JP2018148936A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of performing flexible processing in accordance with situations.SOLUTION: A motor control part 226 analyzes a control command written in a motor control table and specifically designates operation of a motor assuming sensor detection. Receiving this, an SMC 199 generates and outputs an excitation pattern of the motor following the designation. Then, the motor control part 226 analyzes a next control command when it receives a sensor detection notice from the SMC 199, but sets a timeout flag to ON in the case that it receives interruption when a designation step is reached while there is no sensor detection notice. The next control command branches the processing on the basis of the timeout flag and, when the timeout flag is OFF (during a normal time), goes on to analyze the next control command. On the other hand, when the timeout flag is ON (during an abnormal time), a designated address is moved to, and recovery processing is performed according to a control command written there.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 27

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that controls effects as a game progresses.

  The performance performed as the game progresses has increased in recent years with the progress of technology, and the visual perception of the player is combined with a combination of displacement of the movable body, lighting of the lamp, playback of audio and video, etc. Intuitive production that appeals to the sense of hearing is realized in various forms. Generally, each of these components constituting an effect is operated in accordance with a command defined in effect data stored in advance in a storage device.

  For example, the second sub control unit reads out the effect data corresponding to the command received from the first sub control unit from the ROM, and outputs a command for the shielding device included therein to the motor driver IC to drive a specific motor. A gaming machine that operates a shielding device by doing so is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-85741 A

  In this gaming machine, in the process of controlling the operation of the shielding device, it is determined at a predetermined timing whether or not the optical sensor is detecting the light shielding plate provided at the end of the shielding device, and has already been detected. In this case, while the processing as set is continued, if it is not detected yet, it is determined that the shielding device is not operating normally, the initial operation is set, and the processing for returning the shielding device to the initial position is executed.

  Therefore, according to the above-described prior art, it is possible to execute a fixed process of “returning the shielding device to the initial position” triggered by the fact that the optical sensor is not detecting as expected. However, the subsequent processing cannot be flexibly performed according to the presence or absence of detection by the optical sensor, that is, according to the state of the shielding device at that time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of executing flexible processing according to the situation.

  The present invention employs the following means for solving the above problems. In addition, the wording in the following brackets is an illustration to the last, and this invention is not limited to this.

  Solution means 1: A gaming machine of the present solution means an effect control means for instructing execution of an effect accompanying the game, an effect means that functions in accordance with an effect instructed to execute by the effect control means, and the effect control means. Upon receiving an instruction from, an end notification for performing an operation control for sending the execution pattern necessary for the effect means to function to the effect means and an end notice notifying the effect control means that the execution pattern has been sent. And production means control means capable of executing control. Note that “functions in accordance with the designated effect” means, for example, generating a driving force in accordance with the effect of operating the movable body or functioning as a light source in accordance with the effect of illuminating the decorative body. Applicable.

According to this solution, for example, the processing of the effect control device is executed in the following flow.
(1) When a game ball is launched, it flows down in the game area while being guided by obstacle nails, windmills, structures, etc., and passes through some area in the process, or enters a game entrance (winning entrance etc.) Or a ball. The main control means advances the game by controlling the game according to these events, and outputs basic information (various commands) related to the game.

  (2) The effect control means controls the execution of the effect based on the basic information output in (1) above. For example, when some basic information (for example, change start command) is output from the main control means, the effect control means instructs execution of the effect according to the basic information.

  (3) The effect means functions in accordance with the effect instructed to be executed by the effect control means in (2) above, and thereby a structure that realizes the effect (for example, a movable body, a motor, an LED, a lamp, etc.) It is provided in the game area.

  (4) When the production control means of (2) is instructed to execute the production, the production means control means controls the operation of the production means of (3) according to the instruction. Specifically, an execution pattern necessary for the function (realization of the effect) to be performed in accordance with the effect indicated by the effect means is sent to the effect means. When all execution patterns have been sent in response to an instruction from the effect control means, an end notification is sent to notify the effect control means.

  The execution pattern of the effect means is sent over time, and the effect means embodies the effect over time by functioning based on the sent execution pattern. If it is notified that the execution pattern has been sent, the effect control means can recognize that all the effects instructed by the user have been executed (implemented). Therefore, according to the present solution means, the effect control means can recognize the execution state of the effect instructed by itself, and can control the execution of the effect based on this.

  Also, when preparing an execution pattern to be sent to the production means, enormous calculations are required to realize a fine operation. If the effect control means executes this process, the processing load may affect other processes executed by the effect control means. The processing is performed by a rendering means control means different from the rendering control means. Therefore, according to the present solution means, it is possible to reduce the load on the effect control means as much as the processing with a high load is shared by another resource (the effect means control means).

  Solution means 2: The gaming machine of the present solution means that in the solution means 1, the effect control means confirms whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied by the end notification from the effect means control means, and the predetermined condition Is satisfied, a value indicating the state of the effect means is set in the state flag, and a subsequent instruction to the effect means control means is executed based on the state flag.

According to this solution, the following features are added.
(5) When an end notification is given from the (4) effect means control means, the (2) effect control means satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, some condition related to the effect means (3) above). If the predetermined condition is satisfied, the status flag is set. A value indicating the state of the rendering means is set in the state flag. The effect control device executes the next instruction to the effect means control means based on the state flag.

  The production control means plays a role of instructing execution of the production, and grasps various situations that occur in the process. When the end notification is made by the effect means control means, the effect control means can recognize the execution status of the effect instructed by itself. However, on the other hand, there is a case where some information related to the production means is grasped separately.

  In this solving means, the production control means uses the end notification as a trigger to determine whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied taking into consideration other situations related to the production means at that time. Set the status flag. Therefore, according to the present solution means, the state of the effect means can be determined based on the overall situation regarding the effect means, and the subsequent processing for the effect means control means can be flexibly executed in accordance therewith.

  Further, such process switching is realized based only on the state flag set in the process of controlling the execution of the effect. If the view is changed, it is possible to switch the subsequent processing based on the status flag only by preparing a control command group (control table) to be used when the production control means instructs execution of the production in an appropriate order in advance. Become. Therefore, according to this solution, it is possible to simply implement a branch of processing according to the situation.

  Solving means 3: The gaming machine of the present solving means further comprises a sensor in the solving means 2 that detects the functional status of the effect means and outputs a detection signal, and the effect means control means uses the sensor to detect the detection signal. Further, detection notification control for performing detection notification to notify the effect control means that the effect control means has been output is further executed, and the effect control means detects that the effect means has functioned according to the effect instructed to be executed by the sensor. The detection as a result of controlling the function of the rendering means based on the execution pattern sent from the rendering means control means based on this instruction when an instruction is given to the rendering means control means Before the notification is made, the status flag is set when the end notification is made.

According to this solution, the following features are added.
(6) The sensor outputs a detection signal when detecting the function status of the effect means (3) (the execution status of the effect by the effect means, such as the degree of the function performed by the effect means).
(7) When the detection signal is output from the sensor (6), the effect means control means (4) performs detection notification and notifies the effect control means (5) to that effect.
(8) The effect control means of (5) instructs execution of an effect that the sensor of (6) is scheduled to detect the functional status of the effect means of (3). At this time, the effect control means sets the state flag when the end notification is made before the detection notice is given by the effect means control means (7) (the end notice is given without the detection notice). To do.

  When the sensor is scheduled to detect the functional status of the rendering means, the fact that the end notification is made prior to the detection notification means that the functional status of the rendering means has not been detected as scheduled. Is shown. From this situation, it can be determined that some abnormality (for example, motor step-out or sensor detection failure) has occurred with respect to the function of the rendering means.

  In this solving means, the production control means sets a state flag under such a situation, and executes subsequent processing based on the state flag. Therefore, according to the present solution means, the subsequent processing for the effect means control means can be flexibly executed based on whether or not some abnormality has occurred in the operation of the effect means.

  According to the present invention, flexible processing according to the situation can be executed.

It is a front view of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view of a pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows a game board unit independently. It is a front view which expands and shows a part of game board unit. It is a block diagram which shows the various electronic devices with which the pachinko machine was equipped. It is a block diagram showing a functional configuration in the effect control device. It is a flowchart (1/2) which shows the example of a procedure of CPU initialization processing. It is a flowchart (2/2) which shows the example of a procedure of CPU initialization process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of the saving process at the time of a power-off. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of a command reception interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of a timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of a switch input event process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of a 1st special symbol memory update process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of a 2nd special symbol memory update process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of the production | presentation determination process at the time of acquisition. It is a flowchart which shows the structural example of a special symbol game process. It is a continuation figure showing an example of a production picture corresponding to change display and stop display of a special symbol. It is a continuation figure (1/4) showing a flow of reach production (at the time of big hit) performed during special zone production. It is a continuation figure (2/4) which shows the flow of reach production (at the time of big hit) performed during special zone production. It is a continuation figure (3/4) which shows the flow of reach production (at the time of a big hit) performed during special zone production. It is a continuation figure (4/4) which shows the flow of reach production (at the time of a big hit) performed during special zone production. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of the CPU initialization process performed with an effect control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of effect control processing. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of movable body control. It is a figure which shows an example of a motor control table. It is a figure which shows an example of the control command which comprises a motor control table. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example (normal time) at the time of controlling the drive of a motor. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example (at the time of abnormality) at the time of controlling the drive of a motor. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of an operation | movement memory production | presentation management process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of effect design management processing. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of an effect design change pre-process. It is a flowchart which shows the structural example of a process at the time of variable winning apparatus operation | movement.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter abbreviated as “pachinko machine”) 1. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 1. The pachinko machine 1 uses a game ball as a game medium, and a player borrows a game ball from a game hall operator to play a game with the pachinko machine 1. In the game of the pachinko machine 1, each game ball is a medium having a game value, and a privilege (profit) that the player enjoys as a result of the game is, for example, a game ball acquired by the player Based on the number of games, it can be converted into a game value. Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

〔overall structure〕
The pachinko machine 1 mainly includes an outer frame unit 2, an integrated door unit 4, and an inner frame assembly 7 (a plastic frame, a gaming machine frame) as its main body. The integrated door unit 4 is located on the foremost side when viewed from the front facing the player. An inner frame assembly 7 is located on the back side (back side) of the integrated door unit 4, and the outer frame unit 2 is disposed so as to surround the outer side of the inner frame assembly 7.

  The outer frame unit 2 is a structure in which wood and metal materials are combined in a vertically long rectangular shape. The outer frame unit 2 has a fastener such as a screw attached to an island facility (not shown) in the game hall. It is used and fixed. In the vertically long rectangular outer frame unit 2, wood is used for a portion corresponding to the upper and lower short sides, and a metal material is used for a portion corresponding to the left and right long sides.

  The integrated door unit 4 has a structure in which the tray unit 6 is integrated at a lower position thereof. The integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 are attached to the island facility via the outer frame unit 2, and these operate in an openable manner via a hinge mechanism (not shown). An opening / closing axis of a hinge mechanism (not shown) extends in the vertical direction along the left end as viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 1.

  A unified lock unit 9 is provided on the inner side of the right edge (the left edge in FIG. 2) of the inner frame assembly 7 when viewed from the front in FIG. Correspondingly, a locking tool (not shown) is also provided on the right side edge (back side) of the integrated door unit 4 and the outer frame unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 are closed with respect to the outer frame unit 2, the unified lock unit 9 on the back side of the integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly together with the locking device. 7 cannot be opened.

  Further, a cylinder lock 6 a with a key hole is provided on the right edge of the tray unit 6. For example, when an administrator of the game hall inserts a dedicated key into the keyhole and twists the cylinder lock 6a clockwise, the unified lock unit 9 operates and the integrated door unit 4 can be opened together with the inner frame assembly 7. . If these are opened from the outer frame unit 2 to the front side (moved like a door), the back side of the pachinko machine 1 is exposed on the front side.

  On the other hand, when the cylinder lock 6a is twisted counterclockwise, only the locking of the integrated door unit 4 is released while the inner frame assembly 7 remains locked, and the integrated door unit 4 can be opened. When the integrated door unit 4 is opened to the front side, the game board unit 8 is directly exposed, and in this state, the manager of the game hall can remove obstacles such as ball clogging in the board surface. Further, when the integrated door unit 4 is opened, the tray unit 6 is also opened to the front side together.

  The pachinko machine 1 includes a game board unit 8 as a game unit. The game board unit 8 is supported by the inner frame assembly 7 behind (inside) the integrated door unit 4. The game board unit 8 can be attached to and detached from the inner frame assembly 7 with the integrated door unit 4 opened to the front side, for example. The integrated door unit 4 is formed with a vertically oval window 4a at the center thereof, and a glass unit (no reference numeral) is attached in the window 4a. The glass unit is a combination of, for example, two transparent plates (glass plates) cut in accordance with the shape of the window 4a. The glass unit is attached to the back side of the integrated door unit 4 via a fixture (not shown). A game area 8a (board surface, game board) is formed on the front surface of the game board unit 8, and this game area 8a is visible to the player from the front side through the window 4a. When the integrated door unit 4 is closed, a space in which a game ball can flow down is formed between the inner surface of the glass unit and the board surface.

  The saucer unit 6 has a shape projecting from the integrated door unit 4 to the front side as a whole, and an upper plate 6b is formed on the upper surface thereof. The upper plate 6b can store a game ball (rental ball) lent to a player and a game ball (prize ball) acquired by winning a prize. In the tray unit 6, a lower plate 6c is formed at the lower position of the upper plate 6b. The lower tray 6c stores game balls that are further paid out when the upper tray 6b is full. The pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is a so-called CR machine (model connected to the CR unit), and the game balls borrowed by the player are separated from the payout device unit 172 on the back side separately from the prize balls. It is paid out to the dish 6b or the lower dish 6c).

  A lending operation unit 14 is provided on the upper surface of the tray unit 6, and a ball lending button 10 and a return button 12 are arranged on the lending operation unit 14. When a player operates the ball lending button 10 with a valuable medium (for example, a magnetic recording medium, a storage IC built-in medium, etc.) inserted in a CR unit (not shown), the number corresponding to a predetermined frequency unit (for example, 5 degrees). (For example, 125) game balls are lent out. For this reason, a frequency display unit (not shown) is arranged on the upper surface of the lending operation unit 14, and the remaining frequency of the valuable medium put in the CR unit is displayed on this frequency display unit. The player can receive the return of the valuable medium with the remaining frequency by operating the return button 12. Although the CR machine is taken as an example in the present embodiment, the pachinko machine 1 may be a cash machine (a model not connected to the CR unit) different from the CR machine.

  Further, on the upper surface of the tray unit 6, an upper dish ball removal button 6d is installed in front of the upper dish 6b in the upper position, and a lower dish ball removal lever 6e is located in the center of the lower dish 6c. Is installed. The player can cause the game balls stored in the upper plate 6b to flow down to the lower plate 6c by, for example, pressing the upper plate ball removing button 6d. Also, the player can drop the game balls stored in the lower plate 6c downward and discharge them by sliding the lower plate ball removal lever 6e to the left, for example. The discharged game ball is received by, for example, a ball receiving box (not shown).

  A handle unit 16 is installed at the lower right of the tray unit 6. The player operates the handle unit 16 to operate the launch control board set 174 and can launch (shoot) a game ball toward the game area 8a (ball launcher). The launched game ball rises from the lower edge portion of the game board unit 8 along the left edge portion, is guided by an outer band (not shown), and is thrown into the game area 8a. A large number of obstacle nails, windmills (without reference numerals in the drawing) and the like are arranged in the game area 8a, and the thrown-in game balls flow down in the game area 8a while being guided and guided by the obstacle nails and the windmill. The configuration of the game area 8a (board surface, game board) will be further described later with reference to another drawing.

[Configuration of the front of the frame]
The integrated door unit 4 is provided with a left top lens unit 47 and an upper right illumination unit 49 as components for production. Among these, the left top lens unit 47 incorporates a glass frame top lamp 46 and a left glass frame decoration lamp 48, and the upper right electrical decoration unit 49 incorporates a right glass frame decoration lamp 50. In addition, left and right glass frame decoration lamps 52 are installed in the integrated door unit 4 so as to be connected to the lower part of the left top lens unit 47 and the upper right illumination unit 49, respectively. It extends from the left and right edges of the integrated door unit 4 to the front surface of the tray unit 6. In the integrated door unit 4, the glass frame top lamp 46 and the left and right glass frame decoration lamps 48, 50, and 52 are arranged so as to surround the glass unit.

  The various lamps 46, 48, 50, and 52 described above perform effects by, for example, the light emission of the built-in LEDs (lighting and blinking, change in luminance gradation, change in color tone, etc.). In addition, on the upper part of the integrated door unit 4, speakers on the glass frame 54 and 55 are incorporated in the left top lens unit 47 and the upper right illumination unit 49, respectively. On the other hand, an outer frame speaker 56 is incorporated in the lower left position of the outer frame unit 2. These speakers 54, 55, and 56 output sound effects, BGM, voice, etc. (sound in general) and execute effects.

  In the center of the tray unit 6, an effect switching button 45 is installed at a position before the upper plate 6b (operation input means). The player switches the contents of the effect (for example, the background screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 42) by pressing the effect switching button 45, or is changing the symbol, displaying the big hit, or playing the big hit game. It is possible to generate a certain effect (notice effect, probability change promotion effect, promotion effect while playing a big role, etc.).

  Furthermore, a jog dial 45a is installed around the effect switching button 45 so as to surround the effect switching button 45 (operation input means, rotary selector). The player can change the contents of the effect displayed on the liquid crystal display 42, for example, by rotating the jog dial 45a.

[Configuration on the back side]
As shown in FIG. 2, on the back side of the pachinko machine 1, there are a power supply control unit 162, a main control board unit 170, a dispensing device unit 172, a flow path unit 173, a launch control board set 174, and a dispensing control board unit 176. A back cover unit 178 and the like are installed. In addition, on the back side of the pachinko machine 1, various electronic devices (including a control computer not shown) constituting the power supply system and control system of the pachinko machine 1, an external terminal board 160, a power cord (power plug) 164, A ground wire (ground terminal) 166, connection wiring (not shown), and the like are installed.

  The payout device unit 172 includes, for example, a prize ball tank 172a and a prize ball case (no reference numeral), and the prize ball tank 172a is installed on the upper edge (back side) of the inner frame assembly 7. The game balls replenished from a replenishment route (not shown) can be stored. The game balls stored in the prize ball tank 172a are guided to a prize ball case through an upper prize ball basket (not shown). The flow path unit 173 guides the game ball sent out from the payout device unit 172 toward the tray unit 6 on the front side.

  The external terminal board 160 is used to connect the pachinko machine 1 to an external electronic device (for example, a data display device, a hall computer, etc.). And various external information signals (for example, award ball information, door opening information, symbol determination number information, jackpot information, start opening information, etc.) indicating the maintenance status and the like are output to an external electronic device. .

  The power cord 164 secures a power source (electric power) necessary for the operation of the pachinko machine 1 by being connected to, for example, a power source device (for example, AC 24V) installed in an island facility of a game arcade. In addition, the ground wire 166 is connected to a ground terminal that is also installed in the island facility, thereby securing the ground (ground) of the pachinko machine 1.

[Configuration of the board]
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the game board unit 8 alone. The game board unit 8 includes a game board 8b serving as a base, and a game area 8a is formed on the front side of the game board 8b. The game board 8b is made of, for example, a transparent resin plate. With the game board unit 8 fixed to the inner frame assembly 7, the front surface of the game board 8b is parallel to the glass unit. On the front surface of the game board 8b, a game area 8a is formed on the inner side of a launch rail (without reference numeral) installed in a substantially circular shape.

  In the game area 8a, a winning device unit 400, a variable winning device 30 and the like are installed in addition to the start gate 20 and the normal winning ports 22 and 24. The winning device unit 400 includes a ball sorting device 200 and a start winning port unit 300. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, the game balls that are driven into the game area 8 a randomly pass through the start gate 20 in the process of flowing down, or win the normal winning holes 22 and 24. Alternatively, it passes through the ball sorting apparatus 200 or enters the starting prize opening unit 300. Note that the start winning port unit 300 has, for example, two start winning ports (left start winning port 28a, right start winning port 26) arranged side by side, and the game balls distributed by the ball distribution device 200 are: In the start winning opening unit 300, it is possible to enter either the left or right start winning opening.

  Of the game balls that have been struck, the game balls that have passed through the start gate 20 continue to flow down in the game area 8 a, but either enter the normal winning ports 22, 24 or left or right in the starting winning port unit 300. The game balls that have entered the start winning holes 26 and 28a are collected to the back side of the game board unit 8 through an opening (not shown) formed in the game board 8b.

  In the winning device unit 400, the variable starting winning device 28 is installed on the left side of the starting winning port unit 300. The variable start winning device 28 corresponds to the left start winning port 28a in the winning device unit 400.

  The variable start winning device 28 has, for example, a pair of left and right movable pieces 28b. These movable pieces 28b are operated by a link mechanism using, for example, a solenoid (not shown in FIG. 3). Reciprocate in the left-right direction along the front surface of the plate 8b. Such a reciprocating operation corresponds to an operation of changing the width of the inflow path of the game ball formed between the pair of movable pieces 28b, and in the present embodiment, this is referred to as an opening / closing operation. The variable start winning device 28 operates when a predetermined condition is satisfied (when a normal symbol is stopped and displayed over a stop display time in a winning manner), and performs the above opening / closing operation.

  The opening / closing operation of the pair of movable pieces 28b is performed in the following manner. That is, as shown by the solid line in the figure, the left and right movable pieces 28b are in the non-operating position with the tip facing upward, and the opening width through which the game ball can flow between the movable pieces 28b is narrowed at this time. It is in the state. At this time, it is not easy for the variable start winning device 28 to enter the ball, but it is possible to generate the ball. That is, a game ball can flow from above the pair of left and right movable pieces 28b. For example, a game ball released from the ball sorting apparatus 200 can flow between the pair of left and right movable pieces 28b.

  On the other hand, when the variable start winning device 28 is activated, the left and right movable pieces 28b are displaced (expanded) from the non-actuated position toward the open position, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure. The width of the inflow passage formed between them is expanded to the left and right. During this time, the variable start winning device 28 is in a state where the inflow of the game ball is facilitated, and it is possible to easily generate a ball to the left start winning port 28a as compared with the non-operating state.

  Further, the start winning opening unit 300 is provided with a pair of fixed pieces 302 a on the right side of the variable start winning apparatus 28. The pair of fixed pieces 302a correspond to the right start winning port 26 in the winning device unit 400 (however, not the winning port itself).

  The pair of fixed pieces 302a also form an inflow path for game balls therebetween, but the width is always fixed. Although the width of the pair of movable pieces 28b is fixed, game balls can flow in from above the movable pieces 28b. For example, the game balls released from the ball sorting apparatus 200 are not shown in the right start winning prize. After entering the mouth, it can flow between the pair of left and right fixed pieces 302a.

  The arrangement of the obstacle nails installed on the game board 8b is basically a mode in which it is easy to guide the flow of the game balls toward the ball sorting device 200 and the start winning opening unit 300. It does not flow into the sorting device 200 or the left and right start winning openings (between the pair of movable pieces 28b or between the pair of fixed pieces 302a), and the inflow of game balls occurs randomly.

  The above variable winning device 30 operates when a prescribed condition is satisfied (when a special symbol is stopped and displayed for a stop display time in a mode other than non-winning), and a big winning opening (no reference sign). Enables to enter the game (winning) (special electric accessory). The variable winning device 30 is a winning device provided at an upper position in the game area 8a (so-called upper attacker). In the present embodiment, the variable winning device 30 is on the left side of the upper end portion of the effect unit 40 (details will be described later). Has been placed. The variable winning device 30 has, for example, one open / close member 30a, and the open / close member 30a is displaced from the closed position toward the open position by the action of a link mechanism using a solenoid (not shown), for example. As shown in the figure, the opening / closing member 30a is in the closed position (closed state) with the tip facing upward (continuous with the rendering unit 40), and at this time, the winning (winning) to the big prize opening is always performed. It is impossible (the big prize opening is closed). When the variable winning device 30 is activated, the opening / closing member 30a is displaced so as to fall to the left with a hinge (not shown) as the center, thereby opening the large winning opening (open state). During this time, the variable winning device 30 is in a state where it is not impossible for the game ball to flow in, and can enter a winning (winning) into the big winning opening. At this time, the opening / closing member 30a also functions as a member for guiding the inflow of the game ball to the special winning opening. The game ball that has flowed into the big winning opening passes through the count switch 84 and is detected as a winning ball (winning), and then is collected to the back side of the game board unit 8 through a collecting passage (no reference symbol).

  In the game board unit 8, the effect unit 40 is installed from the center position to the right side portion. The production unit 40 has an upper edge portion 40a that functions as a guide member that changes the flow direction of the game ball, and includes various decorative parts 40b, 40c, 40k, and the like inside. The decorative parts 40b, 40c, and 40k enhance the decorativeness of the game board unit 8 by three-dimensional modeling, and perform a stunning operation by emitting transmitted light using, for example, a built-in light emitter (LED or the like). Can do. In addition, a liquid crystal display 42 (image display) is installed inside the effect unit 40, and various effect images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 42, including effect symbols corresponding to special symbols. . In this way, the game board unit 8 impresses the player with the characteristics of the pachinko machine 1 based on the configuration of the board surface and the decorativeness of the effect unit 40. Further, when the game board 8b is a transparent resin board (for example, an acrylic board) as in the present embodiment, various decorative bodies (including a movable body and a light emitting body) arranged not only on the front side but also behind the game board 8b. ) Can be added.

  A plurality (eight in this case) of memory display bodies 41a to 41h and one logo display body 40m are installed from the lower edge portion to the right edge portion of the effect unit 40. Among these, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are arranged so as to surround the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42 from the lower position to the right edge position, and at the right edge position from the memory display body 41a located at the left end in the lower position. The entire memory display body 41h has an arcuate shape. The logo display body 40m is disposed at the upper right edge of the display screen, and the uppermost memory display body 41h is adjacent to the logo display body 40m.

  The logo display body 40m has a configuration based on, for example, a circular decorative part, and a decorative character (logo mark) designed with alphabets “E” and “Z” is attached to the front surface thereof. Further, each of the memory display bodies 41a to 41h has a configuration based on, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped decorative part, and the numbers “1” to “8” are attached to the front surface in a manner that is easily visible to the player. (Not shown in FIG. 3). Each of the logo display body 40m and the plurality of memory display bodies 41a to 41h includes a light emitting device (LED) (not shown), and displays a logo by changing its lighting state (lighting color, lighting pattern). The body 40m and each of the memory display bodies 41a to 41h can individually perform an effect operation by light emission.

  Further, the plurality of memory display bodies 41a to 41h can also be used as the movable body described above. That is, a memory display motor (not shown) is installed on the back side of the game board unit 8, and this memory is used as a drive source to operate each of the memory displays 41a to 41h using a link mechanism or a gear transmission mechanism (not shown). Can be made. In addition, the specific production | generation aspect accompanied by light emission of the logo display body 40m, light emission and movement of the memory display bodies 41a-41h is mentioned later.

  A ball guide passage 40d is formed at the left edge of the effect unit 40, and a rolling stage 40e is formed at the lower edge thereof. The ball guide passage 40d is opened obliquely upward to the left in the game area 8a. When a game ball flowing down in the game area 8a randomly flows into the ball guide path 40d, it passes through the inside and rolls. Released onto the stage 40e. The upper surface of the rolling stage 40e has a smooth curved surface. Here, the game ball can roll in the left-right direction. The game ball that has rolled on the rolling stage 40e will eventually flow into the lower game area 8a. The rolling stage 40e has a ball discharge portion 40i formed at a substantially central position thereof, and the game ball flowing down from the rolling stage 40e via the ball discharge portion 40i enters the ball sorting device 200 directly below the ball release portion 40i. It becomes easy to sphere.

  An inflow passage 40g is formed at a substantially central position of the rolling stage 40e, and game balls can randomly flow into the inflow passage 40g from the rolling stage 40e. The inflow passage 40g is formed by extending the lower edge portion of the effect unit 40 downward and then bent in an L shape toward the front side, and a ball discharge port 40h is formed at the end thereof. The ball discharge port 40h is opened toward the front surface, and the opening position is located immediately above the ball sorting apparatus 200. For this reason, the game ball that has flowed into the inflow passage 40g from above the rolling stage 40e is discharged from the ball discharge port 40h and easily flows into the ball sorting apparatus 200 directly below it.

  The effect unit 40 is provided with a large rotating lamp 41 at the upper right position of the liquid crystal display 42. The large rotating lamp 41 is composed of, for example, a light-transmitting resin cover and a decorative body (both without reference numerals). Of these, the resin cover is formed into a container (dome bottom) shape, for example, of a red translucent material, and a light emitter (for example, LED) and a reflector (not shown) are provided inside the resin cover. Yes. The reflector has a structure imitating a concave mirror, for example, and is disposed in a state where the mirror surface is opposed to the reflector. Further, the reflector can be rotated within the resin cover by the power of a motor (not shown), for example. At this time, the reflector moves so as to rotate its mirror surface along the periphery of the light emitter. The rotational axis of the motor coincides with the central axis of the resin cover (a virtual line slightly inclined to the right in FIG. 3).

  For this reason, the large-sized rotating lamp 41 reflects the light emitted from the light emitter by condensing it with a concave mirror by rotating the reflector with a motor while emitting light from the light emitter, and rotates the reflected light like a lighthouse. It can be transmitted through the cover. Even if the illuminant emits white light at this time, since the resin cover material is translucent red, the light emitting operation of the large rotating lamp 41 is as if the red rotating lamp is rotating. It will be visually recognized.

  In addition, an out port 32 is formed in the game area 8 a, and game balls that have not entered (winned) in various winning ports are finally collected through the out port 32 to the back side of the game board unit 8. In addition, the game area 8a includes game balls that have entered the normal winning ports 22, 24, the starting winning port unit 300 (right starting winning port 26, left starting winning port 28a) and the variable winning device 30 (large winning port). All the game balls that have been driven in are collected to the back side of the game board unit 8. The collected game balls are discharged out of the frame from the back side of the pachinko machine 1 through an out passage assembly (not shown), and further join a supply path of an island facility (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view showing a part of the game board unit 8 (lower left position in the window 4a). That is, the game board unit 8 is provided with a normal symbol display device 33 and a normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a at the lower left position in the window 4a, for example, as well as a first special symbol display device 34 and a second special symbol display device 35. And a game state display device 38 is provided. Among these, the normal symbol display device 33, for example, turns on two lamps (LEDs) alternately to display the normal symbols variably, and stops and displays the normal symbols when the lamps are turned on or off. The normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a displays 0 to 4 memory numbers depending on, for example, a combination of turning off, lighting, or blinking of two lamps (LEDs). For example, in a display mode in which both lamps are extinguished, a memory number of 0 is displayed, in a display mode in which one lamp is lit, a memory number of 1 is displayed, and in a display mode in which the same one lamp is blinked. In the display mode in which two stored numbers are displayed, and in addition to blinking one lamp, the other lamp is lit, three stored numbers are displayed, and in the display mode in which the two lamps are flashed together, the stored number is four. For example, the individual is displayed. Here, although two lamps (LEDs) are used here, the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a may be configured using four lamps (LEDs). In this case, the number of working memories can be displayed by the number of lamps to be lit.

  Each time the game ball passes through the start gate 20, the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a changes to the display mode after being incremented one by one in the sense of memorizing the occurrence of the passage that triggers the operation lottery. Every time (up to a maximum of four), the change of the normal symbol is started every time the change of the normal symbol is started. In this embodiment, when the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a is not lit (the number of memories is 0), the game ball passes through the start gate 20 in a state in which the normal symbol can already start to change (during stop display). However, the display mode does not change. That is, the memorized number (maximum 4) represented by the display mode of the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a represents the number of passages at which the variation of the normal symbol has not started yet.

  In addition, the first special symbol display device 34 and the second special symbol display device 35 display, for example, a change state and a stopped state of the corresponding first special symbol or second special symbol by 7 segment LED (with dots), respectively. (Symbol display means). The first special symbol display device 34 and the second special symbol display device 35 may have a form in which a plurality of dot LEDs are arranged geometrically (for example, in a circular shape).

  Further, the first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a and the second special symbol operation memory lamp 35a have 0 to 4 each, for example, depending on a display mode constituted by a combination of extinction or lighting and blinking of two lamps (LEDs). Is stored (memory number display means). For example, in a display mode in which both lamps are extinguished, a memory number of 0 is displayed, in a display mode in which one lamp is lit, a memory number of 1 is displayed, and in a display mode in which the same one lamp is blinked. In the display mode in which two stored numbers are displayed, and in addition to blinking one lamp, the other lamp is lit, three stored numbers are displayed, and in the display mode in which the two lamps are flashed together, the stored number is four. For example, the individual is displayed.

  The first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a is displayed after incrementing by one in the sense that it stores that a game ball has entered the right start winning opening 26 every time a game ball enters the right start winning opening 26. It changes to a mode (up to a maximum of 4), and changes to the display mode after being reduced one by one each time the change of the special symbol is triggered by the entry. The second special symbol operation memory lamp 35a is incremented by one in the sense that each time a game ball enters the variable start winning device 28, it stores that the game ball has entered the left start winning port 28a. Change to the display mode (up to 4), and each time the change of the special symbol is started with the entry, the display mode is changed by 1 each. In the present embodiment, when the first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a is not lit (the number of memories is 0), the right start winning opening 26 is in a state where the first special symbol can already start to change (when stopped). Even if a game ball enters, the display mode does not change. In addition, when the second special symbol operation memory lamp 35a is not lit (the number of memories is 0), a game ball enters the variable start winning device 28 in a state where the second special symbol can already start to change (when stopped). Even if it is a sphere, the display mode does not change. That is, the number of memories (maximum of 4) represented by the display mode of each special symbol operation memory lamp 34a, 35a is the number of incoming balls for which the variation of the first special symbol or the second special symbol has not yet started. It represents the number of times.

  The game state display device 38 includes LEDs corresponding to, for example, jackpot type display lamps 38a, 38b, and 38c, a probability variation state display lamp 38d, a time-short state display lamp 38e, and a launch position designation lamp 38f. In the present embodiment, the normal symbol display device 33, the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a, the first special symbol display device 34, the second special symbol display device 35, the first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a, and the second special symbol are described. The symbol operation memory lamp 35a and the game state display device 38 are attached to the game board unit 8 in a state of being mounted on one integrated display board 89.

[Control configuration]
Next, a configuration related to control of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing various electronic devices equipped in the pachinko machine 1. The pachinko machine 1 includes a main control device 70 (main control computer) that serves as the center of the control operation. The main control device 70 mainly has a function of controlling the progress of the game in the pachinko machine 1. Yes. The main controller 70 is built in the main control board unit 170.

  The main controller 70 is equipped with a circuit board (main control board) on which a main control CPU 72 as a central processing unit is mounted. The main control CPU 72 includes a ROM 74, a RAM ( RWM) 76 and other semiconductor memories are integrated as an LSI. The main controller 70 is also equipped with a random number circuit 75, an interrupt controller (interrupt CTR) 192, a parallel I / O port 79, a timer circuit (PTC) 194, and a serial communication circuit (SCU) 196. Among these, the random number circuit 75 generates a hardware random number (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal notation) for the big symbol determination of the special symbol lottery or the normal symbol lottery determination, and the generated random number is Input to the main control CPU 72. The interrupt controller 192 accepts each interrupt request (XINT interrupt, PTC interrupt, SCU interrupt) from the parallel I / O port 79, the timer circuit 194, and the serial communication circuit 196, and outputs these interrupt requests. Control based on priority. In addition, the main controller 70 is equipped with a clock generation circuit (not shown) and peripheral ICs such as a reset controller for monitoring various states and generating a reset as necessary. Implemented above. A signal transmission path, a power supply path, a control bus, and the like are formed as wiring patterns on the circuit board (or the inner layer portion). The I / O port of the main controller 70 may be in a serial format.

  The start gate 20 described above is integrally provided with a gate switch 78 for detecting the passage of a game ball. The game board unit 8 includes a right start winning port switch 80, a left start winning port switch 82, and a count corresponding to the right start winning port 26, the variable start winning device 28, and the variable winning device 30 (large winning port), respectively. A switch 84 is provided. The start winning port switches 80 and 82 are for detecting the entrance of a game ball into the right start winning port 26 and the variable start winning device 28 (left start winning port 28a). Further, the count switch 84 is for detecting the number of game balls that have entered the variable winning device 30 (large winning opening) and counting the number thereof.

  Similarly, the game board unit 8 includes a first winning port switch 86 for detecting a game ball entering the normal winning port 22 and a second winning port switch for detecting a game ball entering the normal winning port 24. 81 is equipped. In addition, although the structure which uses the separate winning opening switches 86 and 81 for each of the normal winning openings 22 and 24 is described as an example here, for example, a single winning opening switch is used to enter each of the ordinary winning openings 22 and 24. It is good also as detecting all.

  In any case, winning detection signals of these switches are input to the main control CPU 72 via an input / output driver (not shown). Note that due to the configuration of the game board unit 8, in this embodiment, winning detection signals from the gate switch 78, the count switch 84, the first winning port switch 86, and the second winning port switch 81 pass through the panel relay terminal board 87. The panel relay terminal board 87 is provided with wiring patterns, connection terminals, etc. for relaying the respective winning detection signals.

  The above-mentioned normal symbol display device 33, normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a, first special symbol display device 34, second special symbol display device 35, first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a, second special symbol operation memory lamp 35a and game The state display device 38 is controlled in display operation based on a control signal from the main control CPU 72. The main control CPU 72 outputs control signals for the display devices 33, 34, 35, 38 and the lamps 33a, 34a, 35a according to the progress of the game, and controls the lighting state of each LED. The display devices 33, 34, 35, and 38 and the lamps 33a, 34a, and 35a are installed in the game board unit 8 in a state of being mounted on one integrated display board 89 as described above. A control signal is transmitted from the main control CPU 72 to the display substrate 89 via the panel relay terminal board 87.

  In addition, the game board unit 8 is provided with an ordinary electric accessory solenoid 88 and a big prize opening solenoid 90 corresponding to each of the variable start winning device 28 and the variable winning device 30. These solenoids 88 and 90 are operated (excited) based on a control signal from the main control CPU 72 to open / close (activate) the variable start winning device 28 and the variable winning device 30, respectively. The solenoids 88 and 90 also transmit control signals from the main control CPU 72 via the panel relay terminal plate 87.

  In addition, a glass frame opening switch 91 is installed in the integrated door unit 4, and a plastic frame opening switch 93 is installed in the inner frame assembly 7. When the integrated door unit 4 is opened alone, a contact signal from the glass frame opening switch 91 is input to the main controller 70 (main control CPU 72), and the inner frame assembly 7 is opened from the outer frame unit 2. Then, a contact signal from the plastic frame opening switch 93 is input to the main controller 70 (main control CPU 72). The main control CPU 72 can detect the open state of the integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 from these contact signals. When the main control CPU 72 detects the open state of the integrated door unit 4 or the inner frame assembly 7, the main control CPU 72 generates a door open information signal as an external information signal.

  On the back side of the pachinko machine 1, a payout control device 92 is provided. The payout control device 92 (payout control computer) controls the operation of the payout device unit 172 described above. The payout control device 92 is equipped with a circuit board (payout control board) on which a payout control CPU 94 is mounted. The payout control CPU 94 also includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM 96 and a RAM (RWM) 98 together with a CPU core (not shown). It is configured as an integrated LSI. The payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94) controls the operation of the payout device unit 172 based on the prize ball instruction command from the main control CPU 72, and executes the payout operation of the requested number of game balls. The main control CPU 72 generates a prize ball information signal as an external information signal together with a prize ball instruction command.

  In a prize ball case (not shown) of the payout device unit 172, a payout device substrate 100 is installed together with a payout motor 102 (for example, a stepping motor). The payout device substrate 100 is provided with a drive circuit for the payout motor 102. Yes. The payout device substrate 100 specifically controls the rotation angle of the payout motor 102 based on the payout number instruction signal from the payout control device 92 (the payout control CPU 94), and pays out the designated number of game balls from the prize ball case. Let it come out. The paid-out game balls are sent to the tray unit 6 through the payout flow path in the flow path unit 173.

  Further, for example, a payout path ball cut switch 104 is installed at an upstream position of the prize ball case, and a payout counting switch 106 is installed at a downstream position of the payout motor 102. When a prize ball is actually paid out by driving the payout motor 102, a count signal from the payout count switch 106 is input to the payout device substrate 100 each time. Further, when a ball break occurs at an upstream position of the prize ball case, a contact signal from the payout path ball break switch 104 is input to the payout device substrate 100. The dispensing device substrate 100 transmits the input count signal and contact signal to the dispensing control device 92 (dispensing control CPU 94). The payout control CPU 94 can detect the actual payout number and the out-of-ball state based on the signal received from the payout device substrate 100.

  Further, the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a full tank switch 161, for example, inside the lower plate 6c (the position of the bowl as viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 1). The award balls (game balls) that are actually paid out are discharged to the upper plate 6b through the flow path unit 173, but when the upper plate 6b is filled with game balls, the game balls that have been paid out more than those are described above. Into the lower plate 6c. Further, when the lower plate 6c is filled with game balls, the full tank switch 161 is turned ON, and a full tank detection signal is input to the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94). In response to this, even if the payout control CPU 94 receives a prize ball instruction command from the main control CPU 72, it temporarily suspends further prize ball operations, and stores the unpaid prize ball remaining number in the RAM 98. Note that the RAM 98 can be backed up even when the power is cut off, so that even if a power failure (including momentary power failure) occurs during the game, the information on the number of remaining unsold prize balls will not be lost. .

  In addition, on the back side of the pachinko machine 1, a firing solenoid 110 is installed together with the launch control board 108. A ball feed solenoid 111 is provided in the tray unit 6. The launch control board 108, the launch solenoid 110, and the ball feed solenoid 111 constitute the launch control board set 174 described above, and the launch control board 108 is provided with drive circuits for the launch solenoid 110 and the ball feed solenoid 111. ing. Among these, the ball feed solenoid 111 performs an operation of sending out the game balls stored in the tray unit 6 one by one to a predetermined launch position in the launcher case. Moreover, the launch solenoid 110 hits the game ball sent to the launch position, and performs the operation of launching game balls one by one continuously (intermittently) toward the game area 8a as described above. Note that the game ball is fired at intervals of, for example, about 0.6 seconds (within 100 per minute).

  On the other hand, the handle unit 16 located on the front side of the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a firing lever volume 112, a touch sensor 114, and a firing stop switch 116. Among these, the firing lever volume 112 generates an analog signal proportional to the operation amount (so-called stroke) of the firing handle by the player. Further, the touch sensor 114 detects that the player's body is touching the handle unit 16 (launching handle) from the change in capacitance, and outputs a detection signal thereof. The firing stop switch 116 generates a firing stop signal (contact signal) in accordance with the player's operation.

  A launch relay terminal plate 118 is installed in the saucer unit 6, and each signal from the launch lever volume 112, the touch sensor 114, and the launch stop switch 116 is transmitted to the launch control board 108 via the launch relay terminal plate 118. Is done. The drive signal from the launch control board 108 is applied to the ball feed solenoid 111 via the launch relay terminal board 118. When the player operates the firing handle, an analog signal (which may be an encoded digital signal) is generated by the firing lever volume 112 according to the operation amount, and the firing solenoid 110 is driven based on the signal at this time. Thereby, the strength of launching a game ball is adjusted according to the operation amount of the player. The drive circuit of the firing control board 108 stops driving the firing solenoid 110 when the detection signal from the touch sensor 114 is off (low level) or when the firing stop signal is input from the firing stop switch 116. To do. In addition to this, the launch relay terminal plate 118 is connected with a lending device connection terminal plate 120 such as a game ball, and when a CR unit is not connected to this lending device connection terminal plate 120 such as a game ball, the launch control board is also used. The drive circuit 108 stops driving the firing solenoid 110.

  The tray unit 6 includes a frequency display board 122 and a lending / return switch board 123. Of these, the frequency display board 122 is provided with a display of a frequency display section (7-segment LED for 3 digits). In addition, switch modules connected to the ball lending button 10 and the return button 12 are mounted on the lending / return switch board 123, and when the ball lending button 10 or the return button 12 is operated, the operation signal is lended. And the return switch board 123 via the game ball lending device connection terminal board 120 to the CR unit. Further, a frequency signal indicating the remaining frequency of the valuable medium is transmitted from the CR unit to the frequency display board 122 via the gaming ball lending device connection terminal board 120. A display circuit (not shown) on the frequency display board 122 drives the display unit based on the frequency signal, and displays the remaining frequency of the valuable medium as a numerical value. In addition, when no valuable medium is inserted into the CR unit, or when the remaining frequency of the inserted valuable medium becomes zero, the display circuit of the frequency display board 122 drives the display to display a demonstration (value medium). Display for urging the user to input.

  Further, the pachinko machine 1 includes an effect control device 124 (effect control computer) as a control configuration. The effect control device 124 is provided at a position covered by the back cover unit 178 on the back side of the pachinko machine 1. The effect control device 124 controls the effect accompanying the progress of the game in the pachinko machine 1. The effect control device 124 is also equipped with an effect control CPU 126, which is a central processing unit, on a circuit board (composite sub-control board). The effect control CPU 126 is configured as an LSI including a CPU core (not shown) and a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (RWM) 130 and an eDRAM 131.

  In addition, the effect control device 124 is loaded with various functional components necessary for realizing the effects such as the VDP 152, the driver IC 132, and the audio IC 134. Among these, the VDP 152 is a processor for drawing an effect screen reproduced on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42. The driver IC 132 controls devices such as the large rotation lamp 41 and the lamps 46 to 52, the panel lamp 53, the decoration body motor 57, the decoration body lamp 58, the memory display body motor 67, the memory display body 68, and the logo display body lamp 69. IC is installed. The audio IC 134 controls driving of the speakers 54, 55, and 56. Such an internal functional configuration of the effect control device 124 will be described later in detail with reference to another drawing.

  The effect control device 124 and the main control device 70 are connected to each other via a communication harness (not shown), for example. However, the communication between these is performed only in one direction from the main control device 70 to the effect control device 124, and communication in the reverse direction is not performed. Note that the communication harness adopts a parallel format according to the bus widths of various effect commands (hereinafter referred to as “effect commands”) transmitted from the main control device 70 to the effect control device 124. Alternatively, a serial format may be adopted according to the hardware configuration of each driver (I / O).

  In this embodiment, the sub connection board 136 is installed on the inner surface of the integrated door unit 4, and drive signals from the driver IC 132 and the audio IC 134 pass through the sub connection board 136 and various lamps 46 to 52 and speakers 54, 55,. 56 is applied. Further, the sub connection board 136 is connected with an effect switching button 45 and a volume adjustment switch (not shown), and when the player operates the effect switching button 45 and the volume adjustment switch, those contact signals are transmitted through the sub connection board 136. It is input to the production control device 124. Further, a jog dial 45 a is connected to the sub connection board 136, and when the player rotates the jog dial 45 a, the rotation signal is input to the effect control device 124 through the sub connection board 136. In addition, although the example which connected the production | presentation switch button 45 and the jog dial 45a to the sub connection board | substrate 136 is given here, when installing a saucer illumination board, the production switch button 45 and the jog dial 45a are connected to a saucer illumination board. It may be.

  In addition, a driver board 138 is installed in the game board unit 8. In addition to the board surface lamp 53, a decoration body motor 57, a decoration body lamp 58, a memory display body motor 67, and a memory display body lamp 68 are provided on the driver board 138. A logo display lamp 69, a large rotary lamp 41, and the like are connected. The motors 57 and 67 drive various movable bodies via a gear transmission mechanism and a link mechanism (not shown), for example. A drive signal from the driver IC 132 is applied to each of the lamps 41, 53, 68, 69 and the motors 57, 67 as connection destinations via the driver board 138. The large rotating lamp 41 is also provided with a motor, but the illustration is omitted here.

  The liquid crystal display 42 is installed on the back side of the game board unit 8, and the display screen is visible through a substantially rectangular opening formed in the game board unit 8. Further, an inverter board 158 is installed on the back side of the game board unit 8, and the inverter board 158 generates an AC power source that is applied to a backlight (for example, a cold cathode tube) of the liquid crystal display 42.

  In addition, a power supply control unit 162 is provided on the back side of the inner frame assembly 7. The power supply control unit 162 has a built-in switching power supply circuit. When external power (for example, AC 24V) is taken from the island facility through the power cord 164, necessary power (for example, DC + 34V, + 12V) can be generated therefrom. The electric power generated by the power supply control unit 162 is distributed to the main control device 70, the payout control device 92, the effect control device 124, and the inverter board 158. Furthermore, power is supplied to the launch control board 108 via the payout control device 92, and power is supplied to the CR unit via the game ball rental device connection terminal board 120. The low voltage power for logic (for example, DC + 5V) is generated by a power supply IC (3-terminal regulator or the like) built in each device. Further, as described above, the power supply control unit 162 is grounded (grounded) to the island facility through the ground wire 166.

  In addition, the power supply control unit 162 is provided with a RAM clear switch 163. The RAM clear switch 163 is a switch for clearing the RAM (initializing all areas except the use-prohibited area of the RAM 76). When the RAM clear switch 163 is operated when the power is turned on, the RAM clear signal is sent to the main controller. 70 and the payout control device 92. A RAM clear switch may be provided in the main controller 70. The main controller 70 transmits a RAM clear command to the payout controller 92 when the main controller 70 accepts the input of the RAM clear signal without inputting the RAM clear signal to the payout controller 92. Also good.

  The external terminal plate 160 is connected to the payout control device 92, and various external information signals generated by the main control device 70 (main control CPU 72) are externally transmitted from the external terminal plate 160 via the payout control device 92. Is output. The main control device 70 (main control CPU 72) and the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94) can output an external information signal to the outside of the pachinko machine 1 through the external terminal board 160. The signals output from the external terminal board 160 are collected by, for example, a hall computer (not shown) in a game hall. Here, the configuration via the payout control device 92 is taken as an example, but a configuration in which an external information signal is directly output from the main control device 70 to the external terminal board 160 may be used.

[Internal structure of production control device]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the effect control device 124.
As described above, the effect control device 124 has a role as an effect control processor that controls an effect as the game progresses. Therefore, in addition to the effect control CPU 126, the effect control device 124 is equipped with a control ROM 180 and a watchdog timer IC (WDTIC) 188 that are necessary for the effect control device 124 to function as an effect control processor. The control ROM 180 stores a basic program related to production control. The effect control CPU 126 controls the effect by accessing the control ROM 180 via a CPU bus (not shown) and executing a program stored in the control ROM 180. The watchdog timer IC 188 is a timer that monitors whether the control executed by the effect control device 124 is normally performed (whether the process is completed within the assumed time), and is connected to the reset terminal of the effect control CPU 126. Yes. If a signal for clearing the monitoring timer of the watchdog timer IC 188 (clear pulse) is not input within a predetermined time, the watch dog timer IC 188 outputs a signal (reset pulse) for starting the effect control CPU 126 to reset. To do. As a result, the production control device 124 is forcibly reset and activated.

  In addition to these functions, the effect control device 124 includes an SRAM 182 that is a storage area for backup data, a crystal oscillator 181 that generates a clock signal of a predetermined frequency, and a real-time clock (RTC) 184 that performs time management. A lithium battery 186 that supplies backup power to the SRAM 182 and the real-time clock 184, peripheral ICs such as an input / output driver and a counter / timer circuit (not shown), and the like are provided. The lithium battery 186 stores this electric power and charges itself while driving power is supplied from the power supply control unit 162 to the effect control device 124. The SRAM 182 and the real-time clock 184 are connected to the lithium battery 186 and can be driven by the lithium battery 186 when the supply of drive power from the power supply control unit 162 to the effect control device 124 is cut off. Therefore, the SRAM 182 and the real-time clock 184 continue to operate during a period (for example, about one and a half months) until the lithium battery 186 is charged even when the power supply from the power supply control unit 162 is cut off. The SRAM 182 can hold stored information for a while even under a power-off condition.

  The production control program is configured to store information on security, monitoring, malfunction, and the like that should not be easily deleted in the SRAM 182. Thereby, for example, when some trouble occurs in the production control device 124, the pachinko machine 1 is collected (or inspected in the installed state), and the cause investigation of the trouble is advanced by analyzing the information held in the SRAM 182. It becomes possible.

  Normally, the effect control CPU 126 uses the devices such as the liquid crystal display 42, the various lamps 46 to 53, and the speakers 54, 55, 56 as described above for the effect control executed in accordance with the program stored in the control ROM 180. The control of the production that had been included. The flow of the production control is roughly divided into two stages of “overall control (reproduction instruction)” and “individual control (reproduction control)”. The effect control CPU 126 first receives an effect command transmitted from the main control device 70, and indirectly instructs each device to reproduce the effect according to the content of the effect command (overall control). Next, the production control CPU 126 generates instruction data in which the instruction content is converted into a more specific expression suitable for each device, and each control device 134, 152, 198, 199 relays between the production control CPU 126 and each device. (Individual control). As a result, each control device 134, 152, 198, 199 controls each device based on the instruction data, and effects reproduction using each device in the pachinko machine 1 (screen display, audio output, lamp emission, movable body displacement) Etc.) is realized.

  In this way, the effect control CPU 126 has different functions depending on the stage of effect control, and these functions are realized by using the resources of the effect control CPU 126 separately. In FIG. 6, the production control CPU 126's internal resources are divided into several functional blocks: production control unit 210, display control unit 220, audio control unit 222, lamp control unit 224, motor control unit 226, and sensor control unit 228. Shown as etc. In the following description, it is assumed that each functional block is handled as an operation subject of control processing.

  First, in the stage of overall control, the effect control unit 210 in the effect control CPU 126 is the main subject of operation. In the individual control stage, the display control unit 220, the sound control unit 222, the lamp control unit 224, the motor control unit 226, or the sensor control unit 228 in the effect control CPU 126 is operated according to the device to be controlled. It becomes. The production control unit 210 may directly control the control devices 134, 152, 198, and 199.

  The effect control device 124 functions as an effect control processor in the overall control stage, whereas it functions as an effect reproduction processor in the individual control stage. Therefore, in addition to the circuit board (effect display control board) on which the VDP 152 is mounted and the CGROM (image / audio ROM) 190, the effect control device 124 includes an audio IC 134 for controlling various devices used for reproducing the effect, An LED driver 198, an SMC (serial control controller) 199, and a driver IC 132 are provided.

  The CGROM 190 stores the drawing material (moving image data) constituting the effect screen and the sound material (audio data) output with the progress of the effect in a state compressed by a predetermined compression algorithm. The CGROM 190 is connected to the VDP 152 and the audio IC 134 via a CG bus (not shown).

  The VDP 152 is a processor dedicated to rendering effect images, and is integrated with the effect control CPU 126 in one chip. The VDP 152 includes a VRAM 156 and a drawing material decoder 157. Of these, the VRAM 156 is mainly used when decompressing the drawing material, and the drawing material decoder 157 is used when decompressing (decoding) the drawing material in a compressed state. The VDP 152 first analyzes the instruction content transmitted from the display control unit 220, reads the necessary drawing material from the CGROM 190 via the CG bus, and transfers it to the VRAM 156. Then, the drawing material read out is decoded by the drawing material decoder 157, and the effect image is drawn on the VRAM 156, and the effect image is developed in the frame buffer for each frame (still image per unit time). Reproduction of the effect screen is realized by individually driving each pixel (full color pixel) of the liquid crystal display 42 based on the buffered image data.

  The audio IC 134 is a sound generator that generates sound such as sound effects and BGM reproduced during execution of the effect, and is integrated into the effect control CPU 126 and one chip, like the VDP 152. The audio IC 134 is connected to an amplifier (not shown), an external DRAM, and a CG bus. The audio IC 134 incorporates an audio material decoder 135 that decompresses (decodes) the compressed audio material. The audio IC 134 first analyzes the instruction content transmitted from the audio control unit 222 and reads the necessary audio material from the CGROM 190 via the CG bus. Then, the read audio material is decoded using the audio material decoder 135 on the external DRAM. By outputting the decoded sound to the glass frame speakers 54 and 55 and the outer frame speaker 56 via the amplifier, stereo 2ch or monaural 2ch sound reproduction (a larger number of channels may be realized) is realized. The audio IC 134 adjusts the output volume of each speaker 54, 55, 56 based on a contact signal input when the volume adjustment switch is operated.

  The LED driver 198 includes various lamps 41, 53, 58, 68, for emitting light from various lamps 46 to 53 provided on the front side of the pachinko machine 1 and a production structure provided in the production unit 40. The lighting pattern and luminance pattern associated with the execution of 69 effects are controlled. The LED driver 198 employs an addressed synchronous serial system. First, the LED driver 198 controls the lighting pattern and the luminance pattern based on the instruction content transmitted from the lamp control unit 224, and transfers drive data corresponding thereto to the driver IC 132.

  The SMC 199 includes a drive source of various movable bodies (logo display body 40m, large rotating lamp 41, memory display bodies 41a to 41h, decorative bodies 41x, 41y, 41z, etc.) provided in the production unit 40. The excitation patterns of various movable body motors (decorative body motor 57, memory display body motor 67, etc.) are controlled. The SMC 199 is also integrated with the effect control CPU 126 and one chip. In SMC199, the clock synchronous serial system is adopted. First, the SMC 199 generates an excitation pattern of the movable body motor based on the instruction content transmitted from the motor control unit 226, and outputs this to the driver IC 132. In addition, when the SMC 199 finishes generating the excitation pattern, the SMC 199 generates an interrupt notifying the motor control unit 226 to that effect. Further, the SMC 199 acquires a detection signal output when the movable body associated with the movable body detection sensor is detected, and transfers the detection signal to the motor control unit 226. The operation of SMC 199 will be described later in detail with reference to another drawing.

  The driver IC 132 controls the drive voltage applied to the lamp and the motor based on the drive data transferred from the LED driver 198 and the SMC 199. The driver IC 132 includes a switching element such as a PWM (pulse width modulation) IC or a MOSFET (not shown), for example, and switches driving voltages (or duty switching) applied to the various lamps 46 to 53 and the decorative body motor 57. By managing the operation, production reproduction using a lamp or a movable body is realized. Of the various lamps 46 to 53, the panel lamp 53 corresponds to an LED incorporated in the effect unit 40, an LED incorporated in the variable start winning device 28, the variable winning device 30, or the like. Further, here, an example is given in which the glass frame decoration lamp 52 is connected to the sub-connection board 136, but a saucer illumination board is installed in the saucer unit 6, and for the glass frame decoration lamp 52, a saucer illumination board is installed. It may be configured to be connected to the driver IC 132 via

  In addition, the driver IC 132 transfers a contact signal input when the effect switching button 45 or the jog dial 45a is operated to the effect control unit 210 via the sensor control unit 228, or the movable body detection sensor is movable. A detection signal input when a body is detected is transferred to the motor control unit 226. The effect control unit 210 or the motor control unit 226 appropriately changes the content of the effect to be reproduced based on the content of the transferred signal. Note that the driver IC 132 may be installed outside the effect control device 124 at a position that relays between devices to be controlled such as lamps, motors, and sensors.

  The above is a configuration example relating to the control of the pachinko machine 1. Next, control processing executed by the main control CPU 72 of the main control device 70 will be described.

[CPU initialization (main) processing in main controller]
When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the main control CPU 72 starts the CPU initialization process in the main controller 70. The CPU initialization process restores the gaming state based on the backup information saved at the previous power shutdown (so-called power recovery), or conversely clears the backup information, so that the initial state of the pachinko machine 1 is restored. It is a process for arranging. Further, the CPU initialization process is positioned as a main process (main control program) for guaranteeing a stable gaming operation of the pachinko machine 1 after adjusting the initial state.

  7 and 8 are flowcharts showing an example of the procedure of the CPU initialization process. Hereinafter, the process performed by the main control CPU 72 will be described step by step.

  Step S100: First, the main control CPU 72 sets the top address of the stack area in the stack pointer.

  Step S102: Subsequently, the main control CPU 72 sets an interrupt vector table. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sets the address of the interrupt vector table in the I register (interrupt vector register) used for interrupt control. The interrupt vector table defines priorities necessary for controlling interrupt requests generated during the execution of the CPU initialization process, and the main control CPU 72 sets the priorities defined in the interrupt vector table. Based on this, a plurality of interrupt requests are executed in order. The interrupt process control will be described later in detail.

  Step S104: The main control CPU 72 saves the RAM clear signal (input signal from the RAM clear switch 163). More specifically, the value of the input port to which the RAM clear signal is input is obtained twice in succession, and the logical sum of these values is saved as the input port value.

  Step S106: The main control CPU 72 executes standby processing here. This process secures a certain waiting time (for example, about several thousand ms) after power-on, and checks the power-off notice signal (a signal indicating that power-off is occurring) during that time. Is. Specifically, when the main control CPU 72 sets the loop counter for the waiting time, the main control CPU 72 bit-checks the input port of the power-off notice signal while decrementing the value of the loop counter. The power-off notice signal is input by an IC that monitors the voltage level of the drive voltage. When the input of the power-off notice signal is confirmed before the loop counter reaches 0, the main control CPU 72 restarts the process from the beginning. As a result, for example, the system can be protected when a main power switch (not shown) is turned on and off repeatedly within a short time (about 1 to 2 seconds).

  Step S108: Next, the main control CPU 72 permits access to the work area of the RAM 76. Specifically, the RAM protect setting value in the work area is reset (00H). As a result, thereafter, access to the work area of the RAM 76 is permitted.

  Step S110: The main control CPU 72 refers to the RAM clear signal by checking the specific bit of the input port value saved in the previous step S104, and confirms whether or not the RAM clear switch 163 has been operated (switch ON). To do. If the RAM clear switch 163 is not operated (No), step S112 is executed next.

  Step S112: Next, the main control CPU 72 checks whether or not backup information is stored in the RAM 76, that is, whether or not a backup validity determination flag is set. If the backup is normally completed by the process executed at the previous power shutdown and the backup validity determination flag (for example, “A5H”) is set (Yes), the main control CPU 72 then executes step S114. Note that the processing executed when the power is turned off will be described later using another flowchart.

  Step S114: The main control CPU 72 executes a sum check on the backup information in the RAM 76. Specifically, the main control CPU 72 sum-checks all areas of the work area of the RAM 76 (a user work area including a use-prohibited area and a stack area) except the backup validity determination flag and the sum check buffer. If the result of the sum check is normal (Yes), the main control CPU 72 then executes step S116.

  Step S116: The main control CPU 72 clears the stored contents of a partial area of the RAM 76. The partial area of the RAM 76 is a work area within a predetermined range based on the address of the backup validity determination flag to be cleared when the power is restored. By maintaining the valid backup information stored while clearing the stored contents of this area, the main control CPU 72 can recover the state at the time of power-off (storage restoration means).

  Step S118: The main control CPU 72 is to send a power command indicating that the power has been restored after being turned off and activated (command to be sent to the production control device 124) and a payout command (to be sent to the payout control device 92). Command).

  On the other hand, when the RAM clear switch 163 is operated at the time of power-on (step S110: Yes), the backup validity determination flag is not set (step S112: No), or the backup information is not normal. In the case (step S114: No), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S120.

Step S120: The main control CPU 72 clears the stored contents other than the use prohibited area of the RAM 76. As a result, the work area and stack area of the RAM 76 are all initialized, and even if valid backup information is stored, the contents are erased.
Step S122: The main control CPU 72 performs initial setting of the RAM 76.

  Step S124: The main control CPU sets a RAM clear designation effect command (command for the effect control device 124) and a payout command (command for the payout control device 92) indicating that the RAM clear has been activated.

  Step S126: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes a payout control output process. In this process, the main control CPU 72 outputs the payout command (power return designation) set in step S118 or the payout command (RAM clear designation) set in step S124 to the payout command buffer.

  Step S128: The main control CPU 72 executes an effect control output process. In this process, first, the main control CPU 72 outputs the effect command (power supply return designation) set in step S118 or the effect command (RAM clear designation) set in step S124 to the effect command buffer. The main control CPU 72 further performs other various effect commands required for effect control (for example, a model designation command, a special symbol probability state designation command, a special figure destination determination effect command, an effect command when the working memory number is increased, and a decrease in the working memory number. (Time production command, remaining count counter remaining command, special gaming state designation command, launch position designation command, etc.) are set and output to the production command buffer. At this time, the main control CPU 72 sets different values for these effect commands when the power is restored and when the RAM is cleared.

  For example, when the power is restored, the value of each effect command is set based on the backup information. By transmitting these effect commands to the effect control device 124 in the subsequent effect command transmission processing (step S142), the effect control device 124 is in the effect state (for example, internal) (Probability state, effect symbol display mode, working memory number effect display mode, sound output content, light emission state of various lamps, etc.) can be restored.

  Step S130: The main control CPU 72 executes input port processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 acquires the contents of each input port, and stores the result of performing a predetermined calculation on the value in the status flag of each input port. When this process is finished, the main control CPU 72 then proceeds to step S131 (connection symbol A → A).

  Step S131: The main control CPU 72 sets a main command permission signal to a specific bit of the output port. The main command permission signal is a signal that indicates to the payout control device 92 that the main control device 70 permits command transmission to itself. When the main command permission signal is input to the payout control device 92, the payout control device 92 receives this and inputs a payout command permission signal indicating that the main control device 70 is permitted to transmit the payout command. It becomes.

  Step S132: The main control CPU 72 resets (turns off) the specific bit of the output port to clear the firing permission signal (specific output information clearing means). The launch permission signal is included in the backup target when the power is shut off. Accordingly, when the main controller 70 (pachinko machine 1) returns to the power supply state, the main control CPU 72 executes the flow for returning the power supply in the CPU initialization process, and the main controller 70 is in a state when the power supply is shut off based on the backup information. (Step S116), but as part of this, the firing permission signal is also returned to the power-off state.

  The firing permission signal is set to a specific bit (for example, bit 0) in a specific output port buffer (for example, a buffer for the output port 3) stored in the RAM 76. However, the address of the target output port buffer here is located in the address space of the RAM 76 that is out of the continuous area to be cleared in step S116. For this reason, if it is attempted to clear the value of the specific bit of the specific address in which the firing permission signal is set in addition to the clear target area as part of the process of step S116, the specific address is specified. An exceptional process must be performed in which only the specific bit data of the 8-bit data stored at the address is cleared while the remaining 7-bit data is maintained. The efficiency of the process of clearing the area becomes very poor. Under such circumstances, the main control CPU 72 does not clear the firing permission signal in the previous step S116, handles it in the same manner without distinguishing it from other backup target data, and temporarily returns to the power-off state.

  However, at the stage where the backup information is returned in the main control device 70 (step S116), communication with the payout control device 92 has not been established yet, and the payout control device 92 has been started normally (main control device). It is not possible to confirm whether or not an instruction by a command from 70 can be accepted. When the power supply is cut off with the firing permission signal ON, the firing permission signal is returned to ON, and as a result, the game ball can be fired even though the normality of the payout control device 92 is unknown. A state will occur. Here, temporarily, the payout control device 92 is replaced with a modified product that does not conform to the original inspection (for example, a modified number of prize balls, etc.) while the power supply is shut off. When activated, the game ball can be launched by returning the launch permission signal to ON. Such a state is not preferable from the viewpoint of security.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, regardless of whether the activation is due to power recovery or the activation of RAM clear designation, the firing control signal is explicitly cleared once before the main control CPU 72 transitions to the main loop ( (Reset to OFF). Thereafter, when the main control CPU 72 confirms that a payout command permission signal has been input from the payout control device 92 to the main control device 70, and then transmits a payout command to the payout control device 92, as an opportunity. Control that sets the firing permission signal to ON is adopted. By performing such control, even if the game is started (restarted) by processing of the main loop, as long as communication between the main control device 70 and the payout control device 92 is not established, the launch of the game ball is not permitted. In the case where the above-described fraud is made, it is possible to avoid the illegal launch of the game ball.

Step S133: The main control CPU 72 sets a timer interruption period. More specifically, the main control CPU 72 sets a value corresponding to a timer interrupt period (for example, 4 ms) in the counter setting register of the timer circuit 194.
Step S134: The main control CPU 72 resets the interrupt daisy chain. More specifically, the main control CPU 72 executes the RETI instruction after backing up the head address of the main loop, which will be described later, as advance preparation for interrupt processing. By performing this process, it is possible to normally start the interrupt process that occurs thereafter, and to continue the process from the main loop after executing the interrupt process.

  When the above procedure is executed in the CPU initialization process, the main control CPU 72 transitions to a main loop (steps S136 to S146 described below). As long as the power supply from the power supply control unit 162 is maintained, the main control CPU 72 repeatedly executes the main loop from start to finish.

  Step S136, Step S138: The main control CPU 72 executes the initial value update random number update process after prohibiting the interruption. In this process, the main control CPU 72 increments random numbers for updating (changing) initial values of various software random numbers. In this embodiment, jackpot determined random numbers (hardware random numbers) and various random numbers excluding hit determined random numbers (hardware random numbers) corresponding to ordinary symbols (for example, jackpot symbol random numbers, reach determination random numbers, variation pattern determination random numbers, etc.) Is generated in the program. These software random numbers are updated by a loop counter within a predetermined range in another timer interrupt process (step S212 in FIG. 11), but every time the random number value makes a round in this process, the initial value of the loop counter (all The random number of may not be the target). The initial value update random number is used to change the initial value at random, and in step S138, the initial value update random number is updated. Note that the reason why step S138 is executed after the interruption is prohibited in step S136 is that the same process is executed in another timer interruption process (step S210 in FIG. 11). ) To prevent the above). In this embodiment, the big hit decision random number and the hit decision random number are hardware random numbers generated by the random number circuit 75, and the update cycle is faster (eg, several μs) than the timer interrupt cycle (eg, several ms). Therefore, it is not necessary to update the big hit decision random number and the initial value of the big hit decision random number. The timer interrupt process will be described later with reference to another drawing.

  Step S140: The main control CPU 72 executes a received command management process. In this process, data received from the payout control device 92 is analyzed, and a process corresponding to the result is performed. When the received command is a payout start designation command, the main control CPU 72 outputs a payout start confirmation designation command to the payout command buffer. Otherwise, the main control CPU 72 determines whether the received data is a value within a predetermined range (reception command). If it is out of the range, a payout error designation command is output to the effect command buffer, and a payout radio wave error flag is set according to the situation.

  Step S142: The main control CPU 72 executes an effect command transmission process. In this process, the main control CPU 72 transmits each effect command output to the effect command buffer to the effect control device 124.

  Step S144, Step S146: The main control CPU 72 permits interruption and executes other random number update processing. The random numbers updated by this processing are random numbers (reach determination random numbers, variation pattern determination random numbers, etc.) that are not related to the determination of the winning type (winning type) among software random numbers. This process is performed in the remaining time when an interrupt request is generated during execution of the main loop and the main control CPU 72 executes various interrupt processes. The contents of the interrupt process will be described later using still another flowchart.

[Evacuation process when power is turned off]
Next, a description will be given of processing that is executed when a power interruption occurs (hereinafter abbreviated as “power interruption”). FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of the power-off saving process. In main controller 70, the occurrence of power interruption and the occurrence of reset are monitored by the same monitoring IC (for example, an IC mounted on a reset controller (not shown)). This monitoring IC monitors the drive voltage supplied from the power supply control unit 162, and outputs a power-off notice signal to the XINT terminal of the parallel I / O port 79 when the voltage level falls below the reference voltage. The main control CPU 72 executes a power-off save process (XINT interrupt process, backup means) triggered by the input of a power-off notice signal to the XINT terminal (XINT interrupt). Hereinafter, each procedure of the saving process at power-off will be described.

  Steps S150 and S152: The main control CPU 72 reads the power-off detection switch input port of the parallel I / O port 79 and checks a specific bit to confirm whether or not a power-off notice signal is detected. If it is not possible to confirm that the power-off notice signal has been detected (No), the main control CPU 72 permits the interruption, ends the power-off saving process, and completes the CPU initialization process (FIGS. 7 to 8). Return to the program address specified by the stack pointer. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the power-off notice signal has been detected (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S154.

  Step S154: The main control CPU 72 clears the output port buffer corresponding to the test signal terminal and the command control signal in addition to the output port corresponding to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 88 and the special prize opening solenoid 90.

Step S156, Step S158: Next, the main control CPU 72 adds the entire contents of the work area of the RAM 76 excluding the backup validity determination flag and the sum check buffer in units of 1 byte, and repeats the addition for all areas. .
Step S160: When the calculation of the sum is completed for all the areas (step S158: Yes), the main control CPU 72 stores the sum result value in the sum check buffer.

Step S162: Next, the main control CPU 72 stores a valid value in the backup validity determination flag area.
Step S164: Further, the main control CPU 72 stores “00H” representing access prohibition in the protect value of the RAM 76, and prohibits access to the work area (including the use prohibition area and the stack area) of the RAM 76.

Step S166: The main control CPU 72 sets a predetermined value for counting the number of checks of the power-off notice signal in the loop counter.
Step S168: The main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not a power-off notice signal has been detected. The confirmation method of the power-off notice signal is the same as the method in step S150 described above. When it is confirmed that the power-off notice signal has been detected (Yes), the main control CPU 72 returns to the previous step S166 again. On the other hand, when it cannot be confirmed that the power-off notice signal has been detected (No), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S170.

Step S170: The main control CPU 72 subtracts 1 from the value of the loop counter.
Step S172: The main control CPU 72 checks whether or not the value of the loop counter is “0”. When it cannot be confirmed that the value of the loop counter is “0” (No), the main control CPU 72 returns to step S168. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the value of the loop counter is “0” (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S174.
Step S174: The main control CPU 72 proceeds from the power-off saving process to the CPU initialization process (FIG. 7). At this time, since the RETI instruction is not executed before the transition to the CPU initialization process, the CPU initialization process can be started while other interrupts are prohibited.

  The processes in steps S166 to S172 described above are so-called standby processes (follow-up observation processes) that are executed in preparation for the interruption of the power supply from the power supply control unit 162. If the power-off notice signal is continuously detected, step S166 to step S168 are repeatedly executed, so that the loop counter does not become “0”. Therefore, the standby state is continued as long as the power supply is continued. On the other hand, if the detection of the power interruption notice signal is temporary (for example, detection due to momentary power failure, etc.), steps S168 to S172 are repeatedly executed, and the loop counter is subtracted with the passage of time. Then, when it becomes “0”, the process proceeds to the CPU initialization process. That is, before the power supply is completely cut off, the main control CPU 72 first calculates the checksum and saves the result, enters a standby state, and performs other processing in a situation where the power supply is being cut off. In the situation where the power supply that should come in a safe state is maintained without maintaining the standby state, the CPU is initialized in a situation where a stable power supply is restored after a temporary power interruption Move to processing and resume main processing. By executing such standby processing, it is possible to ensure stable game operation of the main controller 70 and thus the pachinko machine 1.

  When the power supply from the power control unit 162 is cut off, the power supply source to the main control device 70 is automatically switched to the backup power source. Since main controller 70 is supplied with backup power from a backup power supply circuit (not shown) (for example, a circuit including a capacitive element mounted on main controller 70) after the occurrence of power interruption, the stored contents of RAM 76 are It is maintained without disappearing even after the power is turned off. The backup power supply circuit may be incorporated in the power supply control unit 162, for example.

  Through the above processing, all the information stored in the work area of the RAM 76 to be backed up (sum addition target) is retained in the RAM 76 even after the power is turned off. Further, the stored memory is restored as backup information at the time of power-off after confirming normality of the checksum in the previous CPU initialization process (FIG. 7).

[Command reception interrupt processing]
Next, a process executed when a command is received from the payout control device 92 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of command reception interrupt processing. The payout control device 92 transmits a payout activation designation command indicating that the payout of the game ball has started to the main control device 70, and various devices (for example, a payout ball as the game progresses) (for example, The command transmitted from the payout device board 100 and the full tank switch 161 to the main control device 70 is relayed. These commands transmitted by the payout control device 92 are received by the reception data register of the specific channel of the serial communication circuit 196 of the main control device 70. The main control CPU 72 executes a command reception interrupt process (SCU interrupt process) triggered by this command reception (SCU interrupt). Hereinafter, each procedure of the command reception interrupt process will be described.

  Step S180: First, the main control CPU 72 saves the values of the A register (accumulator) and F register (flag register) used during execution of the main loop in the save area of the RAM 76. Another value can be written to each register after the value is saved in the course of the data reception interrupt process.

Step S182: Next, the main control CPU 72 checks a specific bit of the status register to confirm whether or not there is data in the reception data register (reception FIFO). When it is confirmed that there is data in the reception data register (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S184. On the other hand, when it cannot be confirmed that there is data in the reception data register (No), the main control CPU 72 executes step S186.
Step S184: The main control CPU 72 stores the contents of the data register in the reception command buffer.

  Steps S186 and S188: The main control CPU 72 restores the values of the A and F registers saved in step S180 to each register, permits the interrupt, ends the command reception interrupt process, and executes the CPU initialization process. Return to the main loop (FIG. 8).

[Timer interrupt processing]
Next, the timer interrupt process will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the timer interrupt process. Based on the interrupt request (PTC interrupt) output from the timer circuit 194, the main control CPU 72 executes a timer interrupt process (PTC interrupt process) every predetermined time (for example, several ms). Hereinafter, each procedure of the timer interrupt process will be described.

  Step S200: First, the main control CPU 72 stores the values of the AF register (accumulator and flag register pair), BC, DE, and HL register (pair of general purpose registers) used during the execution of the main loop in the save area of the RAM 76. Evacuate. Another value can be written to each register after saving the value during the timer interrupt process.

  Step S202: Next, the main control CPU 72 permits interruption. When the interrupt is permitted here, another interrupt can be generated while executing the subsequent steps of the timer interrupt process. Thus, multiple interrupts are permitted in the timer interrupt process. The interrupt controller 192 performs reception of an interrupt request signal, priority control of multiple interrupts, and the like. The interrupt management by the interrupt controller 192 will be described later.

  Step S204: The main control CPU 72 executes dynamic port output processing. In this processing, in order to control lighting of each lamp mounted on the integrated display substrate 89 by a dynamic lighting method, port output is performed in units of common. More specifically, after clearing the output port, the main control CPU 72 stores the content output to the common output request buffer corresponding to the selected common in the output port.

  Step S206: The main control CPU 72 executes port input processing. In this process, in order to accurately acquire the latest switch state based on the input port information, the main control CPU 72 performs a logical product of the input values of various switch signals from the parallel I / O port 79 and the inverted result value of the previous input value. Is stored in the input port on detection flag. As a result, it is possible to grasp an accurate input state based on the change of various switch signals from the previous time based on the value (ON / OFF) of the input port ON detection flag. Specifically, the various switch signals include a passage detection signal from the gate switch 78, a right start winning port switch 80, a left starting winning port switch 82, a count switch 84, a first winning port switch 86, and a second winning port. A winning detection signal from the switch 81 is included.

  Step S208: The main control CPU 72 executes timer update processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 subtracts 1 from counters such as various external information timers and security signal timers in addition to timers for managing the game time and the closing time of the ordinary electric accessory.

  Step S210: The main control CPU 72 executes the initial value update random number update process also here. The contents of the process are the same as those described in the process of the CPU initialization process (step S138 in FIG. 8).

  Step S212: The main control CPU 72 executes a winning symbol random number update process. In this process, the main control CPU 72 updates the value of the counter for generating various random numbers for drawing special symbols and normal symbols. The value of each counter is incremented in the counter area of the RAM 76 and loops within a specified range. Various random numbers include, for example, jackpot symbol random numbers.

  Step S214: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes switch input event processing. In this process, among the switch signals input in the previous port input process (step S206), the gate switch 78, the right start winning port switch 80, the left starting winning port switch 82, the count switch 84, the first winning port switch 86, An event occurring during the game is determined based on the winning detection signal from the second winning port switch 81, and further processing is executed according to each event that has occurred. The specific contents of the switch input event process will be described later with reference to another flowchart.

  In this embodiment, when a winning detection signal (ON) is input from the right start winning port switch 80 or the left starting winning port switch 82, the main control CPU 72 performs internal lottery corresponding to the first special symbol or the second special symbol, respectively. It is determined that an event that triggers the event (lottery opportunity) has occurred. Further, when a passage detection signal (ON) is input from the gate switch 78, the main control CPU 72 determines that an event serving as a lottery trigger corresponding to the normal symbol has occurred. If it is determined that any event has occurred, the main control CPU 72 executes a process corresponding to each event. The processing executed when a winning detection signal is input from the right start winning port switch 80 or the left starting winning port switch 82 will be described later with reference to another flowchart.

  Step S216, Step S218: The main control CPU 72 executes a special symbol game process and a normal symbol game process. These processes are for specifically proceeding with the game in the pachinko machine 1. Among these, in the special symbol game process (step S216), the main control CPU 72 controls the execution of the internal lottery corresponding to the first special symbol or the second special symbol described above, or the first special symbol display device 34 and the second special symbol display device 34. (2) The variable display or stop display by the special symbol display device 35 is determined, or the operation of the variable winning device 30 is controlled according to the display result. Details of the special symbol game process will be described later with reference to another flowchart.

  In the normal symbol game process (step S218), the main control CPU 72 determines the variable display or stop display by the normal symbol display device 33 described above, or operates the variable start winning device 28 according to the display result. Or control. For example, the main control CPU 72 stores a random number (ordinary random number per symbol) acquired in response to the passage of the start gate 20 in the previous switch input event processing (step S214). The random number value is read out from the memory, and it is determined whether or not it falls within a predetermined hit range (operation lottery execution means). When the random number value falls within the hit range, the normal symbol display device 33 displays the normal symbol in a variable manner, and after stopping the normal symbol in a predetermined hit state, the main control CPU 72 switches the normal electric accessory solenoid 88 on. Excitingly activates the variable start winning device 28 (movable piece actuating means). On the other hand, if the random number value is out of the hit range, the main control CPU 72 performs a normal symbol stop display in a manner of deviation after the variable display.

  Step S220: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes state management processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 is recovered to the back side of the game board unit 8 and the abnormality of the winning frequency (the state where the number of balls entered to the right start winning port 26 and the normal winning ports 22 and 24 is abnormally large) or the base is abnormal. The total number of winning balls in the normal winning ports 22, 24, the starting winning ports 26, 28a, and the big winning port is larger than the number of game balls that have been played, that is, the number of game balls that have been driven into the game area 8a). Check for high-risk conditions. When the abnormal state is detected, the main control CPU 72 generates an abnormality by outputting a security signal to the hall computer in the game hall and by transmitting a predetermined effect control command to the effect control device 124. Inform you.

  Step S222: The main control CPU 72 executes a winning opening switch process. In this process, when each input port on detection flag stored based on the winning detection signal input from the various switches 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86 in the previous port input process (step S206) is ON, Each target prize ball control counter is incremented by one and updated.

  Step S224: The main control CPU 72 executes prize ball payout processing. Although the detailed flow is not shown, in this process, the main control CPU 72 first checks whether or not the payout command buffer is not empty (a payout command to be transmitted is set), and is not empty (the payout command is not set). If set, the various payout commands output to the payout command buffer are transmitted to the payout control device 92. For example, a payout command indicating the startup mode at power-on is set during the CPU initialization process (steps S118 and S124 in FIG. 7) and output to the payout command buffer (step S126 in FIG. 7). However, a payout command indicating this activation mode is transmitted here. On the other hand, if the payout command buffer is empty, the process proceeds to a process for instructing payout of the winning ball. The main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the prize ball control counter is 0, and if the prize ball control counter is not 0, the prize control device 92 issues a prize ball designation payout command for instructing the number of prize balls corresponding to this counter. Send to. More specifically, a prize ball designation payout command corresponding to each prize ball control counter updated in the previous step S222 is transmitted here. Note that the payout command is transmitted by a payout command permission signal input from the payout control device 92 to the main control device 70, and the number of payout commands set in the transmission data register (transmission FIFO) is a predetermined number. Is less than (more specifically, when the payout command set in the transmission FIFO in step S224 executed before the previous time has already been transmitted, or is currently being transmitted and the transmission FIFO has an empty space. Only executed).

  In particular, in step S224 when the power is turned on, if the payout command set in the course of the CPU initialization process is normally transmitted, the main control CPU 72 turns on the firing permission signal in response to this. Specifically, the main control CPU 72 clears the payout command buffer output when the power is turned on, and turns on the firing permission signal by setting a specific bit of the output port (specific output information setting means). Thereby, after confirming normal operation after power-on, the launch of the game ball is permitted, and this launch permission signal is sent to the launch control board 108 via the payout control device 92, so that the game ball can be launched. It becomes a state.

  Further, the main control CPU 72 outputs a prize ball content command for transmitting the contents of the number of prize balls to the effect control device 124 in the prize ball payout process. When a winning detection signal is input from the count switch 84 corresponding to the variable winning device 30, a winning ball content command corresponding to the first profit (for example, 15 gaming balls) is generated. When a winning detection signal is input from the second winning opening switch 81 corresponding to the normal winning opening 24, a winning ball content command corresponding to the second profit (for example, 10 game balls) is generated. The prize ball content command is transmitted to the effect control device 124 in the effect command transmission process in the main loop (step S142 in FIG. 8).

[About the number of prize balls and number of game balls won]
The number of prize balls at the start port of the first special symbol and the number of prize balls at the start port of the second special symbol are each set to a specified number of one or more. In addition, the number of prize balls may be different between the start port of the first special symbol and the start port of the second special symbol. In addition, the minimum number of winning balls is set based on the winning probability of the special symbol and the expected value of the total number of game balls (the average number of balls that can be obtained during the period from the start to the end of the time reduction state) May be. Furthermore, the winning probability of special symbols, the expected number of game balls won, the number of opening of the big prize opening, the opening time of the big winning opening, the maximum number of winning of the big winning opening, the number of winning balls of the big winning opening are predetermined. When the condition is satisfied, a big hit may be set such that the number of game balls acquired by one big hit is less than 1/4 of the maximum number of acquired game balls.

  Step S228: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes external information processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sends an external information signal to the hall computer in the game hall through the external terminal board 160 (for example, prize ball information, door opening information, symbol determination number information, jackpot information, start opening information, security signal, etc.). Is stored in the port output request buffer.

  In this embodiment, among the various external information signals, for example, “big hit 1” to “big hit 5” are output to the outside as jackpot information, so that an external electronic device (data display) connected to the pachinko machine 1 is displayed. Various jackpot information can be provided (external information signal output means). In other words, the jackpot information is divided into a plurality of “big hit 1” to “big hit 5” and output, so that the type of jackpot (winning type) from these combinations can be tabulated and managed by a hall computer (not shown) or internal Recognize changes in the probability state (low probability state or high probability state) or shortened state of symbol variation time, or generate a small hit (a hit where the condition device does not work) that is not classified as a “big hit” even if it is not winning Can be aggregated and managed. Based on the jackpot information, for example, a data display device (not shown) counts and displays the number of jackpot occurrences within the past several business days for each pachinko machine 1, and recognizes whether or not each jackpot is currently hit Or can recognize whether or not each symbol is currently in a shortened state of the symbol variation time. In this external information processing, the main control CPU 72 controls each output state (set of ON or OFF) of “big hit 1” to “big hit 5” in detail.

  Step S230: The main control CPU 72 executes test signal processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 displays various internal states (for example, the normal symbol game management state, the special symbol game management state, the launch position designation, the big hit, the probability variation function is activated, and the time reduction function is activated). Test signals are generated and stored in the port output request buffer. With this test signal, for example, the internal state of the main control CPU 72 can be tested outside the main controller 70.

  Step S232: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes display output management processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 performs the normal symbol display device 33, the normal symbol operation memory lamp 33a, the first special symbol display device 34, the second special symbol display device 35, the first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a, and the second special symbol. Processing necessary for managing the lighting state of the operation memory lamp 35a, the game state display device 38, and the like is performed. Specifically, in a manner corresponding to the symbol variation display, stop display, working memory number display, game state display, etc. determined in the previous special symbol game processing (step S216) or normal symbol game processing (step S218). The drive signal for lighting each lamp is stored as byte data in the port output request buffer for each common.

  Here, the byte data stored in the port output request buffer for each common is sequentially stored in the output port one by one in the dynamic port output processing (step S204) every time the timer interrupt processing occurs. Is output. For example, in the next timer interrupt process, byte data stored for common 1 is output to the port, and in the timer interrupt process executed next time, byte data stored for common 2 is output to the port. The byte data stored in the port output request buffer for each common is sequentially processed one by one. As a result, each of the lamps constituting a predetermined display mode (a mode for performing symbol variation display, stop display, working memory number display, game state display, etc.) is driven in order in common units, and lighting control is performed by a dynamic lighting system. Will be.

  Step S234: The main control CPU 72 executes solenoid output management processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 stores the drive signals, test signals, etc. of the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 88 and the special winning opening solenoid 90 stored in the port output request buffer together in the port output request buffer.

  Step S236: The main control CPU 72 executes port output processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether a value is stored in each output buffer (port output request buffer), and outputs a port if a value is stored. For example, each drive signal of each solenoid 88, 90, 97, 99 stored in the port output request buffer in the previous step S234 is output to the port. In this case, each drive signal is transmitted to the corresponding solenoid 88, 90, 97, 99, and each solenoid can be operated according to the drive signal.

  In the present embodiment, an example is given in which the processing from step S216 to step S236 (game control program module) is executed as part of the timer interrupt processing. There are also known programming examples.

  Step S238: The control CPU 72 restores the values of the HL, DE, BC, and AF registers saved in step S200 to the respective registers, ends the timer interrupt process, and enters the CPU initialization process main loop (FIG. 8). Return.

[Interrupt management by interrupt controller]
As described above, in the main control device 70, during the execution of the CPU initialization process (FIG. 7), which is the main control program, the XINT interrupt (the parallel process that becomes the source of the power-off saving process (FIG. 9)). Interrupt request output by the I / O port 79), SCU interrupt (interrupt request output by the serial communication circuit 196 that is the source of command reception interrupt processing (FIG. 10)), PTC interrupt (timer interrupt) An interrupt request output by the timer circuit 194 that is the source of the interrupt process (FIG. 11) may occur. These interrupt requests are managed / controlled by the interrupt controller 192 installed in the main controller 70. The interrupt controller 192 allows so-called maskable interrupts that permit the acceptance of interrupt requests by the interrupt enable instruction (EI instruction) of the main control CPU 72 and prohibit the acceptance of interrupt requests by the interrupt disable instruction (DI instruction). Control is performed.

  Since XINT interrupts, SCU interrupts, and PTC interrupts are all generated based on independent generation factors having no interdependency, it is naturally considered that a plurality of interrupt requests are generated at the same time. Therefore, the interrupt controller 192 controls each interrupt request according to the priority order of interrupt requests determined in advance in consideration of the importance of interrupt processing, processing efficiency, and the like.

  More specifically, the priority of the interrupt request (interrupt process) is defined in the interrupt vector table, the XINT interrupt (save process at power-off) has the lowest priority, and the SCU interrupt (command (Reception interrupt processing) has the highest priority. By setting the interrupt vector table in the early stage of the CPU initialization process (step S102 in FIG. 7), the interrupt controller 192 can perform priority control of interrupt requests generated at subsequent timings. . Actually, after the CPU initialization process transits to the main loop (steps S136 to S146 in FIG. 8), the interrupt is permitted (step S144 in FIG. 8) until the interrupt is prohibited (FIG. 8). When any interrupt request is generated during step S136), the interrupt controller 192 controls the received interrupt request based on the priority set in the interrupt vector table. For example, when XINT interrupt and PTC interrupt are received at the same time, a higher priority PTC interrupt (timer interrupt process) is processed first. While the timer interrupt process is being executed, the XINT interrupt is in an interrupt wait state, and after the timer interrupt process is completed, the power-off save process is executed.

  In addition, when the procedure example of each interrupt process is reconfirmed, in the power-off saving process (FIG. 9) and the command reception interrupt process (FIG. 10), immediately before returning from each interrupt process (the RETI instruction) In the timer interrupt process (FIG. 11), an interrupt is interrupted at the beginning of the interrupt process (step S152 in FIG. 9 and step S188 in FIG. 10). Inclusion is permitted (step S202 in FIG. 11), after which the main steps are executed. That is, the interrupt controller 192 (main control CPU 72) prohibits the execution of multiple interrupts during execution of the power-off saving process and command reception interrupt process, while the timer interrupt process is executed. Execution is allowed.

  By controlling the interrupt request based on the priority order in this way, the interrupt controller 192 can execute multiple interrupts in the main controller 70.

[Switch input event processing]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the switch input event process (step S214 in FIG. 11). Each procedure will be described below.

  Step S10: The main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not a winning detection signal is input (a lottery opportunity is generated) from the right start winning port switch 80 corresponding to the first special symbol. When the input of the winning detection signal is confirmed (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S12 and executes the first special symbol memory update process. Specific processing contents will be further described later using another flowchart. On the other hand, when no winning detection signal is input (No), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S14.

  Step S14: Next, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not a winning detection signal is input (a lottery opportunity is generated) from the left start winning port switch 82 corresponding to the second special symbol. When the input of the winning detection signal is confirmed (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S16 and executes the second special symbol memory update process. Here again, the details of the specific processing will be further described later using another flowchart. On the other hand, if there is no input of a winning detection signal (No), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S18.

  Step S18: The main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not a winning detection signal is input from the count switch 84 corresponding to the big winning opening of the variable winning device 30. When the input of the winning detection signal is confirmed (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S20 and executes a large winning mouth count process. In the big winning opening counting process, the main control CPU 72 counts the number of winning balls to the variable winning device 30 every round during the big hit game. On the other hand, if no winning detection signal is input (No), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S22.

  Step S22: The main control CPU 72 checks whether or not a passage detection signal is input from the gate switch 78 corresponding to the normal symbol. When the input of the passage detection signal is confirmed (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S24 and executes the normal symbol memory update process. In the normal symbol memory update process, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the current number of normal symbol working memories is less than the upper limit number (for example, 4), and if it does not reach the upper limit number, obtains a random number per normal symbol To do. Further, the main control CPU 72 increments the normal symbol operation memory number by one. Then, the main control CPU 72 stores the acquired random value per normal symbol in the random number storage area of the RAM 76. On the other hand, when no winning detection signal is input (No), the main control CPU 72 returns to the timer interrupt process (FIG. 11).

[First special symbol memory update process]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure example of the first special symbol memory update process (step S12 in FIG. 12). Hereinafter, the procedure of the first special symbol memory update process will be described in order.

  Step S30: First, the main control CPU 72 refers to the value of the first special symbol working memory number counter to check whether or not the working memory number is less than the maximum value (for example, 4). The working memory number counter represents the number (the number of sets) of big hit determination random numbers and big hit symbol random numbers stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 76. Here, the random number storage area of the RAM 76 is divided into eight sections (for example, 2 bytes each) used in common for the first special symbol and the second special symbol, and each section has a big hit decision random number and a big hit symbol. Random numbers can be stored one by one. At this time, if the value of the working memory number counter corresponding to the first special symbol has reached the maximum value (No), the main control CPU 72 returns to the switch input event processing (FIG. 12). On the other hand, if the value of the working memory number counter is less than the maximum value (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S31.

  Step S31: The main control CPU 72 adds one first special symbol working memory number. The first special symbol operation memory number counter is stored, for example, in the operation memory number area of the RAM 76, and the main control CPU 72 increments (+1) the value. Based on the counter value added here, the lighting state of the first special symbol operation memory lamp 34a is controlled by the display output management process (step S232 in FIG. 11).

  Step S32: The main control CPU 72 acquires a jackpot determination random value corresponding to the first special symbol from the random number generator 75 through the sampling circuit 77 (first lottery element acquisition means, lottery element acquisition means). The random value is acquired by specifying the pin address of the random number generator 75. In the case where the main control CPU 72 performs 8-bit processing, the address designation is performed twice for each upper byte and lower byte. When the main control CPU 72 reads the jackpot determination random number value from the designated address, the main control CPU 72 saves it at the transfer destination address as a jackpot determination random number corresponding to the first special symbol.

  Step S33: Next, the main control CPU 72 acquires a jackpot symbol random number value corresponding to the first special symbol from the jackpot symbol random number counter area of the RAM 76. The acquisition of the random number value is also performed by designating the address of the jackpot symbol random number counter area. When the main control CPU 72 reads the jackpot symbol random number value from the designated address, the main control CPU 72 saves it at the transfer destination address as a jackpot symbol random number corresponding to the first special symbol.

  Step S34: Also, the main control CPU 72 sequentially acquires a reach determination random number and a variation pattern determination random number from the variation random number counter area of the RAM 76 as a random value related to the variation condition of the first special symbol (variation pattern determination element acquisition). Means, element acquisition means). Similarly, these random number values are acquired by designating the address of the random number counter area for variation. Then, when the main control CPU 72 acquires the reach determination random number and the variation pattern determination random number from the designated address, it saves them in the transfer destination address.

  Step S35: The main control CPU 72 transfers the saved jackpot determination random number, jackpot symbol random number, reach determination random number and variation pattern determination random number to the random number storage area corresponding to the first special symbol, and these random numbers are stored in the empty section in the area. Are stored as a set (storage means, lottery element storage means). The order (for example, first to fourth) is set in the plurality of sections. If all the first to fourth sections are empty at this stage, the random numbers are stored in order from the first section. Alternatively, if the first section is already filled and the other second to fourth sections are empty, the random numbers are stored in order from the second section. Note that the random number storage area is read out in a FIFO (First In First Out) format.

  Step S36: Next, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the current special game management status (game state) is a big hit. If it is not during the big hit (No), the main control CPU 72 executes the following steps S37 and S38. If it is a big hit (Yes), the main control CPU 72 skips steps S37 and S38 and proceeds to step S38a. The reason why this determination is made in the present embodiment is that the effect of pre-reading is not performed for the incoming ball generated during the big hit.

  Step S37: When the jackpot is not a big hit (Step S36: No), the main control CPU 72 executes an effect determination process at the time of acquisition for the first special symbol. This process determines the result of the internal lottery in advance (before the start of fluctuation) based on the jackpot determination random number and the jackpot symbol random number of the first special symbol respectively acquired in the previous steps S32 to S34, and thereby the production contents This is for determination (so-called “look ahead”). The specific processing contents will be described later with reference to another flowchart.

  Step S38: After returning from the at-acquisition effect determination process, the main control CPU 72 next sets the upper bytes (for example, “B8H”) of the special figure destination determination effect command for the first special symbol. This high-order byte data describes that the command type is “for special figure destination determination effect relating to the first special symbol”. Since the lower byte of the special figure destination determination effect command is set in the previous acquisition effect determination process (step S37), the upper byte is combined with the lower byte, for example. Will be generated.

  Step S38a: Next, the main control CPU 72 sets an effect command at the time of increasing the number of working memories regarding the first special symbol. Specifically, for the preceding value (for example, “BBH”) of the upper byte representing the type of command, a 1-word length in which the increased number of working memories (for example, “01H” to “04H”) is added to the lower byte. A production command is generated. At this time, for the lower byte, the second place is set to “0” by default to indicate that the value is “result (change information) due to increase in number of working memories”. That is, if the lower byte is “01H”, it indicates that the current working memory number has become “01H” as a result of increasing by one from the previous working memory number “00H”. Similarly, if the lower byte is “02H” to “04H”, it is increased by one from the previous working memory numbers “01H” to “03H”, so that the current working memory number is “02H” to “02H”. 04H ". The preceding value “BBH” is a value indicating that the current effect command is the working memory number command for the first special symbol.

Step S39: The main control CPU 72 executes an effect command output setting process for the first special symbol. This process is for transmitting the special figure destination determination effect command generated in the previous step S38, the effect command for increasing the number of working memories generated in step S38a, and the start opening winning tone control command to the effect control device 124. Is.
When the above procedure is completed, the main control CPU 72 returns to the switch input event process (FIG. 12).

[Second special symbol memory update process]
Next, FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure example of the second special symbol memory update process (step S16 in FIG. 12). Hereinafter, the procedure of the second special symbol memory update process will be described in order.

  Step S40: The main control CPU 72 refers to the value of the second special symbol working memory number counter to check whether or not the working memory number is less than the maximum value. Similarly to the above, the second special symbol actuated memory number counter represents the number (number of sets) of jackpot determination random numbers and jackpot symbol random numbers stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 76. At this time, if the value of the second special symbol operation memory number counter reaches the maximum value (for example, 4) (No), the main control CPU 72 returns to the switch input event process (FIG. 12). On the other hand, if the value of the second special symbol operation memory number counter is still less than the maximum value (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S41 and thereafter.

  Step S41: The main control CPU 72 increments the second special symbol working memory number by one (increments the value of the second special symbol working memory number counter). Similarly to the previous step S31 (FIG. 13), the lighting state of the second special symbol operation memory lamp 35a is controlled by the display output management process (step S232 in FIG. 11) based on the counter value added here. Will be.

  Step S42: Then, the main control CPU 72 acquires a jackpot determination random number value corresponding to the second special symbol from the random number generator 75 through the sampling circuit 77 (second lottery element acquisition means, lottery element acquisition means). The method for acquiring the random number value is the same as step S32 (FIG. 13) described above.

  Step S43: Next, the main control CPU 72 acquires a jackpot symbol random number value corresponding to the second special symbol from the jackpot symbol random number counter area of the RAM 76. The method for acquiring the random value is the same as that in step S33 (FIG. 13) described above.

  Step S44: Further, the main control CPU 72 sequentially acquires a reach determination random number and a variation pattern determination random number regarding the variation condition of the second special symbol from the variation random number counter area of the RAM 76 (variation pattern determination element acquisition means, element acquisition). means). Acquisition of these random values is also performed in the same manner as step S34 (FIG. 13) described above.

  Step S45: The main control CPU 72 transfers the saved jackpot determination random number, jackpot symbol random number, reach determination random number, and variation pattern determination random number to the random number storage area corresponding to the second special symbol, and these random numbers in the empty section in the area Are stored as a set (storage means). The storage method is the same as step S35 (FIG. 13) described above.

  Step S45a: Next, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the current game management status (game state) is a big hit. If it is not a big hit (No), the main control CPU 72 executes the following steps S46 and S47. Conversely, if it is a big hit (Yes), the main control CPU 72 skips steps S46 and S47 and proceeds to step S48. The reason why this determination is made in the present embodiment is that the effect of pre-reading is not performed for the same incoming ball that occurred during the big hit.

  Step S46: When it is other than big hit (step S45a: No), next, the main control CPU 72 executes an effect determination process at the time of acquisition for the second special symbol. This process determines the result of the internal lottery in advance (before the start of the change) based on the big hit determination random number and the big hit symbol random number of the second special symbol acquired in the previous steps S42 to S44, respectively, thereby producing the production contents. It is for judging. The specific processing contents will be described later.

  Step S47: After returning from the effect determination process at the time of acquisition, the main control CPU 72 sets the upper byte (for example, “B9H”) of the special figure destination determination effect command. This high-order byte data describes that the command type is “for special figure destination determination effect relating to the second special symbol”. Similarly, since the lower byte of the special figure destination determination effect command is set in the previous effect determination processing at the time of acquisition (step S46), for example, one word is synthesized by combining the upper byte with the lower byte. A long command will be generated.

  Step S48: Next, the main control CPU 72 sets an effect command for increasing the number of working memories with respect to the second special symbol. Here, a one-word-length production command in which the increased number of working memories (for example, “01H” to “04H”) is added to the lower byte with respect to the preceding value (for example, “BCH”) representing the command type. Is generated. Similarly, for the second special symbol, the second place of the lower byte is set to “0” by default to indicate that the value is “a result of an increase in the number of working memories (change information)”. it can. The preceding value “BCH” is a value indicating that the current effect command is a working memory number command for the second special symbol.

Step S49: The main control CPU 72 executes an effect command output setting process for the second special symbol. As a result, preparation for transmitting a special figure destination determination effect command, an effect command for increasing the number of operating memories, a start opening winning sound control command, and the like regarding the second special symbol to the effect control device 124 is performed.
When the above procedure is completed, the main control CPU 72 returns to the switch input event process (FIG. 12).

[Acquisition process during acquisition]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of an acquisition effect determination process. The main control CPU 72 executes this acquisition effect determination process in the first special symbol memory update process and the second special symbol memory update process (step S37 in FIG. 13 and step S46 in FIG. 14) (preliminary determination). means). As described above, this process is executed for each of the first special symbol (when entering the right start winning opening 26) and the second special symbol (when entering the variable start winning device 28). Therefore, the following description may correspond to a process related to the first special symbol and a process related to the second special symbol. Hereinafter, the contents of the processing will be described along each procedure.

  Step S50: The main control CPU 72 sets the lower byte (for example, “00H”) of the special figure destination determination effect command (point determination information). The byte data set here represents the standard value of the command (at the time of loss).

  Step S52: Next, the main control CPU 72 loads the jackpot determination random number as the first determination random value. The random numbers to be loaded here are those stored in the RAM 76 in the first special symbol memory update process (step S35 in FIG. 13) or the second special symbol memory update process (step S45 in FIG. 14). .

  Step S54: Then, the main control CPU 72 determines whether or not the loaded random number is outside the range of the winning value (here, the lower limit value or less) (lottery result destination determination means, prior determination means). Specifically, the main control CPU 72 sets a comparison value (lower limit value) in the A register, and subtracts the loaded random number value from this comparison value. The comparison value (lower limit value) is defined in advance according to the winning probability of the internal lottery in the pachinko machine 1. Next, the main control CPU 72 determines whether or not the calculation result is 0 or a positive value from the value of the flag register, for example. As a result, if the loaded random number is outside the range of the winning value (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to step S80.

  Step S80: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes a variation pattern information preliminary determination process at the time of deviation (variation pattern destination determination means). In this process, the main control CPU 72 generates a variation pattern destination determination command for the variation time at the time of disconnection. In the variation pattern destination determination command generated here, prior determination information regarding the variation time (or variation pattern number) particularly when the “time reduction function” is activated is reflected. For example, if the current state is when the “time reduction function” is activated, the main control CPU 72 corresponds to the “out-of-reach fluctuation fluctuation (non-shortening fluctuation time)” based on the loaded reach determination random number. Judge whether there is. As a result, when the fluctuation time corresponds to “outlier reach fluctuation (non-shortening fluctuation time)”, the main control CPU 72 generates a fluctuation pattern destination determination command corresponding to “short-time / non-shortening fluctuation time”. In the case of reach variation, it is also possible to determine a “reach group (type of reach)” from the reach mode random number and generate a variation pattern destination determination command from the result. On the other hand, when the fluctuation time does not correspond to the “outlier reach fluctuation (non-shortening fluctuation time)”, the main control CPU 72 generates a fluctuation pattern destination determination command corresponding to the “short / mid-shortening fluctuation time”. Alternatively, if the current state is when the “time reduction function” is inactive (low probability state), the main control CPU 72 corresponds to the “normally out of reach reach fluctuation” based on the loaded reach determination random number. It is determined whether or not. As a result, when the fluctuation time corresponds to “normally deviation reach fluctuation”, the main control CPU 72 generates a fluctuation pattern destination determination command corresponding to “normally deviation reach fluctuation time”. On the other hand, when the fluctuation time does not correspond to “normally deviation reach fluctuation”, the main control CPU 72 generates a fluctuation pattern destination determination command corresponding to “normal deviation fluctuation time”. Further, the variation pattern destination determination command generated here is set in the transmission buffer in the effect command output setting process (steps S39 and S49). In this process, the main control CPU 72 may generate a change pattern destination determination command for the change pattern at the time of the small hit, similarly to the process at the time of the above-described loss.

  When the above procedure is executed, the main control CPU 72 ends the acquisition effect determination process after executing the determination result management process of step S82, and the first special symbol memory update process (FIG. 13) or the second special symbol of the caller. The process returns to the storage update process (FIG. 14). On the other hand, if it is determined in the previous step S54 that the loaded random number is not outside the range of the winning value but within the range (step S54: No), the main control CPU 72 then proceeds to step S56.

  Step S56: The main control CPU 72 checks whether or not the probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result is set. The probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result is set when there is a winning value among the jackpot determination random numbers stored so far, although the fluctuation has not yet started. Specifically, if there is a winning value in the jackpot decision random number stored so far, if the jackpot symbol random number paired with this corresponds to “probability variation”, for example, the probability state schedule flag “A0H” is set. This value represents a flag value for setting as a schedule that a high probability state is to be set in advance determination (prefetching determination) of the jackpot determined random number acquired after the jackpot determined random number. On the other hand, if there is a winning value in the jackpot decision random number stored so far, and the jackpot symbol random number paired with this corresponds to "non-probable (normal) symbol", the probability state For example, “01H” is set in the schedule flag. This value represents a flag value for setting as a schedule that a normal (low) probability state is set in advance determination (prefetching determination) of the big hit determination random number acquired after this big hit determination random number. If the winning value does not exist in the big hit determination random numbers stored so far, the flag value is reset (00H). Further, the value of the probability state schedule flag is stored in the flag area of the RAM 76, for example. Here, an example is given in which the advance hit determination is strictly performed using the “probability state schedule flag”. However, when the advance hit determination is simply performed based on the current probability state, step S56 and the subsequent steps are performed. Step S58, step S60, step S62, step S76, etc. may be omitted.

  If the probability state schedule flag has not yet been set (step S56: No), the main control CPU 72 executes step S66.

  Step S66: In this case, the main control CPU 72 sets the comparison value for the next low probability (normal time) in the A register. The low probability comparison value is also defined in advance according to the winning probability at the low probability in the pachinko machine 1.

  Step S68: Next, the main control CPU 72 loads the “current probability state flag”. This probability state flag indicates whether or not the current internal state has a high probability (probably changing), and is stored in the flag area of the RAM 76. If the current probability state is a high probability (probably changing), the value “01H” is set as the state flag, and if the current probability state is low (normally), the value of the state flag is reset (“00H”). ").

  Step S70: Then, the main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the loaded current special symbol probability state flag does not represent a high probability (≠ 01H), and if the result indicates a high probability (No Then, step S64 is executed.

  Step S64: The main control CPU 72 sets a comparative value for high probability. As a result, the low-probability comparison value set in the previous step S66 is rewritten. The high probability comparison value is defined in advance according to the winning probability at the high probability in the pachinko machine 1.

  As described above, when the probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result is not yet set and the current internal state is high probability, the comparison value is rewritten for high probability and the next step S72 is performed. Will be executed. On the other hand, when it is confirmed in the previous step S70 that the current probability state flag does not represent a high probability (Yes), the main control CPU 72 skips step S64 and executes the next step S72.

  Step S72: The main control CPU 72 determines whether or not the random number loaded in the previous step S52 is out of the winning value range (lottery result destination determination means). That is, the main control CPU 72 subtracts the jackpot determination random number value from the comparison value set for each state. Similarly, the main control CPU 72 determines whether or not the calculation result is a negative value (<0) from the value of the flag register, and if the result is that the loaded random number is outside the range of the winning value (Yes) ), The main control CPU 72 executes a variation pattern information preliminary determination process (step S80). On the other hand, if the loaded random number is not outside the range of the winning value but is within the range (No), the main control CPU 72 then proceeds to step S74.

  Step S74: The main control CPU 72 executes a jackpot symbol type determination process. This process is for determining the big hit type (winning type) at that time based on the big hit symbol random number paired with the big hit decision random number. For example, the main control CPU 72 loads the jackpot symbol random number for each symbol stored in the first special symbol memory update process (step S35 in FIG. 13) or the second special symbol memory update process (step S45 in FIG. 14). Then, the calculation using the comparison value is executed in the same manner as in step S54, and it is determined from the result whether the jackpot type corresponds to “normal symbol” or “probability variation”. The main control CPU 72 stores the determination result at this time as a special symbol destination determination value, and proceeds to the next step S76.

  Step S76: Then, the main control CPU 72 sets the value of the probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result. Specifically, when the special symbol destination determination value stored in the previous step S74 represents “normal symbol”, the main control CPU 72 sets the value “01H” in the probability state schedule flag. On the other hand, when the special symbol destination determination value represents “probability variation symbol”, the main control CPU 72 sets the value “A0H” in the probability state schedule flag. As a result, in the subsequent processing, it is determined that “flag set has been completed” in step S56.

  Step S78: The main control CPU 72 sets the special symbol destination determination value stored in the previous step S74 as the lower byte of the special symbol destination determination effect command. As the special symbol destination determination value, for example, “01H” is set when it corresponds to “normal symbol”, and “A0H” is set when it corresponds to “probable variation”. In any case, by setting the lower byte data here, the standard lower byte data “00H” set in the previous step S50 is rewritten.

  Step S79: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes a big hit hour variation pattern information prior determination process (variation pattern destination determination means). In this process, the main control CPU 72 generates the above-described variation pattern destination determination command for the variation time at the big hit. In the variation pattern destination determination command generated here, for example, prior determination information related to the reach variation time (or variation pattern number) at the time of big hit is reflected. Further, the variation pattern destination determination command generated here is set in the transmission buffer in the effect command output setting process (steps S39 and S49).

  The above is the procedure before the probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result is set (before the internal first hit). On the other hand, when the probability state schedule flag is set through the previous step S76, the following procedure is executed. However, when the prior hit determination is performed only with the current probability state, it is not necessary to execute the following step S56, step S58, step S60, step S62, and step S76.

  Step S56: When the main control CPU 72 confirms that a value has already been set in the probability state schedule flag (Yes), it next executes step S58.

  Step S58: The main control CPU 72 first sets a low probability (normal time) comparison value in the A register.

  Step S60: Next, the main control CPU 72 loads a “probability state schedule flag”. The probability state schedule flag is for setting a probability state in a subsequent destination determination based on the immediately preceding destination determination result, and is stored in the flag area of the RAM 76. If the probability state based on the immediately preceding destination determination result is scheduled to shift to a high probability (probability change), “A0H” is set as the value of the probability state schedule flag, and conversely the probability state based on the immediately preceding destination determination result Is scheduled to return to a low probability (normal), “01H” is set as the value of the probability state schedule flag.

  Step S62: The main control CPU 72 confirms whether or not the loaded probability state schedule flag does not represent a high-probability schedule (≠ 01H), and if the result indicates a high-probability schedule ( No) Next, step S64 is executed, and a comparative value for high probability is set.

  As described above, when the probability state schedule flag based on the previous determination result is already set and the value is a high probability, the next step S72 and subsequent steps after rewriting the comparison value for the high probability. Will be executed. On the other hand, when it is confirmed in the previous step S62 that the probability state schedule flag does not represent a schedule with a high probability but a schedule with a normal (low) probability (Yes), the main control CPU 72 performs a step. S64 is skipped and the subsequent step S72 and subsequent steps are executed. Thus, in the present embodiment, it is possible to make a prior jackpot determination in consideration of subsequent changes in internal state (normal probability state → high probability state, high probability state → normal probability state) based on the previous determination result. .

  When the above procedure is completed, the main control CPU 72 returns to the first special symbol memory update process (FIG. 13) or the second special symbol memory update process (FIG. 14).

[Special design game processing]
Next, the details of the special symbol game process executed in the timer interrupt process (FIG. 11) will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a configuration example of the special symbol game process. The special symbol game process includes an execution selection process (step S1000), a special symbol change pre-process (step S2000), a special symbol change process (step S3000), a special symbol stop display process (step S4000), and a bonus game variable winning device. This is a configuration including a subroutine (program module) group of a management process (step S5000) and a small winning time variable winning device management process (step S6000). Hereinafter, the basic flow of the special symbol game process will be described along each process.

  Step S1000: In the execution selection process, the main control CPU 72 selects the jump destination of the process to be executed next (any one of steps S2000 to S5000) from the “jump table”. For example, the main control CPU 72 sets the program address of the process to be executed next as the jump destination address, and sets the end of the special symbol game process as the return address in the stack pointer.

  Which process is selected as the next jump destination differs depending on the progress of the process performed so far (special symbol game management status). For example, if the special symbol has not yet started changing display (special symbol game management status: 00H), the main control CPU 72 selects the special symbol variation pre-processing (step S2000) as the next jump destination. On the other hand, if the special symbol variation pre-processing has already been completed (special symbol game management status: 01H), the main control CPU 72 selects the special symbol variation processing (step S3000) as the next jump destination, and the special symbol variation is in progress. If the process has been completed (special symbol game management status: 02H), the special symbol stop displaying process (step S4000) is selected as the next jump destination. In this embodiment, the jump destination address is specified by the “jump table” and the process is selected. However, apart from such a selection method, a “process flag”, a “process selection flag”, or the like is used. There is also a known programming example in which the CPU selects a process to be executed next. In such a programming example, the CPU CALLs each process in a single way, and at the top step, the conditional branch (continuation / return) is performed by referring to the flag one by one. However, in the selection method of this embodiment, the main control is performed. There is no need for the CPU 72 to call each process one by one.

  Step S2000: In the special symbol variation pre-processing, the main control CPU 72 performs an operation to prepare conditions for starting the variation display of the special symbol. More specifically, the main control CPU 72 first reads and erases (consumes) the random numbers for lottery (big hit decision random numbers, big hit symbol random numbers) stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 76 in order from the first section. The remaining random numbers are moved (shifted) to the previous section one by one. In the present embodiment, since the game specification changes the second special symbol in preference to the first special symbol, the main control CPU 72 stores the random number corresponding to the second special symbol rather than the memory corresponding to the first special symbol. Reads area storage with priority. The main control CPU 72 reads the memory corresponding to the first special symbol when there is no memory corresponding to the second special symbol. In any case, the main control CPU 72 subtracts one value from the working memory counter of the special symbol from which the random number for lottery is read. Then, the main control CPU 72 performs an internal lottery for the corresponding special symbol using the read random number, and determines the variation pattern and the stop symbol according to the lottery result. For the determination of the variation pattern, a random number for variation (reach determination random number, variation pattern determination random number, etc.) is used.

  Step S3000: In the special symbol variation processing, the main control CPU 72 performs drive control of the first special symbol display device 34 or the second special symbol display device 35 while counting the variation timer. Specifically, an ON or OFF drive signal (1 byte data) is output for each segment and dot (0th to 7th) of the 7-segment LED. The pattern of the drive signal changes with the passage of time, whereby a special symbol is displayed in a variable manner.

  Step S4000: In the special symbol stop display process, the main control CPU 72 controls the drive of the first special symbol display device 34 or the second special symbol display device 35. Similarly, an ON or OFF drive signal is output for each segment and dot of the 7-segment LED. However, the pattern of the drive signal is constant, whereby a special symbol is stopped and displayed.

  Step S5000: The jackpot variable winning device management process is selected when the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a big-hit manner in the previous special symbol stop display process. When the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a big hit mode, an opportunity to shift from the normal state until then to the big hit gaming state (a special gaming state advantageous to the player) occurs. During the big hit game, the jump destination is set in the big win time variable winning device management process in the previous execution selection process (step S1000), and the special symbol variation display is not performed. In the big win variable winning device management process, the big winning opening solenoid 90 is set for a predetermined time (for example, 29 seconds, 0.1 seconds or until ten game balls are counted), For example, the variable winning device 30 is opened and closed in a predetermined pattern. In the meantime, by allowing the variable winning device 30 to win the game balls intensively, the player is given an opportunity to collect a lot of prize balls (special game execution means). The opening / closing pattern of the variable winning device 30 is defined in advance according to the type of the first special symbol or the second special symbol (winning type, winning symbol) that is stopped and displayed at the time of winning. In addition, the opening / closing operation of the variable winning device 30 at the time of a big hit is referred to as “round”, and if the total number of continuous operations is 16 times, these may be collectively referred to as “16 rounds”.

  When the big winning opening opening pattern (number of rounds, number of opening / closing operations per round, opening time, etc.) is set in the big winning time variable winning device management process, the main control CPU 72 opens / closes the variable winning device 30 for one round. Each time it is finished, the value of the round number counter is incremented by one. The value of the round number counter is stored in the count area of the RAM 76 with an initial value of 0, for example. Further, the main control CPU 72 generates a round number command representing the value of the round number counter. The round number command is transmitted to the effect control device 124 in the effect command transmission process (step S142 in FIG. 8). When the value of the round number counter reaches the set number of continuous operations, the main control CPU 72 ends the big hit game (big player) only for that round.

  When the big hit game ends, the main control CPU 72 changes the state after the big hit game (high probability state, time reduction state) based on the game state flag (probability variation function operation flag, time reduction function operation flag) ( High probability time shortening state transition means, advantageous game state transition means, special state transition means). In the “high probability state”, the probability variation function is activated, and the winning probability in the internal lottery becomes, for example, about ten times higher than usual (specific game state transition means, high probability state transition means, high probability state setting means). Further, in the “time reduction state”, the time reduction function is activated, the normal symbol operation lottery is highly probable, the variation time of the normal symbol is shortened, and the opening time of the variable start winning device 28 is extended. The number of times of opening increases (so-called electric Chu support is performed). Note that the “high probability state” and the “time reduction state” may be transferred to only one of them in terms of control, or may be transferred in accordance with both of them.

  Step S6000: The small winning hour variable winning device management process is selected when the special symbol is stopped and displayed in the small winning manner in the special symbol stop display process. For example, when the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a small hit state, an opportunity to shift from the normal state until then to the small hit gaming state occurs. During the small hit game, the jump destination is set in the small hit prize variable winning device management process in the previous execution selection process (step S1000), and the special symbol variation display is not performed. In the small hit game, the variable winning device 30 opens and closes a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) for a predetermined opening time (for example, 0.1 seconds), but hardly receives a prize at the big prize opening.

[Example of production image]
Next, the effect image actually displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 in the pachinko machine 1 will be described with some examples. As described above, when the big hit internal lottery is performed in the pachinko machine 1, the variation pattern (variation time) is determined under the control of the main control CPU 72, and the variation display by the first special symbol and the second special symbol is performed. (Design display means). However, since the first special symbol and the second special symbol itself are lit and blinking display by 7-segment LED, the appealing power is not good. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 1, a variable display effect using the effect symbol is performed.

  In the present embodiment, the logo display body 40m and the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are arranged adjacent to the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42. The logo display body 40m and the memory display bodies 41a to 41h can collaborate with the liquid crystal display 42 to perform an effect operation synchronized with the content displayed on the screen. In particular, the total of eight memory display bodies 41a to 41h are used for the effect of, for example, transmitting the total memory number obtained by adding the current first special symbol working memory number and the second special symbol working memory number to the player in an easily understandable manner. It is done. Further, the logo display body 40m and the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are also used in a special zone effect (special period effect) that is executed when the total stored number reaches a specified number (for example, 8).

  In these effects, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h perform light emission and displacement. For example, in the memory display bodies 41a to 41h, a memory display body indicating a numerical value corresponding to the added memory blinks, each memory display body vibrates as the production progresses, or from the left memory display body 41a. Change from the state of falling down to the right side memory display body 41h to the state of getting up, or conversely changing from the state of rising from the right side of the memory display body 41h to the left side memory display body 41a to the state of falling down. Alternatively, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are alternately changed between a state where the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are collapsed all at once and a state where they are raised. The logo display body 40m and the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are operated using a logo display body motor and a memory display body motor 67 (represented by one reference numeral for convenience of explanation, but actually a plurality of motors). Can be made. Further, the logo display body lamp 69 and the memory display body lamp 68 can emit light.

  The effect designs include, for example, a left effect symbol, a middle effect symbol, and a right effect symbol, which are displayed side by side on the left, middle, and right on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42 (see FIG. 1). ). Each effect design is a design of a picture card with a character attached together with the numbers “1” to “9”, for example. Here, the left effect symbol, the middle effect symbol, and the right effect symbol all constitute a symbol row in which the numbers are arranged in descending order of “9” to “1”. Such a symbol sequence is variably displayed so as to flow (scroll) in the vertical direction in the left region, middle region, and right region on the screen. Further, the medium effect symbol is shown in a size slightly smaller than the left and right effect symbols.

  FIG. 17 is a continuous diagram showing examples of effect images corresponding to the change display and stop display of special symbols. Note that, here, an example of a change display effect and a stop display effect (result display effect) performed using the effect symbol is shown for the variation of the special symbol at the time of non-winning (losing). This variable display effect is performed between the start of the variable display of the special symbol (here, the first special symbol, but may be the second special symbol) and the stop display (including the fixed stop). It corresponds to a series of productions. Further, the stop display effect is an effect that represents that the special symbol is stopped and displayed and the result of the internal lottery at that time is a combination of the effect symbols.

  In addition, this example also shows an example of effects in which the eight memory display bodies 41a to 41h are operated based on the total memory number that increases or decreases during the game. Eight memory display bodies 41a-41h can perform the production | presentation operation | movement corresponding to the present total memory number (1-8) by changing the lighting number according to the total memory number, for example. Moreover, it can represent that there is no working memory number about any of a 1st special symbol or a 2nd special symbol by making all the eight memory display bodies 41a-41h into a light extinction state. In the following drawings, some reference numerals are omitted in order to prevent complication of the drawings. In addition, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h are shown in a state where all of them are raised in order to improve the visibility, but actually change appropriately as the production progresses as described above.

  Here, before explaining the specific contents of the control processing, the basic flow of the change display effect and stop display effect for each change employed in the present embodiment will be described. An example of the presentation operation corresponding to the increase / decrease change in the total memory number during the game will also be described.

[Before change display]
FIG. 17A: For example, in a state before the first special symbol starts to change (a state where the demonstration effect is not being performed), a row of three effect symbols is displayed large on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42. ing. At this time, in accordance with the stop display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol, the effect symbol is also stopped.

[Memory display effect]
For the memory number effect device unit, for example, by turning on the four memory display bodies 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d corresponding to the numbers “1” to “4” (the others are turned off), the current total memory is stored. The player can be informed that the number is “4”. In other words, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h having a total of eight are lit with the number of operating memories of the first special symbol and the second special symbol (the first special symbol operating memory lamp 34a and the second special symbol operating memory lamp 35a). This number represents the total number of display), and the number of lights is increased or decreased in conjunction with the change in the number of working memories during the game.

  Further, the eight memory display bodies 41a to 41h are lit and displayed in the order in which the operation memory of the first special symbol or the operation memory of the second special symbol is acquired, and the lighting positions are not particularly different for each symbol. That is, in the example of FIG. 42A, the four memory display bodies 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d are lit and displayed. In this case, for example, the operation memory of the first special symbol and the second special symbol are alternately displayed. This means that two pieces have been acquired (stored) in total up to four pieces (total stored number display effect execution means). Although not specifically shown here, the memory display elements 41a to 41a that correspond to the operation memory of the first special symbol and the memory corresponding to the operation memory of the second special symbol in the total memory number are mutually connected. A difference may be provided in the lighting color of 41h.

  Although not shown, it is assumed that the fourth symbol is displayed at the lower part of the screen of the liquid crystal display 42, for example, during the variation display of the effect symbol. The fourth symbol is a “fourth effect symbol” that follows the left, middle, and right effect symbols, and is displayed in a variable manner in synchronism with the effect symbol. Note that the fourth symbol is simply a simple mark (for example, a “□” figure) with a color, and for example, a variable display can be expressed by changing its display color. The fourth symbol is displayed corresponding to the first special symbol and the second special symbol, respectively.

  In the stop display state at the time of disconnection, the fourth symbol is stopped and displayed in a mode corresponding to the disconnection (for example, white display color). This is to objectively clarify that the stop display effect is correctly performed and the pachinko machine 1 is operating normally. Therefore, if the result of the internal lottery is actually “7 round jackpot” or “16 round jackpot” instead of “out of”, the 4th pattern is displayed in a manner corresponding to them (for example, red display color or green display color). Is stopped.

[Variable display production start]
FIG. 17B: For example, in synchronization with the start of fluctuation of the first special symbol, the variable display effect is started by scrolling the three symbol rows on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42 (symbol effect). Execution means). In other words, in synchronization with the start of fluctuation of the first special symbol, the display of the left effect symbol, the middle effect symbol, and the right effect symbol is scrolled (flowed) in the vertical direction on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42 so as to change the display. Production begins.

  As for the stored number effect device unit, the total stored number is decreased by 1 before the start of the change, and the memory display body 41d representing the numeral “4” is changed to the unlit state. After the start of fluctuation, the three memory display bodies 41a, 41b and 41c representing the numbers "1" to "3" are lit up. Thereby, it can be easily communicated to the player that “the total number of memories has been consumed (decreased) with the start of fluctuation”.

  Although not particularly shown here, when the total storage number decreases due to the start of fluctuation, for example, the memory display 41a representing the number “1” is first turned off, and the remaining numbers “2” to “4”. After the lighting states of the memory display bodies 41b, 41c, and 41d representing are maintained for a moment (for example, 0.5 seconds), the memory display bodies 41b and 41c representing the numbers “2”, “3”, and “4”, respectively. , 41d are sequentially turned off, and the display operation is performed such that the memory display bodies 41a, 41b, and 41c representing the numbers “1”, “2”, and “3” are sequentially lit and displayed. It is good as well. As a result, it is possible to visually convey to the player that “the oldest working memory has been consumed for the variable display, and the remaining working memory has been moved (shifted) in the order of memory”. it can.

  In the figure, the change display of the effect symbol is simply indicated by a downward arrow. Although not shown here, during the variable display, each effect symbol is displayed in a transparent state (transparent display), and at this time, an image (background image) serving as the background of the effect symbol is displayed in the display screen. It is assumed that it is displayed in a state where it can be easily seen. Such a background image can be selected according to the stay mode in the production. The stay mode is classified into, for example, “normal mode” corresponding to the normal gaming state, “high-accuracy mode” corresponding to the “high probability state”, “time reduction (chance) mode” corresponding to the “time reduction state”, and the like. be able to. Although not specifically shown here, a mode in which a notice effect is performed by displaying an image of a character, an item, or the like on the display screen, for example, may be used.

[Reach condition occurs]
FIG. 17 (C): For example, when a certain amount of time (about half of the fluctuation time) has elapsed, the left effect design first stops changing, and after a short time (for example, 1-2 seconds later), the right effect design is followed. The effect that stops the fluctuation is performed. In this example, the left effect symbol and the right effect symbol representing the number “6” are stopped at the middle position of the screen. Note that the medium effect design is still changing. As a result, the effect symbol is displayed as a combination of “6” − (during change) − “6”, and the “reach state” occurs in the effect.

[Total memory increase effect]
In addition, since game balls are continuously launched during this time, winning to the right start winning opening 26 and the variable start winning apparatus 28 occurs alternately through the distribution device 200, for example, the total number of working memories increases by two. Suppose that it changes to five. In this case, two memory display bodies 41d and 41e are newly lit and displayed, and an effect indicating that the total memory number has increased to five (total memory number increasing effect) is performed. That is, in this example, two memory display bodies 41d and 41e corresponding to the numbers “4” and “5” are additionally lit.

[Reach production]
In FIG. 17, (D): After the reach state occurs, an effect is made as if the medium effect symbol slowly flows from the numbers “3” to “4” and then “5”. In addition, with respect to the left and right effect symbols that are tempered, for example, the effect of emitting an aura image (displaying an image similar to a flame) from the characters of each effect symbol is performed. At this time, depending on the color of the aura (blue, yellow, green, red, gold, iridescent, etc.), the reliability of this change (expectation of jackpot; the first special symbol or the second special symbol is stopped and displayed in a winning manner. It is also possible to suggest a high or low possibility of being made. However, when the “normal reach fluctuation pattern (at the time of loss)” is selected as the current fluctuation pattern, the current fluctuation does not develop into a reach effect (super reach effect or the like) with higher expectation.

[Total memory increase effect]
In any case, when “normal reach fluctuation pattern” is selected as the current fluctuation pattern, a suitable fluctuation time (for example, about 20 seconds to 25 seconds) is set for executing the reach effect. Since the game ball is continuously launched during this time, winning to the right start winning port 26 and the variable start winning device 28 occurs alternately through the distribution device 200, for example, the total number of operating memories is one more. It has increased to 6 pieces. As a result, a new memory display 41f corresponding to the number “6” is additionally lit and displayed, and an effect indicating that the total memory count has increased to 6 (total memory count increasing effect) is performed. ing.

[Stop display effect (result display effect)]
In FIG. 17 (E): The end of the fluctuation time is approached, and the medium effect symbol stops changing. In this example, the effect symbol representing the number “6” passes through the middle position (tempered line) of the display screen and falls to the bottom of the screen, and the medium effect symbol representing the numeral “7” is stopped at the middle position. Is displayed. In this case, the combination of the production symbols is “6”-“7”-“6” break (reach break), and unfortunately, this change expresses on the production that it was not a big hit. Yes.

  The above is an example of the change display effect and the stop display effect (during non-winning) performed using the effect symbol for each change. Through such an effect, the player can have a sense of expectation for winning, and finally the result of the internal lottery can be clearly taught in the effect.

  Moreover, although the example mentioned above is a thing at the time of non-winning, after a reach effect is performed during a variable display effect at the time of a big hit (winning), an effect design is stopped and displayed in the form of a big win in the stop display effect. At this time, the stop display mode of the effect symbol basically corresponds to the winning symbol (stop display mode of the first special symbol display device 34 or the second special symbol display device 35) selected internally by the main control CPU 72. Selected.

[Production example at the time of big hit]
Next, FIGS. 18 to 21 are continuous diagrams showing the flow of reach production (at the time of a big hit) executed during the special zone production. In this example, among the working memories included in the prescribed number (for example, 8) as the total memory number, for example, the third working memory in the memory order corresponds to the winning of “16 round probability variation symbol”. However, the working memory corresponding to the winning may be the first or second (or fourth or later).

  In the following reach production, after the first special symbol display device 34 (or the second special symbol display device 35 may be used), the first special symbol is a big win (for example, 7 This is executed until the segment LED is stopped and displayed at “self”, “yo”, “mouth”, “巳”, “F”, “E”, “L”, “Γ”, etc.). In addition, in each figure, each production | presentation symbol is simplified and shown only as the number. Hereinafter, it demonstrates along the flow of production.

[Variable display effects]
In FIG. 18, (A): Fluctuating display effect of the left effect symbol, the middle effect symbol, and the right effect symbol on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42 substantially in synchronization with the start of the change of the first special symbol (or the second special symbol). The point where is started is the same as before. However, in order to clearly indicate that the current state is “during special zone production”, the frame image is continuously displayed on the periphery of the display screen. In addition, although not shown here, for example, a background image unique to “during special zone production” is displayed at this time.

  In addition, since the total number of operating memories has decreased to two, the two memory display bodies 41a and 41b representing the numbers “1” and “2” are lit on, and the other memory display bodies 41c to 41h. Is turned off, but the logo display body 40m is turned on.

[Decoration notice effect]
(B) in FIG. 18: Next, at a relatively early stage of the variable display effect, the entire display screen is blacked out, and an image effect is performed as if a light beam is emitted from the logo display 40m.
(C) in FIG. 18: Then, something vibrates around the liquid crystal display 42 (operation motion). The true nature of this vibration is three decorative bodies located on the left and right and below the liquid crystal display 42. These decorative bodies can vibrate and move, but at this point, they are in a position (storage position) hidden behind other structures in the game area 8a, making it difficult for the player to see. . By performing such an effect, it is possible to attract the player to the game and have a sense of expectation for future development.

  In FIG. 19, (D): Soon, three decorative bodies 41x, 41y, 41z that have vibrated in a hidden position appear from the outside of the liquid crystal display 42. The decorative bodies 41x and 41y appearing from the left and right outer sides of the liquid crystal display 42 are shaped like birds, and the decorative body 41z appearing from the lower side of the liquid crystal display 42 is shaped like a bird's neck. It is. At this time, all of these decorative bodies 41x, 41y, and 41z are displaced while slightly changing the angle instead of linear movement. For example, the decorative bodies 41x and 41y move in the left-right direction while gradually inclining their inner edges from a state close to the horizontal, so that birds gradually spread their wings. Further, the decorative body 41z changes from a state where the face is slightly bald with a low posture so that the birds gradually rise up, to a state where the neck is extended and the heel is raised high.

  In FIG. 19, (E): When the three decorative bodies 41x, 41y, and 41z completely appear, they are combined to complete a decorative body that shows the appearance of birds spreading their wings as a whole. In accordance with the operation of such a decorative body, on the display screen, an image effect is performed as if radial rays are emitted from behind. Such an effect can give a visual impact to the player and improve the expectation of the flow of the subsequent variable display effect. Each decorative body 41x, 41y, 41z can be operated using a decorative body motor 57 (indicated by one reference numeral for convenience of explanation, but actually a plurality of motors). In addition, the decorative body lamps 58 can emit the decorative bodies 41x, 41y, and 41z.

[Reach condition occurs]
19 (F) and 20 (G): The decorative body that has appeared returns to the initial storage position and is no longer visible, and the right effect design stops following the stop of the left effect design within the display screen. To do. At this time, a reach state of “7” − (fluctuating) − “7” occurs in the combination of effect symbols, and an effect of outputting a sound such as “reach!” Is performed. In addition, in this case, since the number “7” is aligned, it will be a big hit, so it is possible to make the player have various tensions such as “probability or loss” as well as whether or not the lottery is a success. .

[Preliminary notice after reach occurs (first time)]
In FIG. 20, (H): Following the occurrence of the reach state, for example, a radial flash beam is displayed in the background of the draped effect design, and the character information “chance!” Is displayed at the center position to generate reach. Later notice effect (first) is performed. By executing such a visually noticeable announcement effect after the occurrence of reach, it is possible to obtain an effect of making the player have a greater sense of expectation.

[Progress of reach production]
In FIG. 20, (I): Following the announcement effect after the first reach, for example, images representing the numbers “2” to “8” are displayed in a three-dimensional column on the screen. There is an effect in which numerical images are erased from the screen in the order of “2”, “3”, “4”. Such an effect is performed for the purpose of suggesting (impliciting) or reminding the player that the number “7” remains without being erased. If the number “5” is erased and “6” remains in front of the screen, it is “out of”. If the number “7” is erased, it is “out of”, but the number “6”. ”Is erased, and the number“ 7 ”remains in front of the screen without being erased, it means“ probable big hit ”. Therefore, during this time, the numbers “2”, “3”, “4”,... Are erased in order, and as the number “6” approaches, the player's tension and expectations The feeling will also increase. After this, for example, if up to the number “5” is erased on the screen, the next time the number “6” is finally erased, the possibility of a “probable big hit” is finally increased. A feeling increases at a stretch.

[Preliminary notice after the occurrence of reach (second time)]
In FIG. 21 (J): When the reach production is approaching the final stage, the character image is suddenly displayed on the screen as if it was split into a close-up, and the content that the character emits some dialogue (or silently) (The content may be that of smiling). At this time, for example, the content of the reach effect is a development that “if the number“ 6 ”is deleted, the probability of a probable big hit of“ 7 ”-“ 7 ”-“ 7 ”increases” ”. Therefore, by causing a character image to appear greatly at this timing, an effect of giving the player a sense of expectation that “may be a big hit” is obtained.

[Stop display effect (result display effect)]
In FIG. 21 (K): The last medium effect symbol stops substantially in synchronization with the stop display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol. In this example, the winning symbol internally corresponds to “16-round probability variation symbol”, so the effect symbol (the shape is a heart shape) representing the number “7” on the effect is stopped and displayed at the center of the screen. ing.

  In FIG. 21 (L): For example, a confirmed stop display is also performed for the stop display effect as the effect symbol substantially in synchronization with the confirmed stop display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol. The effect design fixed stop display is performed, for example, in a state where the left, middle, and right effect symbols are restored to their initial sizes. By performing such confirmation stop display, the player can be informed that the final winning type has been confirmed in the production. In this case, the fourth symbol is stopped and displayed in a mode (for example, red display color) corresponding to “16 rounds probable big hit”.

  Here, the case of “16 round probability variation” is taken as an example, but if the result of the internal lottery is the above “16 round normal symbol”, for example, the reach is represented by a production symbol representing the number “6”, etc. A situation occurs, and after the reach production, the left, middle, and right production symbols are stopped and displayed in a big hit mode composed of the same kind of combinations (for example, “6”-“6”-“6”). In this case, the fourth symbol is stopped and displayed in a mode (for example, green display color) corresponding to “16 round normal symbol”.

  In addition, if the result of the internal lottery is non-winning, the first special symbol or the second special symbol is stopped and displayed as the off symbol, so that the staging display effect is also performed in a manner of deviation in the same manner. Execution means). In this case, by displaying the numbers “6” and “8” other than “7” in the center of the screen, unfortunately, an effect that informs that the current change has not been a big hit is performed. Such an effect is executed as an “out of reach reach effect”. Even in this case, since the fluctuation pattern corresponds to, for example, the “super-reach fluctuation pattern at the time of loss”, the specific reach fluctuation occurs during the special zone effect.

[Summary of special zone production]
As described above, after the total number of memories reaches a specified number (for example, 8), the special zone effect is started after the successful effect, and a specific reach effect (big hit) is performed during the subsequent seven fluctuations. It is possible to notify the player in advance of the occurrence of the reach effect or the super-reach effect at the time of failure. Thereby, a player's expectation can be maintained during the special zone effect, and a tension can be maintained during the game (fluctuation) until the specific reach effect occurs.

  In addition, since the effect that determines whether or not such a special zone effect is started is executed on the condition that the total stored number has reached a specified number (for example, 8), it is usually for the player. It is possible to give a motivation to “aim to increase the total memory number to the specified number in order to see the special zone effect” while being aware of “making the total memory number the specified number” during the game.

  By the way, such an effect includes an effect image displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 and a plurality of movable bodies (the logo display body 40m, the memory display bodies 41a to 41h, the decorative bodies 41x, 41y, and 41z mentioned in the effect example). In addition, it is realized by synchronizing the operations of the large rotating lamp 41 and the like. As described above, in order to operate these movable bodies, a large number of motors are required as drive sources. The motor drive control will be described later in detail with reference to another drawing.

  Next, an example of a control method for specifically realizing the above effects will be described. The above-described variable display effect, reach effect, notice effect, memory display effect, and big-game effect executed during the big hit game are all controlled through control processing executed in the effect control device 124.

[CPU initialization process (main) process in effect control device]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the CPU initialization process executed in the effect control device 124. 22A shows the entire CPU initialization process, and FIG. 22B shows the process executed in the main loop in the CPU initialization process.

  The CPU initialization process is a process of clearing various information in the effect control device 124 and adjusting the initial state of the pachinko machine 1. When the effect control device 124 is activated (more specifically, to the pachinko machine 1). The effect control CPU 126 executes the effect control device 124 when the power is turned on or when the effect control device 124 is restarted for some reason. By executing the CPU initialization process, a stable performance in the pachinko machine 1 is guaranteed.

  (A) in FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the CPU initialization process executed in the effect control device 124. Hereinafter, the process executed by the effect control CPU 126 will be described step by step.

  Step S300: The effect control CPU 126 releases the reset of the CPU. The production control CPU 126 resets the CPU after turning on the power to the production control device 124 in order to guarantee normal operation in the production control device 124, until the output voltage normally rises to the operation guarantee level and the peripheral circuit is stabilized. During this period, the reset state is continued. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the program from operating in a state where the production control device 124 is not stable. When the reset of the CPU is released, execution of the control program in the effect control device 124 is started with this as an opportunity.

  Step S310: The effect control CPU 126 executes a system initialization process. In the system initialization process, initial settings related to hardware, system operation settings, and the like are performed as initial settings required before various interrupt processes corresponding to the actual effect control. In the system initialization process, for example, the RAM 130 (main memory) and the command buffer are cleared in addition to settings relating to access to each register and I / O port of the effect control CPU 126 and each device connected to the effect control CPU 126. Is called. When the system initialization process is completed, the interrupt is activated.

  Step S320: The effect control CPU 126 executes pre-task execution processing. Here, “task” refers to an individual process executed due to the occurrence of an interrupt. In the task execution pre-processing, preparation for executing the task is performed. For example, the effect control device 124 is provided with a plurality of LED lamps (hereinafter referred to as “status LEDs”) that are visible from the back side of the pachinko machine 1, and the effect control device 124 uses these LED lamps. Although the internal state is notified by a plurality of lighting patterns, setting of the initial state of the status LED is performed in the task pre-processing. In addition, the setting of the frequency for the command input / output port necessary for receiving the effect command transmitted from the main controller 70, the setup of the RTC 184, etc. are performed. When the task pre-execution process is completed, the status LED is lit in a manner indicating the completion of the initialization process, and the state shifts to a state in which various effect commands can be received.

  In the production control device 124, various types such as a timer interruption that occurs at a preset time interval and an event interruption that occurs due to the occurrence of a predetermined event on the production control device 124 are available. Interrupts can occur. In the following description, interrupts that occur regularly at regular intervals (for example, timer interrupts and event interrupts that occur at regular intervals) are referred to as “periodic interrupts”. Priorities are preset for individual interrupts, and when an interrupt occurs, the effect control CPU 126 executes the corresponding interrupt process while controlling this according to the priority.

  Step S330: The effect control CPU 126 executes effect control main processing. In the effect control main process, other processes that are not executed in various tasks among the controls executed as the game progresses are performed. The contents of the effect control main process will be further described later.

  As shown in FIG. 22A, the effect control main process is incorporated in an infinite loop, and the effect control CPU 126 puts a predetermined execution interval after the effect control main process has been executed once. The execution of the next effect control main process is started again. Therefore, unless the power supply to the pachinko machine 1 is maintained and the effect control device 124 is not restarted, the effect control CPU 126 continues to execute the effect control main process repeatedly. Also, during the execution of the effect control main process, various interrupts are triggered by various factors, and the effect control CPU 126 executes a process according to each generated interrupt. In these processes, image display control to the liquid crystal display 42, sound output control to the speakers 54 to 56, drive control of the lamps 46 to 53 and the decorative body motor 57, etc. are performed directly or directly to the effect control device 124. By controlling each indirectly connected device, the production contents are constructed and the production is realized.

  In this way, the infinite loop in FIG. 22A corresponds to the main loop in the effect control device 124, and the effect control main process is literally positioned as the main process executed in the effect control device 124.

  FIG. 22B is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the effect control main process executed in the effect control device 124. Hereinafter, the process executed by the effect control CPU 126 will be described step by step.

  Step S340: The effect control CPU 126 executes a voltage control monitoring process. In the voltage control monitoring process, the effect control CPU 126 performs a monitoring process for releasing the interruption of the 5V signal supplied to the external driver in a certain time. If a voltage is simultaneously applied to the lamp, the movable body, etc., there is a possibility that the lamp, the movable body, etc. will generate excessive heat due to an inrush current, leading to malfunction or failure. Therefore, the inrush current is dispersed by shifting the voltage application timing (signal release timing) to protect the lamp and the movable body from heat generation.

  Step S350: The effect control CPU 126 executes a watch dog clear process. In addition to the watchdog timer IC 188 connected to the effect control CPU 126 and the watchdog timer using the built-in function of the effect control CPU 126, the effect control device 124 is equipped with a watchdog timer by a control program. Yes. In other words, the production control device 124 operates a total of three watchdog timers including two watchdog timers on hardware and one watchdog timer on software, and each watchdog timer has a different monitoring time. It is monitored whether or not the periodic interrupt has occurred normally (whether or not the periodic interrupt process that is executed when the periodic interrupt occurs is being executed normally). In the watchdog clear process, the effect control CPU 126 executes clearing of all watchdog timers and the like when the periodic interrupt process is normally executed.

  When the above procedure is completed, the effect control CPU 126 returns to the main loop of the CPU initialization process ((A) in FIG. 22) and executes the effect control main process again. The effect control main process is executed at substantially constant intervals when the effect control device 124 is in a normal state. For example, during normal operation, the production control main process occurs twice every 33.3 ms (frame interrupts occurring at 16.6 ms intervals are triggered by a frame interrupt while returning from a separately executed interrupt process. Every step), and the process of each step is completed in the meantime. Therefore, when each step S340 and S350 of the production control main process is completed without delay, the production control CPU 126 performs the standby process for the remaining time until the next production control main process is called, and waits for the start process during that time. Transition to the (sleep) state. As the remaining time is consumed, the effect control CPU 126 ends the standby process, returns to the main loop, and calls the next effect control main process.

[Production control processing]
By the way, the effect control device 124 has a function as an effect control processor and a function as an effect reproduction processor as described above, and realizes these two functions by assigning different resources of the effect control CPU 126 to each. ing. The effect control CPU 126 as the effect control processor receives the effect command transmitted from the main control device 70, and transmits the effect reproduction command instructing the reproduction of the effect according to the contents. In addition, the effect control CPU 126 as an effect playback processor gives a more specific instruction to each device based on the contents of the effect playback command transmitted from the effect control processor, thereby operating each device (by the liquid crystal display 42). Controls screen display, sound output by speakers 54, 55, 56, light emission by various lamps 46 to 52 and panel lamp 53, displacement of various movable bodies by decorative body motor 57, etc., and effect reproduction on pachinko machine 1 is realized. Let

  Therefore, for convenience of explanation, in the following explanation, the operation subject when the effect control CPU 126 functions as an effect control processor is expressed as “effect control unit 210”, and the effect control CPU 126 functions as an effect reproduction processor. The operation subject in this case is appropriately expressed as “display control unit 220”, “voice control unit 222”, “lamp control unit 224”, or “motor control unit 226” depending on the content.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the effect control process. This effect control process is executed, for example, in the course of an interrupt process that is periodically executed due to an interrupt that occurs at a constant period during the execution of the main loop in FIG.

  The effect control process includes command reception process (step S400), working memory effect management process (step S401), effect symbol management process (step S402), display output process (step S404), lamp driving process (step S406), and acoustic driving. This includes a subroutine group of processing (step S408), effect random number update processing (step S410), and other processing (step S412). Hereinafter, the basic flow of the effect control process will be described along each process.

  Step S400: In the command reception process, the effect control unit 210 receives an effect command transmitted from the main control CPU 72. The effect control unit 210 analyzes the received effect commands and stores them in the command buffer area of the RAM 130 according to type. The effect commands transmitted from the main control CPU 72 include, for example, a special figure destination determination effect command, a (special symbol) effect command when the operating memory number increases, a (special symbol) effect command when the operating memory number decreases, and a start opening prize sound. Control command, demonstration effect command, lottery result command, variation pattern command, variation start command, stop symbol command, symbol stop command, state designation command, number of rounds command, error notification command, jackpot end effect command, turn-off counter value command , Variation pattern destination determination command, stop display time end command, prize ball content command, and the like.

  Step S401: In the action memory effect management process, the effect control unit 210 controls the execution of the total memory number increase effect and the total memory number decrease effect using the memory display bodies 41a to 41h. In this process, the effect control unit 210 may control execution of a memory number increase effect, a memory number decrease effect, and a prefetch notice effect using a marker image, for example. The contents of the working memory effect management process will be further described later with reference to another drawing.

  Step S402: In the effect symbol management process, the effect control unit 210 controls the contents of the variable display effect and the stop display effect using the effect symbols, and controls the effect contents during the opening / closing operation of the variable winning device 30 ( Production execution means). In this process, the effect control unit 210 selects effect patterns for various notice effects (notice effect before reach occurrence, notice effect after reach occurrence, etc.). The contents of the effect symbol management process will be further described later with reference to another drawing.

  Step S404: In the display output process, the effect control unit 210 first causes an effect reproduction command to instruct the display control unit 220 about the contents of the effect (for example, the number of operation memories and the operation memory of each of the first special symbol and the second special symbol). Effect pattern number, prefetch notice effect pattern number, fluctuating effect pattern number, fluctuating notice effect number, background pattern number, etc.) are transmitted. In response to this, the display control unit 220 gives a specific drawing instruction to the VDP 152 based on the contents of the received effect reproduction command, and controls the display operation by the liquid crystal display 42.

  Step S406: In the lamp driving process, the effect control unit 210 first instructs the lamp control unit 224 on the contents of the effect. More specifically, the effect control unit 210 sets one of the lamp control tables defined in advance in the control ROM 180. In response to this, the lamp control unit 224 analyzes the contents of the set lamp control table, relays the LED driver 198 based on this, outputs a specific control signal to the driver IC 132, and various lamps 46- 52, the panel lamp 53, the decoration lamp 58, the memory display lamp 68, the logo display lamp 69, etc. are operated (turned on or off, blinking, brightness gradation change, etc.).

  Step S407: In the motor drive process, the effect control unit 210 first instructs the motor control unit 226 about the effect contents using the movable body. More specifically, the effect control unit 210 sets one of the motor control tables defined in advance in the control ROM 180. In response to this, the motor control unit 226 analyzes the contents of the set motor control table and designates specific control contents to the SMC 199 based on the analysis. Further, the SMC 199 is connected to various movable bodies (logo display body 40m, large rotary lamp 41, memory display bodies 41a to 41h, decorative bodies 41x, 41y, 41z, etc.) based on designation from the motor control unit 226. An excitation pattern of a motor (decorative body motor 57, memory display body motor 67, etc.) is generated, and an excitation signal corresponding to the excitation pattern is output to the driver IC. In this way, various movable bodies are operated by exciting and driving various motors. The movable body produces an effect in synchronization with the display of the image by the liquid crystal display 42 or alone.

  Step S <b> 408: In the acoustic drive process, the effect control unit 210 first transmits an effect reproduction command for instructing the content of the effect to the audio control unit 222. In response to this, the audio control unit 222 instructs the audio IC 134 on the specific output contents based on the contents of the received effect reproduction command, and sounds (sound effects) according to the contents of the effects from the speakers 54, 55, and 56. , BGM, etc.) are output.

  Step S410: In the effect random number update process, the effect control unit 210 updates various effect random numbers in the counter area of the RAM 130. The effect random number includes, for example, a random number used for selecting a notice and a random number used for a normal background change lottery (effect lottery).

  Step S412: In other processing, for example, the operation of other effects devices that are not executed in steps S400 to S410 is controlled.

  Through the above-described effect control process, the effect control unit 210 can comprehensively control the effect contents in the pachinko machine 1.

[Overview of movable body control]
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an outline of movable body control. As described above, control of the movable body (production means) is realized by linking the production control unit 210 (production control means), the motor control unit 226 (production control means), the SMC 199 (production means control means), and the driver IC 132. doing. Here, only the blocks related to the control of the movable body are extracted from the internal functions (FIG. 6) of the effect control device 124, and in addition to the function and role of each block, how these function when operating the movable body. I will explain in detail.

  In FIG. 24, the direction of control is indicated by arrows connecting the blocks, and the outline of the processing is simply described. When these control processing is roughly classified, (1) connection to the movable body Motor control, (2) interruption when reaching a specified step, and (3) notification when detecting a sensor. Hereinafter, the three flows will be described in order.

[(1) Motor drive control]
When the effect control CPU 126 (effect control unit 210) receives an effect command transmitted from the main control device 70 as the game progresses, the effect control unit 210 first determines a predetermined movable body according to the contents of the effect command. It is instructed to operate in the mode. Since each movable body becomes operable by driving a motor (production means) connected thereto, the operation mode of the movable body can be rephrased as the drive mode of the motor. The driving mode of the motor is instructed by setting a control table (hereinafter referred to as “motor control table”) in which a plurality of control commands for rotating a certain motor are combined and combined as a series of operations. Each control command specifies the rotation speed, rotation direction, number of steps, and the like of the motor. The motor control table is stored in the control ROM 180.

  When an operation is instructed by the effect control unit 210, the motor control unit 226 next reads the set motor control table from the head and analyzes the control commands described in order. When analyzing one control command, the motor control unit 226 more specifically designates the motor operation to the SMC 199 according to the contents of the control command. Here, the motor excitation method (for example, 1-2 phase excitation), rotation speed, rotation direction, number of steps, and the like are designated.

  When the operation is designated by the motor control unit 226, the SMC 199 next automatically updates the excitation pattern of the motor according to the designated content. “Automatic update of excitation pattern” means that four phases of excitation patterns for each motor (stepping motor) are generated within a certain time according to the specified contents, and the excitation patterns for all motors are constant for the driver IC 132. It means that it transmits with the period of.

  By the way, when generating an excitation pattern, the SMC 199 performs a precise calculation (for example, calculation of an acceleration / deceleration curve) based on a specified acceleration operation, deceleration operation, and the like, and generates an appropriate excitation pattern according to the calculation. By generating such an excitation pattern, it is possible to prevent abnormal operation (for example, step out) of the motor while driving the motor smoothly. If the above-described calculation is implemented by the motor control unit 226, the calculation load becomes very high and consumes the resources of the effect control CPU 126 significantly. Therefore, the effect control CPU 126 (the effect control unit 210 and each reproduction control unit 220). , 222, 224, 226, 228) may affect other processes. In the present embodiment, since the above calculation is implemented by SMC 199 (a resource different from the effect control CPU 126), the processing load on the effect control CPU 126 can be reduced accordingly.

  When the motor excitation pattern is generated, the SMC 199 further converts the generated excitation pattern into a serial signal and transmits the serial signal to the driver IC 132 at a constant cycle. The driver IC 132 receives the serial signal sent from the SMC 199 in a state of being converted into a parallel signal, and outputs an excitation pattern (drive signal) designated for each motor connected to the driver IC 132. In this way, the production control unit 210, the motor control unit 226, the SMC 199, and the driver IC 132 cooperate to drive each motor in the designated mode, and as a result, each movable body operates in the designated mode. It becomes.

[(2) Interrupt when reaching specified step]
When the SMC 199 finishes generating the excitation patterns for the designated number of steps, the SMC 199 notifies the motor control unit 226 that the designated number of steps has been reached by outputting an interrupt signal. Due to the occurrence of this interrupt, the motor control unit 226 can grasp that the movement of the number of steps designated immediately before is completed, that is, the motor is stopped. In response to this, the motor control unit 226 analyzes the next control command described in the motor control table.

  By the way, the control commands described in the motor control table include those directly related to the motor operation and those not directly related to the motor operation. Control commands not directly related to motor operation include, for example, a command that pauses analysis of the next control command until a specified time elapses (hereinafter referred to as “standby command”), and a predetermined command used between control commands. For example, an instruction for manipulating the value of the flag or an instruction for conditional branching of a control instruction.

  When the next control command is to instruct the motor operation, the motor control unit 226 again designates a specific operation to the SMC 199 in the above flow. On the other hand, when the next control command is not directly related to the operation of the motor, the motor control unit 226 executes the instructed process and completes the process inside itself. For example, when the next control command is a standby command, the motor control unit 226 enters a standby state by starting a timer, and when the timer ends, the standby state is canceled and the next control command is analyzed. It will be.

[(3) Notification when sensor is detected]
The motor operation is based on the assumption that the sensor detects the movable body during the period from when the motor starts to rotate until it stops, that is, while the movable body is in operation. And exist. In the case where the control command instructs the operation of the motor on the assumption that the movable body is detected by the sensor, the control command also specifies sensor identification information, a detection method, and the like.

  When the SMC 199 is designated to operate the motor based on the detection of the movable body, the SMC 199 generates an excitation pattern according to the designation and drives the motor, while monitoring the detection signal output by the target sensor. Do. When the sensor detects the movable body, the SMC 199 acquires the detection signal output from the sensor and notifies the motor control unit 226 that the sensor signal has been acquired. In response to this, the motor control unit 226 executes processing according to the control status at that time. For example, when the analysis of the next control command is temporarily stopped until the signal input by the designated sensor is performed by the motor control unit 226, the suspension is canceled by the sensor detection notification from the SMC 199 as a trigger. Analyze control instructions. In addition, if the motor control unit 226 performs signal input by the designated sensor or pauses the analysis of the next control command until the designated number of steps is reached, the sensor detection notification from the SMC 199 precedes. Thus, different processing is executed depending on whether or not a motor stop notification has been made (whether or not a timeout has been established). The branching of subsequent processing based on the presence / absence of sensor detection notification (success / failure) will be described in detail later with reference to another drawing.

[Motor control table]
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motor control table. The left column in FIG. 25 indicates the address in the motor control table, and the right column indicates the control command described in that address.

  As described above, the motor control table is a combination of a plurality of control commands for one motor and is collected as a series of operations, and a plurality of control commands are listed in the execution order from the top. For convenience of explanation, only the names of the control instructions are expressed here as a list. However, the actual control instructions are configured as bit strings, and specific information is designated at specific bit positions. . Further, the command length differs depending on the content of the control command.

  In the motor control table illustrated in FIG. 25, the MOVE_SENSOR instruction is described at the head (address 00H), the JUMP_CALL instruction is described at the succeeding position (address 40H), and the succeeding position (address 80H). A MOVE instruction is described. Various instructions follow, and a variable (ExecOnTimeout) for address reference is described at address FF00H. From address FF00H onwards, control instructions corresponding to processing to be executed when timeout is established are described, but specific description is omitted here. An END command is described at the end of the motor control table. The END command is a control command arranged at the end of the motor control table, and the motor control unit 226 can recognize that this is the last control command in the motor control table by the appearance of the END command.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control command constituting the motor control table. Here, the specifications of the MOVE instruction, the JUMP_CALL instruction, and the MOVE_SENSOR instruction among the four instructions appearing in the above-described example of the motor control table (FIG. 25) are shown. Note that the setting data for each control command is limited to some items necessary for explanation, and more items may actually be set. Further, the description order of the setting data does not necessarily match the order in the actual bit string.

  Common to all instructions is that each control instruction has a 4-bit header code that identifies the control instruction at the beginning, and each control instruction has a unique instruction length. It is a point. Thereby, the motor control unit 226 can identify that the bit string starting from here is a specific control command, and can grasp how long the bit data indicating the control command continues. Based on this rule, the motor control unit 226 sequentially analyzes the control commands listed in the motor control table one by one. When a header code for identifying the END instruction appears, the motor control unit 226 recognizes that this is the last control instruction in the motor control table, and finally analyzes the END instruction. Finish parsing the table.

  The MOVE command is a command for temporarily stopping the analysis of the next control command until the movable body finishes moving the specified number of steps, that is, until the motor reaches the specified number of steps. In the MOVE command, for example, the driving direction (moving body operating direction), the driving speed (speed for rotating the motor), and the number of steps (number of motor operating steps) are set. As the driving direction, any one of four types of a positive direction, a negative direction, a forward direction, and a reverse direction is set. The positive direction and the negative direction indicate the absolute movement direction as seen from the movable body, while the forward direction and the reverse direction are the same direction (forward direction) as the previous movement direction of the movable body or a reversed direction. (In the reverse direction). Since the motor control unit 226 knows in which direction the movable body was operating according to the previous control command, the relative operation direction (forward direction or reverse direction) is designated as the drive direction. The direction to be operated this time is determined according to the previous operation direction, and the absolute drive direction of the motor can be designated to the SMC 199 accordingly.

  The MOVE_SENSOR command is a command for temporarily stopping the analysis of the next control command until the designated sensor detects the movable body or the movable body finishes moving the designated number of steps. In the MOVE_SENSOR instruction, first, as with the MOVE instruction, information related to motor operation is set. When the movable body is operated on the premise of detection by the sensor, after the sensor detects the movable body, it is necessary to push the movable body from the current position to the origin (storage position) and stop it. Therefore, the number of steps is set for the motor that operates the movable body, taking into account the distance for the correction, and adding a certain margin.

  In the MOVE_SENSOR instruction, other information such as a sensor signal detection method (sensor detection method) and whether or not a timeout flag is set when a predetermined condition is satisfied (timeout notification) are set. The predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when the sensor is not detected before the movable body finishes moving the specified number of steps. When the condition is satisfied, the motor control unit 226 sets the timeout flag to ON (timeout established) when the timeout notification is set to “1”, while the timeout notification is set to “0”. Does not set the timeout flag. In consideration of cases where it is not necessary to determine whether or not the timeout has succeeded, or cases in which it is not desired to leave the timeout state, it is possible to select whether or not the timeout flag is set.

  The time-out flag is stored in the flag area of the RAM 130 and can be used via other control commands. For example, various control instructions (for example, a JUMP_CALL instruction described below) are provided that are designed to change the execution contents according to the state of the timeout flag. Therefore, by sequentially processing the control commands described in the motor control table, it is possible to drive the motor based on the state of the time-out flag without making a determination by directly referring to the flag data stored in the RAM 130. Control can be performed.

  The JUMP_CALL instruction is a (CALL) instruction that moves the execution location of the control instruction to a specified address (JUMP) or calls as a subroutine starting from the specified address. Whether to execute as a JUMP instruction or a CALL instruction is set in the CALL flag. When the CALL flag is set to “0”, the CALL instruction is executed. When the CALL flag is set to “1”, the JUMP instruction is executed. In addition to this, in the JUMP_CALL instruction, whether or not the instruction set in the CALL flag is executed only when a timeout is established (timeout execution flag), and an address (move destination address) to which instruction analysis is moved when executed as a JUMP instruction. Is set. When the timeout execution flag is set to “1”, the motor control unit 226 executes the command set in the CALL flag only when the timeout is established (when the timeout flag is ON). On the other hand, when the time-out execution flag is set to “0”, the motor control unit 226 executes the instruction set in the CALL flag regardless of whether the time-out is successful.

  In addition to these, various control commands that can be used depending on the situation are provided. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a series of movable body operations (motor drive operations) can be realized by constructing a motor control table in which appropriate control commands are combined in an appropriate order.

[Example of motor drive control (normal)]
FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example (normal time) when controlling the driving of the motor. This operation is an example when the motor control table shown in FIG. 25 is used, and it is assumed that the sensor detects the movable body while the movable body is operating. FIG. 27 shows an operation example when the movable body is detected by the sensor during the rotation of the motor (operated normally). In order to avoid complication of the drawing, the driver IC 132 that relays between the SMC 199 and the motor / sensor is not shown in the figure. Hereinafter, it demonstrates along an operation example.

  When the effect command transmitted from the main control device 70 is received as the game progresses, the effect control unit 210 sets the motor control table and operates the target movable body (operation of the motor connected to the movable body). (Step S800). Upon receiving this instruction, the motor control unit 226 reads the set motor control table and analyzes the control command described first (step S802). Since the first control command is a MOVE_SENSOR command, a specific motor operation is designated according to the analysis content (step S804), and analysis of the control command is temporarily stopped. In this MOVE_SENSOR instruction, it is assumed that the timeout notification is set to “1”. The SMC 199 generates a motor excitation pattern according to the content specified by the motor control unit 226 (step S806), and outputs the excitation pattern to the motor via the driver IC 132 (step S808). As a result, the motor is driven and the target movable body starts moving. The generation of the excitation pattern (step S806) and the output (step S808) by the SMC 199 are repeatedly executed until the designated number of steps is reached.

  When a little time elapses, the sensor detects the movable body (step S810), and outputs the detection signal to the SMC 199 (step S812). In response to this detection signal, the SMC 199 notifies the motor control unit 226 that sensor detection has been performed (step S814). Upon receiving this sensor detection notification, the motor control unit 226 releases the temporary stop of the analysis of the control command and restarts the analysis. At this time, since the notification that the specified number of steps has been reached has not yet been made, no timeout is established. Therefore, the motor control unit 226 proceeds to the analysis of the next control command while maintaining the OFF state without setting the timeout flag to ON (step S818).

  It should be noted that the designated step arrival notification interrupt (step S816) marked with parentheses in the figure is not actually executed. In response to the operation designation to the SMC performed by the motor control unit 226 (step S804), if the designated step arrival notification is temporarily made, the time is after the sensor detection notification (step S814). It is a notation to show that it is made. In actuality, the motor control unit 226 resumes the analysis of the control command as soon as the sensor detection notification is received, and therefore does not generate an interruption of the designated step arrival notification corresponding to the previous control command. Accordingly, the waiting state for the notification of reaching the designated step is released.

  Next, the motor control unit 226 releases the temporary suspension of the analysis, and analyzes the next control command described in the motor control table (step S818). The next control instruction is a JUMP_CALL instruction. In this JUMP_CALL instruction, it is assumed that the timeout execution flag is set to “1” and the CALL flag is set to “1”. Since the time-out has not been established at this time (time-out flag OFF), the motor control unit 226 analyzes the next control command without performing substantial processing (step S820). Since the next control command is a MOVE command, specific motor operation is designated according to the analysis content (step S822), and analysis of the control command is temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the exchange based on the control command is continued between the motor control unit 226 and the SMC 199 until the motor control table reaches the end.

[Example of motor drive control (when abnormal)]
FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example (at the time of abnormality) when controlling the driving of the motor. Similarly to the case of FIG. 27, this operation is an example in which the motor control table shown in FIG. 25 is used (the setting data of each control command has the same contents), and the sensor is operated while the movable body is operating. Although it is assumed that the movable body is detected, in FIG. 28, the operation when the movable body is not detected by the sensor during the rotation of the motor (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “abnormal” may be abbreviated). An example is shown.

  When the effect command transmitted from the main control device 70 is received as the game progresses, the effect control unit 210 sets the motor control table and operates the target movable body (operation of the motor connected to the movable body). (Step S1800). Receiving this instruction, the motor control unit 226 reads the set motor control table and analyzes the control command described first (step S1802). Since the first control command is a MOVE_SENSOR command, a specific motor operation is designated according to the analysis content (step S1804), and analysis of the control command is temporarily stopped. The SMC 199 generates a motor excitation pattern according to the content specified by the motor control unit 226 (step S1806), and outputs the excitation pattern to the motor via the driver IC 132 (step S1808). As a result, the motor is driven and the target movable body starts moving. The generation of the excitation pattern (step S1806) and the output (step S1808) by the SMC 199 are repeatedly executed until the designated number of steps is reached.

  After a while, the SMC 199 outputs an interrupt signal to the motor control unit 226 to notify that the designated number of steps has been reached (step S1810). Since the motor control unit 226 has not received the sensor detection notification before this notification, the motor control unit 226 can determine that the sensor has not yet detected the movable body. As described above, when the notification of reaching the specified number of steps is made in response to the control command in which the timeout notification is set to “1”, the timeout is always established. Accordingly, since the timeout has been established this time, the motor control unit 226 sets the timeout flag to ON here (step S1812).

  Next, the motor control unit 226 cancels the temporary stop of the analysis, and analyzes the next control command described in the motor control table (step S1814). The next control instruction is a JUMP_CALL instruction. Since the timeout has been established at this time (timeout flag ON), the motor control unit 226 executes the JUMP instruction based on the setting of the CALL flag to move to the movement destination address, and the control instruction described in the movement destination. Analysis is performed (step S1816). Thereafter, the exchange based on the control command is continued between the motor control unit 226 and the SMC 199 until the motor control table reaches the end.

[Comparison of normal and abnormal operation]
Comparing the normal operation example (FIG. 27) and the abnormal operation example (FIG. 28), exactly the same steps are taken until the SMC 199 outputs the excitation pattern to the motor via the driver IC 132. Although it is stepped (steps S800 to S808 in FIG. 27, steps S1800 to S1808 in FIG. 28), whether or not the sensor is detected before the time when the motor reaches (can be) the specified number of steps. It can be seen that there is a change in the subsequent steps depending on (whether a sensor detection notification or a specified step number arrival notification occurs).

  In motor operation based on sensor detection, if both the motor and sensor are operating normally, the sensor first detects the movable body as expected while the motor is rotating, and then the motor Reach the specified number of steps. In other words, since the sensor detection notification is made from the SMC 199 to the motor control unit 226 in the normal state (step S814 in FIG. 27), no time-out is established, and no interruption for notifying the arrival of the specified number of steps does not occur (see FIG. Step S816 in step 27 is not executed). Therefore, the motor control unit 226 proceeds to the next control command without setting the timeout flag (while maintaining the OFF state) (step S818 in FIG. 27).

  On the other hand, when either the motor or the sensor is not operating normally (for example, when a motor step out or a sensor detection failure occurs), the sensor detects the movable body as expected while the motor is rotating. I can't. That is, at the time of abnormality, sensor detection notification is not sent from the SMC 199 to the motor control unit 226, and an interruption notifying that the designated number of steps has been reached is performed (step S1810 in FIG. 28), so that a timeout is established. Therefore, the motor control unit 226 sets the timeout flag to ON before proceeding to the next control command (steps S1812 to S1814 in FIG. 28).

  The next control command (JUMP_CALL command) branches the process to be executed depending on whether or not the timeout is successful, that is, whether the previous motor operation is abnormal or normal, so whether the timeout flag is ON or OFF The process executed by is switched. For example, in the above-described operation example, when normal, this control command does not perform substantial processing, but proceeds to the next control command (step S820 in FIG. 27), but when abnormal, specified by this control command. Then, the process proceeds to the control instruction described in the address (step S1816 in FIG. 28).

[Advantages of this embodiment]
As a coping method when an abnormality occurs in the course of the control process, an exception process is provided for each abnormal state that can be assumed in advance, and control (recovery process) for returning from the abnormal state is provided individually. It is common. Considering the above example, for example, for each process that the motor control unit 226 executes in response to each control command, a description of a control program corresponding to an individual exception process is required. Therefore, according to such a method, the implementation of the control processing becomes very complicated and the maintenance thereof becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in the above-described operation example, at the time of execution of a control command (for example, MOVE_SENSOR command) that operates the motor on the premise of sensor detection (for example, MOVE_SENSOR command), In response to the occurrence of an interrupt reaching the specified number of steps, the motor control unit 226 sets the timeout flag to ON according to the situation at that time. For this reason, in the motor control table, a control instruction (for example, JUMP_CALL instruction) that branches subsequent processing in accordance with the success or failure of the timeout next to such a control instruction is arranged, and the motor operation is normally terminated for some reason. If there is no operation (as expected), the subsequent processing can be switched. For example, when the operation ends normally, the program proceeds directly to the next control command and continues control of the motor during normal operation.On the other hand, when the operation ends abnormally, it moves to the specified address and executes the contents described at that position. Thus, the recovery process can be executed.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the timeout flag in which the state of the target motor (movable body) is stored can be used between a plurality of control commands. ) Need not be described. In addition, it is possible to determine whether or not the previous operation of the target motor has ended normally by referring to a timeout flag via a control command, and based on this, the subsequent processing can be flexibly branched. it can. Therefore, the motor drive control branch process can be simply implemented simply by constructing a motor control table in which appropriate control instructions are described in an appropriate order.

[Other usage examples of timeout flag]
By the way, in the above-described operation example, in the process of executing a control command for operating the motor on the premise of sensor detection, a timeout flag is set triggered by the occurrence of an interrupt reaching the specified number of steps of the motor, and the subsequent processing is performed based on this. Although an example in which the process is branched has been shown, the timeout flag can be used even in the case where an interruption for reaching the specified number of steps does not occur, that is, when a control instruction not directly related to the motor operation is executed.

  For example, it is assumed that a standby command is provided on the premise of detection by a sensor provided for a structure for operation input by the player (for example, the effect switching button 45). This standby command temporarily stops the analysis of the next control command until the detection signal from the sensor is input, but the detection signal is not input until the sensor input monitoring time elapses (the structure was not operated). ) Design in such a way that the next control command is automatically analyzed. Further, after this standby instruction, a control instruction for branching subsequent processing according to the success or failure of the timeout is arranged.

  If a standby command is executed under this assumption and a sensor detection notification is received before the sensor input monitoring time elapses, the motor control unit 226 (or sensor control unit 228) determines that timeout has not been established, and timed out for this structure. Keep the flag off. On the other hand, when the sensor input monitoring time has passed without receiving the sensor detection notification, the motor control unit 226 (or the sensor control unit 228) determines that the time-out is established, and sets the time-out flag for this structure to ON. Then, according to the success or failure of the time-out by the next control command, more specifically, the subsequent processing can be branched based on whether or not the structure is operated by the player. In this case, both the time-out establishment (when the structure is not operated) and the time-out establishment (when the structure is operated) are normal operations and do not correspond to the abnormal state.

  As is clear from this example, the success or failure of the timeout (ON / OFF of the timeout flag) and whether or not the previous operation ended abnormally are not uniquely linked, and each scene where the timeout flag is used Depending on it.

Next, the contents of the action memory effect management process executed in the effect control process will be described.
[Working memory production management process]
FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the working memory effect management process. Hereinafter, the contents will be described along a procedure example.

  Step S700: First, the effect control unit 210 confirms whether or not an effect command for increasing the number of working memories has been received from the main control CPU 72. Specifically, the effect control unit 210 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and confirms whether or not the effect command when the number of working memories increases is stored. When it is confirmed that the effect command at the time of increasing the number of operating memories is stored (step S700: Yes), the effect control unit 210 executes step S702. When it is not possible to confirm that the effect command at the time of increasing the number of operating memories is stored (step S700: No), the effect control unit 210 does not execute step S702.

  Step S702: The effect control unit 210 executes an effect selection process when the number of working memories increases. In this process, the effect control unit 210 selects an effect pattern (lighting pattern of the memory display lamp 192) for newly lighting the memory display bodies 41a to 41h corresponding to the increased total stored number.

  Step S704: The effect control unit 210 confirms whether or not an effect command for reducing the number of working memories has been received from the main control CPU 72. Specifically, the effect control unit 210 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and confirms whether or not the effect command when the number of working memories is reduced is stored. When it is confirmed that the production command when the number of working memories decreases is saved (step S704: Yes), the production control unit 210 executes step S706. If it is not possible to confirm that the effect command at the time when the number of working memories decreases is saved (step S704: No), the effect control unit 210 does not execute step S706.

Step S706: The effect control unit 210 executes an effect selection process when the number of working memories decreases. In this process, the effect control unit 210 turns off the memory display bodies 41a to 41h corresponding to the total stored number before the decrease and turns on the memory display bodies 41a to 41h corresponding to the total stored number after the decrease. (Lighting off and lighting pattern of the memory display lamp 192) is selected.
When the above procedure is completed, the effect control unit 210 returns to the effect control process (FIG. 23).

[Direction design management processing]
FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure example of the effect symbol management process. The effect symbol management process includes an execution selection process (step S500), an effect symbol change pre-process (step S502), an effect symbol change process (step S504), an effect symbol stop display process (step S506), and a variable winning device operation. This is a configuration including a subroutine group of processing (step S508). Hereinafter, the basic flow of the effect symbol management process will be described along each process.

  Step S500: In the execution selection process, the effect control unit 210 selects a jump destination of the process to be executed next (any one of steps S502 to S508). For example, the effect control CPU 126 sets the program address of the process to be executed next as the jump destination address, and sets the end of the effect symbol management process in the “jump table” as the return address. Which process is selected as the next jump destination depends on the progress of the processes performed so far. For example, if the situation has not yet started the variation display effect, the effect control unit 210 selects the effect symbol variation pre-processing (step S502) as the next jump destination. On the other hand, if the pre-change process of the effect symbol has already been completed, the effect control unit 210 selects the process during effect symbol change (step S504) as the next jump destination, and if the process until the effect symbol change is completed, As the next jump destination, the effect symbol stop display processing (step S506) is selected. The variable winning device operating process (step S508) is performed when the big winning variable variable winning device management process (step S5000 in FIG. 16) is selected by the main control CPU 72 or the small winning variable variable winning device management process (FIG. 16). When the middle step S6000) is selected, it is selected as a jump destination. In this case, steps S502 to S506 are not executed.

  Step S502: In the effect symbol variation pre-processing, the effect control unit 210 performs an operation of preparing conditions for starting the variable display effect using the effect symbol. Also, in this process, the effect control unit 210 selects the contents of the reach effect according to various conditions (lottery result, winning type, variation pattern, etc.), or the effect pattern for the notice effect (other than the pre-read notice effect pattern) Select a pre-reach notice pattern, a reach notice pattern, etc.). In addition, the production control unit 210 also performs demonstration production control when the pachinko machine 1 is in a so-called customer waiting state. The specific processing content will be described later using another flowchart.

  Step S504: In the effect symbol changing process, the effect control unit 210 generates control information instructing the display control unit 220 as necessary. For example, when performing an effect using the effect switching button 45 during execution of the variable display effect using the effect symbol, the effect control CPU 126 monitors whether or not the player has operated the effect button, and an effect corresponding to the result is displayed. The display control unit 220 is instructed to control the content (button production).

  Step S506: In the effect symbol stop display processing, the effect control unit 210 controls the contents of the stop display effect using the effect symbols and moving images in a manner corresponding to the result of the internal lottery. That is, the effect control unit 210 instructs the display control unit 220 to end the variable display effect and execute the stop display effect. In response to this, the display control unit 220 actually ends the variable display effect that has been executed so far in the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42, and executes the stop display effect. Thereby, the stop display effect is executed substantially in synchronization with the stop display of the special symbol, and the result of the internal lottery can be effectively taught (disclosure, notification, notification, etc.) to the player (design effect execution). means). In addition, at the time of a small hit, the stop display effect can be executed in a manner similar to or close to the loss.

  Step S508: In the variable winning device operation process, the effect control unit 210 controls the contents of the effect during the small hit or the big hit (special game effect executing means). In this process, the effect control unit 210 selects the contents of the prominent effect according to various conditions (for example, the winning type). For example, in the case of 16 rounds of big hit, the effect control unit 210 selects a 16-round big role effect pattern as the effect contents to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 and instructs the display control unit 220 to select this. As a result, the image of the prominent effect is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42, and the effect contents change as the round progresses.

[Preliminary design change processing]
FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the effect symbol variation pre-processing. Hereinafter, it demonstrates along the example of a procedure.

  Step S600: The effect control unit 210 confirms whether or not a demonstration effect command has been received from the main control CPU 72. Specifically, the effect control unit 210 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and confirms whether or not a demonstration effect command is stored. As a result, when it is confirmed that the demonstration effect command is stored (Yes), the effect control unit 210 executes Step S602.

  Step S602: The effect control unit 210 executes a demo selection process. In this process, the effect control unit 210 selects a demo effect pattern. The demonstration effect pattern defines the contents of the effect indicating that the pachinko machine 1 is in a so-called customer waiting state.

  When the above procedure is completed, the effect control unit 210 returns to the last address of the effect symbol management process. Then, the effect control unit 210 returns to the effect control process as it is, and in the subsequent display output process (step S404 in FIG. 23) and lamp driving process (step S406 in FIG. 23), the contents of the demonstration effect are displayed based on the demo effect pattern. Control.

  On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S600 that the demonstration effect command is not stored (No), the effect control unit 210 next executes step S604.

  Step S604: The production control unit 210 confirms whether or not the current variation is out of place (non-winning). Specifically, the effect control unit 210 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and confirms whether or not a lottery result command at the time of non-winning is stored. As a result, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command at the time of non-winning is saved (Yes), the effect control unit 210 executes Step S612. Conversely, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command at the time of non-winning is not saved (No), the effect control unit 210 executes step S606. Note that whether or not the current variation is off can be confirmed based on a variation pattern command or a stop symbol command in addition to the lottery result command. In other words, if the current variation pattern command corresponds to the outlier normal variation or outlier reach variation, it can be determined that the current variation is outlier. Alternatively, if the current stop symbol command specifies a non-winning symbol, it can be determined that the current variation is out of sync.

  Step S606: If the lottery result command is other than non-winning (missing) (step S604: No), the effect control unit 210 next checks whether or not the current fluctuation is a big hit. Specifically, the effect control unit 210 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and confirms whether or not the lottery result command at the time of the big hit is stored. As a result, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command at the time of the big hit is stored (Yes), the effect control unit 210 executes Step S610. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command at the time of big hit is not stored (No), since only the lottery result command at the time of small hit is left, in this case, the effect control unit 210 executes step S608. . Whether or not the current variation is a big hit can also be confirmed based on a variation pattern command or a stop symbol command. That is, if the current variation pattern command corresponds to the big hit variation, it can be determined that the current variation is a big hit. If the current stop symbol command corresponds to the jackpot symbol, it can be determined that the current variation is a jackpot.

  Step S608: The effect control unit 210 executes a small hit hour variation effect pattern selection process. In this process, the effect control unit 210 determines the effect pattern number at that time based on the variation pattern command received from the main control CPU 72 (for example, “C0H00H” to “D0H7FH”). The effect pattern number is prepared in advance corresponding to the variation pattern command, and the effect control unit 210 selects an effect pattern number corresponding to the variation pattern command at that time with reference to an effect pattern selection table (not shown). Can do. The production pattern numbers may be prepared in pairs with the variation pattern commands, or a plurality of production pattern numbers may be prepared for one variation pattern command.

  When an effect pattern number is selected, the effect control unit 210 refers to an effect table (not shown), and an effect symbol change schedule (change time, reach type and reach occurrence timing) corresponding to the change effect pattern number at that time, The mode of the stop display is determined. Note that the types of effect symbols determined here correspond to the “combination of symbols at the time of a small hit”.

  The above procedure corresponds to the case of “small hit”, but when it corresponds to the big hit, the effect control unit 210 confirms that it is “big hit” in step S606 (Yes). In this case, the effect control unit 210 executes step S610.

  Step S610: The effect control unit 210 performs a big hit hour variation effect pattern selection process. In this process, the effect control unit 210 determines the effect pattern number at that time based on the variation pattern command received from the main control CPU 72 (for example, “E0H00H” to “F0H7FH”). In the big hit time effect pattern selection processing, the processing may be further branched for each big hit time stop symbol.

  In the case of non-winning, the following procedure is executed. That is, when the effect control unit 210 confirms that there is a shift in step S604 (Yes), next, step S612 is executed.

  Step S612: The effect control unit 210 executes a variation effect pattern selection process at the time of deviation. In this process, the effect control unit 210 determines the effect pattern number at the time of deviation based on the variation pattern commands (for example, “A0H00H” to “A6H7FH”) received from the main control CPU 72. The effect pattern numbers at the time of losing are classified into “ordinary deviation fluctuation”, “short-time deviation fluctuation”, “outlier reach fluctuation”, and the like, and a fine reach fluctuation pattern is defined in “outlier reach fluctuation”. Note that which effect pattern number is selected by the effect control unit 210 is determined by the variation pattern command transmitted from the main control CPU 72.

  When the effect pattern number at the time of losing is selected, the effect control unit 210 refers to an effect table (not shown), and the effect symbol change schedule corresponding to the change effect pattern number at that time (change time, presence / absence of reach, occurrence of reach) In this case, reach type and reach occurrence timing) and a stop display mode (for example, “7”-“2”-“4”, etc.) are determined.

  When any one of the above steps S608, S610, and S612 is executed, the effect control unit 210 next executes step S614.

  Step S614: The effect control unit 210 executes a notice selection process (notice effect executing means). In this process, the effect control unit 210 selects the content of the notice effect to be executed during the current variable display effect by lottery. The content of the notice effect is determined based on, for example, the result of internal lottery (winning or non-winning) and the current internal state (normal state, high probability state, time reduction state). The notice effect is for notifying the player of the possibility that a reach state will occur during the variable display effect, or for notifying that there is a possibility that it will eventually be a big hit. Therefore, the selection ratio of the notice effect is set to be low at the time of non-winning, but the selection ratio of the notice effect is set to be relatively high to increase the player's expectation at the time of winning.

  When the above procedure is completed, the effect control unit 210 returns to the effect symbol management process (end address). As a result, in the subsequent effect symbol variation processing (step S504 in FIG. 30), the variation display effect and the stop display effect are executed based on the actually selected variation effect pattern (effect execution means), and various A notice effect is executed based on the notice effect pattern.

[Processing when the variable winning device is activated]
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a configuration example of the variable winning device operating process. The variable winning device operation process is a subroutine of execution selection processing (step S902), variable winning device operation pre-processing (step S904), variable winning device operation in-process (step S906), and variable winning device operation post-processing (step S908). This is a configuration including a (program module) group. Here, first, the basic flow of the variable winning device operating process will be described along each process.

  Step S902: In the execution selection process, the effect control unit 210 selects a jump destination of the process to be executed next (any of steps S904 to S908) from the “jump table”. For example, the effect control unit 210 sets the program address of the process to be executed next as the jump destination address, and sets the end of the variable winning device operating process in the stack pointer as the return destination address.

  Which process is selected as the next jump destination depends on the progress of the processes performed so far. For example, if the situation has not yet started the variable winning device operation pre-processing, the effect control unit 210 selects the variable winning device operation pre-processing (step S904) as the next jump destination. If the variable winning device operating pre-process has already been completed, the effect control unit 210 selects the variable winning device operating process (step S906) as the next jump destination. Further, if the variable winning device operating process has been completed, the effect control unit 210 selects the variable winning device operating post-process (step S908) as the next jump destination.

  Step S904: In the variable winning device pre-operation process, the effect control unit 210 executes a process of selecting the content of the effect to be executed during the big hit game or the small hit game. For example, in the case of winning with a winning type (ordinary symbol) that does not shift to a high probability state after the big hit game ends, a process of selecting an effect in which the ally character loses to the enemy character is executed. In addition, in the case of winning with a winning type (probability variation pattern) that shifts to a high probability state after the big hit game ends, a process of selecting an effect in which the ally character wins the enemy character is executed.

  Step S906: In the variable winning device operating process, the effect control unit 210 generates control information instructing the display control unit 220 as necessary. For example, when performing an effect using the effect switching button 45 during the execution of the jackpot effect, the effect control unit 210 monitors whether or not the player has operated the effect button, and the contents of the effect according to the result (button effect) Control information is instructed to the display control unit 220.

Step S908: In the variable winning device post-operation process, the effect control unit 210 executes the effect of transmitting the transition destination mode to the player during the end time of the variable winning device. For example, the effect control unit 210 executes a coast mode rush effect or a fireworks rush rush effect according to the winning symbol. Specifically, when one of the probability variation symbols is met, a process for selecting an effect indicating that the fireworks rush is entered is executed, and when one of the normal symbols is met, the coast mode is entered. The process which selects the production | presentation which shows doing is performed.
When the above procedure is completed, the effect control unit 210 returns to the effect symbol management process (FIG. 30).

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, there are the following effects.

(1) In the present embodiment, based on the motor control table set by the effect control unit 210 as the game progresses, the motor control unit 226 analyzes individual control commands and sends specific motor operations to the SMC 199. On the other hand, when specified, the SMC 199 generates an excitation pattern for the target motor in accordance with the specified content, and transmits it at a constant cycle. When the excitation pattern is generated, the SMC 199 executes all of the calculations including the calculation required to smoothly realize the acceleration / deceleration of the motor. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the load on the presentation control CPU 126 by the amount that processing with high load is distributed to the SMC 199.

(2) In this embodiment, when the SMC 199 finishes generating excitation patterns for the number of steps designated by the motor control unit 226, an interrupt signal is output to the motor control unit 226. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, triggered by the occurrence of an interrupt by the SMC 199, the motor control unit 226 can grasp that the motor is stopped, cancel the control command analysis pause state, and It becomes possible to proceed to the analysis of the control command.

(3) In the present embodiment, during the execution of the control command corresponding to the operation based on the detection by the sensor, the motor control unit 226 determines the success or failure of the timeout based on the timing of receiving the sensor detection notification, If timeout occurs, the timeout flag is set to ON. Further, in the motor control table, a control command for branching subsequent processing in accordance with the success or failure of the timeout is arranged in advance after this control command. Therefore, according to this embodiment, based on whether or not the operation based on sensor detection has been completed as expected, more specifically, depending on whether or not the timeout flag is ON, This process can be branched, and subsequent processes can be flexibly switched according to the previous end situation. In addition, since switching of processing according to the operation status is possible only by constructing a motor control table in which appropriate control instructions are described in an appropriate order, the implementation of branch processing according to the operation status is simplified. As a result, it is possible to improve the maintainability of the control code related to the production control.

(4) Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the motor control unit 226 triggers that an interruption for reaching the specified number of steps occurs during execution of a control command corresponding to the operation of the motor based on detection by the sensor. If a sensor detection notification is made, it will be considered normal termination and timeout will not be established.If sensor detection notification is not made before the occurrence of an interrupt, it will be deemed abnormal termination and timeout will be established and the timeout flag will be Set to ON. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, subsequent processing can be flexibly switched based on whether or not the motor operation has ended abnormally.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. The aspect of appearance and various numerical values given in the embodiment are merely examples, and are not limited to the above-described contents.

  In the above-described embodiment, the SMC 199 is used only for motor drive control (excitation pattern automatic update). However, the SMC 199 can also be used for lamp lighting control (lighting pattern, brightness pattern automatic update). Accordingly, in the lamp lighting control, the SMC 199 may be applied instead of the LED driver 198 described above, and the SMC 199 may automatically update the operation patterns of both the lamp and the motor. Further, as in the case of the motor, the time-out flag may be set to ON based on whether or not the previous lighting operation of the lamp has ended abnormally, and the subsequent lamp control process may be branched. Further, the lighting status of various lamps can be detected by, for example, detecting a current value on the LED wiring by a current sensor, detecting light by a phototransistor, or the like.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the scene in which the timeout flag is set to ON is specifically identified (for example, after executing the control command in which the timeout notification is set to “1”, the sensor detection is designated by the motor). On the other hand, the case where the time-out flag is set to OFF is not particularly mentioned. The timeout flag may be configured to be explicitly cleared by forcibly setting the flag to OFF, for example, by executing a specific control command described in the control table.

  In the embodiment described above, when the sensor detection notification is made from the SMC 199 to the motor control unit 226, the motor control unit 226 immediately resumes the analysis of the control command, and the interruption of the specified step arrival notification that may occur after this is A configuration that does not occur (cancels the wait state for the specified step arrival notification), but a configuration that cancels the wait state for the specified step arrival notification and resumes the interrupt for the specified step arrival notification as the analysis resumes It is good.

  In addition, although the gaming machine has been described as an example of a pachinko machine, the above-described embodiment may be applied to a pachislot machine (rotating game machine, slot machine). Here, a pachislot machine is a lever-shaped start switch, a button-shaped stop switch, and a plurality of rotations that start rotating based on the operation of the start switch and stop rotating based on the operation of the player's stop switch. A winning combination lottery that determines whether or not to win a predetermined winning combination based on the operation of the start switch in a state where a sufficient number of medals or game balls as gaming media are inserted for the start of the game And rotating a plurality of rotating reels (rotating cylinders), and based on the operation of the stop switch, the rotating reels corresponding to the operated stop switch are stopped (reel control), and each stopped rotating reel Based on the combination of symbols displayed on the active line connecting the predetermined symbol positions, the winning combination won by the winning combination lottery Refers to a gaming machine that determines whether a prize has been won or not, and grants a player a privilege such as a game medium, a replay, an accessory, or an accessory continuous action device based on the result of the prize determination. .

  Also in the pachislot machine, since the control is divided into the “main control device” and the “production control device” in the same manner as the pachinko machine 1 of the embodiment, an effect can be obtained by applying the configuration of the embodiment. Can be obtained. In other words, in the pachislot machine, games such as the above-mentioned reception of game media, the winning combination lottery, reel rotation, reel stop, winning determination, bonus grant, etc. are controlled by the main control device, and the main control is performed according to the progress of the game. An effect command is transmitted from the device to the effect control device, and the effect control device needs to branch processing according to the situation when controlling the execution of the effect based on the received effect command. Therefore, by applying the configuration of the embodiment, the subsequent processing can be flexibly switched according to the state of the sensor or the motor controlled by the effect control device.

  The images given in other production examples are merely examples, and these can be appropriately modified. Further, the structure, board surface configuration, specific numerical values and the like of the pachinko machine 1 are preferable examples including those shown in the drawings, and it goes without saying that these can be appropriately modified.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 8 Game board unit 8a Game area 20 Start gate 28 Variable start winning device 33 Normal symbol display device 33a Normal symbol operation | movement memory lamp 34 1st special symbol display device 35 2nd special symbol display device 34a 1st special symbol operation memory Lamp 35a Second special symbol operation memory lamp 38 Game state display device 42 Liquid crystal display 45 Effect switching button 70 Main control device 72 Main control CPU
76 RAM
124 Production control device 126 Production control CPU
130 RAM
132 Driver IC
180 Control ROM
182 SRAM
199 SMC

Claims (3)

Production control means for instructing execution of production accompanying the game;
Production means that functions according to the production instructed to be executed by the production control means;
Upon receiving an instruction from the effect control means, an operation control for sending an execution pattern necessary for the effect means to function to the effect means, and an end notification notifying the effect control means that the execution pattern has been sent. A game machine provided with effect means control means capable of executing end notification control. In the gaming machine according to claim 1,
The production control means includes
Checking whether the predetermined condition is satisfied in response to the end notification from the effect means control means, and if the predetermined condition is satisfied, a value indicating the state of the effect means is set in the state flag, A gaming machine, wherein a subsequent instruction to the effect means control means is executed based on the state flag. The gaming machine according to claim 2,
A sensor for detecting the functional status of the rendering means and outputting a detection signal;
The production control means includes
Further executing detection notification control for performing detection notification to notify the effect control means that the detection signal has been output by the sensor;
The production control means includes
When an instruction is given to the effect means control means on the assumption that the sensor has detected that the effect means has functioned according to the effect instructed to be executed, the effect means control means sends the instruction based on the instruction. The state flag is set when the end notification is made before the detection notification is made as a result of controlling the function of the effect means based on the execution pattern. Machine.