JP2017086285A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem generated in transmitting a signal to a hall computer when a token putout interval is shortened.SOLUTION: A game machine determines the number of put-out game media on the basis of a program of a main loop, determines whether or not an interval holding timer clocks an interval holding time; when the clocking is completed, sets the determined number of putout medals to a credit counter, and outputs a putout signal to a centralized terminal board on the basis of the credit counter. The game machine drives a hopper device on the basis of a program of interruption processing, updates a value of the credit counter in response to putout of tokens, and restarts the interval holding timer. Unless the interval holding timer times out, the putout signal of a next game is not output. This configuration can provide an interval between putout signals of the current game and the next game so as to prevent the hall computer from mixing up the numbers of putout medals among the games.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine equipped with a central terminal board for transmitting signals to a hall computer (game hall equipment connected to the central terminal board) that manages the gaming machine.

  In game halls such as pachinko halls, a plurality of gaming machines are arranged and efficiently accommodated by equipment for gathering gaming machines called island equipment. Pachinko machines (ball game machines) and slot machines (rotating game machines) are known as gaming machines installed in the game hall. The floor of the amusement hall is divided by a plurality of island facilities, and visitors and employees can walk, and sufficient space is secured for the player to play games. In the island facility, related equipment such as a ball lending machine or a medal lending machine is provided adjacent to the gaming machine for the convenience of the player. The gaming machines arranged in the island facility are respectively connected to hall computers that monitor game payout and specific gaming status. The hall computer counts the dividends paid out from the gaming machines and the number of times a specific gaming state is reached for each island facility. As a result, it is possible to roughly grasp the gaming state in which the gaming machine installed on the island facility is changing, and to know whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

  Each gaming machine or island facility is provided with a centralized terminal board for transmitting a payout from the gaming machine, the number of times a specific gaming state is reached, and an abnormal signal of the gaming machine to the hall computer. The concentrated terminal plate is a known one.

  The concentrated terminal board includes a relay that receives a digital signal from the CPU (main board) of the gaming machine and is driven by the digital signal. The relay contact signal is sent to the hall computer. For example, since the central terminal board includes seven relays, a maximum of seven types of signals can be relayed and sent from the gaming machine to the hall computer. The relay only performs a simple operation of turning on / off according to L / H of the digital signal, and does not handle a complicated signal (that is, a large amount of information) such as a pulse signal. Since there are few types of signals sent from the gaming machine to the hall computer and the signals do not frequently repeat L / H (on / off), relays are used.

JP 2010-207437 gazette When a game is started in the middle of a payout when an input number signal (IN signal) and a payout number signal (OUT signal) are transmitted from the central terminal board of the gaming machine to the hall computer In order to solve the problem that the signals of the current game and the next game are confused, and the hall computer cannot correctly grasp the number of inserted and paid out for each game, it waits after the game medium has been paid out. Process. During execution of the standby process, the game medium is not accepted. After completion of the waiting process, the acceptance of the insertion of the game medium is permitted. When a payout signal (OUT signal) is sent through a concentrated terminal board, the big bonus signal (BB signal) is reset even though it has not been completed. The computer cannot correctly grasp the number of payouts during the big bonus. Therefore, when the bonus ends, the flag indicating whether or not a payout signal (OUT signal) is being sent is checked, and when the flag is set, the output of the bonus signal is maintained, and when the flag is not set, the bonus End signal output. The flag is set at the start of sending out the payout signal to the outside, the flag is maintained until the payout ends, and is reset when the payout signal is sent out.

  When paying out a prize, the number of credits is displayed on a 7-segment display. There is a demand to shorten the update interval of the numerical value displayed there (the count up time of the value of the credit counter, the payout interval of the hopper device), that is, to display and / or pay out quickly. From the technical aspect, it is not difficult for the gaming machine itself to shorten the display update interval and / or the hopper device payout interval (hereinafter collectively referred to as “payout interval”). The next game can be started quickly by shortening.

  However, there are restrictions on signal transmission to the hall computer (especially medal payout signals), and there is a possibility that problems may occur due to shortening. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a timing chart illustrating start switch depression, stop switch depression, and subsequent payout processing. When the lever is pressed, the spinning cylinder rotates, and when the stop switch is pressed, the spinning cylinder stops in a predetermined state to win a prize and pay out medals. In response to this payout, a medal payout signal is output from the concentrated terminal board to the hall computer.

  160.92 ms after the start switch is pressed is the time from the acceleration of the rotating cylinder to the steady rotation, during which the stop switch cannot be pressed. 23.84 ms after the stop switch is pressed is a wait timer at the start of the game, and the start switch cannot be pressed until this time has elapsed. The medal payout signal of 120 ms indicates the length of the signal indicating the payout of one piece. A 1-bit signal of 120 ms (relay on / off time) is generated for each payout. If the number of payouts is N, the length of the medal payout signal is N × 120 ms.

  With regard to the payout pulse signal output from the main board (described later) to the central terminal board every time one medal is paid out, 120 ms per payout due to the processing speed of the game facility equipment connected to the central terminal board. It is fixed to. Each box with numerals 1, 2,..., 15 in the figure is one payout signal. Specifically, it is a set of an on signal of 60 ms and an off signal of 60 ms (see FIG. 14). Accordingly, the time required for transmitting all (15) payout pulse signals to the concentrated terminal board when the 15 winning combination is won is 15 × 120 ms = 1800 ms. In FIG. 12, the signal display of one medal after the second one is shortened because of space, but both are 120 ms.

  FIG. 12 shows a timing chart when the interval between single shots or games is sufficiently long. Depending on the player, the game interval may be shortened by a quick operation. If the payout interval is shortened so that the next game can be started quickly, the shortest game interval is theoretically 23.84 ms + 160.92 ms + ( (Player operation time) = 184.76 ms + (player operation time). FIG. 13 shows a timing chart when the shortest and both the game and the next game have a prize. If the winning / dispensing is continuously performed in this fastest state or a state equivalent thereto, the payout pulse signal of the next game is transmitted before the transmission of the payout pulse signal of the game is completed. That is, output of the payout signal of the game is started as indicated by reference numeral X in FIG. 13, and after the first and second payout signals are output, the payout signal of the next game is output as indicated by reference numeral Y. Is started, and the signals of this game and the next game overlap. Dotted lines indicate duplicate signals.

  When the payout interval is shortened so that the next game can be started quickly, it cannot be said that such a situation does not occur due to the quick operation of the player. Needless to say, the concentrated terminal board cannot output a plurality of signals simultaneously from one terminal. For this reason, the following problems (1) and (2) occur.

(1) Due to the succession of two game payout pulse signals, the game hall equipment (hall computer) receiving the signal from the central terminal board mistakenly regards the number of two game payouts as one game payout. There is a risk.

  This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14A shows a case where there is a sufficient interval between two game payout pulse signals (corresponding to FIG. 12). In the case of FIG. 14A, the game hall equipment will not be mistaken.

  On the other hand, FIG. 14B shows a case where the payout pulse signals of the two front and rear games are continuous and there is no interval. If there is no interval, the game hall equipment misidentifies that the number of payouts for the two games before and after is a payout for one game. In particular, since it is determined that the payout exceeds the upper limit payout number (15 sheets) and a payout error is determined (there is no payout exceeding 15 sheets and there is a possibility of fraud), there is a possibility of trouble. For example, this is a case where 15 payouts for this game and 10 payouts for the next game are consecutive and it is mistaken for 25 payouts.

(2) When an overlap between the signals of the current game and the next game occurs, the credit counter (used to transmit a payout pulse signal and display the number of credits) is overwritten. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14C, the payout number corresponding to the overwriting of the overlapped portion is missing and transmitted. As a result, there is a risk that the game facility equipment will misidentify that the winning combination history and the total number of payouts do not match. For example, 15 games are paid out in this game and 10 games are paid out in the next game, and 2 cards are lost due to duplication, so that it is mistaken for 23 games (this example also corresponds to (1)).

  Due to the above problem, it has been difficult to shorten the payout interval. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to perform processing for avoiding duplication of the payout signal. For example, the signal transmission to the hall computer is performed by a process (counter) independent of the process of the payout interval. However, the control of the payout interval of the gaming machine itself and the signal transmission to the hall computer are all performed by the main board of the gaming machine, but there is no room in the processing capacity and memory capacity of the main board, and the hall computer. It is difficult in implementation to additionally store and execute a special processing program for signal transmission to the computer.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not shorten the payout interval of gaming machines, and cannot solve the above-described problems.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is a game that can solve the problem caused by shortening the payout interval without imposing an excessive burden on both the processing capacity and the memory capacity of the main board. The purpose is to provide a machine.

A gaming machine according to the present invention includes a game medium payout device that pays out game media, and a processing unit that controls the game medium payout device and a concentrated terminal plate that outputs a signal related to the game medium payout to the outside.
The processor is
Execution is started based on a timer that outputs a signal at a predetermined interval, a main loop program including processing for determining the number of game media to be paid out and game media payout processing, and output of the timer, and the game A program storage unit for preliminarily storing an interrupt processing program including a control process of the medium payout device, a central processing unit for reading out and executing the main loop program and the interrupt processing program from the program storage unit, and the game medium A counter (credit counter) for counting the number of game media paid out by the payout device, and a second timer for measuring a predetermined time (hereinafter, the time counted by the second timer is “interval holding time”),
The central processing unit is
Based on the main loop program,
Decide the number of game media to be paid out,
It is determined whether the second timer has timed the interval holding time. If the time has not been completed, wait until the time is completed,
Set the number of payouts determined in the counter when the time measurement is completed,
Based on the counter, outputs a payout signal to the concentrated terminal board,
Based on the interrupt handling program,
Driving the game medium payout device based on the counter;
The counter value is updated in accordance with the payout of game media by the game media payout device, and the time keeping of the interval holding time by the second timer is started.

  The interval holding time is, for example, approximately twice or more the length of the payout signal output to the concentrated terminal board.

  According to the present invention, with respect to a game medium payout signal, transmission of a payout pulse signal for the next game is waited until a predetermined time elapses after the start of this signal, and the remaining payout payout after the waiting time has elapsed. Therefore, the hall computer does not mistakenly recognize that the payout signals of the two games before and after the game are the payout of one game, and the number of payouts is not lost. There is no problem even if the payout interval is shortened, and the next game can be started quickly by the shortening.

It is a perspective view of the slot machine which shows the state where the front door was closed. It is a perspective view of the slot machine showing a state where the front door is opened. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a flowchart of the gaming process of the slot machine. It is a block diagram of a concentration terminal board. It is explanatory drawing of the output content of a concentrated terminal board. It is an internal block diagram of the main board | substrate which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of a main loop process. It is explanatory drawing of the main loop process and interrupt process which concern on embodiment of invention. It is a flow chart of interval maintenance timer judging processing and interval maintenance timer control processing concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between start switch press, stop switch press, and the medal payout signal of a concentration terminal board (a general case, there is no duplication). It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between start switch press, stop switch press, and the medal payout signal of a concentration terminal board (the game interval is the shortest and there is duplication). FIG. 14 (a) shows a case where there is an interval between games and the hall computer can discriminate the payout number of a plurality of games, and FIG. 14 (b) shows a case where there is no interval and the hall computer determines the payout number of a plurality of games as one game. FIG. 14C shows a case where the number of payouts is duplicated among a plurality of games and the hall computer cannot correctly grasp the number.

<Structure of gaming machine>
FIG. 1 shows a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 shows a front view of the slot machine with the front door open. In the following description, the upward, downward, left, or right directions refer to directions viewed from the player facing the slot machine unless otherwise specified.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. The slot machine 100 includes a slot machine housing 120 and a front door that is attached to one side of the front surface of the slot machine housing 120 by a hinge or the like so as to be opened and closed. 130. The front door 130 includes an upper door 130U and a lower door 130L that can be opened and closed independently.

  A game display 131 is provided in the upper right corner of the front surface of the front door 130. The player can see three reels of the reel unit 203 through the game display unit 131.

  A medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the upper door 130U. On the left side of the medal insertion slot 132, a clogged medal is inserted into the slot machine. A reject button 133 is provided for forcibly discharging outside 100.

  A start switch 134 for starting a game is provided on the left side of the upper surface of the upper door 130U, and three stop buttons 140 are provided between the start switch 134 and the medal slot 132 corresponding to each of the three reels. Yes.

  A liquid crystal panel LCD1 is provided at the center of the upper door 130U, and a liquid crystal panel LCD2 is provided on almost the entire surface of the lower door 130L.

  A switch (cross key unit) SW as an operation unit is provided at the center of the upper surface of the lower door 130L, that is, above the stop button 140 and between the bet switch BET and the medal slot 132. The switch SW includes, for example, a cursor key (switch) for moving the cursor up / down / left / right, an operation confirmation button / cancel button, and the like.

  Illuminated DRU, DRL, DLU, and DLL are provided on the left and right ends of the slot machine 100, respectively. That is, an electric decoration DLU is provided at the left end of the upper door 130U, an electric decoration DRU is provided at the right end, an electric decoration DLL is provided at the left end of the lower door 130L, and an electric decoration DRL is provided at the right end. Each of the electrical decorations DRU, DRL, DLU, and DLL includes a light emitting element (LED).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine housing 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals in a payout opening provided at the lower front portion of the lower door 130 </ b> L. A hopper device 121 for paying out one by one is installed. A hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a large number of medals is provided at the top of the hopper device 121. Inside the slot machine housing 120, a reel unit 203 including three reels is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the upper door 130U is closed. The reel unit 203 includes three reels (first reel to third reel) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which a player can see the symbols of each rotating reel of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 121.

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

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

  The main board 10 is attached to the inside of the slot machine housing 120 and below the reel unit 203. The main board 10 is provided with a setting change switch SSW for performing an internal setting relating to a game (for example, which of a plurality of lottery tables is used). The sub-board 20 is attached to the lower center of the back surface of the upper door 130U.

  A low-frequency speaker SPL is provided in the upper left corner of the slot machine housing 120, and two speakers SP that cover a standard sound range are provided below the lower door 130L.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100.

  In this figure, the display about the power supply system is omitted. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the slot machine includes a power supply unit (power supply unit 205 in FIG. 2) for generating a DC power supply (+5 V or the like) from a commercial power supply (AC 100 V).

  The slot machine 100 includes a main substrate 10 and a sub substrate 20 that operates in response to a command from the main substrate 10 as main processing devices. Substrates including the main substrate 10 and the sub-substrate are accommodated inside the case so that they cannot be contacted from the outside, and are subjected to a sealing process so that traces remain when these substrates are removed. Specifically, the main board 10 and the sub board 20 are integrally attached by caulking, and are covered by an integral case that covers the entire main board 10 and the sub board 20.

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

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

  Hereinafter, the main board and the sub board will be described in detail.

<Main board>
The main board 10 includes the bet switch BET, the start switch 134, the stop button 140, the reel (rotating cylinder) unit 203, the setting change switch SSW, the hopper driving unit 80, the hopper 81, and the number of medals paid out from the hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected.

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

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

  The reel unit 203 includes three spinning cylinders 40a to 40c, stepping motors 155a to 155c that respectively rotate these, and spinning cylinder position detectors (index sensors) 159a to 159c that detect their positions, respectively (note that The stepping motors 155a to 155c may be simply referred to as a motor 155 or a motor).

  Based on the reference position signal detected by the index sensor 159 every time each of the rotating cylinders 40a to 40c makes one rotation, the rotating cylinder control means 1300 starts from the reference position (a frame specified by an index (not shown)) of the rotating cylinder 40. Is obtained (by counting the number of rotation steps of the rotation shaft of the step motor), the current rotation state of the drum 40 can be monitored. That is, the main substrate 10 can obtain the position of the rotating drum 40 when the stop button 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the rotating drum 40.

  In the following description, reference numeral 40 is used to indicate any one or a plurality of spinning cylinders, and reference numerals 40a to 40c are used to separately indicate three spinning cylinders.

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

  The insertion accepting unit (insertion accepting means) 1050 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and based on the insertion of medals corresponding to the prescribed number of insertions. Then, a process of permitting the start operation of the first to third cylinders for the start switch 134 is performed. Note that the pressing operation of the start switch 134 is an opportunity to start the rotation of the first cylinder to the third cylinder, and is an opportunity to execute the internal lottery. Also, a prescribed number of throws is set according to the gaming state, the prescribed number of throws is set to 3 in the normal state and the bonus established state, and the prescribed number of throws is set to 1 in the bonus state.

  When medals are inserted, the inserted medals are set to the inserted state up to a specified number of insertions according to the gaming state. Alternatively, when the bet switch BET is pressed in a state where medals have been credited to the gaming machine, the credited medals are set to the inserted state by limiting the prescribed number of insertions according to the gaming state. The main board 10 controls whether or not to accept a medal. From the time when the start switch 134 is pressed and the rotation of each cylinder starts (game start time), when the three stop buttons 140 are pressed and the rotation of each cylinder stops (when the medal payout is completed when winning) (game) When the medal is not accepted (when it is not permitted), the medal sensor S1, S2 does not count the medal and is returned as it is. . Similarly, the main board 10 controls the validity / invalidity of the bet switch BET according to whether or not the medal insertion is accepted. In addition, the bet switch BET is valid from the end of the game to the start of the game, but during other periods (when pressing of the BET switch is not permitted), the bet switch BET is pressed. Even it is ignored.

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

  The internal lottery means 1200 performs an internal lottery in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, a lottery table selection process for selecting a lottery table (not shown) stored in a memory (not shown) of the main board 10, a random number determination process for determining the winning of a random number obtained from the random number generating means 1100, The lottery flag setting process for setting a flag to that effect when a big win or the like is won by the determination result is performed.

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

  The lottery table selection process allows the contents of the lottery to be set within a predetermined range (the probability of winning can be increased or decreased), and the setting work is performed by the store in the hall where the gaming machine is installed. . The switch used in this setting operation is a setting change switch SSW.

  A normal gaming machine includes a plurality of (for example, six) lottery tables having different lottery probabilities such as BB, RB, and small roles in advance. In the lottery of gaming machines, one of the plurality of lottery tables is set, and the winning / losing determination by lottery is made based on the set lottery table. Changing a setting relating to which of a plurality of lottery tables is used is referred to as a setting change (hereinafter referred to as “setting change”).

  Conventionally, in a gaming machine such as a slot machine, when changing a setting value (usually 1 to 6), the door of the gaming machine is opened, and a setting change key is set as a key switch of a setting change switch SSW provided on the main board 10. With the key inserted and the key switch turned on, the game machine is turned on so that the setting can be changed. Every time the setting change button (push button) of the setting change switch SSW is pressed, 7 segments The set value displayed on the display unit is incremented to cyclically change the values from 1 to 6, and the desired set value is operated by operating the start switch when the desired set value is displayed on the display unit. Is confirmed.

  In the random number determination process, on the basis of the start signal from the start switch 134, a random number value (lottery random number) is acquired for each game from random number generation means (not shown), and the lottery table is referred to for the acquired random number value. To determine whether or not they have won the role.

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

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

  The spinning cylinder control means 1300 rotates the first to third cylinders by a stepping motor based on a start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation), and the first cylinder -Depressing (stopping) the three stop buttons 140 corresponding to the rotating cylinders in a state where the rotation speed of the third cylinder reaches a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotational speed of about 80 rotations per minute). In addition to performing control to permit the operation), control is performed to stop the first to third cylinders driven to rotate by the stepping motor in accordance with the lottery flag setting state (internal lottery result).

  In addition, when the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) with respect to the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated), Based on the signal, the supply of the drive pulse (motor drive signal) to the stepping motor of the reel unit 203 is stopped, thereby controlling each of the first to third drums.

  That is, each time the three stop buttons 140 are pressed, the spinning cylinder control means 1300 determines the stopping position of the spinning cylinder corresponding to the pressed button among the first to third cylinders. Thus, control is performed to stop the spinning cylinder at the determined stop position. Specifically, referring to a stop control table (not shown) stored in the storage means (ROM), the first time corresponding to the pressing timing, pressing order, etc. of the three stop buttons (mode of stop operation) A stop position of the cylinder to the third cylinder is determined, and control is performed to stop the first cylinder to the third cylinder at the determined stop position.

  Here, in the stop control table, the positions of the first cylinder to the third cylinder (pressing detection position) at the time when the stop button 140 is operated, and the actual stop positions (or pressing detection of the first cylinder to the third cylinder). Correspondence with the number of sliding frames from the position) is set. The number of sliding symbols is a symbol that passes through the reference position between the operation of the stop button 140 and the rotation stop of the corresponding rotating cylinder when a specific symbol that can be visually recognized from the game display unit at the time of stopping the rotating drum is used as the reference position. The number of Since the turning cylinder control means 1300 stops each turning cylinder within 190 ms from the operation of each stop button 140, the number of sliding frames is in the range of 0 to 4 (however, 80 revolutions / minute, (In the condition of the number of symbols = 21). Depending on the setting state of the lottery flag, a stop control table for determining the stop positions of the first cylinder to the third cylinder may be prepared.

  As described above, the spinning cylinder control unit 1300 is based on the reference position signal (the frame detected by the reel index) of the spinning cylinder based on the reference position signal detected by the index sensor 159 every time the rotating cylinder makes one rotation. By obtaining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotation shaft of the step motor), the current rotation state of the rotating drum can be monitored. That is, the main board 10 can obtain the position of the rotating cylinder when the stop button 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the rotating cylinder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The replay processing unit 1600 may perform control to change the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition. For example, when a predetermined turn is displayed when the spinning cylinder is stopped by operating the stop button 140, the winning probability of replay varies. The replay lottery states include a replay no lottery state in which replay is excluded from the internal lottery, a replay low probability state in which the replay winning probability is set to about 1 / 7.3, and a replay winning probability of about 1 / A plurality of lottery states such as a high replay probability state set to 6 can be set.

  The error processing unit 1700 determines an error of the gaming machine based on the outputs of a door opening / closing detection sensor (not shown), the medal sensors S1 and S2, and the medal detection unit 82, and notifies that when it determines that there is an error. To a predetermined state (for example, a state in which no operation is accepted).

  A door open / close detection sensor (not shown) is a sensor that detects that the front door 130 (the upper door 130U and the lower door 130L) is closed, and is an electrical switch such as a micro switch or a contact. When the front door 130 (upper door 130U, lower door 130L) is closed, the switch is turned on (or turned off) by the action part of the switch contacting the back side of the front door 130 (upper door 130U, lower door 130L). When the front door 130 (upper door 130U, lower door 130L) is opened, the action part is separated and turned off (or turned on). The door opening / closing detection sensor may be an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter. The medal sensors S1 and S2 and the medal detection unit 82 have been described above.

Specifically, the error processing unit 1700 performs the following operation.
When an opening of the front door 130 (upper door 130U, lower door 130L) is detected based on the output of a door opening / closing detection sensor (not shown), error processing is performed.
-Based on the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2, the reverse flow of the medals (the detection order of the sensors S1 and S2 is reversed), the medal retention (the detection times of the sensors S1 and S2 are longer than a predetermined threshold) When error is detected, error processing is performed.
Based on the output of the medal detection unit 82, the medal clogging (the detection time of the medal detection unit 82 is longer than a predetermined threshold), hopper empty (the medal detection unit despite operating the hopper driving unit 80) When 82 detects no medal), error processing is performed.

  When the error processing unit 1700 determines that an error has occurred as described above, the error processing unit 1700 notifies the fact and sets the gaming machine to a predetermined state (error state). This state is canceled by a reset switch (not shown). The reset switch is provided on the panel of the power supply unit 205, for example.

  There are also errors that occur in the sub-board 20. Although this error does not result in an inoperable state, the liquid crystal display device or the like can notify that an error has occurred due to the processing of the sub-board 20 itself. The error occurs, for example, when an invalid command is received (including when the encrypted command cannot be correctly decrypted), and the error is canceled by the reset switch (from the main board 10 to the sub board 20). Reset command).

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

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

  The reel unit 203 includes three spinning cylinders 40a to 40c, and one stepping motor 155a to 155c is attached to each of the three spinning cylinders 40a to 40c. The stepping motor 155 includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. It is. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases).

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

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

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

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

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

  Regarding driving of the spinning cylinders 40a to 40c of the slot machine, for example, a four-phase stepping motor having a basic step angle of 1.43 degrees is used, and one-two-phase excitation is adopted as a pulse output method.

  10CG is a command transmitter that transmits a command to be sent to the sub-board 20. This command includes a command related to winning combination information, a command related to information on the number of inserted medals and the number of credits (stored number). Specifically, the command transmission unit 10CG is realized by the CPU executing a program written in advance in a ROM mounted on the main board 10. The command transmission will be described later.

<Sub-board>
Connected to the sub-board 20 are liquid crystal panels LCD1 and LCD2, LED boards 202B and 202L, speaker SP, bass speaker SPL, solenoid SN, motors MU and ML, sensors SENU and SENL, and switch SW. The LED boards 202B and 202L incorporate a latch that acquires and holds data and an LED that is an electric decoration (the LED may be provided outside the board). These components are controlled by the sub-board 20, and are an output device that produces effects by video, light, sound, and movement of the movable body, or an input device or player for detecting the movement of the movable body. It is an input device which receives operation by.

  The sub-board 20 drives a video controller (VDC) for controlling the liquid crystal panels LCD1 and LCD2, a speaker SP, a sound controller for generating sound by driving a bass speaker SPL, a solenoid SN, motors MU and ML. It has a built-in drive circuit.

  The components such as the liquid crystal panel described above, except for the bass speaker SPL, correspond to the model-specific block BB and the upper door block BU and the lower door 130L provided corresponding to the upper door 130U built in the slot machine housing 120. The lower door block BL is provided in a distinguishable manner.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the model-specific block BB includes a solenoid SN and an LED substrate 202B, and the upper door block BU includes a liquid crystal panel LCD1, a motor MU, and a sensor SENU that detects the operation of the movable body thereby, and the lower door block BL includes a liquid crystal panel LCD2, a speaker SP, an LED substrate 202L, a motor ML, a sensor SENL for detecting the operation of the movable body thereby, and a switch SW such as a cursor key. The entire liquid crystal panel LCD2 is configured to be slightly movable back and forth by the motor ML, and the player may be able to perform an operation of pushing the liquid crystal panel LCD2 in a state where the liquid crystal panel LCD2 is moved forward. In this case, the switch SW of the lower door block BL includes a switch for detecting depression of the liquid crystal panel LCD2.

<Command transmission from main board to sub board>
The sub-board 20 receives a command from the main board 10 and performs processing such as rendering according to the command. The flow of commands is only one from the main board 10 to the sub board 20, and conversely, no command or the like is issued from the sub board 20 to the main board 10.

  The sub board 20 generates a command (display command, drawing command) for displaying a predetermined screen on the liquid crystal panels LCD1 and LCD2, for example, in accordance with a command from the main board 10. For example, when performing an effect by animation or the like, a large number of commands are continuously transmitted one after another.

  In FIG. 3, 20 CR is a command receiving unit that receives a command received from the main board 10. Specifically, the command receiving unit 20CR is realized by the CPU executing a program written in advance in a ROM mounted on the sub-board 20.

  As the above-mentioned command, there is a command for performing an effect suggesting the winning contents by the software on the sub-board 20 side. For example, as shown in the following AT, a suggestion for obtaining a ball is displayed on a liquid crystal display device so as to provide (assist) the player with the convenience of operation. The suggestion is not always issued, but in specific cases.

  The gaming machine includes an effect display device including a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, a display lamp, and the like. This effect display device is controlled by the sub-board 20 to notify the player of a prize or the like, or in a so-called assist time (AT), the base itself teaches the user with some action during a certain game with some action. It is for doing. (Assist time (AT): Even if a specific small role is established, the player will not be refunded if the reels are not aligned. After the big bonus ends (or at the time of establishment) to ensure payout by the small role) Alternatively, a lottery of assist time is drawn at any other opportunity, and if this is won, the player is instructed to perform an operation with some action for aligning specific small roles during a certain game)

  The command receiving unit 20CR receives a command received from the main board 10. For example, a command received as serial data is input to a serial-parallel converter (shift register), and is output every certain data (for example, 8 bits). The output data is transferred to the CPU of the sub-board 20 as a command, and is interpreted and executed.

Next, the game processing in the main board 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
Generally, in a gaming machine, one game is started from the insertion of medals (insertion of credits) until the end of payout (or until the increase in the number of credits is completed). There is a rule that it is not possible to proceed to the next game until one game is finished.

  First, when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the start switch 134 is activated, and the processing of FIG. 4 is started.

  In step S1, the start switch 134 is turned on by operating the start switch 134. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S2.

  In step S2, a lottery process is performed by the main board 10. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S3.

  In step S3, the rotation of the first reel to the third reel starts. Then, the process proceeds to next Step S4.

  In step S4, when the stop button 140 is operated, the stop button 140 is turned ON. Then, the process proceeds to next Step S5.

  In step S5, rotation stop processing is performed on the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button 140 among the first to third reels. Then, the process proceeds to next Step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the operation of the stop button 140 corresponding to the three reels has been performed. If it is determined that all three stop buttons 140 corresponding to the three reels have been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the lottery flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the lottery flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed. If it is determined that the winning is confirmed, the process proceeds to the next step S8. If the winning is not confirmed, no medals are paid out even if the lottery flag is established.

  In step S8, medals corresponding to winning symbols are paid out.

  The process from the insertion of the medal to the completion of the execution of step S8 is one game. When the standby process in step S8 ends, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart. In other words, the next game is possible (transition to the next game).

  In game halls such as pachinko halls, a plurality of gaming machines are arranged and efficiently accommodated by equipment for gathering gaming machines called island equipment. The gaming machines arranged in the island facility are respectively connected to hall computers that monitor game payout and specific gaming status. The hall computer counts the dividends paid out from the gaming machines and the number of times a specific gaming state is reached for each island facility. As a result, it is possible to roughly grasp the gaming state in which the gaming machine installed on the island facility is changing, and to know whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

  Each gaming machine or island facility is provided with a centralized terminal board for transmitting a payout from the gaming machine, the number of times a specific gaming state is reached, and an abnormal signal of the gaming machine to the hall computer.

  The concentrated terminal board includes a relay that receives a signal from the main board 10 and is driven by the signal. The relay contact signal is sent to the hall computer. For example, since the central terminal board includes seven relays, a maximum of seven types of signals can be relayed and sent from the gaming machine to the hall computer. The relay performs a simple operation of turning on / off according to L / H of a digital signal.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the concentrated terminal board 30. FIG. 5 shows a standard concentrated terminal board 30. The concentrated terminal board 30 relays a signal output from the gaming machine main body side and sends it to the hall computer.

  31 is an input connector for receiving a signal from the main board 10, 32 is a relay coil driven by the signal from the main board 10, 33 is a contact point turned on and off by the relay coil 32, and 34 is an output for sending an on / off signal to the hall computer. It is a connector. The relay coil 32 and its contact 33 constitute a relay. The concentrated terminal board 30 of FIG. 5 includes a total of seven relays. These are distinguished by attaching -1 to -7 to the reference numerals. One terminals of the contacts 33-1 to 33-7 are all connected to a common terminal (terminal 6 of the output connector 34), and the other terminals are connected to separate terminals of the output connector 34. The terminal 6 becomes a common terminal (common), and the on / off of each contact 33 means the presence or absence of conduction between any one of the terminals 1 to 5, 7 and 8 of the output connector 34 and the terminal 6 when viewed from the hall computer. The input connector includes a ground terminal and a power supply terminal, but the display thereof is omitted in FIG.

  For example, when a medal insertion signal (L level) is received from the main board 10 to the terminal 1 of the input connector 31, the relay coil 32-1 generates a magnetic force by the signal and pulls the contact 33-1 to turn on the contact. become. Therefore, the terminal 1 and the terminal 6 of the output connector 34 are conducted. By detecting this with a hall computer, it can be determined that a medal has been inserted.

  In FIG. 5, the output of the contact 33 that is turned on when the relay coil 32 is driven is sent to the hall computer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the output of the contact 33 that is turned off is sent. May be. The hall computer can receive either an ON or OFF signal of the relay contact.

  FIG. 6 shows a list of output signals of the concentrated terminal board 30 of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. The numbers correspond to the terminal numbers in FIG.

  The medal insertion signal is a pulse signal (ON / OFF repetitive signal) that is output after receiving the start switch 134 and that corresponds to the prescribed number of medals for the game.

  The medal payout signal is a pulse signal of a number corresponding to the payout number of medals, which is output when there is a payout of medals after all three reels are stopped. At the time of replaying, the prescribed number of pulses are output on the assumption that the prescribed number of medals have been paid out.

  The RB signal is a signal output when in the regular bonus state.

  The BB signal is a signal output in the big bonus state.

  The RT signal is a signal output at the replay time.

  The security signal is a signal that is continuously output while an abnormality factor is occurring.

  The door opening signal is a signal that is continuously output while the front door 130 is opened.

  The main board 10 generates all the signals 1 to 8 (excluding 6) in FIG. Since these signals are known, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the hardware configuration of the main board 10. The main board 10 is actually realized by the hardware configuration shown in FIG. That is, a CPU (processing device), a ROM (nonvolatile storage unit), a memory RWM (readable and writable memory), an I / O (input / output device), and the like are connected to a BUS composed of a plurality of bits (wirings). ing.

  The timer circuit TM interrupts the processing unit CPU at regular intervals, and is realized by hardware such as a dedicated IC, for example, but may be realized by software (program). The I / O is an IC for communication processing, for example, and performs data communication according to a predetermined protocol. Communication with the slave board is automatically performed by setting an address and data in a register (not shown).

  When the power is turned on, the CPU transmits data for frequency division stored in a predetermined area of the ROM to the timer circuit TM via the data bus. The timer circuit TM determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency division data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU at each interrupt time. The CPU executes interrupt processing such as monitoring of each sensor or the like in response to this interrupt request. For example, when the CPU system clock is set to 8 MHz, the timer circuit TM frequency division value is set to 1/256, and the ROM frequency division data is set to 47, the interrupt reference time is 256 × 47 ÷ 8 MHz = 1. 504 ms.

  The CNT is a credit counter that counts the number of medals paid out by the hopper device 121. TM2 is an interval holding timer for setting an interval in the payout signal between this game and the next game. The interval holding timer TM2 may be provided in the memory RWM. These processes will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically showing a main loop performed by the CPU of the main board 10.

  The CPU of the main board 10 reads out the program in order and executes the main loop of FIG. 8, and executes an interrupt process by an interrupt signal generated at a predetermined interval by the timer circuit TM. The CPU executes the interrupt process and the main loop alternately.

  S10 in FIG. 8 performs processing such as random number generation means 1100 to winning determination means 1400, replay processing means 1600, and the like. Since these processes are publicly known, the description thereof is omitted. S11 and S12 are processes performed by the payout control unit 1500. In FIG. 8, the processes of S10 to S12 are always repeated.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the main loop process and the interrupt process according to the embodiment of the invention.

  The CPU in FIG. 7 executes a payout number determination process (S11) and a payout process (S12) based on a main loop program stored in advance in the ROM.

  In the payout number determination process (S11), the number of medals to be paid out is determined according to the stopped state of the spinning cylinder.

  In the payout process (S12), the medal payout process by the hopper device 121 and the display of the number of credits by the 7-segment display and the output of the payout signal to the concentrated terminal board are performed. Since these are publicly known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The interval holding timer determination processing (S121) is processing performed before the medal payout processing, the display of the number of credits, and the output of the payout signal to the concentrated terminal board. The interval holding timer TM2 is 240 ms (the interval holding time). This is a process that determines whether or not the time has been measured (exactly 232.44 ms), and waits until the time measurement is completed if the time measurement has not been completed.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the interval holding timer determination process (S121) is included in the payout process (S12), but is not limited to this. For example, the interval holding timer determination process (S121) may be made independent or provided at the end of the payout number determination process (S11). The payout process (S12) does not have to be executed until the payout process (S12) is executed and the interval holding timer TM2 counts 240 ms which is the interval holding time (until time-out).

  The concentrated terminal board payout signal output process (S122) sets the payout number determined in the payout number determination process (S11) to the credit counter CNT when the interval holding timer TM2 completes timing, and sets the credit counter CNT to the credit counter CNT. Based on this, a payout signal is output to the concentrated terminal board 30. For example, each time the credit counter CNT is subtracted (decremented), one pulse signal (see FIG. 14) is output.

  The CPU in FIG. 7 performs various processes based on the interrupt processing program stored in advance in the ROM, but FIG. 9 shows only the hopper payout process (S1000) and the interval holding timer control (S1001), and the others are omitted. doing.

  In the hopper payout process (S1000), the hopper device 121 is driven based on the credit counter CNT to pay out medals. For example, when the credit counter CNT is not 0, one medal is paid out and the credit counter CNT is decremented by 1 (decremented). Note that the hopper payout process (S1000) can be speeded up, and the medal payout speed and / or the credit display update speed can be increased. Unaffected by the interval hold timer. Even in such a case, no problem occurs in the embodiment of the invention.

  The interval holding timer control (S1001) causes the interval holding timer TM2 to start (restart) timing of 240 ms by the interval holding time each time the hopper payout processing (S1000) performs the above processing. By the interval holding timer control (S1001), the interval holding timer TM2 is reset every time one medal is paid out, and starts measuring 240 ms again. This is repeated until the credit counter CNT becomes zero.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of interval holding timer determination processing and interval holding timer control processing according to the embodiment of the invention.

  In the interval holding timer determination process (S121), it is determined whether or not the interval holding timer TM2 has timed out (whether the count of the predetermined time of 240 ms has been completed), and the loop is repeated until the timeout occurs, and the next processing is not performed. When time-out occurs, the next process, the payout process including the concentrated terminal board payout signal output process (S122), is executed. Since the payout process is known, a description thereof will be omitted.

  At the same time as the credit counter is subtracted in the hopper payout process (S1000), the interval holding timer TM2 is restarted in the interval holding timer control (S1001).

  9 and 10 will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram (timing chart) of FIG.

  When a credit counter is set in this game, a payout process is performed. As a result, a payout signal is output to the concentrated terminal board 30. At t1, the first sheet payout signal (pulse) is output, and at t2, the second sheet payout signal is output. Thereafter, the same processing is repeated. At this time, since the payout process has already been started, the interval holding timer determination process (S121) is not executed. The interval holding timer determination process (S121) is executed before the start of the payout process (S12).

  By the interval holding timer control (S1001), a predetermined time 240 ms is set in the interval holding timer TM2 at each timing t1, t2,. The “interval set” in the figure indicates this. Since the length of the payout signal corresponding to one sheet is 120 ms, the interval holding timer TM2 restarts at t2,. Similarly, at the timing t3 for paying out the last medal, a predetermined time is set in the interval holding timer TM2. At this time, since the interval holding timer control (S1001) is not executed after the last medal payout, the interval holding timer TM2 always times out.

  Then, the next game payout process starts after waiting for a time-out in the next game interval holding timer determination process (S121). Even if the number of payouts in the next game is determined at t4, no payout signal is output until the time-out of the interval holding timer determination process (S121). Therefore, a constant interval Tint always occurs.

  The last payout signal of this game is 120 ms from t3. The predetermined time set in the interval holding timer TM2 is about 240 ms (more specifically, 232.44 ms). Therefore, when the payout interval is shortened and the next game can be started quickly, even if the player performs the fastest game operation, the fastest payout start is immediately after the timeout. t5. The interval Tint at that time is 240 ms−120 ms = 120 ms, and according to the embodiment of the present invention, the interval of 120 ms is always guaranteed. Accordingly, a constant interval Tint always occurs, and the above-described cases shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C do not occur.

  In general, if there is a blank (interval) of one signal or more, it is possible to discriminate between the payout signal of the current game and the next game. Therefore, the interval holding time set in the interval holding timer TM <b> 2 only needs to be approximately twice or more the length of the payout signal output to the concentrated terminal board 30.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, an interval can always be provided between the payout signals of the game and the next game, and the problems (1) and (2) described above, that is, the payout pulse signals of the two games before and after It can be prevented that the hall computer mistakenly recognizes that these are one game payout continuously or that the payout number is lost. For this reason, there is no problem even if the payout interval is shortened, and the next game can be started quickly by the shortening.

  Moreover, according to the embodiment of the invention, the payout interval can be shortened without adding an excessive burden to both the processing capacity and the memory capacity of the main substrate. That is, the main loop interval holding timer determination process is a simple conditional branch / loop, and can be composed of a minimum of two instructions. The interval holding timer control of the interrupt processing may be performed simultaneously with the credit counter processing of the existing hopper payout processing. This process is simple, and there are very few program changes and additions.

  As described above, with respect to the payout signal corresponding to payout, transmission of the payout pulse signal of the next game is waited until a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of this signal, and the remaining payout payout corresponding to the payout payout after the standby time has elapsed. By continuously transmitting the payout pulse signal, the problem of overwriting overlap of the payout data of the aforementioned continuous games is eliminated, and the possibility that the hall computer misidentifies the excess number is eliminated. And it becomes possible to shorten the payout interval of the credit counter at the time of winning and paying out in a state where no problem occurs.

  In the above description, a slot machine is taken as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to a ball-type game machine.

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

20 Sub-board (processing section)
30 Centralized terminal board 121 Hopper device CNT Credit counter (counter)
CPU Central processing unit ROM Read only memory (program memory)
RWM read / write memory TM timer circuit (timer)
TM2 interval holding timer (second timer)

Claims (2)

A game medium payout device for paying out game media, and a processing unit for controlling a concentrated terminal board for outputting a signal related to the game medium payout device and game medium payout to the outside,
The processor is
Execution is started based on a timer that outputs a signal at a predetermined interval, a main loop program including processing for determining the number of game media to be paid out and game media payout processing, and output of the timer, and the game A program storage unit for preliminarily storing an interrupt processing program including a control process of the medium payout device, a central processing unit for reading out and executing the main loop program and the interrupt processing program from the program storage unit, and the game medium A counter for counting the number of game media to be paid out by the payout device, and a second timer for measuring a predetermined time (hereinafter, the time measured by the second timer is “interval holding time”),
The central processing unit is
Based on the main loop program,
Decide the number of game media to be paid out,
It is determined whether the second timer has timed the interval holding time. If the time has not been completed, wait until the time is completed,
Set the number of payouts determined in the counter when the time measurement is completed,
Based on the counter, outputs a payout signal to the concentrated terminal board,
Based on the interrupt handling program,
Driving the game medium payout device based on the counter;
A gaming machine that updates the value of the counter in accordance with the payout of game media by the game media payout device, and starts counting the interval holding time by the second timer.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the interval holding time is approximately twice or more as long as a payout signal output to the concentrated terminal board.

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