JP2017080582A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of grasping abnormality on early stage in the case where a fixed periodic signal for driving a random number generator is stopped by a failure or any other factor.SOLUTION: A game machine 1 includes: a start winning hole passage sensor 40 that detects timing of a jackpot determination and outputs a detection signal SG1; a first clock generation circuit 104 which generates a clock signal CL1 that is a periodic signal; a random number generator 105 that updates a random number on the basis of a clock signal CL1; a detection signal determination circuit 106 that outputs the detection signal SG1 as effective detection signals SG2 and SG3 while the clock signal CL1 is normally outputted from the first clock generation circuit 104; and a CPU 101 that acquires a random number from the random number generator 105 in response to the effective detection signal SG3, and makes the jackpot determination on the basis of the random number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine, a slot machine, and a gaming machine such as a parrot machine capable of performing a game similar to a slot machine using a game ball used in the pachinko machine instead of a medal.

  Conventionally, this type of gaming machine generates a random number by updating the counter value at a fixed period. For example, in a pachinko machine, the random number is acquired at the timing when the game ball wins the start winning opening, and the acquired random number Is a value indicating a predetermined “hit”, after the effect display is performed on the symbol display device, the display symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, and a big win state such as opening of the big prize opening is started. (For example, patent document 1).

  As a method for generating a random number in a gaming machine, a software random number method in which a counter value is updated at a constant cycle by internal processing of the CPU, or a random number generator externally attached to the CPU is based on a fixed periodic signal. There is a hardware random number method in which the counter value is updated. The hardware random number method inputs a high-frequency periodic signal to the random number generator, and the random number generator updates the count value for each pulse of the periodic signal to generate a random number, so it operates faster than the software random number method. Is possible. For this reason, the hardware random number method is an effective countermeasure against, for example, an illegal aiming at the timing of “big hit”.

JP 2007-20864 A

  By the way, in the case of the hardware random number method, if a certain periodic signal input to the random number generator stops due to a failure or other causes, the counting operation is stopped thereafter, and the counter value is not updated. Even in this state, the gaming machine itself can play a game, and if the value of the counter stopped at this time is a value indicating “hit”, the game will always be a big win if the game ball wins the start winning opening. In this case, since a big hit always occurs, it can be understood that some problem has occurred in the gaming machine relatively early, and can be dealt with in the gaming hall (store).

  On the other hand, when the value of the stopped counter is a value indicating “losing”, even if the game ball wins the start winning opening and the symbol variation display is performed, the result is surely lost. However, it is difficult to grasp that there is a problem with the gaming machine in this state, and there is a possibility that it will be left as it is in the gaming hall. In this case, the game is played in a state where it is never a “hit”, which is a problem.

  The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, and when a certain periodic signal that drives a random number generator stops due to a failure or other cause, the abnormality is promptly detected. It provides a gaming machine that can be grasped.

The present invention
First signal output means for outputting a first signal;
Clock signal output means for outputting a clock signal at a predetermined period;
Numerical information generating means for generating numerical information based on the clock signal;
Numerical information acquisition means for acquiring numerical information generated by the numerical information generation means based on the first signal;
Determination means for determining whether to give a player a privilege based on the numerical information acquired by the numerical information acquisition means;
A pattern display means for variably displaying the pattern;
Fluctuation display control means for controlling the picture display means to start the fluctuation display of the pattern based on the determination by the determination means and then stop the fluctuation display,
Electrically connecting the first signal output means and the determination means via second signal output means for outputting a second signal to the determination means;
The determination means is configured to perform the determination based on the second signal,
The second signal output means is configured to output the second signal based on a change in the output state of the clock signal when the first signal is output.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, when the periodic signal is normally output from the periodic signal generating unit, the detection signal validating unit uses the detection signal input from the trigger detecting unit as the effective detection signal to the control unit. Output. The control means is configured to receive a random number from the random number generation means in response to the input of the validity detection signal, and to determine the jackpot based on the random number. Therefore, when the periodic signal is not normally output from the periodic signal generating means, the detection signal validating means does not output an effective detection signal, so even if the trigger detecting means detects the trigger for the jackpot determination The control means does not acquire random numbers and does not determine jackpots. Therefore, in the gaming machine, the subsequent operation based on the result of the jackpot determination is not performed, and an abnormality in the gaming machine can be grasped at an early stage.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine which is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the game board in a pachinko machine. It is a rear view of a pachinko machine. It is a figure for demonstrating the display screen of a symbol display apparatus, (a) is the figure which showed the area division setting and effective line setting of the display screen typically, (b) shows an example of an actual display screen. FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the whole electrical structure in the pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed circuit structure of a main controller. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the hardware random number mechanism in a main controller. It is a figure which shows an example of the wiring pattern of the bus line which connects the random number generator in a main controller, and CPU. It is a figure which shows the structure concept of the various counters in CPU and RAM in a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows a timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process sequence performed by the start winning process in a timer interruption process. It is the flowchart which showed NMI interruption processing. It is the flowchart which showed the starting process performed by CPU in a main controller. It is the flowchart which showed the main process performed by CPU in a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process sequence of the fluctuation | variation process in a main process. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process sequence of the fluctuation | variation start process in a fluctuation | variation process.

  First, invention groups that can be extracted from the present embodiment will be shown as features n (n = 1, 2, 3,...), And will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary.

  Features 1. From the trigger detection means for detecting the trigger of jackpot determination and outputting a detection signal, the periodic signal generating means for generating a periodic signal, the random number generating means for updating a random number based on the periodic signal, and the periodic signal generating means A detection signal enabling means for outputting the detection signal as an effective detection signal when the periodic signal is normally output; and a random number is obtained from the random number generating means in response to the effective detection signal; And a control means for making a jackpot determination based on the game machine.

  According to the feature 1, when the periodic signal is not normally output from the periodic signal generating means, the detection signal validating means does not output the valid detection signal, so that the trigger detecting means detects the trigger of the jackpot determination. However, random numbers are not acquired by the control means, and the jackpot determination is not performed. Therefore, subsequent operations based on the jackpot determination result are not performed, and an abnormality in the gaming machine can be grasped at an early stage.

  Feature 2. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means operates based on a periodic signal asynchronous with the periodic signal generated by the periodic signal generating means.

  According to the feature 2, the operation in the control unit and the operation for updating the random number in the random number generation unit are asynchronous, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a big hit timing at every fixed period in the gaming machine.

  Feature 3. The random number generation means updates the random number at one of rising and falling timings of the periodic signal, and the detection signal validating means updates the half of the periodic signal from the timing when the random number generating means updates the random number. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the validity detection signal is output at a timing shifted by a period.

  According to the feature 3, when the control unit acquires a random number from the random number generation unit in response to the validity detection signal, the random number generation unit can acquire the random number while the random number is stable.

  Feature 4. The random number generator includes a holding unit that receives the validity detection signal and holds a random number to be updated based on the periodic signal based on the validity detection signal. The gaming machine described.

  According to the feature 4, since the holding means holds the random number based on the validity detection signal, when the control means acquires the random number from the random number generation means in response to the validity detection signal, the random number held by the holding means is It can be acquired stably.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as “pachinko machine”) is illustrated as an embodiment of the gaming machine.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board 4 of the pachinko machine 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 1 is formed with an outer frame 2 formed of a wooden frame or the like combined in a substantially rectangular shape, and an outer shape substantially the same as the outer frame 2. And an inner frame 3 supported to be openable and closable. In order to support the inner frame 3, the outer frame 2 is provided with metal hinges 11 at two upper and lower positions on the left side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and the side on which the hinge 11 is provided is used as an opening / closing axis. The frame 3 is supported to be openable and closable to the front side.

  A game board 4 (see FIG. 2) provided with a large number of nails, winning holes, and the like is detachably mounted from the back side at substantially the center of the inner frame 3. A ball ball game is performed by dropping the front of the game board 4 while playing the game ball. In the inner frame 3, a ball launch unit 603 (see FIG. 5) for launching a game ball to a game area defined on the front surface of the game board 4 or a game ball launched from the ball launch unit 603 is played. A launch rail (not shown) or the like for guiding to the area is attached.

  On the front side of the inner frame 3, a front frame 5 that covers the upper side of the front surface and a lower dish unit 6 that covers the lower side thereof are provided. In order to support the front frame 5 and the lower dish unit 6, metal hinges 12 are attached at two upper and lower positions on the left side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and the side on which the hinges 12 are provided serves as an opening / closing axis. 5 and the lower pan unit 6 are supported so as to be openable and closable toward the front front side. The locking of the inner frame 3 and the locking of the front frame 5 are respectively released by inserting a dedicated key into the key hole of the cylinder lock 13 and performing a predetermined operation.

  The front frame 5 is an assembly of decorative resin parts, electrical parts, and the like, and a window portion 14 having an approximately elliptical opening is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. The window portion 14 is provided with a glass member 15 attached from the back side of the front frame 5, and the front surface of the game board 4 can be viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine 1 through the glass member 15. ing. On the front frame 5, an upper plate 16 for storing game balls is formed in a tray shape that protrudes forward and has an upper surface opened, and game balls such as prize balls and rental balls are primary to the upper plate 16. To be discharged. The bottom surface of the upper plate 16 is formed to be inclined downward to the right when viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and the game balls to be thrown into the upper plate 16 by the inclination are provided in the pachinko machine 1 one by one. To be guided to.

  In addition, around the window portion 14 of the front frame 5, a plurality of electrical decoration portions 17 incorporating light emitting members such as LEDs are provided. In the pachinko machine 1, the plurality of illumination parts 17 function as effect lamps such as jackpot lamps, and the lamps 17 are turned on or blinking by turning on or blinking the built-in LEDs at the time of a jackpot or reach effect. It is notified that the jackpot is being hit or that the reach is one step before the jackpot. In addition, a light emitting member such as an LED is built in the upper left part of the front frame 5 as viewed from the front (see FIG. 1), and a display lamp 18 is provided that can display the awarding of prize balls and the occurrence of an error.

  Further, a ball rental operation section 20 is disposed below the window section 14 of the front frame 5. The ball lending operation unit 20 includes a frequency display unit 21, a ball lending button 22, and a return button 23, and a bill or a card is attached to a card unit (ball lending unit) installed on the side of the pachinko machine 1. When the ball lending operation unit 40 is operated in a state in which, etc. are inserted, gaming balls are lent according to the operation. The frequency display unit 41 is an area where the remaining amount information of the card or the like is displayed, and a built-in segment type LED is turned on to display a numerical value corresponding to the remaining amount of the card or the like. The ball lending button 42 is operated to obtain a lending ball based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and the lending ball is supplied to the upper plate 16 as long as there is a remaining amount on the card or the like. Is done. The return button 43 is operated when requesting the return of a card or the like inserted into the card unit.

  The lower tray unit 6 located on the lower side of the upper plate 16 has a substantially box in which the lower plate 25 opens the upper surface in order to store game balls that could not be stored in the upper plate 16 at the center. It is formed in a shape. On the right side of the lower plate 25, an operation handle 26 that is operated by a player to drive a game ball into the front surface of the game board 4 is disposed, and the operation of the ball launch unit 603 is permitted inside the operation handle 26. And a variable resistor (not shown) for detecting a rotation operation amount of the operation handle 26 by a change in electric resistance. When the operation handle 26 is rotated clockwise by the player, the touch sensor is turned on and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes corresponding to the operation amount, and according to the rotation operation amount of the operation handle 26. A game ball is fired with a strength corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor, and the game ball is driven into the front surface of the game board 4 with a jump amount corresponding to the player's operation.

  An openable and closable discharge port (not shown) for discharging the game balls stored in the lower plate 25 downward is provided on the bottom surface of the lower plate 25. A ball removal lever 27 is provided for opening the. The ball release lever 27 is urged in a direction for closing the discharge port (for example, the right direction in the front view), and the ball release lever 27 is moved in the opening direction (for example, the left direction in the front view) against the urging force. By sliding, the discharge port of the lower plate 25 is opened, and the game ball is naturally dropped and discharged from the discharge port. An ashtray 28 is attached to the left side of the lower plate 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 4 has a wooden base plate 30 cut into a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, a large number of balls for nails and windmills, rails 31 and 32, a general winning port 33, The start winning opening 34, the variable winning device 35, the through gate 36, the variable display device unit 7, and the like are assembled, and the peripheral edge thereof is attached to the back side of the inner frame 3. The general winning port 33, the starting winning port 34, the variable winning device 35, the through gate 36 and the variable display device unit 7 are disposed in a through hole formed in the base plate 30 by router processing, for example, from the front side of the game board 4 It is fixed with wood screws. Such a front center portion of the game board 4 can be viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine 1 through the window portion 14 of the front frame 5.

  An outer rail 32 formed by bending a belt-shaped metal plate into a substantially arc shape is planted on the front surface of the game board 4, and the belt-shaped metal plate is located at an inner position of the outer rail 32 in the same manner as the outer rail 32. The arc-shaped inner rail 31 formed in the above is planted. The inner rail 31 and the outer rail 32 surround the outer periphery of the front surface of the game board 4, and the front and rear widths are defined by the game board 4 and the glass member 15. A game area in which a game is played is formed by the behavior. This game area is configured as a substantially circular area defined by the two rails 31 and 32 and the arc member 37 on the front surface of the game board 4.

  The two rails 31 and 32 are provided to guide a game ball launched from the ball launch unit 603 to the upper part of the game board 4, and a ball guide path is formed by the rails 31 and 32. . A return ball preventing member 38 is attached to the front end portion of the inner rail 31 (upper left portion in FIG. 2), and the game ball once guided to the upper portion of the game board 4 returns to the ball guide path again. Is prevented. A return rubber 39 is attached to the tip of the outer rail 32 (upper right part of FIG. 2) at a position corresponding to the maximum flying portion of the game ball, and the game ball launched at a predetermined momentum or more hits the return rubber 39. The momentum is bounced back to the center side of the manner area. A resin arc member 37 formed by providing an arc connecting the rails on the inner surface side between the lower right end of the inner rail 31 and the upper right end of the outer rail 32 is a base. The plate 30 is driven and fixed.

  At the lower left and right sides of the game area, a plurality of general winning ports 33 are arranged through which 5 to 15 game balls are paid out as prize balls when the game balls win. A variable display device unit 7 is disposed at the center of the game area. The variable display device unit 7 includes a symbol display device 51 configured by a liquid crystal display (hereinafter simply referred to as “LCD”) that changes a display symbol when a game ball wins a start winning opening 34 as a trigger, and a game A specific lamp display unit 52 configured by a light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as “LED”) that changes the lamp display triggered by the passage of the sphere through the through gate 36 is provided.

  The display content of the symbol display device 51 is controlled by a display control device 400 to be described later, and for example, three symbol rows of left, middle, and right are displayed. Each symbol row is composed of a plurality of symbols, and these symbols are vertically scrolled for each symbol row so that the symbols are variably displayed on the display screen of the symbol display device 51. Such a symbol display device 51 is composed of, for example, an 8-inch liquid crystal display, and the variable display device unit 7 is provided with a center frame 50 so as to surround the outer periphery of the symbol display device 51. Instead of the LCD, for example, the symbol display device 51 may be configured using a reel or the like.

  After the symbol display is started on the symbol display device 51, the game ball moves to the start winning opening 34 until the stop symbol (any one of the probable jackpot symbol, the normal jackpot symbol, or the lose symbol) is displayed. When entering a ball, the number of times of entering the ball is held up to a maximum of four times, and the number of times of holding is indicated by controlling the number of lighting of a plurality of holding lamps 55 provided on the upper part of the symbol display device 51. In the present embodiment, the winning prize to the start winning opening 34 is configured to be held up to 4 times, but the maximum holding number is not limited to 4 times, or 3 times or less, or You may set to the frequency | count (for example, 8 times) of 5 times or more. Further, the hold lamp 55 may be omitted, and the number of times of variable display hold based on winning in the start winning opening 34 may be displayed in a partial area of the symbol display device 51.

  The specific lamp display unit 52 includes a first lamp display unit 53 that lights a symbol “◯” and a second lamp display unit 54 that lights a symbol “x”. Each time it passes, the first lamp display unit 53 and the second lamp display unit 54 are alternately turned on to display a variation display, and the variation display stops at a predetermined symbol (in this embodiment, a symbol “◯”). In such a case, the start winning opening 34 is operated for a predetermined time as a winning state. In this hit state, for example, a pair of left and right movable wings provided at the start winning opening 34 are opened in the left and right direction so that the game ball can easily win the start winning opening 34 more than in the normal state. The number of times that the game ball has passed through the through gate 36 is held up to 4 times, and the number of times of holding is indicated by controlling the number of lighting of the plurality of holding lamps 56 provided at the lower part of the symbol display device 51. Note that the variable display on the specific lamp display unit 52 is performed by switching on / off of the first lamp display unit 53 and the second lamp display unit 54 as in the present embodiment. You may make it carry out using a one part area | region. Similarly, the hold lamp 56 may be turned on in a partial area of the symbol display device 51. Further, the number of suspensions of passing through the through gate 36 is not limited to 4 times, and may be set to 3 times or less, or 5 times or more (for example, 8 times).

  Below the variable display unit 7, a start winning opening 34 through which a game ball can enter is disposed. A start winning port passing sensor 40 is provided in the passage path of the game ball that has entered the starting winning port 34, and the start winning port passing sensor 40 detects a winning at the starting winning port 34. When a game ball enters the start winning opening 34, the start winning opening passing sensor 40 is turned on while the game ball is passing, and the main control device 100 described later makes a big hit determination when the starting winning opening passing sensor 40 is turned on. And the variable display on the symbol display device 51 is started according to the determination result. Therefore, the start winning port passing sensor 40 is provided as an opportunity detection means for detecting an opportunity for determining the big hit in the pachinko machine 1. In addition, the start winning opening 34 is also one of the winning openings through which five game balls are paid out as prize balls when game balls enter.

  A variable winning device 35 is disposed below the start winning opening 34, and a horizontally long special winning opening (large opening) 35a is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. In the pachinko machine 1, if the jackpot is determined as a result of the jackpot determination in the main controller 100, a stop symbol corresponding to the jackpot is displayed on the symbol display device 51 after a predetermined time (fluctuation time) has elapsed, Occurrence is indicated. Thereafter, the game state transitions to a special game state (big hit) where the game ball is easy to win. As this special gaming state, the special winning opening 35a that is normally closed is opened for a predetermined time (for example, until 30 seconds elapse or 10 game balls are won).

  The special winning opening 35a is closed when a predetermined time elapses, and after the closing, the special winning opening 35a is opened again for a predetermined time. Such an opening / closing operation of the special prize opening 35a can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), for example. The state in which the opening / closing operation is performed is one form of a special gaming state that is advantageous to the player. Is done.

  The variable winning device 35 includes a horizontally-long rectangular opening / closing plate that covers the special winning opening 35a, and a solenoid that is opened and closed forward with the lower side of the opening / closing plate as an axis. The special winning opening 35a is normally closed so that a game ball cannot be won or is difficult to win. In the case of a big hit, the solenoid is driven to tilt the opening / closing plate downward and the game ball temporarily forms an open state in which the game ball is likely to win the special winning opening 35a. It operates so that these states are repeated alternately.

  Further, an out port 41 is provided at the lower center of the game board 4. After being driven into the upper part of the game board 4, the game balls that have not entered any of the winning openings 33, 34, 35 a in the game area are guided to the ball discharge path (not shown) through the out opening 41.

  As shown in FIG. 3, control board units 60 and 61 and a back pack unit 64 are mainly provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 1. The control board unit 60 is unitized by mounting a main board (main control apparatus 100), an audio lamp control board (audio lamp control apparatus 300), and a display control board (display control apparatus 400). The control board unit 61 is unitized by mounting a payout control board (payout control apparatus 200), a firing control board (launching control apparatus 602), a power supply board (power supply apparatus 500), and a card unit connection board 75. The back pack unit 64 includes a back pack 62 and a dispensing unit 63 that form a protective cover. Each control board has a CPU configured as a one-chip microcomputer for controlling each control, a port for transmitting / receiving electric signals to / from various devices, a random number generator used for various lotteries (including jackpot determination), time A clock generation circuit for generating a clock signal used for counting or synchronization is mounted as necessary. The main control device 100, the sound lamp control device 300 and the display control device 400, the payout control device 200 and the firing control device 602, the power supply device 500, and the card unit connection board 75 are housed in the board boxes 70 to 74, respectively. . The board boxes 70 to 74 each include a box base and a box cover that covers an opening of the box base, and each box and the box cover are connected to store each control device and each board.

  The board box 70 (main control apparatus 100) and the board box 72 (payout control apparatus 200 and launch control apparatus 602) connect the box base and the box cover so that they cannot be opened by a sealing unit (not shown) (connection by caulking structure). )doing. Further, a seal (not shown) is attached to the connecting portion between the box base and the box cover over the box base and the box cover. This seal seal is made of a brittle material. If the seal is to be peeled off to open the board boxes 70 and 72, or if the board boxes 70 and 72 are forcibly opened, the box base side and the box cover are removed. Cut to the side. Therefore, it is possible to know whether or not the substrate boxes 70 and 72 have been opened by checking the sealing unit or the sealing seal.

  The payout unit 63 includes a tank 90 that is located at the top of the back pack unit 64 and opens upward, a tank rail 91 that is connected to the lower side of the tank 90 and that is gently inclined toward the downstream side, and downstream of the tank rail 91. A case rail 92 that is vertically connected to the side, and a payout device 93 that is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 92 and that pays out game balls with a predetermined electrical configuration of the payout motor 601 (see FIG. 4). I have. The tank 90 is successively replenished with balls supplied from the island equipment of the game hall, and a required number of balls are paid out by the payout device 93 as appropriate. A vibrator 94 for applying vibration to the tank rail 91 is attached to the tank rail 91.

  The payout control device 200 is provided with a state return switch 80, the firing control device 602 is provided with a variable resistor operation knob 81, and the power supply device 500 is provided with a RAM erase switch 82. The state return switch 80 is operated, for example, in order to eliminate ball clogging (return to a normal state) when a payout error occurs, such as ball clogging in the payout motor 601 (see FIG. 5). The operation knob 81 is operated to adjust the firing force of the firing solenoid. The RAM erase switch 82 is operated when the power is turned on to return the pachinko machine 1 to the initial state.

  Next, display contents of the symbol display device 51 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the display screen of the symbol display device 51, and FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing the area division setting and the effective line setting of the display screen. (B) is a figure which shows an example of an actual display screen.

  The symbols displayed on the symbol display device 51 are composed of 10 types of main symbols with numbers from “0” to “9” and one type of sub-pattern of petal shape formed smaller than this main symbol. ing. Each main symbol is composed of numbers from “0” to “9” on the rear symbol consisting of a wooden box, of which the main symbols with odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are A large number is added to almost the front of the wooden box. On the other hand, the main symbols with even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are attached to the front of the wooden box almost fully, and attached symbols imitating characters such as furoshiki and helmets are added. An even number is small in green on the lower right side of the attached symbol and is added so as to be displayed on the front side of the attached symbol.

  In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the result of the jackpot determination (lottery) by the main control device 100 is a jackpot, a variation display in which the same main symbols are arranged is performed, and the jackpot is displayed after the variation display is finished. The condition is configured to occur. When shifting to the high probability state (probability variation state) after the big hit, the variable display in which the main symbols (corresponding to “high probability symbols”) to which odd numbers are added is arranged. On the other hand, when shifting to the low probability state after the big hit, the variable display is performed in which the main symbols to which the even numbers are added (corresponding to “low probability symbols”) are arranged. Here, the high probability state means a state in which a subsequent jackpot probability is increased as an added value after the jackpot is ended, and a transition to the special gaming state is likely, that is, a so-called probability change (probability change). In the present embodiment, when the pachinko machine 1 shifts to the high probability state, the hit probability of the specific lamp display unit 52 is further increased and the game ball is likely to enter the start winning opening 34 (see FIG. 3). It becomes. In addition, the normal state (low probability state) means a time when the probability of change is not positive, and a state where the probability of jackpot is normal, that is, a state where the probability of jackpot is lower than that when the probability is changed.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the display screen of the symbol display device 51 is roughly divided into two in the vertical direction, and the lower 2/3 is a main display area Dm in which the above main symbols and sub symbols are variably displayed. The other upper third is a sub display area Ds for displaying a notice effect and a character.

  In the main display area Dm, three symbol rows Z1, Z2, and Z3 of left, middle, and right are displayed. In each symbol row Z1 to Z3, the main symbol and the sub symbol are displayed in a prescribed order. That is, in each symbol row Z1 to Z3, the main symbols are arranged in ascending or descending numerical order, and one sub symbol is arranged between the main symbols. For this reason, a total of 20 symbols, 10 main symbols and 10 sub-designs, are set in each symbol row, and each symbol row Z1 to Z3 scrolls from top to bottom with periodicity and varies. Display is performed. In particular, the left symbol row Z1 is arranged so that the numbers of the main symbols appear in descending order, and the middle symbol row Z2 and the right symbol row Z3 are arranged so that the numbers of the main symbols appear in ascending order.

  In the main display area Dm, symbols are displayed in the upper, middle, and lower three rows for each symbol row Z1 to Z3. Therefore, the symbol display device 51 displays a total of nine symbols of 3 rows × 3 columns. In this main display area Dm, five effective lines, that is, an upper line L1, a middle line L2, a lower line L3, a right rising line L4, and a left rising line L5 are set. Each time the symbol change display is performed on the symbol display device 51, the change display stops in the order of the left symbol row Z1, the right symbol row Z3, and the middle symbol row Z2, and at the time of the stop, it is a big hit on any active line. If a combination of symbols (in the present embodiment, the same main symbol combination) is arranged, a jackpot video is displayed as a jackpot, and then the pachinko machine 1 shifts to a special gaming state.

  The sub display area Ds is horizontally long above the main display area Dm, and is further equally divided into three notice areas Ds1 to Ds3 in the left-right direction. Here, the left and right notice areas Ds1, Ds3 are normally covered with a pair of left and right opaque doors 59, 59 (see FIG. 2) provided in the center frame 50. The door 59 is configured to be electrically opened and closed by a solenoid, and sometimes the solenoid is excited and each door 59 is opened to the front side, so that the left and right notice areas Ds1 and Ds3 can be opened to the player. It can be visually recognized. The center notice area Ds2 is a display area that is always visible without being covered by the door.

  On the actual display screen, as shown in FIG. 4B, a total of nine main symbols and sub-designs are displayed in the main display area Dm. In the sub display area Ds, the left and right doors 59 are closed, and the left and right notice areas Ds1, Ds3 are covered and the display screen cannot be visually recognized. If either one of the left and right doors 59 or both doors 59 are opened during the variable display, a video is displayed in the left and right notice areas Ds1, Ds3, and the player is in a state where it is easier to make a big hit than usual. Is suggested. In the center notice area Ds2, a predetermined character (a boy with a bee in this embodiment) usually performs a predetermined action and sometimes performs a special action different from the predetermined action, A notice effect will be performed. The display screen of the symbol display device 51 is divided into upper and lower display areas Dm and Ds in principle. However, a display effect is provided by displaying symbols and characters larger across the display areas Dm and Ds. be able to.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1. The pachinko machine 1 includes, as its control mechanism, a main control device 100 that comprehensively controls the overall operation of the pachinko machine 1 and a sub-control device that controls each unit based on commands from the main control device 100. In this embodiment, the sub-control device includes the payout control device 200, the sound lamp control device 300, and the display control unit 400. The pachinko machine 1 includes a power supply device 500, and the power supply device 500 supplies power to each unit.

  The main controller 100 includes a CPU 101 configured as an arithmetic unit using a one-chip microcomputer, a crystal oscillator or other oscillator, a first clock generation circuit 104 that generates a clock signal CL1 with a constant period, and the CPU 101 makes a jackpot determination. A random number generator 105 for generating a random number to be performed, and a detection signal SG1 output from the start winning port passing sensor 40 when a game ball is won in the starting winning port 34, and the detection signal SG1 is validated Alternatively, a detection signal determination circuit 106 that determines whether to invalidate, a second clock generation circuit 107 that includes a crystal oscillator or other oscillators and generates a clock signal CL2 having a constant period for driving the CPU 101, and a sub-control device And an input / output port 108 for transmitting / receiving data to / from each other. The main control device 100 sends various commands for instructing operations to a sub-control device such as the payout control device 200 or the sound lamp control device 300. These commands are sent from the main control device 100 to the sub-control device. Sent only in the direction.

  The CPU 101 executes arithmetic processing based on various control programs, sends various commands to the sub-control device to control each unit, and controls the lighting of the specific lamp display unit 52 and the holding lamps 55 and 56. It is. For example, the CPU 101 makes a jackpot determination (lottery) when a game ball has won the start winning opening 34, and controls the operation of each unit based on the determination result. The CPU 101 includes a ROM 102 that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 101 and fixed value data, and a memory that temporarily stores various data when the control program stored in the ROM 102 is executed. A certain RAM 103 and various other circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are incorporated.

  The RAM 103 is a stack area for storing the contents of the internal registers of the CPU 101, the return address of the control program executed by the CPU 101, and a work area (work for storing various flags, counters, and I / O values). Area). The RAM 103 is configured to be able to retain (backup) data by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 500 even after the power of the pachinko machine 1 is cut off, and all data stored in the RAM 103 is backed up.

  When the power supply is shut down due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, the RAM 103 stores values such as I / O at the time of the power shutdown (including when the power failure occurs, the same applies hereinafter). On the other hand, at the time of power-on (including power-on due to power failure cancellation, the same applies hereinafter), the state of the pachinko machine 1 is restored to the state before power-off based on the information stored in the RAM 103. Writing to the RAM 103 is executed when the power is shut off by the main process (see FIG. 14), and restoration of each value written in the RAM 103 is executed in a start-up process (see FIG. 13) when the power is turned on. Note that a power failure signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 502 is input to the NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the CPU 101 when the power is interrupted due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. Then, the NMI interrupt process (see FIG. 12) as a power failure process is immediately executed.

  An input / output port 108 is connected to the CPU 101 of the main control device 100 via a bus line 109 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 108 is connected to the payout control device 200, the sound lamp control device 300, the specific lamp display unit 52, the holding lamps 55 and 56, and various switches 610. The various switches 610 include a start winning port passing sensor 40 and a switch group and a sensor group (not shown). The CPU 101 is connected to the second clock generation circuit 107 via the bus line 114, and the CPU 101 executes arithmetic processing based on various control programs based on the clock signal CL2 generated by the second clock generation circuit 107. .

  In the present embodiment, a hardware random number method is employed as a random number generation method used when the CPU 101 performs a jackpot determination, and the first clock generation circuit 104 and the random number generator 105 described above are used as the hardware random number mechanism. In addition, a detection signal determination circuit 106 is provided. The first clock generation circuit 104 is periodic signal generation means for generating a constant periodic signal. For example, the first clock generation circuit 104 generates a clock signal CL1 that is asynchronous with the clock signal CL2 for driving the CPU 101, and this clock signal CL1. Is output to the random number generator 105 and the detection signal determination circuit 106 via the bus line 111. The random number generator 105 is hardware random number generating means configured to generate a random number based on the clock signal CL1, and updates the random number for each pulse of the clock signal CL1. The random number generator 105 and the CPU 101 are connected by a bus line 112, and the random number generated by the random number generator 105 is output to the CPU 101 via the bus line 112.

  The detection signal determination circuit 106 is connected to the input / output port 108 via the bus line 110, and receives the detection signal SG <b> 1 output from the start winning port passing sensor 40 via the bus line 110. As described above, the detection signal determination circuit 106 receives the clock signal CL1 generated by the first clock generation circuit 104. Further, the detection signal determination circuit 106 is connected to the CPU 101 via the bus line 113. When the detection signal SG1 is input from the start winning opening passage sensor 40, the detection signal determination circuit 106 validates the detection signal SG1 on condition that the clock signal CL1 is normally input from the first clock generation circuit 104. And a valid detection signal is output to the CPU 101. The CPU 101 is configured to obtain a random number from the random number generator 105 when a valid detection signal is input from the detection signal determination circuit 106, and to determine the jackpot based on the acquired random number.

  Here, an example of a specific circuit configuration of the main controller 100 as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed circuit configuration of the main controller 100. The random number generator 105 includes a counter 120 and a latch circuit 121. The counter 120 counts the clock signal CL1 input from the first clock generation circuit 104 one pulse at a time. In this embodiment, the counter 120 adds 1 to the count value in response to the rising edge of the clock signal CL1. However, the count value may be incremented by 1 in response to the falling edge of the clock signal CL1. This counter 120 is composed of, for example, an 8-byte (64-bit) counter, and updates the count value every time a clock pulse is input within the range of 0 to 65535, and after reaching the maximum value (65535), the counter 120 again. It is supposed to return to zero. In the pachinko machine 1, the count value of the counter 120 is adopted as a random number that is referred to when determining the jackpot.

  The latch circuit 121 is a holding unit that inputs the count value of the counter 120 and holds and outputs the count value at an arbitrary timing. The latch circuit 121 is configured to input the valid detection signal SG2 output from the detection signal determination circuit 106, and latches the count value sequentially updated by the counter 120 in response to the input of the valid detection signal SG2. The latched count value is output to the CPU 101 as a random number. The latch circuit 121 continues to latch the count value while the validity detection signal SG2 is on, but the counter 120 continues to update the count value based on the clock pulse of the clock signal CL1 during that time.

  In the present embodiment, the frequency f2 of the clock signal CL2 generated by the second clock generation circuit 107 is 8 MHz, and the CPU 101 operates based on the clock signal CL2. On the other hand, the frequency f1 of the clock signal CL1 generated by the first clock generation circuit 104 is 7.9152... MHz, and is a periodic signal that is asynchronous with the frequency f2 of the clock signal CL2. Thereby, the operation of the counter 120 is not synchronized with the operation of the CPU 101, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the timing of “big hit” at every fixed period in the pachinko machine 1, and “big hit” using a sensory device or the like. It constitutes effective countermeasures against illegal aiming and the like aiming at the timing.

  The detection signal determination circuit 106 includes a D flip-flop 130, a Schmitt trigger 131 having a waveform shaping function, and an inverter 132 for inverting the clock signal CL1. When the detection signal SG1 output from the start winning port passing sensor 40 is input to the main control device 100 via the input / output port 108, the detection signal SG1 is input to the Schmitt trigger 131 of the detection signal determination circuit 106. The Schmitt trigger 131 shapes the waveform of the detection signal SG1 and outputs the shaped detection signal to the D input of the D flip-flop 130. As described above, in this embodiment, the Schmitt trigger 131 is provided as a waveform shaping means before the detection signal SG1 is input to the D flip-flop 130, thereby preventing chattering of the detection signal SG1. However, the waveform shaping means for preventing chattering is not limited to the Schmitt trigger 131 described above, and other configurations may be adopted. For example, a filter circuit such as a low-pass filter may be provided as the waveform shaping means, thereby shaping the waveform of the detection signal SG1.

  The inverter 132 is a timing adjustment unit for shifting the timing at which the counter 120 updates the count value and the timing at which the D flip-flop 130 is operated by a predetermined time (in this embodiment, the half cycle of the clock signal CL1). Is provided. The inverter 132 inverts the clock signal CL 1 and inputs the inverted signal to the C input of the D flip-flop 130. In this way, by adopting a configuration in which the inverter 132 inverts the clock signal CL1, the timing adjustment means can be realized by one element, so that the component cost can be reduced. However, the timing adjustment unit is not limited to the configuration configured using the inverter 132, and the timing adjustment unit may be configured by a delay circuit, for example.

  The D flip-flop 130 normally inputs the clock signal CL1 from the first clock generation circuit 104 when the main function of the detection signal determination circuit 106, that is, the detection signal detected by the start winning port passing sensor 40 is input. The detection signal is used as an effective detection signal on the condition that the detection signal is effective, and the function of outputting the effective detection signal is realized by one element, thereby reducing the cost of components and being easy to arrange in the main controller 100. It has become. The D flip-flop 130 has two input ports of D input and C input, and has two output ports of Q output and Q bar output. The detection signal SG1 output from the start winning port passing sensor 40 is input to the D input of the D flip-flop 130 via the Schmitt trigger 131. The clock signal CL1 generated by the first clock generation circuit 104 is input to the C input of the D flip-flop 130 via the inverter 132. The D flip-flop 130 outputs the valid detection signals SG2 and SG3 from the Q output and the Q bar output in response to the rising edge of the C input clock signal when the D input detection signal is turned on. .

  FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the hardware random number mechanism. The first clock generation circuit 104 outputs the clock signal CL1, and the counter 120 adds the count value at the rising timing of the clock signal CL1. An inverted signal of the clock signal CL1 is input to the C input of the D flip-flop 130. The D flip-flop 130 determines the state of the D input at the rising timing of the inverted signal, and is different from the previous determination. If the transition is made, the Q output and the Q bar output are transited based on the state of the D input, and if the same state as the previous determination is continued, the Q output and the Q bar output are held as they are. As shown in FIG. 7, when the D input is turned on at a certain timing t1 (that is, when the start winning opening passing sensor 40 detects a game ball and the detection signal SG1 is turned on), the D flip-flop 130 is C By detecting the ON state of the D input at the next rising timing t2 of the input, the Q output is changed from the low level to the high level, and the Q bar output is changed from the high level to the low level, thereby enabling the valid detection signal SG2. , SG3 is output. The timing t2 at which the D flip-flop 130 outputs the validity detection signals SG2 and SG3 is shifted from the timing at which the counter 120 updates the count value by a half cycle of the clock signal CL1. For this reason, the D flip-flop 130 outputs the valid detection signals SG2 and SG3 during a period in which the count value from when the count value is updated in the counter 120 until the next update is stably held. .

  The time required for the game ball to pass through the start winning opening passage sensor 40 is about 8 to 15 ms, and during this time, the detection signal SG1 is kept on. Therefore, when the D input of the D flip-flop 130 is turned on at timing t1, the on state is maintained as it is for the period T1 (= about 8 to 15 ms), and the timing t3 when the game ball finishes passing through the start winning opening passing sensor 40. Turn off. Along with this, the D flip-flop 130 detects the OFF state of the D input at the next rising timing t4 of the C input, changes the Q output from the high level to the low level, and changes the Q bar output from the low level to the high level. The effective detection signals SG2 and SG3 are turned off by making the transition to. The period T2 during which the valid detection signals SG2 and SG3 are output from the D flip-flop 130 is approximately the same as the ON period T1 of the D input, and is approximately 8 to 15 ms.

  As described above, the validity detection signal SG2 is output to the latch circuit 121. The latch circuit 121 latches the count value sequentially input from the counter 120 in response to the rising edge of the validity detection signal SG2, and the state is indicated as the validity detection signal. It is held for a period T2 until SG2 is turned off. The validity detection signal SG3 is output to the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 sets a flag indicating that the validity detection signal SG3 is turned on, for example, in the RAM 103 in response to the fall of the validity detection signal SG3. The CPU 101 executes a timer interrupt process (see FIG. 10) described later every time the built-in timer circuit measures 2 ms, and indicates that the validity detection signal SG3 is turned on in this timer interrupt process. It is determined whether or not the flag is set. If the flag is set, it is determined that the game ball has won the start winning opening 34, and the random number latched by the latch circuit 121 is acquired from the random number generator 105. The random number is stored in the RAM 103. Further, the CPU 101 reads the random number stored in the RAM 103 in the variation start process (see FIG. 16) executed every 4 ms, and if the random number is a value indicating “big hit” stored in the ROM 102 in advance, the symbol display device The change display of the symbol in 51 is stopped by the combination of the jackpot symbol, and then a special gaming state (a jackpot state) is generated. If the random number read from the RAM 103 is not a value indicating “big hit”, the symbol variation display on the symbol display device 51 is stopped by the combination of lost symbols, and the normal gaming state is continued. As described above, when the CPU 101 receives the validity detection signal SG3 from the D flip-flop 130, the CPU 101 reads the random number from the random number generator 105 in response to the input. The timer interrupt processing for reading the random number is effective. Since it is repeatedly performed in a period shorter than the period T2 in which the output of the detection signal SG3 is held (that is, 2 ms), reading can be performed in a stable state where the latch circuit 121 latches the random number.

  Consider a case where the first clock generation circuit 104 stops outputting the clock signal CL1 due to a failure or other cause. In this case, since the clock signal CL1 is stopped, the count operation in the counter 120 is stopped thereafter, the count value is not updated, and the count value at the time when the clock signal CL1 is stopped is continuously held. On the other hand, the D flip-flop 130 does not perform the above-described function because the C input is also stopped when the clock signal CL1 is stopped. In other words, even when the start winning opening passing sensor 40 outputs the detection signal SG1 and the D input is turned on, the D flip-flop 130 outputs the valid detection signals SG2 and SG3 because the C input is interrupted. Absent. Therefore, in this case, even if the game ball wins the start winning opening 34, the CPU 101 does not execute the process associated therewith, so that the symbol display on the symbol display device 51 is not performed, and some trouble occurs in the pachinko machine 1. For example, it is possible to promptly cope with the situation, for example, by taking measures to stop the game in the game hall.

  In the example of FIG. 5 (or FIG. 6), the bus line 111 connected from the first clock generation circuit 104 to the random number generator 105 is branched halfway to input the clock signal CL1 to the detection signal determination circuit 106. In this case, it is preferable to provide a branch point at a position where the clock signal CL1 is input to the random number generator 105 or a position in the vicinity thereof as much as possible. As a result, not only when the first clock generation circuit 104 fails to operate due to a failure or other cause, but also when the connection failure of the bus line 111 occurs, the abnormality can be quickly grasped. .

  In the case of the present embodiment, as described above, the first clock generation circuit 104 is broken as a cause of the fact that the symbol variation display on the symbol display device 51 is not performed even though the game ball has won the start winning opening 34. There are cases where it does not operate normally due to the above, but there may be cases where the start winning port passing sensor 40 is not operating normally as another cause. Therefore, in order to make it easier to discriminate between these two causes, for example, when the start winning opening passing sensor 40 detects a game ball, the detection signal SG1 is input to the detection signal determination circuit 106 and the detection signal SG1 is separately input. The CPU 101 may be directly input, and the CPU 101 may be configured to use the detection signal SG1 directly input from the start winning opening passing sensor 40 as a signal for paying out a winning ball when winning at the starting winning opening 34. Good. According to this, even when the game ball is won at the start winning opening 34, even when the symbol change display on the symbol display device 51 is not performed, the payout of the prize ball is normally performed. Can easily identify that the first clock generation circuit 104 is not operating normally.

  As described above, the first clock generation circuit 104 outputs the clock signal CL1 of 7.9152... MHz, and the counter 120 updates the count value for each pulse of the high-speed clock signal CL1. Counter 120 updates the count value faster than the software random number method. The ROM 102 of the CPU 101 stores a plurality of values (about 200) in advance as values indicating “big hit”. Here, by setting each of a plurality of values indicating “big hit” not as continuous values but as non-continuous jump values, the counter 120 that operates at high speed does not generate a random number corresponding to “big hit”. In addition to being generated continuously, the period for generating the random number can be as short as one cycle of the clock signal CL1, so that it is difficult to generate a big hit by aiming. However, on the other hand, if a plurality of values indicating “big hit” stored in the ROM 102 are set as discontinuous jump values, when the CPU 101 determines the big hit, the random number acquired from the random number generator 105 is used as each jump value. Since it is necessary to make a plurality of determinations one by one, the processing efficiency at the time of jackpot determination is reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration as shown in FIG. 8 is adopted as a more preferable form.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wiring pattern of the bus line 112 that connects the random number generator 105 and the CPU 101. The latch circuit 121 of the random number generator 105 uses 8-byte random numbers as information for each byte, and outputs each information in parallel to the output port 121a. The output port 121a is arranged in order from the upper byte to the lower byte, and includes a port for individually outputting information for each byte output from the latch circuit 121. The CPU 101 is provided with an input port 101a. The input port 101a is arranged in order from the upper byte to the lower byte, and includes a port for individually inputting information for each byte. The bus line 112 is wired so as to electrically connect the output port 121a of the random number generator 105 and the input port 101a of the CPU 101, and a total of eight transmission lines for individually transmitting information for each byte. I have. As shown in FIG. 8, the bus line 112 is wired with the upper byte and the lower byte crossing each other. Therefore, the upper 4 bytes information of the random number output from the output port 121 a of the random number generator 105 is input as lower 4 bytes information to the input port 101 a of the CPU 101 through the cross-wired bus line 112. The lower 4 bytes of the random number output from the output port 121a of the random number generator 105 is input as upper 4 bytes of information to the input port 101a of the CPU 101 through the cross-wired bus line 112. Therefore, the random number input to the CPU 101 is a value obtained by replacing the upper byte and the lower byte of the random number generated by the random number generator 105.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of values indicating “big hit” stored in advance in the ROM 102 of the CPU 101 are set as continuous values. For example, a continuous value of 0 to 199 is set as a value indicating “big hit” in the normal state (low probability state). In this case, since the random number input to the CPU 101 is a value obtained by switching the upper byte and the lower byte of the random number generated by the random number generator 105, the counter 120 that operates at high speed is a random number that is “big hit” in the CPU 101 (that is, , A value obtained by exchanging the upper byte and the lower byte of 0 to 199) is generated discontinuously, and the period for generating the random number is a short period of one cycle of the clock signal CL1. Can do. In addition, in this case, when the CPU 101 performs the jackpot determination, it is only necessary to determine once whether or not the random number input to the CPU 101 is within a range of continuous values (0 to 199) indicating “jackpot”. It is possible to determine whether it is a big hit or a loss, and the processing efficiency at the time of jackpot determination is improved.

  Further, it is preferable to adopt a continuous value not only for the normal state (low probability state) but also for the value indicating “big hit” in the high probability state (probability variation state). In the high probability state, the number of values indicating “big hit” is larger than that in the normal state (low probability state). However, by setting these values as continuous values in the same manner as described above, it is 1 even in the high probability state. If the determination is made once, it can be determined whether the jackpot or lost, and the processing efficiency at the time of jackpot determination is improved.

  In addition, by cross-wiring the bus line 112 as shown in FIG. 8, it becomes difficult to attach an unauthorized hanging board to the bus line 112, which is an effective countermeasure against fraud.

  As described above, in the main control device 100 of the present embodiment, the hardware random number mechanism is provided as a random number generation method used by the CPU 101 for the jackpot determination, and the first clock generation circuit 104 operates normally in this mechanism. A detection signal determination circuit 106 that validates the detection signal SG1 that triggers the jackpot determination detected by the start winning opening sensor 40 and outputs it to the CPU 101 when it is operating normally. Is provided. When the first clock generation circuit 104 is not operating normally, the detection signal determination circuit 106 invalidates the detection signal SG1 even when the detection signal SG1 is input from the start winning opening passing sensor 40, and is effective for the CPU 101. The detection signal SG3 is not output. Therefore, the jackpot determination (lottery) is not performed in the CPU 101, and the variable display of the symbol display device 51 is not performed, so that it is possible to quickly grasp that a malfunction has occurred in the pachinko machine 1.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the payout control device 200 performs payout control of prize balls and rental balls by the payout motor 601. A CPU 201 that is an arithmetic device includes a ROM 202 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 201, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 203 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  The RAM 203 of the payout control device 200 is similar to the RAM 103 of the main control device 100, a stack area for storing the contents of the internal registers of the CPU 201, the return address of the control program executed by the CPU 201, and various flags and counters. And a work area (work area) in which values such as I / O are stored. The RAM 203 has a configuration in which data can be retained (backed up) by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 500 even after the power of the pachinko machine 1 is cut off, and all data stored in the RAM 203 is backed up.

  When the power supply is shut down due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a value such as I / O at the time of power supply cutoff is stored in the RAM 203. On the other hand, when the power is turned on, based on the information stored in the RAM 203, the state of the pachinko machine 1 is restored to the state before the power is shut off. Writing to the RAM 203 is executed when the power is shut off, and restoration of each value written to the RAM 203 is executed when the power is turned on. Note that, similarly to the CPU 101 of the main controller 100, the power failure signal is input to the NMI terminal of the CPU 201 from the power failure monitoring circuit 502 when the power is interrupted due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. When input, an NMI interrupt process as a process at the time of power failure is immediately executed.

  An input / output port 204 is connected to the CPU 201 of the payout control apparatus 200 via a bus line 205 including an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 100, the payout motor 601, the launch control device 602, and the like are connected to the input / output port 204.

  The launch control device 602 controls the ball launch unit 603 so that when the main control device 100 gives an instruction to launch a game ball, the launch strength of the game ball is set according to the amount of rotation of the operation handle 51. is there.

  The sound lamp control device 300 outputs sound in a sound output device (such as a speaker (not shown)) 604, outputs light on and off in a lamp display device (such as the illumination unit 17 and the display lamp 18) 605, and the display control device 400 performs The display mode setting of the symbol display device 51 is controlled. A CPU 301 provided as an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 302 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 301, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 303 that is used as a work memory.

  An input / output port 304 is connected to the CPU 301 of the sound lamp control device 300 via a bus line 305 including an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 100, the display control device 400, the audio output device 604, the lamp display device 605, and the like are connected to the input / output port 304.

  The display control device 400 controls the symbol variation display on the symbol display device (LCD) 51. The display control device 400 includes a CPU 401, a program ROM 402, a work RAM 403, an input port 404, an image controller 405, a video RAM 406, a character ROM 407, an output port 408, and bus lines 409 and 410. . The input side of the input port 404 is connected to the output side of the sound lamp controller 300, and the output side of the input port 404 is connected to the CPU 401, the program ROM 402, the work RAM 403, and the image controller 405 and via the bus line 410. An output port 408 is connected. A symbol display device 51 is connected to the output side of the output port 408.

  The CPU 401 of the display control device 400 controls the display content of the symbol display device 51 based on the symbol display command input from the sound lamp control device 300. The program ROM 402 is a memory for storing various control programs executed by the CPU 401 and fixed value data. A work RAM 403 is a memory for temporarily storing work data and flags used when the CPU 401 executes various programs.

  The work RAM 403 stores, for example, a change start flag and a production flag. The variation start flag is a flag that is turned on when a variation pattern command that indicates a display mode displayed on the symbol display device 51 is received, and that is turned off when variation display is started on the symbol display device 51. The during-effect flag is a flag that is turned on when the variable display is continuously performed on the symbol display device 51 and is turned off when the variable display is finished.

  The video RAM 406 is a memory for storing effect data displayed on the symbol display device 51, and the display content of the symbol display device 51 is changed by rewriting the contents of the effect data. The character ROM 407 is a memory in which data for effects such as symbols (designs such as numbers, backgrounds, and characters) displayed on the symbol display device 51 are stored.

  The image controller 405 adjusts the timing of each of the CPU 401, the video RAM 406, and the output port 408 to intervene in reading and writing data, and reads the effect data stored in the video RAM 406 at a predetermined timing and displays it on the symbol display device 51. It is something to be made.

  The power supply device 500 includes a power supply unit 501 for supplying power to each part of the pachinko machine 1, a power failure monitoring circuit 502 that monitors power interruption due to a power failure, and a RAM erase switch circuit 503 having a RAM erase switch 82. ing. The power supply unit 501 supplies necessary operating voltages to the main control device 100 and the sub-control devices 200, 300, 400, etc. through a power supply path (not shown). For example, the power supply unit 251 takes in an AC voltage of 24 volts supplied from the outside, and drives various switches, solenoids, motors, etc., a voltage of 12 volts, a voltage of 5 volts for logic, and a RAM backup A backup voltage or the like is generated, and these 12 volt voltage, 5 volt voltage, and backup voltage are supplied to each unit that requires them.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 502 is a circuit for outputting a power failure signal to each NMI terminal of the CPU 101 of the main control device 100 and the CPU 201 of the payout control device 200 when the power is shut down due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 502 monitors the voltage of DC stable 24 volts, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 501, and determines that a power failure (power shutdown) occurs when this voltage becomes less than 22 volts, The power failure signal is output to the main controller 100 and the payout controller 200. Based on the output of the power failure signal, main controller 100 and payout control device 200 recognize the occurrence of the power failure and execute the NMI interrupt process. The power supply unit 501 outputs a voltage of 5 volts, which is a drive voltage of the control system, for a time sufficient for executing the NMI interrupt processing even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts becomes less than 22 volts. Is maintained at a normal value. Therefore, main controller 100 and payout controller 200 can normally execute and complete the NMI interrupt process.

  The RAM erase switch circuit 503 is a circuit that outputs a RAM erase signal for clearing backup data to the main controller 100 and the payout controller 200 when the RAM erase switch 82 is pressed. The main control device 100 and the payout control device 200 clear the respective backup data when a RAM erase signal is input when the pachinko machine 1 is powered on.

  Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, the CPU 101 of the main control device 100 uses a variety of counter information managed by internal processing of the CPU 101 in addition to the random numbers acquired from the hardware random number mechanism described above during the game. The display mode is determined. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration concept of various counters in the CPU 101 and the RAM 103. The CPU 101 uses a random number acquired from the random number generator 105 at the time of jackpot determination, and is used for selection of a jackpot symbol as an internal counter of the CPU 101 in order to determine a display mode of the symbol display device 51 accompanying the jackpot determination. The jackpot type counter C1, the stop pattern selection counter C2, and the first to third fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 used for selection of the fluctuation pattern are used. The CPU 101 uses the second random number counter C3, which is an internal counter of the CPU 101, for winning lottery of the specific lamp display unit 52. The initial value random number counter CINI is used for setting the initial value of the second random number counter C3. I am going to do that. These internal counters are updated by internal processing of the CPU 101. Each time the update is performed, 1 is incremented with respect to the previous value, and the loop counter returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. ing.

  Each internal counter is updated at short time intervals of several ms or less, and each updated value is appropriately stored in a counter buffer 103 a set in a predetermined area of the RAM 103. Further, the RAM 103 is provided with a reserved ball storage area 103b including one execution area and four reserved areas (holding first to fourth areas). Each area of the reserved ball storage area 103b stores a random number acquired from the random number generator 105 in response to the input of the validity detection signal SG3 and the values of the jackpot type counter C1 and the stop pattern selection counter C2. The

  Each internal counter will be described in detail. The jackpot type counter C1 generates a random number for determining whether the state after the jackpot is a high probability state or a low probability state when the random number acquired from the random number generator 105 is a jackpot. Thus, the display mode of the symbol display device 51 at the time of jackpot is determined by this value. The jackpot type counter C1 is, for example, incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 4, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 4) and then returns to 0. The value of the big hit type counter C1 is periodically updated by the CPU 101 (in this embodiment, once every timer interrupt). For example, the value of a random number that becomes a high probability state after a jackpot is “1, 2, 3”, and the value of a random number that becomes a low probability state after a jackpot is “0, 4”. It is determined.

  The stop pattern selection counter C2 is a counter that generates a random number for determining a stop pattern of a changing symbol in the symbol display device 51 when the random number acquired from the random number generator 105 is not a big hit, and is within a range of 0 to 238, for example. 1 is added in order, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 238), it returns to 0. This stop pattern selection counter C2 selects the effect pattern displayed on the symbol display device 51, and after reaching, the final stop symbol is shifted by one before and after the reach symbol and stopped. For example, the range of 0 to 8), the reach after the occurrence of reach, and the final stop symbol stops other than before and after the reach symbol (for example, the reach other than front and rear loses) (for example, the range of 9 to 38), and the “complete loss” where no reach occurs. Three stop (production) patterns (for example, a range of 39 to 238) are selected. The value of the stop pattern selection counter C2 is periodically updated by the CPU 101 (in this embodiment, once every timer interrupt).

  Further, the stop pattern selection counter C2 is provided with a plurality of tables having different ranges of random number values from which stop patterns are selected. This depends on whether the current state of the pachinko machine 1 is a high probability state or a low probability state, in which area of the reserved ball storage area 103b each random number value is stored (that is, the number of held). This is for changing the selection ratio of the stop pattern.

  For example, in a high probability state, a table with a wide range of random values ranging from 10 to 238 corresponding to the stop pattern “completely lost” is selected so that a reach effect is not selected more than necessary because a big hit is likely to occur. It becomes easy to select “completely lost”. This table narrows the range of “front and rear losing reach” from 0 to 5, and the range of “reach other than front and rear losing” is also reduced to 6 to 9, and selects “rear and front losing reach” or “reaching other than front and rear losing”. It becomes difficult to be done. In addition, if each random number value is not stored in the reserved ball storage area 103b in a low probability state, a disorder corresponding to a stop pattern of “completely lost” in order to secure a time for entering the game ball into the start winning opening 34. A table with a narrow numerical value range of 51 to 238 is selected, and it becomes difficult to select “completely lost”. In this table, the range of random numbers corresponding to the stop pattern of “reach other than front / rear loss” is as wide as 9 to 50, and “reach other than front / rear loss” is easily selected. Therefore, in the low probability state, the possibility that the reach effect is performed is increased, and it is possible to secure the time for the game ball to enter the start winning opening 34, so that the variable display on the symbol display device 51 is easily performed continuously. .

  Of the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2, the first variation type counter CS1 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 198, for example, and reaches the maximum value (that is, 198), and then becomes 0 again. The second variation type counter CS2 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 240, for example, and reaches the maximum value (that is, 240), and then returns to 0 again. .

  The first variation type counter CS1 is a counter that generates a random number for determining a rough display mode such as so-called normal reach, super reach, premium reach, or the like when performing reach production. The second variation type counter CS2 is a counter that generates a random number for determining a variation time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the last stop symbol stops after the occurrence of reach. Based on the variation time determined by the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2, the reach type and the detailed symbol variation mode of the symbol displayed on the symbol display device 51 are determined. Therefore, by combining these first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2, a wide variety of variation patterns can be easily realized. It is also possible to determine the symbol variation mode only by the first variation type counter CS1, or to determine the symbol variation mode similarly by combining the first variation type counter CS1 and the stop symbol. The values of the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are updated once every time a main process (see FIG. 14) described later is executed once, and are repeatedly updated within the remaining time in the main process. .

  The third variation type counter CS3 generates a random number for performing a notice effect such as sliding a symbol that is fluctuating in the symbol display device 51 or passing a notice character for notifying the occurrence of a reach effect. For example, one is added in order within a range of 0 to 162, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 162), the value is returned to 0 again. The effect pattern of the notice effect is determined by the value of the third variation type counter CS3. For example, based on the value of the third variation type counter CS3, the time required for the notice effect is added to the variation time, or conversely, the variation time is subtracted to shorten the variation display time, An effect pattern that does not add or subtract is selected. As with the stop pattern selection counter C2, the third variation type counter CS3 is provided with a plurality of tables with different ranges of random values from which the production pattern is selected, and the current state of the pachinko machine 1 is in a high probability state. Depending on whether there is a low probability state or in which area of the reserved ball storage area 103b each random number value is stored, the selection ratio of each effect pattern is different.

  As described above, the variation time of symbol variation is determined by the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2, and the time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time is determined by the third variation type counter CS3. Therefore, the final fluctuation time until the final stop symbol is stopped is determined by the first to third fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3.

  The second random number counter C3 is configured as a loop counter that is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 250, for example, reaches the maximum value (that is, 250), and then returns to 0 again. In the present embodiment, the value of the second random number counter C3 is periodically updated, for example, every timer interruption, and is acquired at the timing when it is detected that the game ball has passed through either the left or right through gate 36. There are 149 random number values to win, and the range is “5 to 153”. The initial value random number counter CINI is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the second random number counter C3 (value = 0 to 250), and is updated once every timer interrupt process (see FIG. 10). At the same time, it is repeatedly updated within the remaining time of the main process (see FIG. 14).

  Next, each control process executed by the CPU 101 in the main controller 100 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 16. The processing of the CPU 101 is roughly divided into a start-up process that is activated upon power-on, a main process that is executed after the start-up process, and a timer schedule that is executed periodically (in the present embodiment at a cycle of 2 ms). There is an interrupt process and an NMI interrupt process executed by inputting a power failure signal to the NMI terminal. For convenience of explanation, the timer interrupt process and the NMI interrupt process are described first, and then the startup process and the main process Will be explained.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt process. The timer interrupt process is executed by the CPU 101 of the main controller 100 every 2 ms, for example. In the timer interruption process, first, reading processes of various switches 610 are executed (step S101). That is, the state of various switches (except for the RAM erase switch 82) connected to the main controller 100 is read, and the state of the various switches is determined and the detection information (winning detection information) is stored. At this time, regarding the validity detection signal SG3, as described above, a flag is set in the RAM 103 at the timing when the validity detection signal SG3 is input to the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 stores detection information based on this flag. Further, when the flag associated with the validity detection signal SG3 is set to valid (on state), the CPU 101 stores the detection information indicating the winning to the start winning opening 34, and then sets the flag to invalid (off state). To do. In the present embodiment, there is a possibility that this timer interruption process may be executed a plurality of times during the period T2 (about 8 to 15 ms, see FIG. 7) during which the validity detection signal SG3 is kept on. After the detection information is stored based on the flag corresponding to the input of the signal SG3, this flag is set to be invalid, so that a plurality of timers can be obtained even though the start winning opening 34 is won once. It is possible to prevent the detection information indicating the winning to the start winning opening 34 from being saved in each interrupt process.

  Next, the initial value random number counter CINI is updated (step S102). Specifically, the initial value random number counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (250 in this embodiment), and the updated value of the initial value random number counter CINI is stored in the RAM 103. In the corresponding buffer area of the counter buffer 103a.

  Subsequently, the big hit type counter C1, the stop pattern selection counter C2, and the second random number counter C3 are updated (step S103). Specifically, the jackpot type counter C1, the stop pattern selection counter C2, and the second random number counter C3 are each incremented by 1 and their counter values reach the maximum values (4, 238, 250 in this embodiment, respectively). Clear to 0 each. The updated values of the counters C1 to C3 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the counter buffer 103a in the RAM 103.

  Thereafter, a start winning process is performed in accordance with winning in the start winning opening 34 (step S104), a firing control process is executed (step S105), and the timer interrupt process is terminated. The firing control process detects that the player is touching the operation handle 26 with a touch sensor and turns on the launching of the game ball on the condition that the firing stop switch for stopping the firing is not operated. This is a process for determining / off. When the game ball launch is on, the launch control device 602 is instructed to launch a game ball.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure executed in the start winning process in step S104. In the start winning process (step S104), first, it is determined whether or not the validity detection signal SG3 is input (step S111). Here, it is determined whether or not the detection information indicating the winning to the start winning opening 34 is stored by the process of step S101 (see FIG. 10), and if it is stored, the validity detection signal SG3 is input. It is determined that there is a prize (that is, there is a prize at the start prize opening 34). When it is determined that the valid detection signal SG3 is input (Yes in step S111), it is determined whether or not the number N of actuated balls of the symbol display device 51 is less than the upper limit value (4 in the present embodiment). (Step S112). If the valid detection signal SG3 is input and the number N of activated balls is less than the upper limit value (N <4), “Yes” is determined in step S112, and 1 is added to the number N of activated balls held (step S113). Then, the random number latched in the random number generator 105 is read, and the value is stored in the first area among the empty reserved areas in the reserved ball storage area 103b of the RAM 103 (step S114). At this time, the value stored in the holding ball storage area 103b is a value obtained by replacing the upper byte and the lower byte of the random number held by the random number generator 105 as described above. Thereafter, the values of the jackpot type counter C1 and the stop pattern selection counter C2 updated in step S103 are stored in the reserved ball storage area 103b of the RAM 203 (step S115). At this time, the area in which each value is stored is the same as the area in which the random number is stored in step S114, and each value is stored in the first of the free storage areas in the storage area 103b. On the other hand, there is no input of the effective detection signal SG3 (in the case of No in step S111), or even if the input of the effective detection signal SG3 is present, the number N of operation suspension balls is not less than the upper limit value (in step S112). In the case of No), each process of steps S113 to S115 is skipped, the start winning process is terminated, and the process returns to the timer interrupt process.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the NMI interrupt process. The NMI interrupt process is a process executed by the CPU 101 of the main controller 100 when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. By this NMI interrupt processing, information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 103. That is, when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 502 to the NMI terminal of the CPU 101 in the main controller 100. Then, the CPU 101 interrupts the control being executed and starts the NMI interrupt process, stores the power-off occurrence information in the RAM 103 as the setting of the power-off occurrence information (S201), and ends the NMI interrupt process. To do.

  The above NMI interrupt process is executed in the same manner in the payout control apparatus 200, and information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203 by the NMI interrupt process. That is, when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 502 to the NMI terminal of the CPU 201 in the payout control device 200, and the CPU 201 interrupts the control being executed. , NMI interrupt processing is started.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing start-up processing executed by the CPU 101 in the main controller 100. This start-up process is activated by a reset at power-on. In the start-up process, first, an initial setting process associated with power-on is executed (step S301). Specifically, a predetermined value set in advance for the stack pointer is set. Then, in order to wait for the sub-side control devices (such as the sound lamp control device 300 and the payout control device 200) to become operable, a wait process (for example, a wait process of about 1 second) is executed (step S302). . Next, access to the RAM 103 is permitted (step S303).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the RAM erase switch 82 provided in the power supply device 115 is turned on (step S304). If it is turned on (Yes in step S304), the process proceeds to step S310. On the other hand, if the RAM erase switch 82 is not turned on (No in step S304), it is further determined whether or not the information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 103 (step S305), and if not stored (step S305). No in S305), since backup data is not stored, in this case as well, the process proceeds to step S310. If the occurrence information of power interruption is stored in RAM 103 (Yes in step S305), a RAM determination value is calculated (step S306). If the calculated RAM determination value is not normal (that is, the calculated RAM determination value is If it does not match the RAM determination value stored when the power is turned off), the backed up data is destroyed, so the result in Step S307 is No, and in this case, the process proceeds to Step S310. As described above, the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value at the work area address of the RAM 103. Instead of the RAM determination value, the validity of the backup may be determined based on whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM 103 is correctly stored.

  In the process of step S310, a payout initialization command is transmitted in order to initialize the payout control device 200 as a sub-side control device (step S310). Thereafter, the process proceeds to initialization processing of the RAM 103 (steps S311 and S312).

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 1, for example, when RAM data is initialized when the power is turned on, such as when a game hall is started, the power is turned on while the RAM erase switch 82 is pressed. Therefore, if the RAM erase switch 82 is pressed, the process proceeds to the RAM initialization process (steps S311 and S312). Similarly, when the information on occurrence of power interruption is not set, or when a backup abnormality is confirmed by the RAM determination value (checksum value or the like), the process proceeds to the initialization process of the RAM 103. That is, in the RAM initialization process of steps S311 and S312, the used area of the RAM 103 is cleared to 0 (step S311), and the initial value of the RAM 103 is set (step S312). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S313.

  On the other hand, the RAM erase switch 82 is not turned on (No in step S304), information on occurrence of power shutdown is stored (Yes in step S305), and the RAM judgment value (checksum value etc.) is normal. If so (Yes in step S307), the information on the occurrence of power interruption is cleared (step S308). Next, a payout return command at the time of power recovery for returning the sub-side payout control device 200 to the gaming state at the time of driving power interruption is transmitted (step S309), and the process proceeds to step S313. In step S313, after performing the process of permitting the interrupt, the process proceeds to the main process.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing main processing executed by the CPU 101 in the main controller 100. In this main process, the main process of the game is executed. As its outline, each process of steps S401 to S406 is executed as a periodic process repeatedly executed every 4 ms, and the counter update process of steps S409 and S410 is executed in the remaining time.

  In the main process, first, output data such as a command updated in the previous process is transmitted to each control device on the sub side (step S401). Specifically, the presence / absence of winning detection information is determined, and if there is winning detection information, a winning ball command corresponding to the number of acquired balls is transmitted to the payout control device 200. Also, a variation pattern command, a stop symbol command, a stop command, an effect time addition command, and the like necessary for symbol variation display by the symbol display device 51 are transmitted to the sound lamp control device 300. Furthermore, a ball launch signal is transmitted to the launch control device 602 when launching a game ball.

  Next, each value of the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 is updated (step S402). Specifically, each value of the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 is incremented by 1, and each of the counter values reaches a maximum value (198, 240, 162 in this embodiment). Clear to 0. Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS 1, CS 2 and CS 3 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the counter buffer 103 a in the RAM 103.

  When the update of the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2 and CS3 is completed, the winning ball counting signal and the payout abnormality signal received from the payout control device 200 are read (step S403), and the symbol display device 51 performs display. And a variation process for setting a symbol variation pattern by the symbol display device 51 is executed (step S404). Details of this variation processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

  After completion of the variation process, a large opening opening / closing process for opening or closing the special winning opening (large opening) 35a of the variable winning device 35 is executed in the case of the big win state (step S405). That is, the special winning opening 35a is opened for each round of the big hit state, and it is determined whether the maximum opening time of the special winning opening 35a has elapsed or whether a predetermined number of game balls have been won in the special winning opening 35a. When any of these conditions is satisfied, the special winning opening 35a is closed. The special winning opening 35a is opened and closed repeatedly for a predetermined number of rounds.

  Next, display control processing is executed for the first lamp display unit 53 that lights the symbol “◯” in the specific lamp display unit 52 and the second lamp display unit 54 that lights the symbol “x” (step S406). ). Briefly, on the condition that the game ball has passed through the through gate 36, the value of the second random number counter C3 is acquired at the timing of the passage, and the specific lamp display unit 52 and the first lamp display unit 53 Fluctuation display with the two lamp display unit 54 is performed. Then, a winning lottery is performed based on the value of the second random number counter C3, and when the value is a winning, the first lamp display unit 53 is turned on and stopped, and the electric accessory ( The movable wing that opens and closes in the left-right direction is opened for a predetermined time.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 103 (step S407). If the information on the occurrence of power interruption is not stored in the RAM 103 (No in step S407), the next main process is performed. It is determined whether or not the execution timing has been reached, that is, whether or not a predetermined time (4 ms in this embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the previous main process (step S408), and if the predetermined time has already elapsed (step S408). In S408, the process proceeds to step S401, and the processes after step S401 described above are repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not yet elapsed since the start of the previous main process (No in step S408), the remaining time until the predetermined time is reached, that is, until the execution timing of the next main process is reached. The updating of the initial value random number counter CINI (step S409) and the updating of the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 (step S410) are repeatedly executed. In updating the initial value random number counter CINI (step S409), the value of the initial value random number counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (250 in this embodiment). The updated value of the initial value random number counter CINI is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the counter buffer 103 a in the RAM 103. In updating the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2 and CS3 (step S410), the value of each variation type counter CS1, CS2 and CS3 is incremented by 1 and the counter value is the maximum value (this embodiment). Then, when it reaches 198, 240, 162), it is cleared to 0. Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS 1, CS 2, and CS 3 are respectively stored in the corresponding buffer areas of the counter buffer 103 a in the RAM 103.

  Here, since the execution time of each process of steps S401 to S406 changes according to the state of the game, the remaining time until the next main process execution timing is not constant and varies. Therefore, it is possible to update the initial value random number counter CINI (that is, the initial value of the second random number counter C3) at random by repeatedly executing the update of the initial value random number counter CINI using the remaining time. In addition, the first to third variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 can be updated at random.

  Further, in the process of step S407, when the information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 103 (Yes in step S407), the process at the time of power interruption after step S411 is executed. In this process, first, the generation of each interrupt process is prohibited (step S411), and a power-off notification command indicating that the power has been cut off is sent to another control device (such as the payout control device 200 or the voice lamp control device 300). (Step S412). Then, the RAM determination value is calculated and stored (step S413), access to the RAM 103 is prohibited (step S414), and the infinite loop is continued until the power supply is completely shut down and the process cannot be executed. Here, the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value in the stack area and work area to be backed up in the RAM 103. The process of step S407 is performed at the end of a series of processes corresponding to the game state change performed at steps S401 to S406, or at the end of one cycle of the processes of steps S409 and S410 performed within the remaining time. It is executed at the timing.

  Next, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are flowcharts showing a detailed processing procedure of the above-described variation processing (step S404). In this variation process, first, it is determined whether or not the pachinko machine 1 is currently making a big hit (step S420). The jackpot includes the jackpot game displayed on the symbol display device 51 when the jackpot is won, and the middle of a predetermined time after the jackpot game ends. If the result of this determination is that the pachinko machine 1 is currently in a big hit (Yes in step S420), this processing is terminated as it is.

  If it is not a big hit (No in step S420), it is determined whether or not the display mode of the symbol display device 51 is changing (step S421). Here, when the display mode of the symbol display device 51 is not changing (No in step S421), it is further determined whether or not the number N of active suspension balls is larger than 0 (step S422). If the number N of activated balls is 0 (No in step S422), the process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if the number of the operation reservation balls N> 0 (Yes in step S422), the operation reservation ball number N is decremented by 1 (step S423), and the data stored in the reservation ball storage area 103b is shifted. (Step S424). This data shift process is a process of sequentially shifting the data stored in the reserved first to fourth areas of the reserved ball storage area 103b to the execution area side. The reserved first area → the execution area, the reserved second area The data in each area is shifted, such as the hold first area, the hold third area, the hold second area, the hold fourth area, and the hold third area. After the data shift process, a fluctuation start process of the symbol display device 51 is executed (step S425). The variation start process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined in the processing of step S421 that the display mode of the symbol display device 51 is changing (Yes in step S421), it is determined whether or not the changing time has passed (step S426). The display time during the fluctuation of the symbol display device 51 is determined according to the fluctuation pattern selected by the first and second fluctuation type counters CS1 and CS2 and the addition time selected by the third fluctuation type counter CS3. If this fluctuation time has not elapsed (No in step S426), the present process is terminated and the process returns to the main process. On the other hand, if the symbol variation time has elapsed (Yes in step S426), a confirmation command set for confirming the stop symbol is set (step S427), and this process ends. The confirmation command is received by the sound lamp control device 300, and the sound lamp control device 300 instructs the display control device 400 to stop. Thereby, the variation display of the symbol in the symbol display device 51 is stopped, and one variation effect is ended.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure of the above-described change start processing (step S425). In this variation start process (step S425), first, a big hit determination is performed (step S430). That is, it is determined whether the value of the random number input from the random number generator 105 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area 103b is a preset value indicating “big hit”. In the present embodiment, as described above, the value indicating “big hit” is set as a continuous value of, for example, 0 to 199. Therefore, the value of the random number input from the random number generator 105 when the big hit is determined ranges from 0 to 199. Since it is only necessary to make a single determination as to whether or not it is within, the processing efficiency at the time of determination is good. In this jackpot determination, different ranges are applied as ranges of values indicating “hit” depending on whether the state of the pachinko machine 1 is a high probability state or a low probability state. Specifically, in the high probability state, a wider range than that in the low probability state is applied as a range of values indicating “big hit”, and the probability of being a big hit is higher than in the low probability state. If the value of the random number is within a range of consecutive values indicating “big jackpot”, it is determined that the jackpot is big.

  When it is determined that it is a big hit (Yes in step S430), the value of the big hit type counter C1 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area 103b is confirmed, and the display mode for the big hit is set ( Step S431). In the process of step S431, based on the value of the jackpot type counter C1, whether to shift to the high probability state or shift to the low probability state after the jackpot is set. When the transition state after the big hit is set, the display mode of the symbol display device 51 is set. That is, in the process of step S431, the transition state after the big hit is set, and the stop symbol at the big hit in the symbol display device 51 is set.

  Next, the variation pattern at the time of jackpot is determined (step S432). When the variation pattern is set in the process of step S432, the symbol variation time until the symbol display device 51 stops at the jackpot symbol is determined. At this time, the values of the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer 103a of the RAM 103 are confirmed, and normal reach, super reach, premium reach, etc. based on the value of the first variation type counter CS1. Is determined, and the variation time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the final stop symbol stops after the occurrence of reach is determined based on the value of the second variation type counter CS2.

  The relationship between the numerical value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the variation time, and the relationship between the numerical value of the second variation type counter CS2 and the variation time are respectively defined in advance by a table or the like. However, the fluctuation time can be set using only the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1 without using the value of the second fluctuation type counter CS2, and can be set only with the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1. Whether or not to set with both values of both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 is appropriately determined according to the value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the game conditions each time.

  If it is determined in step S430 that the game is not a big hit (No in step S430), the display mode at the time of the loss is set (step S433). In the process of step S433, based on the value of the stop pattern selection counter C3 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area 103b, the effect displayed on the symbol display device 51 is front / rear losing reach or other than front / back losing Set whether it is reach or complete loss. The display mode of the symbol display device 51 is set. That is, in the process of step S433, an aspect of effect display at the time of losing and a losing stop symbol are set.

  Next, a variation pattern at the time of losing is determined (step S434), and the symbol variation time until the symbol display device 51 stops at the losing symbol is determined. At this time, similarly to the process of step S432, the values of the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer 103a of the RAM 103 are confirmed, and based on the value of the first variation type counter CS1. Determine the fluctuation time of rough symbol fluctuations such as normal reach, super reach, premium reach, etc., and change time until the final stop symbol stops after the occurrence of reach based on the value of the second fluctuation type counter CS2 (in other words, fluctuation Determine the number of symbols).

  When the process of step S432 or S434 is finished, the effect time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time determined by the first and second variation type counters CS1 and CS2 is determined (step S435). At this time, the addition / subtraction of effect time is determined based on the value of the third variation type counter CS3 stored in the counter buffer 103a of the RAM 103, and the variation time of the symbol display device 51 is set. In this embodiment, the addition / subtraction of the production time is determined according to the value of the third variation type counter CS3 when the variation display time is not changed and when the variation display time is added for one second, the variation display time is set to 2 seconds. In the case of addition, four types of addition values for the case of subtracting 1 second from the variable display time are determined.

  In addition, when the variable display time is added or subtracted, a notice effect that increases the expected value of the jackpot on the symbol display device 51 (for example, a slip effect or a notice character that causes the change time of the variable symbol to be longer than usual and is accompanied by a slip). For example, an effect of making the variation time of the first variation symbol shorter than usual and stopping immediately). If it is determined in step S430 that the game is a jackpot, the probability that an added value of 2 seconds is selected is set high, and the player can expect a jackpot by checking the notice effect.

  Next, a variation pattern command is set according to the variation pattern (variation time) determined by the process of step S432 or S434 (step S436), and the stop symbol is set according to the stop symbol set by the process of step S431 or S433. A command is set (step S437). Then, an effect time addition command is set according to the added value of the effect time determined in the process of step S436 (step S438), this process ends, and the process returns to the variation process.

  The CPU 101 in the main control device 100 executes the above-described processing, thereby sending various commands to each sub-side control device. Then, each control device on the sub-side controls each part based on a command received from the main control device 100, so that the pachinko machine 1 launches a game ball, pays out a prize ball, or displays various effects associated with the game. It has come to be.

  As described above, the pachinko machine 1 includes the first clock generation circuit 104 and the random number generator 105, and the random number generator 105 updates the random number based on the clock signal CL1 output from the first clock generation circuit 104. To do. This random number is used for jackpot determination in the main controller 100. The pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a detection signal determination circuit 106. The detection signal determination circuit 106 monitors the clock signal CL1, and the clock signal CL1 is normally output from the first clock generation circuit 104. Only in the case, the detection signal SG1 output from the start winning opening detection sensor 40 is output to the CPU 101 as an effective detection signal (that is, the effective detection signal SG3). When the CPU 101 receives the validity detection signal SG3, the CPU 101 is configured to acquire a random number from the random number generator 105 and use it as a trigger for determining the jackpot to make a jackpot determination. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the first clock generation circuit 104 stops outputting the clock signal CL1 for some reason (even in this case, the pachinko machine 1 is in a playable state), the start winning opening Even if the detection sensor 40 detects the trigger for the jackpot determination, the detection signal determination circuit 106 does not output the valid detection signal SG3 to the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 does not perform the jackpot determination. As a result, even when a game ball is won at the start winning opening 34, the variable display on the symbol display device 51 is not performed, and it is possible to quickly grasp that the pachinko machine 1 has a problem.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the thing of the content mentioned above, A various modification is applicable to this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the pachinko machine 1 has been described as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as a slot machine or a so-called parrot machine. In the case of slot machines and parrot machines, the timing at which the player operates the operation lever to the on state is the trigger for determining the jackpot, so a random number is acquired from the random number generator in response to the operation lever being turned on. The Therefore, only when the clock signal for updating the random number of the random number generator is normally output, the detection signal that detects that the operation lever is turned on is output to the CPU as an effective detection signal. In this case, if the clock signal is not normally output, the CPU 101 does not perform the jackpot determination, and as a result, the symbol fluctuation display is not performed, so that some trouble has occurred in the slot machine or parrot machine. It can be easily grasped.

1 Pachinko machine (game machine)
40 Start prize opening passage sensor (time detection means)
100 main control device 101 CPU (control means)
104 First clock generation circuit (periodic signal generation means)
105 Random number generator (random number generator)
106 Detection signal determination circuit (detection signal validation means)
107 Second clock generating circuit (driving signal generating means)
120 counter (random number update means)
121 Latch circuit (holding means)
130 D flip-flop 131 Schmitt trigger (waveform shaping means)
132 Inverter (timing adjustment means)
CL1, CL2 Clock signal (periodic signal)
SG1 detection signal SG2, SG3 valid detection signal

Claims (1)

First signal output means for outputting a first signal;
Clock signal output means for outputting a clock signal at a predetermined period;
Numerical information generating means for generating numerical information based on the clock signal;
Numerical information acquisition means for acquiring numerical information generated by the numerical information generation means based on the first signal;
Determination means for determining whether to give a player a privilege based on the numerical information acquired by the numerical information acquisition means;
A pattern display means for variably displaying the pattern;
Fluctuation display control means for controlling the picture display means to start the fluctuation display of the pattern based on the determination by the determination means and then stop the fluctuation display,
Electrically connecting the first signal output means and the determination means via second signal output means for outputting a second signal to the determination means;
The determination means is configured to perform the determination based on the second signal,
A gaming machine, wherein the second signal output means is configured to output the second signal based on a change in an output state of the clock signal when the first signal is output.

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