JP2016005710A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine characterized in a signal control function.SOLUTION: The game machine includes an LED capable of emitting light, LED control means capable of executing control of the LED, and performance control means for executing performance control. The performance control means can transmit a first signal to the LED control means. The LED control means can transmit a second signal to the performance control means and, after receiving the first signal, transmits a second signal. Further, the performance control means transmits a third signal to the LED control means only in a case of having received no second signal after the transmission of the first signal. Even when having received the third signal, the LED control means retains the current state of the LED in which a player can view the light.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game table represented by a spinning machine (slot machine) and a ball game machine (pachinko machine).

  Some conventional game consoles produce effects by display, sound, light, and accessory actions in order to improve the fun of the game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-200302 A

However, there is room for improving the signal control function in the conventional game machine.
An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine having a feature in a signal control function.

  The present invention is a game machine comprising: an LED capable of emitting light; an LED control means capable of executing control of the LED; and an effect control means capable of executing effect control, wherein the effect control means includes: The LED control means is a means capable of transmitting and receiving signals, the effect control means is a means capable of transmitting a first signal to the LED control means, and the LED control means is second to the effect control means. The LED control means is a means for transmitting the second signal after receiving the first signal, and the effect control means satisfies the first condition. The first condition is a means for transmitting a third signal to the LED control means when the effect control means transmits the first signal after the effect control means transmits the first signal. Established if it was not received The third signal is a signal transmitted only when the first condition is satisfied, and the current state of the LED is maintained even if the LED control means receives the third signal. It is comprised so that a player can visually recognize the light of said LED, It is a game stand characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a game machine having a feature in the signal control function.

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the pachinko machine from the front side (player side). It is the external view which looked at the pachinko machine from the back side. It is the schematic front view which looked at the game board from the front. The circuit block diagram of a control part is shown. (A) An example of the stop symbol form of the special figure is shown. (B) An example of a stop symbol form of a decorative symbol is shown. (C) An example of a usual stop display symbol is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part main process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part timer interruption process. (A) It is a flowchart of the main process which CPU of a 1st sub control part performs. (B) It is a flowchart of the command reception interruption process of a 1st sub control part. (C) It is a flowchart of the timer interruption process of a 1st sub control part. (D) It is a flowchart of the image control process of a 1st sub control part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a lamp control process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an error check process. It is a time chart which shows an example of the operation | movement at the time of I2C bus format use. It is a time chart which shows an example of the operation | movement at the time of a communication format change. (A) It is a flowchart of the main process which CPU504 of the 2nd sub control part 500 performs. (B) It is a flowchart of the command reception interruption process of the 2nd sub control part 500. FIG. (C) It is a flowchart of the timer interruption process of the 2nd sub control part 500. FIG. It is the figure which showed the circuit structural example of the 1st sub board | substrate. It is the elements on larger scale which extracted and showed only slave IC612 mounted in board surface right illumination board 604D, and slave IC620 mounted in frame right illumination board 606A. (A) It is the block diagram which extracted a part of 1st sub-board | substrate 160 simplified. (B) It is the time chart which showed the example of communication between CPU404 and slave IC610, IC612. (A) It is an example of the lamp control data used for the conventional lamp control. (B) It is an example of the lamp control data used for the lamp control which concerns on this invention. It is an example of the circuit structure in the conventional lamp control. 10 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control of a pachinko machine 630 according to a first modification. It is the schematic front view which looked at the pachinko machine 630 of the modification 1 from the front. 16 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 2, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 3 and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 15. FIG. 22 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 4 and corresponds to FIG. 22. 10 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 5. 10 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 6. FIG. 16 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 7 and corresponds to FIG. 15. It is the schematic front view which looked at the front frame door 702 of the pachinko machine 700 which concerns on the modification 8 from the front. It is the schematic front view which looked at the game board 704 of the pachinko machine 700 from the front. It is the schematic front view which looked at the front frame door 702 and the game board 704 of the pachinko machine 700 from the front. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which open | released the front frame door 702 of the pachinko machine 700. 42 is a front view of the effect movable body 224. FIG. 4 is a front view of a shielding device 246. FIG. (A) It is a front view of the movable body 750 in an open state. (B) It is a front view of the movable body 750 in a closed state. (C) It is the figure which showed the rear view of the movable body 750. FIG. (D) It is the figure which showed the modification of the movable body 750. FIG.

Hereinafter, the gaming machine (for example, a ball game machine such as the pachinko machine 100 or a spinning game machine such as a slot machine) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Overall configuration>

  First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the figure is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the pachinko machine 100 from the front side (player side).

  As an external structure, the pachinko machine 100 includes an outer frame 102, a main body 104, a front frame door 106, a door 108 with a ball storage tray, a launching device 110, and a game board 200 on the front surface. The outer frame 102 is a wooden frame member having a vertical rectangular shape for fixing to an installation location (island facilities or the like) provided in a gaming machine installation sales shop.

  The main body 104 is referred to as an inner frame, and is a member that is provided inside the outer frame 102 and serves as a longitudinal rectangular gaming machine base body that is rotatably attached to the outer frame 102 via a hinge portion 112. The main body 104 is formed in a frame shape and has a space 114 inside. In addition, when the main body 104 is opened, an inner frame opening sensor (not shown) that detects the opening of the main body 104 is provided.

  The front frame door 106 is attached to the front surface of the main body 104 on the front side of the pachinko machine 100 so as to be openable and closable with a lock function, and is configured in a frame shape so that the inner side of the front frame door 106 can be opened and closed. Is a door member having an opening. The front frame door 106 is provided with a transparent plate member 118 made of glass or resin at the opening, and a speaker 120 and a frame lamp 122 are attached to the front side. A game area 124 is defined by the rear surface of the front frame door 106 and the front surface of the game board 200. Further, a front frame door opening sensor (not shown) that detects opening of the front frame door 106 when the front frame door 106 is opened is provided.

  The door 108 with a ball storage tray is a door member attached to the lower side of the main body 104 on the front surface of the pachinko machine 100 so as to have a lock function and be openable and closable. The ball storage tray-equipped door 108 is capable of storing a plurality of game balls (hereinafter simply referred to as “balls”), and an upper plate 126 provided with a passage for guiding the game balls to the launching device 110. A lower plate 128 that stores game balls that cannot be stored in the upper plate 126, a ball removal button 130 that discharges the game balls stored in the upper plate 126 to the lower plate 128 by the player's operation, A ball discharge lever 132 that discharges game balls stored in the lower plate 128 to a game ball collection container (common name, dollar box) by operation, and a game ball guided to the launching device 110 by operation of the player 200 ball launching handles 134 for launching into the game area 124, chance buttons 136 for changing the effects of the various effects devices 206 by the player's operation, and the chance button 136 to emit light. Sub button lamp 138, ball lending operation button 140 for instructing ball lending to a card unit (CR unit) installed in the game store, and return operation button for instructing the card unit to return the player's balance 142, and a ball rental display unit 144 for displaying the balance of the player and the state of the card unit. In addition, a lower plate full tank sensor (not shown) that detects that the lower plate 128 is full is provided.

  The launching device 110 is attached to the lower side of the main body 104, and a launching rod 146 that rotates when the ball launching handle 134 is operated by the player, and a launching rod 148 that strikes the game ball at the tip of the launching rod 146. .

  The game board 200 has a game area 124 on the front surface, and is detachably attached to the main body 104 using a predetermined fixing member so as to face the space 114 of the main body 104. The game area 124 can be observed from the opening after the game board 200 is mounted on the main body 104.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the pachinko machine 100 of FIG. 1 viewed from the back side. The upper part of the back surface of the pachinko machine 100 has an opening that opens upward, a ball tank 150 for temporarily storing game balls, and a lower part of the ball tank 150 that is positioned below the ball tank 150. A tank rail 154 is provided for guiding a ball passing through the formed communication hole and dropping to the dispensing device 152 located on the right side of the back surface. The payout device 152 is formed of a cylindrical member, and includes a payout motor, a sprocket, and a payout sensor (not shown) inside.

  The sprocket is configured to be rotatable by a payout motor. The sprocket that temporarily passes through the tank rail 154 and flows down into the payout device 152 is temporarily retained, and the payout motor is driven to rotate by a predetermined angle. Thus, the temporarily accumulated game balls are sent one by one downward to the payout device 152.

  The payout sensor is a sensor for detecting the passage of the game ball sent out by the sprocket. When the game ball is passing, either a high signal or a low signal is passed. Either the high signal or the low signal is output to the dispensing control unit 600. The game ball that has passed through the payout sensor passes through a ball rail (not shown) and reaches the upper plate 126 disposed on the front side of the pachinko machine 100. The pachinko machine 100 has this configuration. To pay out the ball to the player.

  On the left side of the payout device 152 in the figure, a main board case 158 that houses the main board 156 that constitutes the main control section 300 that performs control processing for the entire game, and control related to effects based on the processing information generated by the main control section 300 The first sub-board case 162 that houses the first sub-board 160 that constitutes the first sub-control unit 400 that performs processing, and the second sub-board that performs control processing related to effects based on the processing information generated by the first sub-control unit 400. An error release switch that constitutes a second sub-board case 166 that houses the second sub-board 164 that constitutes the control unit 500, a payout control unit 600 that performs control processing related to the payout of game balls, and that releases an error by the operation of a game clerk Discharge board case 172 storing the payout board 170 having 168, launch base constituting the launch control unit 630 that performs control processing relating to the launch of the game ball A launch board case 176 that houses 174, a power control unit 660 that supplies power to various electrical gaming machines, and a power switch 178 that turns the power on and off by the operation of a game store clerk and an RWM clear by being operated when the power is turned on A power board case 184 that houses a power board 182 that includes an RWM clear switch 180 that outputs a signal to the main controller 300, and a CR interface 186 that transmits and receives signals between the payout controller 600 and the card unit are provided. ing.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the game board 200 as viewed from the front. In the game board 200, an outer rail 202 and an inner rail 204 are arranged, and a game area 124 in which a game ball can roll is defined.

  An effect device 206 is disposed in the approximate center of the game area 124. The effect device 206 is provided with a decorative symbol display device 208 substantially in the center, and around the normal symbol display device 210, the first special symbol display device 212, the second special symbol display device 214, and the ordinary device. A symbol holding lamp 216, a first special symbol holding lamp 218, a second special symbol holding lamp 220, and a high-probability medium lamp 222 are provided. Hereinafter, the normal symbol may be referred to as “general symbol” and the special symbol may be referred to as “special symbol”.

  The effect device 206 performs the effect by operating the effect movable body 224, and details thereof will be described later.

  The decorative symbol display device 208 is a display device for performing various displays used for decorative symbols and effects. In this embodiment, the decorative symbol display device 208 is constituted by a liquid crystal display device (Liquid Crystal Display). The decorative symbol display device 208 is divided into four display areas, a left symbol display area 208a, a middle symbol display area 208b, a right symbol display area 208c, and an effect display area 208d, and the left symbol display area 208a and the middle symbol display area 208b. The right symbol display area 208c displays different decorative symbols, and the effect display area 208d displays an image used for the effect. Furthermore, the position and size of each display area 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d can be freely changed within the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 208. In addition, although the liquid crystal display device is employ | adopted as the decoration symbol display apparatus 208, it is not a liquid crystal display device, What is necessary is just the structure which can display various effects and various game information, for example, a dot matrix display device Other display devices including a 7-segment display device, an organic EL (ElectroLumin S3ence) display device, a reel (drum) display device, a leaf display device, a plasma display, and a projector may be employed.

  The general map display device 210 is a display device for displaying a general map, and is configured by a 7-segment LED in this embodiment. The first special figure display device 212 and the second special figure display device 214 are display devices for displaying a special figure, and are configured by 7 segment LEDs in this embodiment.

  The multi-purpose hold lamp 216 is a lamp for indicating the number of general-purpose variable games (details will be described later) that are on hold. In this embodiment, the general-purpose variable games are reserved up to a predetermined number (for example, two). It is possible to do. The first special figure hold lamp 218 and the second special figure hold lamp 220 are lamps for indicating the number of special figure variable games (details will be described later) that are being held. In this embodiment, the special figure variable games are displayed. It is possible to hold up to a predetermined number (for example, four). The high-probability medium lamp 222 is a lamp for indicating that the gaming state is a high probability state in which a big hit is likely to occur or a high probability state, and the gaming state is changed from a low probability state in which a big hit is unlikely to occur. Turns on when switching to the probability state, and turns off when switching from the high probability state to the low probability state.

  In addition, there are predetermined ball entrances, for example, a general prize opening 226, a general start port 228, a first special view start port 230, a second special view start port 232, around the effect device 206. A variable winning opening 234 is provided.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of general winning holes 226 are arranged on the game board 200. When a predetermined ball detecting sensor (not shown) detects a ball entering the general winning holes 226 (in the general winning holes 226). In the case of winning, the payout device 152 is driven, and a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls) of balls are discharged to the upper plate 126 as prize balls. The player can freely take out the balls discharged to the upper plate 126. With these configurations, the player can pay out the winning balls to the player based on winning. The ball that has entered the general winning opening 226 is guided to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 and then discharged to the amusement island side. In this embodiment, a ball to be paid out to a player as a consideration for winning is sometimes referred to as a “prize ball”, and a ball lent to a player is sometimes referred to as “rental ball”. They are called “balls (game balls)”.

The normal start port 228 is constituted by a device called a gate or a through chucker for determining whether or not a ball has passed a predetermined area of the game area 124. In this embodiment, the left side of the game board 200 is used. One is arranged. Unlike the ball that has entered the general winning opening 226, the ball that has passed through the usual starting port 228 is not discharged to the amusement island side. When a predetermined ball detection sensor detects that a ball has passed through the general map starting port 228, the pachinko machine 100 starts a general map variable game by the general map display device 210.

In the present embodiment, only one first special figure starting port 230 is disposed at the center of the game board 200. When a predetermined ball detection sensor detects a ball entering the first special figure starting port 230, a payout device 152, which will be described later, is driven, and a predetermined number (for example, three) of balls is used as a prize ball for the upper plate 126. The special figure changing game by the first special figure display device 212 is started. The ball that has entered the first special figure starting port 230 is guided to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 and then discharged to the amusement island side.

  The second special figure starting port 232 is called an electric tulip (electric Chu). In the present embodiment, only one second special figure starting port 232 is disposed directly below the first special figure starting port 230. The second special figure starting port 232 includes a wing member 232a that can be opened and closed to the left and right. When the wing member 232a is closed, it is impossible to enter a ball. When 210 hits and stops and displays the symbol, the blade member 232a opens and closes at a predetermined time interval and a predetermined number of times. When a predetermined ball detection sensor detects a ball entering the second special figure starting port 232, the payout device 152 is driven and a predetermined number (for example, four) of balls is discharged to the upper plate 126 as prize balls. At the same time, the special figure variation game by the second special figure display device 214 is started. The ball that has entered the second special figure starting port 232 is guided to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 and then discharged to the amusement island side.

  The variable winning opening 234 is called a large winning opening or an attacker, and in the present embodiment, only one variable winning opening 234 is disposed below the center of the game board 200. The variable winning opening 234 includes a door member 234a that can be opened and closed. When the door member 234a is closed, it is impossible to enter a ball, and the special figure display device stops the jackpot symbol when the special figure variable game is won. When displayed, the door member 234a opens and closes at a predetermined time interval (for example, an opening time of 29 seconds and a closing time of 1.5 seconds) and at a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times). When a predetermined ball detection sensor detects a ball entering the variable winning opening 234, the payout device 152 is driven to discharge a predetermined number (for example, 15 balls) of balls to the upper plate 126 as prize balls. The ball that entered the variable winning opening 234 is guided to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 and then discharged to the amusement island side.

  Further, a plurality of disc-shaped hitting direction changing members 236 called a windmill and a plurality of game nails 238 are arranged in the vicinity of these winning openings and start openings, and at the bottom of the inner rail 204, After guiding a ball that has not won any prize opening or start opening to the back side of the pachinko machine 100, an out opening is provided for discharging to the game island side.

This pachinko machine 100 supplies the ball stored in the upper plate 126 by the player to the launch position of the launch rail, drives the launch motor with strength according to the operation amount of the player's operation handle, and launches 146 Further, the outer rail 202 and the inner rail 204 are passed by the launcher 148 and driven into the game area 124. Then, the ball that has reached the upper part of the game area 124 falls downward while changing the advancing direction by the hitting direction changing member 236, the game nail 238, etc., and a winning opening (general winning opening 226, variable winning opening 234) or start opening (Outside the first special figure starting port 230, the second special figure starting port 232), winning out any winning port or starting port, or just passing through the normal start port 228, the out port 240 To reach.
<Directing device 206>
Next, the rendering device 206 of the pachinko machine 100 will be described.

  On the front side of the effect device 206, a warp device 242 and a stage 244 are arranged in an area where the game ball can roll, and an effect movable body 224 is arranged in an area where the game ball cannot roll. . In addition, a decorative symbol display device 208 and a shielding device 246 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a door) are disposed on the back side of the effect device 206. That is, in the effect device 206, the decorative symbol display device 208 and the shielding means are located behind the warp device 242, the stage 244, and the effect movable body 224.

  The warp device 242 discharges the game balls that have entered the warp inlet 242a provided at the upper left of the effect device 206 to the stage 244 below the front surface of the effect device 206 from the warp outlet 242b.

The stage 244 can roll a ball discharged from the warp outlet 242b, a ball carried on by a nail of the game board 200, or the like, and the passed ball is a first special figure starting port 230 at the center of the stage 244. A special route 244a is provided to facilitate entry into the golf course.

  In this embodiment, the effect movable body 224 includes an upper arm 224a and a forearm 224b imitating the upper arm and forearm of a human right arm, and an upper arm motor and an elbow (not shown) that rotate the upper arm 224a to the position of the shoulder. A forearm motor (not shown) that rotates the forearm 224b at a position is provided. The effect movable body 224 moves in front of the decorative symbol display device 208 by the upper arm motor and the forearm motor.

The shielding device 246 includes a lattice-like left door 246a and right door 246b, and is disposed between the decorative symbol display device 208 and the front stage 244. Belts wound around two pulleys (not shown) are fixed to the upper portions of the left door 246a and the right door 246b, respectively. That is, the left door 246a and the right door 246b move to the left and right as the belt driven by the motor through the pulley moves. When the left door 246a and the right door 246b are closed, the shielding means shields the inner end portions thereof so that it is difficult for the player to visually recognize the decorative symbol display device 208. In the state where the left door 246a and the right door 246b are opened, each inner end portion slightly overlaps the outer end portion of the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 208, but the player can visually recognize all of the display of the decorative symbol display device 208. It is. In addition, the left door 246a and the right door 246b can be stopped at arbitrary positions, respectively, for example, only a part of the decorative design so that the player can identify which decorative design the displayed decorative design is. Can be shielded. In addition, the left door 246a and the right door 246b may be configured so that a part of the decorative symbol display device 208 behind the lattice hole can be visually recognized, or the shoji part of the lattice hole is closed with a translucent lens body. The display by the decorative symbol display device 208 may be made vaguely visible to the player, or the shoji part of the holes in the lattice is completely blocked (shielded), and the decorative symbol display device 208 behind is made completely invisible. Also good.
<Control unit>

  Next, the circuit configuration of the control unit of the pachinko machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This figure shows a circuit block diagram of the control unit.

The control unit of the pachinko machine 100 can be roughly classified into a main control unit 300 that controls the central part of the game and a command signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “command”) transmitted by the main control unit 300. A first sub-control unit 400 that controls the second sub-control unit 500 that controls various devices based on a command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400, and a command transmitted by the main control unit 300 The payout control unit 600 that mainly controls the game ball payout, the launch control unit 630 that controls the launch of the game ball, and the power supply control unit 660 that controls the power supplied to the pachinko machine 100 are configured. Yes.
<Main control unit>
First, the main control unit 300 of the pachinko machine 100 will be described.

  The main control unit 300 includes a basic circuit 302 that controls the entire main control unit 300. The basic circuit 302 includes a CPU 304, a ROM 306 for storing control programs and various data, and temporary data. RAM 308 for storing data, I / O 310 for controlling input / output of various devices, counter timer 312 for measuring time and frequency, and WDT 314 for monitoring abnormalities in program processing are mounted. . Note that another storage device may be used for the ROM 306 and the RAM 308, and this is the same for the first sub-control unit 400 described later. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 316b as a system clock.

  In addition, the basic circuit 302 includes a counter circuit 318 used as a hardware random number counter that changes a numerical value in the range of 0 to 65535 each time a clock signal output from the crystal oscillator 316a is received (this circuit includes two circuits). And a predetermined ball detection sensor, for example, a sensor that detects a game ball passing through each start port, winning port, variable winning port, front frame door opening sensor, and inner frame opening sensor. And a sensor circuit 322 for receiving signals output from various sensors 320 including a lower plate full sensor and outputting a comparison result with an amplification result or a reference voltage to the counter circuit 318 and the basic circuit 302, and a predetermined symbol display device For example, a drive circuit 324 for performing display control of the first special figure display device 212 and the second special figure display device 214, a predetermined symbol display device, A drive circuit 326 for performing display control of the general-purpose display device 210, and various status display units 328 (for example, a general-purpose reservation lamp 216, a first special figure reservation lamp 218, a second special figure reservation lamp 220, a high-probability medium A driving circuit 330 for performing display control of the lamp 222 and the like, and various solenoids 332 for opening and closing a predetermined movable member, for example, the blade member 232a of the second special figure starting port 232, the door member 234a of the variable winning port 234, and the like. A drive circuit 334 for controlling the above is connected.

  When the ball detection sensor 320 detects that a ball has won the first special figure starting port 230, the sensor circuit 322 outputs a signal indicating that the ball has been detected to the counter circuit 318. Upon receiving this signal, the counter circuit 318 latches the value of the counter corresponding to the first special figure starting port 230 at that timing, and stores the latched value in the built-in counter value corresponding to the first special figure starting port 230. Store in the register. Similarly, when the counter circuit 318 receives a signal indicating that the second special figure starting port 232 has won a ball, the counter circuit 318 latches the value at the timing of the counter corresponding to the second special figure starting port 232. The latched value is stored in a built-in counter value storage register corresponding to the second special figure starting port 232.

  Further, an information output circuit 336 is connected to the basic circuit 302, and the main control unit 300 is connected to an information input circuit 350 provided in an external hall computer (not shown) or the like via this information output circuit 336. The game information (for example, game state) of the machine 100 is output.

  In addition, the main control unit 300 is provided with a voltage monitoring circuit 338 that monitors the voltage value of the power source supplied from the power source control unit 660 to the main control unit 300. The voltage monitoring circuit 338 is a voltage value of the power source. Is less than a predetermined value (9v in this embodiment), a low voltage signal indicating that the voltage has dropped is output to the basic circuit 302.

  In addition, the main control unit 300 is provided with a start signal output circuit (reset signal output circuit) 340 that outputs a start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. When an activation signal is input, game control is started (main control section main processing described later is started).

The main control unit 300 includes an output interface for transmitting a command to the first sub-control unit 400 and an output interface for transmitting a command to the payout control unit 600. With this configuration, the first control unit 300 Communication with the sub-control unit 400 and the payout control unit 600 is enabled. Information communication between the main control unit 300 and the first sub-control unit 400 and the payout control unit 600 is one-way communication. The main control unit 300 sends commands and the like to the first sub-control unit 400 and the payout control unit 600. The first sub control unit 400 and the payout control unit 600 are configured such that signals such as commands cannot be transmitted to the main control unit 300.
<Sub control unit>

  Next, the first sub control unit 400 of the pachinko machine 100 will be described. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a basic circuit 402 that controls the entire first sub-control unit 400 mainly based on commands transmitted from the main control unit 300. The basic circuit 402 includes a CPU 404 and ROM 406 for storing control programs and various effects data, RAM 408 for temporarily storing data, I / O 410 for controlling input / output of various devices, and for measuring time, frequency, etc. The counter timer 412 is mounted. The CPU 404 of the basic circuit 402 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 414 as a system clock. The ROM 406 may store the control program and various effect data in separate ROMs.

  The basic circuit 402 includes a sound source IC 416 for controlling the speaker 120 (and amplifier), a drive circuit 420 for controlling various lamps 418 (for example, the chance button lamp 138), and a shielding device 246. A drive circuit 432 for performing drive control, a shielding device sensor 430 that detects the current position of the shielding device 246, a chance button detection sensor 426 that detects pressing of the chance button 136, a shielding device sensor 430, and a chance button detection sensor The sensor circuit 428 that outputs the detection signal from the 426 to the basic circuit 402, and the image data stored in the ROM 406 based on the signal from the CPU 404 are read, and the display image is generated using the work area of the VRAM 436 to decorate A VDP 434 (image) that displays an image on the symbol display device 208. Are connected Oh and display processor), the.

  Next, the second sub control unit 500 of the pachinko machine 100 will be described. The second sub-control unit 500 includes a basic circuit 502 that receives the control command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400 via the input interface and controls the entire second sub-control unit 500 based on the control command. The basic circuit 502 includes a CPU 504, a RAM 508 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 510 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer for measuring time and frequency 512 is installed. The CPU 504 of the basic circuit 502 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 514 as a system clock, and controls a control program and data for controlling the entire second sub-control unit 500, and an image display A ROM 506 storing data and the like is provided.

The basic circuit 502 includes a drive circuit 516 for controlling the drive of the effect movable body 224, an effect movable body sensor 424 that detects the current position of the effect movable body 224, and a detection signal from the effect movable body sensor 424. Is output to the basic circuit 502, a game board lamp drive circuit 530 for controlling the game board lamp 532, and a game table frame lamp drive for controlling the game table frame lamp 542 The circuit 540 is connected to a serial communication control circuit 520 that performs lighting control by serial communication between the game board lamp drive circuit 530 and the game stand frame lamp drive circuit 540.
<Discharge control unit, launch control unit, power supply control unit>

  Next, the payout control unit 600, the launch control unit 630, and the power supply control unit 660 of the pachinko machine 100 will be described.

  The payout control unit 600 controls the payout motor 602 of the payout device 152 mainly based on a command signal or the like transmitted from the main control unit 300, and a prize ball or a rental ball based on a control signal output from the payout sensor 604 It is detected whether or not the payout has been completed, and communication with a card unit 608 provided separately from the pachinko machine 100 is performed via the interface unit 606.

  The launch control unit 630 outputs a control signal output from the payout control unit 600 to permit or stop the launch, or a launch intensity output circuit provided in the ball launch handle 134 to operate the ball launch handle 134 by the player. Control of the launch motor 632 that drives the launcher 146 and launcher 148, and control of the ball feeder 634 that supplies the launcher 110 with a ball from the upper plate 126 based on a control signal that indicates the launch intensity according to the amount. I do.

The power control unit 660 converts the AC power supplied from the outside to the pachinko machine 100 into a DC voltage, converts it to a predetermined voltage, and controls each control unit such as the main control unit 300 and the first sub control unit 400, the payout device 152, etc. Supply to each device. Further, the power supply control unit 660 supplies a power storage circuit (for example, a power supply circuit) for supplying power to a predetermined part (for example, the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300) for a predetermined period (for example, 10 days) even after the external power supply is cut off. , Capacitor). In the present embodiment, a predetermined voltage is supplied from the power supply control unit 660 to the payout control unit 600 and the second sub control unit 500, and the main control unit 300, the second sub control unit 500, and the launch control unit are supplied from the payout control unit 600. Although the predetermined voltage is supplied to 630, the predetermined voltage may be supplied to each control unit and each device through another power supply path.
<Type of design>

  Next, using FIGS. 5A to 5C, the first special symbol display device 212, the second special symbol display device 214, the decorative symbol display device 208, and the normal symbol display device 210 of the pachinko machine 100 are stopped and displayed. The types of special maps and general maps to be described will be described.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of the stop symbol form of the special figure. The special figure 1 variable game is started on the condition that the first start port sensor detects that the ball has entered the first special figure start port 230, and the ball has entered the second special figure start port 232 The special figure 2 variable game is started on the condition that the second start port sensor has detected. When the special figure 1 variable game is started, the first special symbol display device 212 performs “variable display of special figure 1” by repeating all lighting of seven segments and lighting of one central segment. In addition, when the special figure 2 variable game is started, the second special symbol display device 214 displays “fluctuation display of special figure 2” which repeats lighting of all seven segments and lighting of one central segment. Do. These “variation display of special figure 1” and “variation display of special figure 2” correspond to an example of the symbol fluctuation display according to the present invention.

  Then, when the variation time determined before the variation start of the special figure 1 (corresponding to the variation time referred to in the present invention) elapses, the first special symbol display device 212 stops and displays the special symbol form of the special figure 1. When the variation time determined before the start of variation 2 (this also corresponds to the variation time according to the present invention) has elapsed, the second special symbol display device 214 stops and displays the stop symbol form of the special diagram 2. Therefore, from the start of “figure display of special figure 1” until the stop symbol form of special figure 1 is stopped, or after the start of “fluctuation display of special figure 2”, the stop symbol form of special figure 2 is displayed. Until stop display corresponds to an example of the symbol variation stop display referred to in the present invention, hereinafter, after the “variable display of special figure 1 or 2” is started, the stop symbol form of special figure 1 or 2 is stopped and displayed. The series of displays up to is referred to as symbol variation stop display. As will be described later, the symbol variation stop display may be continuously performed a plurality of times. FIG. 10A shows 10 types of special drawings from “Special Figure A” to “Special Figure J” as stop symbol forms in the symbol variation stop display, and the white portions in the figure are turned off. The location of the segment to be displayed is shown, and the black portion indicates the location of the segment to be lit.

  “Special Figure A” is a 15 round (15R) special jackpot symbol, and “Special Figure B” is a 15R jackpot symbol. In the pachinko machine 100 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the determination as to whether or not the big hit in the special figure variable game is made by lottery of hardware random numbers, and the decision as to whether or not it is a special big hit is made by lottery of software random numbers. The difference between the jackpot and the special jackpot is the difference in whether the probability of winning the jackpot is high (special jackpot) or low (jackpot) in the next special figure variation game. Hereinafter, a state having a high probability of winning the jackpot is referred to as a special figure high probability state, and a state having a low probability is referred to as a special figure low probability state. Moreover, after the 15R special jackpot game ends and after the 15R jackpot game ends, both shift to the time-saving state. Although the time reduction will be described in detail later, the state that shifts to the time reduction state is referred to as a normal high probability state, and the state that does not shift to the time reduction state is referred to as a normal low probability state. “Special figure A”, which is a 15R special jackpot symbol, is a special figure high probability normal figure high probability state, and “Special figure B”, which is a 15R jackpot symbol, is a special figure low probability ordinary figure high probability state. These “special chart A” and “special chart B” are symbols that give a relatively large profit amount to the player.

  “Special figure C” is a 2R jackpot symbol called sudden probability change, and is a special figure high probability normal figure high probability state. That is, “Special Figure C” is 2R compared to “Special Figure A” which is 15R. "Special figure D" is a 2R jackpot symbol called sudden time reduction, and is a special figure low probability normal figure high probability state. That is, “Special Figure D” is 2R compared to “Special Figure B” which is 15R.

  “Special figure E” is a 2R jackpot symbol called hidden probability change, and is a special figure high probability normal figure low probability state. "Special figure F" is a 2R jackpot symbol suddenly called normal, and is a special figure low probability normal figure low probability state. These “special drawing E” and “special drawing F” are both 2R and are in a state in which they do not shift to the time-saving state.

  "Special figure G" is a first small hit symbol, and "Special figure H" is a second small hit symbol, both of which are in a special figure low probability normal figure low probability state. The small hit here is equivalent to the same short hit big hit with 2R. That is, “Special Figure G” and “Special Figure H” are in the same state as “Special Figure F”, but the effects displayed on the decorative symbol display device 208 are different in both cases. By providing “G”, “Special Figure H”, and “Special Figure F”, the interest of the game is enhanced.

  In addition, “Special Figure I” is a first off symbol, and “Special Figure J” is a second off symbol, and the profit amount given to the player is a relatively small profit amount.

  In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, symbols other than “Special Figure A” are prepared as 15R special jackpot symbols, and the same applies to other symbols such as 15R jackpot symbols.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of a decorative design. There are 10 types of decoration patterns of the present embodiment: “Decoration 1” to “Decoration 10”. The first start port sensor detects that a ball has won the first special figure start port 230 or the second special view start port 232, that is, the ball has entered the first special view start port 230; or On the condition that the second start port sensor detects that a ball has entered the second special symbol start port 232, the left symbol display area 208a, the middle symbol display area 208b, and the right symbol display of the decorative symbol display device 208 are displayed. Displayed in the order of “decoration 1” → “decoration 2” → “decoration 3” →... “Decoration 9” → “decoration 10” → “decoration 1” →... “Decoration display of decorative pattern” is performed. When the 15R jackpot of “Special Figure B” is notified, a symbol combination (for example, “decoration 1—decoration 1—decoration”) corresponding to the 15R jackpot corresponding to the 15R jackpot is displayed in the symbol display areas 208a to 208c. 1 ”or“ decoration 2—decoration 2—decoration 2 ”). When the 15R special jackpot of “special drawing A” is notified, a combination of three symbols of the same odd number of decorative symbols (for example, “decoration 3—decoration 3—decoration 3” or “decoration 7—decoration 7—decoration 7”). Etc.) is stopped and displayed.

  In addition, the 2R jackpot called “hidden probability change” of “Special Figure E”, the 2R jackpot called “Special Figure F” suddenly, or the first small hit of “Special Figure G”, “Special Figure H” When notifying the second small hit, “decoration 1-decoration 2—decoration 3” is stopped and displayed. Furthermore, in order to notify the 2R jackpot called “sudden change” of “special drawing C” or the 2R jackpot called “sudden time reduction” of “special drawing D”, “decoration 1-decoration 3—decoration 5” is displayed. Stop display.

  On the other hand, when notifying the first deviation of “Special Figure I” and the second deviation of “Special Figure J”, the symbol combination other than the symbol combination shown in FIG. 5B is stopped in the symbol display areas 208a to 208c. indicate.

FIG.5 (c) shows an example of the usual stop display symbol. In the present embodiment, there are two types of stoppage display modes for ordinary maps: “general diagram A” which is a winning symbol and “general symbol B” which is a missed symbol. Based on the fact that the above-mentioned gate sensor has detected that a sphere has passed through the general-purpose start opening 228, the normal symbol display device 210 repeats all lighting of the seven segments and lighting of the central one segment. Perform a “normal change display”. Then, when notifying the winning of the common figure variable game, the “normal figure A” is stopped and displayed, and when notifying the usual figure variable game, the “normal figure B” is stopped and displayed. Also in FIG. 6C, the white portions in the figure indicate the locations of the segments that are turned off, and the black portions indicate the locations of the segments that are turned on.
<Main control unit main processing>

  Next, main control unit main processing executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing of the main control unit.

  As described above, the main control unit 300 is provided with the start signal output circuit (reset signal output circuit) 340 that outputs the start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 to which this activation signal has been input performs reset start by a reset interrupt, and executes main control unit main processing shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with a control program stored in advance in the ROM 306.

  In step S101, initial setting 1 is performed. In this initial setting 1, setting of a stack initial value (temporary setting) to the stack pointer (SP) of the CPU 304, setting of an interrupt mask, initial setting of the I / O 310, initial setting of various variables stored in the RAM 308, to the WDT 314 The operation is permitted and the initial value is set. In the present embodiment, a numerical value corresponding to 32.8 ms is set in WDT 314 as an initial value. In step S103, the value of the counter of WDT 314 is cleared and time measurement by WDT 314 is restarted.

  In step S105, whether or not the low voltage signal is on, that is, the voltage value of the power supply that the voltage monitoring circuit 338 supplies from the power supply control unit 660 to the main control unit 300 is a predetermined value (in this embodiment, 9v), it is monitored whether or not a low voltage signal indicating that the voltage has dropped is output. Then, when the low voltage signal is on (when the CPU 304 detects that the power supply is cut off), the process returns to step S103, and when the low voltage signal is off (when the CPU 304 does not detect that the power supply is cut off), the step is performed. The process proceeds to S107. Even when the predetermined value (9 V) is not yet reached immediately after the power is turned on, the process returns to step S103, and step S105 is repeatedly executed until the supply voltage becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

  In step S107, initial setting 2 is performed. In this initial setting 2, a process for setting a numerical value for determining a cycle for executing a main control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, in the counter timer 312 and a predetermined port of the I / O 310 (for example, a test output port, A process of outputting a clear signal from the output port to the first sub control unit 400, a setting for permitting writing to the RAM 308, and the like are performed.

  In step S109, it is determined whether or not to return to the state before power interruption (before power interruption), and the state before power interruption is not restored (when the basic circuit 302 of the main control unit 300 is set to the initial state). ) Proceeds to an initialization process (step S113).

  Specifically, first, a RAM clear signal transmitted when a store clerk or the like of an amusement store operates the RWM clear switch 180 provided on the power supply board is turned on (indicates that there has been an operation). That is, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear is necessary. If the RAM clear signal is on (when the RAM clear is necessary), the process proceeds to step S113 to set the basic circuit 302 to the initial state. On the other hand, when the RAM clear signal is OFF (when the RAM clear is not necessary), the power status information stored in the power status storage area provided in the RAM 308 is read, and the power status information is information indicating suspend. It is determined whether or not. If the power status information is not information indicating suspend, the process proceeds to step S113 to set the basic circuit 302 to an initial state. If the power status information is information indicating suspend, a predetermined area of the RAM 308 is set. A checksum is calculated by adding all the 1-byte data stored in (for example, all areas) to a 1-byte register whose initial value is 0, and the calculated checksum results in a specific value (for example, 0) (whether or not the checksum result is normal). When the checksum result is a specific value (eg, 0) (when the checksum result is normal), the process proceeds to step S111 to return to the state before the power interruption, and the checksum result is a specific value. If the value is other than 0 (for example, 0) (if the result of the checksum is abnormal), the process proceeds to step S113 to set the pachinko machine 100 to the initial state. Similarly, when the power status information indicates information other than “suspend”, the process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S111, power recovery processing is performed. In this power recovery process, the value of the stack pointer stored in the stack pointer save area provided in the RAM 308 at the time of power failure is read out and reset to the stack pointer (this setting). In addition, the value of each register stored in the register save area provided in the RAM 308 at the time of power interruption is read out and reset in each register, and then the interrupt permission is set. Thereafter, as a result of the CPU 304 executing the control program based on the reset stack pointer and registers, the pachinko machine 100 returns to the state when the power is turned off. That is, the processing is resumed from the instruction next to the instruction (predetermined in step S115) performed immediately before branching to the timer interrupt process (described later) immediately before the power interruption. A RAM 308 mounted on the basic circuit 302 in the main control unit 300 shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a transmission information storage area. In step S111, a power recovery command is set in the transmission information storage area. This power recovery command is a command indicating that the power has been restored to the state at the time of power-off, and is transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 in step S233 in the timer interrupt process of the main control unit 300 described later.

  In step S113, initialization processing is performed. In this initialization process, interrupt prohibition setting, stack initial value setting to the stack pointer (this setting), initialization of all storage areas of the RAM 308, and the like are performed. Further, here, a normal return command is set in the transmission information storage area provided in the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300. This normal return command is a command indicating that the initialization process (step S113) of the main control unit 300 has been performed, and in the same way as the power recovery command, in step S233 in the timer interrupt process of the main control unit 300, 1 is transmitted to the sub-control unit 400.

  In step S115, after setting for prohibition of interruption, a basic random number initial value update process is performed. In this basic random number initial value update process, two initial value generation random number counters for generating the initial values of the ordinary figure winning random number counter and the special figure random value counter, the ordinary figure timer random number value, and the special figure timer, respectively. Two random number counters for generating each random value are updated. For example, if the range of values that can be taken as a normal timer random number value is 0 to 100, a value is acquired from a random number counter storage area for generating a normal timer random value provided in the RAM 308, and 1 is added to the acquired value. Then, it is stored in the original random number counter storage area. At this time, if the result of adding 1 to the acquired value is 101, 0 is stored in the original random number counter storage area. Other initial value generation random number counters and random number counters are similarly updated. Note that the initial value generation random number counter is also updated in step S207 described later.

  The main control unit 300 repeatedly executes the process of step S115 except during a timer interrupt process that starts every predetermined period.

<Main control unit timer interrupt processing>
Next, a main control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the main control unit timer interrupt process.

  The main control unit 300 includes a counter timer 312 that generates a timer interrupt signal at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, about once every 2 ms), and the main control unit timer interrupt is triggered by this timer interrupt signal. The process is started at a predetermined cycle.

  In step S201, a timer interrupt start process is performed. In this timer interrupt start process, a process of temporarily saving each register value of the CPU 304 to the stack area is performed.

  In step S203, the WDT is periodically updated (so that the count value of the WDT 314 exceeds the initial setting value (32.8 ms in the present embodiment) and no WDT interruption occurs (so as not to detect a processing abnormality). In the embodiment, the restart is performed once every about 2 ms, which is the period of the main control unit timer interrupt.

  In step S205, input port state update processing is performed. In this input port state update process, the detection signals of various sensors 320 including the above-mentioned front frame door open sensor, inner frame open sensor, lower pan full sensor, and various ball detection sensors are input via the input port of the I / O 310. The input is monitored for the presence or absence of a detection signal, and stored in a signal state storage area provided for each of the various sensors 320 in the RAM 308. If the detection signal of the sphere detection sensor is described as an example, information on the presence / absence of the detection signal of each sphere detection sensor detected in the timer interruption process (about 4 ms before) is stored in the RAM 308 for each sphere detection sensor. This information is read out from the previous detection signal storage area partitioned and stored in the RAM 308 in the previous detection signal storage area partitioned for each sphere detection sensor, and the previous timer interrupt processing (about 2 ms before) ) Is read from the current detection signal storage area provided for each sphere detection sensor in the RAM 308, and this information is read out from the previous detection signal storage area described above. To remember. Further, the detection signal of each sphere detection sensor detected this time is stored in the above-described current detection signal storage area.

  Further, in step S205, the information on the presence or absence of the detection signal of each sphere detection sensor stored in each storage area of the above-mentioned detection signal storage area, the previous detection signal storage area, and the current detection signal storage area is compared. It is determined whether or not the information on the presence or absence of detection signals for the past three times in the ball detection sensor matches the winning determination pattern information. This main control unit timer interrupt process that is repeatedly started at a very short interval of about 2 ms while one game ball passes one ball detection sensor is started several times. For this reason, every time the main control unit timer interrupt process is activated, in step S205 described above, a detection signal indicating that the same game ball has passed the same ball detection sensor is confirmed. As a result, a detection signal indicating that the same game ball has passed the same ball detection sensor is stored in each of the detection signal storage area, the previous detection signal storage area, and the current detection signal storage area. That is, when the game ball starts to pass through the ball detection sensor, there is no detection signal before, a previous detection signal, and a current detection signal. In the present embodiment, in consideration of erroneous detection of the sphere detection sensor and noise, it is determined that there is a prize when the detection signal is stored twice continuously after no detection signal. The ROM 306 of the main control unit 300 shown in FIG. 4 stores winning determination pattern information (in this embodiment, information indicating that there is no previous detection signal, that there is a previous detection signal, and that there is a current detection signal). In this step S205, information on the presence or absence of detection signals for the past three times in each sphere detection sensor is predetermined winning determination pattern information (in this embodiment, no previous detection signal, previous detection signal, current detection signal present). In the case of the general winning port 226, the variable winning port 234, the first special figure starting port 230, and the second special figure starting port 232, or the ordinary drawing starting port 228. Is determined to have passed. In other words, it is determined that a prize has been awarded to the winning ports 226 and 234 and the starting ports 230, 232, and 228. For example, when the information on the presence / absence of the detection signals for the past three matches with the above-described winning determination pattern information in the general winning opening sensor for detecting the winning at the general winning opening 226, there is a winning at the general winning opening 226. If the information on the presence / absence of detection signals for the past three times does not match the above-described winning determination pattern information, the subsequent general winnings are performed. The process branches to the subsequent process without performing the process associated with winning the prize to the mouth 226. Note that the ROM 306 of the main control unit 300 stores winning determination clear pattern information (in this embodiment, information indicating that there is a detection signal before the previous time, no previous detection signal, and no current detection signal). After it is determined that there has been a single win, it is not determined that there has been a win until the information on the presence or absence of detection signals for the past three times matches the winning determination clear pattern information in each ball detection sensor, and the winning determination is cleared. If it matches the pattern information, it is next determined whether or not it matches the winning determination pattern information.

  In step S207 and step S209, basic random number initial value update processing and basic random number update processing are performed. In these basic random number initial value update processing and basic random number update processing, the value of the initial value generation random number counter performed in step S115 is updated, and then the normal winning random number value used in the main control unit 300, Two random number counters for generating the special figure 1 random value and the special figure 2 random value are updated. For example, if the range of values that can be taken as a random number value for a normal winning number is 0 to 100, a value is acquired from a random number counter storage area for generating a normal winning random number value provided in the RAM 308, and 1 is added to the acquired value. Then, it is stored in the original random number counter storage area. At this time, if the result of adding 1 to the acquired value is 101, 0 is stored in the original random number counter storage area. If it is determined that the random number counter has made one round as a result of adding 1 to the acquired value, the value of the initial value generating random number counter corresponding to each random number counter is acquired and stored in the storage area of the random number counter. set. For example, a value is acquired from a random number counter for generating a regular winning random number that fluctuates in a numerical range of 0 to 100, and a result obtained by adding 1 to the acquired value is stored in a predetermined initial value storage area provided in the RAM 308. If the value is equal to the previously set initial value (for example, 7), the value is acquired as an initial value from the initial value generation random number counter corresponding to the random number counter for generating the random number for winning the normal number, The initial value set this time is stored in the above-described initial value storage area in order to determine that the random number counter for generating the winning random number value has made one round next time, in addition to setting it in the random number counter for generating the winning random value Keep it. Further, apart from the above-described initial value storage area for determining that the random number counter for generating the random number for winning the normal signal has made one round next, it is determined that the random number counter for generating the special figure random number has made one round. An initial value storage area is provided in the RAM 308. In the present embodiment, the counter for acquiring the random number value of FIG. 1 and the counter for acquiring the random value of FIG. 2 are separately provided, but the same counter may be used.

  In step S211, effect random number update processing is performed. In this effect random number update process, a random number counter for generating an effect random number used by the main control unit 300 is updated.

  In step S213, timer update processing is performed. In this timer update process, the normal symbol display symbol update timer for timing the time for the symbol to be changed / stopped on the normal symbol display device 210, and the time for the symbol to be changed / stopped to be displayed on the first special symbol display device 212 are timed. Special symbol 1 display symbol update timer for performing, special symbol 2 display symbol update timer for measuring the time for the symbol to be changed and stopped on the second special symbol display device 214, a predetermined winning effect time, a predetermined opening time Various timers including a timer for measuring a predetermined closing time, a predetermined end effect period, and the like are updated.

  In step S215, winning prize counter update processing is performed. In this winning opening counter updating process, when winning holes 226, 234 and starting holes 230, 232, 228 are won, the RAM 308 stores the winning ball number storage area provided for each winning hole or for each starting hole. The value is read out, 1 is added, and the original prize ball number storage area is set.

  In step S217, a winning acceptance process is performed. In this winning acceptance process, it is determined whether or not there has been a winning at the first special figure starting port 230, the second special figure starting port 232, the ordinary drawing starting port 228, and the variable winning port 234. Here, the determination is made using the determination result of whether or not it matches the winning determination pattern information in step S203. When a winning is made at the first special figure starting port 230 and the corresponding reserved number storage area provided in the RAM 308 is not full, the value is stored in the special counter value storage register of the counter circuit 318. And a value from the random number counter for generating the special figure 1 random value as a special figure 1 random value and storing it in the corresponding random value storage area. When a winning is made to the second special figure starting port 232 and the corresponding reserved number storage area provided in the RAM 308 is not full, the value is sent from the winning counter value storage register of the counter circuit 318 to the special figure 2 winning random number value. And a value from the random number counter for generating the special figure 2 random value as a special figure 2 random value and storing it in the corresponding random value storage area. If there is a win at the general figure starting port 228 and the corresponding reserved number storage area provided in the RAM 308 is not full, the value is obtained as a normal figure winning random number value from the random number counter for generating the normal figure winning random number value. Store in the corresponding random value storage area. When there is a winning at the variable winning opening 234, information indicating that a ball has entered the variable winning opening 234 is stored in the winning storage area for the variable winning opening.

  In step S219, a payout request number transmission process is performed. Note that the output schedule information and the payout request information output to the payout control unit 600 are composed of, for example, 1 byte, strobe information (indicating that data is set when ON), bit 6 Power-on information (if turned on, indicates that this is the first command transmission after power-on), bits 4-5 indicate the current processing type for encryption (0-3), and bits 0-3 indicate encryption The number of payout requests after processing is shown.

  In step S221, a normal state update process is performed. This normal state update process performs one of a plurality of processes corresponding to the normal state. For example, in the normal state update process in the middle of the normal symbol display (the above-described general symbol display symbol update timer value is 1 or more), the 7-segment LED constituting the normal symbol display device 210 is repeatedly turned on and off. Turns off drive control. By performing this control, the normal symbol display device 210 performs a usual fluctuation display (ordinary figure fluctuation game).

  Also, in the normal state update process at the timing when the normal symbol change display time has elapsed (the timing when the value of the general symbol display symbol update timer has changed from 1 to 0), if the hit flag is on, the win symbol is displayed. The normal symbol display device 210 is controlled so that the 7-segment LED constituting the normal symbol display device 210 is turned on / off, and when the hit flag is off, the normal symbol display device 210 is configured to be in the off symbol display mode. 7 segment LED on / off drive control is performed. Further, the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300 is provided with a setting area for performing various settings in various processes, not limited to the normal state update process. Here, the above-described lighting / extinguishing drive control is performed, and the setting area is set to indicate that the normal stop display is being performed. By performing this control, the normal symbol display device 210 determines the symbol of either the winning symbol (the common symbol A shown in FIG. 5C) or the off symbol (the common symbol B shown in FIG. 5C). Display. Thereafter, information indicating the stop period is set in a storage area of a normal stop time management timer provided in the RAM 308 in order to maintain the display for a predetermined stop display period (for example, 500 msec). With this setting, the symbol that has been confirmed and displayed is stopped and displayed for a predetermined period, and the player is notified of the result of the normal game.

  Further, if the result of the usual figure variable game is a hit, the usual figure hit flag is turned on as will be described later. When the usual figure hit flag is on, in the usual figure state update process at the timing when the predetermined stop display period ends (when the value of the usual figure stop time management timer is changed from 1 to 0), The normal operation is set in the setting area, and the blade member 232a is opened to a solenoid (332) for opening and closing the blade member 232a of the second special figure starting port 232 for a predetermined opening period (for example, 2 seconds). And a signal indicating the open period is set in the storage area of the blade open time management timer provided in the RAM 308.

  In the usual state update process that starts at the timing when the predetermined opening period ends (the timing when the value of the blade opening time management timer is changed from 1 to 0), the blade member has a predetermined closing period (for example, 500 milliseconds). A signal for holding the blade member in the closed state is output to the opening / closing drive solenoid 332, and information indicating the closing period is set in the storage area of the blade closing time management timer provided in the RAM 308.

  Further, in the normal state update process that starts at the timing when the predetermined closing period ends (when the value of the blade closing time management timer is changed from 1 to 0), the non-operating state is set in the setting area of the RAM 308. To do. Furthermore, if the result of the usual figure fluctuation game is out, the usual figure out flag is turned on as will be described later. When the off-normal flag is on, the normal state update process at the timing when the predetermined stop display period described above ends (the timing at which the normal stop time management timer value changes from 1 to 0) In the setting area of the RAM 308, normal operation inactive is set. In the general state update process in the case where the general map is not operating, nothing is done and the process proceeds to the next step S223.

  In step S223, a general drawing related lottery process is performed. In this general map-related lottery process, the open / close control of the general map variable game and the second special map start port 232 is not performed (the state of the general map is not in operation), and the pending general map variable game is not held. When the number is 1 or more, it is decided whether to win or not to win the result of the variable figure game by random lottery based on the random number value stored in the random number value storage area. When the winning judgment is made and the winning is made, the winning flag provided in the RAM 308 is set to ON. If unsuccessful, turn off the winning flag. Regardless of the result of the hit determination, next, the value of the random number counter for generating the normal figure timer random value is acquired as the normal figure timer random number value, and a plurality of fluctuation times are obtained based on the acquired general figure timer random number value. One time is selected for variably displaying the normal map on the general map display device 210, and this variable display time is stored as a normal map variable display time in a general map variable time storage area provided in the RAM 308. In addition, the number of pending general figure variable games is stored in the usual figure pending number storage area provided in the RAM 308, and from the number of pending custom figure variable games each time a hit determination is made. The value obtained by subtracting 1 is re-stored in the usual figure number-of-holds storage area. Also, the random number value used for the hit determination is deleted.

  Next, the special figure state update process for each of the special figure 1 and the special figure 2 is performed. First, the special figure state update process (the special figure 2 state update process) for the special figure 2 is performed (step S225). In the special figure 2 state update process, one of the following eight processes is performed in accordance with the state of the special figure 2. For example, in the special figure 2 state update process in the middle of the special figure 2 fluctuation display (the value of the above-mentioned special figure 2 display symbol update timer is 1 or more), the 7-segment LED constituting the second special symbol display device 214 is turned on. Performs lighting / extinguishing drive control that repeatedly turns off. By performing this control, the second special symbol display device 214 performs the variable display of the special figure 2 (special figure 2 variable game).

In addition, predetermined transmission information indicating that the rotation start setting transmission process is to be executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the above-described transmission information storage area, and the process ends.

  Further, the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300 includes a 15R big hit flag, a 2R big hit flag, a first small hit flag, a second small hit flag, a first off flag, a second off flag, a special figure probability variation flag, and a normal figure. A flag for each probability variation flag is prepared. In the special figure 2 state update process starting at the timing when the special figure 2 fluctuation display time has elapsed (the timing when the special figure 2 display symbol update timer value has changed from 1 to 0), the 15R big hit flag is on, and the special figure probability fluctuation When the flag is also on and the normal figure probability fluctuation flag is on, the special figure A, 15R jackpot flag shown in FIG. 5A is on, the special figure probability fluctuation flag is off, and the common figure probability fluctuation flag is on. When the special figure B, 2R big hit flag is on, the special figure probability fluctuation flag is on, and the general figure probability fluctuation flag is also on, the special figure C, 2R big hit flag is on, the special figure probability fluctuation flag is off, When the probability fluctuation flag is on, the special figure D, 2R jackpot flag is on, the special figure probability fluctuation flag is on, and when the common figure probability fluctuation flag is on, the special figure E, 2R jackpot flag is on, special chart Probability flag is off, normal When the rate fluctuation flag is also off, the special figure F, when the first small hit flag is on, the special figure G, when the second small hit flag is on, the special figure H, and the first off flag are on. In such a case, the 7-segment LED constituting the second special symbol display device 214 is controlled to be turned on / off so that the special figure I and the second off flag are turned on, respectively, so that the special figure I is in the respective mode. A setting indicating that the special figure 2 stop display is in progress is made in the setting area of the RAM 308. By performing this control, the second special symbol display device 214 has a 15R special jackpot symbol (special symbol A), a 15R jackpot symbol (special symbol B), a sudden probability variation symbol (special symbol C), and a sudden time-short symbol symbol (special symbol). D), hidden probability variation (special E), suddenly normal (special F), first small hit (special G), second small hit (special H), first off symbol (special) Any one of the symbols I) and the second off-set symbol (special symbol J) is confirmed and displayed. After that, information indicating the stop period is set in the storage area of the special figure 2 stop time management timer provided in the RAM 308 in order to maintain the display for a predetermined stop display period (for example, 500 milliseconds). With this setting, the specially displayed special figure 2 is stopped and displayed for a predetermined period, and the result of the special figure 2 variable game is notified to the player. In addition, if the time reduction number stored in the time reduction number storage unit provided in the RAM 308 is 1 or more, 1 is subtracted from the time reduction number, and if the subtraction result becomes 1 to 0, the special figure probability is changing. If not (details will be described later), the time reduction flag is turned off. Further, the hourly flag is also turned off during the big hit game (in the special game state).

  Further, the special transmission information indicating that the rotation stop setting transmission process is executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the above-described transmission information storage area, and the design for stopping the variable display is shown in FIG. The special figure 2 identification information indicating the presence is additionally stored in the RAM 308 as information to be included in command data, which will be described later, and the processing is terminated.

  If the result of the special figure 2 variable game is a big hit, the big hit flag is turned on as will be described later. When the jackpot flag is on, in the special figure 2 state update process at the timing when the predetermined stop display period ends (the timing when the special figure 2 stop time management timer value changes from 1 to 0), the RAM 308 In the setting area, the special figure 2 is in operation and waits for a predetermined winning effect period (for example, 3 seconds), that is, a period during which an image for notifying the player that the big win by the decorative symbol display device 208 is started is displayed. Therefore, information indicating the winning effect period is set in the storage area of the special figure 2 standby time management timer provided in the RAM 308. Further, predetermined transmission information indicating that the winning effect setting transmission process is executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the transmission information storage area.

  Further, in the special figure 2 state update process that starts at the timing when the predetermined winning effect period ends (the timing when the value of the special figure 2 standby time management timer changes from 1 to 0), a predetermined release period (for example, 29 seconds) Alternatively, the door member 234a is opened to the solenoid (332) for opening and closing the door member 234a of the variable prize opening 234 until a winning of a predetermined number of balls (for example, 10 balls) is detected at the variable prize opening 234. In addition to outputting a signal to be held at the same time, information indicating the opening period is set in the storage area of the door opening time management timer provided in the RAM 308. In addition, predetermined transmission information indicating that the special winning opening release setting transmission process is executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the transmission information storage area.

  In the special figure 2 state update process that starts at the timing when the predetermined opening period ends (the timing when the door opening time management timer value changes from 1 to 0), the predetermined closing period (for example, 1.5 seconds) A signal for holding the door member 234a in a closed state is output to a solenoid (332) for opening and closing the door member 234a of the variable prize opening 234, and a closing period is stored in a storage area of a door closing time management timer provided in the RAM 308. Set the information indicating. In addition, predetermined transmission information indicating that the special winning opening closing setting transmission process is executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the transmission information storage area.

  In addition, in the special figure 2 state update process that starts at the timing when the door member opening / closing control is repeated a predetermined number of times (15 rounds or 2 rounds in this embodiment) and finished, a predetermined end effect period (for example, 3 seconds) In other words, the effect standby period is stored in the storage area of the effect standby time management timer provided in the RAM 308 in order to set to wait for a period during which an image for informing the player that the big hit by the decorative symbol display device 208 is to be ended is displayed. Set the information indicating. Also, if the normal probability fluctuation flag is set to ON, at the same time as the end of the jackpot game, the time reduction number 100 is set in the time reduction number storage unit provided in the RAM 308, and the time reduction flag provided in the RAM 308 is set. Turn on. If the usual time probability variation flag is set to OFF, the time reduction number is not set in the time reduction number storage unit, and the time reduction flag is not turned ON. The short time here means that the pachinko machine is in an advantageous state for the player in order to shorten the time from the end of the big hit in the special figure variable game to the start of the next big hit. If the short time flag is set to ON at this time, it is a normal high probability state. There is a higher probability of hitting a general-purpose variable game in the high-probability state than in the low-probability state. In addition, the fluctuation time of the normal figure variable game and the fluctuation time of the special figure variable game are shorter in the normal figure high probability state than in the normal figure low probability state. Further, in the normal high probability state, the opening time in one opening of the pair of blade members 232a of the second special start port 232 tends to be longer than in the normal low probability state. In addition, the pair of blade members 232a are more likely to open in the normal high probability state than in the normal low probability state. In addition, as described above, the hourly flag is set to off during the big hit game (in the special game state). Therefore, the normal low probability state is maintained during the jackpot game. This is because, if the game is in a high probability state during a jackpot game, a large number of games will be placed in the second special figure start port 232 until a predetermined number of game balls are entered during the jackpot game. There is a problem that a ball enters and the number of game balls that can be acquired during the jackpot increases, resulting in an increase in euphoria. This is to solve this problem.

  Further, predetermined transmission information indicating that the end effect setting transmission process is executed in the command setting transmission process (step S233) is additionally stored in the transmission information storage area.

  Also, in the special figure 2 state update process that starts at the timing when the predetermined end production period ends (when the production standby time management timer value changes from 1 to 0), the special figure 2 is not activated in the setting area of the RAM 308. Set medium. Further, if the result of the special figure 2 variable game is out of the way, the off flag is turned on as will be described later. In the case where the miss flag is on, even in the special figure 2 state update process at the timing when the predetermined stop display period described above ends (the timing when the special figure 2 stop time management timer value changes from 1 to 0), In the setting area of the RAM 308, special figure 2 inactive is set. In the special figure 2 state update process when the special figure 2 is not in operation, nothing is done and the process proceeds to the next step S227.

  Subsequently, special figure state update processing (special figure 1 state update process) for special figure 1 is performed (step S227). In the special figure 1 state update process, each process described in the special figure 2 state update process is performed according to the state of the special figure 1. Each process performed in the special figure 1 state update process is the same as the process in which “special figure 2” in the contents described in the special figure 2 state update process is replaced with “special figure 1”. Omitted. The order of the special figure 2 state update process and the special figure 1 state update process may be reversed.

  When the special figure state update process in step S225 and step S227 is completed, a special figure related lottery process for each of special figure 1 and special figure 2 is performed. Also here, first, a special drawing related lottery process for special figure 2 (a special drawing 2 related lottery process) is performed (step S229), and then a special drawing related lottery process for special figure 1 (a special drawing 1 related lottery process). ) Is performed (step S231). Also for these special drawing related lottery processes, the main control unit 300 performs the special figure 2 related lottery processing before the special figure 1 related lottery processing, so that the special figure 2 variable game start condition and the special figure 1 fluctuation Even if the game start conditions are satisfied at the same time, since the special figure 2 variable game is changing first, the special figure 1 variable game does not start changing. Further, the notification of the result of the jackpot determination of the special figure variable game by the decorative symbol display device 208 is performed by the first sub-control unit 400, and the lottery result of the lottery based on the winning at the second special figure starting port 232 is notified. However, it is performed in preference to the notification of the lottery result of the lottery based on the winning at the first special figure starting port 230.

  In step S233, command setting transmission processing is performed, and various commands are transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400. The output schedule information to be transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 is composed of 16 bits, for example, bit 15 is strobe information (indicating that data is set when ON), bits 11 to 14 are Command type (In this embodiment, command types such as basic command, symbol variation start command, symbol variation stop command, winning effect start command, end effect start command, jackpot round number designation command, power recovery command, RAM clear command are specified. Possible information), bits 0 to 10 are composed of command data (predetermined information corresponding to the command type).

  Specifically, the strobe information is turned on and off in the command transmission process described above. If the command type is a symbol variation start command, information indicating the value of the 15R jackpot flag or 2R jackpot flag, the value of the special figure probability variation flag, the timer number selected in the special figure related lottery process, etc. is included in the command data. In the case of the symbol variation stop command, the value of the 15R jackpot flag, 2R jackpot flag, the value of the special figure probability variation flag, etc. are included. In the case of a jackpot round number designation command, the value of the special variation probability flag, the number of jackpot rounds, and the like are included. When the command type indicates a basic command, device information in the command data, presence / absence of winning at the first special figure starting port 230, presence / absence of winning at the second special figure starting port 232, winning of the variable winning port 234 Includes presence or absence.

  In the rotation start setting transmission process described above, the 15R jackpot flag or 2R jackpot flag value, the special figure probability variation flag value, the special figure 1 related lottery process, and the special figure 2 relation stored in the RAM 308 as command data. Information indicating the timer number selected in the lottery process, the number of the first special figure variable game or the second special figure variable game held, etc. is set. In the rotation stop setting transmission process described above, information indicating the value of the 15R jackpot flag, the 2R jackpot flag, the value of the special figure probability variation flag, etc. stored in the RAM 308 is set in the command data. In the winning effect setting transmission process described above, the command control data stored in the RAM 308, the effect control information output to the decorative symbol display device 208, various lamps 418, and the speaker 120 during the winning effect period, the special figure probability variation flag Information indicating the value, the number of the first special figure variable game or the second special figure variable game being held, etc. is set. In the above-described end effect setting transmission process, the command control data stored in the RAM 308, the effect control information output to the decorative symbol display device 208, various lamps 418, and the speaker 120 during the effect standby period, the special figure probability variation flag Information indicating the value, the number of the first special figure variable game or the second special figure variable game being held, etc. is set. In the above-described large winning opening release setting transmission process, the number of big hits stored in the RAM 308 in the command data, the value of the special figure probability variation flag, the pending first special figure variation game or the second special figure variation game is stored. Set information such as number. In the above-mentioned big winning opening closing setting transmission process, the number of big hits stored in the RAM 308 in the command data, the value of the special figure probability variation flag, the pending first special figure variation game or the second special figure variation game is stored. Set information such as number. In step S233, general command special figure hold increase processing is also performed. In this general command special figure pending increase process, special figure identification information (information showing special figure 1 or special figure 2) stored in the transmission information storage area of the RAM 308, command notice information (preliminary notice information, false) Set either advance notice information or no advance notice information).

  In the first sub-control unit 400, it is possible to determine the production control according to the change of the game control in the main control unit 300 by the command type included in the received output schedule information, and it is included in the output schedule information. Based on the information of the command data, the contents of effect control can be determined.

  In step S235, an external output signal setting process is performed. In this external output signal setting process, the game information stored in the RAM 308 is output to the information input circuit 350 separate from the pachinko machine 100 via the information output circuit 336.

  In step S237, device monitoring processing is performed. In this device monitoring process, the signal states of the various sensors stored in the signal state storage area in step S205 are read, and the presence or absence of a predetermined error, for example, the presence or absence of a front frame door opening error or the presence or absence of a full tray error is monitored. When the front frame door opening error or the lower pan full error is detected, the transmission information to be transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 includes device information indicating the presence or absence of the front frame door opening error or the lower pan full error. Set. Further, various solenoids 332 are driven to control the opening and closing of the second special figure starting port 232 and the variable prize opening 234, and the normal symbol display device 210 and the first special symbol display via the display circuits 324, 326 and 330. Display data to be output to the device 212, the second special symbol display device 214, the various status display units 328, and the like is set in the output port of the I / O 310. Further, the output schedule information set in the payout request number transmission process (step S219) is output to the first sub-control unit 400 via the output port (I / O 310).

  In step S239, it is monitored whether or not the low voltage signal is on. Then, when the low voltage signal is on (when power supply cutoff is detected), the process proceeds to step S243, and when the low voltage signal is off (when power supply cutoff is not detected), the process proceeds to step S241.

  In step S241, timer interrupt end processing is performed. In this timer interrupt end process, the value of each register temporarily saved in step S201 is set in each original register, interrupt permission is set, etc., and then the main control unit main process shown in FIG. Return to.

On the other hand, in step S243, a specific variable or stack pointer for returning to the power-off state at the time of power recovery is saved in a predetermined area of the RAM 308 as return data, and power-off processing such as initialization of input / output ports is performed. After that, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit shown in FIG.
<Processing of First Sub-Control Unit 400>

  Next, processing of the first sub-control unit 400 will be described using FIG. FIG. 5A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 5B is a flowchart of the strobe interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 6C is a flowchart of the timer variable update interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 4D is a flowchart of the image control process of the first sub control unit 400.

  First, in step S301 in FIG. 9A, various initial settings are performed. When power is turned on, an initialization process is first executed in S301. In this initialization processing, initialization of input / output ports, initialization processing of a storage area in the RAM 408, and the like are performed.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more. This process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10, and when the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305, 0 is substituted into the timer variable. In step S307, command processing is performed. The CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400 determines whether a command has been received from the main control unit 300.

  In step S309, effect control processing is performed. For example, when there is a new command in S307, processing such as reading the effect data corresponding to this command from the ROM 406 is performed, and when the effect data needs to be updated, the effect data is updated.

  If it is detected in step S311 that the chance button has been pressed, the effect data updated in step S309 is changed to effect data corresponding to the press of the chance button. In step S313, if there is a command to VDP 434 in the effect data read in S309, this command is output to VDP 434 (details will be described later).

  In step S315, if there is a command to the sound source IC 416 in the effect data read out in S309, this command is output to the sound source IC 416. In step S317, lamp control processing is performed. Although details will be described later, in this lamp control process, if there is a command to various lamps 418 in the effect data read in step S309, this command is output to the drive circuit 420.

  In step S <b> 319, if there is a command to the shielding device 246 in the effect data read in S <b> 309, this command is output to the drive circuit 432. In step S321, if there is a control command to be transmitted to the second sub-control unit 500 in the effect data read in S309, the control command is set to be output, and the process returns to S303.

  Next, the command reception interrupt process of the first sub-control unit 400 will be described using FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the first sub-control unit 400 detects a strobe signal output from the main control unit 300. In step S401 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the main control unit 300 is stored as an unprocessed command in a command storage area provided in the RAM 408.

  Next, the first sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms). Execute in the cycle.

  In step S501 of the first sub control unit timer interrupt process, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 408 described in step S303 in the first sub control unit main process shown in FIG. Is stored in the timer variable storage area. Therefore, in step S303, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10).

  In step S503 of the first sub control unit timer interrupt process, a control command is transmitted to the second sub control unit 500 set in step S319, an effect random number value is updated, and the like.

  Next, the image control process in step S313 in the main process of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of image control processing.

  In step S601, an instruction to transfer image data is issued. Here, the CPU 404 first swaps the designation of the display areas A and B in the VRAM 436. As a result, an image of one frame stored in the display area not designated as the drawing area is displayed on the decorative design display device 208. Next, the CPU 404 sets ROM coordinates (transfer source address of the ROM 406), VRAM coordinates (transfer destination address of the VRAM 436) and the like in the attribute register of the VDP 434 based on the position information table and the like, and then the image from the ROM 406 to the VRAM 436. Set an instruction to start data transfer. The VDP 434 transfers the image data from the ROM 406 to the VRAM 436 based on the command set in the attribute register. Thereafter, the VDP 436 outputs a transfer end interrupt signal to the CPU 404.

  In step S603, it is determined whether or not a transfer end interrupt signal from the VDP 434 is input. If a transfer end interrupt signal is input, the process proceeds to step S605. If not, a transfer end interrupt signal is input. Wait for it. In step S605, parameters are set based on the production scenario configuration table and attribute data. Here, in order to form a display image in the display area A or B of the VRAM 436 based on the image data transferred to the VRAM 436 in step S601, the CPU 404 has information on the image data constituting the display image (coordinate axis and image size of the VRAM 436). , VRAM coordinates (arrangement coordinates, etc.) are instructed to the VDP 434. The VDP 434 sets parameters according to attributes based on instructions stored in the attribute register.

  In step S607, a drawing instruction is performed. In this drawing instruction, the CPU 404 instructs the VDP 434 to start drawing an image. The VDP 434 starts drawing an image in the frame buffer in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 404.

In step S609, it is determined whether or not a generation end interrupt signal from the VDP 434 based on the end of image drawing is input. If a generation end interrupt signal is input, the process proceeds to step S611. If not, the generation end interrupt signal is determined. Wait for input. In step S611, a scene display counter that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 408 and counts how many scene images have been generated is incremented (+1), and the process ends.
<Ramp control processing>

  Next, the lamp control process (step S317) in the first sub control unit main process will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of lamp control processing.

  In step S700, an error check process is performed. Although details will be described later, in this error check process, it is determined whether or not a communication error has occurred between the master (for example, the first sub-control unit 400) and the slave (for example, the slave IC), and communication is performed. If an error has occurred, a predetermined process is performed.

  In step S701, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to transmit lamp control data to the bus control IC 421 (whether or not there is control data related to various lamps 418 in the effect data). If necessary, the process proceeds to step S702. If it is not necessary, the process is terminated. In step S702, lamp control data to be transmitted is set.

In step S703, the slave ICs 610 to 618 or the slave ICs 610 to 618 or the slave ICs 610 to 618 or the ICs 620 to 622, which will be described later, are identified via a bus control IC 421 after a predetermined time. Lamp control data is transmitted to the ICs 620 to 622.
<Error check processing>

  Next, the error check process (step S700) in the lamp control process described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of error check processing.

  In step S751, it is determined whether or not the first condition is satisfied. If the first condition is satisfied, the process from step S752 is executed. If not, the process ends. Although the details will be described later, the “first condition” is that the bus busy state continues for a specific time or more (for example, two frames or more). The “first condition” is not limited to this example. For example, the first condition is satisfied when the elapsed time from the start of communication exceeds a specific time (for example, 5 frames or more). You may comprise so that it may determine.

  In addition, when a plurality of conditions are satisfied (for example, a specified time (for example, 3 frames or more), the bus busy state continues, and the elapsed time from the start of communication is a specified time (for example, 5 frames or more). It may be configured to determine that the first condition is satisfied when the first condition is exceeded.

  The contents of the first condition may be changed depending on the game state. For example, during the first game (for example, during normal game), the bus busy state continues for a specific time or longer (for example, 6 frames or more). While the first condition is determined to be satisfied, the second game (for example, during the big hit game) is determined when the bus busy state continues for a specific time or longer (for example, two frames or more). It may be configured to determine that one condition is satisfied.

  In step S752, the communication format is changed from the I2C bus (registered trademark) format to another clock synchronous serial format. Here, the “I2C bus” is a serial bus developed by Philips, and will be described in detail later. A master and a slave are connected by two communication lines of a serial data signal SDA and a serial clock signal SCL. This is a serial bus that performs two-way communication with each other.

  In addition, other clock synchronous serial format communication methods are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, unlike the I2C format in which a master and slave handshake is performed by receiving an acknowledge (ACK) signal, an acknowledge (ACK) is used. A communication method is employed in which data is transmitted / received by the serial data signal SDA while synchronizing with the serial clock signal SCL regardless of the presence or absence of the signal.

  In step S753, the specific data is set in the transmission register, and the specific data is transmitted to the slave ICs 610 to 618 or the ICs 620 to 622 via the bus control IC 421. Here, the value of “specific data” transmitted to the slave IC is a value that is not used as lamp control data (to be described later) (a value that the slave IC does not recognize as lamp control data for controlling turning on / off of various lamps 418). In this embodiment, 0xFF (hexadecimal FF) is transmitted. The slave IC that has received the specific data maintains the state of lamp control (for example, brightness, blinking interval, emission color, etc.) before receiving the specific data.

  In step S754, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the specific data is completed. If the transmission is not completed, the process of step S754 is repeatedly executed to wait for the transmission to be completed. Advances to step S755. In addition, when the transmission of specific data is completed, the presence or absence of a response from the slave IC may be further confirmed, and the process may proceed to the next step S755 only when there is a response.

In step S755, the communication format changed in step S752 is returned from the other clock synchronous serial format to the I2C bus format, and then the process ends.
<Normal operation when using I2C bus format>

  Next, a normal operation when using the I2C bus format will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a time chart showing an example of the operation when using the I2C bus format.

  In the I2C bus, two-way communication is performed between a master (for example, the first sub-control unit 400) and a slave (for example, a slave IC) by two communication lines of a serial data signal SDA and a serial clock signal SCL. Do. The serial clock signal SCL is a clock signal generated by the master. The serial data signal SDA is a data signal whose input and output are switched by transmission and reception, and there are cases where the master is the transmission side and the slave is the reception side, and where the master is the reception side and the slave is the transmission side.

  Each slave connected to the master is assigned a unique slave address in advance, and the master designates the slave address so that one or a plurality of slaves are identified and communicated. As shown in FIG. 11, the master first issues a start condition S (data indicating the start of communication), and then consists of a 7-bit slave address (SLA) and a 1-bit transmission / reception bit (R / W). A control byte of 1 byte (8 bits) length is transmitted to all slaves on the bus. The slave address (SLA) designation method includes a 7-bit mode and a 10-bit mode. Here, the 7-bit mode will be described.

  The slave that has received the control byte determines whether or not the slave address (SLA) is addressed to itself, and enters a standby state if it is not addressed to itself. On the other hand, the slave that has received the control byte addressed to itself acquires the transmission / reception bit (R / W) included in the control byte, and after acquiring the acknowledgment (ACK) signal indicating that the data has been received, Depending on the value of the transmission / reception bit (R / W), data (DATA) is transmitted to the master in units of 1 byte, or data (DATA) is received in units of 1 byte from the master. The acknowledge (ACK) signal after the data (DATA) is transmitted is output by the master or slave that has received the data (DATA).

  In this embodiment, the slave address (SLA) included in the control byte is a unique address previously assigned to each slave IC, and data (DATA) transmitted from the master to the slave is used for controlling the lamp 418. Lamp control data. The first sub-control unit 400, which is a master, transmits a control byte including a slave address (SLA) of a slave to be controlled by the lamp, thereby specifying the control target of the lamp, and then acknowledges (ACK) the control byte. The first 1 byte of lamp control data is transmitted to the slave IC.

  If the data length of the lamp control data is 2 bytes or more, it is confirmed whether or not an acknowledge (ACK) signal for the 1-byte lamp control data has been received. Is sent to the slave IC. Thereafter, the transmission of the lamp control data and the reception confirmation of the acknowledge (ACK) signal are repeatedly executed by the number of bytes of the lamp control data.

When ending communication using the I2C bus, the master issues a stop condition P (data indicating the end of communication). The slave that has received the stop condition P enters a standby state.
<Operation when changing the communication format>

  Next, the operation when changing the communication format will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a time chart showing an example of the operation when changing the communication format.

  As described above, in the I2C bus format, the first sub-control unit 400 that is the master designates the lamp control target by transmitting the control byte including the slave address (SLA) of the slave that is the lamp control target. Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not an acknowledge (ACK) signal for the control byte has been received. After confirming reception, the first one byte of ramp control data is transmitted to the slave IC. Therefore, when the first sub-control unit 400 cannot receive the acknowledge (ACK) signal for the control byte, the first sub-control unit 400 waits for reception of the acknowledge (ACK) signal (bus busy state) and transfers the subsequent lamp control data to the slave IC. It will be in the state where it cannot transmit to.

  However, for example, when the serial clock signal SCL is noisy during the transmission of the control byte, the slave IC receives the 8-bit control byte before the first sub-control unit 400 finishes transmitting the 8-bit control byte. In some cases, it is erroneously determined that an acknowledge (ACK) signal is output. In such a case, the first sub-control unit 400 cannot normally receive an acknowledge (ACK) signal, and enters a reception wait state (bus busy state) for an acknowledge (ACK) signal. In this bus busy state, the first sub-control unit 400 cannot transmit the lamp control data to the slave IC, causing a problem that the lamp cannot be controlled normally.

  In the present embodiment, in order to cope with such a problem, an error check process (FIG. 10) is provided in the above-described lamp control (FIG. 9). In this error check process, if it is determined that the bus busy state has continued for a specified time or longer (for example, 2 frames or more), the communication format is changed from the I2C bus format to another clock synchronous serial format, and then specified. Data (0xFF) is configured to be transmitted to the slave. Here, the specific data (0xFF) is transmitted to the slave by the serial data signal SDA while synchronizing with the serial clock signal SCL regardless of the presence or absence of the acknowledge (ACK) signal.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, the master (first sub control unit 400) starts transmitting a control byte (or data) for one byte, and then sends an acknowledge (ACK) signal to the control byte (or data). The time required for normal reception from the slave (slave IC) is defined as one frame (f).

  Each time the master (first sub-control unit 400) starts transmitting one byte of control bytes (or data), the master timer (or software) measures the elapsed time from the start of transmission, and the elapsed time When the time exceeds one frame, it is determined that the bus is busy. If this bus busy state continues for a specific time or more (in this example, 2 frames or more) (when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied in step S751 of the error check process), any communication abnormality occurs. The communication format is changed by determining that the error has occurred (step S752 of the error check process).

  Subsequently, the master (first sub control unit 400) transmits specific data (0xFF) to the slave IC via the bus control IC 421 (steps S753 to S754 in the error check process). The slave IC that has received the specific data maintains the lamp control before receiving the specific data, and thus has no relation to the performance, like a conventional game machine that resets (initializes) the slave IC when a communication error occurs. In some cases, the lamp blinking is not interrupted or the lit lamp suddenly disappears, so that it is possible to produce a feeling of incongruity.

The master (first sub control unit 400) that has finished transmitting the specific data returns the communication format from the other clock synchronous serial format to the I2C bus format (step S755 in the error check process), and then starts again. Condition S is issued, and thereafter bidirectional communication in the I2C format is started again.
<Processing of Second Sub-Control Unit 500>

  Next, the process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub-control unit 500. FIG. 7B is a flowchart of command reception interrupt processing of the second sub control unit 500. FIG. 8C is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500.

  First, in step S801 in FIG. 9A, various initial settings are performed. In this initial setting, initial setting of input / output ports, initialization processing of a storage area in the RAM 508, and the like are performed.

  In step S803, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more, and this process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10. When the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S805. In step S805, 0 is assigned to the timer variable.

  In step S807, command processing is performed. The CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 determines whether a command has been received from the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400. In step S809, effect control processing is performed. For example, if there is a new command in step S807, the effect data corresponding to this command is read from the ROM 506, and if the effect data needs to be updated, the effect data is updated.

  In step S 811, if there is a command from the first sub control unit 400 to the game board lamp 532 or the game table frame lamp 542, this command is output to the serial communication control circuit 520. In step S813, if there is a command from the first sub control unit 400 to the effect movable body 224, this command is output to the drive circuit 516, and the process returns to step S803.

  Next, the command reception interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the second sub control unit 500 detects the strobe signal output from the first sub control unit 400. In step S901 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the first sub control unit 400 is stored as an unprocessed command in a command storage area provided in the RAM 508.

  Next, the second sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. The second sub-control unit 500 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms), and a timer interrupt process is performed in response to this timer interrupt. Execute in the cycle.

In step S1001 of the second sub control unit timer interrupt process, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 508 described in step S803 in the second sub control unit main process described above to obtain the original timer variable storage area. To remember. Therefore, in step S803, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10). In step S1003, the effect random number update process is performed.
<First sub-board>

  Next, the circuit configuration of the first sub-board 160 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The figure shows a circuit configuration example of the first sub-board 160.

  The first sub-board 160 includes a control board 602 on which the above-described CPU 404 and bus control IC 421 (corresponding to the above-described drive circuit 420) and the like, and a game board board 604 for controlling various lamps 418 provided on the game board 200. And a frame substrate 606 for controlling various lamps 418 provided on the front frame.

The CPU 404 and the bus control IC 421 mounted on the control board 602 are communicably connected by a plurality of address buses and data buses. The bus control IC 421 receives various commands (for example, lamp control data) from the CPU 404 via the plurality of address buses and data buses, and receives the various commands via the data bus DT and the clock signal line CK. Output toward the frame substrate 606 or the like.
<Game board substrate>

  The game board substrate 604 includes a board peripheral board 604A, a tulip illumination board 604B and an attacker illumination board 604C connected to the slave IC 610 mounted on the board peripheral board 604A, and a board right illumination board 604D on which the slave ICs 612 and IC614 are mounted. A stage illumination board 604E connected to the slave IC 614 mounted on the board right illumination board 604D, an accessory illumination board 604F on which the slave IC 616 is mounted, an on-board illumination board 604G on which the slave IC 618 is mounted, and this board surface And a warp illumination board 604H connected to a slave IC 618 mounted on the upper illumination board 604G.

  Slave ICs 610, 612, 614, 616, 618 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as slave ICs 610 to 618) provided on the game board substrate 604 and a bus control IC (master IC) 421 mounted on the control substrate 602 are serial The data bus and the clock signal line are communicably connected. The slave ICs 610 to 618 receive various commands from the bus control IC 421 via the serial communication terminals to which these data buses and clock signals are input, and perform lighting / extinguishing control of the various lamps 418 based on the various commands.

  Each of the slave ICs 610 to 618 has an ID setting input (indicated as “ID” in the figure) including a plurality of (four in this example) input ports in order to identify its own ID. The port corresponding to the most significant bit of the ID (0 to 15 expressed by 4 bits) is the input port disposed on the upper side of the ID, and the port corresponding to the least significant bit of the ID is disposed on the lower side of the figure Is set to

  More specifically, the four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 610 are fixedly connected to the 5 V power supply, the ground (0 V), the ground (0 V), and the ground (0 V) in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize its own ID as 1000B (8 in hexadecimal).

  The four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 612 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, 5V power supply, 5V power supply, and ground (0V) in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize E) in hexadecimal.

  The four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 614 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, 5V power supply, ground (0V), and 5V power supply in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize as D) in hexadecimal.

  The four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 616 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, the ground (0V), the 5V power supply, and the ground (0V) in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize 1010B (B in hexadecimal).

The four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 618 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, the 5V power supply, the ground (0V), and the ground (0V) in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize 1100B (C in hexadecimal).
<Frame substrate>

  The frame substrate 606 includes a frame right illumination substrate 606A on which the slave ICs 620 and IC 622 are mounted. Slave ICs 620 and 622 (hereinafter also referred to as slave ICs 620 to 622) included in the frame substrate 606 and a bus control IC (master IC) 421 mounted on the control substrate 602 include a serial data bus and a clock signal line. Are communicably connected. The slave ICs 620 to 622 receive various commands from the bus control IC 421 via the serial communication terminals to which these data buses and clock signals are input, and perform lighting / extinguishing control of the various lamps 418 based on the various commands.

  Each of the slave ICs 620 to 622 has an ID setting input (denoted as “ID” in the figure) including a plurality of (four in this example) input terminals in order to identify its own ID. The input terminal arranged on the upper side of ID corresponds to the most significant bit of ID (0 to 15 expressed by 4 bits), and the input terminal arranged on the lower side of the figure corresponds to the least significant bit of ID Is set to

  More specifically, the four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 620 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, the 5V power supply, the 5V power supply, and the ground (0V) in order from the most significant bit. The ID is configured to be recognized as 1110B (E in hexadecimal). That is, the ID of the slave IC 620 mounted on the frame right illumination board 606A is set to the same ID as that of the slave IC 612 mounted on the panel right illumination board 604D.

The four input terminals of the ID setting input of the slave IC 622 are fixedly connected to the 5V power supply, 5V power supply, ground (0V), and 5V power supply in order from the most significant bit. It is configured to recognize as D) in hexadecimal. That is, it is set to the same ID as that of the slave IC 614 mounted on the panel surface right illumination board 604D.
<Example of lamp control>

  Next, an example of lamp control will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing only the slave IC 612 mounted on the panel right illumination board 604D and the slave IC 620 mounted on the frame right illumination board 606A. FIG. 16A is a block diagram in which a part of the first sub-board 160 is simplified and extracted, and FIG. 16B is a time chart showing an example of communication between the CPU 404 and the slave ICs 610 and 612. .

  Although details will be described later, when issuing a command to the slave ICs 610 to 618 and IC 620 to IC 622 (when transmitting data), the CPU 404 is a slave via the bus control IC (master IC) 421 and the serial transmission line. The lamp control data including the transmission destination ID is transmitted to the ICs 610 to 618 and the ICs 620 to 622.

  On the other hand, the slave ICs 610 and 620 determine their IDs (in this example, E in hexadecimal) based on the signal states of the four ports AD1 to AD4 of the ID setting input, and use the lamp control data input by the serial transmission line. When the included transmission destination ID matches the own ID, lamp control data is acquired from the serial transmission line, and lighting / extinguishing control of various lamps 418 is performed according to the lamp control data.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ID of the slave IC 612 mounted on the panel surface right illumination board 604D and the ID of the slave IC 620 mounted on the panel frame frame right illumination board 606A are both set to 1110B (E in hexadecimal). Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 16B, when the CPU 404 transmits lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal E, the slave IC 612 transmits the transmission destination of the lamp control data input through the serial transmission line. It is determined that the ID (hexadecimal E in this example) matches its own ID (hexadecimal E in this example), lamp control data is obtained from the serial transmission line, and various IDs are obtained according to the lamp control data. Lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp 418 (in this example, eight LEDs connected to the output terminals OUT01 to 08) is performed.

  In addition, the slave IC 620 also determines that the transmission destination ID (in this example, hexadecimal E) included in the lamp control data input through the serial transmission line matches its own ID (in this example, hexadecimal E). Determination is made, lamp control data is acquired from the serial transmission line, and lighting / extinguishing control of various lamps 418 (in this example, eight LEDs connected to the output terminals OUT01 to 08) is performed according to the lamp control data.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 404 transmits lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to a value other than hexadecimal E (for example, hexadecimal F), the slave IC 612 is included in the lamp control data input through the serial transmission line. The transmission destination ID (in this example, hexadecimal F) is determined not to match its own ID (in this example, hexadecimal E), and the lamp control data input from the serial transmission line is ignored. The lighting / extinguishing control of various lamps 418 (in this example, eight LEDs connected to the output terminals OUT01 to 08) is not performed according to the lamp control data.

  In the slave IC 620, the transmission destination ID (hexadecimal F in this example) included in the lamp control data input through the serial transmission line does not match its own ID (hexadecimal E in this example). The lamp control data input from the serial transmission line is ignored, and lighting / extinguishing control of various lamps 418 (in this example, eight LEDs connected to the output terminals OUT01 to 08) according to the lamp control data. Never do.

With such a configuration, the CPU 404 transmits the lamp control data including one type of destination ID (in this example, hexadecimal E) only once, so that two ICs (in this example, slave ICs 612, 620) can be issued simultaneously, and the LEDs connected to them (16 LEDs in this example) can be turned on / off simultaneously.
<Comparison with conventional lamp control>

  Next, the difference between the conventional lamp control and the lamp control according to the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 17A is an example of lamp control data used for conventional lamp control, and FIG. 17B is an example of lamp control data used for lamp control according to the present invention.

  For example, when control of seven slave ICs <1> to slave IC <7> each connected with 16 LEDs 00 to LED15 (control of 112 LEDs) is performed in the conventional lamp control (see FIG. As shown in a), it is necessary to transmit the lamp control data (for example, luminance data) of the 16 LEDs 00 to 15 for every 7 slave ICs having different transmission destination IDs. Therefore, assuming that the data length of the lamp control data per LED is 1 byte, 1 byte × 16 (LED00 to LED15) × 7 (slave IC <1> to slave IC <7>) = 112, 112 In order to control the LEDs, it is necessary to transmit a total of 112 bytes of data.

  On the other hand, in the lamp control according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5B, the slave ICs that perform the same lamp control (in this example, a set of slave ICs <2> and <6> and a slave IC <3> -It is possible to set the same transmission destination ID in two sets of <7>. Therefore, if the data length of the lamp control data per LED is 1 byte, 1 byte × 16 (LED00 to LED15) × 5 (slave IC <1>, slave IC <2>. <6>, slave IC) <3> · <7>, slave IC <4>, slave IC <5>) = 80, and in order to control 112 LEDs, it is necessary to transmit a total of 80 bytes of data. .

  That is, according to the lamp control according to the present invention, even when the same number of LEDs are controlled as in the conventional lamp control, the number of pieces of lamp control data that need to be stored in advance can be reduced, such as ROM and RAM. It is possible to reduce the use area of the storage means as compared with the conventional case. In addition, even when controlling the same number of LEDs as in the conventional lamp control, it is possible to reduce the data to be transmitted at the time of lamp control, so it is possible to transmit more lamp control data per unit time. In some cases, it is possible to control the turning on / off of a novel lamp that is not available.

FIG. 18 is an example of a circuit configuration in conventional lamp control. In this example, eight LEDs mounted on the first substrate 652 and eight LEDs mounted on the second substrate 654 are controlled via one slave IC. However, the slave IC mounted on the first substrate 652 and the signal line for relaying the eight LEDs mounted on the second substrate 654 (in this example, eight control lines, one signal line) 12V power supply line) is required, so that the first substrate 652 and the second substrate 654 are arranged at physically separated positions, and the longer the signal line, the more difficult it is to route the signal line. The signal reaching the eight LEDs mounted on the second substrate 654 from the slave IC is delayed, and the eight LEDs mounted on the first substrate 652 and the eight LEDs mounted on the second substrate 654 are delayed. There is a risk that the LED will be turned off or turned off, and the production will be uncomfortable. Furthermore, even when eight LEDs mounted on the first board 652 and eight LEDs mounted on the second board 654 perform the same turn-off / lighting control, each needs to have lamp control data. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the lamp control data, and it is difficult to effectively use the storage area of the storage means.
<Modification 1>

Next, a pachinko machine 630 according to Modification 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control of the pachinko machine 630, and FIG. 20 is a schematic front view of the pachinko machine 630 viewed from the front. In each of the following modifications, in order to avoid redundant description, only configurations different from those of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be described, and the same configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.
<Modification 1 / First Sub-Substrate>

  The first sub-board 631 of the pachinko machine 630 includes a control board 632 on which the above-described CPU 404 and the like are mounted, an effect control board 633 on which a bus control IC (I2C buffer) 421 and the like are mounted, and various lamps ( A panel peripheral board 634 for controlling a panel lamp) 418, a frame peripheral board 635 for controlling various lamps (frame lamps) 418 provided on the front frame, and various illumination boards 636a, 636b, 637-649. .

The CPU 404 mounted on the control board 632 and the bus control IC 421 mounted on the effect control board 633 are communicably connected by a plurality of address buses and data buses. The bus control IC 421 receives various commands (for example, lamp control data) from the CPU 404 via the plurality of address buses and data buses, and receives the various commands via the serial clock signal SCL and the serial data signal SDA of the I2C bus. Output to an I2C driver (slave IC) that performs lamp control of various illumination boards.
<Modification 1 / board side substrate>

  The board surface peripheral board 634 for controlling the board lamp 418 includes an I2C driver 634a, and the I2C driver 634a is a white LED of the electric chew lighting board 636a for illuminating the second special figure starting port (electric chew) 232. And the three-color LED of the attacker illumination board 636b for illuminating the variable winning opening (attacker) 234.

  When the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 634a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control data Based on this, the white LED of the electric chew lighting board 636a and the three-color LED of the attacker lighting board 636b are turned on / off (brightness adjustment, off / on, etc.).

  The board peripheral board 634 is connected to the three-color LED of the board lighting board 637 for illuminating the upper side of the board via the I2C driver 637a and illuminates the upper arm 224a (movable object) of the effect movable body 224. The three-color LED of the movable object illumination board (1) 638 for performing and the three-color LED of the movable object illumination board (2) 639 for illuminating the forearm portion 224b (movable object) of the effect movable body 224 It is connected via a driver 638a.

  When the address assigned to the IC2 driver 637a is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 637a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and receives the lamp control data. Based on this, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, extinguishing / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LEDs on the on-board illumination board 637 is performed.

  Further, when the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 638a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control Based on the data, on / off control (luminance adjustment, off / on, etc.) of the three-color LED of the movable object illumination board (1) 638 and the three-color LED of the movable object illumination board (2) 639 is performed.

  The board peripheral board 634 is connected to the three-color LED of the board left illumination board 640 for illuminating the board left side via the I2C driver 640a, and 3 of the stage illumination board 641 for illuminating the stage 244. The LED is connected to the color LED via the I2C driver 641a, and further connected to the three-color LED of the left side illumination board 642 for illuminating the lower left of the panel surface via the I2C driver 642a.

  When the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 640a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control data Based on this, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, extinguishing / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LED on the board surface left illumination board 640 is performed.

  Further, when the address assigned to itself is designated by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 641a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control On / off control (brightness adjustment, off / on, etc.) of the three-color LEDs on the stage illumination board 641 is performed based on the data.

Further, when the address assigned to itself is designated by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 642a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control On / off control (luminance adjustment, off / on, etc.) of the three-color LEDs on the left side illumination board 642 is performed based on the data.
<Modification 1 / Frame side substrate>

  The frame peripheral board 635 for controlling the frame lamp 418 includes an I2C driver 635a. The I2C driver 635a includes a three-color LED of the button illumination board 643 for causing the chance button lamp 138 to emit light, and a ball launch handle 134. It is connected to the three-color LED of the handle illumination board 644 for illuminating.

  When the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 635a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control data Based on this, on / off control (luminance adjustment, off / on, etc.) of the three-color LED on the button illumination board 643 and the three-color LED on the handle illumination board 644 is performed.

  The frame peripheral board 635 is connected to the three-color LED of the on-door lighting board 645 for illuminating the upper side of the front frame door 106 via the I2C driver 645a and illuminates the right side of the front frame door 106. Are connected to the three-color LED of the door right illumination board 646 via an I2C driver 646a.

  When the address assigned to the IC2 driver 645a is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 645a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and receives the lamp control data. Based on this, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, extinguishing / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LEDs of the on-door lighting board 645 is performed.

  Further, when the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 646a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control Based on the data, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, turning off / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LED of the door right illumination board 646 is performed.

  The frame peripheral board 635 is connected to the three-color LED of the door left illumination board 647 for illuminating the left side of the front frame door 106 via the I2C driver 647a and illuminates the lower side of the front frame door 106. Is connected to the three-color LED of the under-door lighting board 648 via the I2C driver 648a, and further the red LED (error display LED) and the white LED (payout display LED) of the status display board 649 for performing status display ) And a blue LED (fourth symbol display LED) via an I2C driver 649a.

  When the address assigned to the IC2 driver 647a is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 647a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and receives the lamp control data. Based on this, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, turning off / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LED on the door left illumination board 647 is performed.

  Further, when the address assigned to itself is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 648a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control Based on the data, lighting / extinguishing control (luminance adjustment, extinguishing / lighting, etc.) of the three-color LEDs on the under-lighting board 648 is performed.

  When the address assigned to the IC2 driver 649a is specified by the slave address (SLA) of the control byte, the IC2 driver 649a receives the lamp control data included in the data (DATA) transmitted from the master, and the lamp control On / off control (brightness adjustment, off / on / off) of red LED (error display LED), white LED (dispensing display LED), and blue LED (fourth symbol display LED) on status display board 649 based on the data Lighting).

In this example, the state display board 649 is controlled in the same manner as other lighting boards, but only the state display board 649 is reset when the first condition is satisfied in the error check process described above ( (Initialization), and the state display may be returned to the initial state. Further, the red LED (error display LED), the white LED (payout display LED), and the blue LED (fourth symbol display LED) may be controlled by separate I2C drivers (slave ICs).
<Modification 1 / Error Check Processing>

  Next, an error check process performed by the pachinko machine 630 according to the first modification will be described. Each time the master (I2C buffer 421 of the production control board 633) starts transmitting one byte of control bytes (or data), the elapsed time from the start of transmission is measured by a hardware timer (or software), When the elapsed time exceeds one frame, it is determined that the bus is busy. When this bus busy state continues for a specific time or longer (for example, 2 frames or longer) (when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied in step S751 of the error check process), any communication abnormality occurs. It is determined that the communication format has been changed, and the communication format is changed (step S752 of the error check process).

  Subsequently, the master transmits specific data (0xFF) to all the I2C drivers (steps S753 to S754 of the error check process). The I2C driver that has received the specific data maintains the lamp control before receiving the specific data. For this reason, like a conventional game machine that resets (initializes) a slave IC when a communication error occurs, the blinking of the lamp is interrupted regardless of the production, or the lamp that has been lit suddenly disappears. There is a case where it is possible to produce a presentation without a sense of incongruity.

After returning the communication format from the other clock synchronous serial format to the I2C bus format (step S755 in the error check process), the master that has finished transmitting the specific data issues a start condition S again. Bidirectional communication in the I2C format is started again.
<Modification 2>

  Next, lamp control according to a modification of the present invention will be described. FIG. 21 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to the second modification, and corresponds to FIG. 15 described above. In this example, the serial transmission line connected to the bus control IC 421 on the other side is connected to the input terminal of the panel right illumination board 604D, and the output terminal of the serial transmission line is provided on the panel right illumination board 604D to A serial transmission line is connected to the frame right illumination board 606A via the output terminal of the board 604D.

In this way, if the serial transmission line is directly connected to the first substrate and the serial transmission line is connected to the second substrate via the first substrate, the signal lines formed outside the substrate are connected. In some cases, the number can be reduced and space can be saved.
<Modification 3>

  FIG. 22 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to Modification 3, and corresponds to FIG. 15 described above.

In this example, 16 LEDs are connected to the output terminals OUT01 to OUT16 of the slave IC 612 and the slave 620, respectively. The CPU 404 transmits the lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal E to each of the slave IC 612 and the slave 620, thereby connecting the 16 LEDs connected to the slave IC 612 and the slave IC 620. The 16 LEDs are turned on / off at the same time. Needless to say, the number of LEDs that are turned on / off by the CPU 404 is not limited to eight or sixteen.
<Modification 4>

  FIG. 23 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to the fourth modification, and corresponds to FIG.

In this example, the serial transmission line connected to the bus control IC 421 on the other side is connected to an input terminal of the panel right illumination board 614D, and an output terminal of the serial transmission line is provided on the panel right illumination board 614D, so that the panel right illumination is provided. A serial transmission line is connected to the frame right illumination board 616D via the output terminal of the board 614D.
<Modification 5>

  FIG. 24 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to the fifth modification. In this example, in addition to the accessory illumination board 604F described with reference to FIG. 11, an accessory illumination board 604I having the same ID (in this example, hexadecimal A) as the accessory illumination board 604F is set. It has been added. One of the accessory illumination boards 604F is disposed on the upper part of the pachinko machine 100 and used as a member for illuminating the upper accessory, and the other accessory illumination board 604I is disposed on the lower part of the pachinko machine 100. And used as a member for illuminating the lower accessory.

With such a configuration, even in the case of illuminating an object that is physically located at a position separated from each other by using different illumination substrates, a plurality of the same as in the conventional lamp control shown in FIG. Since there is no need to connect the illumination boards with signal lines, the degree of freedom of the location of the illumination board and the accessory can be increased. In addition, since commands can be issued simultaneously to a plurality of lighting boards, the control can be simplified and the turn-off / lighting timings of the LEDs can be made coincident and an uncomfortable presentation can be performed. There is.
<Modification 6>

  FIG. 25 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to the sixth modification. In this example, in addition to the accessory lighting board 604F and the accessory lighting board 604I described with reference to FIG. 24, the same ID (in this example, hexadecimal A) as these accessory lighting boards 604F and 604I is set. The set error notification boards 604J and 604K are added. Then, one error notification board 604J is arranged on the left side of the pachinko machine 100, and the left error notification lamp for notifying that an abnormality (for example, a game ball payout abnormality) has occurred in the pachinko machine 100 is illuminated. And the other accessory illumination board 604K is arranged on the right side of the pachinko machine 100 to illuminate the error notification lamp on the right side for notifying that some abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 100. Used as a member.

With such a configuration, even when the error notification lamps disposed at physically separated positions are illuminated using separate illumination substrates, as in the conventional lamp control shown in FIG. Since there is no need to connect the plurality of illumination boards with signal lines, the degree of freedom in the location of the illumination board and the error notification lamp can be increased. In addition, since commands can be issued simultaneously to a plurality of illumination boards, the control can be simplified and the turn-off / light-on timings of the LEDs can be matched so that the abnormality of the pachinko machine 100 can be reliably and quickly performed. May be able to be notified. In this example, the error notification boards 604J and 604K and the accessory illumination boards 604F and 604I have the same ID, but the error notification boards 604J and 604K are set to different IDs, and the error notification boards 604J and 604K are set. Then, the control of the accessory illumination boards 604F and 604I may be performed individually.
<Modification 7>

  FIG. 26 is an example of a circuit configuration used for lamp control according to the modified example 7, and corresponds to FIG. In this example, the serial transmission line connected to the bus control IC 421 on the other side is connected to the input terminal of the panel right illumination board 624D, and the output terminal of the serial transmission line is provided on the panel right illumination board 624D. A serial transmission line is connected to the frame right illumination board 626D via the output terminal of the board 624D.

  In this example, twelve LEDs are connected to the output terminals OUT01 to OUT16 of the slave IC 612 and the slave 620. In the slave IC 612, while the LEDs are connected to the output terminals OUT01 to OUT12, In the IC 620, LEDs are connected to the output terminals OUT01 to OUT8 and OUT13 to OUT16. That is, the slave IC 612 and the slave 620 control the same number (in this example, 12) of LEDs, while different output terminals are assigned to the LEDs.

With such a configuration, there are cases where the degree of freedom of the LED arrangement location and the degree of freedom of assignment of the input / output terminals of the slave IC can be increased.
<Modification 8>

  27 is a schematic front view of the front frame door 702 of the pachinko machine 700 according to the modification 8 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 28 is a schematic front view of the game board 704 of the pachinko machine 700 as viewed from the front. It is. FIG. 29 is a schematic front view of the front frame door 702 and the game board 704 of the pachinko machine 700 as viewed from the front.

  The front frame door 702 of the pachinko machine 700 has four illuminations of a frame upper left illumination board 702A, a frame upper right illumination board 702B, a frame lower left illumination board 702C, and a frame lower right illumination board 702D at the four corners of the circular transparent plate member 118. Each substrate is provided. Although not shown, the same ID (for example, hexadecimal E) is used for the four illumination boards of the frame upper left illumination board 702A, the frame upper right illumination board 702B, the frame lower left illumination board 702C, and the frame lower right illumination board 702D. Are installed, and eight LEDs 703 are connected to each slave IC.

  On the other hand, on the game board 704 of the pachinko machine 700, at the positions corresponding to the four illumination boards of the frame upper left illumination board 702A, the frame upper right illumination board 702B, the frame lower left illumination board 702C, and the frame lower right illumination board 702D, Four illumination substrates, a panel surface upper left illumination substrate 704A, a panel surface upper right illumination substrate 704B, a panel surface lower left illumination substrate 704C, and a panel surface lower right illumination substrate 704D, are provided. Although not shown, the same ID (for example, hexadecimal E) is used for the four illumination boards, that is, the upper left board 704A, the upper right board 704B, the lower left board 704C, and the lower right board 704D. Is installed, and eight LEDs 705 are connected to each slave IC.

  In this example, when the CPU 404 transmits data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal E, the frame upper left illumination board 702A, the frame upper right illumination board 702B, the frame lower left illumination board 702C, and the frame right lower illumination board 702D. The slave ICs mounted on the four illumination boards determine that the destination ID of the lamp control data input through the serial transmission line matches the ID of the slave IC, obtains the lamp control data from the serial transmission line, and The LED 703 connected to each slave IC is turned on / off according to the lamp control data.

  At the same time, the slave ICs mounted on the four lighting boards of the board upper left lighting board 704A, the board upper right lighting board 704B, the board lower left lighting board 704C, and the board lower right lighting board 704D are input via the serial transmission line. It is determined that the destination ID of the lamp control data coincides with its own ID, the lamp control data is acquired from the serial transmission line, and the LED 705 connected to each slave IC is turned on / off according to the lamp control data Take control.

  With such a configuration, the CPU 404 simply transmits the lamp control data in which one transmission destination ID is set, and the eight LEDs connected to the eight illumination boards (in this example, a total of 64 LEDs). ) Can be collectively controlled. Further, since there is no need to connect a plurality of illumination boards with signal lines as in the conventional lamp control shown in FIG. 18, the illumination board disposed on the front frame door 702, as shown in FIG. The number of harnesses 719 connecting between the lighting boards arranged on the game board 704 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the harness 719 is deteriorated by frequently opening and closing the front frame door 702. There are cases where it can be prevented.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 29, the board surface upper right illumination board 704B arranged between the board upper left illumination board 704A and the board lower right illumination board 704D arranged diagonally on the game board 704, and the board board upper right illumination board 704B arranged diagonally on the game board 704. The above-described effect movable body 224 (upper arm 224a, forearm 224b), decorative symbol display device 208, shielding device 246 (left door 246a, right door 246b), etc. Has been established.

  FIG. 31 is a front view of the effect movable body 224. In this example, the slave IC set with the same ID (for example, D in hexadecimal) is mounted on the upper arm 224a and the forearm 224b of the effect movable body 224, and each slave IC has 8 pieces. LED 710 is connected. When the CPU 404 transmits lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal D, the slave ICs mounted on the upper arm 224a and the forearm 224b of the effect movable body 224 are input via the serial transmission line. It is determined that the destination ID of the lamp control data to be matched with its own ID, the lamp control data is obtained from the serial transmission line, and the LEDs 710 connected to the respective slave ICs are turned on / off according to the lamp control data. Turn off the light.

  With such a configuration, the CPU 404 simply transmits the lamp control data in which one transmission destination ID is set, and the eight LEDs connected to the slave ICs of the upper arm 224a and the forearm 224b of the effect movable body 224. (In this example, a total of 16 LEDs) can be turned on and off collectively.

  FIG. 32 is a front view of the shielding device 246. In this example, the left door 246a and the right door 246b of the shielding device 246 are mounted with slave ICs having the same ID (for example, hexadecimal C), and each slave IC has 16 pieces of slave ICs. An LED 712 is connected. When the CPU 404 transmits lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal C, the slave ICs mounted on the left door 246a and the right door 246b of the shielding device 246 are input through the serial transmission line. It is determined that the destination ID of the lamp control data to be matched with its own ID, the lamp control data is acquired from the serial transmission line, and the LEDs 712 connected to each slave IC are turned on / off according to the lamp control data Take control.

  With such a configuration, the CPU 404 simply transmits the lamp control data in which one transmission destination ID is set, and the 16 LEDs connected to the slave ICs of the left door 246a and the right door 246b of the shielding device 246 ( In this example, lighting / extinguishing control of a total of 32 LEDs) can be performed collectively.

  In addition, although the example which applies this invention to the production movable body 224 and the shielding apparatus 246 was shown here, this invention is not limited to this, For example, this invention is applied to a movable body as shown in FIG. You can also.

  FIG. 33A is a front view of the movable body 750 in the open state, and FIG. 33B is a front view of the movable body 750 in the closed state. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a rear view of the movable body 750, and FIG. 10D is a diagram showing a modification of the movable body 750.

  The movable body 750 is fixed to the first movable portion 750a and the second movable portion 750b having a half-moon shape in front view, the rod-shaped first shaft portion 750c fixed to the first movable portion 750a, and the second movable portion 750b. The rod-shaped second shaft portion 750d and a drive motor that moves the first shaft portion 750c and the second shaft portion 750d in the axial direction (not shown) are configured. The movable body 750 moves the first movable portion 750a and the second movable portion 750b apart by moving at least one of the first shaft portion 750c and the second shaft portion 750d in the axial direction by a drive motor (see FIG. It is possible to make it an open state shown to (a), or to make it contact (to make it the closed state shown to the same figure (b)).

  In this example, the first movable portion 750a and the second movable portion 750b of the movable body 750 are mounted with slave ICs set with the same ID (for example, hexadecimal B). , 16 LEDs 752 are connected. When the CPU 404 transmits the lamp control data whose transmission destination ID is set to hexadecimal B, the slave ICs mounted on the first movable portion 750a and the second movable portion 750b of the movable body 750 are serial transmission. It is determined that the transmission destination ID of the lamp control data input by the line matches its own ID, the lamp control data is obtained from the serial transmission line, and the LEDs 752 connected to each slave IC according to the lamp control data. Turns on / off the light.

  With such a configuration, the CPU 404 is connected to the slave ICs of the first movable unit 750a and the second movable unit 750b of the movable body 750 only by transmitting the lamp control data in which one transmission destination ID is set. It is possible to collectively turn on / off the LEDs (in this example, 32 LEDs in total).

  Note that the arrangement of the LEDs 752 provided on the movable body 750 is not limited to the arrangement in which the LEDs 752 are aligned in two rows in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. As shown in d), the horizontal direction may be arranged in a line, and the vertical direction may be arranged alternately in a line.

  As described above, the above-described game machines (for example, the pachinko machine 100 and the pachinko machine 630) include LEDs that can emit light (for example, the lamp 418) and LED control means that can control the LEDs (for example, slaves). IC (I2C buffer)) and an effect control means (for example, the first sub-control unit 400) capable of executing effect control, wherein the effect control means includes the LED control means and a signal The effect control means is a means capable of transmitting a first signal (for example, a control byte or lamp control data) to the LED control means, and the LED control means A second signal (e.g., an acknowledge (ACK) signal) to the control means, wherein the LED control means receives the first signal after receiving the first signal. A means for transmitting a signal, and the effect control means is a means for transmitting a third signal (for example, 0xFF specific data) to the LED control means when the first condition is satisfied, The first condition is satisfied when the effect control means cannot receive the second signal after the effect control means transmits the first signal, and the third signal is The signal is transmitted only when the above condition is satisfied, and is configured to maintain the current state of the LED even if the LED control means receives the third signal. It is a gaming machine characterized in that a player can visually recognize light.

  According to the above-mentioned game machine, the production control means can send the third signal to the LED control means when the second signal cannot be received, so the production control means waits to receive the second signal, In both the effect control unit and the LED control unit, it may be possible to avoid a situation in which subsequent processing cannot be executed or is delayed. In addition, the LED maintains the current state even when the LED control means receives the third signal, and the LED light is visible to the player, so the LED is initialized by reset etc. There is no possibility that the performance will be uncomfortable, the current performance can be continued, and a decrease in game motivation may be prevented.

  The LED is a movable LED (for example, a three-color LED of a movable object illumination board (1) 638 for illuminating the upper arm 224a (movable object) shown in FIG. The movable object illuminating board (2) 639 three-color LED for illuminating the forearm portion 224b (movable object) of the movable body 224 may be used, and the third signal is used for controlling the LED. There may be no signal.

  In addition, the above-described gaming machines (for example, the pachinko machine 100 and the pachinko machine 630) include an effect control unit (for example, the first sub-control unit 400) that can execute control and an LED control unit (for example, that can execute control). Slave IC (I2C buffer)) and an LED capable of emitting light (for example, lamp 418), wherein the LED control means is means capable of executing control of the LED, and The control means is means connected to the LED control means by a first signal line (for example, two communication lines of a serial data signal SDA and a serial clock signal SCL), and the first effect control means is The means capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the LED control means via the first signal line, and the effect control means sends a first signal (for example, a control bar) to the LED control means. And the LED control means are means capable of transmitting a second signal (for example, an acknowledge (ACK) signal) to the effect control means, and the LED control means. The means is means capable of transmitting the second signal after reception of the first signal, and the effect control means is configured such that the first condition is satisfied after transmission of the first signal (for example, , A means capable of transmitting a third signal (for example, 0xFF specific data) to the LED control means for a specified time or longer (for example, when the bus busy state continues for 2 frames or more), The condition is established when the production control means cannot receive the second signal, and the third signal is a signal transmitted only when the first condition is established. The LED is the front LED control means is constituted so as to maintain the current state even when receiving the third signal, it is the amusement machine according to claim.

  According to the above-mentioned game machine, the production control means can send the third signal to the LED control means when the second signal cannot be received, so the production control means waits to receive the second signal, In both the effect control unit and the LED control unit, it may be possible to avoid a situation in which subsequent processing cannot be executed or is delayed. Further, since the LED maintains the current state even when the LED control means receives the third signal, the LED is initialized by a reset or the like, and thus the LED is completely turned off, which may cause an uncomfortable effect. In some cases, it is possible to continue the current performance and to prevent a decrease in gaming motivation.

The LED may be an LED configured to maintain the light emitting state even when the LED control unit receives the third signal in the light emitting state. Further, the first condition may be a condition that is satisfied when an elapsed time from the transmission of the first signal becomes a first time. The production control means is a means capable of transmitting the third signal to the LED control means after changing the communication format when the first condition is satisfied after the transmission of the first signal. There may be. Further, the effect control means is means capable of transmitting the first signal to the LED control means in a first communication format, and the effect control means sends the third signal to the LED control means. It may be a means capable of transmitting in two communication formats.
The third signal may be different from the reset signal.

With such a configuration, it is possible to resume data transmission without resetting the second control means or the rendering means, and it may be possible to produce an effect without a sense of incompatibility compared to the case of resetting. . For example, if the production means is a lamp, resetting the second control means will cause the lamp to be initialized and turn off completely, resulting in an uncomfortable presentation, but in the present invention, the lamp is turned off completely. There is no end.
The third signal may be different from the first signal.

  With such a configuration, the type of signal transmitted from the first control means to the second control means can be clearly distinguished when the first condition is satisfied and when it is not. For this reason, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the second control means and the rendering means, and it is possible to perform a rendering without a sense of incongruity.

  The first signal may be composed of 8 bits (for example, a 7-bit slave address (SLA) and a 1-bit transmission / reception bit (R / W)).

  With such a configuration, the present invention may be effectively applied to a game machine that employs an I2C bus as a serial bus.

  Further, there are a plurality of types of the first signal, and at least one of the plurality of types of the first signals relates to an address for specifying the second control means (for example, Slave address (SLA)), and at least one of the plurality of types of first signals may be related to the control of the rendering means (for example, lamp control data).

  With such a configuration, the present invention may be effectively applied to a game machine that employs an I2C bus as a serial bus.

  The second signal may be an acknowledge signal (for example, an acknowledge (ACK) signal).

  With such a configuration, the present invention may be effectively applied to a game machine that employs an I2C bus as a serial bus.

  In addition, the first control unit changes the communication format (for example, from the first format (I2C bus format) to the second format (other clock synchronous type) when the first condition is satisfied. The third signal may be transmitted to the second control means after being changed to the serial format.

  With such a configuration, a signal can be transmitted by changing the communication format, and the abnormality may be eliminated.

  The configuration of the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the pachinko machine described above. For example, the ID set in the slave IC is fixed (although the ID is statically assigned), An ID may be dynamically assigned.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the four input terminals of the ID setting inputs of the slave IC 612 and the slave IC 620 are fixed to the 5V power supply, 5V power supply, 5V power supply, and ground (0V) in order from the most significant bit. It is connected and configured to recognize its own ID as 1110B (E in hexadecimal). However, for example, the least significant bits of the four input terminals of the ID setting inputs of the slave IC 612 and the slave IC 620 are connected to the output terminal of the CPU 404, a low level signal is output from the output terminal, and its own ID is set to 1110B (16 It can be configured to recognize E) in hexadecimal, or it can be configured to output a high level signal from the output terminal and recognize its own ID as 1111B (F in hexadecimal), or dynamically You may comprise so that it may switch.

  As in this example, address setting information (in this example, a high-level or low-level signal (0 or 1) is included in at least a part of the destination address (in this example, the least significant bit of the destination address). Address setting information transmitting means (in this example, an output terminal of the CPU 404) for transmitting information)), and the first address setting means (in this example, the ID setting input of the slave IC 612) or the second address setting means (In this example, the ID setting input of the slave IC 620) sets the address (hexadecimal E or F in this example) based on the address setting information transmitted by the address setting information transmitting means. Also good.

  With such a configuration, the transmission destination address can be dynamically changed, so that more advanced control may be performed.

  Further, at least one of the requirements for establishing the first condition may include at least a case where the first abnormality has occurred, and the first control when the first abnormality has occurred. It may include at least the case where the means determines.

  Further, at least one of the plurality of first abnormalities may include at least a case where the first control means does not receive the second signal, and the first control means It is possible to include at least the case where the signal is not received for the first period.

  In addition, at least one of the plurality of first abnormalities may include at least a case where the first control unit determines that the second signal is not received one or more times, and the bus busy It may include at least a case where the state and the first control means determine.

  The third signal may be capable of changing a signal state between the first control unit and the second control unit, and the last bit is a signal state. (A signal that changes a high-level signal to a low-level signal, or a signal that changes a low-level signal to a high-level signal), and a specific value (for example, 0xFF) There may be.

  Further, the second control means may have a reset terminal, and no wiring may be connected to the reset terminal. In the conventional game stand, if the reset is applied due to the influence of noise during the production, the LED is completely extinguished for a moment, and there is a risk that the production will give the player a sense of incongruity. For example, since it cannot be reset, it is possible to produce a feeling of incongruity and improve the interest of the player.

  Further, the first control means may be capable of executing at least control of the plurality of second control means. Further, the second control means may be capable of at least controlling a plurality of effect means.

  Further, the effect means may be a lamp (for example, a single color LED, a full color LED, a 7 segment display, a dot matrix display), a drive means (for example, a motor or a solenoid), or a speaker. It may be.

  Further, the first condition may be a condition that may be satisfied in addition to the case where the first control unit cannot receive the second signal. In addition, the first condition may be a condition that is satisfied when the first control unit cannot receive the second signal and when another execution condition is satisfied. The first control means may be at least connected to the second control means via a second signal line, and the second signal line may be a clock signal line. . Further, it may have a third control means, and the first control means can transmit the fourth signal to the third control means when the second condition is satisfied. The second condition may be satisfied when the first control unit cannot receive a signal from the third control unit, and the fourth condition may be satisfied. The signal may be a reset signal.

  In addition to the pachinko machine 100 (1 type), the present invention can also be applied to pachinko machines (2 types and 3 types), enclosed pachinko machines, pachinko machines, and the like. It can also be applied to a ball ball machine, a smart ball, etc.

  Further, for example, the gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with “a plurality of types of symbols, a plurality of reels that are rotationally driven, a start lever for instructing the rotation of the reels, and a corresponding one for each reel. A stop button for individually stopping the rotation of the reels, lottery means for determining whether or not the internal winning of plural types of winnings is won by lottery (winning part internal lottery), and the reels based on the lottery result of the lottery means The combination of symbols displayed by the reel stop control means (reel stop control processing) for performing stop control related to the stop of rotation and the reels stopped based on the lottery result of the lottery means is determined in advance corresponding to the winning combination. If the symbol stop mode is a predetermined winning mode, a determining means (winning determination process) for determining whether or not the symbol combination is a game that pays out a game medium corresponding to the predetermined winning mode In the slot machine "with the payout control means for performing medium payout processing (medal payout process) it is preferred.

  In addition, the gaming machine according to the present invention can be applied to an enclosed gaming machine. Here, the “enclosed game machine” is one that circulates and uses game balls enclosed in the game machine. In addition, the main control unit, the first sub control unit, and the second sub control unit may be configured as a single chip, or the main control unit and the first sub control unit may be configured to allow bidirectional communication. Good. Moreover, while enabling bidirectional communication between the main control unit and the first sub control unit, communication from the first sub control unit to the second sub control unit may be one-way communication.

  Further, the actions and effects described in the embodiments of the present invention only list the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects according to the present invention are described in the embodiments of the present invention. It is not limited to what was done. In addition, in some cases, the content described in one configuration among a plurality of configurations described in the embodiments may be applied to other configurations to further widen the game.

  The game machine according to the present invention can be applied to game machines represented by a spinning machine (slot machine) and a ball game machine (pachinko machine).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Pachinko machine 136 Launch button 152 Dispensing device 160 1st sub-board 200 Game board 206 Production device 208 Decoration pattern display device 210 Universal figure display device 212 1st special figure display device 214 2nd special figure display device 226 General prize opening 228 Universal Figure start port 230 First special view start port 232 Second special view start port 234 Variable prize opening 300 Main control unit 400 First sub control unit 404 CPU
500 Second sub-control unit 612, 620 Slave IC

Claims (13)

An LED capable of emitting light;
LED control means capable of executing control of the LED;
Production control means capable of performing production control;
A game machine equipped with
The production control means is means capable of transmitting and receiving signals with the LED control means,
The production control means is means capable of transmitting a first signal to the LED control means,
The LED control means is means capable of transmitting a second signal to the effect control means,
The LED control means is means for transmitting the second signal after receiving the first signal,
The production control means is means for transmitting a third signal to the LED control means when the first condition is established,
The first condition is satisfied when the production control unit cannot receive the second signal after the production control unit transmits the first signal.
The third signal is a signal transmitted only when the first condition is satisfied,
Even if the LED control means receives the third signal, the current state of the LED is maintained,
The player can visually recognize the light of the LED,
A game stand characterized by that. The game stand according to claim 1,
The LED is a movable LED,
A game stand characterized by that. The game stand according to claim 1 or 2,
Even if the LED control means receives the third signal during a period in which the LED is in a light emission state, the light emission state is configured to be maintained.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3, Comprising:
The LED control means is a means including a reset terminal to which no wiring is connected.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, Comprising:
The third signal is a signal different from the reset signal.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5, Comprising:
The third signal is a signal different from the first signal.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6, Comprising:
The first signal is a signal composed of eight bits.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 7, Comprising:
There are a plurality of types of the first signal,
One of the first signals of the plurality of types is a signal related to an address for specifying the LED control means,
One of the plurality of types of the first signals is a signal related to the control of the LED.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 8, Comprising:
The second signal is an acknowledge signal;
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 9, Comprising:
The first condition is a condition that is satisfied when the elapsed time from the transmission of the first signal becomes the first time.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10, Comprising:
The production control means is means for transmitting the third signal to the LED control means after changing the communication format when the first condition is satisfied after the transmission of the first signal.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 11, Comprising:
The production control means is means capable of transmitting the first signal to the LED control means in a first communication format,
The effect control means is means capable of transmitting the third signal to the LED control means in a second communication format.
A game stand characterized by that. It is a game stand as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 12, Comprising:
The third signal is a signal that is not used to control the LED.
A game stand characterized by that.