching means, and software control is realized by controlling these switches. More specifically, when the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S1 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a numerical value n signal to the microstep period signal circuit R10. . By changing the numerical value n output from the sub CPU 14, it is possible to change the cycle of the microstep cycle signal output from the microstep cycle signal circuit. As described above, the cycle of the microstep cycle signal is controlled to be changeable, so that the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed and controlled.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S2 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs the microstep number m to the microstep setting circuit R30. By changing the numerical value m output from the sub CPU 14, the range of the value of the 0-m microstep setting signal output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is changed. In the hardware control operation described above, as described in the operation when the stepping number m is changed, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be controlled by changing the microstep number m.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S3 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep period signal to the microstep setting circuit R30. When the sub CPU 14 sequentially outputs the micro step setting signal, the micro step setting circuit R30 outputs a micro step setting signal having a numerical value of 0 to m for each input micro step period signal. It is possible to change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the period of the microstep period signal output from the sub CPU 14.

  When the software function installed in the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S4 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a micro step setting signal to the micro step setting circuit R30. By sequentially outputting the microstep setting signal, which is a numerical value of 0 to m, output from the sub CPU 14, the microstep amplitude circuit is a microstep amplitude signal in the PWM signal format or the PAM signal format according to the input microstep setting signal. Will be output. The sub CPU 14 can change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the output interval for outputting the microstep setting signal which is a numerical value of 0 to m.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S5 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep amplitude signal to the excitation drive unit R70. By sequentially outputting the microstep amplitude signal output from the sub CPU 14, the excitation drive unit R70 outputs an excitation signal for driving each winding of the stepping motor according to the input microstep amplitude signal. For example, in the case of the PWM signal format, the sub CPU 14 can change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the output width of the microstep amplitude signal.

  As described above, the reel control unit 160 of the first embodiment can change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor in both methods of hardware control and software control. Any one of these switches S1 to S5, which are switching means, may be mounted, or any two or more switches may be mounted. Further, only one of the switches S1 to S5 may be controlled, or any two or more switch circuits may be controlled.

As described above, the switching control between the hardware control and the software control by the switches S1 to S5 can be performed by switching any switch, but the switching control by the switch S5 outputs an excitation signal to the stepping motor. Since the sub CPU 14 directly outputs a microstep amplitude signal that is an input signal to the excitation drive unit R70, the rotational speed can be changed and controlled with the finest change width. Hereinafter, the range of speed change of the rotation speed becomes rough in the order of the switch S4, the switch S3, the switch S2, and the switch S1. In the switching control by the switch S1, the rotation speed is changed by changing the magnitude of the numerical value n signal output from the sub CPU 14, and the processing amount for the sub CPU 14 to change the magnitude of the numerical value n signal is as follows. Few. Hereinafter, the processing load amount of the sub CPU 14 increases in the order of the switch S2, the switch S3, the switch S4, and the switch S5. Therefore, the decision as to which switching means of the switches S1 to S5 is to be used is a margin of how finely the change control of the rotation speed of the stepping motor needs to be controlled and the processing load of the sub CPU 14. It will be decided in consideration of whether there is.

  The reel control unit of the first embodiment configured as described above may be configured such that a monitoring function for mounting each function of the reel control unit realized by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored. Since the stepping motor rotationally drives the reel member, a step-out phenomenon may occur in which the stepping motor does not perform a micro-stepping operation according to the excitation signal output from the reel control unit due to the torque generated by the frictional force accompanying the rotation of the reel member. Further, by controlling at least one of the switches S1 to S5, one of the functions of the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit is switched to a control signal by software from the sub CPU 14. When the control is performed, the sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to a microstep control stage that is largely deviated from a signal corresponding to the microstep control stage output from the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit. When the reel member is switched from hardware control to software control to change the reel member rotation speed, the reel member rotation speed is not changed smoothly, and the reel member is unnaturally stepped. This causes a change in rotational speed.

  If the rotation speed of the reel member for the symbol variation display used in the gaming machine unnaturally changes in a staircase shape, the player can make the game store unilaterally advantageous to the game store. There is a possibility that the rotation of the member may be controlled, and there is a possibility that the game has a different result from the purpose of preparing the rotation control of the reel member in several stages so as to raise the player's interest. Will be given to the person. Therefore, it is desirable to configure so that a monitor function for mounting each function of the reel control unit configured by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored.

  For this purpose, the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 is generated by providing a first monitor function for connecting the microstep periodic signal from the output terminal of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14. Enable to monitor microstep periodic signal.

  Further, by providing a second monitor function for connecting the microstep amplitude signal from the output terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 so as to be input to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 generates a micro. Allows monitoring of step amplitude signals.

  Furthermore, by providing a third monitor function for connecting the excitation signal of the winding of each phase of the stepping motor from the output terminal of the excitation drive unit R70 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, an excitation drive unit R70 is provided. The excitation signal generated by can be monitored.

  All of the first to third monitoring functions of the reel control unit described above can be monitored, or only one or a plurality of monitors can be used.

In this way, by configuring each function of the reel control unit to be monitored by the monitoring function that is mounted on the sub CPU 14, it is possible to monitor whether or not the stepping motor has stepped out. In addition, when each function of the reel control unit by the hardware circuit is switched to control by software by selectively controlling at least one of the switches S1 to S5, the sub CPU 14 is a reel configured by a hardware circuit. Since it is possible to monitor at which stage the control of the microstep output by the control unit is controlled, a signal corresponding to the stage of control of the microstep output by the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit The sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the control step of the microstep greatly deviating from the above, so that the reel member unnaturally changes in the rotational speed in a staircase shape, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable, It can provide a hot production for the player.

  In the description so far, it has been explained that switching between hardware control and software control is possible. In software control, the software function implemented in the sub CPU 14 outputs any one of a numerical n signal, a microstep period signal, a microstep number signal, a microstep setting signal, and a microstep amplitude signal. Even if it is output, the processing amount of the sub CPU 14 increases, so that the software control is suitable for changing the rotation speed when the stepping motor rotates at a low speed. For high-speed rotation control, rotation speed change control by hardware control is suitable.

  The hardware control and software control of the reel control unit 160 have been described with reference to FIGS. When switching from hardware control to software control, one of the first to third monitoring functions is used to monitor any of the microstep period signal, microstep amplitude signal, and excitation signal before switching control, In the case of software control, it has been described that it is preferable to output from the sub CPU 14 a control signal that does not greatly deviate from those control signals.

  Further, when any switching means of the switches S1 to S5 receives a switching control signal for switching from hardware control to software control, the microstep setting signal circuit is not shown in FIGS. A switch S1 that is a switching means is provided under an AND condition that the microstep output signal is zero and the switching control signals of the switches S1 to S5 are input. It can be considered that any one of S5 is controlled. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the sub CPU 14 has a function of monitoring the output of the microstep setting signal, and controls the switching when the output of the microstep setting signal is zero.

  Specifically, the period in which the microstep excitation signal that changes stepwise is 0 is 9 microsteps when m = 4 and changes as a whole at 16 microsteps as shown in FIG. 8B. During this time, the state where the excitation signal is 0 continues. In software control, since the sub CPU 14 performs processing other than micro step control, even if the control timing cannot be well synchronized between hardware control and software control, the micro step is performed. If hardware control and software control are switched at the stage where it is detected that the setting signal is 0, the period during which the microstep setting signal is 0 and the excitation signal is 0 is a period in which the excitation signal changes stepwise. Therefore, if the hardware control and the software control are switched during the period in which the microstep setting signal is 0, and therefore the excitation signal is 0, the switching can be performed without causing the player to feel uncomfortable.

  In addition to the above-described method for detecting that the microstep setting signal is 0, the third monitor function detects that the excitation signal of the excitation drive unit has become 0, and the hardware when the excitation signal is detected as 0 Control and software control may be switched. The period during which the excitation signal is 0 is longer than the period during which the excitation signal changes stepwise. Therefore, if the hardware control and the software control are controlled during the period when the excitation signal is 0, the player does not feel uncomfortable. Switchable.

Next, a reel control unit according to a second embodiment is shown as a control device for a motor for a gaming machine embodying the present invention. It is also possible to use a commercially available IC for microstep control of the stepping motor. For example, the reel control unit can be configured using a Toshiba IC (TB62209FG) or a Sanken Electric IC (SI-7321M). Here, an example in which a reel control unit is configured using a Toshiba IC (TB62209FG) is shown.

  The reel control unit of the second embodiment is configured by using a numerical value n storage circuit R05, a reference clock supply source R20, a microstep period signal circuit R10, and TB62209FG. In the TB62209FG, a plurality of numerical values m are not output to the microstep setting circuit R30 as in the microstep number circuit R15 constituting the reel control unit of the first embodiment, but are operated with a fixed numerical value m. Functions corresponding to the step setting circuit R30, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and the drive excitation circuit R70 are incorporated. A numerical value n signal that is a plurality of numerical values n is output from the numerical value n storage circuit R05, and the microstep period signal circuit R10 divides the frequency of the reference clock fref output from the reference clock supply source R20 by n times or 1 / n times. The micro step period signal that has been circulated is output. In TB62209FG, the numerical value m with a fixed number of microsteps is fixed at, for example, m = 16. At the microstep corresponding to the microstep setting circuit R30, the coder outputs a numerical value of 0 to m to the staircase current value selection circuit in the TB62209FG, and the current feedback circuit generates a microstep amplitude signal in the form of a PWM signal in the output control circuit An excitation signal for exciting and driving the stepping motor is output from the output circuit.

  The detailed configuration of TB62209FG will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 shows a circuit block configuration of TB62209FG. FIG. 15 shows the functional description of the terminals. In the circuit block configuration of TB62209FG in FIG. 14, as input terminals, RESET terminal, CW / CCW terminal, ENABLE terminal, STANDBY terminal, D MODE1 terminal to D MODE3 terminal, CLK terminal, TORQUE1 terminal, TORQUE2 terminal, MDT1 terminal, MDT1 terminal Etc., while an MO terminal or the like is provided as an output terminal. The input terminal and the output terminal will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the D MODE1 terminal to D MODE3 terminal are input terminals for setting the motor drive mode. -2 phase excitation (A), 1-2 phase excitation (B), W1-2 phase excitation, 2W1-2 phase excitation, and the like can be set. CW / CCW is an input terminal for setting the rotation direction of the motor, and can set the rotation direction of the stepping motor. The STANDBY terminal is an input terminal for initializing all functions and setting a power saving mode, and can set the normal operation or the operation stop of the TB62209FG.

  The TORQUE1 terminal and the TORQUE2 terminal are input terminals for setting the switching of the motor torque, and the motor torque is 100%, 85%, 70%, 50% (% (percentage) is the ratio of the peak current value) The torque increases as the% (ratio) increases.), And can be switched to any one of the four stages. Since TB62209FG is based on the premise that a stepping motor is used in various applications, the magnitude of torque required to move the movable mechanism driven by the stepping motor differs depending on the movable mechanism driven by the stepping motor. For this reason, a plurality of torques can be set.

The MDT1 terminal and the MDT2 terminal are input terminals for setting MIXED DECAY, and the current decay speed mode (referred to as “DECAY mode”) during constant current control is set to 100%, 75%, 37.5%, It can be set to any one of four levels of 12.5% (the greater the% (ratio), the greater the current damping force). As in the case of torque, the TB62209FG is premised on using a stepping motor for various purposes. Therefore, when trying to control a stepping motor with a predetermined excitation signal value, how much time delay is required for the predetermined excitation. In order to set whether the signal value is reached, the setting is made in the DECay mode.

  The RESET terminal is an input terminal for forcibly initializing the electrical angle (set to 0 degree). The ENABLE terminal is an input terminal for forcibly stopping output during operation of the stepping motor. The CLK terminal is an input terminal for determining the motor speed of the stepping motor. When the CLK signal is input, the electrical angle advances and the signal is reflected at the up edge (Up edge). .

  The MO terminal is an output terminal that indicates that the electrical angle is 0 degree, and the electrical angle is 0 degrees by 4W1-2, 2W1-2, W1-2, and 1-2 phase excitation (A phase: 100%, A While the MO1 signal is output at 0% phase, the MO1 signal is output at the electrical angle of 0 degrees (B phase: 100%, A phase: 100%) in the two-phase excitation. Based on the voltage applied to the input terminals CW / CCW terminal, ENABLE terminal, STANDBY terminal, DMODE1 terminal to DMODE3 terminal, TORQUE1 terminal, TORQUE2 terminal, etc. at the timing of outputting this MO1 signal, It is preferable that a control signal input to the input terminal is taken into a register of a microstep decoder described later, and a driving mode of the stepping motor is set or a torque is switched based on the taken control signal.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the TB62209FG includes a microstep decoder, a current setting circuit, a chopping reference generation circuit, a current feedback circuit, an output control circuit, and an output circuit.

  The microstep decoder is a circuit for setting the driving method of the stepping motor and microstepping the constant current value flowing through the winding of the stepping motor in the range of 0-15. The function is equivalent to the function shown as the microstep setting circuit R30 in the first embodiment. The microstep decoder includes a register (not shown). As described above, this register has input terminals such as a CW / CCW terminal, an ENABLE terminal, a STANDBY terminal, and a D MODE1 terminal when the MO1 signal is output. Based on the voltage applied to the D MODE3 terminal, the TORQUE1 terminal, the TORQUE2 terminal and the like, the control signal input to the input terminal is taken in. The microstep decoder sets the driving method of the stepping motor based on the various control signals fetched into the register and the CLK1 signal input from the CLK terminal, and sets the constant current value that flows through the winding of the stepping motor. Set.

  Further, the microstep decoder outputs 2-bit TORQUE data to the current setting circuit in order to switch the torque to any one of four stages based on the control signal input to the TORQUE1 terminal and the TORQUE2 terminal, which is taken into the register. . Further, the microstep decoder stores in the register a value ranging from 0 to 15 which is counted up by the rising edge of the CLK1 signal input from the CLK terminal, and the value stored in this register is a 4-bit step. Output to the current setting circuit as current data. Furthermore, the microstep decoder outputs 2-bit DECay data to the output control circuit in order to set the DECay mode to any one of the four stages based on the control signals input to the MDT1 terminal and the MDT2 terminal. Output to.

  The current setting circuit is a circuit for setting a reference voltage of an output current value output to the winding of the stepping motor based on the TORQUE data and the staircase current data output from the microstep decoder. As shown in FIG. A torque control circuit and a staircase current value selection circuit are provided.

  The torque control circuit is a circuit that switches the torque of the stepping motor to one of four stages based on the TORQUE data from the microstep decoder. This torque switching can be varied by switching the peak value of the current flowing through the winding of the stepping motor. The torque control circuit switches the voltage value of the reference voltage Vref supplied from the outside to any one of four levels based on the TORQUE data, and outputs the voltage value of the switched reference voltage to the staircase current value selection circuit.

  The staircase current value selection circuit is a circuit that outputs a reference voltage of a staircase-shaped output current value (staircase current value) corresponding to the value 0 to value 15 of the staircase current data from the microstep decoder to the current feedback circuit. For example, when the drive mode is W1-2 phase excitation, 0%, 38%, 71% of the maximum value of the reference voltage corresponding to the value 0, value 4, value 8, value 12, and value 15 of the staircase current data. When the drive mode is 2W1-2 phase excitation, the step current data value 0, value 2, value 4, value 6, value 8, the reference voltage corresponding to the value 11, the value 13, the value 14, and the value 15 is set to 0%, 20%, 38%, 56%, 71%, 88%, 96%, 98%, 100% of the maximum value. When the driving mode is 4W1-2 phase excitation, the value 0, the value 1, the value 2, the value 3, the value 4, the value 5, the value 6, The reference voltages corresponding to value 7, value 8, value 9, value 10, value 11, value 12, value 13, value 14, value 15 are set to 0% of the maximum value, 10 , 20%, 29%, 38%, 47%, 56%, 63%, 71%, 77%, 83%, 88%, 92%, 96%, 98%, 100% step by step current feedback Or output to the circuit. The maximum value of the reference voltage is a value set in four stages by the torque control circuit. Since the stepping motor rotates by one step when the electrical angle advances from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, when the drive mode is W1-2 phase excitation, for example, the reference voltage is set to 0% of the maximum value. If the electrical angle advances from 0 degrees to 90 degrees by switching from 4% to 38% → 71% → 92% → 100%, the number of microsteps required for the stepping motor to rotate 1 step will be 4 and the drive When the mode is 2W1-2 phase excitation, for example, the reference voltage is switched in 8 steps from the maximum value of 0% → 20% → 38% → 56% → 71% → 88% → 96% → 98% → 100%. When the electrical angle advances from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, the number of microsteps necessary for the stepping motor to rotate one step becomes value 8, and when the drive mode is 4W1-2 phase excitation, for example, the reference voltage is set to the maximum value. % → 10% → 20% → 29% → 38% → 47% → 56% → 63% → 71% → 77% → 83% → 88% → 92% → 96% → 98% → 100% in 16 levels When the electrical angle advances from 0 degrees to 90 degrees by switching, the number of microsteps necessary for the stepping motor to rotate one step becomes the value 16.

  The current feedback circuit compares the current value of the set current corresponding to the voltage value of the reference voltage from the staircase current value selection circuit and the current value of the output current output to the output control circuit so that the difference is eliminated. This circuit changes the current value of the output current.

  The chopping reference creation circuit is a circuit that creates an internal reference (chopping clock signal) that serves as a reference for the chopping frequency when the drive current is chopped by the output control circuit. The chopping reference creation circuit shapes a sawtooth wave of a predetermined frequency generated by a chopping reference waveform generation circuit (not shown) into a clock signal by a waveform shaping circuit (not shown), and outputs the shaped clock signal to the output control circuit as a chopping clock signal To do.

  The output control circuit is a circuit that performs constant current chopper driving by chopping a signal of a current value of a set current that changes stepwise from the current feedback circuit based on the chopping clock signal from the chopping reference generation circuit. As shown in FIG. 14, the output control circuit has a built-in MIXED DECAY TIMMING circuit that switches the current attenuation ratio at the time of chopping to four stages according to the characteristics of the load.

  The MIXED DECAY TIMMING circuit includes a counter and a selector (not shown). The counter counts the chopping clock signal from the chopping reference generation circuit, and when the predetermined number of pulses is counted, the selector is CHARGE. Switching to MODE starts charging the current and increases the current value. When this current value rises to the current value of the set current, the CHARGE MODE shifts to the SLOW DECAY MODE where the current decay is slow. In this SLOW DECAY MODE, the current value decreases slowly. The selector switches from SLOW DECAY MODE to FAST DECAY MODE where current decay is fast at a predetermined switching timing. In this FAST DECAY MODE, the current value decreases rapidly. Then, the counter counts the chopping clock signal from the chopping reference generation circuit, and when the predetermined number of pulses is counted, the selector switches from FAST DECAY MODE to CHARGE MODE and starts charging the current to increase the current value. .

  The MIXED DECAY TIMMING circuit transitions from CHARGE MODE to SLOW DECAY MODE, transitions from this SLOW DECAY MODE to FAST DECAY MODE, and then transitions from this FAST DECAY MODE to CHAR DECAY MODE in a step-like manner from the current feedback circuit. The signal of the current value of the changing set current is chopped to perform constant current chopper driving. Note that the time from the transition to CHARGE MODE to the transition to the next CHARGE MODE is the chopping cycle. In this chopping cycle, the DECAY mode in which FAST DECAY MODE and SLOW DECAY MODE are mixed is called “MIXED DECAY MODE”, and the timing for switching between FAST DECAY MODE and SLOW DECAY MODE is “MIXED DECAY TIMMING”. That's it.

  The output control circuit chops a signal of the current value of the set current that changes stepwise, and outputs the chopped signal to the output circuit. This output circuit is a circuit that outputs a drive current while switching the direction of the current flowing through the drive coil of the stepping motor based on the level of the signal from the output control circuit.

  The Toshiba TB62209FG configured as described above incorporates functions corresponding to the microstep setting circuit R30, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and the excitation drive circuit R70 in the reel control unit 160 of the first embodiment. Further, the TB62209FG does not include the microstep number circuit R15 and operates with a constant number of microsteps. The reel controller of the second embodiment using such Toshiba TB62209FG will be described below.

  The reel control unit of the second embodiment includes a numerical value n storage circuit R05, a reference clock source R20, and a microstep period signal circuit R10, and switches for switching between an output signal of the numerical value n storage circuit R05 and an output signal from the sub CPU 14 S1 is further provided with any switching means of a switch S3 for switching between the output signal of the microstep period signal circuit R10 and the output signal from the sub CPU 14. The microstep cycle signal from the microstep cycle signal circuit R10 or the sub CPU 14 is input to the CLK terminal of TB62209FG.

Similar to the reel control unit of the first embodiment, the numerical value n storage circuit R05 specifies a numerical value n for multiplying the frequency of the reference clock fref supplied by the reference clock supply source R20 by n or 1 / n. It becomes. The switch S1 switches the value n stored in the ROM, which is the value n storage circuit R05, to the microstep cycle signal circuit R10 or whether the sub CPU 14 inputs the value n via the input / output circuit 40. The reference clock supply source R20 that supplies the reference clock fref may be supplied from a reference clock circuit provided for the reel control unit, or may be shared with a reference clock for the sub CPU 14 for the sub CPU 14 to operate. In order to change the rotation speed of the stepping motor in the middle of the microstep, the reference clock supply source R20 that operates the reel control unit and the reference clock for the sub CPU 14 are used as the same reference clock supply source in the middle of the microstep. This is preferable because it is easy to control the rotation speed change at this stage.

  The microstep periodic signal circuit R10 in the second embodiment is the frequency multiplication circuit R11 shown in FIG. 10 shown as an implementation example of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 in the first embodiment. You may implement | achieve with the circumference circuit R12. FIG. 10 shows a frequency multiplication circuit R11, which generates a frequency obtained by multiplying the reference clock fref supplied from the reference clock supply source R20 by n. FIG. 11 shows a frequency dividing circuit that creates a frequency obtained by multiplying the reference clock fref supplied from the reference clock supply source R20 by 1 / n.

  In both FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the numerical value n is preferably selected and controlled by the switch S1 that controls whether the numerical value n is input from the numerical value n storage circuit R05 realized by the ROM or the numerical value n is input from the sub CPU. Further, it is desirable that the numerical value n is not a single value, but is controlled so that the optimal numerical value n for the gaming state is input from a plurality of numerical values according to the gaming state of the gaming machine. When changing the speed while the reel member is rotationally controlled, the reference clock supply source R20 is preferably shared with the reference clock for operating the sub CPU 14, but in such a case, the sub CPU 14 Since the reference clock frequency is already a high frequency clock of several hundred MHz, it is conceivable to use the frequency divider circuit R12 instead of the frequency multiplier circuit R11.

  Here, the switch S2 is not provided in the reel control unit 160 of the second embodiment. In TB62209FG, the number of micro steps varies depending on the excitation method such as 2-phase excitation, 1-2 phase excitation, W1-2 phase excitation, 2W1-2 phase excitation, and 4W1-2 phase excitation, but 4W1-2. In phase excitation, m = 16 is fixed. Unlike the reel controller 160 in the first embodiment, the number of microsteps is not designated as a control signal. Accordingly, the switch S2 for switching whether to output the microstep number signal from the microstep number circuit R15 or to output the microstep number m from the sub CPU 14 is not provided.

  In the reel control unit 160 of the second embodiment, the switch S3 is provided as follows. The pulse signal output from the microstep cycle signal circuit R10 becomes a microstep cycle signal for controlling the stepping motor at the microstep cycle. The microstep period signal is input to the CLK terminal of TB62209FG. Here, a switch S3 is provided on the input side of the CLK terminal of TB62209FG to determine whether a microstep periodic signal output from the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 is input or a microstep periodic signal is input from the sub CPU 14. The switch S3 may be operated so as to select.

  When a microstep periodic signal is input from the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 or the sub CPU 14 via the switch S3 to the CLK terminal of the TB terminal of the TB62209FG, the microstep decoder in the TB62209FG shown in FIG. The constant current value to be passed through the motor winding is set in microsteps in the range of 0-15. The microstep decoder performs the same operation as the microstep setting circuit R30 in the reel control unit of the first embodiment.

  In the reel control unit of the second embodiment, the switch S4 is not provided. In TB62209FG, the microstep setting signal outputs a numerical value in the range of 0 to 15 to the staircase current value selection circuit, but the microstep setting signal that is a numerical value of 0 to m is input to the staircase current value selection circuit from the external terminal of TB62209FG. Therefore, the reel control unit of the second embodiment does not include the switch S4.

  In the reel control unit 160 of the second embodiment, the switch S5 is not provided. In the reel controller of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 is composed of a D / A conversion circuit R51 and a PWM circuit R52 or PAMR55, and output from the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. The n switch S5 is provided to selectively control whether the PWM signal or the PAM signal output signal is input to the excitation drive unit R70 or the PWM signal or PAM signal input from the sub CPU 14 is input to the excitation drive unit R70. It is configured. In TB62209FG, the staircase current selection circuit has the same function as the D / A conversion circuit R51, and the current feedback circuit, the chopping reference generation circuit, and the output control circuit realize the same function as the circuit shown as the PWM generation circuit R53. The circuit shown as the excitation circuit R70 in the reel control unit of the embodiment is configured as an output circuit in the TB62209FG. It is not configured to control the output circuit by inputting a microstep amplitude signal from the outside of TB62209FG.

  For this reason, in the reel control unit of the first embodiment, the switch S5 for selectively controlling whether the output terminal of the microstep period signal circuit R50 is connected to the excitation drive unit R70 or the sub CPU 14 is selected in the second embodiment. It is not provided in the reel control unit of the form.

  The operation of the reel control unit in the hardware control in the second embodiment has been described above. As described above, each circuit input stage of the reel controller in the second embodiment is provided with the switches S1 and S3 as switching means, and software control is realized by controlling these switches. More specifically, when the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S1 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a numerical value n signal to the microstep period signal circuit R10. . By changing the numerical value n signal output from the sub CPU 14, it is possible to change the cycle of the microstep cycle signal output from the microstep cycle signal circuit R10. In this way, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed and controlled by controlling the period of the microstep period signal to be changeable.

  When the software function installed in the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S3 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep period signal to the CLK terminal of the TB62209FG. When the sub CPU 14 sequentially outputs the microstep period signal, the microstep decoder in the TB62209FG outputs a microstep setting signal having a numerical value of 0 to m for each input microstep period signal. It is possible to change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the period of the microstep period signal output from the sub CPU 14.

  The reel control unit according to the second embodiment may be configured such that a monitor function for mounting each function of the reel control unit realized by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored. Since the stepping motor rotationally drives the reel member, a step-out phenomenon may occur in which the stepping motor does not perform a micro-stepping operation according to the excitation signal output from the reel control unit due to the torque generated by the frictional force accompanying the rotation of the reel member. Further, by controlling at least one of the switches S1 and S3, one of the functions of the reel control unit configured by the hardware circuit is switched to a control signal by software from the sub CPU 14. When the sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to a microstep control stage that is greatly deviated from the microstep control stage output from the reel control unit configured by the hardware circuit, the control is smoothly performed. The rotation speed of the reel member is not changed, and the rotation speed changes unnaturally in a stepwise manner.

If the rotation speed of the reel member for the symbol variation display used in the gaming machine unnaturally changes in a staircase shape, the player can make the game store unilaterally advantageous to the game store. There is a possibility that the rotation of the member may be controlled, and there is a possibility that the game has a different result from the purpose of preparing the rotation control of the reel member in several stages so as to raise the player's interest. Will be given to the person. Therefore, it is desirable to configure so that a monitor function for mounting each function of the reel control unit configured by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored.

  For this purpose, by providing a first monitoring function for connecting the microstep period signal (CLK signal of TB62209FG) from the output terminal of the microstep period signal circuit R10 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, a microstep is provided. The microstep periodic signal generated by the periodic signal circuit R10 can be monitored.

  The reel control unit of the second embodiment cannot be provided because the second monitoring function provided by the reel control unit of the first embodiment at the output terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 has no corresponding function in the TB62209FG.

  The reel control unit of the second embodiment monitors the excitation signal of the stepping motor by providing a third monitoring function for monitoring the drive line of the winding connected to the stepping motor from the output terminal of the output circuit of the TB62209FG. It can be so.

  All of the first and third monitoring functions of the reel control unit described above can be monitored, or only one of them can be monitored.

  In this way, by configuring each function of the reel control unit to be monitored by the monitoring function that is mounted on the sub CPU 14, it is possible to monitor whether or not the stepping motor has stepped out. In addition, when each function of the reel control unit is switched to control by software by selecting and controlling at least one of the switches S1 and S3, the sub CPU 14 is configured as a reel control configured by a hardware circuit. Since it is possible to monitor at which stage the control of the microstep output from the unit is controlled, a signal corresponding to the stage of control of the microstep output from the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit Since the sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the control step of the microstep that is greatly deviated, the reels unnaturally change in the rotational speed in a staircase shape, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable. Can provide a hot production.

  In the description so far, it has been described that the reel control unit according to the second embodiment can switch between hardware control and software control. In software control, a software function implemented in the sub CPU 14 outputs either a numerical n signal or a microstep period signal, so that even if any signal is output, the processing amount of the sub CPU 14 increases. The software control is suitable for changing the rotation speed when the stepping motor rotates at a low speed. For high-speed rotation control, rotation speed change control by hardware control is suitable.

  When switching from hardware control to software control, either the first or third monitoring function is used to monitor either the microstep cycle signal or the excitation signal before switching control and perform software control. In this case, it has been described that it is preferable to output from the sub CPU 14 a control signal that does not greatly deviate from those control signals.

Further, when the switching means of any one of the switches S1 and S3 receives a switching control signal for switching from hardware control to software control, the sub CPU 14
Provides a function to monitor the MO terminal of TB62209FG. The MO terminal is equivalent to a signal indicating that the electrical angle of the microstep is zero, that is, the output of the microstep setting signal in the reel control unit 160 of the first embodiment is 0, and the MO terminal indicates the electrical angle of zero. In addition, it is conceivable to perform control so as to perform switching control. The period during which a signal having an electrical angle of 0 is output to the MO terminal is longer than the period during which excitation is performed in the form of microsteps. Therefore, by controlling in this way, the microstep setting signal in TB62209FG becomes a value that differs greatly between hardware control and software control, and the possibility of giving the player a sense of incongruity can be greatly reduced.

  In addition to the method of detecting that the electrical angle is 0 by the above-mentioned MO terminal, when the excitation signal of the excitation drive unit is detected by the third monitor function and the excitation signal is detected to be 0 Thus, the hardware control and the software control may be switched and controlled. The period during which the excitation signal is 0 is longer than the period during which the excitation signal changes stepwise. Therefore, if the hardware control and the software control are controlled during the period when the excitation signal is 0, the player does not feel uncomfortable. Switchable.

  A reel control unit according to a third embodiment is shown as a control device for a motor for gaming machines embodying the present invention. The reel control unit of the third embodiment is configured by a circuit equivalent to the reel control unit of the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, it is composed of a numerical value n storage circuit R05, a reference clock supply source R20, a microstep period signal circuit R10, a microstep number circuit R15, a microstep setting circuit R30, a microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and an excitation drive unit R70. Further, switching means S1 to S5 for switching between hardware control and software control are provided. Here, in the reel control unit 160 of the third embodiment, unlike the reel control unit 160 of the first embodiment, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 includes a storage circuit R56 that is a ROM as shown in FIG. Use to configure.

Here, the operation of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 constituted by the ROM used in the reel control unit 160 of the third embodiment will be described. A microstep setting signal, which is an output of the microstep setting circuit R30 in which numerical values of 0 to m are sequentially output, is used as address information of the memory circuit R56. The memory circuit R56, as data corresponding to each address, the pulse width for driving the winding A of the stepping motor, the pulse width for driving the winding B, the windings A ^- pulse width for driving the The numerical value corresponding to the pulse width for driving the winding B ⁻ is stored. With this configuration, every time a microstep period signal is input, a microstep setting signal having a numerical value of 0 to m is sequentially output from the microstep setting circuit R30 and output from the microstep setting circuit R30. According to the numerical values of 0 to m, the numerical value corresponding to the pulse width for driving the four windings is output from the memory circuit R56, so that the PWM signal is output.

  As described above, the output circuit of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 composed of the storage circuit R56, which is a ROM, is provided with the switch S5 as in the reel control unit of the first embodiment. The switch S5 performs a connection control operation so as to control whether the PWM signal of the circuit R50 is connected to the excitation drive unit R70 or to be connected so that the PWM signal is input from the sub CPU 14. The excitation drive unit R70 excites each winding according to the input PWM signal.

The operation when the reel control unit of the third embodiment is hardware-controlled has been described above. As described above, each circuit input stage of the reel control unit 160 is provided with the switches S1 to S5 as switching means, and microstep control by software is realized by controlling these switches. More specifically, when the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S1 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a numerical value n signal to the microstep period signal circuit R10. . By changing the numerical value n output from the sub CPU 14, it is possible to change the cycle of the microstep cycle signal output from the microstep cycle signal circuit R10. In this way, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed and controlled by controlling the period of the microstep period signal to be changeable.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S2 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs the microstep number m to the microstep setting circuit R30. By changing the numerical value m output from the sub CPU 14, the range of the value of the 0-m microstep setting signal output from the microstep setting circuit R30 is changed. In the hardware control operation described above, as described in the operation when the stepping number m is changed, the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be controlled by changing the microstep number m.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S3 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep period signal to the microstep setting circuit R30. When the sub CPU 14 sequentially outputs the micro step setting signal, the micro step setting circuit R30 outputs a micro step setting signal having a numerical value of 0 to m for each input micro step period signal. It is possible to change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the period of the microstep period signal output from the sub CPU 14.

  When the software function installed in the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S4 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep setting signal to the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50. The microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 outputs a microstep amplitude signal in the form of a PWM signal corresponding to the input microstep setting signal by sequentially outputting the microstep setting signal which is a numerical value of 0 to m output from the sub CPU 14. Will do. The sub CPU 14 can change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the output time interval of the microstep setting signal which is a numerical value of 0 to m.

  When the software function mounted on the sub CPU 14 performs switching control so that the switch S5 is connected to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, the sub CPU 14 outputs a microstep amplitude signal to the excitation drive unit R70. By sequentially outputting the microstep amplitude signal output from the sub CPU 14, the excitation drive unit R70 outputs an excitation signal for driving each winding of the stepping motor according to the input microstep amplitude signal. The sub CPU 14 can change and control the rotation speed of the stepping motor by changing the pulse width of the microstep amplitude signal.

  As described above, the reel control unit of the third embodiment is the same as the reel control unit of the first embodiment except that the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 is configured by the storage circuit R56. Switches S1 to S5 which are switching means for software control are provided in each circuit in the reel control unit. Any one of these switches S1 to S5 may be mounted, or any two or more switches may be mounted. Further, only one of the switches S1 to S5 may be controlled, or any two or more switches may be controlled.

The reel control unit of the third embodiment configured as described above may be configured such that a monitoring function for mounting each function of the reel control unit realized by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored. Since the stepping motor rotationally drives the reel member, a step-out phenomenon may occur in which the stepping motor does not perform a micro-stepping operation according to the excitation signal output from the reel control unit due to the torque generated by the frictional force accompanying the rotation of the reel member. Further, by controlling at least one of the switches S1 to S5, one of the functions of the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit is switched to a control signal by software from the sub CPU 14. When the sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to a microstep control stage that is greatly deviated from the microstep control stage output from the reel control unit configured by the hardware circuit, the control is smoothly performed. The rotation speed of the reel member is not changed, and the rotation speed changes unnaturally in a stepwise manner.

  If the rotation speed of the reel member for the symbol variation display used in the gaming machine unnaturally changes in a staircase shape, the player can make the game store unilaterally advantageous to the game store. There is a possibility that the rotation of the member may be controlled, and there is a possibility that the game has a different result from the purpose of preparing the rotation control of the reel member in several stages so as to raise the player's interest. Will be given to the person. Therefore, it is desirable to configure so that a monitor function for mounting each function of the reel control unit configured by hardware on the sub CPU 14 can be monitored.

  For this purpose, the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 is generated by providing a first monitor function for connecting the microstep periodic signal from the output terminal of the microstep periodic signal circuit R10 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14. Enable to monitor microstep periodic signal.

  Further, by providing a second monitor function for connecting the drive pulse signal from the output terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, a microstep generated by the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 is provided. Enable periodic signal monitoring.

  Furthermore, by providing a third monitor function for connecting the excitation signal of the winding of each phase of the stepping motor from the output terminal of the excitation drive unit R70 to the input / output circuit of the sub CPU 14, an excitation drive unit R70 is provided. The excitation signal generated by can be monitored.

  All of the first to third monitoring functions of the reel control unit described above can be monitored, or only one or a plurality of monitors can be used.

  In this way, by configuring each function of the reel control unit to be monitored by the monitoring function that is mounted on the sub CPU 14, it is possible to monitor whether or not the stepping motor has stepped out. Further, when each function of the reel control unit is switched to control by software by selecting and controlling at least one of the switches S1 to S5, the sub CPU 14 is a reel control configured by a hardware circuit. Since it is possible to monitor in which stage the control of the microstep output from the control unit is controlled, the microstep greatly deviated from the control step of the microstep output from the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit When the sub CPU 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the control stage, the reel member unnaturally changes in the rotational speed in a stepped manner, and does not give the player a sense of disappointment. Can provide.

In the description so far, it has been explained that switching between hardware control and software control is possible. In software control, the software function implemented in the sub CPU 14 outputs any one of a numerical value n signal, a microstep number signal, a microstep cycle signal, a microstep setting signal, and a microstep cycle signal. Even so, since the processing amount of the sub CPU 14 increases, the software control is suitable for the rotation speed change control when the stepping motor rotates at a low speed. For high-speed rotation control, rotation speed change control by hardware control is suitable.

  When switching from hardware control to software control, one of the first to third monitoring functions is used to monitor any of the microstep period signal, microstep amplitude signal, and excitation signal before switching control. In the case of software control, it has been described that it is preferable to output from the sub CPU 14 a control signal that does not greatly deviate from those control signals.

  Further, when any switching means of the switches S1 to S5 receives a switching control signal for switching from hardware control to software control, the microstep setting signal circuit is not shown in FIGS. A switch S1 that is a switching means is provided under an AND condition that the microstep output signal is zero and the switching control signals of the switches S1 to S5 are input. It can be considered that any one of S5 is controlled. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the sub CPU 14 has a function of monitoring the output of the microstep setting signal, and controls the switching when the output of the microstep setting signal is zero.

  Specifically, the period in which the stepwise microstep excitation signal is 0 is 9 microsteps when m = 4 and changes as a whole at 16 microsteps as shown in FIG. 8B. During this time, the state where the excitation signal is 0 continues. In software control, since the sub CPU 14 performs processing other than micro step control, even if the control timing cannot be well synchronized between hardware control and software control, the micro step is performed. If hardware control and software control are switched at the stage where it is detected that the setting signal is 0, the period during which the microstep setting signal is 0 and the excitation signal is 0 is a period in which the excitation signal changes stepwise. Therefore, if the hardware control and the software control are switched during the period in which the microstep setting signal is 0, and therefore the excitation signal is 0, the switching can be performed without causing the player to feel uncomfortable.

  In addition to the above-described method for detecting that the microstep setting signal is 0, the third monitor function detects that the excitation signal of the excitation drive unit has become 0, and the hardware when the excitation signal is detected as 0 Control and software control may be switched. The period during which the excitation signal is 0 is longer than the period during which the excitation signal changes stepwise. Therefore, if the hardware control and the software control are controlled during the period when the excitation signal is 0, the player does not feel uncomfortable. Switchable.

The configuration of the reel control unit in the first to third embodiments has been described above. In the gaming machine to which the reel control unit configured as described above is applied, the symbol display device is provided with the first to third reel modules as described above. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the entire reel controller is composed of three reel controllers, ie, a first to a third reel controller. Each of the first to third reel controllers is provided with at least one of a switch S1, a switch S2, a switch S3, a switch S4, and a switch S5. Each switch includes a numerical value n storage circuit R05, a micro The step cycle signal circuit R10, the microstep number circuit R15, the microstep setting circuit R30, and the output terminal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50 are selectively controlled to be connected to the sub CPU 14 or to the numerical value n and the microstep cycle, respectively. The signal, the microstep number signal, the microstep setting signal, and the microstep amplitude signal are input to the microstep period signal circuit R10, the microstep setting circuit R30, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and the excitation driving unit R70. To do. In addition, at least one of a first monitor function, a second monitor function, and a third monitor function is provided at the output terminals of the microstep period signal circuit R10, the microstep amplitude signal circuit R50, and the excitation drive unit R70, respectively. The sub CPU 14 is configured to be readable. The sub CPU 14 reads at least one of the first to third monitor functions.

  With this configuration, in the symbol variation control, each of the first reel module to the third reel module in which the stepping motor is used is driven by the reel control unit configured by hardware in the high-speed operation region. Each of the first to third reel members is rotated at high speed. In the low speed operation region, each of the first to third reel members is rotated at a low speed based on a signal designated from the sub CPU 14.

  If each of the first to third reel members is rotated at a high speed, if an attempt is made to control based on a signal designated by the sub CPU 14, the processing load on the sub CPU 14 becomes heavy, and the sub CPU 14 performs a process other than the reel member rotation control. May not be possible, and is not preferable. To explain this a little more, in order to rotate each of the first to third reel members at a high speed, for example, a numerical value n is designated, a microstep period signal is designated, or a microstep amplitude signal is designated. It becomes possible. In the control by software designating these signals from the sub CPU 14, for example, the sub CPU 14 generates a micro step period signal, and when the sub CPU 14 generates each micro step period signal, the sub CPU 14 generates this micro step period signal. There is a possibility that most of the processing time of the sub CPU 14 is spent for generating the microstep periodic signal and other processing cannot be performed. Similarly, if it is attempted to specify the microstep number signal or the microstep amplitude signal from the sub CPU 14, there is a possibility that most of the processing time of the sub CPU 14 will be spent on the processing for generating the microstep amplitude signal and other processing cannot be performed. There is.

  Here, the processing amount necessary for the sub CPU 14 to generate the numerical value n by the sub CPU 14 and send the numerical value n signal to the microstep period signal circuit R10 can be achieved by setting the value of the numerical value n once. Therefore, the processing load applied to the sub CPU 14 does not become so large that other processes cannot be performed. However, if the control is performed while changing the rotation speed control of the reel member in the middle, the sub CPU 14 changes the value of the numerical value n each time. And output to the microstep periodic signal circuit R10, which increases the processing load on the sub CPU 14. In this way, when the reel member is rotated at high speed, each of the numerical n signal, the microstep number signal, the microstep setting signal, the microstep period signal, and the microstep amplitude signal is generated by software. This is not preferable in terms of processing load on the sub CPU 14.

  Accordingly, when the reel member is rotated at a high speed, at least one of the switch S1, the switch S2, the switch S3, the switch S4, and the switch S5 is mounted, and these switches select a hardware circuit. It is preferable to drive the motors of the first to third reel modules by the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit by performing the selection control.

  When the rotation of the first to third reel members is controlled in the low speed operation region, it is preferable to control based on a signal for controlling the stepping motor output from the sub-sub CPU 14. In particular, considering that the symbol drawn on the symbol display surface of the reel member of the gaming machine is displayed while rotating, in the state of low speed operation, the speed at which the symbol rotates is changed little by little, or the rotation speed change is kept constant. Instead of changing at the changing speed, it is possible to produce an effect that further enhances the player's interest by controlling the change in the rotational speed to change slightly depending on the speed.

It is difficult to perform the control performed while changing the rotation speed by the reel control unit by hardware. In order to change the microstep rotation speed, control is performed while changing at least one of a numerical value n signal, a microstep period signal, a microstep number signal, a microstep setting signal, and a microstep amplitude signal. However, it is difficult to control while changing these control signals by the reel control unit by hardware.

  Therefore, in the low speed operation region, the sub CPU 14 performs control while outputting a signal for changing at least one of the numerical value n, the microstep period signal, the microstep number signal, the microstep setting signal, and the microstep amplitude signal. Microstepping operation control by software is preferable.

Here, the operation of the stepping motor when switching from software control to hardware control is described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a time chart showing the operation of the reference clock, microstep period signal, A-phase excitation signal, A ^- phase excitation signal, B-phase excitation signal, B ^- phase excitation signal, and switch S1 in order from the top.

  In FIG. 18, the reference clock is the reference clock fref supplied by the reference clock supply source R20. The microstep period signal circuit R10 may be configured by a frequency multiplier circuit R11 and may be configured by a frequency divider circuit R12. However, when configured by the frequency multiplier circuit R11, the numerical value n is changed to be larger. For example, since the microstep periodic signal has a frequency n times that of the reference clock fref, the period of the microstep periodic signal is shortened. If the period of the microstep period signal is shortened, the microstepping of the stepping motor will change in a short period and rotate at a higher speed. When the numerical value n is changed to a smaller numerical value, conversely, the period of the microstep period signal becomes longer, and the microstepping changes with a longer period and rotates at a lower speed.

  When the microstep period signal circuit R10 is configured by the frequency divider circuit R12, if the numerical value n is changed to be larger, the microstep period signal has a frequency 1 / n times the reference clock fref. The period of the microstep period signal becomes longer. If the period of the microstep period signal becomes longer, the microstepping of the stepping motor will change with a longer period and rotate at a lower speed. When the numerical value n is changed to a larger numerical value, conversely, the period of the microstep period signal is shortened, and the microstepping changes in a short period and rotates at a higher speed.

The microstep periodic signal in FIG. 18 has a period longer than the period of the reference clock supplied from the reference clock supply source R20, and indicates the microstep periodic signal created by the frequency divider circuit R12. Reel control unit drives the motor is a stepping motor, but in the case of the stepping motor is two-phase excitation, A-phase, B-phase, A ^- Phase, B ^- that is driven by the excitation signal of the phase of each winding Is described with reference to FIG. Although the circuit diagram of the reel control unit in FIG. 9 does not show the circuits corresponding to the windings of each phase, the reel control unit corresponds to the A phase, B phase, A ⁻ phase, and B ⁻ phase windings. As shown in FIG. 18, an A-phase excitation signal, a B-phase excitation signal, an A ^- phase excitation signal, and a B ^- phase excitation signal are generated corresponding to each winding. The excitation drive unit R70 is driven by each microstep amplitude signal, and an excitation signal, which is an excitation current, flows through each winding of the motor to perform a microstep operation.

FIG. 18 shows a case where the number of microsteps m = 4. The A-phase microstep amplitude signal shows that the excitation signal increases stepwise for each microstep period signal. The A ^- phase signal is not generated in the range shown in FIG. The B-phase excitation signal increases stepwise when the A-phase excitation signal decreases stepwise from the state of the maximum excitation signal. The B ^- phase excitation signal changes such that the A-phase excitation signal decreases in a stepped manner, contrary to the step-like increase in the A-phase excitation signal. By changing in this way, the motor performs a micro-step operation.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the left side of the time chart is a low-speed operation region and is a state where the switch S1 is driven. Therefore, the sub-CPU is a region controlled by software designating a numerical value n, for example, a frequency divider circuit R12 Is used, the microstep periodic signal is created based on the numerical value n designated by the software. In the middle of the time chart, the switch S1 is controlled so as to be connected to the numerical value n storage circuit R05 of the reel control unit, thereby shifting to a high-speed operation region controlled by hardware.

  In FIG. 18, the method of changing the rotation speed of the reel member between the software control and the hardware control and the method of changing the rotation speed by changing the numerical value n and changing the microstep period signal have been described.

  The method for changing the microstep period signal in FIG. 18 can also be performed by changing the rotation speed of the reel member while changing the microstep period signal from the sub CPU 14. If the microstep periodic signal generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to a long periodic signal, the microstepping will change with a long period, and the reel member will rotate at a lower speed. Conversely, if the microstep periodic signal generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to a short periodic signal, the microstepping changes in a short period, and the reel member rotates at a higher speed.

  The method for changing the generation period of the excitation signal for each phase in FIG. 18 can also be performed by changing the generation period of the excitation signal for each phase while changing the number of microsteps from the sub CPU 14. If the number of microsteps generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to a large value, the number of microsteps for causing the stepping motor to perform the microstepping operation increases. Since the number of microsteps is driven by dividing each step of the stepping motor by a number corresponding to the number of microsteps, if the number of microsteps is increased while the microstep period remains constant, the stepping motor Since the number of microsteps for changing the angle by an angle corresponding to one step increases, the reel member rotates at a lower rotational speed. Conversely, if the number of microsteps generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to a small numerical value, the number of microsteps will decrease, and the reel member will rotate at a higher rotational speed.

  The method for changing the generation period of the excitation signal of each phase in FIG. 18 can also be performed by changing the generation period of the excitation signal of each phase while changing the generation period of the microstep setting signal from the sub CPU 14. If the microstep setting signal, which is a numerical value of 0 to m generated by the sub CPU 14, is changed so as to be output in a long cycle, the microstepping will change in a long cycle, and the reel member rotates at a lower speed. It will be. Conversely, if the microstep setting signal, which is a numerical value of 0 to m generated by the sub CPU 14, is changed so as to be output in a short cycle, the microstepping changes in a short cycle, and the reel member rotates at a higher speed. To do.

The method for changing the generation period of the excitation signal of each phase in FIG. 18 can also be performed by changing the generation period of the excitation signal of each phase while changing the microstep amplitude signal from the sub CPU 14. The operation of changing the rotation speed of the reel member while changing the microstep amplitude signal from the sub CPU 14 will be described. Considering the case of generating a PWM signal, if the microstep amplitude signal generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to an amplitude signal having a long pulse width, the time for changing the microstep becomes longer, so that the reel member rotates at a lower speed. It will rotate at speed. If the microstep amplitude signal generated by the sub CPU 14 is changed to an amplitude signal having a short pulse width, the time during which the microstep changes is shortened, so that the reel member rotates at a higher rotational speed.

  As described above, the method for changing the excitation signal of each phase in FIG. 18 is at least one of the numerical n signal, the microstep period signal, the microstep number signal, the microstep setting signal, and the microstep amplitude signal from the sub CPU 14. This is possible by outputting a signal for changing one of them, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor can be changed. Changing the rotation speed of the reel member by changing these control signals generated by the sub CPU 14 in the high speed operation region places a large processing load on the sub CPU 14, but in the low speed operation region, the numerical value n signal, microstep By outputting a signal that changes at least one of a periodic signal, a microstep number signal, a microstep setting signal, and a microstep amplitude signal, the change in the rotation speed of the reel member is controlled while being slightly changed. When a player plays a game on a gaming machine while watching the symbol variation display, it is possible to provide a hot effect to the player.

  As described above, in the low-speed operation region, at least one of the switches S1 to S5 is mounted on the reel controller, but the sub CPU 14 generates by selectively controlling at least one of these switches S1 to S5. The symbols are variably displayed by the control signal to be executed, in other words, by controlling the rotation speed of the reel member by software. In the high-speed operation region, at least one of the switches S1 to S5 is mounted on the reel control unit, but all the mounted switches S1 to S5 are selectively controlled so that the hardware circuit operates. By performing the reel control by the hardware circuit, it is possible to realize the high-speed rotation control of the reel member without applying a processing load by generating a control signal to the sub CPU 14.

  Note that the microstep periodic signal or the microstep amplitude signal is monitored by the first and second monitoring functions. At the stage of switching from the low-speed operation area to the high-speed operation area, switching from the reel member rotation speed control by software control to the reel member rotation speed control by the reel control unit configured by a hardware circuit, or software control in the low-speed operation area In the case of controlling to change the rate at which the rotational speed changes, each of the microstep period signal, microstep number signal, microstep setting signal, or microstep amplitude signal for performing the rotational speed control up to that time When the player designates with a numerical value that is far away, the rotation speed fluctuates unnaturally when the player visually recognizes the symbol variation display in which the reel member is rotationally controlled. I think we are doing control that would be detrimental. Since there is a possibility of doubt, in the above rotation speed change, the rotation speed is set to a value slightly changed from the value of the microstep period signal or the microstep amplitude signal detected by the first and second monitor functions. It is desirable to control to change. Alternatively, it is preferable to switch between software control and hardware control when the excitation signal is 0 by the third monitor function.

  The first to third monitoring functions are also effective for monitoring the step-out of whether or not the stepping motor is operating in the micro-step operation that the reel controller or the sub CPU 14 is to control.

The timing for switching from the hardware control to the software control shown in FIG. 18 is switched at a timing other than the zero stage in the microstep stage where the excitation signal changes stepwise. The switching timing between software control and hardware control is preferably switched when the excitation signal is zero. For this purpose, a circuit for detecting that the output signal of the microstep setting signal circuit is 0 is provided, and the output signal of the microstep setting signal is zero and the switching control signals of the switches S1 to S5 are input. It can be considered that any one of the switches S1 to S5 as switching means is controlled by the AND condition. For this purpose, it is conceivable that the sub CPU 14 has a function of monitoring the output of the microstep setting signal, and controls the switching when the output of the microstep setting signal is zero.

  Alternatively, it is conceivable to perform switching control by detecting that the excitation signal is 0 by the third monitor function. The period in which the microstep excitation signal that changes stepwise is 0 does not show all periods in which the excitation signal of each phase changes stepwise in FIG. 18, but the state in which the excitation signal of each phase is 0 is shown in FIG. The excitation signal is longer than the period in which the excitation signal is excited by 1 to m microsteps. In software control, since the sub CPU 14 performs processing other than microstep control, even if the control timing cannot be well synchronized between hardware control and software control, the excitation signal Since the period when the excitation signal is 0 is longer than the period during which the excitation signal changes stepwise, switching between hardware control and software control during the period when the excitation signal is 0 enables switching without causing the player to feel uncomfortable become.

  The first to third monitoring functions monitor the output signals of the microstep period signal circuit, the microstep amplitude signal circuit, and the excitation drive unit, respectively, but the output of the microstep period signal circuit changes in a short period. Further, the output of the microstep amplitude signal circuit changes in a short cycle, and the pulse width also changes. In order for the sub CPU 14 to monitor whether or not the microstep period signal is a normal signal, the sub CPU 14 monitors each of the microstep period signals at a time shorter than the pulse width of the microstep period signal. Whether it is a signal or not can be monitored. In order for the sub CPU 14 to monitor the operation state as to whether or not the microstep amplitude signal is a normal signal, the microstep amplitude signal is a normal pulse by monitoring in a time shorter than the pulse width of the microstep amplitude signal. Whether it is a signal or not can be monitored.

The microstep period signal and microstep amplitude signal are for A-phase winding, B-phase winding, A ^- phase winding, and B ^- phase winding when the stepping motor is excited in two phases. And a first reel controller for driving the motor of the first reel module, a second reel controller for driving the motor of the second reel module, and a motor for driving the third reel module. A separate circuit is required for each of the third reel control units. Therefore, the number of microstep period signals and microstep amplitude signals in the entire reel unit is not one, but twelve. When the sub CPU 14 monitors the normality of these signals in a short cycle, the processing load of the sub CPU 14 becomes a very large processing load.

  As described above, in order to monitor whether the microstep period signal and the microstep amplitude signal are operating normally, in order to reduce the high load applied to the sub CPU 14, each of the microstep period signal and the micro amplitude signal is changed. A configuration in which the sub CPU 14 monitors the result of the logical operation is conceivable. Since the microstep periodic signal is a periodically generated pulse signal, the microstep periodic signal is input to the input terminal of the counter circuit, and the output terminal of the counter circuit is monitored at a period shorter than the counter circuit overflowing period. A configuration is conceivable in which it is determined that the microstep period signal is changing normally because the counter value output from the counter circuit changes for each period. With this configuration, the processing load on the sub CPU 14 can be reduced.

  The microstep amplitude signal is input to the input terminal of the counter circuit in the same way as the microstep period signal, and the output terminal of the counter circuit is monitored with a period shorter than the period when the counter circuit overflows, and is output from the counter circuit every monitoring period. A configuration is conceivable in which it is determined that the microstep amplitude signal is changing normally due to a change in the counter value. With this configuration, the processing load on the sub CPU 14 can be reduced.

Alternatively, in the microstep periodic signal, the A phase and the A ⁻ phase are opposite in phase, but the A phase and the B phase are 90 ° out of phase, and the A ⁻ phase and the B ⁻ phase are 90 ° in phase. Since the phases are shifted from each other, it can be considered that the logical product of the A phase and the B phase and the logical product of the A ⁻ phase and the B ⁻ phase are input to the sub CPU 14. Logical product of the A-phase and B-phase, A ^- Phase and B ^- if to monitor the logical product of the phase, the processing load of the sub CPU14 than monitoring the microstep period signal for each phase individually be reduced It becomes. Furthermore, a configuration in which three microstep period signals from the first reel control unit to the third reel control unit are logically ANDed and the sub CPU 14 monitors the logical result is also conceivable. In this way, the processing load on the sub CPU 14 can be further reduced. In order to reduce the processing load on the sub CPU 14, a method of performing a logical operation on the microstep period signal and the microstep amplitude signal and monitoring the result of the logical operation includes a method using a counter circuit as described above and a method using a logical product. It is not limited. It may be the result of a logical operation other than the counter circuit and the logical product.

  As described above, the reel control unit of the first embodiment, the reel control unit of the second embodiment, and the reel control unit of the third embodiment change the rotation speed of the reel member by software control in the low-speed operation region, thereby In the operation area, the method of changing the rotation speed of the reel member by the hardware circuit has been described. However, the method of configuring the control device for the motor for the gaming machine can also be realized by using, for example, SI-7321M manufactured by Sanken. The game machine motor control device of the present invention is also applied to the case where other commercially available micro control ICs for stepping motors are used.

  Although the numerical value n storage circuit constituting the control device for the motor for gaming machines of the present invention is shown, it is not limited to the circuit that stores the numerical value n using the ROM. It is possible to store the numerical value n in various types of storage devices, and the present invention includes the case of storing the numerical value n in these various types of storage devices.

  The frequency multiplier circuit and the frequency divider circuit are shown as elements constituting the microstep periodic signal circuit constituting the control device for the motor for gaming machines of the present invention. The frequency multiplier circuit and the frequency shown in FIGS. It is not limited to the frequency divider circuit. The frequency multiplication circuit and the frequency division circuit can be configured other than the circuits shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the frequency multiplication circuit and the frequency division circuit used in the control device for the gaming machine motor of the present invention are the same as those shown in FIG. The present invention is also applied to frequency multiplication circuits and frequency division circuits other than those shown in FIG.

  The method for generating the microstep periodic signal constituting the control device for a gaming machine motor of the present invention is not limited to using a frequency multiplier circuit or a frequency divider circuit. The method of generating a periodic pulse signal can be realized by a method that does not use a frequency multiplying circuit or a frequency dividing circuit, and the microstep periodic signal circuit constituting the present invention can generate all periodic pulse signals. The present invention is also applied to the case of using this circuit.

  The microstep number circuit R15 constituting the control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention has been described with reference to a method of storing a plurality of numerical values m in a storage circuit such as a ROM. The microstep number circuit that constitutes the present invention is applicable to all circuit systems that can set a plurality of numerical values m.

The microstep setting circuit R30 constituting the control device for a gaming machine motor of the present invention has been described using a counter circuit. However, in order to control each step for controlling the stepping motor with m microsteps, 0 is used. The method of generating the numerical value of m from the above is not limited to the counter circuit. A circuit having a configuration in which numerical values 0 to m stored in a storage circuit such as a ROM are sequentially read according to a microstep period signal may be used. The microstep setting circuit R30 constituting the present invention is applied to all circuit systems capable of sequentially reading numerical values 0 to m.

  The microstep amplitude signal constituting the control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention uses a D / A conversion circuit, a PWM circuit, a PAM circuit, or a numerical value corresponding to the microstep amplitude signal in a storage circuit such as a ROM. Although the method of storing is described, the method of generating the microstep amplitude signal is not limited to these circuits and methods. Various configurations of the D / A circuit other than the circuits shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are possible, and even when these D / A circuits are used, the present invention is also applicable. Circuits for generating PWM signals and PAM signals are not limited to the circuits shown in FIGS. Or it is not limited to the circuit structure using ROM shown in FIG. PWM signals and PAM signals are generated by various circuits, but the microstep periodic signal of the present invention is applied to a microstep periodic signal circuit realized by these various circuit configurations.

  The method of realizing the switches S1 to S5 constituting the control device for a gaming machine motor of the present invention can be realized by various circuits. For example, a transistor circuit can be used as a switch circuit, and can be realized by a switch circuit having other physical contacts. The switch circuit constituting the present invention is applied to a switch circuit realized by various methods.

  Although a reel unit using a stepping motor mounted on a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine PM has been described as an application target of a control device for a gaming machine motor according to the present invention, it is not limited to a reel unit, The stepping motor of the present invention can be suitably applied, whereby both high-speed movement control and low-speed movement control of the accessory can be widely performed. Moreover, it is not limited to the pachinko machine PM. That is, the present invention can be applied to a slot machine and its effect driving device as a gaming machine that controls the rotation of a reel member using a stepping motor.

PM Pachinko machine 11 Sub control board 14 Sub CPU
15 ROM
16 RAM
40 I / O circuit 101 Outer frame 102 Front frame 103a Hinge member 103b Hinge member 104 Locking device 105 Glass door 106 Upper ball dish 107 Lower ball dish 108 Operation handle 120 Game board 121 Dressing board 124 First start prize opening, first special symbol Start port 125 Second start winning port, second special symbol starting port 126 Large winning port 127 Out port 128 Normal symbol operating gate 129 Power supply board 130 Game control device (main board)
131 Winning determination means 132 Special symbol fluctuation control means 133 Special game execution means 134 Probability fluctuation execution means 135 Fluctuation time shortening game execution means 136 Power interruption processing means 137 Power interruption return processing procedure 138 Command output means 139 Payout control device command transmission / reception means 140 First and second special symbol display device 141 Normal symbol display device 142 Game state display device 150 Sub control device 151 Command reception unit 152 Command analysis unit 153 Reel control content determination unit 154 Stop symbol determination unit 160 Reel control unit 165 Reel unit 170 Reservation lamp 171 Production lamp 173 Ball feeder 174 Dispensing device 175 Launching device 176 Launching handle 180 Lamp control unit 181 Audio control unit 182 Discharge control device 210 Reel unit 211 First reel module 11a Reference piece member 211b Reel member, first reel member 211c Motor unit 212 Second reel module 212b Second reel member 213 Third reel module 213b Third reel member 214 Reel module housing portion 221 Rotating shaft, center hole 222 Symbol display portion 223 Attaching part 224 Attaching part 225 Attaching part 226 Shading part 227 Photo interrupter 230 Reel motor (stepping motor)
240 Backlight R05 Numerical n memory circuit R10 Microstep periodic signal circuit R11 Frequency multiplier R12 Frequency divider R15 Microstep number circuit R20 Reference clock supply source R30 Microstep setting circuit R50 Microstep amplitude signal circuit R51 D / A conversion Circuit R52 PWM circuit R53 Reference sawtooth wave R55 PAM circuit R56 Memory circuit R70 Excitation drive unit R90 Reel motor (stepping motor)
S1 switch S1
S2 switch S2
S3 switch S3
S4 switch S4
S5 Switch S5

Claims (14)

In a gaming machine configured to include a stepping motor that receives a stepping cycle signal and controls rotation by changing the excitation force in units of one step for each stepping cycle,
The stepping motor outputs a microstep excitation signal that changes in a stepwise manner in units of microsteps, where one step is divided into m (m is a natural number) for each microstep cycle signal created from the stepping cycle signal. Controlled by the circuit,
Switching means for switching between hardware control in which the microstep control circuit outputs the microstep excitation signal and software control in which the microstep control circuit outputs the microstep excitation signal according to a signal output from a software function of a CPU Is provided in the micro-step control circuit.   The software function of the CPU is characterized in that when the stepping motor is rotated at a low speed, the switching means is switched to software control, and when the stepping motor is rotated at a high speed, the switching means is switched to hardware control. The control device for a gaming machine motor according to claim 1. The microstep control circuit includes:
A numerical value n storage circuit for outputting a plurality of stored numerical value n signals (n is a natural number);
A microstep periodic signal circuit that receives a numerical n signal output from the numerical n storage circuit and outputs a microstep periodic signal obtained by multiplying the stepping periodic signal by n times or 1 / n;
A microstep number circuit that outputs a plurality of stored numerical m signals (m is a natural number);
A micro step number signal output from the micro step number circuit is received and a micro step setting signal of 0 to m is sequentially output for each micro step period signal output from the micro step period signal circuit. A step number setting circuit;
A microstep amplitude signal circuit that outputs a microstep amplitude signal corresponding to a microstep obtained by dividing one step by m for each of the microstep setting signals output from the microstep setting circuit;
An excitation drive unit that divides a predetermined excitation force into m based on the microstep amplitude signal output from the microstep amplitude signal circuit and generates an excitation force that changes stepwise. A control device for a motor for a gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2. The switching means is a first switch circuit that switches the input of the microstep periodic signal circuit to connect to either the numerical value n storage circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU,
A second switch circuit that switches the input of the microstep setting circuit to be connected to either the microstep number circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU;
A third switch circuit that switches the input of the microstep setting circuit to connect to either the microstep periodic signal circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU;
A fourth switch circuit for switching the input of the microstep amplitude signal circuit to either the microstep setting circuit or the input / output circuit of the CPU; and the input of the excitation drive unit for the microstep amplitude signal 4. The game machine motor control device according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of a circuit and a fifth switch circuit that switches to connect to either of the CPU input / output circuit. . A first monitor function for monitoring an operating state of the microstep periodic signal circuit by inputting an output signal of the microstep periodic signal circuit to an input / output circuit of the CPU, and an output signal of the microstep amplitude signal circuit is A second monitor function for monitoring the operation state of the microstep amplitude signal by being input to the input / output circuit of the CPU, and the excitation signal by inputting the output signal of the excitation drive unit to the input / output circuit of the CPU. 4. The game machine motor control device according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of a third monitor function for monitoring an operating state of the drive unit. 5.   6. The rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed by changing the numerical value n signal output from the numerical value n storage circuit or the numerical value n signal output from the software function of the CPU. The control apparatus of the motor for game machines in any one.   The rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed by changing the number of microsteps output by the software function of the microstep number circuit or the CPU. Control device for motors for gaming machines.   The rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed by changing the microstep period signal output from the microstep period signal circuit or the microstep period signal output from a software function of the CPU. Item 8. A control device for a gaming machine motor according to any one of Items 3 to 7.   9. The game machine motor control according to claim 7, wherein the software function of the CPU changes the microstep period signal based on an output of the microstep period signal circuit by the first monitor function. apparatus.   The rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed by changing the microstep setting signal output from the microstep setting circuit or the microstep setting signal output from a software function of the CPU. A control device for a motor for a gaming machine according to any one of 3 to 9.   The rotation speed of the stepping motor is changed by changing the microstep amplitude signal output from the microstep amplitude signal circuit or the microstep amplitude signal output from a software function of the CPU. Item 11. A control device for a gaming machine motor according to any one of Items 3 to 10.   12. The game machine motor control device according to claim 11, wherein the software function of the CPU changes the microstep amplitude signal based on an output of the microstep amplitude signal circuit by the second monitor function.   13. The game machine motor control device according to claim 3, wherein the software function of the CPU switches between hardware control and software control based on an output of the excitation drive unit by the third monitor function. .   The apparatus for controlling a motor for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a rotation speed of a reel having a plurality of symbols drawn on an outer peripheral surface thereof is controlled by the stepping motor.