JP2688762B2 - Pachinko machine control device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pachinko machine control device for easily replacing electronic components.

(Prior Art) With the spread of microcomputers in recent years, it has become possible to easily manufacture gaming machines having complicated and sophisticated gaming procedures. Since it is desired that the gaming machine has a high game playability, and it is necessary to provide the gaming machine with more variety, the number of electronic components constituting the gaming machine tends to be mounted. In other words, gaming machines provide more variety by increasing the number of decorative electronic components such as lamps, sound effect LSIs, and dot matrix LEDs.

Since these electronic components are controlled by a CPU (microcomputer), the wiring between each electronic component and the CPU is extremely complicated. There are two types of wiring between the CPU and each electronic component: parallel lines for parallel transmission of data and serial lines for serial transmission of data. Transmission is faster than serial transmission. When the CPU input / output ports are used independently, the number of signal lines for serial transmission depends on the number of controlled parts, and the number of parallel transmission signal lines depends on the number of controlled parts and the number of CPU data processing bits. . For example, CPU
When the data processing of 8 is performed with 8 bits, the number of controlled parts is equal in the case of serial transmission, while the signal line of 8 times the number of controlled parts is required in the case of parallel transmission.

By the way, since it is desired that the gaming machine has great game playability as described above, the gaming machine is replaced with one having new game contents in a certain cycle. Further, the replacement of the gaming machine is not performed for all the gaming machines for economic and manufacturing reasons, but is performed only for a part of the gaming machines.

For example, in a pachinko machine, the basic structure for performing game operations and the game operations do not change, and therefore, there are those that can be used in common for each model such as a ball hitting device and a throwing ball control device in the mechanical section. For electronic parts used in pachinko machines, control of input devices such as power circuit, CPU, RAM, ball hitting handle (ball hitting start switch) and winning detection sensor that can be used in common for each model There are electronic components, a ball striking device, a speaker driver, and the like.

On the other hand, ROM that stores the game procedure (software) peculiar to various pachinko machines, the control circuit of the display unit that displays according to the game peculiar to the pachinko machine that the CPU controls based on the ROM, the voice generation circuit, and A center accessory cannot be used in common. For this reason, when replacing the currently used pachinko machine with another model, it is economically desirable to use the commonly usable one as it is and replace only the commonly unavailable one. Note that the pachinko machine game boards are all replaced for design reasons.

Therefore, these electronic parts include a CPU, a ROM, and an arithmetic control board mainly composed of a RAM, an input device control board mainly composed of a control electronic part of the input device, and a control electronic part of the output device. It is divided into an output device control board, which is a main component, and the work of replacing the pachinko machine is performed as follows in units of these boards.

First, the old game board is removed from the place where the pachinko machine is installed, and the arithmetic control board of the old game board is removed. Then, the removed arithmetic control board is mounted on the new game board on which the input device control board and the output device control board are previously mounted, and the new game board is re-installed at the installation place together with these boards. After this re-installation, the inspection of the electronic system between the mechanical unit and the electronic component and the alignment between the mechanical unit and the electronic component are inspected, and the replacement of the pachinko machine is completed.

The arithmetic control board and the input device control board and the arithmetic control board and the output device control board are connected by a parallel line, and data is transmitted in parallel.
See Figure 12). The parallel transmission of data by the parallel line is for making the data processing speed higher than that for the serial line and improving the game responsiveness of the gaming machine.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the number of mounting points of electronic components used in a pachinko machine tends to increase as described above, and since the two types of substrates are connected by a parallel line,
The number of signal lines connecting the two types of substrates becomes enormous. For this reason, various inspections regarding the mechanism of the gaming machine, the electronic components, and the matching between the two must be performed during and after the replacement work, and this inspection work requires a lot of man-hours.

Further, during the work of replacing the pachinko machine, the signal line interferes with the workability and the workability is deteriorated, and the signal line and electronic parts are easily damaged, resulting in defective products. Therefore, there is a problem that the running cost increases and the product reliability decreases. Further, the difference in data processing speed between the case where the CPU processes the data by parallel transmission and the case where the CPU processes the data by serial transmission is within a negligible range in the pachinko game.

Therefore, the present invention provides a controller for a pachinko machine, which can be easily replaced.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an input means 3 for generating a plurality of types of winning signals representing the winning states of the pachinko balls fired on the game board 12. Provided is an output means 4 for displaying the winning state in a plurality of types according to the generation of the input signal of the input means 3, and the output means 4 is based on the generation of the winning signal and a pre-stored game procedure. Arithmetic control means 5 for generating a controlled control signal is provided, the winning signal is received by parallel transmission, the received winning signal is transmitted to the arithmetic control means 5 by serial transmission, and the control signal is received by serial transmission. A matching unit 6 having a function of transmitting the control signal received together with the output unit 4 by parallel transmission is provided, and at least the matching unit 6 and the arithmetic control unit 5 are provided on different substrates 3 from each other. It is characterized by being constructed on 3,31.

(Operation) In the present invention, since the controller 1 of the pachinko machine is configured as described above, at least the matching means 6 and the arithmetic control means 5
Since the control board is composed of multiple boards by configuring different pachinko machines on different boards, it is possible to replace the unique parts of various pachinko machines when changing the model of the pachinko machine. 6 is between the arithmetic control procedure 5 and the input means 3, and between the arithmetic control procedure 5 and the output means 4.
Since the data is exchanged with each other by serial transmission, the number of signal lines connected between the arithmetic control means 5 and the input means 3 and between the arithmetic control means 5 and the output means 4 should be reduced as compared with the case of parallel transmission. You can

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the main configuration of a control device 1 for a pachinko machine according to the present invention. This device 1 is provided in a pachinko machine 2 which will be described later, and mainly comprises an input means 3, an output means 4, an arithmetic control means 5 and a matching means 6.

The input means 3 generates a plurality of types of winning signals representing the winning states of the pachinko balls fired on the game board 12 shown in FIG. 5 from each of the sensors 7, 8 and 9 described later, and the signals are matched with the matching means. 6
It is input to the calculation control means 5 via. The configuration of the input means 3 differs depending on the model of the pachinko machine 2. The input means 3 mainly comprises a prize plate detecting sensor 7, a starting sensor 8 and a big prize detecting sensor 9 provided on a set plate (see FIG. 3) 41 or a game board 12 described later (see FIG. 4). Each of these sensors
7,8,9 consist of proximity sensors, and the pachinko ball (hereinafter referred to as "launch ball") launched by the hitting device 10 described later on the game board 12
Is detected by the proximity of the launch ball, and a signal indicating the detection of winning is generated.

The winning detection sensor 7 generates a detection signal indicating a normal winning of the launch ball, and the starting sensor 8 is based on the winning of the launch ball,
A detection signal for starting a center accessory 13 described later is generated. Then, the special winning detection sensor 9 generates a detection signal for continuously operating the center winning object 13 in response to a winning in the special winning opening caused by the start of the center winning object 13. 45 is an out hole.

The output unit 4 displays the winning state in a plurality of types according to the generation of the input signal of the input unit 3, and the configuration differs depending on the model of the pachinko machine 2. The output means 4 is an LED 14 provided on the game board 12, a decorative lamp 15, and a center accessory 1.
3, the main body side of the pachinko machine 2, that is, the speaker 16 arranged in the middle frame 46 or the outer frame 48, and the ball hitting handle 67 provided on the front side of the pachinko machine 2. The output means 4 is controlled by the output signal of the arithmetic control means 5 via the matching means 6, and stimulates the sight and hearing of the player to increase the playability of the pachinko machine 2. A hitting ball start means (not shown) for generating a hitting ball start signal by operating the hitting ball handle 67 is built in the hitting ball control circuit 11, and this hitting ball starting means is not shown in the drawing based on the generation of the hitting ball start signal. A ball striking device (10) mainly composed of a pachinko ball firing motor is controlled.

The matching means 6 is composed of electronic parts such as LSI.
Serial-parallel conversion circuit 19, parallel-serial conversion circuit 20, output interface 21, input interface 22, indicator control circuit 17, mechanism control circuit 23
And the main configuration. And these electronic components 17,19,2
0, 21, 22, 23 are mounted on the I / O board 33, and the I / O board 33 is mounted on the center accessory 13 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the matching means 6 is arranged between the input means 3 and the arithmetic control means 5 and between the output means 4 and the arithmetic control means 5, and is transmitted bidirectionally between both means 5, 6. It is intended to match the signals (data) to be reproduced, and the configuration differs depending on the model of the pachinko machine 2.

Reference numeral 18 is a serial line formed of a signal line, which connects the matching means 6 and the arithmetic control means 5 to serially transmit a signal between both means 5, 6. Reference numeral 25 denotes a parallel line formed of a signal line, which connects the display control circuit 17 and the mechanism control circuit 23 to the output interface 21 to transmit signals in parallel between the two 17, 23 and 21, and also to input the input interface 22. The means 3 is connected and signals are transmitted in parallel between the both 3 and 22.

The serial-parallel conversion circuit 19 parallel-transmits (inputs) the input signal serially transmitted from the arithmetic control means 5 through the serial line 18 to the output interface 21, and the output interface 21 outputs the parallel-transmitted input signal to each of the circuits 17 described above. Align to enter, 23. The input interface 22 performs matching for parallel transmission of the input signal parallel-transmitted from the input means 3 to the parallel-serial conversion circuit 20, and the parallel-serial conversion circuit 20 uses the serial line 18 to output the matched input signal. The data is serially transmitted to the arithmetic control unit 5.

The display control circuit 17 is a driver circuit for LEDs and lamps, and based on the input signal from the output interface 21,
The light emission of D14 and the decoration lamp 15 is controlled. Mechanism control circuit 2
3 controls the center accessory 13 based on an input signal from the output interface 21.

The center accessory 13 is arranged substantially in the center of the front of the game board 12, and operates in response to the winning ball detected by the start sensor 8. The center accessory 13 is controlled by the control signal from the arithmetic control means 5,
A motor 38 driven by the mechanism control circuit 23, a solenoid (not shown), and the like are provided, and this solenoid opens and closes the opening / closing blade 39. Note that FIG. 5 shows the operating state of the solenoid, in which the opening / closing blade 39 is open.
When the opening / closing wing 39 is opened, the launch ball is taken into the center accessory 13 through the notch 63, and the taken-in launch ball is subjected to a prize process. As a result, the winning probability increases while the center accessory 13 is operating.

Reference numeral 40 is a guide rail for guiding the launch ball into the game board 12. Reference numeral 60 denotes an engagement protrusion formed at the tip of an engagement piece 59 that engages with a set plate described later. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the I / O board 33 is removed from the center accessory 13. Reference numeral 66 shown in FIG. 2 is a cover for protecting the rear end portion of the center accessory 13.

The arithmetic and control unit 5 generates the winning signal, and
A control signal for controlling the output means 4 is generated based on the game procedure stored in the ROM 27. The arithmetic control unit 5 is composed of electronic parts centering on an LSI for controlling the pachinko machine 2, and these electronic parts are CPU 26, ROM 27, RA.
The M28 and the power supply circuit 29 are the main components, and these electronic components 26, 27, 28, 29 are mounted on a control board (see the broken line in FIG. 2) 31. The control board 31 is provided on a control board box 32 on the back side of the pachinko machine 2, and the control board box 32 is arranged on the back side of the set board 41 shown in FIG. 8 attached to the game board 12.

The CPU 26 generates a signal for controlling the output means 4 based on the input signal from the input means 3 and the game procedure (software) and various data unique to the pachinko machine 2 of each model stored in the ROM 27 in advance. . The input signal from the input means 3 is input to the serial input port of the CPU 26 via the parallel-serial conversion circuit 20, and the CPU 26 outputs the signal for controlling the output means 4 from the serial output port to the serial-parallel conversion circuit 19. To do. Further, the ROM 27 stores software for controlling the sound generation circuit 24, and the CPU 26 operates the sound source circuit LSI provided in the sound generation circuit 24 based on this software (ROM 27). To create sound effects.

The power supply circuit 29 supplies power to the device 1,
The power is supplied to the control board 31 and also to the I / O board 33 via the power supply line 34. Also, the power supply circuit 29 supplies power to the power supply terminal of the CPU 26 and the power-on reset circuit 30, and the power-on reset circuit 30 inputs a reset signal to the reset terminal of the CPU 26 at the time of power-on to initialize the device 1. To do. Reference numeral 35 is a power supply monitoring circuit that monitors whether the power supply voltage of the CPU 26 is a predetermined value.
Inputs a reset signal to the reset terminal of the CPU 26 when the power supply voltage of the CPU 26 is not a predetermined value.

36 is an oscillation circuit that generates the basic clock of the CPU 26, 37
Is an interrupt signal generation circuit for causing the CPU 26 to execute an interrupt. Further, the hit ball control circuit 11 directly controls the hit ball device 10 in accordance with a signal generated by operating the hit ball handle 67. The sound generation circuit 24 generates a sound effect by directly driving the speaker 16 based on a control signal from the CPU 26.

Although the sound generation circuit 24 creates the sound effect by software in this embodiment, the sound effect circuit 24 may generate the sound effect by hardware. In other words, the sound source circuit LSI provided in the sound generation circuit 24 has, for example, a plurality of types of tones and pitches built therein, and the CPU 26 is a ROM.
The sound sources unique to the pachinko machine 2 are created by combining the sound sources based on the software stored in 27.
That is, the generation of the sound effect requires a control program for the tone color, pitch, generation time, etc. used for the sound effect, and the software becomes extremely complicated. Therefore, if an LSI, that is, hardware that stores a plurality of unique sound effects in advance, is provided and the LSI is controlled by signals for starting the sound effect generation, selecting the sound effect, and stopping the sound effect, The above-mentioned control program for creating the above becomes unnecessary, and the software relating to the sound effect generation can be simplified. In this case, a plurality of types of the sound effects are stored.
The LSI may be mounted on either the matching unit 21 or the arithmetic control unit 5.

Of the electronic components mounted on the control board 31, the ROM 27
11,24,26,28,29,30,35,36,37 except for can be commonly used for a plurality of types of pachinko machines having different game contents or specifications. On the other hand, the electronic components 17, 19, 20, 21, 21, 22 and 23 mounted on the I / O board 33 are unique to each type of pachinko machine 2 and cannot be used in common between different types of pachinko machines 2. . Although the present embodiment has described the case where the hit ball control circuit 11 is provided on the control board 31, the present invention is not limited to this, and the hit ball control circuit 11 may be mounted on an independent board.

Therefore, the control board 31 is mounted on each electronic component of the arithmetic and control unit 5 excluding the ROM 27, and a ROM socket (not shown) is attached, so that the control board 31 can be commonly used for pachinko machines 2 of different models It is possible to do. That is, when the pachinko machine 2 is assembled, the ROM 27 unique (non-common) to each model is mounted in the ROM socket, whereby the arithmetic control means 5 (control board 31) of the pachinko machine 2 according to each specification is manufactured. Will be.

The set plate 41 is mainly provided with a pachinko ball flow path 42, 44 is a lamp substrate on which the decorative lamp 15 is mounted, and 43 is a lamp cover of the decorative lamp 15. A game board on the set board 41
Along with mounting 12, the boss 56 is provided as a positioning reference when mounting. On the other hand, the game board 12 is provided with a reference hole 58 corresponding to the boss 56. Further, the fixing hole 57 formed in the set plate 41 engages with the engaging piece 59 of the center accessory 13, and the fitting hole formed in the game board 12 fitted in the center accessory 13
The set plate 41 and the center accessory 13 can be fixed by penetrating 64.

Reference numeral 65 denotes an accessory hole for accommodating the protrusion of the center accessory 13 when the set plate 41 and the center accessory 13 are fixed. 61 is a prize tool, and the prize tool 61 engages with a mounting member 62 provided on the set plate 41. In the pachinko machine 2 in the present embodiment, the winning device 61, the center accessory 13, the lamp cover 43 and the like are engaged with the set plate 41 to mount them, but instead of this engagement, a wood screw or the like is used as in the conventional case. May be attached.

The pachinko machine 2 has a middle frame 46, which is the main body, and a hinge on the middle frame 46.
An outer frame 48 that can be opened and closed by 47, and a game board provided in the middle frame 46
The main configuration is 12 storage frames 50. This game board 12 storage frame
The game board 12 is detachably provided to the 50 by a lock member 51. Furthermore, 52 is an upper plate, 53 is a lower plate, 54 is a glass frame, 55
Is a housing hole for housing the protrusion of the center accessory 13 provided on the game board 12, and 49 is a housing recess for engaging and housing the game board 12.

Next, the pachinko machine 2 provided with the device 1 according to the above-mentioned configuration, the game procedure different from the pachinko machine 2 (game content)
The case of replacing with the pachinko machine 2 will be described below. Hereinafter, the pachinko machine 2 installed at the installation location before the replacement will be referred to as the old pachinko machine 2, and the pachinko machine 2 installed at the installation location after the replacement will be referred to as the new pachinko machine 2.

First, after deactivating the function of the power supply circuit 29 of the old pachinko machine 2, the connection of the serial line 18 that connects the control board 31 and the I / O board 33 is released, and the control board box 32 is released. The control board 31 is removed. Then, while appropriately processing the signal lines such as the parallel line 25, the lock member 51 is operated to release the game board 12 and the middle frame 46.
Remove from

Next, the ROM 27 of the removed control board 31 is pulled out from the ROM socket, and the R of the new pachinko machine 2 is replaced with the ROM 27.
OM27, that is, ROM27 of new pachinko machine 2 specifications
The control board 31 is inserted into the socket and mounted on the control board box 32 of the new pachinko machine 2. The control board 31 mounted on the control board box 32 and the I / O board 33 previously attached to the new pachinko machine 2 are connected by the serial line 18, and the connection and the I / O board 33 and the control board 31 are connected. After the inspection with electronic matching, the pachinko machine 2 replacement work is completed.

At the time of the above exchange, the arithmetic control means 5 and the input means 3 are connected by the serial line 18, and the arithmetic control means 5 and the output means 4 are connected by the serial line 18. Therefore, the number of signal lines is the same as the above connection. It is less than the case where the control lines 31 are connected by parallel lines, and does not interfere with the work of removing the control board 31. Further, since the absolute number of signal lines is reduced, the work time for the above connection is shortened. Therefore, the work of removing the control board 31 can be performed easily and quickly.

In addition, CP caused by the difference between the above two types of data transmission methods
The data processing speed difference of U is in a range that the player can ignore during the pachinko game.

Although the present embodiment has described the case where the I / O substrate 33 is attached to the center accessory 13, the present invention is not limited to this.
FIG. 9 shows an example in which the I / O substrate 33 is screwed to the set plate 41, and FIG. 10 shows printed wiring on the set plate 41 to directly form the I / O substrate 33. This shows an example in which parts are mounted. When the I / O substrate 33 is formed on the set plate 41, it is obvious that the set plate 41 is made of a material that can withstand the heat of the solder layer.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily and quickly carry out the work of exchanging a game machine with another model, and a board mounted mainly on a CPU is used for each model of the game machine. Can be commonly used for. Further, the number of signal lines resulting from the coupling of the serial lines, that is, the number of connection points does not depend on the number of electronic components forming the input means, so that the number is always kept constant.

For this reason, first, the man-hours required for the replacement work and various inspections after the replacement work are shortened, so that the work efficiency is improved.

Secondly, since the arithmetic control means and the input means are connected by the serial line and the arithmetic control means and the output means are connected by the serial line, the number of signal lines, that is, the connecting points are connected by the parallel lines. It is less than the case where there is, and the possibility of occurrence of defective contact due to vibration during game play and the possibility of defective products due to the occurrence of defective contact are reduced. Therefore, the running cost is reduced at the time of production, the failure occurrence rate of the gaming machine is reduced at the time of playing (operating) the gaming machine, and the product reliability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the back side of a pachinko machine that accommodates the one shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. The rear view showing the attachment state of the I / O board, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the attachment / detachment state of the game board 12 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is the game board 12 and the center accessory of FIG. Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 6, Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the I / O board in Fig. 2 is attached, and Fig. 7 is a state in which the I / O board in Fig. 6 is removed from the center accessory. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the set board and the game board 12, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional example different from FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional example different from FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of FIG. 1, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a conventional example. 1 ... Pachinko machine control device 2 ... Pachinko machine 3 ... Input means 4 ... Output means 5 ... Computation control means 6 ... Alignment means 12 ... Game board 18 ... Serial line

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input means is provided for generating a plurality of types of winning signals representing a winning state of a pachinko ball fired on a game board, and a plurality of winning states are provided according to the generation of the input signal of the input means. The output means for displaying in the form of, the arithmetic control means for generating the control signal for controlling the output means based on the generation of the winning signal and the pre-stored game procedure, the winning signal is transmitted in parallel And a function of transmitting the received winning signal to the arithmetic control unit by serial transmission, receiving the control signal by serial transmission, and transmitting the received control signal to the output unit by parallel transmission. A controller for a pachinko machine, characterized in that a matching means is provided, and at least the matching means and the arithmetic control means are formed on different substrates.