JP2013009817A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine including a performance control means sharable by a plurality of kinds of specifications.SOLUTION: The game machine includes a game control means of performing a game. Further, the game machine includes: a drive source provided corresponding to a performance device; and a drive control means for controlling the drive source based on a data signal and a timing signal. The drive control means has: an input terminal of data signal; an input terminal of timing signal; a fetching means for fetching a data signal; and a data signal output terminal for outputting a data signal to the outside. The data signal output terminal is connected to the data signal input terminal of another drive control means to connect a plurality of drive control means. Further, a data signal from the performance control means is input to the drive control means of an edge part. In the game machine, specifications of the game machine are specified selectively by a combination of drive sources, and a drive source used for only specific specifications from among the plurality of kinds of specifications is controlled by the drive control means connected to a termination side.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a plurality of types of specifications, and more particularly to a technique for performing presentation control that varies depending on the specifications.

  For the purpose of providing a pachinko machine that can easily control the driving of the stepping motor, when a command is output from the main control board to the sub-integrated board, the excitation data of the stepping motor is synchronized with the transfer clock and the sub-integrated board There has been proposed a gaming machine configured to serially output from a lamp drive board to a shift register connected in a daisy chain (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this conventional gaming machine, the shift register latches the excitation data and outputs the excitation signal as parallel data in response to the input of the latch signal in synchronization with the 2-millisecond timer interrupt of the sub-integrated board. Therefore, the timing for outputting this excitation signal is synchronized with the 2 ms timer interrupt of the sub-integrated board. Further, even if there are a plurality of stepping motors, the shift registers can be daisy chained, so that excitation data can be serially output continuously, and the driving of the stepping motor can be easily controlled.

JP 2006-212297 A

  In recent years, there has been an increase in model variations in response to requests from amusement stores. Even for gaming machines that use the same character, in addition to the regular version of the gaming machine with enhanced rendering functions, there is a need for a low-priced gaming machine with a somewhat reduced rendering function and reduced price. It was. This low-priced gaming machine is a simplified version of the production function by reducing the number of movable objects such as motors used for production from the regular version of the gaming machine, while remaining in common with the regular version of the gaming machine. The purpose was to further reduce costs.

  However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is different when developing both low-priced gaming machines and regular-version gaming machines, although the two versions have many common functions. There was a need to develop a control board. Specifically, FIG. 15 of Patent Document 1 includes two shift registers and four stepping motors. If the number of stepping motors varies greatly between the low-priced version and the regular version, a shift is performed. Not only did the number of registers need to be changed accordingly, but multiple types of control programs had to be prepared, and development efficiency was not good.

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including an effect control means capable of controlling a plurality of effect devices that perform a game effect, wherein the plurality of effect devices include a plurality of movable effect devices that perform a game effect using a movable object, Provided corresponding to each movable effect device, a drive source that can be driven by applying a predetermined electrical signal to the signal terminal, and a signal terminal of each of the drive sources by inputting a data signal and a timing signal Drive control means for controlling the drive source by applying an electrical signal to the drive control means, the drive control means comprising: a data signal input terminal for receiving the data signal; and a timing signal input terminal for receiving the timing signal. In response to the change of the timing signal, the data signal input to the data signal input terminal is sequentially captured, and the data signal captured by the capture means is externally A data signal output terminal for outputting, and connecting the plurality of drive control means by inputting the signal output from the data signal output terminal to the data signal input terminal of the separate drive control means, A data signal from the effect control unit is input to the data signal input terminal of the drive control unit, and the gaming machine has a plurality of predetermined specifications according to combinations of drive sources controlled by the drive control unit. The specification of the gaming machine is selectively specified from among the plurality of types of specifications, and the drive source commonly used for each of the plurality of types of specifications is controlled by the drive control means connected to the head side, while the plurality A drive source used only for a specific specification among the types of specifications is controlled by the drive control means connected to the terminal side.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to share data output from the effect control means to the drive control means without depending on the specifications.

It is explanatory drawing of the game machine of embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the game board of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the center case of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state before the union production apparatus of embodiment of this invention operate | moves. It is a figure which shows the state which has contact | abutted in the contact part as a result of operating the unification effect apparatus of embodiment of this invention, and operating the 1st effect unit and the 2nd effect unit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the game machine of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the presentation control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the connection state of the presentation control apparatus, signal conversion board | substrate, movable control board | substrate, and light emission control board | substrate of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the movable control board of an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram of the signal conversion board of an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram of the light emission control board | substrate of embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows operation | movement of the presentation control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the data required in order to control the edit area | region of output data of CPU of the presentation control apparatus of embodiment of this invention, and the timing which transmits the said output data. It is a figure which shows an example of the data for controlling light emission effect apparatuses, such as LED output from the effect control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the main process performed by the game control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the timer interruption process of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process by the presentation control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process by the presentation control apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the edit process of the serial data of the output part RA of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the edit process of the output part LL of embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a gaming machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A front frame (game frame) 3 of the gaming machine 1 is assembled to the main body frame (outer frame) 2 via a hinge 4 so as to be openable and closable on the front surface of the gaming machine 1. A game board 10 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated on the front side of the front frame 3. Further, a glass frame 18 having a cover glass (transparent member) covering the front surface of the game board 10 is attached to the front frame 3.

  Around the cover glass of the glass frame 18, decoration members 9 a and 9 b that emit decoration light are provided. The decoration members 9a and 9b are provided with a decoration device composed of a lamp, an LED, or the like. By causing the decoration device to emit light in a predetermined light emission mode, the decoration members 9a and 9b emit light in a predetermined light emission mode.

  Speakers 30 that emit sound (for example, sound effects) are provided on the left and right sides of the glass frame 18. An illumination unit 11 is provided above the glass frame 18.

  In the illumination unit 11, a first movable illumination 13 and a second movable illumination 14 are arranged on the left and right. The first movable illumination 13 and the second movable illumination 14 include an illumination drive first motor (MOT) 13a and an illumination drive second motor (MOT) 14a in addition to an illumination member such as an LED. It is controlled so as to operate according to the contents of the production.

  An abnormality notification LED 29 for notifying abnormality in the gaming machine 1 is provided on the upper right side of the first movable illumination 13 disposed on the left side. When an abnormality occurs in the gaming machine 1, the abnormality notification LED 29 is turned on or blinks, and a notification sound for notifying the abnormality is output from the speaker 30.

  The open / close panel 20 below the front frame 3 is provided with an upper plate for supplying a game ball to a ball hitting device (not shown), and the fixed panel 22 is provided with a lower plate 23 and an operation unit 24 of the ball hitting device. The lower tray 23 is provided with a lower tray ball removing mechanism 16 for discharging the game balls stored in the lower tray 23. A key 25 for locking the glass frame 18 is provided on the lower right side of the front frame 3.

  Further, when the player turns the operation unit 24, the hitting ball launching device launches a game ball supplied from the upper plate 21.

  In addition, the upper edge portion of the upper plate 21 is provided with an effect button 17 for receiving an operation input from the player. When the player operates the effect button 17, the effect content of the special figure variation display game on the display device 53 (see FIG. 2) provided on the game board 10 is selected, and the special figure variation display game on the display device 53 is selected. In addition, it is possible to perform an effect in which the player's operation is intervened.

  When the launched game ball wins the start opening 36 (see FIG. 2) provided in the game board 10, the special figure variation display game starts. In the special figure fluctuation display game, a plurality of pieces of identification information are variably displayed on the display device 53. Then, when the identification information that has been variably displayed is stopped and the result mode of the stopped identification information is a specific result mode, the state of the gaming machine 1 is advantageous to the player (a state where a privilege is granted) Transition to a special gaming state.

  In the upper right portion of the upper plate 21, a ball lending button 26 that is operated when a player borrows a game ball and a discharge button 27 that is operated to discharge a prepaid card from a card unit (not shown) are provided. . Further, a balance display unit 28 for displaying the balance of the prepaid card is provided between the ball lending button 26 and the discharge button 27.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 fires a game ball in an internal game area 10a (bounces it) to play a game, and a game area 10a is provided on the back side of the cover glass of the glass frame 18. The game board 10 which comprises is installed.

  The game board 10 includes a flat game board main body 10b (made of wood or synthetic resin) serving as a mounting base for various members, and has a game area 10a surrounded by a guide rail 32 on the front surface of the game board main body 10b. ing. A front component 33 is attached to the front surface of the game board main body 10 b and outside the guide rail 32. Then, a game ball (hit ball; game medium) is launched from the launching device into the game area 10a surrounded by the guide rail 32 to play a game.

  A center case 51 that forms a window 52 serving as a display area for a special figure variation display game is attached to the approximate center of the game area 10a. Behind the window 52 formed in the center case 51, a display device 53 is arranged as an effect display device capable of executing an effect of a special figure variable display game that displays a plurality of identification information in a variable manner. The display device 53 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is arranged so that a display portion 53 a whose display contents can be changed is visible from the front side of the game board 10 through the window portion 52 of the center case 51. Note that the display device 53 is not limited to a device including a liquid crystal display, and may include a display such as an EL or a CRT.

  In addition, a reliability notification device 15 that notifies the possibility of jackpot (reliability) is provided on the upper portion of the center case 51. The reliability notification device 15 includes LEDs of a plurality of colors (for example, LEDs of three colors of red, blue, and green) and is controlled to emit light in a color and manner according to the reliability.

  Further, a ball introduction path (warp flow path) 50 through which a game ball can flow down is provided on the left portion of the center case 51, and is opened with the entrance 50a open toward the game area 10a. The ball introduction path 50 communicates with the inside of the center case 51, and the game ball that has flowed from the inlet 50a passes through the back side of the center case 51 and is discharged onto the unit-side stage portion 49b. Further, the game ball that rolls on the unit-side stage portion 49b can flow down onto the base-side stage portion 49a disposed below the unit-side stage portion 49b.

  A plurality of ornaments 47 (47a, 47b) are arranged on the peripheral edge of the center case 51. A decorative lamp 48 is disposed at the lower left portion of the center case 51, and a plurality of decorative pieces 46 are disposed in an upper and lower movable state at the upper portion of the center case 51. The decoration tool 47, the decoration lamp 48, and the decoration piece 46 perform an effect operation according to a command from an effect control device 550 described later. In the regular version of the gaming machine, the decoration tool 47 is configured to be movable by a motor. However, in the inexpensive version of the gaming machine, the decoration tool 47 is fixed. The configuration of the center case 51 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  Further, in the game area 10a, below the center case 51, a start opening 36 for starting a special figure changing display game that can receive (win) a game ball is arranged. Further, on the side of the center case 51 (on the left side), a general map start gate 34 for starting the general map change display game is arranged.

  Further, in the game area 10a, side lamps 45 that perform various decorative displays by light emission are arranged on the lower left and lower right of the center case 51. The side lamp 45 is provided with a general winning opening 44.

  Further, a big winning opening 42 is arranged below the start opening 36, and an out opening for collecting the game balls that have flowed down without winning at the lower edge of the gaming area 10a below the big winning opening 42. 43 is established. The special winning opening 42 includes an attacker-type opening / closing door 42a that can be opened by rotating in a direction in which the upper end side is tilted to the near side. The state of the open / close door 42a is changed from a closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) to an open state (a state advantageous for the player) according to the result of the special figure variation display game.

  In addition, in the game area 10a excluding attachment portions such as the center case 51, the start port 36, the side lamp 45, etc., there are a windmill (not shown) as a hitting direction changing member, and many No. nails (not shown) are provided. A vertically arcuate game ball passage 57 is formed between the center case 51 and the front structural member 33 located on the opposite side of the normal start gate 34 with the center case 51 interposed therebetween.

  Further, the game board 10 is provided with a special figure / special figure display 35 for executing a special figure change display game and a normal figure change display game. The general-purpose / special-figure display 35 displays the number of unprocessed times (special figure start memory number) of the special-figure display game and the unprocessed number of general-purpose variable display games (number of general figure start memory). The general-purpose / special-purpose display 35 is provided as a segment LED together with a game state display LED (not shown) representing a game state.

  A gate SW 34a (see FIG. 6) for detecting a game ball that has passed through the general chart start gate 34 is provided in the general chart start gate 34. Then, when the game ball that has been driven into the game area 10a passes through the normal figure start gate 34, the normal figure change display game is started.

  In addition, when the game ball passes through the general chart start gate 34 in a state where the normal map variable display game cannot be started, if the general chart start memory number is less than the upper limit number, the general chart start memory number is incremented by one, One random number indicating whether or not the normal figure change display game is won is stored as a normal figure start memory.

  The state in which the general map change display game cannot be started is, for example, a state in which the general map change display game has already been performed and the normal map change display game has not been completed, Is a state that has been converted to an open state.

  It should be noted that the universal map change display game may display the universal map change display game in a part of the display area of the display device 53. In this case, for example, numbers, symbols, character designs, etc. are used as identification symbols. This identification symbol is displayed by variably displaying for a predetermined time and then stopped and displayed.

  If the stop display of the normal map change display game has a special result mode, the opening / closing member 36a of the start port 36 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.3 seconds) as a win for the normal map display game. Is done. Thereby, it becomes easy to win a game ball in the start opening 36, and the special figure variation display game can be started easily. The opening / closing member 36a of the start port 36 normally maintains a closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) with an interval of about the diameter of the game ball. When the stop display mode is entered (when the normal-game fluctuation display game is won), the game ball is opened in a reverse “C” shape by the solenoid (Fuden SOL 36b, see FIG. 6). It is changed to a state that is easy to flow in (a state that is advantageous to the player).

  Further, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, based on the result mode of the special figure variation display game, as a gaming state, the time-short operation state (second operation) for shortening the variation display time of the special figure variation display game on the display device 53. Operation state) can be generated. The short-time operation state (second operation state) is a state in which the opening / closing member 36a of the start port 36 is likely to be open compared to the normal operation state (first operation state).

  In the short-time operation state, the execution time of the normal variation display game is controlled to be shorter than the execution time in the normal operation state (for example, 10 seconds is 1 second), and the number of opening of the start port 36 per unit time is It is controlled to increase substantially. Further, in the short-time operation state, when the start port 36 is opened due to the winning of the normal fluctuation display game, the opening time is controlled to be longer than the opening time of the normal operation state (for example, 0 3 seconds is 1.8 seconds). Further, in the short-time operation state, the start port 36 is opened a plurality of times (for example, two times) instead of once for the one-time winning result of the normal map display game. Further, in the short-time operation state, control is performed so that the probability of winning the normal-variation display game is higher than that in the normal operation state. That is, the number of times the opening of the start port 36 is increased as compared to the normal operation state, and it becomes easier for a game ball to win the start port 36 and the special figure variation display game can be started easily.

  In addition, a start port SW 36 d (see FIG. 6) for detecting a game ball that has passed through the start port 36 is provided inside the start port 36. When a game ball is detected by the start port SW36d, a start right for starting a special figure variation display game as an auxiliary game is generated. At this time, the right to start the special figure variation display game is stored as a special figure start memory within a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 4).

  When the special figure fluctuation display game cannot be started immediately, for example, when the special figure fluctuation display game has already been performed and the special figure fluctuation display game has not been completed, or when the special game state has been entered, the start port 36 When the game ball wins, if the special figure start memory number is less than the upper limit number (for example, less than 4), the special figure start memory number is incremented by 1 and extracted at the timing when the game ball wins the start opening 36. One random number is stored as a special figure start memory. When the special figure fluctuation display game is ready to start, the special figure fluctuation display game is started based on the special figure start memory.

  The special figure variation display game as an auxiliary game is executed by the general figure / special figure display device 35 provided on the game board 10, and after a plurality of identification information is variably displayed, a predetermined result mode is stopped and displayed. Done. Further, a plurality of types of identification information (for example, numbers, symbols, character designs, etc.) are displayed in a variable manner on the display device 53 in correspondence with the special figure fluctuation display game. And as a result of the special figure variation display game, when the display mode of the general figure / special map display 35 becomes a special result mode, it becomes a big win and becomes a special game state (so-called big hit state). Correspondingly, the display mode of the display device 53 is also a special result mode (for example, any one of the numbers in the flat order such as “7, 7, 7”). In addition, you may comprise so that a special figure fluctuation display game may be performed only with the display apparatus 53 instead of the general figure and special figure display 35. FIG.

  In addition, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment can generate a probability variation state (second probability state) as a gaming state based on the result mode of the special figure variation display game. This probability variation state (second probability state) is a state in which the probability of a hit result in the special figure variation display game is higher than the normal probability state (first probability state). Note that the probability variation state and the above-described short-time operation state can be generated independently, and both can be generated at the same time, or only one of them can be generated.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the center case 51 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The center case 51 includes a frame decoration portion 65 disposed as a front surface configuration portion on the front surface side of the game board main body 10b (game board 10), and a frame base portion 60 disposed as a back surface configuration portion on the back surface side of the game board main body 10b. And are polymerized before and after. The frame decoration portion 65 includes an annular decoration base 66 that is fixed to the surface of the game board main body 10b. On the back side of the decoration base 66, there is provided a decoration panel unit 67 that is substantially the same size as the decoration base 66 and formed in a circular shape, and the frame decoration portion 65 superimposes the decoration base 66 and the decoration panel unit 67 back and forth. Configured.

  Under the decoration base 66, a base side stage portion 49a capable of rolling a game ball in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is arranged on the upper surface. 48 is arranged (see FIG. 2). A ball introduction path (warp flow path) 50 through which a game ball can flow down is provided on the opposite side of the decoration lamp 48 across the base side stage portion 49a, and the entrance 50a of the ball introduction path 50 is connected to the decoration base 66. The outlet 50b of the ball introduction path 50 is communicated with the back side of the decorative panel unit 67 described later.

  The decorative panel unit 67 includes a cover panel portion 69 formed of a substantially circular transparent resin plate, and a plurality of decorative tools 47 are arranged on the peripheral edge of the front side of the cover panel portion 69. When the decoration base 66 and the decoration panel unit 67 are overlapped, the decoration tool 47 is set to be disposed along the inner peripheral edge of the decoration base 66 (see FIG. 2). In addition, a reliability notification device 15 is disposed on the upper portion of the cover panel unit 69.

  In addition, a unit-side stage portion 49b capable of rolling a game ball in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is disposed on the upper surface at the lower portion on the back side of the cover panel portion 69. The unit side stage portion 49b is disposed above the base side stage portion 49a of the decorative base 66.

  Further, a sphere inlet 68 is opened at a location where the cover panel 69 overlaps with the outlet 50 b of the sphere introduction path 50, and the sphere introduction path 50 and the unit side stage portion 49 b communicate with each other via the sphere inlet 68. doing. Therefore, when a game ball flowing down the game area 10a flows into the ball introduction path 50, the ball introduction path 50 is configured so that the game ball can be introduced onto the unit side stage portion 49b.

  The frame base 60 includes a frame-like base case 61 that is fixed to the back side of the game board 10 in a state where the front side is open, and is opened inside the base case 61 (in other words, inside the center case 51). The part 62a forms a concave chamber 62 provided on the front side.

  In addition, a rectangular window 52 is opened in the front-rear direction behind the concave chamber 62 in the base case 61, and a display device 53 is attached from the rear of the base case 61 to display the display portion of the display device 53. 53 a faces the front of the center case 51 through the window 52 and the recessed chamber 62.

  Further, a plurality of decorative pieces 46 that can be moved up and down by an accessory driving solenoid (not shown) are disposed on the front side of the upper edge of the window 52, and display portions are provided on the left and right edges of the window 52. A united effect device 58 that moves forward 53a and performs an effect operation is provided.

  Then, when the frame decoration portion 65 is overlapped in front of the frame base portion 60, the opening 62a and the window portion 52 of the concave chamber 62 are covered with the cover panel portion 69 from the front, and the display portion 53a of the display device 53 is covered with the frame decoration portion. It is configured to face the front of the center case 51 from the inside of 65 (where the cover panel portion 69 is exposed).

  4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the united effect production device 58 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The combined effect device 58 is configured to include the first effect unit 63 and the second effect unit 64 at positions separated from each other, and the first effect unit 63 and the second effect unit 64 are operated in conjunction with each other to execute an effect operation. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state before the united effect device 58 is operated, and FIG. 5 is a result of operation of the first unit 63 and the second unit 64 as a result of the operation of the united device 58 and contact. It is a figure which shows the state contact | abutted in a part (1st contact part 121 and 2nd contact part 122).

  The first effect unit 63 is disposed on the left side of the center case 51, that is, on the left side of the peripheral edge of the window portion 52 of the base case 61. Further, the second effect unit 64 is disposed on the right side of the center case 51. When viewed from the front of the center case 51, the concave chamber 62 and the window 52 are arranged so as to face between the first effect unit 63 and the second effect unit 64.

  The first effect unit 63 includes a first effect member 70 that can move forward of the display unit 53a, and an accessory driving first motor (MOT) that serves as a first effect drive source that generates the driving force of the first effect member 70. ) 71, and a first effect transmission mechanism (first main arm member 73 and first sub arm member 74) that transmits the driving force (rotational power) generated from the accessory driving first motor 71 to the first effect member 70; Is provided.

  Further, an output shaft (first output shaft) 71a of the accessory driving first motor 71 extends in the front-rear direction of the center case 51, and the first drive gear 76 is pivotally attached to the first output shaft 71a. doing.

  The first main arm member 73 is formed with a first main arm gear 77 that meshes with the first drive gear 76, and is pivotally mounted above the first drive gear 76. The first sub arm member 74 is formed with a first sub arm gear 78 that meshes with the first drive gear 76, and is pivotally attached to the lower side of the first drive gear 76. The first main arm member 73 and the first sub arm member 74 are axially attached to the first effect member 70 at positions where the end portions opposite to the end portions axially attached to the base case 61 are different from each other. 70 is supported.

  When the first effect unit 63 drives the accessory driving first motor 71 and rotates the first driving gear 76 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the center case 51, the driving force of the accessory driving first motor 71 ( Torque) is transmitted to the first main arm member 73 via the first drive gear 76 and the first main arm gear 77, and the first main arm member 73 is counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the center case 51 by this drive force. Rotate in the direction. Further, the driving force of the accessory driving first motor 71 is transmitted to the first sub-arm member 74 via the first driving gear 76 and the first sub-arm gear 78, and the first sub-arm member 74 is transmitted to the first sub-arm member 74 by this driving force. The first main arm member 73 rotates in the same counterclockwise direction. As a result, the first effect member 70 rises while being supported by the first main arm member 73 and the first sub arm member 74.

  Then, when the first main arm member 73 and the first sub arm member 74 are extended upward by the driving force of the accessory driving first motor 71 and set in the vertical posture, as shown in FIG. The first effect stop state in which 70 is moved away from the front of the display portion 53a is entered, the first effect member 70 is located on the side of the window portion 52, and behind the frame decoration portion 65 and behind the game board main body 10b. (See FIG. 2).

  On the other hand, when the accessory driving first motor 71 is driven from the first effect stop state and the first driving gear 76 is turned counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the center case 51, the driving of the accessory driving first motor 71 is performed. A force (rotation force) is transmitted to the first main arm member 73 via the first drive gear 76 and the first main arm gear 77, and the first main arm member 73 is viewed from the front of the center case 51 by this drive force. Rotate clockwise.

  Further, the driving force of the accessory driving first motor 71 is transmitted to the first sub-arm member 74 via the first driving gear 76 and the first sub-arm gear 78, and the first sub-arm member 74 is transmitted to the first sub-arm member 74 by this driving force. It rotates in the same clockwise direction as the one main arm member 73. As a result, the first effect member 70 is lowered while being supported by the first main arm member 73 and the first sub arm member 74.

  Then, when the first main arm member 73 and the first sub arm member 74 are extended to the front side of the display portion 53a by the driving force of the accessory driving first motor 71 and set in the horizontal posture, as shown in FIG. The first effect member 70 is positioned in front of the display unit 53a, and the first effect execution state is reached. Located in front.

  The second effect unit 64 includes a second effect member 80 that can move to the front of the display unit 53a, and an accessory driving second motor (MOT) as a second effect drive source that generates the drive force of the second effect member 80. ) 81, and a second effect transmission mechanism (second main arm member 83 and second sub arm member 84) that transmits the driving force (rotational power) generated from the accessory driving second motor 81 to the second effect member 80. Is provided.

  Further, the accessory driving second motor 81 has an output shaft (second output shaft) 81a extending in the front-rear direction of the center case 51, and the second output shaft 81a is pivotally mounted so that the second drive gear 86 can be rotated together. doing.

  The second main arm member 83 is formed with a second main arm gear 87 that meshes with the second drive gear 86, and is pivotally attached to a position closer to the first effect unit 63 than the second drive gear 86. The second sub arm member 84 is formed with a second sub arm gear 88 that meshes with the second drive gear 86, and is pivotally attached to the lower side of the second drive gear 86. The second main arm member 83 and the second sub arm member 84 are pivotally attached to the second effect member 80 at positions where the end portions opposite to the end portions that are axially attached to the base case 61 are different from each other. 80 is supported.

  When the second effect unit 64 drives the accessory driving second motor 81 and rotates the second driving gear 86 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the center case 51, the driving force of the accessory driving second motor 81 ( Torque) is transmitted to the second main arm member 83 via the second drive gear 86 and the second main arm gear 87, and the second main arm member 83 is counterclockwise when viewed from the front of the center case 51 by this drive force. Rotate in the direction. Further, the driving force of the accessory driving second motor 81 is transmitted to the second sub arm member 84 via the second driving gear 86 and the second sub arm gear 88, and the second sub arm member 84 is transmitted to the second sub arm member 84 by this driving force. The second main arm member 83 rotates in the same counterclockwise direction. As a result, the second effect member 80 is lowered while being supported by the second main arm member 83 and the second sub arm member 84.

  Then, the second main arm member 83 and the second sub arm member 84 are rotated by the driving force of the accessory driving second motor 81 to cause the second effect member 80 to reach the bottom dead center, and the second main arm member continues. 83 and the second sub arm member 84 are rotated to extend obliquely downward and set in a vertical posture, and when the second effect member 80 is slightly raised from the bottom dead center, as shown in FIG. The second effect member 80 is placed in a second effect stop state in which the effect member 80 is positioned away from the front of the display portion 53a, and the second effect member 80 is hidden behind the frame decoration portion 65 and behind the game board main body 10b (see FIG. 2).

  On the other hand, when the accessory driving second motor 81 is driven from the second effect stop state and the second driving gear 86 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the center case 51, the driving of the accessory driving second motor 81 is performed. A force (rotation force) is transmitted to the second main arm member 83 via the second drive gear 86 and the second main arm gear 87, and the second main arm member 83 is viewed from the front of the center case 51 by this drive force. Rotate clockwise.

  Further, the driving force of the accessory driving second motor 81 is transmitted to the second sub arm member 84 via the second driving gear 86 and the second sub arm gear 88, and the second sub arm member 84 is transmitted to the second sub arm member 84 by this driving force. It rotates in the same clockwise direction as the two main arm members 83. As a result, the second effect member 80 rises while being supported by the second main arm member 83 and the second sub arm member 84.

  Then, when the second main arm member 83 and the second sub arm member 84 are extended to the front of the display portion 53a by the driving force of the accessory driving second motor 81 and set in the horizontal posture, as shown in FIG. The second effect member 80 is positioned in front of the display unit 53a, and the second effect execution state is reached. The second effect member 80 is located at the center of the display unit 53a in the space between the display unit 53a and the cover panel unit 69. Located in front.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The gaming machine 1 includes a game control device 500 that comprehensively controls the game, an effect control device 550 that controls the display device 53 and the speaker 30 to perform various effects, and a payout motor ( A payout control device 580 for controlling (not shown) is provided.

  First, the configuration of the game control device 500 will be described. The production control device 550 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The game control device 500 includes a game microcomputer 501, an input I / F (Interface) 505, an output I / F (Interface) 506, and an external communication terminal 507.

  The gaming microcomputer 501 includes a CPU 502, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 503, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 504.

  The CPU 502 is a main control device that controls the game in an integrated manner, and controls the game. The ROM 503 stores invariant information (programs, data, etc.) for game control. The RAM 504 is used as a work area during game control.

  The external communication terminal 507 connects the game control device 500 to an external device such as an inspection device that inspects the setting information of the game control device 500.

  The CPU 502 receives various input devices (start opening SW36d, general winning openings SW44a to 44n, gate SW34a, count SW42d, glass frame opening SW18a, front frame opening SW3a, ball break SW54, vibration sensor 55, and the like via the input I / F 505. In response to the detection signal from the magnetic sensor 56), various processes such as a big hit lottery are performed.

  The start port SW36d is a switch that detects that a game ball has won the start port 36. The general winning ports SW 44 a to 44 n are switches that detect that a game ball has won the general winning port 44.

  The gate SW 34a is a switch that detects that a game ball has passed through the usual start gate 34. The count SW 42d is a switch that detects that a game ball has won a prize winning opening 42.

  The glass frame opening SW 18a is a switch that detects that the glass frame 18 has been opened. The front frame opening SW 3a is a switch for detecting that the front frame 3 is opened.

  The ball cut SW 54 is a switch that detects that the number of game balls stored in the upper tank of the gaming machine 1 and used for payout has become a predetermined number or less.

  The vibration sensor 55 is a sensor that detects vibration applied to the gaming machine 1 and detects an illegal act such as vibrating the gaming machine 1. The magnetic sensor 56 is provided in the vicinity of the second start winning opening, the general winning opening 44, the large winning opening 42, and the normal start gate 34 of the start opening 36, and is a sensor for detecting magnetic force. In other words, the magnetic sensor 56 detects fraud by detecting the magnetic force to bring the magnet close to the vicinity of each winning opening and guiding the game ball launched into the gaming area 10a to each winning opening.

  In addition, the CPU 502 transmits a command signal to the ordinary / special-purpose display 35, the ordinary electric power SOL 36b, the special winning opening SOL 42b, the payout control device 580, and the effect control device 550 via the output I / F 506, thereby playing the game Overall control.

  As described above, the special figure change display game and the universal figure change display game are executed on the special figure / special figure display unit 35. Furthermore, the number of unprocessed times (special figure start memory number) of the special figure change display game and the number of unprocessed times (standard figure start memory number) of the normal figure change display game are displayed. A general chart start memory including a random number indicating whether or not the special figure fluctuation display game is won and a special figure start memory including a random number indicating whether or not the special figure fluctuation display game is a win are stored.

  The general electric power SOL 36b opens the opening / closing member 36a when the stop display of the general-purpose variable display game becomes a special result mode, thereby making it easy for the game ball to win the start opening 36.

  The special winning opening SOL42b opens the open / close door 42a of the special winning opening 42 when the result of the special figure change display game becomes a special result mode and becomes a special gaming state (a big hit state), and a game ball Is converted to a state where it is easy to win.

  The game control device 500 outputs game machine data from the external information terminal 508 to a game hall management device (not shown) via an information collection terminal device (not shown). The gaming hall management device is a computer that collects and manages gaming data of the gaming machines 1 installed in the gaming hall.

  The payout control device 580 receives, from the game control device 500, a payout command for the number of game balls corresponding to the winning port when the game ball wins the general winning port 44 or the big winning port 42. Further, even when the ball lending button 26 is operated, a payout command for paying out a predetermined number of game balls is received from the game control device 500. The payout control device 580 controls a payout motor (not shown) based on the received payout command, and pays out the number of game balls specified in the payout command.

  The game control device 500 uses a change start command, a customer waiting demo command, a fanfare command, a probability information command, an error designation command, and the like as game data indicating the game situation via the output I / F 506, and the effect control device 550. Send to.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the effect control device 550 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The effect control device 550 determines the contents of the effect based on the game data input from the game control device 500, controls the display device 53, and controls various effect devices provided in the game board 10 and the front frame 3. To do. The rendering device includes a light emitting device such as an LED, and a movable object such as a motor or a solenoid.

  The effect control device 550 includes a CPU 551, a control ROM 552, a RAM 553, an image ROM 554, a sound ROM 555, a VDP 556, a sound LSI 557, an input I / F 558b, an output I / F 558a, and a monitoring timer circuit 562. Furthermore, the effect control device 550 includes a connection terminal 571 to the signal conversion board 600, an input signal connection terminal 572 connected to the motor position detection sensor 90 and the effect button 17, and a speaker connection terminal 573 connected to the speaker 30. Prepare.

  The CPU 551 receives the command signal transmitted from the game control device 500 as an interrupt signal (INT) as a communication interrupt, and controls various effects based on the input command signal. The CPU 551 also receives an interrupt signal (INT) as an image update interrupt from the VDP 556.

  Further, the CPU 551 receives an interrupt signal (INT) as a timeout interrupt also from the monitoring timer circuit 562. The monitoring timer circuit 562 includes a plurality of types of monitoring timers, and outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 551 when the monitoring timer value set by the CPU 551 is up. When the CPU 551 receives an input of an interrupt signal, the CPU 551 interrupts the process being executed and executes a process corresponding to the input interrupt signal.

  The control ROM 552 stores invariant information (program, data, etc.) for effect control. The RAM 553 is used as a work area during production control.

  The image ROM 554 is connected to the VDP 556 and stores image data displayed on the display device 53. The VDP 556 is a processor that controls image output to the display device 53.

  In addition, the VDP 556 includes a synchronization signal generation unit that generates a synchronization signal that is synchronized with a cycle (16.6 milliseconds cycle) of updating an image displayed on the display device 53. Every time the synchronization signal is generated, the synchronization signal generation means inputs the generated synchronization signal to the CPU 551 as an interrupt signal.

  The sound ROM 555 is connected to the sound LSI 557 and stores sound data of sound effects output from the speaker 30 provided in the front frame 3. The sound LSI 557 includes a circuit for outputting sound effects from the speaker 30. The speaker connection terminal 573 inputs an audio signal generated by the sound LSI to the speaker 30.

  The input I / F 558b is an interface that receives information input from the input signal connection terminal 572 via the filter 565b. Specifically, the position information of each motor detected by the motor position detection sensor 90 provided in the game board 10 is received by receiving an input indicating that the effect button 17 provided in the front frame 3 has been operated. Or other input.

  The output I / F 558a outputs control signals (DAT, CLK, LAT, EN) from the connection terminal 571 to the signal conversion board 600 to the movable control board 620 and the light emission control board 640 via the signal conversion board 600, An effect device (a light effect device using a light emitter such as an LED, or a movable effect device using a drive member such as a motor or solenoid) provided in the panel 10 or the front frame 3 is operated.

  The signal conversion board 600 relays the control signal output from the connection terminal 571 to the movable control board 620 and the light emission control board 640. From the connection terminal 571, a control signal for the light emitter and a control signal for the driver (motor, solenoid) are output.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of the effect control device 550, the signal conversion board 600, the movable control board 620, and the light emission control board 640 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a signal conversion board 600 is connected to the effect control device 550. The signal conversion board 600 has a movable control board 620 for controlling a driving body such as a motor and a solenoid, and a light emitting body such as an LED. Is connected to a light emission control board 640 for controlling.

  Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the signal conversion board 600 is connected with the movable control board 620R and the light emission control boards 640A to 640D. In addition, the movable control board 620S is connected to the movable control board 620R, and the movable control board 620X is connected to the movable control board 620S.

  The movable control board 620R controls the illumination drive first motor 13a and the illumination drive second motor 14a for operating the first movable illumination 13 and the second movable illumination 14 provided in the front frame 3. The movable control board 620S controls the accessory driving first motor 71 and the accessory driving second motor 81 for operating the united effect production device 58 installed in the center case 51.

  The movable control board 620X controls a stepping motor (not shown) as a drive source for operating the decoration tool 47 provided in the game board 10. As described above, the decoration tool 47 performs operations such as rotation according to the contents of the effect in the regular version of the gaming machine, but is fixed without operating in the inexpensive version of the gaming machine. Therefore, the low-priced game machine does not include a drive source for operating the decoration tool 47, and does not need to include the movable control board 620X.

  The effect control device 550 determines the output mode of the driver and the light emitter based on the game data input from the game control device 500. And production control device 550 outputs production control data (production control information) to signal conversion board 600 so that it may become the determined output mode.

  The effect control device 550 is connected to the signal conversion board 600 by the connection line Vcc, the connection line Vmot, the connection line DAT, the connection line CLK, the connection line LAT, the connection line EN, and the connection line GND. The effect control device 550 transmits and receives various signals to and from the movable control board 620 and the light emission control board 640 disposed on the downstream side via the connection lines.

  The connection line Vcc is a connection line for supplying power for logic to the signal conversion board 600 and each control board (620, 640). The connection line Vmot is a connection line for supplying power for causing the LED to emit light and operating a movable accessory such as a motor or a solenoid.

  The connection line DAT is a connection line for transmitting effect control data as serial data, and functions as a data line. The connection line CLK is a connection line for inputting and outputting a clock signal used for data communication on the connection line DAT, and functions as a timing signal line. The connection line GND is a ground of the power supplied by the connection line Vcc and the connection line Vmot.

  As will be described later with reference to FIG. 10, the signal conversion board 600 is provided with a shift register 601. When the effect control device 550 transmits data via each connection line, the shift is performed in accordance with the change of the clock signal. Serial data is stored in the register 601 bit by bit. Further, when the serial data fetched with the change of the clock signal overflows, the shift register 601 outputs the overflowed data to the movable control board 620R as serial data. When a latch signal is received via the connection line LAT, the data stored in the shift register 601 is output to the light emission control boards 640A to 640D.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the movable control board 620 according to the embodiment of this invention.

  The movable control board 620 includes a shift register 621 and a driver 624 for driving a driving body such as a motor. In addition, a drive power source for driving a solenoid, a motor, and the like and control signals (DAT, CLK, LAT, EN) are input from the effect control device 550 to the movable control board 620 via the signal conversion board 600. For example, the illumination drive first motor 13a, the illumination drive second motor 14a, the accessory drive first motor 71, and the accessory drive second motor 81 are driven by the movable control board 620. If the control board is not connected downstream of the movable control board 620, a terminal for connecting to the downstream control board is not necessary. For example, the movable control board 620X may not have a terminal for connecting to the downstream control board.

  The shift register 621 has serial data input (SI), shift register clock (SCK), latch clock (RCK) and output enable (G) input terminals, 8-bit parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) and carry-out output. (CY), for example, a logic IC such as 74595 can be used. The shift register 621 includes an 8-bit internal shift register and an 8-bit storage register, and is always in a state where 8-bit data is held and stored.

  The serial data input (SI) serving as a data signal input terminal is serially inputted with data latched in the shift register. When the shift register clock (SCK) serving as a timing signal input terminal changes from L to H, the contents of the most significant bit of the internal shift register are output to CY, and the contents of each bit of the internal shift register are output to the upper bit side. The contents of SI are added to the least significant bit of the internal shift register where the empty space is generated. The latch clock (RCK) transfers the data of each bit of the internal shift register to each corresponding bit of the internal storage register.

  The output enable (G) outputs data in the internal storage register as parallel data to parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) serving as parallel signal output terminals when the input signal is L, and parallel output when the input signal is H. The output of the terminals (Q0 to Q7) is indefinite. A pull-down resistor R is connected to the parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) of the shift register. When the output of the shift register is indefinite, the output of the shift register becomes “L” level by the action of the pull-down resistor R. . For this reason, even when the output of the shift register is indefinite, the operation of the driver 624 does not become unstable, and it is possible to prevent the solenoid, the motor, and the like from malfunctioning.

  As for the control signal output from the effect control device 550, CLK is input to the shift register clock (SCK), LAT is input to the latch clock (RCK), and EN is input to the output enable (G). Of the control signals output from the effect control device 550, DAT is input to the serial data input (SI) of the shift register 621. A carry output (CY) serving as a data signal output terminal of the shift register 621 is a terminal of data output when the serial data fetched into the shift register 621 overflows, and the connection line DAT of the subsequent movable control board 620. Connected to. The parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) of the shift register 621 are input to the driver 624.

  The driver 624 includes a switching transistor that is turned on and off by an output from the shift register 621. Driving power input to the movable control board 620 is input to the driver 624, switched by a switching transistor in the driver 624, and supplied to a solenoid, a motor, and the like.

  The motor used here is constituted by a stepping motor, and rotates by sequentially applying a predetermined voltage to signal terminals of each phase that drive the stepping motor. The movable control board 620 shown in FIG. 9 controls two motors, and the signal terminals of each phase of each motor are connected to the PORT0 terminal to the PORT3 terminal.

  When a voltage is applied from the driver to the gate of each of the transistors connected to the PORT0 to PORT3 terminals connected to the motor, a current may flow from the drain to the source of the transistor to which the voltage is applied. Thus, a current flows through the motor connected to the PORT0 terminal to the PORT3 terminal, and the accessory driving motor is driven.

  The connection lines connecting the PORT0 to PORT3 terminals and the motor are branched, and one of the branched connection lines is connected to a power source supplied to the motor via a diode D and a Zener diode ZD.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the shift registers 621 provided on the movable control board 620 are connected in a daisy chain. Therefore, the serial data output from the production control device 550 side is taken in via the DAT line, and the data overflowed from the storage area in the shift register 621 is output from the carry-out output (CY) terminal. Since the data from the carry-out output can be converted into serial data and output to the subsequent shift register 621, a serial data transmission line can be connected regardless of how many shift registers 621 are connected in series. A configuration that does not increase can be realized.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the signal conversion board 600 according to the embodiment of this invention.

  The signal conversion board 600 includes a shift register 601. Further, as described above, the signal conversion board 600 is connected to the movable control board 620R and the light emission control boards 640A to 640D, and the power source input from the effect control device 550 and the control signals (DAT, CLK, LAT, EN). ) To these control boards.

  The shift register 601 includes an input terminal for serial data input (SI), a shift register clock (SCK), a latch clock (RCK), and an output enable (G), and an 8-bit parallel output terminal (Q0 to Q0) serving as a parallel signal output terminal. Q7) and carry-out output (CY). The input terminals are the same as those of the shift register 621 described with reference to FIG.

  As for the output terminal, the parallel output terminal Q0 is connected to a connection line CLK_L that inputs a clock signal to each light emission control board 640. The parallel output terminal Q1 is connected to a connection line LAT_L that inputs a latch signal to each light emission control board 640. The parallel output terminals Q2 to Q5 are connected to connection lines DAT_A to DAT_D for inputting effect control data to each light emission control board 640.

  Further, the signal output from the carry-out output (CY) is input to the connection line DAT connected to the movable control board 620.

  At this time, the latch clock signal (LAT_L) input to the light emission control board 640 is 16 times as long as the latch clock signal (LAT) input to the movable control board 620 (ie, the speed is 1/16). Entered. The procedure for setting the latch clock signal input to the light emission control board 640 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the light emission control board 640A according to the embodiment of the present invention. The light emission control boards 640B, 640C, and 640D have the same configuration except that the DAT_A signal is replaced with the DAT_B signal, the DAT_C signal, and the DAT_D signal, respectively.

  The light emission control board 640A includes a shift register 641 that functions as a low-order effect control unit. Further, the light emission control board 640 is supplied with power and control signals (DAT_A, CLK_L, LAT_L) from the effect control device 550 via the signal conversion board 600.

  Similarly to the shift register 621 of the movable control board 620, the shift register 641 has an input terminal for serial data input (SI), shift register clock (SCK), latch clock (RCK), and output enable (G), and an 8-bit input. A parallel output terminal (Q0 to Q7) and a carry-out output (CY) are provided.

  In the serial data input (SI), data latched in the shift register is serially input. When the shift register clock (SCK) changes from L to H, the internal shift register is shifted, and the contents of SI are added to the least significant bit. The latch clock (RCK) transfers the data of the internal shift register to the internal storage register.

  The output enable (G) outputs the data in the internal storage register to the parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) when the input signal is L, and outputs the parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) when the input signal is H. Indefinite. The parallel output terminals Q0 to Q7 of the shift register 641 are connected to the LEDs via the driver 642, respectively. Then, the connected LED is controlled to be turned on or off based on the output signal.

  The parallel output terminals Q6 to Q7 of the shift register 601 are vacant terminals. A signal from the output terminals is sent to a solenoid for operating the decorative piece 46 (FIG. 2) via a predetermined driver. You may make it connect.

  FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the operation of the effect control device 550 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The CLK_L signal is a timing signal for capturing serial data input to the shift register 641 of the light emission control board 640A. In this embodiment, ON / OFF is switched every 2 milliseconds. Therefore, the data set in the shift register 641 is shifted every 4 milliseconds. Serial data for controlling the light emission mode of the LED by the CLK_L signal is taken into the shift register (internal shift register) via the DAT_A line. Note that the serial data of the DAT_B line, the DAT_C line, and the DAT_D line are taken into the shift registers 641 of the light emission control boards 640B, 640C, and 640D, respectively, at the same timing.

  The LAT_L signal is a signal indicating the timing at which the data of the internal shift register of the shift register 641 is transferred to the internal storage register, and all the bits (Q7 to Q0) are taken into the internal shift register in 32 milliseconds, Transferred to the storage register. That is, the effect control data for controlling the light emitter such as the LED is updated at a cycle of 32 milliseconds. Note that the output cycle of the LAT_L signal may be synchronized with the image update cycle, and the output cycle of control data of a driving body such as a motor may be set to 1/16 of the image update cycle.

  DAT_A and DAT_B are effect control data transmitted to the light emission control board 640 in order to control the LEDs. In the present embodiment, four light emission control boards 640 are provided, and data is similarly transmitted for DAT_C and DAT_D.

  On the other hand, control data for controlling a motor or the like is configured to be transferred in synchronization with a timer interrupt cycle (2 ms cycle) generated at intervals indicated by Ftw in the drawing. In this embodiment, one signal conversion board 600 and three movable control boards (620R, 620S, 620X) are provided, and a motor controlled by these movable control boards via a signal line DAT is provided. Control data is transmitted. In addition to the motor control data, LED control data is also transmitted via the signal line DAT within the cycle. Then, after data transmission, the LAT signal is output. Since the transmission time of the 32-bit control data (data transmitted through the signal line DAT) transmitted within one timer interrupt cycle is always constant for each timer interrupt cycle, the LAT signal is output. The interval Fmot is equal to Ftw.

  When the control data (DAT) transmitted from the effect control device 550 overflows from the 8-bit internal shift register built in the shift register, the carry-out output (CY) of the shift register provided in the signal conversion board 600 is used. It is output to each movable control board 620. Further, as described above, the movable control board 620 is connected in the order of the movable control board 620R, the movable control board 620S, and the movable control board 620X, and the control data DAT is within one timer interruption period. Data is transmitted in order from the last connected movable control board 620X. Specifically, the control data is transmitted in the order of the movable control board 620X, the movable control board 620S, the movable control board 620R, and the light emission control board 640 (L).

  When the control data is set in the effect device by the shift register, the serial data overflowed from the 8-bit internal shift register built in the shift register is transmitted from the carry-out output (CY) to the subsequent shift register. However, the overflow data from the 8-bit internal shift register built in the terminal shift register (for example, the shift register of the movable control board 820X in FIG. Since data from (CY) is not transmitted to other shift registers, it is set to the initial value when serial data is set exceeding the storage capacity of the internal shift registers built in all shift registers connected in a daisy chain. The overflowed serial data will be discarded.

  Therefore, by arranging the movable control board 620X connected only to the regular version at the end (end part) of the daisy chain connection, and configuring the movable control board 620X to transmit data set to the movable control board 620X first, the regular version In this case, control data is set in the movable control board 620X, and in the case of a low-priced version, the movable control board 620X is not connected, and the data is discarded because there is no data shift destination in the movable control board 620S. The

  Therefore, for the stage device controlled by the movable control board 620S, the movable control board 620R, and the light emission control board 640 common to the regular version, the stage device can be controlled by the same control regardless of the specifications of the gaming machine. Program development efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, the CLK_L signal is switched ON / OFF in conjunction with one cycle (2 milliseconds) of the timer interrupt. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the control data of the driving body for one cycle is transmitted corresponding to the period in which the CLK_L signal is ON (or OFF). At this time, DAT_A to DAT_D (corresponding to L) for controlling the LEDs are also transmitted. Since the CLK_L signal is switched ON / OFF every cycle of the timer interrupt, 1-bit data is transmitted to each light emission control board 640 every two cycles.

  As described above, the parallel output terminals (Q0 to Q7) of the shift register 601 provided in the signal conversion board 600 that is the upper shift register are connected to the shift register 641 provided in the movable control board 640 that is the lower shift register. By using it as serial data input (SI), the following effects are obtained.

  Although the update speed of the staging device connected to the lower shift register is slow, the number of data to be transmitted to the upper shift register can be reduced. It is possible to relax the limitation on the number of data that can be transmitted within a predetermined period. As a result, the pulse width of serial data transmitted from the production control device 550 to the upper shift register is increased, or the number of bits of serial data that can be transmitted in one timer interrupt cycle is increased. Can do.

  FIG. 13 shows an edit area used for generating data output by the CPU 551 of the effect control apparatus 550 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and data (operation number) necessary to control the timing of transmitting the output data. It is explanatory drawing of an effect start flag). These data are stored in the RAM 553 of the effect control device 550.

  The effect control device 550 generates output data for the output units RA to XB as described later according to the operation number indicating the state of the drive source (stepping motor) and the contents of the effect start flag.

  Here, the output unit RA and the output unit RB are regions for controlling the motor connected to the movable control board 620R. The movable control board 620R controls the illumination drive first motor 13a and the illumination drive second motor 14a for driving the first movable illumination 13 and the second movable illumination 14 provided in the front frame 3. The output part RA is an area for controlling the illumination drive first motor 13a (Q3 to Q0), and the output part RB is an area for controlling the illumination drive second motor 14a (Q7 to Q4).

  Similarly, the output unit SA and the output unit SB are regions for controlling a motor connected to the movable control board 620S. The movable control board 620S controls the accessory driving first motor 71 and the accessory driving second motor 81 for operating the united effect production device 58 installed in the center case 51. The output part SA is an area for controlling the accessory driving first motor 71 (Q3 to Q0), and the output part SB is an area for controlling the accessory driving second motor 81 (Q7 to Q4).

  Furthermore, the output part XA and the output part XB are areas for controlling the motor connected to the movable control board 620X. The movable control board 620X controls a motor for operating the decoration tool 47a and the decoration tool 47b installed on the game board 10. The output part XA is an area for controlling the motor for operating the accessory 47a (Q3 to Q0), and the output part XB is an area for controlling the motor for operating the accessory 47b (Q7). ~ Q4). As described above, the low-priced gaming machine does not include a motor for operating the decoration tool 47a and the decoration tool 47b, and thus the movable control board 620X is not provided. In order to achieve commonality, the control areas of the output units XA and XB are assigned even to low-priced gaming machines.

  The motor controlled by each movable control board 620 uses a stepping motor driven by four phases, and “1” is set in a predetermined bit of the output data editing area (Q7 to Q4 and Q3 to Q0) of each output unit. "Is set, the corresponding phase signal line is excited, and when" 0 "is set, the corresponding phase signal line is not excited.

  The operation number indicating the state of the drive source managed by the effect control device 550 is “0” during initial position detection (initialization), “1” waiting for effect start, “2” during effect execution, “3”. Indicates an emergency stop and return, and “4” indicates a return standby. Further, as will be described later, the effect control device 550 sets the effect start flag of each output unit that executes the effect at the start of the effect to “ON”, and sets the effect start flag to “OFF” when the effect starts. To do. When the operation number is “4”, the drive source is in an emergency stop state during initialization, and the emergency stop movable body is returned to a normal state by a manual operation by an employee or the like and then reset. There is a need.

  The effect control device 550 sets “1” or “0” to a predetermined bit in the output data editing area of the output units SA and SB in order to rotate the illumination drive first motor 13a and the illumination drive second motor 14a. Thus, the phases of the illumination drive first motor 13a and the illumination drive second motor 14a are excited.

  When “0” is set in all bits in the output data editing area of the output unit SA, all phases of the illumination drive first motor 13a are not excited and rotation stops. Similarly, for other motors, if all bits in the output data editing area of the output unit are set to “0”, all phases are not excited and rotation stops.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of data for controlling a light emitting effect device such as an LED output from the effect control device 550 according to the embodiment of this invention. These data are stored in the RAM 553 of the effect control device 550.

  The LED control data is configured such that a clock signal (CLK_L) is set in Q0, a latch signal (LAT_L) is set in Q1, and control data is set in Q2 to Q5 (DAT_A to DAT_D). As will be described later, by controlling the values set in Q0 and Q1, it is possible to make the timing for reflecting the control data different from the case of controlling the motor. In this embodiment, Q6 and Q7 are unused. However, when the solenoid of the decorative piece 46 (FIG. 2) is connected to the parallel output terminals Q6 to Q7 of the shift register 601, as described above, the solenoid The control data is set.

  In the present embodiment, the production control data is edited by the editing units LA to LD, and the data stored in the editing units LA to LD is set to the output units LA to LD at a predetermined timing. Then, based on the data stored in the output units LA to LD, data set in the output unit LL is generated, and the data stored in the output unit LL is transmitted to each light emission control board 640.

  Here, the structure of data set in the output unit LL, that is, data transmitted to each light emission control board 640 will be described. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, four types of light emission control boards 640A-D are provided.

  The motor control data is composed of a series of data for controlling a specific motor. On the other hand, in the output unit LL that stores control data for controlling the light emission mode of the LED, data corresponding to a specific bit of each light emission control board 640 is set. For example, each data corresponding to Q4 of the output units LA to LD corresponding to the light emission control boards 640A to 640D is set in Q2 to Q5 of the output unit LL.

  Next, with reference to FIG.15 and FIG.16, the process regarding the game performed with the game control apparatus 500 is demonstrated. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the game control device 500 according to the embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of timer interrupt processing according to the embodiment of this invention.

  The game control device 500 executes a main process shown in FIG. 15 and a timer interruption process every predetermined time (for example, 2 msec) shown in FIG.

  The main process shown in FIG. 15 is started when the gaming machine is turned on, and is continuously executed until the power supply to the gaming machine is interrupted. For example, when a game machine is turned on to start a business at a game hall, or when it recovers from a power failure, the execution starts, and until the game machine is turned off to end the business at the game hall ( Or it continues to run (until a power failure occurs).

  The game control device 500 first executes an initialization process at power-on as a process at the start of the program (S1), and then executes a power failure recovery process (S2).

  In the power failure recovery processing, processing for resuming game control in the gaming state at the time of the power failure is performed using data stored and stored in the RAM 504 (see FIG. 6) of the game control device 500 by the backup power source when the power failure occurs. Is called. However, an initialization operation unit (not shown) is provided on the back side of the gaming machine, and if the initialization operation unit is operated when the gaming machine is turned on, the gaming state of the gaming machine is set in advance. Initialize to the specified state. By this initialization, the game state of the special figure variation display game becomes a low probability state, and the normal power operation state (the operation state of the opening / closing member 36a of the normal variation winning device 36) becomes the suppression state.

  In the power failure recovery process, specification data including the type of gaming machine is transmitted to the effect control device 550. The type of gaming machine is information indicating whether the gaming machine is a regular version or a low-priced version. As described above, since the configuration of the rendering device is different between the regular version gaming machine and the low-priced gaming machine, the specification data is transmitted so that the rendering control device 550 can perform rendering control according to the type. doing.

  Next, the game control device 500 executes main loop processing. In the main loop process, first, an interrupt timer is started (S3), and a CTC (counter timer circuit) is started. Next, the game control device 500 prohibits interruption (S4). After that, the initial value random number update process to update the initial value of random numbers such as jackpot determination random numbers (special figure determination random numbers) and jackpot symbol random numbers (special symbol random numbers) to break the temporal regularity of random numbers Is executed (S5), and an interrupt is permitted (S6).

  The game control device 500 checks the power failure inspection area of the RAM 504 and determines whether or not a power failure has occurred (S7). In the power failure inspection area of the RAM 504, check data is stored when the power of the gaming machine is cut off due to a power failure, and no check data is normally stored. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not a power failure has occurred by determining the presence or absence of check data in the power failure inspection area of the RAM 504.

  If a power failure has not occurred (the result of S7 is “N”), the process returns to the interrupt prohibition process in step S4, and thereafter, the game control device 500 repeats the processes from step S4 to step S7. On the other hand, when a power failure occurs (the result of S7 is “Y”), the game control device 500 performs a power failure occurrence process in step S8. When a power failure occurs, the backup power supply of the power supply device supplies power that can execute the processing when the power failure occurs. In addition, the backup power supply supplies power necessary for maintaining the contents of the RAM 504 of the game control device 500 during a power failure. At this time, the backup power source can hold the game data for 2 to 3 days or more.

  In the power failure occurrence processing in step S8, first, processing for prohibiting interruption is performed, processing for turning off all output ports, and processing for clearing the power failure inspection area are performed. Then, after performing the process of saving the power failure recovery inspection area check data in the power failure recovery inspection area, performing the process of calculating the checksum when the RAM 504 is powered off and performing the process of prohibiting access to the RAM 504 Wait for the power to turn off. Thus, by saving the power failure recovery inspection area check data in the power failure recovery inspection area and calculating and holding the checksum at the time of power interruption, the information stored in the RAM 504 before the power interruption is correctly backed up. It can be determined whether the power is turned on.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the timer interrupt process of the game control device 500 will be described. The timer interrupt process is executed in a form of interrupting the main process in response to the generation of an interrupt signal (generated at a predetermined interval by the interrupt timer).

  In the timer interrupt process, the game control device 500 first saves the data stored in the register (S10). Next, based on the input from various sensors (starting port SW36d, gate SW34a, general winning port SW44a-44n, count SW42d, glass frame opening SW18a, front frame opening SW3a, etc.) and the output data set by various processes. An input / output process for processing an output for performing drive control of the winning opening SOL42b, the ordinary electric power SOL36b, etc. is executed (S11).

  The game control device 500 executes a command transmission process for outputting the command set in the transmission buffer in various processes to the effect control device 550 or the like (S12).

  The game control device 500 executes a random number update process 1 for updating a random number for determining whether the special figure variation display game or the common figure variation display game is missed or for determining the big hit symbol of the special figure variation display game. (S13). Thereafter, the game control device 500 updates the initial value of the random number, and executes an initial value random number update process for breaking the temporal regularity of the random number (S14).

  The game control device 500 executes a random number update process 2 for updating a random number for determining a variation pattern (execution mode) in the decoration special diagram variation display game related to the special diagram variation display game (S15).

  In step S13 and step S15, the five random numbers of the big hit random number, the big hit symbol random number, and the fluctuation pattern random number (the first fluctuation pattern random number to the third fluctuation pattern random number) related to the special figure fluctuation display game are updated as a set.

  The game control device 500 monitors whether or not a signal is input from the start port SW36d, the gate SW34a, the general winning ports SW44a to 44n, and the count SW42d (whether or not a signal indicating detection of a game ball is input). A winning mouth switch monitoring process is executed (S16).

  After that, the game control device 500 executes an error monitoring process for monitoring each signal and error (S17). Further, a special figure game process (S18) for performing a process relating to the special figure fluctuation display game and a general figure game process (S19) for carrying out a process relating to the normal figure fluctuation display game are executed.

  The game control device 500 executes a segment LED editing process related to a segment LED that displays various information related to the game (S20), and further sets an output buffer to a signal output to the external management device 200 (S21). ).

  Then, the game control device 500 declares the end of the interrupt process (S22), and restores the saved register data (S23). Finally, a process for permitting the interrupt again is executed (S24), and the timer interrupt process is terminated.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the effect control device 550 according to the embodiment of this invention. The process shown in FIG. 17 is executed by the CPU 551 of the effect control device 550.

  When the effect control device 550 is turned on, the effect control device 550 first executes the processes of steps S30 and S31. In the process of step S30, the process waits until a synchronization signal (for example, a synchronization signal having a period of 16.6 milliseconds) synchronized with the image update period is input from the VDP 556 to the CPU 551 as an interrupt signal. Thereafter, every time a synchronization signal synchronized with the image update cycle is input from the VDP 556 to the CPU 551 as an interrupt signal, the processes of steps S32 to S38 are repeatedly executed.

  First, the CPU 551 executes initialization processing including initialization of the RAM 553 of the effect control device 550 (S30). At this time, a command transmitted from the game control device 500 is acquired, and a division counter described later is set to an initial value (= 16). The division counter is a counter for controlling the timing of transmitting light emission control data such as an LED. Details will be described later with reference to FIG. In the editing process of the output unit LL shown in FIG. 20, the division counter is set to a value from 0 to 15, but by setting the initial value to 16, the clock signal can be normally output.

  When the initialization process is completed, the CPU 551 permits the reception of the synchronization signal (VDP interrupt) synchronized with the image update cycle and the reception of the timer interrupt from the VDP 556 (S31). Here, the CPU 551 sets a timer interruption period (for example, 2 milliseconds) in the monitoring timer circuit 562, and executes a timer interruption process (FIG. 18) for each set timer interruption period.

  Then, the CPU 551 outputs data serving as a command for causing the VDP 556 to display an image in order to display the image on the display device 53 (S32).

  Further, the CPU 551 outputs sound control data to the sound LSI 557 in order to output sound from the speaker 30 according to the gaming state (S33). The sound LSI 557 outputs sound from the speaker 30 based on the input sound control data.

  Thereafter, the CPU 551 edits the next data output to the VDP 556 (S34), and further edits the sound control data output to the sound LSI 557 (S35).

  Thereafter, the CPU 551 determines whether or not it is the timing for starting the effect of the movable effect device (movable effect device) (S36, S37). The movable effect device includes, for example, the first movable illumination 13, the second movable illumination 14, the decoration piece 46, the decoration tool 47, and the combined effect device 58.

  Next, the content of the effect is determined based on the effect command signal transmitted from the game control device 500, and the target of the effect start from the output units RA to XB (the target of the operation with the execution of the effect) (S38), and the effect start flag of the selected output unit is set to ON (S39).

  Then, it waits until a synchronizing signal is input from VDP556 to CPU551.

  As described above, in the process illustrated in FIG. 17, the effect control data is transmitted from the effect control device 550 to the signal conversion board 600 in synchronization with the cycle of updating the image of the display device 53. Since each control board connected to the signal conversion board 600 controls the decoration device based on the received effect control data, the effect on the display device 53 and the effect on the decoration device are in harmony, and the player feels uncomfortable. Because it does not give, you can enhance the interest.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the effect control device 550 according to the embodiment of this invention. The processing shown in FIG. 18 is executed by the CPU 551 of the effect control device 550 when the monitoring timer circuit 562 generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (for example, 2 milliseconds).

  First, the CPU 551 captures the sensor level (S40). Specifically, the output value of a position detection sensor that detects the rotational position of the illumination drive first motor 13a, the illumination drive second motor 14a, the accessory drive first motor 71, the accessory drive second motor 81, etc. is input. Capture from I / F 558b.

  Next, the CPU 551 integrates the data of each editing area of the output units RA to XB (S41). This is because, as shown in FIG. 13, 4-bit data is stored in the editing area of each output unit, so this 4-bit data is read out and output units XB, XA, SB, SA, RB, The data of each output unit is integrated by connecting them together so that they are output in the order of RA. At this time, in the case of a low-priced gaming machine, the data of the output units XB and XA are not integrated.

  Even in the case of a low-priced gaming machine, data set in the output units XB and XA may be integrated. The data of the output units XB and XA is set on the movable control board 620X disposed at the end of the daisy chain connection. Accordingly, these data are arranged at the head of the integrated data, set in the shift register, and sequentially shifted, whereby the data finally set in the output units XB and XA is discarded. By configuring in this way, the data output from the production control device 550 to the movable control board 620 is shared without depending on the specifications. Therefore, the inexpensive version gaming machine and the regular version gaming machine can be used in parallel. Therefore, it is convenient for development, and it is possible to improve development efficiency.

  Thereafter, the CPU 551 checks all the bits of the integrated data (S42), and determines whether or not all the bits of the integrated data are “0” (S43). As a result, if at least one bit is “1” (result of S43 is “Y”), the enable signal (EN) is set to L level (S44), and the output of the signal Qn from the shift register 601 is permitted. To do.

  On the other hand, if all the bits are “0” (the result of S43 is “N”), the CPU 551 sets the enable signal (EN) to the H level (S45) and prohibits the output of the signal Qn from the shift register 601. To do. All bits = 0 indicate that there is no data to be output from the shift register 601, but when the data is changed due to the influence of noise or the like, the enable signal (EN) is set so that unintended data is not output. Set to H level.

  Further, the CPU 551 further integrates the output data of the output unit LL (S46). The output unit LL stores light emission control data such as LEDs.

  Then, the CPU 551 outputs the integrated data to the shift register 601 at a speed corresponding to the type of gaming machine (S47). In this embodiment, the timer interrupt cycle is the same (both 2 milliseconds) regardless of whether it is a regular version or a low-priced version, but the number of movable accessories that operate between the regular version and the low-priced version is different. Therefore, in the case of a low-priced version with a small number of movable accessories, the transfer speed of the production control data is set to be slow. As a result, the pulse width of the timing signal (CLK signal in FIG. 12) in the low-priced gaming machine is longer than the timing signal in the regular gaming machine. Therefore, for low-priced gaming machines, the entire series is controlled in order to improve the accuracy of communication and transmit data more reliably by slowing down the transfer rate of presentation control data and increasing the pulse width. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems with respect to.

  Next, the CPU 551 outputs a latch signal to the shift register 601 (S48). When the latch signal is output to the shift register 601, the data input to the shift register 601 is taken into the internal storage register, and the effect control data is reflected in each effect device.

  In steps S49 to S55, the serial data to the output units RA to XB output at the next timer interruption is edited according to the gaming state, and the editing areas (Q7) of the output units RA to XB assigned to the RAM 553 are edited. ~ Q0). Details of the editing process of the output units RA to XB will be described later with reference to FIG.

  That is, in step S49, the serial data to the output unit RA that drives the illumination driving first motor 13a is edited and stored in the editing area. In step S50, the serial data to the output unit RB that drives the illumination driving second motor 14a is edited and stored in the editing area. In step S51, the serial data to the output unit SA that drives the accessory driving first motor 71 is edited and stored in the editing area. In step S52, the serial data to the output unit SB that drives the accessory driving second motor 81 is edited and stored in the editing area.

  Furthermore, in step S53, the serial data to the output unit XA that drives the motor that operates the accessory 47a is edited and stored in the editing area. In step S54, the serial data to the output unit XB that drives the motor that operates the accessory 47b is edited and stored in the editing area. In the case of a low-priced game machine, the motor for operating the ornaments 47a and 47b is not provided, and there is no drive source driven by the output unit XA and the output unit XB. You may make it set "0" to each bit.

  Finally, the CPU 551 executes an editing process of the output unit LL that stores effect control data of a light emitter such as an LED (S55). The editing process of the output unit LL will be described later with reference to FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, data is taken into the shift register in accordance with the timer interruption cycle, and production by various movable production devices is started in accordance with the VDP interruption cycle.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing details of serial data editing processing of the output unit RA according to the embodiment of the present invention. The output units RB to XB can be similarly processed by using the operation number, the production start flag, and the output data editing area corresponding to each output unit.

  The CPU 551 of the effect control device 550 first determines whether the operation number indicating the operation state of the drive source is “0” to “4”, and branches according to the operation number (S60). If the operation number is “0” indicating that the operation is being initialized, the process proceeds to step S61. If the operation number is “1” indicating that the production is waiting, the process proceeds to step S65, and the operation number is “2” indicating that the production is being performed. If there is, the process proceeds to step S69, and if the operation number is “3” indicating emergency stop, the process proceeds to step S74, and if the operation number is “4” indicating standby for return, the process proceeds to step S77. The initial value of the operation number is “0” (set by the initialization process in step S30 in FIG. 17).

  In these states, when the initialization of the stepping motor such as the illumination driving first motor 13a is completed, the operation number is changed to “1”, and the production standby state is set. When the production start flag is set to “ON” in the production standby state, the operation number is changed to “2”, the production is executed, and the elapsed time of production execution is counted. Then, when it is time to end the effect, the effect ends, the operation number is changed to “1”, and the process returns to standby.

  If an error occurs in the stepping motor during the performance, the operation number is changed to “3” and an emergency stop is made, and counting of the stop time from the time when the error occurs is started. When a predetermined stop time elapses from the time when the error occurs, the operation number is changed to “0” and initialization is performed.

  If an error occurs during the initialization, the operation number is shifted to “4” waiting for recovery, and a recovery by manual work by an employee or the like is awaited.

  Next, details of the processing will be described.

  In the initialization process with the operation number “0”, the CPU 551 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the drive position of the illumination drive first motor 13a driven by the output unit RA (S61). The determination of the occurrence of an error is determined as the occurrence of an error if the detection value of the motor position detection sensor captured in the process of step S40 in FIG. 18 has not changed from the previous value. In this process, when there is no change in the detection value of the position detection sensor, it is possible to estimate that the lighting drive first motor 13a has stopped due to disconnection or a monitoring circuit operating, and therefore an error occurs in the lighting drive first motor 13a. It is determined that

  If the operation number is “0” and the detection of the rotation position of the illumination drive first motor 13a is started and the initial position cannot be detected by the position detection sensor even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that an error has occurred. Also good.

  If the CPU 551 determines that an error has occurred (the result of S61 is “Y”), the CPU 551 executes the processing after step S77. On the other hand, if no error has occurred (the result of S61 is “N”), it is determined whether or not the detection value of the position detection sensor of the illumination drive first motor 13a has reached a predetermined initial position (S62). ). When the position of the illumination drive first motor 13a has reached a predetermined initial position (result of S62 is “Y”), the operation number is changed to “1” (S66).

  When the position of the illumination drive first motor 13a has not reached the predetermined initial position (the result of S62 is “N”), the CPU 551 indicates that the operation number of the output unit RA is being initialized. It is set to “0” (S63). If the operation number is “0” in the previous time, the initialization is maintained.

  The CPU 551 stores drive information (serial data) for driving the illumination drive first motor 13a toward a predetermined initial position in the control ROM 552 in advance, and selects the drive information (S64).

  Thereafter, the CPU 551 stores the selected driving information of the illumination driving first motor 13a in the editing area of the output unit RA of the RAM 553 (S68). The drive information stored in the predetermined editing area of the RAM 553 is output by the process of step S47 in FIG. 18 at the next timer interruption. When the process of step S68 is completed, the process returns to the timer interrupt process.

  Next, the CPU 551 determines whether or not the effect start flag of the output unit RA is set to “ON” because the illumination driving first motor 13a is currently stopped in the effect waiting process with the operation number “1”. Is determined (S65). When the production start flag of the output unit RA is set to “ON” (result of S65 is “Y”), the production start flag is reset to “OFF” (S71). In step S71, counting of the elapsed time from the start of the production is started, and thereafter, the elapsed time is counted every time a timer interrupt occurs.

  On the other hand, when the production start flag is set to “OFF” (result of S65 is “N”), the CPU 551 sets the operation number of the output unit RA to “1” indicating that the production is on standby. Set (S66). It should be noted that when the action number is “1”, the effect standby state is maintained.

  Next, the CPU 551 selects drive information for stopping the illumination drive first motor 13a from drive information (serial data) stored in the control ROM 552 in advance (S67). Thereafter, the CPU 551 stores the drive information of the selected lighting drive first motor 13a in the editing area of the output unit RA of the RAM 553 (S68), and then returns to the timer interrupt process of FIG. Here, “0” is set to each bit in the editing area.

  The CPU 551 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the drive position of the illumination drive first motor 13a driven by the output unit RA during the execution of the performance whose operation number is “2” (S69). The determination of the occurrence of an error is the same as in step S61 described above. If it is determined that an error has occurred (the result of S69 is “Y”), the processing after step S75 is executed.

  On the other hand, if no error has occurred (the result of S69 is “N”), the CPU 551 determines whether it is time to end the currently executed effect (S70). The production end timing can be determined as the production end timing when a preset time has elapsed from the production start of the output unit RA. In addition, since the threshold value of the elapsed time from the start of the production is set for each output unit, the production end timing of each motor corresponding to each output unit is not necessarily the same. When it is determined that it is the production end timing (result of S70 is “Y”), the operation number of the output unit RA is set to “1” indicating the production standby state (S66).

  On the other hand, when the production end timing has not been reached (the result of S70 is “N”), the CPU 551 sets the operation number of the output unit RA to “2” indicating that the production is being executed (S72). It should be noted that when the operation number is “2”, the execution of the effect is continued.

  The CPU 551 selects drive information for driving the illumination drive first motor 13a toward a predetermined effect position from drive information (serial data) stored in advance in the control ROM 552 (S73). Thereafter, the CPU 551 stores the drive information of the selected lighting drive first motor 13a in the editing area of the output unit RA of the RAM 553 (S68), and then returns to the timer interrupt process of FIG.

  Next, the CPU 551 changes the operation number of the output unit RA to “3” because the lighting drive first motor 13a is in an emergency stop due to an error or the like during the emergency stop of the operation number “3”. It is then determined whether or not a predetermined stop time has elapsed since the start (S74). If the predetermined stop time has elapsed (result of S74 is “Y”), the operation number of the output unit RA is changed to “0” and the illumination drive first motor 13a is initialized (S63). On the other hand, if the predetermined stop time has not elapsed (the result of S74 is “N”), the operation number of the output unit RA is set to “3” indicating that the emergency stop is in progress (S75). If the operation number is “3”, the emergency stop is continued.

  Next, the CPU 551 selects drive information for stopping the illumination drive first motor 13a from drive information (serial data) stored in the control ROM 552 in advance (S76). Thereafter, the CPU 551 stores the drive information of the selected lighting drive first motor 13a in the editing area of the output unit RA of the RAM 553 (S68), and then returns to the timer interrupt process of FIG. Here, “0” is set to each bit in the editing area.

  Next, while the operation number is “4” in return standby, an error is detected while the lighting drive first motor 13a is being initialized, and it is a state that requires manual recovery by an employee or the like. . In this case, the movable body driven by the illumination drive first motor 13a is manually returned to the initial position by an employee of the game store, and then the position detection sensor cable of the illumination drive first motor 13a is inserted and removed. Work will be done.

  Therefore, the CPU 551 first determines whether or not the detection value of the position detection sensor 131 of the illumination drive first motor 13a has changed from the previous value (S77).

  When the detection value of the position detection sensor 131 changes (result of S77 is “Y”), the detection value is detected when an employee or the like changes the position of the lighting drive first motor 13a or when the second connection terminal 92 is attached or detached. This is the case when fluctuates. In this case, the CPU 551 changes the operation number of the output unit RA to “0” in order to execute initialization again (S63). On the other hand, when the detection value of the position detection sensor 131 does not change (result of S77 is “N”), the operation number of the output unit RA is set to “4” indicating that the apparatus is waiting for return (S78). If the operation number is “4” in the previous time as well, the return waiting is continued.

  Next, the CPU 551 selects drive information for stopping the illumination drive first motor 13a from drive information (serial data) stored in the control ROM 552 in advance (S79). Thereafter, the CPU 551 stores the drive information of the selected illumination driving first motor 13a in the editing area of the output unit RA of the RAM 553, and then returns to the timer interrupt process of FIG. 18 (S68). Here, “0” is set to each bit in the editing area.

  Finally, editing processing of the output unit LL will be described. The output unit LL stores light emission control data for performing light emission control of LEDs and the like. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of editing processing of the output unit LL according to the embodiment of this invention.

  The CPU 551 first determines whether or not the value of the division counter is 0 (S80). If the value of the division counter is not 0 (the result of S80 is “N”), bit 1 (Q1) of the output unit LL is set to “0” (S81), and the division counter is updated by −1 (S82). .

  Note that bit 1 (Q1) of the output unit LL indicates a latch signal as described with reference to FIG. When the value of bit 1 is set to “0”, the latch signal is set to OFF, and the light emission control data is not reflected on the light effect device at this stage. On the other hand, since the latch signal is set to ON when the value of bit 1 is set to “1”, the light emission control data stored in the shift register is reflected in the light emitting effect device.

  On the other hand, when the value of the division counter is 0 (result of S80 is “Y”), the CPU 551 sets bit 1 (Q1) of the output unit LL to “1” (S83). Further, the value of the division counter is set to the initial value (15) (S84). Subsequently, the data stored in the editing units LA to LD are set in the output units LA to LD (S85).

  Accordingly, the division counter is sequentially subtracted by 1 from the initial value (15), and when it reaches 0, it is returned to the initial value (15). When the division counter reaches 0, the data stored in the editing unit is shifted to the output unit, and the latch signal set to ON is input to the shift register, so that the light emission control data is transmitted to the light emitting effect device. Reflected. That is, every time the editing process of the output unit LL is executed 16 times, the light emission control data is reflected on the light emission effect device, and new light emission control data is generated.

  Next, the CPU 551 determines whether or not the value of the division counter is an odd number (S86). When the value of the division counter is an odd number (the result of S86 is “Y”), bit 0 (Q0) of the output unit LL is set to “0” (S87). On the other hand, if the value of the division counter is not an odd number (the result of S86 is “N”), that is, if it is an even number, bit 0 (Q0) of the output unit LL is set to “1” (S88).

  Bit 0 (Q0) of the output unit LL indicates a clock signal as described with reference to FIG. 14, and the clock signal is set ON when the value of bit 0 is set to “1”. . When the clock signal set to ON is input to the shift register, the data stored in the shift register is shifted. That is, every time the editing process of the output unit LL is executed twice, the data stored in the shift register is shifted by 1 bit, and the data for 8 bits is set until the latch signal is output. .

  Next, the CPU 551 selects bits of the output units LA to LD corresponding to the division counter (S89). Furthermore, the data corresponding to the selection bits of the output units LA to LD are set in the bits 2 to 5 of the output unit LL (S90). Finally, the light emission control data editing process is executed (S91).

  As described above, the editing process of the output unit LL is configured such that a latch signal is output every time a timer interrupt occurs 16 times by using a division counter. On the other hand, the movable effect device is configured such that a latch signal is output every time a timer interrupt occurs, and effect control data is reflected. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the effect control data of the movable effect device is transferred at a speed 16 times the light emission control data of the light emitting effect device such as the LED. Therefore, it is possible to control the light emitting effect device while controlling a drive source such as a motor at high speed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to share the effect control device 550 even if the specifications of the gaming machine are different, and to perform the effect control according to the specifications of the gaming machine. Become. Therefore, it is convenient when developing a low-priced gaming machine and a regular gaming machine in parallel, and the development efficiency can be improved.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, even if the specifications are different, the timer interrupt cycle is common, so the time unit for controlling the drive source such as a motor is common, and the time for operating the drive source Is easier to manage. This facilitates the development of the control program.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when the specifications are different, an optimum speed is set by changing the pulse width of the timing signal, and the data signal is transmitted so as to correspond to the pulse width. However, the content of the data signal itself may be changed according to the difference in specifications.

  For example, the content of the data signal itself may be changed so that the operation contents of the regular version and the low-priced version of the gaming machine are the same, even if they are the same production device. Specifically, the first movable illumination 13 of the regular version gaming machine may be rotated in the clockwise direction, and the first movable illumination 13 of the inexpensive version gaming machine may be rotated in the counterclockwise direction. When such a configuration is realized, the compatibility between the production control device of the regular version gaming machine and the production control device of the low-priced gaming machine is somewhat sacrificed in terms of software, but in terms of hardware Compatibility is maintained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the decorative device 47a and the decorative device 47b are driven by the movable control board 620X (proprietary board) used only for the regular version of the gaming machine, whereas the inexpensive version of the gaming machine has the movable control. Although a configuration in which the board 620X is not provided is disclosed, even a low-priced gaming machine leaves a board corresponding to the movable control board 620X, and what is connected to the connector of the output signal from the movable control board 620X. May also be configured such that the motor of FIG. 9 is not connected to the connector, and the connector is an empty terminal.

  Alternatively, with this movable control board 620X mounted on the low-priced gaming machine, LEDs that are not mounted on the regular version gaming machine can be used in place of the drive motors of the decorations 47a and 47b used in the regular version gaming machine. A light emitting device such as a low-priced version dedicated production device may be driven. In this case, in the shift register provided on the movable control board 620X, the data of the driving motors of the ornaments 47a and 47b controlled by the movable control board 620X is set in the case of the regular version. Since the LED data controlled by the control board 620X is set, the content of the data signal of the signal line DAT may be changed according to the specification.

  When such a configuration is realized, the movable control board 620X of the regular version gaming machine and the movable control board 620X of the low-priced gaming machine will be slightly different, but other board configurations are shared. It becomes possible to do. And since the drive motors of the decoration tool 47a and the decoration tool 47b used in the regular version gaming machine are replaced with inexpensive LEDs or the like in the inexpensive version gaming machine, the cost of the inexpensive gaming machine can be reduced.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all points and is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the invention but by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of claims.

1 gaming machine 2 body frame (outer frame)
3 Front frame (game frame)
9a Decoration member 10 Game board 10a Game area 11 Illumination unit 13 First movable illumination 13a Illumination drive first motor 14 Second illumination illumination 14a Illumination drive second motor 17 Effect button 46 Decoration piece 47 Decoration tool 48 Decoration lamp 51 Center Case 53 Display device 58 Combined effect production device 71 1st article drive first motor 81 1st article drive second motor 90 90th motor position detection sensor 500 game control device 501 game microcomputer 550 presentation control device 562 monitoring timer circuit 580 payout control device 600 signal conversion Substrate 601 Shift register 620 Movable control substrate 621 Shift register 640 Light emission control substrate 641 Shift register

Claims (5)

In a gaming machine provided with an effect control means capable of controlling a plurality of effect devices for effecting a game,
The plurality of performance devices include a plurality of movable performance devices that perform a game with a movable object,
A drive source that is provided corresponding to each of the movable rendering devices, and that can be driven by applying a predetermined electrical signal to the signal terminal;
Drive control means for controlling the drive source by applying an electrical signal to the signal terminal of each drive source by inputting the data signal and the timing signal; and
The drive control means includes
A data signal input terminal to which the data signal is input;
A timing signal input terminal for receiving the timing signal;
Corresponding to the change of the timing signal, capturing means for sequentially capturing the data signal input to the data signal input terminal;
A data signal output terminal for outputting the data signal captured by the capturing means to the outside,
A plurality of the drive control means are connected by inputting a signal output from the data signal output terminal to a separate data signal input terminal of the drive control means, and further to the data signal input terminal of the leading drive control means Input the data signal from the production control means,
In the gaming machine, the specification of the gaming machine is selectively specified from a plurality of predetermined specifications by a combination of drive sources controlled by the drive control means,
A drive source commonly used for each of the plurality of types of specifications is controlled by the drive control means connected to the head side, while a drive used only for a specific specification of the plurality of types of specifications. A game machine characterized in that a source is controlled by the drive control means connected to the terminal side. Based on the data signal and the timing signal, a low-order effect control means for controlling the effect device is provided,
The drive control means includes a parallel output signal terminal that outputs a data signal input as serial data to the data signal input terminal as parallel data,
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an output signal from the parallel output signal terminal is input as serial data to the lower effect control means. A stepping motor is connected to the parallel output signal terminal of the drive control means as the drive source,
The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein a light output effect device for effecting a game with a light source is connected to the parallel output signal terminal of the lower effect control means as the effect device. The production control means includes a timer interrupt process execution means for executing an interrupt process based on an interrupt signal generated at a predetermined cycle regardless of the type of the specification,
The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the pulse width of the timing signal is set based on the type of the specification and the predetermined period.   4. The game according to claim 3, wherein the effect control means outputs all data signals for controlling a drive source used in any of the plurality of types of specifications regardless of the type of the specifications. Machine.

Images