JP2016104316A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly perform initialization processing of a storage part for holding various kinds of variables related to progresses of games so as to enable a quick shift to a next game.SOLUTION: The game machine includes control means for performing processing related to game operations on the basis of storage data in a storage part. The storage part is divided to an initialization target area to be initialized whenever one game is finished, and to a non-initialization target area other than that. In the non-initialization target area, an area is provided for storing time information and driving data for use in a stop driving for stopping reels. The initialization target area is initialized before the end of a period in which a prescribed driving data is kept till the time based on the time information is elapsed so that it becomes possible to shift to the processing for a next game. And also, the length of the period in which the prescribed driving data is kept is arranged shorter than the length of a minimum game time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a spinning cylinder in which a plurality of symbols are formed along a rotation direction, and more particularly, to an initialization process of a storage unit in which various variables relating to the progress of the game are held.

JP 2013-212264 A

  In a spinning machine such as a slot machine, when a player inserts a medal into a medal slot and operates a start lever, the rotation of the rotating reel is started accordingly. When the player presses the stop button to stop the rotating reel, when the symbols are aligned on the effective stop line, a payout medal corresponding to the symbol is paid out.

Here, in the spinning game machine, initialization (clear) of a storage unit (for example, RAM: Random Access Memory) in which various variables relating to the progress of the game are held is performed for each game.
Such initialization processing of the storage unit is performed in order to reset various variables when starting one game. If the initialization processing is not executed, setting of various variables for starting one game is performed. The process cannot be started. For this reason, in order for the transition to the next game to be performed quickly, it is desirable that the initialization process can be performed promptly.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to promptly execute the initialization process of the storage unit so that the transition to the next game is performed quickly.

The gaming machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of spinning cylinders having a plurality of symbols formed along a rotation direction, rotation driving means for rotationally driving the spinning cylinders, and processing related to game operations based on data stored in a storage unit. In a gaming machine in which one game is ended by rotating the rotating drum and stopping in a stop mode according to the lottery result, the control unit controls the progress of the gaming operation. A main process and an interrupt process that is executed every predetermined time by interrupting the main process, and the main process is performed when a rotation stop operation for instructing to stop the rotation of the cylinder is performed. In response, stop position determining means for determining the stop position of the rotating cylinder, and stop command setting means for setting stop command information when the rotating rotating cylinder has reached the stop position determined by the stop position determining means And all After executing the predetermined process is performed after the stop instruction information has been set for the reel-in until the next game is started, initialization means for initializing the memory data stored in the storage unit And the interrupt processing includes: update means for repeatedly updating drive data for driving the rotation drive means during rotation of the rotating drum and storing the update data in the storage unit; and the stop command setting means Based on the set stop command information, a stop unit that stops updating the drive data and stores predetermined drive data in the storage unit, and a time stored in the storage unit after the stop unit functions A holding unit that maintains the predetermined drive data stored in the storage unit until a time based on information elapses, and a drive signal based on the drive data stored in the storage unit is output to the rotation drive unit Output means, and the storage unit is divided into an initialization target area that is initialized every time one game ends, and other non-initialization target areas, and the non-initialization target area includes: An area for storing the time information and the driving data is set, and before the period in which the predetermined driving data is maintained until the time based on the time information elapses by the holding unit ends. said initialization means initializes the initialization target area, is capable proceeds to the process for the next game Rutotomoni,
The length of the period during which the predetermined drive data is maintained by the holding means is shorter than the minimum game time .

  As a result, even when the initialization process is executed before completion of the stop drive for stopping the spinning cylinder, the time information and drive data used in the stop drive in the initialization process are not cleared. And the rotating drum is properly stopped based on the drive data.

Secondly, in the above gaming machine according to the present invention, it is desirable that an area for storing information on the lottery result and the stop mode is set in the initialization target area.
As a result, information that needs to be cleared when shifting to the next game is cleared upon completion of one game.

  According to the present invention, the initialization process of the storage unit can be performed promptly after executing the predetermined process corresponding to the end of one game, so that the transition to the next game can be performed promptly.

It is a front view of a gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a plan view (FIG. 2A) and a right side view (FIG. 2B) of the gaming machine. It is a rear view of the front panel with which a gaming machine is provided. It is a front view of the main body case with which the gaming machine is provided. It is a schematic block diagram of a control configuration inside the gaming machine. It is the figure which showed the circuit structure of the main control board with which a game machine is provided. It is explanatory drawing about the stepping motor with which a game machine is provided. It is explanatory drawing about the pattern formed in the rotation reel (rotating drum). It is a flowchart of a main process. It is a flowchart of a timer interruption process. It is explanatory drawing about a spinning cylinder control flag. It is a flowchart of a rotation rotation start setting process. It is explanatory drawing about an excitation output time data table. It is a flowchart of a rotation rotation control process. Similarly, it is a flowchart of a rotating cylinder rotation control process. It is a figure for demonstrating the excitation operation | movement at the time of starting implement | achieved by the excitation output time data table. It is explanatory drawing about the starting process of embodiment. It is a flowchart of a spinning cylinder stop process. It is a flowchart of a symbol stop control process. It is explanatory drawing of a stop process possible position and a stop process impossible position. It is the figure which represented typically the initialization object area | region and non-initialization object area | region in an initialization process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in the following order. In the embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine is taken as an example.
<1. Structure of the spinning machine>
<2. Control configuration of spinning machine>
<3. Revolving motor and rotating reel>
<4. Main processing>
<5. Timer interrupt processing>
<6. Processing related to rotation and stop of rotating cylinder>
[6-1. Cylinder control flag]
[6-2. Processing from rotation start to steady rotation]
[6-3. Significance of start processing of embodiment]
[6-4. Processing related to stop of rotating cylinder]
[6-5. Relationship between symbol during stop operation and stop symbol]
<7. About RAM initialization processing>
<8. Summary and Modification>

<1. Structure of the spinning machine>
First, the external configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a front view of the slot machine, FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a right side view, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the front panel 2, and FIG.

  In the slot machine of the present embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 2, a rectangular box-shaped main body case 1 and a front panel 2 equipped with various game members are connected via a hinge mechanism (not shown). 2 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body case 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, a symbol rotating unit 3 including three rotating reels (rotating drums) 4 a, 4 b, 4 c is arranged at the approximate center of the main body case 1. In addition, a medal payout device 5 is disposed on the lower side.
Each of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c has various symbols to be described later, such as symbols for BB (Big Bonus) and RB (Regular Bonus), various fruit symbols, replay symbols, and the like.
The medal payout device 5 has a medal tank 5a for storing medals. Further, a payout motor 75, a payout connection board 73, a hopper board 74, a medal payout sensor 76 and the like which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 are housed in the payout case 5b.
The medals stored in the medal tank 5a are led out from the payout opening 5c toward the front of the drawing based on the rotation of the payout motor 75. The medals stored exceeding the limit amount are configured to fall into the auxiliary tank 6 through the excess medal deriving unit 5d.

A power supply board 41 is disposed adjacent to the medal payout device 5. A main control board 40 is disposed above the symbol rotation unit 3, and a rotating drum setting board 71 is disposed adjacent to the main control board 40.
In addition, a rotating LED (Light Emitting Diode) relay board 56 and a rotating relay board 53 shown in FIG. 5 are provided inside the symbol rotating unit 3, and an external concentrated terminal plate 70 is adjacent to the symbol rotating unit 3. Has been placed.

  Further, the main body case 1 is provided with a door opening sensor 35 for detecting the opening of the front panel 2 (opening of the door) on the side of the symbol rotating unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit 7 is disposed on the front panel 2. Various characters are displayed on the LCD unit 7 in order to excite game operations.
A display window 8 is formed below the LCD unit 7 to expose the rotary reels 4a, 4b, 4c. Through the display window 8, about three symbols can be seen in the rotational direction of each of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c. For example, two (or three) in the horizontal direction of a total of nine symbols and two in the diagonal direction are virtual stop lines.

  In addition, inside the symbol rotating unit 3, the nine LEDs visually recognized when the rotary reels 4a, 4b, 4c are stopped are respectively located at positions where the LEDs 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 are arranged (not shown). Each spinning LED is turned on / off in accordance with the rotation state, stop state, or various effects of each rotating reel.

Below the display window 8, an LED group 9 indicating a gaming state, a payout display unit 10 for displaying the number of medals to be paid out as a game result, and a stored number display unit 11 are provided.
The LED group 9 includes, for example, an LED indicating the number of medals inserted into the game, an LED indicating the re-playing state, an LED indicating that the spinning cylinder is ready to rotate (a predetermined number of games required for the game) LED indicating completion of insertion of medals), LED indicating reception status of insertion of medals, and the like.
The payout display unit 10 is configured by connecting two 7-segment LEDs. The payout display unit 10 specifies the number of payout medals, and also functions as an error indicator that displays abnormal contents when an abnormal situation occurs.
The storage number display unit 11 displays the number of medals stored in the credit state.

LED effect units 15a, 15b, and 15c are provided above, left, and right of the display window 8. The LED effect units 15a, 15b, and 15c are configured such that a predetermined design and design are applied, and an effect by light is executed by the LEDs arranged on the inner side. The effects executed by the LED effect units 15a, 15b, and 15c are, for example, effects indicating that BB or RB has been won, effects indicating the state of AT (assist time) or ART (assist replay time), and during AT And assist production during ART.
In addition, although individual description is abbreviate | omitted, various other LED is arrange | positioned at the front panel 2 as LED for showing an effect and an operation state.

A medal insertion slot 12 for inserting medals is provided on the right side of the center of the front panel 2, and a return button 13 for returning medals filled in the medal insertion slot 12 is provided in the vicinity thereof. A key hole 100 for inserting a dedicated key 99 is provided on the right side of the return button 13. When the front panel 2 is closed with respect to the main body case 1, the front panel 2 is unlocked by turning the key 99 inserted into the keyhole 100 clockwise (hereinafter referred to as “unlocking operation”), and the front panel 2 The main body case 1 can be opened and closed. Further, by turning the key 99 inserted into the keyhole 100 counterclockwise, the game stop state due to stop or error is released (hereinafter referred to as “cancel release operation”).
Further, on the left side of the center of the front panel 2, there are provided a credit checkout button 14 for paying out credit medals, and a max insertion button 16 for artificially inserting three credit medals.

The front panel 2 has a start lever 17 for starting rotation of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c and stop buttons 18a, 18b, 18c for stopping the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c. Is provided.
When the player operates the start lever 17, the three rotary reels 4a, 4b, 4c usually start rotating in the forward direction. However, in order to produce a reel effect informing the internal winning state, all or part of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c rotate irregularly (so-called “effect rotation”) and start to rotate in the forward direction. There is also.
Various kinds of specific contents are considered for the reel production. For example,
・ Slow production that rotates extremely slowly in the forward direction and stops still ・ Reverse rotation production that rotates in the reverse direction for a predetermined time after repeating normal rotation and reverse rotation ・ Reverses forward and reverse rotation for the first predetermined time The first rocking effect that stops after a second rotation effect that repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation for a second predetermined time period. The second rocking effect that stops after repeating a normal rotation and reverse rotation for a second predetermined time period. In addition, a slow swinging effect that stops after rotating forwards very slowly ・ Standing after repeating forward and reverse rotations for the second time, and a reverse rotation effect that stops after rotating for a predetermined time Has been. At the time of such a reel effect, all or a part of the character effect on the LCD unit 7, the lamp effect that blinks the LED lamp, and the sound effect that drives the speaker is appropriately selected and executed.

Below the front panel 2, there are provided a horizontally long tray 19 for storing medals and a medal outlet 20 communicating with the payout port 5 c of the payout device 5.
Speakers 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d are arranged on the upper left and right sides and the lower left and right sides of the front panel 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the back side of the front panel 2 has a medal sorting device 21 for sorting medals inserted into the medal slot 12 shown in FIG. And a return passage 22 that guides the token to the medal outlet 20.
A substrate case 23 is disposed on the upper back side of the front panel 2. The board case 23 accommodates an effect control board 42, an effect interface board 43, a liquid crystal control board 44, a liquid crystal interface board 45, and the like described in FIG.
A game relay board 60 (described later in FIG. 5) for relaying signals between the various game members shown in FIG. 1 and the main control board 40 is provided on the side of the medal sorting device 21.

<2. Control configuration of spinning machine>

Next, the configuration of the control system of the slot machine of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an internal control configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1. The slot machine of the present embodiment has a control configuration centered on the main control board 40.
The main control board 40 is equipped with a microcomputer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., a circuit for an interface, etc. Perform such overall control. For example, the main control board 40 controls the operation of various game members including the rotary reels 4a, 4b, and 4c, and grasps the operation status. In addition, an effect is executed according to the game operation.
The main control board 40 has various signals (commands) between the power supply board 41, the production interface board 43, the rotary relay board 53, the game relay board 60, the external concentration terminal board 70, the rotary setting board 71, and the payout connection board 73. And detection signals).
The components of the main control board 40 including the microcomputer mounted on the main control board 40 correspond to “control means” in the claims.

The power supply board 41 receives AC24V and rectifies and smoothes it to obtain a DC voltage. The power supply board 41 includes a converter circuit and generates a power supply voltage necessary for each part. In the figure, a main control power supply voltage V1 given to each part via the main control board 40 and an effect control power supply voltage V2 given to each part via the effect interface board 43 are shown.
The power supply board 41 is also provided with a power supply monitoring circuit for detecting a power cut-off state, a backup power supply circuit for supplying a backup power supply voltage to the main control board 40, and the like.

The effect control board 42 is equipped with a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., an interface circuit, and the like, and performs control related to the effect operation of the slot machine.
The effect control board 42 receives a command from the main control board 40 via the effect interface board 43. For example, the main control board 40 controls the effect control board 42 to realize sound effects by the speakers 30 (30a to 30d), lamp effects by LED lamps and cold cathode ray tube discharge tubes, and symbol effects by the LCD unit 7. The command is output, and the effect control board 42 performs effect control processing according to the control command.
In addition, when the production control board 42 receives a control command (game start command) for specifying the internal lottery result from the main control board 40, it executes AT lottery to determine whether or not to enter the assist time winning state corresponding to the internal lottery result. .
In addition, in a predetermined number of games (during the AT) after winning the AT lottery on the effect control board 42, the stop order of the three rotating reels 4 is played so that the symbols can be aligned with the stop line in the small role winning state. The person is informed.
In addition, when the effect control board 42 receives a control command indicating execution of the reel effect from the main control board 40, the effect control board 42 starts an effect operation corresponding to the reel effect executed on the main control board 40.
For such an effect control operation, the effect control board 42 performs necessary communication with each unit through the effect interface board 43.

The effect control board 42 is connected to the liquid crystal control board 44 via the effect interface board 43 and the liquid crystal interface board 45.
The liquid crystal control board 44 controls effects by displaying images on the LCD unit 7. On the liquid crystal control board 44, a VDP (Video Display Processor), an image ROM, a VRAM (Video RAM), a liquid crystal control CPU, a liquid crystal control ROM, a liquid crystal control RAM, and the like are mounted.
The VDP performs overall control of video output processing such as image development processing and image drawing.
The image ROM stores image data (effect image data) on which the VDP performs image expansion processing.
The VRAM is an image memory area that temporarily stores image data developed by the VDP.
The liquid crystal control CPU outputs control data necessary for the VDP to perform display control.
The liquid crystal control ROM stores a program describing the display control operation procedure of the liquid crystal control CPU and various data necessary for the display control.
The liquid crystal control RAM functions as a work area and a buffer memory.
Such a liquid crystal control board 44 receives a command related to a display effect from the effect control board 42 and generates a display drive signal accordingly. Then, a display drive signal is supplied to the LCD unit 7 via the liquid crystal interface board 45 to execute image display.

In addition, the effect control board 42 controls the speaker relay board 47 via the effect interface board 43 to execute sound effects using the speakers 30a to 30d.
The effect control board 42 realizes lamp effects by various LEDs via the effect interface board 43 and the LED board 48 and the spinning LED relay board 56.
On the LED board 48, for example, LEDs as the LED effect units 15a, 15b, and 15c shown in FIG. 1 are arranged.
The spinning LED relay board 56 relays the LED drive signal from the effect control board 42 for the first spinning LED board 50a, the second spinning LED board 50b, and the third spinning LED board 50c.
Rotating LEDs 90, 91, and 92 for irradiating the design of the rotating reel 4a from the inside are arranged on the first rotating LED substrate 50a. On the second spinning LED substrate 50b, spinning LEDs 93, 94, and 95 for irradiating the design of the rotating reel 4b from the inside are arranged. Further, on the third spinning LED board 50c, spinning cylinder LEDs 96, 97, and 98 for irradiating the design of the rotating reel 4c from the inside are arranged.

The main control board 40 is connected to various game members of the slot machine through the game relay board 60 as shown in FIG.
The game display board 61 is equipped with an LED group 9 indicating a gaming state, a payout display unit 10 having a 7-segment LED, and a storage number display unit 11 having a 7-segment LED. The main control board 40 controls the game display board 61 to transmit a control command via the game relay board 60 to execute display according to the game state.

A start switch by the start lever 17 is mounted on the start switch board 62.
On the stop switch board 63, stop switches based on stop buttons 18a, 18b, 18c are mounted.
The storage medal insertion switch board 64 is equipped with an insertion switch for the maximum insertion button 16.
A settlement switch for the settlement button 14 is mounted on the settlement switch board 65.
The main control board 40 receives, via the game relay board 60, detection signals of player operations by the switches of these boards (61, 62, 63, 64, 65).

The door sensor 66 is a sensor provided for the keyhole 100 of the front panel 2. The door sensor 66 is capable of recognizing the above-described game cancellation cancellation operation.
The medal passage sensor 67 and the lever detection sensor 68 are provided in the medal sorting device 21. The medal passage sensor 67 is constituted by, for example, a photo interrupter, and is a sensor that detects passage of a selected regular medal. The lever detection sensor 68 is composed of, for example, a photomicrosensor, and is a sensor that detects passage of a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 12. In other words, medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 12 pass through the lever detection sensor 68, and only legitimate medals are selected.
The main control board 40 receives the detection signals of these sensors (66, 67, 68) via the game relay board 60. Further, the main control board 40 detects the insertion time and passing direction of the medal inserted by the detection signal of the received sensor, and accepts it as an inserted medal only when it meets a predetermined rule, otherwise it is inserted Treat as a medal error.
The blocker solenoid 69 drives a blocker that prevents passage of illegal medals to ON / OFF. The main control board 40 controls the blocker solenoid via the game relay board 60.

In addition, the main control board 40 has three stepping motors 54 (a first cylinder stepping motor 54a, a second cylinder stepping motor 54b, a second cylinder stepping motor 54b, The third cylinder stepping motor 54c) is connected.
Further, the main control board 40 is connected to the three index sensors 55 (first cylinder index) for detecting the origin position (origin position 101 described later) of the rotary reels 4a, 4b, 4c via the cylinder relay board 53. Sensor 55a, second cylinder index sensor 55b, and third cylinder index sensor 55c).
The main control board 40 realizes the rotating operation of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c and the stopping operation at the target position by driving or stopping the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c. The main control board 40 can detect the origin positions of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c based on the detection signals of the index sensors 55a, 55b, and 55c.

The main control board 40 is also connected to a device unit for paying out medals via a payout connection board 73. A hopper board 74 for performing medal payout control, a payout motor 75, and a medal payout sensor 76 are provided as an apparatus unit for paying out medals.
The hopper board 74 rotates a payout motor 75 based on a control command from the main control board 40 and pays out a predetermined amount of medals.
The medal payout sensor 76 detects the passage of the payout medal. The detection signal from the medal payout sensor 76 is used to detect an abnormal payout state such as a shortage of payout medals or no payout operation.

  The main control board 40 is connected to the external concentration terminal board 70. The external concentration terminal board 70 is connected to, for example, a hall computer, and the main control board 40 outputs the number of inserted medals and the number of paid out medals to the hall computer through the external concentration terminal board 70.

  The main control board 40 is also connected to the rotating drum setting board 71. The rotary setting board 71 outputs a signal indicating a setting value set by the staff using the setting key switch 72. The set value defines the winning probability of the lottery process executed in the slot machine in six stages from setting 1 to setting 6, and is set as appropriate based on the business strategy of the game hall.

Next, the circuit configuration of the main control board 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the main control board 40 includes a controller 80 by a one-chip microcomputer, an I / O port circuit 83 for inputting / outputting 8-bit parallel data, a counter circuit 81, and an interface unit with each unit. ing.

In addition to the CPU 80a, ROM 80b, and RAM 80c, the controller 80 includes an interrupt controller 80d, a CTC (Counter / Timer Circuit) 80e, and the like.
The CTC 80e is a circuit in which an 8-bit counter and a timer are integrated, and adds a periodic interrupt, a fixed-period pulse output generation function (bit rate generator), and a time measurement function in the processing of the CPU 80a. In this example, a timer interrupt (FIG. 10 described later) is applied to the CPU 80a at a time interval of 1.49 ms using the CTC 80e.

  The counter circuit 81 is a circuit that generates a random value in hardware. The controller 80 (CPU 80a) performs a lottery process using the random value generated by the counter circuit 81.

The main control board 40 is provided with an interface between the controller 80 and each board shown in FIG.
The power interface 82 is an interface with the power circuit of the power board 41.
The game interface 84 is an interface with the game relay board 60. The controller 80 inputs various switches and sensor detection signals, and transmits commands for LED control and blocker solenoid control via the game interface 84.
The rotating motor driving unit 85 is an interface with the rotating relay substrate 53. The controller 80 outputs motor drive signals (excitation data φ1 to φ4, which will be described later) to the stepping motors 54a, 54b, and 54c by the rotary motor driving unit 85 and is input via the rotary motor driving unit 85. Detection signals from the index sensors 55a, 55b, and 55c are acquired.
The effect control interface 86 is an interface for the controller 80 to transmit a command to the effect control board 42 via the effect interface board 43. Specifically, for example, an 8-bit parallel port.
The payout connection interface 87 is an interface with the payout connection board 73.

The external interface 88 is an interface with the hall computer via the external concentration terminal board 70.
The rotating drum setting interface 89 is an interface with the rotating drum setting board 71.

<3. Revolving motor and rotating reel>

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the relationship between the driving method of each stepping motor 54a, 54b, 54c for rotating the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c and the symbols formed on the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c is described. explain.
In the present embodiment, the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c are unipolar driving stepping motors, each having two center-tapped drive windings. In the case of the present embodiment, the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c are driven by 1-2 phase excitation in which one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation are alternately repeated.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between two stators included in each of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, and 54c, a drive winding wound around each stator, and a rotational position (arrow) of the rotor. . As shown in the figure, in the stepping motor of the unipolar drive, the drive winding is center-tapped, and one of the drive windings is divided into the winding part A and the winding part A bar. Is written. In addition, the respective winding portions divided and formed at the center tap in the other drive winding are referred to as winding portion B and winding portion B bar.

FIG. 7B shows a drive signal φ (drive current) applied to the winding portions A, A bar, B, and B bar in 1-2 phase excitation. As shown in the figure, the driving signal for the winding part B bar is expressed as φ1, the driving signal for the winding part A bar as φ2, the driving signal for the winding part B as φ3, and the driving signal for the winding part A as φ4.
As shown in FIG. 7B, in the 1-2 phase excitation, eight steps 0 to 7 in the figure are repeated for the driving mode by the driving signals φ1 to φ4. In particular,

・ 0th step: φ1 = on, φ2 = off, φ3 = off, φ4 = on
First step: φ1 = off, φ2 = off, φ3 = off, φ4 = on
Second step: φ1 = off, φ2 = off, φ3 = on, φ4 = on
Third step: φ1 = off, φ2 = off, φ3 = on, φ4 = off
4th step: φ1 = off, φ2 = on, φ3 = on, φ4 = off
5th step: φ1 = off, φ2 = on, φ3 = off, φ4 = off
6th step: φ1 = on, φ2 = on, φ3 = off, φ4 = off
7th step: φ1 = on, φ2 = off, φ3 = off, φ4 = off

Is repeated. Thus, in the 1-2 phase excitation, the two drive windings are driven simultaneously (that is, the two stators are excited simultaneously) (0, 2, 4, 6) and one of the drive windings. Steps (1, 3, 5, 7) in which only one is driven (only one stator is excited) are repeated alternately.

  Due to the 1-2 phase excitation as described above, the rotor intermittently moves to the position of 0 → 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 0 as shown in FIG. The step angle can be halved compared with the case of two-phase excitation, that is, intermittent movement to the position of 0 → 2 → 4 → 6 → 0. Specifically, the step angles of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, and 54c are 360 ° ÷ 8 = 45 °.

  As can be understood from the above description, the “step” referred to here is the minimum rotational drive amount of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c.

FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram of an excitation data table that is referred to in order to realize the 1-2 phase excitation as described above.
In the excitation data table, excitation pointers PT to 0 to 7 correspond to the above steps 0 to 7, respectively. Is associated with excitation data of 4 bits. In FIG. 7C, the hexadecimal notation of each excitation data and the two-phase excitation / one-phase excitation corresponding to each of 0 to 7 of the excitation pointer PT are also shown.
Hereinafter, for each of the drive signals φ1 to φ4, each 1-bit data indicating on / off of each drive signal φ is referred to as “excitation data”. The excitation data for the drive signal φ1 is expressed as “excitation data φ1”, and the excitation data for the drive signal φ2 is expressed as “excitation data φ2”. Similarly, excitation data for the drive signal φ3 is expressed as “excitation data φ3”, and excitation data for the drive signal φ4 is expressed as “excitation data φ4”.

As will be described later, the CPU 80a of the main control board 40 controls the driving of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, and 54c based on the result of referring to such an excitation data table. Specifically, stepping is performed based on the excitation data φ1 to φ4 corresponding to the current value of the excitation pointer PT while circulating the excitation pointer PT in the order of 0 → 1 → 2 →... → 7 → 0 →. Control is performed so that the motors 54a, 54b, and 54c are driven.
The shortest update period of the excitation pointer PT is a period for each timer interrupt process (FIG. 10) activated every 1.49 ms.
The excitation data table is stored in a storage unit such as the ROM 80b that can be read by the CPU 80a.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of symbols formed on the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c.
In this example, 21 frames of symbols are arranged on the surface of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c along the rotating direction. In each of the rotating reels 4a, 4b and 4c, there are 10 types of symbols (red 7, white 7, bar, character, cherry, watermelon, bell, replay, out of line 1 and out of line 2), which are in a predetermined order. Are arranged in In the drawing, the symbols of 21 frames formed on the rotating reel 4a are represented as symbols 4a1, 4a2,. Similarly, the symbols of 21 frames formed on the rotating reel 4b are represented as symbols 4b1, 4b2,..., 4b21, and the symbols of 21 frames formed on the rotating reel 4c are denoted as symbols 4c1, 4c2,. ing. The number given to the end of the symbol of each symbol represents the symbol number.

  In the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c, the symbols are arranged at equal intervals, and in the drawings, the positions of the symbols are indicated by broken lines. In the rotary reels 4a, 4b, and 4c, a predetermined symbol break position is set as the origin position 101. The origin position 101 in this example is set to a symbol break position between symbols 4a1, 4b1, 4c1, which are the first symbols, and symbols 4a21, 4b21, 4c21, which are the 21st symbols, respectively.

  An arrow R in the figure represents the rotation direction of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c during steady rotation (during forward rotation). As understood from this, the numbers given to the symbols represent the order in which the symbols transition during the steady rotation starting from the origin position 101.

Here, in this example, the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c and the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c are so rotated that the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c rotate 1/63 each time the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c rotate once. The rotation ratio between is set. In other words, it is necessary to rotate the stepping motors 54a, 54b, and 54c 63 times to rotate the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c once.
For this reason, in this example, the number of driving steps of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c necessary for rotating the rotary reels 4a, 4b, 4c once is 8 × 63 = 504.

Since the symbols of 21 frames are formed at equal intervals on the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c in this example, the number of steps per symbol frame is 504 ÷ 21 = 24 steps.
Accordingly, a total of 24 positions can be detected as step positions for each symbol. Here, the step position in the symbol can be detected by decrementing the symbol step number for each timer interruption by step S429 described later in FIG. That is, the number of step positions detectable in each symbol is 24 (first step position) to 1 (last step position). At this time, in the process of FIG. 15, when the number of symbol steps = 0, that is, when the final step position of the symbol is reached, the number of symbol steps is immediately set to 24 in the subsequent processing of step S434. For this reason, the 0th step position is synonymous with the 24th step position in the next symbol.

In addition, for each symbol, a predetermined step position is defined as a stop position of the symbol (stop permission step position) among the 24 (0) to 1st step positions. Specifically, the 8th step position is determined as the symbol stop permission step position. When the rotating reel 4 is stopped, a stop symbol is determined, and the rotating reel 4 is stopped at the stop symbol. At this time, the position at which the rotating reel 4 is stopped is not limited to any step position in the stop symbol. The stop is permitted in response to reaching the step position. This point will be described later as “processing related to stopping the rotating drum”.

<4. Main processing>

Next, various processes executed by the CPU 80a of the main control board 40 will be described. The CPU 80a executes an infinite loop-shaped main process that is started mainly when the power is turned on, and a maskable timer interrupt process that is started at regular intervals by a periodic interrupt from the CTC 80e.

First, the main process executed by the CPU 80a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the power of the slot machine is turned on, the CPU 80a executes an initial setting process in step S101. Here, the state after the power is turned on is either a hot start by restarting the process executed before the power interruption, or a cold start by shifting to the process of step S102.
For example, if the clerk operates the setting key switch 72 described above and sets the winning probability of the lottery process before the start of business, a cold start process is performed. If not detected, the game operation is hot-started.

Here, in the case of a hot start, the CPU 80a executes a predetermined power interruption recovery process in the initial setting process of step S101. As the power interruption recovery process, a) When power interruption is in effect in the reel b) In case of activation c) In case of completion of activation and normal rotation d) Stop buttons 18a, 18b, 18c The processing corresponding to each of the cases after the operation is performed is executed. Specifically, in the case of a), various setting processes for redoing the reel effect from the beginning, in the case of b) or c), various setting processes for redoing the rotation reels 4a, 4b, 4c, d) In the case, various setting processes for resuming the stop control that has been executed in response to the stop operation before the power interruption are executed. In addition, since the specific content of the electric power interruption reset process performed corresponding to such a hot start is described also in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2013-212264 etc., please refer there for details.

  In response to the power interruption, the CPU 80a executes a non-maskable NMI (Non Maskable Interrupt) interrupt process in response to a signal for notifying the power supply supplied from the power supply board 41. In this NMI interrupt process, a checksum operation for a predetermined area of the RAM 80c, holding of the calculated checksum value, setting of a backup flag, saving of a register value, and the like are executed. See JP 2013-212264 A and the like.

  On the other hand, in the case of a cold start, the CPU 80a repeats a series of main loop processes represented by steps S102 to S117. The main loop process of steps S102 to S117 is repeatedly executed for each game. In addition, the period of 1 game points out the period after rotating the rotation reel 4 and making it stop in the stop mode according to the lottery result.

First, in step S102, the CPU 80a executes a RAM initialization process. That is, the predetermined area in the work area of the RAM 80c is cleared to zero.
Note that the RAM initialization process of this embodiment will be described later.

  In subsequent step S103, the CPU 80a generates a game state flag in the current game. The game state flag is a flag that specifies a game state such as whether the current game is “in bonus game”, “in bonus bonus” or “in normal game”.

Further, the CPU 80a executes a game medal insertion process in the next step S104. In other words, the inserted medal management process is executed for a medal actually inserted from the medal insertion slot 12 and a medal inserted in a pseudo manner by pressing the max insertion button 16. In this inserted medal management process, the number of medals inserted or pseudo inserted is determined, and then the subroutine process is terminated when the start lever 17 is turned on.
At this time, according to the insertion of the medal, a control command (insertion command) indicating that is set in the transmission buffer in the effect control interface 86, and in the command output process (S205) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 10) described later. Is transmitted to the production control board 42. At this timing, a clearing command indicating a clearing operation by the player may be transmitted.

  When the start lever 17 is turned on in step S104 and the game medal insertion process is completed, the CPU 80a executes an internal lottery random number extraction process in step S105. Specifically, the counter value held in the counter circuit 81 is acquired. The acquired counter value is held as a random value at a predetermined address in the RAM 80c.

  In subsequent step S106, the CPU 80a executes an internal lottery process (design lottery process) based on the stored random number value. In the symbol lottery process, whether or not the bonus symbol is won, whether or not the small role symbol is won, and whether or not the replay symbol indicating replay is won is determined, and a control command ( A game start command) is set in the transmission buffer of the effect control interface 86, and is transmitted to the effect control board 42 by the command output process (S205) of the timer interrupt process. Examples of the small role symbols include “cherry symbols” (4a10, 4b3, 4c9), “bell symbols” (4a4, 4b5, 4c3, etc.), “watermelon symbols” (4a9, 4b12, 4c1, etc.), etc. can do.

  In response to the execution of the internal lottery process in step S106, the CPU 80a executes a reel effect lottery process for determining whether or not to execute a reel effect in the next step S107. The effects that can be selected in the reel effect lottery process are determined in accordance with the result of the internal lottery process. For example, if a predetermined symbol such as “watermelon symbol” is in an internal winning state, a predetermined reel effect such as “a slow effect that rotates in a positive direction and stops still” can be selected based on a predetermined winning probability. Become.

In response to execution of the reel effect lottery process in step S107, the CPU 80a initializes various data used in a symbol stop control process (step S510 in FIG. 18) described later as a stop symbol determination initialization process in the next step S108. After the execution, in a next step S109, a rotation rotation start setting process is executed to start the rotation of the rotary reels 4a to 4c.
The contents of the spinning rotation start setting process in step S109 differ depending on whether or not the reel effect lottery is won.
Here, the reel effect is executed according to the operation of the start lever 17. In other words, when the reel effect lottery is won, the reel effect is executed in accordance with the operation of the start lever 17, and then the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c are temporarily stopped, and thereafter, the rotating reels 4a, 4b are renewed. , 4c are activated (accelerated rotation) and transition to a steady rotation state at a constant speed.
If the reel effect lottery is won, in the rotation rotation start setting process in step S109, various setting processes for starting the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c for the normal rotation state after effect rotation is performed. Is executed.
On the other hand, when the reel effect lottery is not won, various setting processes for starting the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c toward the steady rotation state are executed in the spinning rotation start setting process in step S109.
The details of the specific processing executed in step S109 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  By the way, when a certain reel effect is executed according to the operation of the start lever 17, it can be inferred that the player has won a predetermined symbol corresponding to the type of the reel effect. The player performs a stop operation so that the symbols targeted from such reasoning are aligned on the stop line. Only when the inference is made and the stop timing is appropriate, the internal winning state is made effective and a predetermined medal is paid out.

In response to the execution of the rotation rotation start setting process in step S109, the CPU 80a executes the rotation rotation stop process in the next step S110.
In the spinning cylinder stop process, the process for determining the stop symbol of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c and the rotating reels 4a, 4b, 4c are stopped at the stop symbol according to the operation of the stop buttons 18a, 18b, 18c. Various data setting processing is performed. Further, in the spinning cylinder stop process, a verification process of symbols stopped on the stop line is also performed.
The details of the specific process executed as the spinning cylinder stop process in step S110 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the above-described spinning cylinder stop process, the corresponding rotary reels 4 among the rotary reels 4a, 4b, and 4c are controlled to stop according to the result of the internal lottery process (S106). That is, as a result of the internal lottery process, the symbols of the rotating reels 4a, 4b, and 4c are aligned so as to match the winning result on condition that the player is appropriately stopped. However, if the timing at which the player presses the stop button 18 or the order of the stop operations is inappropriate, the player is stopped in a lost state pattern. As a result, the small winning combination at the corner is wasted, but the bonus winning is carried over after the next game. However, when a reel effect is executed, if a correct stop operation is executed in accordance with the suggestion, it is possible to avoid missing a medal.

The CPU 80a executes a winning determination process in the next step S111 in response to the execution of the spinning cylinder stop process in step S110. That is, based on the result of the above collation processing in the spinning cylinder stop processing in step S110, it is determined whether or not the winning symbol (winning combination) is aligned on the stop line, and the number of medals paid out according to the determination result is determined. calculate.
In the winning determination process, a winning information command is transmitted through the effect control interface 86 in order to transmit a control command (winning information command) indicating the determination result of whether or not the winning symbols are aligned on the stop line to the effect control board 42. Processing to set in the buffer is also performed.
In the winning determination process, in order to cause the medal payout device 5 to execute the medal payout for the calculated payout number, a process of setting a control command instructing the medal payout based on the payout number to the transmission buffer in the payout connection interface 87 is also performed. Is called.

In the subsequent step S112, as the medal payout number monitoring process, the CPU 80a performs a process of counting the number of payout medals based on the detection signal of the medal payout sensor 76 and updating the credit value according to the medal payout.
In the medal payout number monitoring process, a process of setting a payout command in the transmission buffer in the effect control interface 86 is also performed in order to transmit a control command (payout command) indicating medal payout to the effect control board 42.

  Further, in the next step S113, the CPU 80a executes a re-game setting process. In the replay setting process, it is determined whether or not the replay winning state is set. If the replay winning state is set, the replaying operation start process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S114. If it is not in the replay winning state, the process proceeds to step S114 without executing the replay operation start process.

  In step S114, the CPU 80a determines whether or not the bonus game is currently being played. If the bonus game is in progress, the CPU 80a executes a predetermined process corresponding to the case in which the bonus is being operated as the bonus operating process in step S116, and then returns to the previous step S102.

On the other hand, if the bonus game is not currently being played, the CPU 80a determines in step S115 whether or not a bonus symbol is available. If the bonus symbol is available, the bonus operation start process in step S117 is performed at the start of the bonus. After performing various corresponding setting processes, the process returns to step S102.
When the bonus symbols are not prepared, the CPU 80a passes the bonus operation start process of step S117 and returns to step S102.

<5. Timer interrupt processing>

Next, timer interrupt processing started every 1.49 ms will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the CPU 80a saves the register value in step S201 (register saving process), acquires the data of the input port that receives various switch signals and sensor signals in step S202, and stores it in a predetermined area of the RAM 80c, for example (see FIG. Port input processing). The sensor signals include the medal passing sensor 67, the medal payout sensor 76, the first cylinder index sensor 55a, the index sensors 55b of the second cylinder index sensor 55b and the third cylinder index sensor 55c, the door sensor 66, and the like. The detection signal from is included. In the port input process, a random number value is also fetched from the counter circuit 81.

Next, the CPU 80a executes a rotating cylinder rotation control process in step S203. The rotation rotation control process actually rotates / steps the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c based on the setting data in the rotation rotation start setting process (S109) and the rotation stop process (S110) in the main process of FIG. This is a process of setting the excitation data φ1 to φ4 for stopping in the output buffer prepared in the RAM 80c.
Note that the rotating cylinder rotation control process in step S203 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  In step S204, the CPU 80a executes update processing for various target timers as regular update processing, and then executes command output processing in step S205. That is, the control command set in the transmission buffer in the effect control interface 86 is output to the effect control board 42 for each byte.

  In the next step S206, the CPU 80a updates the display operation of various lamps as display / motor output processing, and uses the excitation data φ1 to φ4 set in step S203 via the drum motor driving unit 85 to stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c. To output. The lamps updated in step S206 are lamps provided as the LED group 9 (for example, LEDs indicating that preparations for rotating the spinning cylinder are complete, LEDs indicating a medal insertion acceptance state, and the like). LED indicating the number of medals).

  Further, the CPU 80a executes an abnormality monitoring process in the next step S207, and executes an external information signal output process in step S208. In the abnormality monitoring process in step S207, determination of the presence / absence of abnormality based on the detection signals of the lever detection sensor 68, the medal payout sensor 76, and the door opening sensor 35 described above and processing according to the determination result are executed. The external information signal output process in step S208 is a process related to information output via the external concentration terminal board 70 described above, and specifically, a process of outputting information such as paid-out medals to the hall computer is executed. To do.

In the subsequent step S209, the CPU 80a confirms the max input button valid flag. If the max input button valid flag is “1” (on), the CPU 80a determines whether the max input button 16 is operated in step S210. The maximum insertion button valid flag is a flag that is turned on when the number of coins necessary for one game has been inserted, and is turned off (“0”) in other cases.
In step S210, if the max input button 16 has been operated, the CPU 80a sets a maximum input operation command in step S211 and proceeds to step S212.

  On the other hand, if the maximum input button valid flag is “0” in step S209, or if the maximum input button 16 has not been operated in step S210, the CPU 80a proceeds directly to step S212.

In step S212, the CPU 80a restores the register value saved in the previous step S201. In response to the execution of the register restoration process in step S212, the CPU 80a finishes the timer interrupt process.

<6. Processing related to rotation and stop of rotating cylinder>
[6-1. Cylinder control flag]

Next, processing related to rotation and stop of the rotating reels 4a to 4c will be described.
First, the spinning cylinder control flags FGa to FGc used in the processing relating to the rotation and stop of the rotary reels 4a to 4c will be described.
In the present embodiment, corresponding to the three reels 4a to 4c, 1-byte length (8-bit length) spinning cylinder control flags FGa to FGc are prepared, and each of the spinning cylinder control flags FGa to FGc Based on the value of the bite, the rotation of the production rotation and the rotation operation from the start rotation (acceleration rotation) to complete stop is performed.

FIG. 11A illustrates the data structure of the spinning cylinder control flags FGa to FGc.
Each of the spinning control flags FGa to FGc is a 1-bit control flag F0, a reel production flag F1, a spinning sensor ON flag F2, a stop command flag F3, a stop signal detection flag F4, and a spinning start flag. It consists of 8 bits, F5, a rotation start flag F6, and a rotation stop flag F7. The bit position of each flag F matches the bit position indicated by the number assigned to the flag F.

FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram regarding the significance of the flags F7 to F0.
The in-control flag F0 indicates whether or not the rotation reel 4 is under rotation control, and F0 = from the start of rotation by the ON operation of the start lever 17 to the complete stop state according to the ON operation of the stop button 18 1 The reel effect in-progress flag F1 indicates that the reel effect is in effect rotating the rotating reel 4 irregularly by F1 = 1. The rotating cylinder activation flag F6 indicates that the activation operation for accelerating the rotating reel 4 to a rotating state at a constant speed as steady rotation is F6 = 1. The spinning cylinder activated flag F5 indicates that the rotating reel 4 that has been activated is normally rotated by F5 = 1.

The stop signal detection flag F4 is set to F4 = 1 when it is detected that the player has operated the stop button 18, and the stop command flag F3 is subjected to the rotation of the main process through the subsequent slip control. F3 = 1 in response to the arrival of the stop symbol detected in the stop process (S110).
The spinning stop flag F7 becomes F7 = 1 in response to reaching a predetermined stop step position in the stop symbol. The timing when F7 = 1 corresponds to the timing when all-phase excitation for stopping, which will be described later, starts. Note that the spinning stop flag F7 is set to F7 = 0 by setting the spinning control flag FG = 01h before starting the rotating reel 4 in step S307 described later with reference to FIG.

Further, the rotation sensor ON flag F2 is set to F2 = 1 in response to the index sensor 55 being turned ON every time the origin reel position 101 is reached after each rotating reel 4 starts rotating. The rotation sensor ON flag F2 defines whether or not to accept a stop operation by the player, and the stop operation after F2 = 1 is accepted as an effective stop operation.

[6-2. Processing from rotation start to steady rotation]

The rotating operation and the stopping operation of the rotating reels 4a to 4c are performed in the rotating rotation start setting process (S109) and the rotating cylinder stop process (S110) in the main process shown in FIG. 9, and in the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. This is realized by cooperating with the cylinder rotation control process (S203).
Hereinafter, the rotation rotation start setting process, the rotation rotation stop process, and the rotation rotation control process will be described separately from the viewpoint of rotation start to steady rotation and rotation stop.

First, the rotation rotation start setting process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In FIG. 12, the CPU 80a acquires a reel effect flag in step S301, and determines whether or not a reel effect lottery is won in step S302. The reel effect flag is a flag that represents the lottery result of the reel effect lottery process (S107) in the main process of FIG.

If the reel effect lottery is won, the CPU 80a executes a reel effect start setting / standby process in step S303. In other words, the motor operation table corresponding to the type of reel effect selected from the motor operation tables prepared in advance is selected for each of the stepping motors 54a, 54b, 54c, and the reel effect time stored in the selected motor operation table. Wait processing for the length of time based on.
Here, the process for the rotation control based on the selected motor operation table is executed in the rotation rotation control process (S203) in the timer interruption process shown in FIG. More specifically, the process is executed by outputting excitation data φ1 to φ4 corresponding to each timer interruption through the reel production processing (S404) shown in FIG. The standby process is a process of waiting until the reel effect operation realized by the rotating rotation control process in the timer interruption process is completed.

Here, as can be seen with reference to FIG. 14, in order to execute the reel effect processing in step S404, both the in-control flag F0 and the reel effect flag F2 in the above described spinning control flag FG are both “1”. ”(See S402 and S403). For this reason, in the reel production start setting / standby process of step S303, the value of the spinning control flag FG requiring the reel production among the spinning control flags FGa to FGc is set to 03h. FG = 03h means that the in-control flag F0 and the reel effect flag F1 are set to “1” for the spinning control flag FG.
For the rotating reel that does not execute the reel effect, the spinning control flag FG is initialized to 00h. Since FG = 00h means that the in-control flag F0 = 0, the rotating reel maintains the stopped state.

When the reel effect start setting / standby process in step S303 is completed (that is, when the reel effect is completed), or when a negative result that the reel effect lottery is not won in the previous step S302 is obtained, the CPU 80a After executing the wait timer acquisition process in step S304 and the specified number of interrupts waiting process in step S305, the wait timer is set to 4.1 s in the next step S306. By setting this wait timer, a time count of 4.1 s is started.
Here, 4.1 s is a time length that should be at least as a time interval between games. Thus, by setting the minimum interval as the time interval between games, it is possible to prevent the player from excessively consuming medals.
In the wait timer acquisition process of step S304, the value of the wait timer that has been started by the timer set process of step S306 executed one game before is acquired. In the waiting process of step S305, the waiting for the number of timer interruptions (acquired wait timer value ÷ 1.49ms) corresponding to the value of the acquired wait timer is performed.
As a result, the interval between games is at least 4.1 seconds or longer.
Note that 4.1 s is an example, and can be changed as appropriate.

  In response to the execution of the timer setting process in step S306, the CPU 80a sets the spinning cylinder control flags FGa to FGc to 01h in step S307. Here, the spinning cylinder control flag FG = 01h means that the in-control flag F0 = 1 and the other flags F1 to F7 are all 0. Since only the in-control flag F0 is set to “1” in this way, the three reels 4a to 4c are activated toward the steady rotation by the rotation rotation control process (S203) of the timer interrupt process thereafter. Control is started (see FIG. 14 and FIG. 15).

In next step S308, the CPU 80a sets a motor operation table for activation. That is, a motor operation table for realizing motor operation for accelerating rotation of the stepping motors 54a to 54c toward steady rotation is set.
In the case of the present embodiment, the excitation output time data table shown in FIG. 13 is set as the motor operation table for starting, which will be described later.
In the spinning cylinder rotation control process (S203) of the timer interruption process, a process for starting the three rotary reels 4a to 4c toward the steady rotation is executed in accordance with the excitation output time data table set on the main process side as described above. (See FIG. 14 and FIG. 15).

  In response to setting the activation motor operation table in step S308, the CPU 80a clears the re-game operation state bit and controls re-off of the re-game LED in step S309. Note that the re-game operation state bit is set to a predetermined value (for example, 1) when the re-game is selected in the re-game setting process in step S113 executed corresponding to the previous game.

  In the subsequent step S310, the CPU 80a sets the rotation state flag to “1” to indicate that all the rotating reels 4 are rotating, and in the next step S316, sets the rotation start command in the transmission buffer in the effect control interface 86. After that, the spinning cylinder rotation start setting process shown in FIG.

Here, the excitation output time data table set as the starting motor operation table in step S308 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13, the excitation output time data table is a table in which timer values are associated with each index (hereinafter also referred to as “time table index”) assigned values in ascending order from 0. . In the case of this embodiment, a total of 26 timetable indexes from 0 to 25 are prepared.

Here, the timer value is a value set in the motor output timer Tom used in the rotation rotation control process of step S203 in the timer interrupt process.
The motor output timer Tom is a timer used in rotation control other than during steady rotation, and the same type of excitation data φ1 to φ7 is set for the eight types of excitation data φ1 to φ4 of 0 to 7 described above with reference to FIG. 7C. It is a timer for managing the length of time for maintaining the excitation state by φ4. The value of the motor output timer Tom is held in the RAM 80c. That is, the value of the motor output timer Tom is updated on the RAM 80c.
During steady rotation, the value of the excitation pointer PT is incremented for each timer interrupt process, so there is no need to manage the number of interrupts for maintaining the excitation state with the same type of excitation data φ1 to φ4. On the other hand, in rotation control other than steady rotation, that is, effect rotation control in reel production, start-up rotation control for steady rotation, and rotation stop control, the excitation state by a set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 of the same type is changed. May be maintained over multiple timer interrupt processing. For this reason, the motor output timer Tom is provided so that the number of timer interruptions for maintaining the excitation state by the combination of the same type of excitation data φ1 to φ4 can be managed.

  When a value is set in the motor output timer Tom, the value of the motor output timer Tom is decremented for each timer interrupt process, and the excitation pointer PT is set in response to the value of the motor output timer Tom being “0”. The value of is incremented. Thus, the number of timer interruptions for maintaining the excitation state by the set of the same type of excitation data φ1 to φ4 can be designated by the value set in the motor output timer Tom.

At the time of start-up rotation, the timer value stored in the excitation output time data table shown in FIG. 13 is sequentially set in the motor output timer Tom. Specifically, at the time of starting rotation, after the timer value associated with the index = 0 is set in the motor output timer Tom, each time the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes 0, the timer value is associated with the next index. The timer value is set in the motor output timer Tom.
As described above, when the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes “0”, the value of the excitation pointer PT is incremented, so that the set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 to be output is switched. At the same time, when the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes “0”, the index value in the excitation data table is also switched as described above.

  As understood from this, the excitation output time data table maintains the excitation state by the combination of excitation data φ1 to φ4 indicated by each value of the excitation pointer PT (0 to 7) by the timer value stored for each index. In addition to being able to define the length of time to be activated, it is also possible to define the activation time by the number of indexes set.

  In the excitation output time data table, specific numerical values of timer values stored for each index will be described later.

Based on the above premise, the rotating rotation control process of step S203 executed in the timer interrupt process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
The rotating rotation control process includes a process related to the stop of the rotary reel 4, but here, first, a process corresponding to the start of the rotary reel 4 and the steady rotation will be described.

  In FIG. 14, the CPU 80a first checks the spinning cylinder control flag FG in step S401. That is, of the spinning control flags FGa to FGc, the spinning control flag FG corresponding to the rotating reel 4 that is the current processing target is checked.

In subsequent step S402, the CPU 80a determines the value of the in-control flag F0. If F0 = 0, whether the processing has been completed for all the rotating reels 4 in step S444 (the processing from step S401 onward for all the rotating reels 4). Whether or not it has been executed). If the processing has not been completed for all the rotating reels 4, the CPU 80a returns to step S401 to check the spinning cylinder control flag FG corresponding to the next rotating reel 4, and the processing has been completed for all the rotating reels 4. If this is the case, the rotation control process is completed.
Note that the spinning control flag FG for the rotating reel 4 to be subjected to the reel effect is set as the in-control flag F0 = when the spinning control flag FG is set to 03h in the reel effect start setting / standby process in step S303 described above. 1. The reel production flag F2 = 1. Since the spinning control flag FG for the rotating reel 4 that does not execute the reel effect is set to 00h in the process of step S303, the in-control flag F0 = 0.

On the other hand, if F0 = 1 in step S402, the CPU 80a determines the value of the reel effect flag F2 in step S403, and if F2 = 1, executes the reel effect processing in step S404.
The reel effect in-process is a process of acquiring the value of the excitation pointer PT corresponding to the current timer interrupt process according to the motor operation table selected in the reel effect start setting / standby process in step S303 described above.
In response to the acquisition of the value of the excitation pointer PT by the reel effect processing in step S404, the CPU 80a refers to the excitation data table (FIG. 7C) in step S436 to obtain the excitation data φ1 to φ4 corresponding to the excitation pointer PT. In step S443, the acquired excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set in the output buffer (prepared in the RAM 80c as described above) corresponding to the rotary reel 4 (the rotary reel 4 that is the current processing target). . The excitation data φ1 to φ4 set in this way are output to the corresponding stepping motor 54 via the rotating motor driving unit 85 (see the previous step S206 “Display / Motor Output Processing”).
In response to setting the excitation data φ1 to φ4 in step S443, the CPU 80a advances the process to step S444 described above.

In this way, during the reel production, the processing of steps S401 → S402 → S403 → S404 → S436 → S443 → S444 → S401 is repeatedly executed in one timer interruption process, and all the reels that should execute the reel production are processed. Excitation data φ1 to φ4 corresponding to one timer interrupt process for 4 is set in the corresponding output buffer. By performing the process of setting the excitation data φ1 to φ4 for each one-timer interrupt process in a manner defined in the motor operation table, the effect rotation for all the rotating reels 4 that should perform the reel effect is performed. Realized.
Note that the processing related to the reel effect (particularly the processing during the reel effect in S404) is not directly related to the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, in response to the end of the effect rotation of the rotary reel 4, the rotation control flags FGa to FGc are set to 01h by the process of step S307 described above to start the starting rotation of the rotary reels 4a to 4c. The That is, the in-control flag F0 = 1 and all other flags F1 to F7 are set to 0. In response to this, the startup process described below is executed for each of the rotating reels 4a to 4c.

  First, since only the in-control flag F0 is “1” and the other flags F1 to F7 are all “0”, the CPU 80a advances the process in steps S401 → S402 → S403. Since the reel production flag F1 = 0, the CPU 80a proceeds from step S403 to step S405 to determine whether or not the spinning cylinder stop flag F7 = 1. However, since F7 = 1, the process proceeds to step S406. Proceeding to determine the value of the spinning cylinder activation flag F6. Since F6 = 1 is not true, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S407 shown in FIG. 15, and determines whether or not the spinning cylinder activated flag F5 = 1. Since F5 = 0, the CPU 80a advances the process to step S412.

The processes in steps S412 to S415 are processes for initializing various variables in order to start the rotation reel 4 to be processed.
First, in step S412, the CPU 80a clears the value of bit 0 (LSB: Least Significant Bit) of the excitation pointer PT. As shown in FIG. 7C, the excitation pointer PT represents another value “0 to 7”, and is configured with, for example, 3 bits in this example. Clearing the value of the LSB of the excitation pointer PT means that the value of the excitation pointer PT is set to any of 0, 2, 4 and 6 (that is, an even number). For example, when the value of the excitation pointer PT is “110” representing “6”, “110” representing “6” is set as it is. On the other hand, when the value of the excitation pointer PT is “111” representing “7”, it is set to “110” representing “6”.

  In the subsequent step S413, the CPU 80a sets the rotating cylinder starting flag F6 = 1 and the rotating cylinder sensor ON flag F2 = 0. The rotation sensor ON flag F2 is a flag that is set to “1” in step S425 in response to the detection of the origin position 101 for the processing target rotating reel 4 in step S423 described later. If the flag F2 is not 1, that is, if the origin position 101 is not detected, the stop operation is not accepted (this point will be described later).

  In the next step S414, the CPU 80a sets the number of symbol steps to the initial value “24”, and in the next step S415, the reel error timer = 0, symbol counter = 0, time table as initialization processing during reel activation. Set index = 0 and motor output timer Tom = 1.

Here, both the “symbol counter” and the “symbol step number” are counted after the origin position 101 of the rotating reel 4 is detected after the steady rotation of the rotating reel 4 is started (that is, the activation is completed). (See S426, S429, and S432). The symbol counter represents the number of the current symbol (that is, the first to 21st) in the rotating reel 4. The number of symbol steps represents the step position in the symbol represented by the symbol counter value (that is, any one of No. 24 (0) to No. 1).
The “reel error timer” is a timer for determining whether or not the rotating reel 4 is normally rotating in a state where the rotating reel 4 is in steady rotation.
The “time table index” is an index value of the excitation output time data table described with reference to FIG.

The CPU 80a proceeds to step S416 shown in FIG. 14 in accordance with the execution of the initialization process during reel activation in step S415, and decrements the value of the motor output timer Tom (held in the RAM 80c as described above). After (-1), it is determined in step S417 whether or not the value of the motor output timer Tom is “0”.
If the value of the motor output timer Tom is not “0”, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S444 described above to determine whether or not the processing has been completed for all the rotating reels 4. As described above, when the motor output timer Tom ≠ 0, the excitation data φ1 to φ4 setting processing in step S443 is not executed. Therefore, if the excitation data φ1 to φ4 are already set during the previous timer interrupt processing, the output state of the excitation data φ1 to φ4 is maintained.
At the start of activation, the value of the motor output timer Tom is “0” because it is set to “1” in the previous step S415 and is then set to −1 in step S416.

  On the other hand, when the value of the motor output timer Tom is 0, the CPU 80a refers to the excitation output time data table in step S418 and acquires the timer value corresponding to the time table index. As described above, since the time table index at the start of activation is set to “0” in step S415, first, a timer value (“1”) corresponding to index = 0 in FIG. 13 is acquired.

  In subsequent step S419, the CPU 80a sets the acquired timer value in the motor output timer Tom. Then, in the next step S420, the time table index is incremented (+1), and in step S421, it is determined whether or not the acceleration is finished (starting is finished). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the time table index has reached “25” that is the value of the last index in the excitation output time data table.

If it is determined in step S421 that the value of the time table index has reached “25” and the acceleration has been completed, the CPU 80a sets the rotation start flag F6 to “0” in step S422, and starts the rotation. After the completion flag F5 is set to “1”, the process proceeds to step S435.
On the other hand, when the determination result that the value of the time table index has not reached “25” and the acceleration has not ended is obtained, the CPU 80a passes step S422 and proceeds to step S435.

  In step S435, the CPU 80a increments (+1) the value of the excitation pointer PT, acquires excitation data φ1 to φ4 corresponding to the excitation pointer PT from the excitation data table in step S436, and further proceeds to step S443 to perform the rotation. Excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set in the output buffer corresponding to the reel 4. When the process is started from step S412 corresponding to the start of activation, the first excitation data φ1 to φ4 for activation are set by the process of step S443.

After the excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set in step S443, it is determined in step S444 whether or not the processing for all the rotating reels 4 has been completed.
If the processing for all the rotating reels 4 has not been completed, the CPU 80a returns to step S401 and checks the rotation control flag FG for the next rotating reel 4, but at the time of start-up, all the rotations are performed as described above. Since the spinning control flag FG for the reel 4 is set to 01h, the same processing as described above is executed for the next rotating reel 4, and the excitation data φ1 to φ4 for starting the same for the rotating reel 4 are the same. Set to

  In this example, the excitation data φ1 to φ4 set for the first time at the start of startup are always excitation data corresponding to one-phase excitation. As described above, at the start of activation, the value of the excitation pointer PT is incremented by 1 at step S435 after bit 0 is cleared at step S412, and therefore an odd number (any one of 1, 3, 5, and 7) is always obtained at the start of activation. Is set. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 7C, a set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 associated with the excitation pointer PT with an odd number is a set of one-phase excitation. Therefore, motor excitation at the start of startup is always performed by one-phase excitation.

At the start of activation, when the excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set for all the rotating reels 4 in step S443, it is determined in step S444 that the processing for all the rotating reels 4 has been completed. The trunk rotation control process ends.
In the rotating rotation control process of step S203 in the next timer interrupt process, the process is executed from step S401 for each rotating reel 4, but as described above, the process is performed in step S413 in the immediately preceding timer interrupt process (at the start of startup). Since the trunk activation flag F6 = 1 is set, the process proceeds to step S416 through the flag determination process in step S406.
At this time, the state in which the rotating cylinder activation flag F6 = 1 is maintained until it is determined that the acceleration is terminated in the previous step S421 and 0 is set in step S422, which will be described later. Until step S416, the processing after step S416 is executed for each timer interrupt.

Here, in the processing after step S416, if the value of the motor output timer Tom after decrementing at step S416 becomes "0" due to the determination processing of step S417, the value of the motor output timer Tom Is set to a timer value corresponding to the value of the time table index incremented by 1 during the previous timer interrupt processing (S418 and S419). Further, the value of the time table index is incremented by 1 (S420), the value of the excitation pointer PT is incremented by 1 (S435), and the set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 indicated by the excitation pointer PT is set in the output buffer (S443). ).
On the other hand, if the value of the motor output timer Tom after the decrement process in step S416 is not “0”, the above processes are not performed, and therefore the value of the time table index and the value of the excitation pointer PT are maintained at the same value. Is done.

  Thus, since the value of the excitation pointer PT is maintained at the same value until the motor output timer Tom = 0, the excitation state of the motor is set to the previous motor interrupt timer processing time (the last motor output timer Tom from the present time). The excitation state by the excitation data φ1 to φ4 set at the time of the timer interrupt processing when = 0 is maintained. That is, the excitation state by the same excitation data φ1 to φ4 is maintained for the number of timer interruptions corresponding to the timer value set in the motor output timer Tom.

  As described above, the number of times that the excitation state with the same excitation data φ1 to φ4 is maintained (the number of timer interruptions) is determined by the value set in the motor output timer Tom, that is, the timer value stored in the excitation output time data table. Therefore, as described above, the timer value stored in the excitation output time data table functions as a value that defines the number of timer interruptions for maintaining the excitation state with the same excitation data φ1 to φ4.

Here, the contents of the excitation output time data table in the present embodiment will be described based on the above assumption.
In FIG. 13, in the excitation output time data table of the present embodiment, timer values are associated with a total of 26 time table indexes from 0 to 25 as follows. That is, for the indexes from 0 to 24 except the last index 25, timer values = 1 are all associated with even indexes, and timer values greater than 1 are all associated with odd indexes. Yes. These odd indexes are associated with each other so that the timer value decreases stepwise in ascending order of the index values. Specifically, timer value = 33 for index 1, timer value = 8 for index 3, timer value = 4 for index 5, timer value = 3 for index 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, index 17 , 19, 21, 23 are associated with timer value = 2.
The last index 25 is associated with a very large timer value used at the time of stop excitation of the rotary reel 4, and in this example, a timer value = 151 is associated with it.

As described above, in the process at the start of activation (timer interrupt process executed immediately after the spinning cylinder control flag FG = 01h is set in step S307 on the main process side), the value of the time table index is “ 0 ”. In the subsequent processing in steps S418 and S419, a timer value corresponding to the value of the time table index set to “0” is set in the timer Tom.
In the excitation output time data table, since the timer value corresponding to index = 0 is “1”, in the timer interrupt process following the timer interrupt process at the start of startup, the motor output timer Tom = 0 in the decrement process in step S416. Then, after the determination process of step S417, the processes after step S418 are executed. By executing the processing after step S418, the excitation pointer PT is updated and the next excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set.
As described above, since the timer value = 1 is associated with the index 0, the excitation state based on the excitation data φ1 to φ4 that is initially set corresponds to one timer interruption (1.49 ms) at the start of activation. It is maintained for the time to do.

In addition, as described above, the processing after step S418 is executed in the next timer interrupt processing at the start of startup, so that the timer interrupt processing at the start of startup is performed as the value of the motor output timer Tom by the processing of steps S418 and S419. A timer value corresponding to the index value incremented by 1 is sometimes set.
Since the index value at the time when the increment process of step S420 is performed at the time of the timer interrupt process at the start of activation is “1”, the index value used in steps S418 and S419 at the time of the current timer interrupt process is “1”. For this reason, the timer value set in steps S418 and S419 at the time of the current timer interrupt process is “33”.
Therefore, thereafter, the excitation data φ1 acquired in step S436 of the current timer interrupt process until the decrement process of the motor output timer Tom in step S416 is performed 33 times, that is, until the timer interrupt process is performed 33 times. The excitation state by the group of ~ φ4 is maintained.

After that, when 33 times of timer interruption processing are executed and the motor output timer Tom = 0, the processing after step S418 is similarly performed to set the value of the motor output timer Tom (S418 / S419) and the time. After the table index value is incremented (S420), the excitation state by the excitation data φ1 to φ4 indicated by the next excitation pointer PT in the excitation data table is started (S435, S436, S443).
Thereafter, the processing after step S418 is executed at the time of the timer interruption processing in which the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes 0 in step S416, and the processing is not executed at the time of the timer interruption processing that does not become Tom = 0. The stepping motor 54 is excited by an excitation mode according to the time data table.

Here, as described above, the set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 that is initially set at the start of start-up is always a set of one-phase excitation. Therefore, at the time of startup, every time the motor output timer Tom = 0, 1 phase → 2 phase → 1 phase... According to this, it can be seen that the even index in the excitation output time data table shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to one-phase excitation, and the odd index corresponds to two-phase excitation.
Therefore, the excitation output time data table of this example stipulates that one-phase excitation for one timer interrupt process and two-phase excitation for multiple timer interrupt processes are alternately repeated as startup rotation. Become.
As can be understood from this, the start-up rotation is performed by the above-described 1-2 phase excitation.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the excitation operation at the time of activation realized by the excitation output time data table shown in FIG. 13. Excitation pointer PT, excitation data φ1 to φ4, timer value from the start to the end of activation. (Motor output timer Tom value) transition.
FIG. 16 illustrates a case where the value of the excitation pointer PT is set to 7 by the process of step S435 at the start of activation.

Depending on the excitation output time data table according to the present embodiment, the value of the excitation pointer PT is updated every time the motor output timer Tom = 0 = 0, so that “one-phase excitation × one timer interruption” → “two-phase excitation” × 33 timer interrupt ”→“ 1 phase excitation × 1 timer interrupt ”→“ 2 phase excitation × 8 timer interrupt ”→“ 1 phase excitation × 1 timer interrupt ”→“ 2 phase excitation × 4 timer interrupt ” → "1 phase excitation x 1 timer interrupt" → "2 phase excitation x 3 timer interrupt and 1 phase excitation x 1 timer interrupt repeated alternately 5 times" → "2 phase excitation x 2 timer interrupt and 1 phase Excitation × 1 timer interrupt is alternately repeated 4 times ”→“ 2-phase excitation × 1 timer interrupt ”motor excitation is performed. That is, the rotation reel 4 in the present embodiment is activated by such an excitation mode.
Note that the last “two-phase excitation × one timer interruption” is not directly based on the timer value stored in the excitation output time data table, but after it is determined in step S421 that acceleration has ended (that is, index = 25). This is realized in accordance with the processing of steps S435, S436, and S443 to be executed.

As described above, in the motor excitation based on the excitation output time data table of the present embodiment, the one-phase excitation inferior to the rotational torque is finished in one timer interruption, and the process is shifted to the two-phase excitation superior to the rotational torque. This realizes smooth acceleration rotation.
In this embodiment, the number of timer interruption processes (the number of rotation standby) for holding the excitation state is decreased stepwise for the two-phase excitation, but this gradually increases the rotation speed from an extremely slow low-speed rotation. Can be increased efficiently.

Here, as can be seen with reference to FIG. 16, the start-up process of the rotating reel 4 in the present embodiment is completed after 26 different sets of excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set in total. As can be understood from the above description, when new excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set, the stepping motor 54 (rotary reel 4) rotates by one step. From this, it can be seen that the starting process of the rotating reel 4 in the present embodiment is completed by rotating the rotating reel 4 by 26 steps.
In the present embodiment, the significance of ending the starting process of the rotating reel 4 with a relatively small number of steps of 26 steps will be described later.

Next, returning to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, processing during steady rotation will be described.
As can be understood from the above description, when the rotation of the rotating reel 4 is completed, the spinning cylinder activation flag F6 = 0 and the rotation cylinder activated flag F5 = 1 are set in step S422 in FIG. For this reason, in the spinning rotation control process at the time of the timer interrupt process next to the timer interrupt process at the end of activation, the process proceeds in the order of steps S401 → S402 → S403 → S405 → S406 → S407 → S408.
In step S408, the CPU 80a determines the value of the stop signal detection flag F4. Here, the value of the stop signal detection flag F4 is not updated between the time when the rotation control flag FG = 01h is set to “0” immediately before the start of the start and after the start is finished. Therefore, in the process of step S408 executed at the timer interrupt process next to the timer interrupt process at the end of activation, it is determined that the stop signal detection flag F4 = 0.

  When it is determined that the stop signal detection flag F4 = 0, the CPU 80a executes processing during steady rotation shown in step S409 and thereafter. The processing after step S409 is roughly divided into processing for detecting rotation abnormality in steps S409 to S411, processing for updating the number of symbol steps and symbol counters in steps S423 to S426 and steps S429 to S434, and diagrams. 14 can be divided into processing for updating excitation data in steps S435, S436, and S443 shown in FIG.

  Here, in the process during the steady rotation after step S409, it is understood that the process for updating the excitation data in steps S435, S436, and S443 is always executed unless an error is determined in step S411 in the figure. . That is, during normal rotation, unless a rotation abnormality is detected, the set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 is updated for each timer interrupt process, and the stepping motor 54 rotates one step for each timer interrupt process.

In FIG. 15, the CPU 80a first determines in step S409 whether the value of the excitation pointer PT corresponds to one-phase excitation or two-phase excitation. When the value of the excitation pointer PT corresponds to the two-phase excitation (that is, any of 0, 2, 4 and 6), the CPU 80a increments (+1) the value of the reel error timer in step S410, and the next step In S411, it is determined whether or not the value of the reel error timer is greater than 252.
On the other hand, when the value of the excitation pointer PT corresponds to one-phase excitation (that is, any one of 1, 3, 5, and 7), the CPU 80a passes steps S410 and S411 and proceeds to step S423.

Here, as described above, one rotation of the rotary reel 4 = 504 steps, and the above-mentioned “252” is half of “504”. During steady rotation, the set of excitation data φ1 to φ4 is updated for each timer interrupt process as described above. Therefore, in one rotation, the two-phase excitation state is determined in step S409. The maximum number of times the value is incremented is 504/2 = 252 times.
From this, it is possible to detect rotation abnormality by determining whether or not the value of the reel error timer is larger than 252 as described above.
The value of the reel error timer is reset to 0 in the previous step S415 at the start of activation, and is cleared to 0 in step S424 in response to the detection of the origin position 101 in step S423 described later.

  If the value of the reel error timer is larger than 252 in step S411, the CPU 80a executes the processing after step S412. That is, when a rotation abnormality of the rotating reel 4 is detected, the rotating reel 4 is restarted from the starting process.

On the other hand, when the value of the reel error timer is 252 or less, the CPU 80a determines whether or not the origin position 101 is detected in step S423. That is, it is determined whether or not the origin position 101 of the rotating reel 4 has been detected based on the detection signal of the index sensor 55 provided corresponding to the rotating reel 4 that is the current processing target.
When the origin position 101 is detected, the CPU 80a clears the value of the reel error timer to 0 in step S424, and sets the rotation sensor ON flag F2 = 1 in the subsequent step S425. Further, in the next step S426, the CPU 80a resets the number of symbol steps to “24” and the symbol counter to “1”.
As described above with reference to FIG. 8, in this example, the number of steps for one frame of symbols is 24, and 21 symbols from the first frame to the 21st frame are formed on the rotary reel 4. Yes.

On the other hand, if the origin position 101 is not detected in step S423, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S429, decrements the symbol step number (−1), and determines whether the symbol step number is “0” in step S430. Is determined. That is, it is determined whether or not the boundary between symbols has been reached.
If the number of symbol steps = 0, the CPU 80a resets the symbol step number to “24” in step S431, then increments (+1) the symbol counter value in the subsequent step S432, and the symbol counter value in step S433. It is determined whether or not “21”. If the value of the symbol counter is “21”, the CPU 80a resets the value of the symbol counter to “1” in step S434.

Through the processes in steps S423 to S426 and steps S429 to S434 as described above, the number of symbol steps = 24 and symbol counter = 1 are set at the origin position 101 during steady rotation, and then each symbol step for each timer interrupt process. The number is decremented, and when the number of symbol steps = 0, the symbol counter value is incremented and the symbol step number is reset to 24.
Thereby, the current symbol position and the step position in the symbol can be detected.

In response to executing the symbol step number and symbol counter reset process in step S426 or the symbol step number reset process in step S434, the CPU 80a advances the process to step S435 shown in FIG.
In step S435 and subsequent steps, as described above, the process for updating the excitation data (steps S435, S436, and S443) is executed, and a set of new excitation data φ1 to φ4 is set in the output buffer. It is determined whether or not the process has been completed for the rotating reel 4.
If the processing has not been completed for all the rotating reels 4 in step S444, processing for checking the spinning control flag FG for the next rotating reel 4 is executed in step S401. As understood from this, the processing after step S409 described above is executed for all the rotating reels 4 in one timer interruption processing.

[6-3. Significance of start processing of embodiment]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the starting process of the rotating reel 4 is completed with a relatively small number of steps of 26 steps. This is to shorten the time from when the rotating reel 4 is activated until the rotation stop operation can be accepted.
As will be described later, in the slot machine, when accepting the stop operation of the rotating reel 4,
1) After the rotating reel 4 shifts to steady rotation (rotating cylinder start flag F5 = 1),
2) The origin position 101 of the rotating reel 4 is detected (rotating cylinder sensor ON flag F2 = 1).
It is a condition.

A problem that may occur under such conditions will be described with reference to FIG. 17A.
In FIG. 17A, a total of four symbols of the 20th frame to the 2nd frame located in the vicinity of the origin position 101 among the symbols formed on the rotating reel 4 are shown. In the figure, the number given to the left side of the rotating reel 4 represents the symbol number, and the number given to the right side represents the number of steps.

Here, assuming that the stop symbol in the previous game for the rotating reel 4 is the 20th frame, the rotating reel 4 immediately before starting is in the “stop permission step position” (= step number 8). It is stopped at the step position determined based on this.
As will be described later as processing in step S428 (FIG. 15), in the present embodiment, the symbol stop timing is the number of symbol steps at which the current symbol step number is less than 9 (that is, the “stop permission step position”). "8" or less) and the current motor excitation state is determined as the timing when it is the two-phase excitation state. That is, the symbol stop control process of the present embodiment is a process for stopping the rotating reel 4 with the step position of No. 8 or No. 7 as the “stop step position”. For this reason, the rotating reel 4 whose stop symbol in the previous game was the 20th frame symbol is stopped at either the eighth step position or the seventh step position in the 20th frame symbol. Become.
As shown by the arrow St in the figure, an example is shown here in which the rotating reel 4 is stopped at the eighth step position.

It is assumed that the start-up process is started from the stop state as described above toward steady rotation.
At this time, if the activation process does not end before passing the origin position 101, the condition for accepting the stop operation of 1) and 2) above is not satisfied, so that the rotating reel 4 makes one turn to be able to accept the stop operation. It is necessary to pass through the origin position 101 again. That is, the rotating reel 4 must be rotated one extra turn before the stop operation can be received.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of steps spent from the start to the end of the startup process is set as follows.
FIG. 17B is an explanatory diagram of the number of steps of the start-up process that is spent in the present embodiment, and a total of four symbols of the 20th frame to the 2nd frame located near the origin position 101 of the rotary reel 4 as in FIG. Is shown.
In the present embodiment, the starting process is performed until the rotating reel 4 is rotated by the number of steps calculated by “the number of steps for one symbol (N) + the number of steps from the stop step position to the next symbol (M)”. To finish. Specifically, in the present embodiment, if the “stop step position” is the eighth step position, the starting process is performed until the rotating reel 4 is rotated by “24 (N) +8 (M)” = 32 steps. If the “stop step position” is the seventh step position, the start-up process is completed until the rotating reel 4 is rotated by “24 (N) +7 (M)” = 31 steps.
That is, when the “stop step position” is set to the eighth or seventh step position as in this example, the start-up process is completed until at least the rotating reel 4 is rotated by “24 + 7” = 31 steps. do it.

Here, in order to prevent an extra rotation of one turn as described above regardless of the stop symbol before the starting process, the starting process is performed by rotating the rotating reel 4 by the number of steps of the stop step position. It only needs to be completed before rotating. Thus, even if the stop symbol before the activation process is the symbol immediately before the origin position 101 (the 21st frame symbol), the activation process can be completed by the origin position 101, so the first origin position 101 after the activation is completed. The rotation stop operation can be immediately accepted in response to the passage of.
However, usually, a certain amount of rotation is required to accelerate the rotating reel 4 to a constant speed as a steady rotation. Specifically, a rotation amount of at least about one frame is required.
In view of this point, in this embodiment, the starting process is performed by rotating the rotating reel 4 by the number of steps calculated as “the number of steps for one frame of the symbol + the number of steps from the stop step position to the next symbol” as described above. It ends by letting it.
As a result, except for the case where the stop symbol before the activation process is the symbol immediately before the origin position 101, there is no extra rotation for one round before the stop operation can be accepted.
Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from when the rotary reel 4 starts to be activated until the rotation stop operation can be accepted.

Here, in the above description, the start-up process is finished in 26 steps, that is, the start-up process is finished when the rotating reel 4 is rotated by the number of steps calculated by “the number of steps for one frame + 2 steps”. The case was illustrated. As a result, even if the stop step position is either No. 8 or No. 7, the stop operation is accepted unless the stop symbol before the start process is the symbol immediately before the origin position 101. It is possible to prevent an extra rotation for one round before it becomes possible. That is, even when the stop step position is any of the eighth and seventh step positions, the time from when the rotary reel 4 starts to be activated until the rotation stop operation can be received can be shortened.
In addition, since the starting process is performed over a time corresponding to one frame of symbols, the rotating reel 4 can be sufficiently accelerated to a constant speed during steady rotation.

[6-4. Processing related to stop of rotating cylinder]

Next, a process related to stopping the rotating reel 4 will be described.
Since the acceptance of the stop operation of the rotating reel 4 is performed by the turning stop processing (S110) in the main processing shown in FIG. 9, the turning stop processing in step S110 will be described first.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the spinning cylinder stop process in step S110.
In FIG. 18, the CPU 80a first waits until one interrupt process is completed in step S501.
Here, in step S109 immediately before the spinning cylinder stop process in step S110, the spinning cylinder rotation start setting process is executed. As understood from the above description, the rotation of the rotary reels 4a to 4c is the first timer interruption process after the necessary setting is made in the rotation rotation start setting process in step S109. This is started by executing the rotation control process (S203). Therefore, the standby process in step S501 functions as a process of waiting until the rotating reels 4a to 4c start rotating.
Note that the standby process in step S501 is executed a plurality of times in the course of the process shown in FIG. The standby process in step S501 executed after the second time functions as a process of waiting for the rotation control process of FIGS. 14 and 15 to be performed once, that is, for the rotation control to proceed for one timer interrupt.

In response to performing the standby process in step S501, the CPU 80a determines the rotation sensor ON flag F2 corresponding to the rotating cylinder (rotary reel 4) in step S502, and in the subsequent step S503, the rotation sensor ON flag F2 is determined. Are all ON (= 1), that is, whether or not the origin position 101 has been detected for all the rotating reels 4.
This corresponds to determining whether or not the stop operation acceptance condition shown as 1) and 2) above is satisfied.

  If the condition that the rotation sensor ON flag F2 is all ON is not satisfied, the CPU 80a turns on the stop buttons 18a to 18c in red in step S518, and returns to step S501. Note that red lighting indicates that acceptance of a stop operation is prohibited.

On the other hand, when the condition that all the rotation sensor ON flags F2 are ON is satisfied, the CPU 80a determines whether or not an invalid operation is performed in step S504. That is, it is determined whether or not an invalid operation other than an effective stop operation of pressing one of the stop buttons 18a to 18c is being performed.
If an invalid operation is performed, the CPU 80a turns on the stop buttons 18a to 18c in red in step S518, and the process returns to step S501.

If an invalid operation has not been performed, the CPU 80a determines whether or not a valid stop operation has been performed in step S505. If a valid stop operation has not been performed, the rotating reel 4 being rotated in step S519. The stop button 18 corresponding to is lit in blue, and the process returns to step S501.
On the other hand, when an effective stop operation is performed, the CPU 80a turns on all the stop buttons 18a to 18c in step S506.

Here, paying attention only to the lighting control of the stop button 18, after all the stop buttons 18a to 18c are lit red in the step S506, it is determined whether or not all the rotating reels 4 are stopped in the step S513. If all the rotating reels 4 have not been stopped, the process returns to step S501 and the above-described processing relating to the blue lighting / red lighting is executed.
With this processing flow, after the rotation of the rotary reels 4a to 4c is started, the lighting control of the stop buttons 18a to 18c is performed as follows.

-Until the stop operation can be accepted from the start of rotation (reel production start or start start), all the stop buttons 18a to 18c are kept lit red.
When the stop operation can be accepted, all the stop buttons 18a to 18c are lit in blue. However, when an invalid operation is performed, all the stop buttons 18a to 18c are lit red.
When the stop operation of the rotating reel 4 is performed, all the stop buttons 18a to 18c are once lit red, and then only the stop button 18 of the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed is maintained red. The stop button 18 corresponding to the other rotating reel 4 is returned to blue. At this time, if there is no rotating reel 4 that is rotating, all of the stop buttons 18a to 18c remain in a red-lit state.

Continue to explain the process.
As described above, in step S505, it is determined that a valid stop operation has been performed, and in response to turning on the stop buttons 18a to 18c in red in step S506, the CPU 80a sets the stop signal detection flag F4 = 1 in step S507. set.
In step S508, the CPU 80a updates the rotation state flag. The rotation state flag is set to “1” (representing that all the rotating reels 4 are rotating) in the process of step S310 in the spinning cylinder rotation start setting process (S109) shown in FIG. In step S508, the value of the rotation state flag is updated to a value corresponding to the stop state of the rotation reels 4a to 4c.

In response to the execution of the update process in step S508, the CPU 80a executes an update process for various variables in step S509. Specifically, the values of the latest stop spinning latest flag, the number of symbol stops, and the reel number to be stopped are updated to values according to the stopped state of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, and the stop interval timer is set to 211 ms.
Note that the latest stop spinning flag, the number of symbol stops, and the reel number to be stopped are variables used when the stop symbol is determined in the stop position acquisition process in step S605 in the symbol stop control process (S510) described later.
Further, 211 ms set in the stop interval timer corresponds to a time corresponding to 4 frames which is the maximum number of sliding frames.

  In response to the execution of the variable update process in step S509, the CPU 80a executes a symbol stop control process in step S510. This symbol stop control process determines (calculates) a stop position including the stop symbol for the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed, and sets a stop command flag F3 = 1 in response to reaching the stop symbol. The main processing content is to collate the symbols on the effective stop line, and the details will be described again with reference to FIG.

  In response to the execution of the symbol stop control process in step S510, the CPU 80a advances the process to step S511, and effects control is performed to send a stop result information command representing the stop result to the effect control board 42 as the stop result information command set process. Set to the transmission buffer in the interface 86.

  In subsequent step S512, the CPU 80a waits until the stop interval timer = 0. By this standby processing in step S512, standby is realized until a time of 211 ms elapses after the stop interval timer is set in the previous step S509. Due to such standby, a time corresponding to the maximum number of sliding frames is always ensured after the stop operation is performed until the stop operation for the next rotating reel 4 can be accepted.

  In response to the execution of the standby process in step S512, the CPU 80a determines whether or not all the rotating reels 4 are stopped in step S513, and all the rotating reels 4 are not stopped (that is, the stopping operation is performed). In the case where all of the rotating reels 4 have been stopped, the process proceeds to step S514.

In step S514, the CPU 80a acquires input information about the stop buttons 18a to 18c, the start lever 17, the max insertion button 16, the credit settlement button 14, and the door opening sensor 35 as input port information acquisition processing. Next step In S515, it is determined whether any of the operations corresponding to the input information is performed.
When any operation is performed, the CPU 80a executes the information acquisition process in step S514 and the determination process in step S515 again. That is, as long as any operation is performed, the process loops from step S514 → S515 → S514.

  If no operation is performed, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S516, sets a predetermined value (101 ms in this example) to the wait timer as a wait timer setting process after all stops, and waits for a specified number of interrupts in the subsequent step S517. Execute. As the designated number interrupt waiting process, a process of waiting until the timer interrupt process for the number of times corresponding to the value of the wait timer set in step S516 is executed.

  In response to the execution of the standby process in step S517, the CPU 80a finishes the rotating cylinder stop process shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the symbol stop control process in step S510.
In the symbol stop control process, the CPU 80a first determines in step S601 whether the number of symbol steps is 11 or more. That is, it is determined whether or not the number of symbol steps for the rotating reel 4 for which the effective stop operation is detected in step S505 in FIG. 18 is 11 or more. As will be described later, the number of symbol steps is decremented for each timer interrupt even after the stop operation is performed and the stop signal detection flag F4 = 1 (see FIG. 15).
The CPU 80a executes the determination process in step S601 until the number of symbol steps becomes 11 or more.
The significance of the determination process in step S601 will be described later.

If the number of symbol steps is 11 or more, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S602, and sets a stop operation reception information command in the transmission buffer in the effect control interface 86 to notify the effect control board 42 that the stop operation has been accepted. .
In step S603, the CPU 80a acquires the value of the symbol counter. The value of the symbol counter acquired in step S603 represents the symbol position at the timing when the stop operation is performed.

In response to the acquisition of the symbol counter value at the time of the stop operation in step S603, the CPU 80a sets the acquired symbol counter value to the rotating symbol number when the stop button is pressed and the evaluation symbol number in step S604.
In step S605, the CPU 80a executes a stop position acquisition process. In the stop position acquisition process, the stop position of the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed is slid up to the maximum using the necessary information such as the rotating symbol number when the stop button is pressed and the evaluation rotating symbol number set in step S604. Determine (calculate) within the frame range. That is, the stop symbol and stop permission step position for the rotating reel 4 within the maximum sliding piece range are determined as the stop position.
Since the stop position acquisition process is not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In response to the execution of the stop position acquisition process in step S605, the CPU 80a waits until the stop symbol is reached in step S606. That is, it waits until the value of the symbol counter matches the value corresponding to the stop symbol determined in step S605.

  In response to reaching the stop symbol, the CPU 80a sets the stop command flag F3 = 1 in step S607. Since the stop command flag F3 is set to 1 in this way, control for stopping the rotating reel 4 is started by the rotating cylinder rotation control process shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, which will be described later. To do.

  In response to setting the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 in step S607, the CPU 80a executes predetermined processes as the priority stop information acquisition process in step S608 and the subsequent calculation mask data storage process in step S609. In step S610, the effective line symbol data matching process is executed. In the valid line symbol data collating process, a process of acquiring information on symbols stopped on a valid stop line is executed.

  In response to the execution of the symbol data matching process in step S610, the CPU 80a finishes the symbol stop control process shown in this figure.

Next, processing for stopping the rotating reel 4 executed on the timer interrupt processing side will be described with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG.
As described above, on the main processing side, in response to the stop operation being performed, the stop signal detection flag F4 corresponding to the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed is set to “1” (S507).
As understood from the above description, during the steady rotation before the stop operation is performed, only the in-control flag F0 and the spinning cylinder start flag F5 are “1” as the spinning cylinder control flag FG, and other flags Since all Fs are “0”, when the stop operation is performed, the stop signal detection flag F4 is set to “1” together with the in-control flag F0 and the rotation start flag F5 in the rotation control flag FG. It will be in the set state.

For this reason, with respect to the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed, in the rotating rotation control process shown in FIGS. .
In step S427, the CPU 80a determines the value of the stop instruction flag F3. As can be understood from the description of FIGS. 18 and 19, the stop instruction flag F3 is set in response to reaching the stop symbol after the stop operation is performed (S505) and the stop symbol is determined (S605). "1" is set (S607).

When the stop command flag F3 = 0, that is, when the slip after the stop operation is being performed, the CPU 80a executes the processes after step S429 described above. That is, processing for counting the number of symbol steps and the value of the symbol counter (S429 to S434) and processing for updating excitation data (S435, S436, and S443) are executed.
As understood from this, during the slip, the steady rotation is maintained and the number of symbol steps and the symbol counter value are continuously counted.

As described above, after the processing in step S443 is executed, it is determined in step S444 whether or not the processing has been completed for all the rotating reels 4, and the processing has to be completed for all the rotating reels 4. For example, in step S401, a process for checking the spinning control flag FG for the next rotating reel 4 is executed.
At this time, if the stop operation for the next rotating reel 4 has not been performed (that is, if the stop signal detection flag F4 is not 1), processing corresponding to the steady rotation for the rotating reel 4 (processing after S409) ) Is continued. On the other hand, if the stop operation for the next rotating reel 4 has been performed, the processing corresponding to the slippage after step S429 described above is executed.
In this way, processing corresponding to during slipping after step S429 is sequentially performed from the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed. This also applies to processing based on the value of the stop instruction flag F3 described below.

  If the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 in step S427, that is, if the stop symbol has been reached, the CPU 80a proceeds to step S428 to determine whether or not it is a stoppable position. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the number of symbol steps is less than “9” and the motor excitation state is the two-phase excitation state (the value of the excitation pointer PT is 0, 2, 4, or 6). To do. As a result of the determination processing in step S428, the rotary reel 4 is stopped at the eighth step position as the “stop permission step position” or at the seventh step position if the excitation state conditions are not met.

Here, the count of the number of symbol steps is started in response to passing through the origin position 101. Therefore, [even number of step positions = depending on whether the excitation state when passing through the origin position 101 is one-phase excitation or two-phase excitation. It is determined whether 2-phase excitation, odd step position = 1 phase excitation, or [even step position = 1 phase excitation, odd step position = 2 phase excitation].
If the excitation state when passing through the origin position 101 is two-phase excitation, the even number of step positions = two-phase excitation. Therefore, in the discrimination process in step S428, the excitation state = when the number of symbol steps = 8. It is determined as two-phase excitation. Therefore, in this case, stop control by all-phase excitation described later is started when the number of symbol steps = 8, and the rotary reel 4 stops at the eighth step position.
On the other hand, if the excitation state when passing through the origin position 101 is one-phase excitation, the odd-numbered step position = two-phase excitation. Therefore, in the discrimination process in step S428, the excitation state is obtained when the number of symbol steps = 7. = Two-phase excitation is determined. That is, in this case, the rotating reel 4 stops at the 7th step position.

  In step S428, when the condition that the number of symbol steps is less than “9” and the two-phase excitation state is not satisfied and a determination result that the position is not the stoppable position is obtained, the CPU 80a performs the processing after step S429 described above. Execute. That is, during the period from reaching the stop symbol to reaching the stop possible position, the number of symbol steps is continuously counted while the steady rotation is maintained.

  On the other hand, when the condition that the number of symbol steps is less than “9” and the two-phase excitation state is satisfied in step S428, and the determination result that the position is the stoppable position is obtained, the CPU 80a stops the rotation in step S437. After setting the middle flag F7 = 1, the process proceeds to step S438 shown in FIG. By executing the processing after step S438, stop excitation is performed on the stepping motor 54 corresponding to the rotating reel 4 on which the stop operation has been performed.

First, CPU 80a in step S 438 determines whether the value of the motor output timer Tom is 0.
Here, at the time when the process of step S438 is executed for the first time after setting the rotating cylinder stop flag = 1 in the previous step S437, the value of the motor output timer Tom is “151 corresponding to the time table index = 25”. "Is set. This is because, after “151” corresponding to time table index = 25 is acquired and set by the processing of steps S418 and S419 executed in the last timer interrupt processing of the startup processing, the motor output timer Tom is in steady rotation. This is because the value of is not updated at all.

When the value of the motor output timer Tom is not 0, the CPU 80a decrements (-1) the value of the motor output timer Tom in step S439, and generates 0Fh ("1111") as excitation data φ1 to φ4 in the subsequent step S440. In step S443, excitation data φ1 to φ4 are set in the output buffer corresponding to the rotating reel 4. That is, excitation data φ1 to φ4 based on “1111” generated in step S440 are set.
As a result, for the stepping motor 54 corresponding to the rotating reel 4 that has reached the stoppable position in the previous step S428, all the drive signals of the winding portions A, A bar, B, and B bar described above are turned on. Phase excitation "is started. By continuing such an all-phase excitation state for a predetermined time, the rotating reel 4 can be stopped at the target position regardless of the inertial force during steady rotation that rotates at a high speed.

  Here, in the timer interruption process next to the timer interruption process that is set to the rotation stoppage flag F7 = 1 in step S437 as described above, the rotation control flag is set in step S401 for the rotating reel 4 that has reached the stoppable position. Although the value of FG is checked, as described above, since the rotating cylinder stop flag F7 = 1 is set, the process in this case proceeds in steps S401 → S402 → S403 → S405 → S438. As a result, the excitation data generation process in step S440 and the excitation data set process in step S443 are repeated until the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes 0, that is, until the decrement process in step S439 is executed “151” times. Executed. Therefore, the all-phase excitation state is maintained over the time length of “151” timer interruption processes.

When the value of the motor output timer Tom becomes 0, the CPU 80a generates 00h (“0000”) as the excitation data φ1 to φ4 in step S441, and sets the in-control flag F0 = 1 in the subsequent step S442. The excitation data set process of step S443 is executed. As a result, all the drive signals of the winding portions A, A bar, B, and B bar are turned off, and the rotary reel 4 is completely stopped.

[6-5. Relationship between symbol during stop operation and stop symbol]

In the process related to the stopping of the rotating drum described above, in the rotating reel stop control process (S510: FIG. 19) for the rotating reel 4 in which the effective stopping operation is detected in step S505 of FIG. It is determined whether or not it is the above (S601). If the number of symbol steps is 11 or more, the symbol counter value is acquired (S603), and the acquired symbol counter value is the stop position acquisition process ( It is set as the value of the rotator symbol number when the stop button is pressed and the rotator symbol number for evaluation used in S605) (S604).
According to this, when the step position when the stop operation is performed is a step position of 11 or more (that is, before 11), the process immediately proceeds from step S601 to step S602. The stop symbol is determined within the maximum sliding coma range based on the symbol indicated by the symbol counter value at the time when the stop operation is performed.
On the other hand, if the step position when the stop operation is performed is a step position of less than 11, the process waits in step S601 until the number of symbol steps becomes 11 or more, that is, the symbol step number is reset to 24. Therefore, the stop symbol is determined by the stop position acquisition process based on the next symbol instead of the symbol indicated by the symbol counter value when the stop operation is performed.

FIG. 20 is a diagram in which this point is arranged, and shows step positions Nos. 24 to 1 for a certain symbol n.
As described above, when the number of symbol steps at the time when the stop operation is performed is 11 or more, stop position acquisition processing based on the symbol indicated by the value of the symbol counter at the time when the stop operation is performed is executed. In other words, the stop position acquisition process is executed based on the symbol n if the effective stop operation is performed at the position of the eleventh or more step positions in the symbol n. In this sense, step positions Nos. 24 to 11 are referred to as “stop processable positions”.
On the other hand, the stop position acquisition process based on the symbol n is not executed for a step position having a step number less than 11 even if an effective stop operation is performed at that position. In this sense, the 10th to 1st step positions are described as “stop process impossible positions”.

  Here, since the stop permission step position is the 8th step position as described above, the 8th or higher step position should be the “stop processable position”. That is, if the stop operation is performed at the step position of 8th or higher, the stop symbol should be determined based on the symbol at the time of the stop operation. Thereby, when the number of sliding symbols = 0, that is, when the stop symbol = the symbol at the time of the stop operation, the rotary reel 4 at the stop step position (No. 8 or 7 in this example) at the time of the stop operation. It is theoretically possible to stop

However, if the step position of No. 8 or more is set as the “stop processable position” as described above, when the number of sliding frames = 0, rotation is performed at a relatively fast timing within one step after the stop operation is performed. There may be a case where the reel 4 has to be stopped (when the stop operation is performed at the 8th step position).
The stop position acquisition process for determining the stop symbol is relatively complicated and may take a relatively long time to complete. Therefore, as described above, the stop operation is performed with the number of sliding frames = 0. In a case where it is necessary to stop the rotating reel 4 at a relatively fast timing within one step from the time when it is broken, the stop position symbol acquisition process is not completed by the timing at which the rotating reel 4 should be stopped. There is a possibility that it cannot be stopped properly at the stop step position.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a step position that is more than a predetermined number of steps (three steps or more in this example) before the stop permission step position is defined as a “stop processable step position”.
Specifically, when the step position detected at the timing when the stop operation is performed is set as the stop operation step position, the step position during the stop operation is a step position that is a predetermined number of steps before the stop permission step position. If it is a stop processable step position, the stop position is determined within the maximum sliding piece range based on the pattern detected at the timing when the stop operation was performed, and the step position at the stop operation is the stop process If the position is other than the possible step position, the stop position is determined within the maximum sliding piece range based on the symbol next to the symbol detected at the timing when the stop operation was performed.

Accordingly, since a time margin corresponding to the “predetermined number of steps” is provided from when the stop operation is performed to when the rotating reel 4 is stopped, even when the number of sliding frames = 0, the stop position It is possible to ensure that the process for determining the value is terminated before reaching the stop step position.
Accordingly, the rotating reel 4 can be stably stopped at the stop step position.

<7. About RAM initialization processing>

Subsequently, the RAM initialization process (step S102 in FIG. 9) will be described.
As understood from the above description, the RAM initialization process in step S102 is repeatedly executed for each game.
If this RAM initialization process is not executed, various variable setting processes for starting one game cannot be started. Therefore, the RAM initialization process can be executed quickly in order to quickly move to the next game. Is desirable.

Based on this point, the relationship between the stop processing and the RAM initialization process in this embodiment will be described.
As can be understood from the above description, the rotation control of the rotating reel 4 includes the rotation stopping process (FIGS. 18 and 19) in the main process and the rotation rotation control process (FIGS. 14 and 15) in the timer interruption process. ). Looking at the flow of processing on the main processing side and timer interrupt processing side just before the end of one game, first, on the main processing side, the spinning cylinder stop processing (S110) shown in FIG. 18 is as follows. It ends with. That is, in the symbol stop control process in step S510, the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set according to the arrival at the stop symbol (see step S607 in FIG. 19), and the stop interval timer (211 ms) is set to “0” in step S512. And waits for wait timer = 101 ms in step S517 before ending. When the spinning cylinder stop process (S110) is completed, a winning determination process (S111), a medal payout number monitoring process (S112), and a re-game setting process (S113) are executed as shown in FIG. At the same time, the bonus initialization process (S116) and the bonus operation start process (S117) are executed as necessary, and then the RAM initialization process of step S102 is executed.
If this flow is followed, the RAM initialization process in step S102 is performed under the condition that the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set for all the rotating reels 4 (that is, stop command information is set). It can be seen that after the above process (from step S608 to step S116 or S117) is executed, the next game is started.

On the other hand, in the turning rotation control process (FIGS. 14 and 15) in the timer interrupt process, after the stop command flag F3 = 1 (that is, the arrival of the stop symbol) is detected in step S427, the stop possible position in step S437. The processing after step S438 is repeatedly executed in response to the arrival of That is, all-phase excitation over a time length of 151 times is performed. As a result, the rotary reel 4 is completely stopped.
Prior to all-phase excitation (that is, during steady rotation), processing of steps S435, S436, and S443 is performed to repeatedly update the drive data φ1 to φ4 and store it in the output buffer of the RAM 80c. The all-phase excitation for the stop is based on the stop command information set in step S607 on the main processing side, the update of the drive data φ1 to φ4 during the steady rotation as described above is stopped, and the all-phase excitation is performed. This is realized by storing predetermined drive data φ1 to φ4 in the output buffer of the RAM 80c (S440 → S443).

Here, on the basis of the time when the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 is set (the time when the stop symbol is reached), the time required for the main processing to end and the RAM initialization processing to be executed, and the timer interrupt processing side Compare the time required to complete all-phase excitation.
First, on the main processing side, the stop interval timer (211 ms) is set to “0” at least in step S512 from the time when the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 is set (S607) until the RAM initialization process is executed. And waits for wait timer = 101 ms in step S517.
However, the above stop interval timer is set to the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 because the count is started in step S509 before the symbol stop control process in step S510 in which the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 is set. The time required from the point in time until the RAM initialization process is executed is not simply 211 ms + 101 ms. In particular, when the number of sliding symbols is set to be relatively large in the stop position acquisition process in step S605 (for example, the number of sliding symbols is 3 or 4), the count of the stop interval timer is started in step S509 and then the pattern in step S510. A relatively large amount of time is consumed until the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set in the stop control process (for example, if the number of sliding frames = 4, 96 steps × 1.49 ms≈143 ms are consumed). For this reason, there may occur a case where the time required from the time when the stop instruction flag F3 = 1 is set until the RAM initialization process is executed is about 170 ms (211 ms-143 ms + 101 ms).

  On the other hand, the time required from the time when the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set until the completion of all-phase excitation on the timer interrupt processing side is: {stop position (8th or 7th) From the number of steps to reach the step position) = 16 or 17 + 151} × 1.49 ms, it is 248.83 ms or 250.32 ms.

  From these comparisons, the time required from the time when the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set to the time when the RAM initialization processing is executed is from the time when the stop command flag F3 = 1 is set until the all-phase excitation is completed. It may be shorter than the time required. That is, there may be a case where the RAM initialization process in step S102 is executed before all-phase excitation is completed.

Here, as can be understood from the above description, the value of the motor output timer Tom needs to be properly counted in order to properly execute the all-phase excitation of a predetermined time length. That is, the value of the motor output timer Tom must be properly held in the RAM 80c. At the same time, predetermined drive data φ1 to φ4 for all-phase excitation must be held in the output buffer of the RAM 80c.
However, in the case where the RAM initialization process is executed before all-phase excitation is completed as described above, the value of the motor output timer Tom and the drive data φ1 to φ4 in the output buffer are not changed before all-phase excitation is completed. As a result, the rotating reel 4 may not be stopped properly.

  In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to execute the RAM initialization process in step S102 after waiting until all-phase excitation is completed. However, in this case, an extra standby time is required until the RAM initialization process is executed, and there is a problem that the transition to the next game cannot be performed promptly.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the value of the motor output timer Tom, that is, the time information related to the driving of the rotating drum, and the driving data for driving the rotating drum as the driving data φ1 to φ4 are stored in step S102 in the RAM 80c. The area is held in an area other than the initialization target area in the RAM initialization process. In other words, an area for storing the time information and the drive data is set in an area other than the initialization target area in the RAM 80c.

FIG. 21 schematically shows an initialization target area that is initialized at the end of one game in the RAM initialization process in step S102 and a non-initialization target area that is not targeted for initialization.
As described above, when the storage area in the RAM 80c is divided into the initialization target area and the non-initialization target area, in this embodiment, the area for the CPU 80a to store the time information and the drive data is non-initial. Is set on the target area side.

Thereby, even when the RAM initialization process is executed before the completion of all-phase excitation (that is, the stop driving of the stepping motor 54), the time information and the drive data are not cleared in the RAM initialization process. The rotating reel 4 is properly stopped based on the time information and the drive data.
Accordingly, since it is not necessary to wait until all-phase excitation is completed, the RAM initial is promptly executed after executing a predetermined process corresponding to the end of one game (the process from step S608 in the main process to step S116 or S117). Since the conversion process can be performed, the transition to the next game can be performed promptly.

Here, on the initialization target area side in the RAM 80c, an area for storing, for example, information on the lottery result by the internal lottery process in step S106, the stop mode (stop position) determined by the stop position acquisition process in step S605, and the like. Is set. As a result, information that needs to be cleared when shifting to the next game is cleared upon completion of one game.
Therefore, the transition to the next game can be performed promptly also in this respect.

In the above description, the case where the actuator provided in the means for rotating the rotating reel 4 is a motor is exemplified. However, in the invention relating to the above-described RAM initialization processing, as the actuator, Any kind of control can be used as long as the operation is controlled to lock the operation for a predetermined time.

<8. Summary and Modification>

By the processing of the CPU 80a described above, the progress of the game operation can be efficiently realized while reducing the control load. In addition, the memory capacity required for the progress of the game operation can be reduced. In particular, by devising start-up rotation of the rotating drum and drive control when rotation is stopped, the processing load is reduced without wasting a memory area.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the examples given in the embodiment, and various modifications and application examples are conceivable.
For example, in the above, an example in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine has been described, but the present invention can be widely and suitably applied to gaming machines including a spinning cylinder in which a plurality of symbols are formed along the rotation direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body case 2 ... Front panel 3 ... Symbol rotation unit 4a-4c ... Rotary reel (rotating cylinder)
16 ... Max loading button 17 ... Start lever 18a-18c ... Stop button 40 ... Main control board 54a ... First cylinder stepping motor 54b ... Second cylinder stepping motor 54c ... Third cylinder stepping motor 55a ... First cylinder Index sensor 55b ... 2nd cylinder index sensor 55c ... 3rd cylinder index sensor 80 ... Controller 80a ... CPU
80c ... RAM

Claims (1)

A plurality of spinning cylinders formed with a plurality of symbols along the direction of rotation;
Rotation driving means for rotating the rotating drum;
Control means for executing processing related to the game operation based on the storage data of the storage unit,
In a gaming machine in which one game is ended by rotating the rotating drum and stopping in a stop mode according to the lottery result,
The control means includes
A main process that controls the progress of the gaming operation, and an interrupt process that is executed every predetermined time by interrupting the main process,
The main process is:
Stop position determining means for determining a stop position of the rotating cylinder in response to a rotation stopping operation instructing rotation stop of the rotating cylinder;
Stop command setting means for setting stop command information when the rotating drum that is rotating has reached the stop position determined by the stop position determining means;
Initializing the stored data stored in the storage unit after executing a predetermined process performed after the stop command information is set for all the spinning cylinders and before starting the next game And means for
The interrupt processing is
Update means for repeatedly updating drive data for driving the rotation drive means during rotation of the rotating drum and storing it in the storage unit;
Based on the stop command information set by the stop command setting means, stop means for canceling the update of the drive data and storing predetermined drive data in the storage unit;
Holding means for maintaining the predetermined drive data stored in the storage unit until a time based on the time information stored in the storage unit elapses after the stop unit functions;
Output means for outputting a drive signal based on the drive data stored in the storage unit to the rotation drive means,
The storage section is divided into an initialization target area that is initialized at the end of one game and other non-initialization target areas, and the time information and the drive data are stored in the non-initialization target area. An area to store is set,
Before the period in which the predetermined drive data is maintained until the time based on the time information elapses by the holding means, the initialization means initializes the initialization target area, and the next game Rutotomoni is capable proceeds to the process for,
A gaming machine in which a length of a period in which the predetermined driving data is maintained by the holding means is shorter than a minimum gaming time .

Images