JP2012143323A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency of illumination data preparation and to save the data capacity in a game machine.SOLUTION: The game machine executes, together with a performance by sound, a performance by illuminations that flicker corresponding to the performance, and includes: an illumination data group storage part and a lighting actual data group storage part for storing lighting data for the illumination predetermined in accordance with to music data stored in a music data group storage part; a reference data setting part for setting lighting reference time to be the reference of lighting of the illumination on the basis of prescribed tempo reference data; a lighting actual data read part for reading lighting data for the illumination from the lighting actual data group storage part on the basis of the lighting reference time; and a drive circuit for making the illumination flicker on the basis of the read lighting data for the illumination. The reference data setting part sets the lighting reference time in such a manner that the read timing of the lighting data for the illumination is synchronized with the playback timing of the music on the basis of the tempo reference data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine including an electrical decoration device and an audio device.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided with a medal slot so that a player can enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals. The medals necessary for the game can be borrowed with a medal lending machine provided in the game hall, and the game can be started by inserting it into the medal slot of a desired gaming machine.

The operation of the conventional gaming machine was as follows.
First, when the start switch is operated, the start switch is turned on. In response to this, a lottery process is performed by the winning determination means inside the gaming machine. Here, when a predetermined combination is won, a winning flag is set. The rotating reel starts to rotate. When the stop switch is operated, the stop switch is turned on. Then, the rotation of the corresponding rotating reel is stopped. After the stop switches corresponding to all the rotating reels are operated, whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the winning flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the winning flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed Is determined. When it is determined that the winning is confirmed, a medal corresponding to the winning symbol is paid out.

  For example, when the evaluation of the lottery process is out of place, it is set so that the predetermined symbols are not aligned (so-called kicking), and when winning, the predetermined symbols are aligned on the condition that the stop switch is pressed at a predetermined timing. (So-called pull-in). In other words, only when winning in the lottery process, medals are paid out by winning a winning pattern under a predetermined condition, but when not winning, medals are paid out regardless of how the stop switch is operated. There is no. This is to keep the medal payout at a certain probability. In order to realize this, a random number generator is used in the lottery process.

  In addition, a gaming machine such as a slot machine includes an electric decoration device (electric decoration) and a sound device (speaker) including a light emitting element such as an LED for effect display. Sounds such as music are output from the speakers, and the electric lights flash in time with the sound.

JP 2002-078885 A JP 2003-135653 A JP-A-10-97247

  The sound flowing from the speaker and the flashing of the lighting are synchronized. For this reason, the illumination data for blinking the illumination is created in advance corresponding to the contents (rhythm, etc.) of the sound (music). By the way, although the speed of music is felt by the length of the rhythm cycle of music (this speed is called tempo), the tempo may change due to the effects of the gaming machine. For example, when an effect of an image displayed on a liquid crystal display device reaches a climax and tension is increasing, music with a tempo (up tempo) faster than usual is played. In order to change the tempo of music, a plurality of music (music) data having different tempos are prepared and switched according to the situation. Moreover, the illumination data for blinking the illumination must be created for each tempo. This is because the process of reading the illumination data and blinking the illumination (LED) is performed by the CPU of the sub board, and there is no dedicated command or terminal for setting the tempo. As described above, there arises a problem that the amount of data used for creating the illumination data for each tempo increases and the memory space is compressed. Also, it is not possible to ignore the trouble of creating illumination data for each tempo.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and aims to improve the efficiency of creating illumination data and save the data capacity.

This invention, in the gaming machine that performs the effect of the lighting that flashes in response to the effect of the sound, together with the effect of the sound,
A music data group storage unit that stores predetermined music data, an acoustic control unit that reproduces music based on the music data in the music data group storage unit, and generates sound by receiving the output of the acoustic control unit An audio lighting data storage unit that stores predetermined lighting data corresponding to the music data stored in the music data group storage unit, and predetermined tempo reference data A reference data setting unit that sets a lighting reference time that is a reference for lighting the lighting based on the lighting, and a lighting actual data reading unit that reads the lighting data for lighting from the lighting data storage unit for lighting based on the lighting reference time And a drive circuit for blinking electrical decoration based on the lighting data for electrical decoration read by the lighting actual data reading unit,
The acoustic control unit receives the tempo reference data or information corresponding to the tempo reference data, and reproduces music at a predetermined tempo based on the tempo reference data,
The reference data setting unit sets the lighting reference time so that the reading timing of the lighting data for lighting is synchronized with the tempo of reproduction of the music.

Illumination lighting data is, for example, a set of reference destination information such as FIG. 6 and lighting actual data.
The tempo reference data received by the acoustic control unit is, for example, a cycle of (2) described later, and the information corresponding thereto is, for example, a frequency of (1) described later.

The lighting data storage unit for lighting is a lighting data group storing unit that stores in advance a plurality of lighting data corresponding to different music pieces, and lighting actual data that stores lighting actual data that is blinking data of lighting in advance. A group storage unit,
The illumination data in the illumination data group storage unit is reference destination information for designating the actual lighting data in the actual lighting data group storage unit to be referred for each predetermined unit (measure) of the music piece,
The lighting actual data group storage unit is blinking data of electrical decoration for a predetermined unit of the music.

  The blinking data is formed by arranging lighting data and blinking data in time series.

The reference data setting unit is configured to divide the reference signal of the reference signal generator based on the tempo reference data, a pulse width of the reference signal, A multiplier / divider that changes the time interval of the pulse train and outputs the divided signal or the changed signal as the signal of the lighting reference time,
The lighting actual data reading unit is configured to generate an address of the lighting actual data in the lighting actual data group storage unit referenced by the reference destination information based on the signal of the lighting reference time, and the address A latch for reading and holding designated data;
The tempo reference data includes a ratio of a tempo (eg, = 80) or a ratio of time intervals (eg, = 0.8) to a predetermined reference (eg, = 100), and the multiplier / divider Or the pulse width or the time interval of the pulse train is changed based on the ratio of the time intervals.

The lighting data for lighting and the tempo reference data are determined for each measure of the music,
The lighting data storage unit for lighting stores the lighting data for lighting for each measure of the music.

  The reference data setting unit may receive a plurality of tempo reference data and set the lighting reference time based on data obtained by synthesizing data included therein.

  According to the present invention, the reference data setting unit reads the lighting data for lighting so that the reading timing is synchronized with the tempo of music reproduction, so that the common lighting data can correspond to a plurality of tempos. There is no need to create illumination data for each tempo. It is possible to make the illumination data creation more efficient and to reduce the data capacity.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door 180 degree | times. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a block diagram of the sound generation system and the electrical decoration control system of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. It is a flowchart of the electrical blinking process of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process at the time of the standard tempo of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process at the time of up-tempo of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the electrical decoration blink process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process at the time of up tempo of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of the invention (modification example). It is explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the electrical blinking process which concerns on embodiment of invention (modification). It is a block diagram of the sound generation system and the electrical decoration control system of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention (modified example). It is a processing flowchart of a reference example. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process at the time of the standard tempo in a reference example. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process at the time of uptempo in a reference example. It is explanatory drawing of the electrical blinking process in a reference example.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.
1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.
Further, a start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop switches 140 are provided corresponding to the three spinning cylinders. A medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A liquid crystal display device LCD is provided above the game display unit 131.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein. Inside the slot machine main body 120, a reel (rotating cylinder) unit 203 including three rotating cylinders is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the front door 130 is closed. The reel unit 203 includes three spinning cylinders (first to third drums) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which the player can see the symbols of the rotating drums of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 121.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100 according to the embodiment of the invention.
In this figure, the display about the power supply system is omitted. Although not shown, the slot machine includes a power supply unit for generating a DC power supply (+5 V or the like) from a commercial power supply (AC 100 V).

  The slot machine 100 includes a main substrate (processing unit) 10 and a sub substrate 20 that operates in response to a command from the main substrate (processing unit) 10 as main processing devices. At least the main substrate 10 is accommodated inside the case so that it cannot be contacted from the outside, and is sealed so that traces remain when these substrates are removed.

  The main board 10 is for performing an internal lottery in response to a player's operation, and performing processing (game processing) such as reel rotation / stop and medal payout. The main board 10 includes a CPU that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like.

  The sub board 20 is for receiving a command signal from the main board 10 and notifying the result of the internal lottery and performing various effects. The sub-board 20 includes a CPU that performs a control operation in accordance with a preset program corresponding to the command signal, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like. Only one command flows from the main board 10 to the sub board 20, and conversely, no command is issued from the sub board 20 to the main board 10.

  The main board 10 is paid out from a bet switch BET, a start switch 134, a stop button 140, a reel unit (including a reel driving device) 203, a reel position detection circuit 71, a hopper driving unit 80, a hopper 81 and a hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting the number of medals (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected. A peripheral substrate (local substrate) such as a liquid crystal control substrate 200 for controlling the liquid crystal display device, a speaker substrate 201, and an LED substrate 202 is connected to the sub substrate 20.

  Further, medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1 are connected to the main board 10.

  The medal selector 1 is provided with medal sensors S1 and S2 for counting medals. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are provided on the downstream side (near the exit) of a medal passage (not shown) provided in the medal selector 1 (the upstream side of the medal passage communicates with the medal slot 132). The two medal sensors S1 and S2 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval along the medal traveling direction. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, photointerrupters that have a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other, are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and are positioned so that the detection optical axis faces the medal passage from above. . Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction.

  The hopper driving unit 80 rotates the hopper 81 and performs an operation of paying out medals of the payout number instructed by the main board 10. The gaming machine includes a medal detection unit 82 that operates every time a medal is paid out, and the main board 10 receives a medal actually paid out from the hopper 81 based on an input signal from the medal detection unit 82. You can manage the number.

  The insertion accepting unit 1050 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and determines that the medal corresponding to the specified number of insertions has been inserted. A process of permitting the rotation start operation of the first reel to the third reel is performed. Note that the pressing operation of the start switch 134 is an opportunity to start rotation of the first reel to the third reel and an opportunity to execute the internal lottery. Also, a prescribed number of throws is set according to the gaming state, the prescribed number of throws is set to 3 in the normal state and the bonus established state, and the prescribed number of throws is set to 1 in the bonus state.

  When medals are inserted, the inserted medals are set to the inserted state up to a specified number of insertions according to the gaming state. Alternatively, when the bet switch BET is pressed in a state where medals have been credited to the gaming machine, the credited medals are set to the inserted state by limiting the prescribed number of insertions according to the gaming state. The main board 10 controls whether or not to accept a medal. When it is not in a state of accepting insertion of medals (when not permitted), even if medals are inserted, they are not counted by the medal sensors S1 and S2 and are returned as they are. Similarly, the main board 10 controls the validity / invalidity of the bet switch BET. When the bet switch BET is not valid (when not permitted), even if the bet switch BET is pressed, it is ignored.

  The main board 10 incorporates random number generating means 1100. The random number generation means 1100 is a means for generating a random number for lottery. The random value can be generated based on, for example, a count value of an increment counter (a counter that counts numerical values so as to circulate a predetermined count range). In this embodiment, the “random number value” is not only a value that is randomly generated in a mathematical sense, but even if the generation itself is regular, the acquisition timing and the like are irregular. Includes a value that can function as a random number.

  The internal lottery means 1200 performs an internal lottery in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, a lottery table selection process for selecting a lottery table (not shown) stored in a memory (not shown) of the main board 10, a random number determination process for determining the winning of a random number obtained from the random number generation means 1050, The lottery flag setting process for setting a flag to that effect when a big win or the like is won by the determination result is performed.

  In the lottery table selection process, a lottery table (not shown) stored in a storage unit (ROM) (not shown) is used to determine which lottery table is used for internal lottery. In the lottery table, for each of a plurality of random values (for example, 65536 random values from 0 to 65535), replay, small role (bell, cherry), regular bonus (RB: bonus), and big bonus (BB :), etc., are associated with each other. In addition, a normal state, a bonus establishment state, and a bonus state can be set as the gaming state, and a replay lottery state, a replay low probability state, and a replay high probability state can be set as replay lottery states.

  In the random number determination process, a random value (lottery random number) is acquired from the random number generation means (not shown) for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 134, and the lottery table is referred to for the acquired random value. Then, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won.

  In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag of the winning combination determined to be won based on the result of the random number determination process is changed from the non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to the winning state (second flag state, on Status). When two or more types of winning combinations are won, a lottery flag corresponding to each of the two or more types of winning winning combinations is set to the winning state. The lottery flag setting information is stored in storage means (RAM).

  A lottery flag (possible carryover flag) that can carry over the winning state for the next game until winning, and a lottery flag that is reset to the non-winning state without bringing the winning state to the next game regardless of winning Carry-over impossible flag) may be provided. In this case, there are a regular bonus (RB) and a big bonus (BB) as a combination to which the former carry-over possible flag is associated, and other combinations (for example, small role, replay) correspond to the latter carry-over impossible flag. It is attached. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, if a regular bonus is won by internal lottery, the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over until the regular bonus is won, and if the big bonus is won by internal lottery, the big bonus lottery A process of carrying over the winning state of the flag until the big bonus is won is performed. At this time, the main board 10 determines whether or not a role other than the regular bonus and the big bonus (small role and replay) is used even in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus or big bonus lottery flag is carried over by the internal lottery function. An internal lottery is performed. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over, if a small role or replay is won in the internal lottery, the regular bonus lottery flag and the internal lottery already won In a game in which the lottery flags corresponding to two or more types of winning combinations or replay lottery flags won in the win state are set to the winning state and the winning state of the big bonus lottery flag is carried over, it is small in the internal lottery When a winning combination or replay is won, a lottery flag corresponding to two or more kinds of winning combinations including a big bonus lottery flag that has already been won and a small bonus or replay lottery flag that has been won in an internal lottery is set to a winning state. Set.

  The replay processing unit 1600 may perform control to change the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition. The replay processing unit 1600 will be described later again. The replay lottery states include a replay no lottery state in which replay is excluded from the internal lottery, a replay low probability state in which the replay winning probability is set to about 1 / 7.3, and a replay winning probability of about 1 / A plurality of lottery states such as a high replay probability state set to 6 can be set. By changing the replay lottery state, the winning probability of the replay in the internal lottery is changed.

  The reel control means 1300 rotates the first to third reels by a stepping motor based on a start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation), and the first to third reels are driven. Control that permits the pressing operation (stop operation) of the three stop buttons 140 respectively corresponding to the rotating reels in a state in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotation speed of about 80 rotations per minute). And a control to stop the first reel to the third reel, which are rotationally driven by the stepping motor, according to the lottery flag setting state (result of the internal lottery).

  In addition, the reel control means 1300 receives the reel stop signal when the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) with respect to the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated). Based on this, by stopping the supply of drive pulses (motor drive signals) to the stepping motor of the reel unit 203, control is performed to stop each of the first to third reels.

  That is, each time the three stop buttons 140 are pressed, the reel control means 1300 determines the reel stop position corresponding to the pressed button among the first to third reels. The reel is stopped at the stop position. Specifically, referring to a stop control table (not shown) stored in the storage means (ROM), the first reel according to the pressing timing, pressing order, etc. (stop operation mode) of the three stop buttons. The stop position of the third reel is determined, and the first reel to the third reel are stopped at the determined stop position.

  Here, in the stop control table, the position of the first reel to the third reel (press detection position) at the time when the stop button 140 is operated and the actual stop position (or the slip from the press detection position) of the first reel to the third reel. (Number of frames) is set. Depending on the setting state of the lottery flag, a stop control table for determining the stop positions of the first reel to the third reel may be prepared.

  In the gaming machine, the reel unit 203 includes a reel index (not shown) made of a photosensor, and the reel control means 1300 is based on a reference position signal detected by the reel index every time the reel rotates once. By determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotation axis of the step motor) from the reel reference position (the frame detected by the reel index), the current rotation state of the reel can be monitored. . That is, the main board 10 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

  The reel control means 1300 performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-out processing as control for stopping the reel. The pull-in process is a control process for stopping the reel so that the symbol corresponding to the combination whose lottery flag is set to the winning state is stopped on the winning determination line (so that the winning combination can be won). It is. On the other hand, the kicking process means that the reel corresponding to the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state does not stop on the valid winning determination line (so that the non-winning combination cannot be won) This is a control process to be stopped. That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the lottery flag setting state, the stop button 140 pressing timing, the pressing order, the stop position of the reel that has already stopped (type of display symbol) in order to realize the above-described pull-in processing and kicking processing. ) Etc., the stop control table is set so that the stop position of each reel changes. In this way, the main board 10 can stop the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state in a winning form, while the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state is in the winning form. Control is performed to stop the first reel to the third reel so as not to stop.

  In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the first to third reels are set to a control state in which the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button 140 is pressed. ing. That is, in the stop control table for determining the stop position of each rotating reel, the number of frames required from when the stop button 140 is pressed until each reel stops is in the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). Is set in

  The winning determination means 1400 performs a process of determining whether or not a winning combination has been won based on the stop mode of the first reel to the third reel. Specifically, referring to the winning determination table stored in the storage means (ROM), the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line when all of the first reel to the third reel are stopped, It is determined whether or not it is a predetermined winning combination.

  The winning determination means 1400 executes a winning process based on the determination result. As a process at the time of winning a prize, for example, when a small role wins, the hopper 81 is driven to perform a medal payout control process, or a credit is increased (a predetermined maximum number is increased to 50, for example, When the replay is won, a replay process is performed. When a big bonus or a regular bonus is won, a game state transition control process for shifting the game state is performed.

  The payout control means 1500 performs payout control processing relating to the payout of medals according to the game result. Specifically, when a small combination wins, the number of medals to be paid out in the game is determined based on a payout predetermined for each combination, and the medals corresponding to the determined number of payouts are determined by the hopper driving unit 80. Then, the hopper 81 is driven to pay out. At this time, a current flows through a motor (not shown) built in the hopper 81.

  When medal credits (internal storage) are permitted, instead of actually paying out medals by the hopper 81, the number of credits stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means (RAM) (not shown) A credit addition process for adding the number of payouts to the number of credited medals is performed to virtually pay out medals.

  When the replay is won, the replay processing means 1600 performs a replay process (regame process) for setting the same preparatory state as the previous game without requiring insertion of medals owned by the player for the next game. When a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed in which the same number of medals as the previous game is automatically set to the insertion state without using the player's own medals (including credit medals). The game machine is set in a state of waiting for a rotation start operation (pressing operation of the start switch 134 by the player) in the next game in a state where the same winning determination line as the previous game is validated.

  Further, the main board 10 may perform control to shift the gaming state between the normal state, the bonus establishment state, and the bonus state (gaming state transition control function). As the game condition transition condition, one condition may be defined, or a plurality of conditions may be defined. When a plurality of conditions are established, transitioning the gaming state to another gaming state based on the fact that one of the plurality of conditions is satisfied or all of the plurality of conditions are satisfied Can do.

  The normal state is a game state corresponding to the initial state among a plurality of types of game states, and a transition from the normal state to the bonus establishment state is possible. The bonus establishment state is a gaming state that shifts when a big bonus or a regular bonus is won in the internal lottery. In the bonus establishment state, when the big bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus is won, and the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state Until the regular bonus is won, the lottery flag corresponding to the regular bonus is maintained in the winning state. In the bonus state, it is determined whether or not the end condition is satisfied based on the total number of medals paid out by the bonus game, and medals exceeding a predetermined payout limit number are paid out according to the type of bonus won. The bonus state is terminated and the gaming state is returned to the normal state.

  The reel unit 203 includes three reels (not shown), and one stepping motor is attached to each of the three reels. A stepping motor includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. is there. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the reel of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases).

  The stepping motor can change its characteristics (excitation mode changes) by changing the way of applying current to the windings of each phase. The two-phase type is as follows.

• Single-phase excitation Always allow current to flow through only one phase of the winding. Positioning accuracy is good.

・ Two-phase excitation
Current flows in two phases. An output torque approximately twice that of single-phase excitation can be obtained. The positioning accuracy is good and the stationary torque is large when stopped, so that the stop position can be held reliably.

・ One-two-phase excitation
A current is passed by alternately switching between one phase and two phases. Since the step angle can be halved in the case of one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation, smooth rotation can be obtained.

  Note that “driving” a stepping motor includes rotating the motor by the above-described excitation and exciting each phase in order to stop at a desired position and hold the position.

  In the slot machine, for example, a four-phase stepping motor having a basic step angle of 1.43 degrees is used, and one-two-phase excitation is adopted as a pulse output method.

  As described above, the speaker substrate 201 and the LED substrate 202 are connected to the sub substrate 20. The speaker board 201 generates sound by a speaker, and the LED board 202 is an electrical decoration that produces an effect by blinking LEDs. In the following description, the speaker substrate 201 and the LED substrate 202 are displayed as a speaker 201 and an electrical decoration 202, respectively.

  FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the sound generation system and the lighting control system of the gaming machine. FIG. 4A shows a system diagram including the sub-board 20, the speaker board 201, and the LED board 202.

  Prior to adding a description of FIG. 4, the terms are defined.

  The music data is data for playing music from the speaker 201. The music data is prepared in advance and stored in the ROM of the sub-board 20.

The illumination data is data for causing the illumination 202 to blink at a predetermined time interval or to emit light with a predetermined color. For example, the former is data for blinking the entire illumination 202 at a certain interval, or data for blinking each part of the illumination 202 divided into several parts independently or synchronously at a certain interval. Data for lighting the entire illumination 202 in each color such as red, blue, green, etc. at regular intervals, or each part of the illumination 202 divided into several parts independently or synchronously with red at regular intervals, This is data for lighting in each color such as blue and green.
The illumination data is also prepared in advance and stored in the ROM of the sub-board 20. In the embodiment of the present invention, the illumination data is not data for directly blinking the illumination 202 or designating the emission color, but indicates a reference destination of data used for blinking or emission color designation. It's like a jump destination address or index.

The lighting actual data is data for referring to the illumination data and for directly blinking the illumination 202 or designating the emission color. Addresses 1 to N are assigned to each piece of data. For example, as in TD1 shown in FIG. 6, a total of N data of lighting data (1) and lighting data (0) are arranged in a line. Alternatively, although not shown, lighting data (R) for the first color (for example, red) (for example, arranged at the position of the lighting data (1)) and lighting data (G) for the second color (for example, green) (for example, extinguishing) Data (arranged at the position of data (0)) is arranged in a line. In the latter case, it may further include light-off data (0) indicating that no color is turned on. In this case, TD1 is turned on in order from address 1, lighting data (R), lighting data (G), lighting data (0), lighting data (R), lighting data (G), lighting data (0),.・ It becomes an array like In addition, when the lighting 202 includes red and green light emitting elements (in some cases, one device may include a plurality of light emitting elements), the light emission color is designated by turning on one of them. Each emits light (a mixed color can also be generated by lighting both simultaneously).
As described above, the actual lighting data is either data for directly blinking, data for designating the emission color, or a mixture thereof, but for the sake of simplicity, only the following description will be given. A description will be added with “blinking” as an example. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to “flashing”.
The blinking is controlled by sequentially reading the lighting data (1) or the extinguishing data (0). That is, if the read data is lighting data (1), the lighting 202 is turned on, and if it is turned off data (0), the lighting 202 is turned off. When there are a plurality of illuminations (when there are a plurality of LEDs), it is possible to individually control 8 illuminations by associating each bit of 1 byte with on / off of the plurality of illuminations. Increasing the number of bytes increases the number of lights that can be controlled.

  The actual lighting data is prepared for each predetermined unit (time) (not prepared for each tempo). By doing this, when the same rhythm is repeated, the actual lighting data can be shared and the amount of data can be saved. (Electrical data is necessary, but since this is an index, the amount of data is small and does not cause much trouble. ). In other examples of FIG. 6 and the like described below, one lighting actual data corresponds to one bar. The data read interval differs for each tempo. When the standard tempo is used, data is read in units of TCLK, which will be described later. Since TCKL> TCCLK ′, the actual lighting data is read faster when the up-tempo is used.

  In addition, the above-mentioned lighting actual data is an example, and another format can also be taken. For example, as lighting actual data, data (1) meaning lighting and its duration, data (0) meaning turning off, and its duration may be stored.

  The reference destination information is the contents of the illumination data, and is like a jump destination address or index.

  The tempo designation information (tempo reference data) is information for designating the tempo (speed) of music and blinking lights (or color change). There are two ways to specify the tempo.

(1) Generally, the tempo of music is indicated by how many beats per minute, for example, tempo = 100 means 100 beats per minute. This “music tempo” corresponds to the frequency, and this value increases as the tempo increases (up tempo).

(2) A method based on the reciprocal of “music tempo”. This corresponds to a beat-to-beat interval, that is, a cycle. In this case, the numerical value decreases when the up-tempo is reached.

  As the tempo designation information (tempo reference data), any of the above (1) and (2) can be adopted, but in the following description, when “tempo reference data” is displayed, it means the above (2) And For example, tempo reference data = 100 means that a beat is beaten (flashing the illumination and changing the color) with a predetermined reference time (for example, 100 as a standard tempo as a reference) as an interval. Meaning, tempo reference data = 80 means that a beat is beaten at an interval of 80% of the reference time. Therefore, there is a relationship of (tempo reference data = 80 time intervals) = 0.8 × (reference time interval).

  The lighting ratio time (sometimes referred to as a lighting reference time) is a reference for lighting blinking (or the light emission time of a light emitting element of a specified color) based on the “tempo reference data” in the meaning of (2) above. It is a time interval. In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, one piece of actual lighting data is read at every lighting ratio time. TCLK may be used as a meaning of a clock signal that provides a reference for the lighting rate time.

  In the following description, the lighting ratio time when the standard “tempo reference data = 100” is expressed as TCLK, and the lighting ratio time when the uptempo “tempo reference data = 80” is expressed as TCLK ′. To do. TCLK ′ = 0.8 × TCLK.

  In the meaning of (1), “tempo reference data = 80” in the meaning of (2) means that the tempo has increased by 25%. For example, if the standard is 100 beats, it is 125 beats when uptempo is used. It shows that. That means that the frequency has increased by 25%.

  A description will be added to FIG.

  A music data group storage unit 210 stores music data. This corresponds to the ROM of the sub-board 20. Normally, music data A, music data B,... And a plurality of music data are stored. Needless to say, each piece of music data corresponds to different music.

  A decoder 211 receives music data and converts it into an acoustic signal. This is a commercially available IC.

  220 is an electrical data group storage unit for storing electrical data. This corresponds to the ROM of the sub-board 20. Usually, the illumination data A, the illumination data B,... And a plurality of illumination data are stored. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the electrical decoration data A corresponding to the music piece A includes “TD1 reference destination information” to “TD5 reference destination information” of T1 to T5. Reference destination information has been described above.

  Reference numeral 221 denotes data that is referred to by the illumination data, and is a lighting actual data group storage unit that stores lighting actual data for actual blinking. This corresponds to the ROM of the sub-board 20. Normally, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of lighting actual data TD1, TD2,. The contents are described above.

  A lighting actual data reading unit 222 reads the lighting actual data corresponding to the music output from the lighting actual data group storage unit 221 based on the lighting ratio time set by the tempo reference data.

  Reference numeral 223 denotes a drive circuit that blinks the illumination 202 based on the read lighting actual data. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the read lighting actual data is 1, the lighting 202 is turned on, and if it is 0, the lighting 202 is turned off.

  Reference numeral 224 denotes a reference data setting unit that sets the lighting ratio time based on the tempo reference data.

  FIG. 4B shows the lighting actual data reading unit 222 and the reference data setting unit 224 in FIG. 4A in more detail.

  Reference numeral 224-1 denotes a reference signal generator for generating a predetermined reference signal. This is typically a crystal oscillator that oscillates at a stable frequency. This oscillation frequency is sufficiently higher than the lighting rate time. For example, the frequency is about 100 times the TCLK when the tempo reference data = 100.

  224-2 is a multiplier / divider for generating a lighting ratio time corresponding to the tempo reference data based on the reference signal. Increase or decrease the standard lighting rate time based on the tempo reference data. That is, (lighting ratio time) = (standard time) × (input tempo reference data (for example, 80)) / (standard tempo (for example, 100)) is calculated.

  Alternatively, at the standard tempo, the reference signal is divided as it is or with a predetermined division ratio (for example, 1/100. In general, setting the frequency to 1 / n is called division, and the integer n is called division ratio). The frequency may be divided by a lower frequency division ratio (for example, 1/80) when the tempo is up, and may be divided by a higher frequency ratio when the tempo is down. As a result, the lighting ratio time at the time of uptempo is shorter than that of the standard.

  In order to divide by an arbitrary ratio, a so-called rate multiplier can be used. This is a kind of frequency dividing circuit that outputs a pulse density with a predetermined set ratio reduced with respect to an input clock. The counter can only divide by an integer ratio, but can divide a rational number ratio such as m for n.

  Reference numeral 222-1 denotes an address generation unit that generates an address for reading actual lighting data based on the lighting ratio time. The address generator 222-1 is, for example, a counter. In the example of FIG. 6, since the address of the lighting actual data TD1 corresponding to one measure is 1 to N, the address is incremented every time the lighting ratio time is received, in other words, every TCLK. When one measure is over, that is, when the reference changes, the address is cleared. Thereby, all the lighting actual data can be read by N × TCLK.

  222-2 is a latch which acquires the lighting actual data read for every lighting ratio time. This output is sent to the drive circuit 223, and the lighting 202 is blinked directly.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the electrical blinking process of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process at the standard tempo.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process at uptempo.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process. FIG. 8A is a timing chart showing the rhythm of the music piece A at the standard tempo (tempo reference data = 100) and the blink timing of the illumination, and FIG. 8B is the up tempo (tempo reference data = It is a timing chart which shows the rhythm of the music A at the time of 80), and the blink timing of an electrical decoration. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the music piece A consists of five bars M1 to M5, and the electric decoration has five electric decoration control units T1 to T5 corresponding to these. TD1 to TD5 are lighting actual data corresponding to them. Only TD1 is shown as an example of the actual lighting data, but the other is the same. FIGS. 8A and 8B differ only in the tempo, and the others are the same.

  5 to 8 show an example of an embodiment of the invention.

  Since TD1 corresponds to M1 and is a combination of a half note and a quarter note, it has lighting data corresponding to each. That is, it has 2 × n lighting data (1) corresponding to a half note, and n lighting data (1) corresponding to a quarter note. There are extinguishing data (0) between the notes and at the positions corresponding to the bar breaks.

  Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described in accordance with the specific examples of FIGS. The processing of FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU of the sub-board 20.

S50: Select music data and send it to the decoder.
The music A data is selected and sent to the decoder 211 and also sent to the electrical data group storage unit 220.

S51: Select illumination data.
The illumination data A corresponding to the music A is selected. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the illumination data A is stored at addresses T1 to T5, and the contents are reference destination information of TD1 to TD3, so these are selected. Since the music data M1 and M3 and M2 and M4 are the same, the same lighting actual data TD1 and TD2 are referenced in T1 and T3 and T2 and T4 (the lighting actual data can be shared).

S52: The tempo is determined.
If the tempo specified for the decoder 211 is a normal tempo, tempo standard data = 100 is set (S53), and if it is an up-tempo, tempo standard data = 80 is set (S53up).

S54: The lighting ratio time is set based on the tempo standard data.
If tempo standard data = 100, standard TCLK is set, and if tempo standard data = 80, TCLK ′ = 0.8 × TCLK. 0.8 is the ratio of (tempo standard data = 100) to (tempo standard data = 80).

S55: Read lighting actual data based on the set lighting ratio time.
The lighting actual data TD1 to TD3 are sequentially read according to the passage of time.

S56: The illumination is blinked based on the read data.
For example, TD1 is selected for M1 of the music piece A. If tempo standard data = 100, data is sequentially read based on the standard TCLK. An example is shown in FIG. 6, and tα, tβ, tγ, and tδ are shown as lighting start and extinguishing times. When the data corresponding to each is read, the illumination 202 is turned on / off. This timing is the same as that shown in FIG.

  If tempo standard data = 80, the data is sequentially read based on the up-tempo TCLK '. FIG. 7 shows an example thereof, and tα ′, tβ ′, tγ ′, and tδ ′ are shown as lighting start and extinguishing times. When the data corresponding to each is read, the illumination 202 is turned on / off. This timing is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Here, tα ′ = 0.8 × tα according to the relationship between TCLK ′ and TCLK. The same applies to tβ and the like.

  Therefore, even if the same lighting actual data is used, the illumination can be blinked in accordance with both the standard tempo and the uptempo. As shown in FIG. 8, music and electrical decoration come to synchronize.

S57: The above processing is continued until all the illumination data is read.
When the reading of the lighting actual data TD3 designated by T5 of the illumination data A is completed (when the Nth data is read), the result is YES in S57 and the process is terminated.

  According to the embodiment of the invention, it is possible to make common illumination data correspond to a plurality of tempos, and it is not necessary to create illumination data for each tempo. It is possible to make the illumination data creation more efficient and to reduce the data capacity.

  The embodiment of the invention can also be applied to a case where the tempo changes during the music. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a combination of songs A and C, and M1up, M2up, and M3up of song A are up-tempo, but C4 and C5 of song C in the latter half are standard tempo. As shown in FIG. 9, the tempo standard data is changed to 80 for T1 and T3, and the tempo standard data is changed to 80 for T4 and T5. Tempo standard data = 100. In this way, the electric decoration can be synchronized with the music also for the combination of the music A and C shown in FIG.

  In the embodiment of the invention, a plurality of tempo designation information can be combined. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of multipliers / dividers 224-2 are provided, connected in series, and given tempo reference data to each. Then, the actual lighting data is read based on the lighting ratio time synthesized by them.

  For example, by setting tempo standard data = 80 and tempo standard data = 60 as first tempo standard data and second tempo standard data, respectively, the combined output (output of the second multiplier / divider 224-2-2) is 0.8 × 0.6 × TCLK = 0.48 × TCLK.

  With the configuration shown in FIG. 11, even when only two types of tempo standard data are provided, three types of lighting ratio times can be generated. In general, if there are M types of tempo standard data other than the standard, it is possible to further generate M (M-1) / 2 types of lighting ratio times, which are combinations thereof. Also, three or more multipliers / dividers can be multiplexed, and in this case, more types of lighting ratio times can be generated.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, various illumination data patterns can be lit in correspondence with various music pieces only by changing the tempo partially or entirely. There is no need to create data for each of the same lighting patterns with different speeds, and the memory capacity can be saved.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiment of the invention, an example in which lighting actual data is created for each of the same lighting patterns with different tempos will be described.

FIG. 12 is a process flowchart of the reference example.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process at the standard tempo in the reference example.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process at the time of uptempo in the reference example.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the electrical blinking process.

  In the reference example, the time interval TCLK for reading the actual lighting data is constant, and therefore the tempo must be adjusted by the length of the actual lighting data. Therefore, the actual lighting data TD1 and TD1up must be created for each standard / up tempo. These cannot be shared because their lengths are completely different as shown in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, different processes S102 to S105 and S102up to S105up must be performed for each tempo.

  As described above, in the reference example, the amount of data increases and the labor for creating data is required.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

20 Sub-board 201 Speaker board (acoustic device)
202 LED board (lights)
210 Music data group storage unit 211 Decoder (acoustic control unit)
220 Lighting data group storage unit (lighting data storage unit for lighting)
221 lighting actual data group storage unit (lighting data storage unit for electrical decoration)
222 lighting actual data reading unit 222-1 address generating unit 222-2 latch 223 driving circuit 224 reference data setting unit 224-1 reference signal generating unit 224-2 multiplier / divider

Claims (6)

In a gaming machine that produces a lighting effect that flashes in response to the sound production,
A music data group storage unit that stores predetermined music data, an acoustic control unit that reproduces music based on the music data in the music data group storage unit, and generates sound by receiving the output of the acoustic control unit An audio lighting data storage unit that stores predetermined lighting data corresponding to the music data stored in the music data group storage unit, and predetermined tempo reference data A reference data setting unit that sets a lighting reference time that is a reference for lighting the lighting based on the lighting, and a lighting actual data reading unit that reads the lighting data for lighting from the lighting data storage unit for lighting based on the lighting reference time And a drive circuit for blinking electrical decoration based on the lighting data for electrical decoration read by the lighting actual data reading unit,
The acoustic control unit receives the tempo reference data or information corresponding to the tempo reference data, and reproduces music at a predetermined tempo based on the tempo reference data,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the reference data setting unit sets the lighting reference time so that a reading timing of the lighting data for lighting is synchronized with a tempo of reproduction of the music. The lighting data storage unit for lighting is a lighting data group storing unit that stores in advance a plurality of lighting data corresponding to different music pieces, and lighting actual data that stores lighting actual data that is blinking data of lighting in advance. A group storage unit,
The illumination data in the illumination data group storage unit is reference destination information for designating the actual lighting data in the actual lighting data group storage unit to be referred for each predetermined unit of the music,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the lighting actual data group storage unit is blinking data of electrical decorations for a predetermined unit of the music piece.   3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the blinking data is formed by arranging lighting data and blinking data in time series. The reference data setting unit is configured to divide the reference signal of the reference signal generator based on the tempo reference data, a pulse width of the reference signal, A multiplier / divider that changes the time interval of the pulse train and outputs the divided signal or the changed signal as the signal of the lighting reference time,
The lighting actual data reading unit is configured to generate an address of the lighting actual data in the lighting actual data group storage unit referenced by the reference destination information based on the signal of the lighting reference time, and the address A latch for reading and holding designated data;
The tempo reference data includes a tempo ratio or a time interval ratio with respect to a predetermined reference, and the multiplier / divider divides based on the tempo ratio or a pulse width based on the time interval ratio. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the time interval of the pulse train is changed. The lighting data for lighting and the tempo reference data are determined for each measure of the music,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lighting data storage unit for lighting stores the lighting data for lighting in units of measures of the music.   The game according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reference data setting unit receives a plurality of tempo reference data and sets the lighting reference time based on data obtained by combining the data included therein. Machine.

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