JP3648423B2 - Symbol display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of gaming machines, and particularly relates to a symbol display device equipped in a gaming machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A symbol display device that performs variable display of symbols is installed in a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, for example, and used for a hit / miss display.
In the symbol display device, a rotating body such as a drum or a belt on which a plurality of symbols are drawn is rotated to display the symbols in a variable manner, or an electric display means such as a liquid crystal display panel, a CRT, or a 7 segment LED. There are some which display symbols in a variable manner.
[0003]
At least the front side of the display means such as the drum and the liquid crystal display panel is covered with a protective material such as transparent plastic.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional symbol display device, even if the protective material is decorated in the portion outside the symbol display area, the portion overlapping the display region is made transparent so as not to disturb the symbol display. . In addition, a prize line is often provided in the slot machine, but this is also provided by a thin line so as not to disturb the symbol display. That is, the protective plate was not useful for the display itself in the symbol display device.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to enrich the variations of display by a symbol display device by using a transparent plate (for example, the above-described protective material) disposed on the near side of the symbol variable display area for display. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
The symbol display device according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem is a symbol display device that performs variable display of symbols.
Since a transparent electroluminescence panel (EL panel) is placed in front of the symbol fluctuation display area (player side), the symbol display overlaps the symbol display or does not overlap the symbol display. Another display is possible. Thereby, the variation of the display by a symbol display apparatus can be made abundant. In particular, in the case where a symbol is displayed by a rotating body such as a drum or a belt, the display variation can be greatly abundant by the variable display by the EL panel.
[0007]
Moreover, in the symbol display device according to claim 1, the EL panel displays a prize line corresponding to the number of game values bet on one game (the number of bets). It is suitable for slot machines where
In addition, a decorative sheet, which is a rectangular and transparent display window facing the variable display area, is pasted on the back surface of the EL panel, and the decorative sheet can be seen through the EL panel.
[0008]
For example, in a conventional slot machine, the award line itself is fixedly drawn on a transparent plate or the like, and an effective award line is indicated by turning on an indicator lamp arranged at the end of the award line. For this reason, an invalid prize line can be seen by the player, and it sometimes gets in the way, and sometimes the valid prize line and the invalid prize line are mistaken. However, if the configuration described in claim 2 is used, only valid prize lines can be displayed, so that such a problem does not occur.
[0009]
The symbol display device according to claim 2 is the symbol display device according to claim 1 , wherein the surface side of the EL panel is a touch panel, and a player can input a selection or a request by touching the touch panel with a fingertip or the like. did.
For example, there is a kind of pachinko machine called a CR machine, and a game ball can be borrowed with a prepaid card. This CR machine is provided with a switch for instructing lending of game balls and returning of prepaid cards. The slot machine is provided with various switches such as a stop switch for stopping the fluctuation of the symbol. In other words, the gaming machine is provided with various switches, depending on the type thereof, and the player inputs selections and requests by operating those switches. Therefore, since it was necessary to attach such switches to the front of the gaming machine, it is necessary to secure not only the switches as parts, but also the mechanism and installation location for attaching the switches, which increases the number of parts and assembly man-hours. It was.
[0010]
However, according to the configuration of claim 2 , since it is only necessary to set the appropriate position of the touch panel to a place (switch area) that functions as a switch, there is no need for switches as parts, and a mechanism for attaching it is also installed. Is no longer necessary. In addition, since the switch area can be set at any location on the touch panel, the degree of freedom in arrangement is greatly increased.
[0011]
Examples of such a switch area include a stop switch area, a bet switch area, and a credit switch area. All of these may be provided on the touch panel, or only a part thereof may be provided. When a stop switch area, a bet switch area, or a credit switch area is provided on the touch panel, a frame corresponding to each switch area is drawn on the decorative sheet, and the inside of the frame is preferably dark.
For example, in a slot machine of a form called pachislot, the player does not operate the stop switch aiming at a specific symbol except in a special game state called bonus or chance, so to speak, it means that three stop switches are mechanically operated in order. Just push. In other words, the ton, ton, ton and stop switch are operated three times for each game, but they are quite tired.
[0012]
If this stop switch is replaced with the stop switch area on the touch panel, the player can operate the three stop switches by simply tracing the three stop switch areas set side by side with one fingertip etc. Therefore, the operation is easy and there is little fatigue.
[0013]
The symbol display device according to claim 4 is the symbol display device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , and the variation display of the symbol adopts scroll display by rotation of a rotating body on which a plurality of symbols are drawn.
The symbol variation display may be an electrical display using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or a CRT, but they can display various images almost without limitation. Therefore, the merit of disposing the EL panel on the front side is not so great. However, since the symbol display device that performs scroll display by the rotation of a rotating body such as a drum cannot display other than the symbols drawn on the rotating body, the advantages of performing various displays using the EL panel arranged on the front side thereof Is extremely large.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
【Example】
As shown in FIG. 1, the symbol display device 10 of the present embodiment is in a form in which three symbol belts 12 are juxtaposed, and is used as a display device of the slot machine 50 in this example. The upper half of the front surface of the slot machine 50 is covered with a front cover 54 having a transparent display window 52 that faces the front portion of the symbol display device 10.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the symbol display device 10 includes three symbol belts 12, and a plurality of types of symbols (A, B, C..., See FIG. 1) are provided on each surface. It is printed. Each design belt 12 is wound around a drive pulley 14 and a driven pulley 16, and the design belt 12 can be rotated by rotating the drive pulley 14 by a motor (not shown).
[0017]
The front cover 54 has a structure in which a touch panel 54b is provided on the surface side of an electroluminescence panel (EL panel) 54a. Note that the light emission color of the EL panel 54a is orange (orange), and the portion not emitting light is transparent. The touch panel 54b is also transparent.
[0018]
A decorative sheet 55 is affixed to the back surface of the front cover 54, and the rectangular portion at the center of the decorative sheet 55 is transparent to form the display window 52 described above. The decorative sheet 55 has bet display areas 56a to 56e arranged in a vertical line on the left side of the display window 52, a credit display area 58 and a stop area 60a arranged in order from the left below the display window 52. , 60b, 60c, a payout display area 62, and a game information display area 64 are drawn, and the inside of the frames is dark (for example, dark blue, green, black, etc.). Although not shown, the numbers 3, 2, 1, 2 and 3 are sequentially displayed from the top on the left side of the bet display areas 56a to 56e, and the characters “credit” are displayed above the credit display area 58. However, the characters “left”, “middle”, and “right” are above the stop areas 60a, 60b, and 60c, the characters “number of payouts” are above the payout display area 62, and the game information display area 64 is displayed. The characters of “game information” are printed on the decorative sheet 55 on the upper side, and the player can read these characters through the touch panel 54b and the EL panel 54a.
[0019]
In the display window 52 of the EL panel 54a, three prize lines 53b, 53c, 53d in the horizontal direction and two prize lines 53a, 53e along a diagonal line are set, and the left end of each prize line 53a-53e is Are connected to the bet display areas 56a to 56e, respectively. The EL panel 54a can individually display and display these prize lines 53a to 53e. In addition, the EL panel 54a can display characters and the like in the bet display areas 56a to 56e, the credit display area 58, the stop areas 60a, 60b, 60c, the payout display area 62, and the game information display area 64. It will be described later.
[0020]
On the other hand, in the touch panel 54b, the bet display areas 56a to 56e, the credit display area 58, the stop areas 60a, 60b, 60c, the payout display area 62, and the game information display area 64 all function as switch areas. This will also be described later.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, below the front cover 54, a dish door 59 including an upper dish 57 for storing game balls (pachinko balls) to be supplied as game media into the slot machine 50 is provided in the slot machine 50. It is attached to the main body side so that it can be opened and closed like a door.
[0022]
A credit switch 70 is attached to the left end of the dish door 59 (left side of the upper dish 57). The credit switch 70 is a switch that is turned on when the push-in operation is performed and returns to the off state when pressed in the on-state.
Bet switches 61a, 61b, 61c for selecting the number of game balls (number of bets) to be thrown into one game are attached to the right end of the dish door 59. When the bet switch 61a is turned on, 3 units of gaming balls (1 unit is 5 in this embodiment), when the bet switch 61b is turned on, 1 unit of gaming balls are turned on, and when the bet switch 61c is turned on, 2 units of gaming are played. Each ball is taken into the slot machine 50 as a betting ball.
[0023]
Further, in the slot machine 50 of the present embodiment, the above-described bet display areas 56a to 56e function as bet switch areas, and the player can touch the bet display areas 56a and 56e to increase the number of bets of 3 units. Touch the bet display area 56b, 56d to select 2 units of bet, touch the bet display area 56c to select 1 unit of bet, and the bet switches 61a to 61c are operated. As in the case of the game, the selected number of game balls are taken into the slot machine 50 as bet balls.
[0024]
It is also possible to play a game after the game ball is taken into the slot machine 50 as credits. When playing a credit game, the player turns on the credit switch 70 or touches the credit display area 58. As a result, a credit game can be executed, and if a game ball is inserted into the upper plate 57 (or if a game ball is inserted), the slot machine 50 takes in the game ball as a credit and the number of game balls taken in ( Credit number) is displayed in the credit display area 58 of the EL panel 54a. Further, if the number of credits changes with the execution of the game, the display of the credit display area 58 is also changed.
[0025]
In the case of a credit game, credits of 3 units, 1 unit or 2 units are subtracted in response to an ON operation of the bet switches 61a, 61b and 61c or a touch on the bet display areas 56a to 56e.
That is, the player can place a bet regardless of whether the bet switches 61a to 61c are turned on or the bet display areas 56a to 56e are touched.
[0026]
Then, valid prize lines 53a to 53e are determined according to the operated bet switches 61a to 61c or the touched bet display areas 56a to 56e.
In this embodiment, if the bet switch 61b or the bet display area 56c (one unit), the prize line 53c (lines B, E, and H in FIG. 1) crossing the center of the symbol display device 10 is made effective, and the bet switch 61c or If the bet display areas 56b and 56d (2 units), the three award lines 53b, 53c and 53d including the two upper and lower award lines 53b and 53d (A, D, G and C, F and J) are valid. In the case of the bet switch 61a or the bet display areas 56a and 56e (3 units), two more award prize lines 53a and 53e (A, E, J and C, E and G) are also included in five prize lines 53a to 53a. 53e is all valid.
[0027]
Then, the prize lines 53a to 53e validated in this way and the bet display areas 56a to 56e connected thereto are lit and displayed by the EL panel 54a. Only the valid prize lines 53a to 53e and the bet display areas 56a to 56e are lit and displayed, and the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e are not lit (not visible because they are transparent), so the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e are obstructive. It does not occur that the valid prize lines 53a to 53e are mistaken for the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e.
[0028]
A start switch 63 for instructing the start of the game (that is, the start of rotation of each symbol belt 12 of the symbol display device 10) and each symbol belt 12 of the symbol display device 10 are provided on the front edge of the upper plate 57. Stop switches 65a, 65b, 65c for stopping are attached.
[0029]
After the player inserts a game ball into the upper plate 57 or takes it in as credits, he turns on one of the bet switches 61a to 61c or touches one of the bet display areas 56a to 56e, When the start switch 63 is turned on, the three symbol belts 12 of the symbol display device 10 start to rotate.
[0030]
When the player presses the stop switch 65a, the left symbol belt 12 stops, when the stop switch 65b is pressed, the central symbol belt 12 stops, and when the stop switch 65c is pressed, the right symbol belt 12 stops.
Further, in the slot machine 50 of the present embodiment, the stop areas 60a, 60b, 60c function as stop switch areas, and if the player touches the stop area 60a instead of pressing the stop switch 65a, the left design belt 12 is removed. If the stop area 60b is touched instead of pressing the stop switch 65b, the inner design belt 12 is stopped. If the stop area 60c is touched instead of pressing the stop switch 65c, the right design belt 12 is stopped. it can.
[0031]
Further, when the stop switch 65a is pressed or touched with the stop area 60a, the stop area 60a is displayed with light emission, and when the stop switch 65b is pressed or touched with the stop area 60b, the stop area 60b is displayed with light emission. When the stop area 60c is pressed or touched on the stop area 60c, the stop area 60c is light-emitting displayed, so that it is possible to prevent touching the stop areas 60a to 60c in an overlapping manner.
[0032]
Depending on the number of bets selected by the bet switches 61a to 61c or the bet display areas 56a to 56e when the three symbol belts 12 are stopped by operating the stop switches 65a to 65c or touching the stop areas 60a to 60c. If the combination of symbols along any of the valid (light-emitted) prize lines 53a to 53e is one of the preset prize combinations (there are a plurality of types), the prize combination is established. The number of game balls corresponding to the number is paid out as prize balls. The paid-out prize ball is discharged to the upper plate 57 or the lower plate 66 attached to the lower side thereof.
[0033]
In the case of a credit game, no prize ball is paid out, and the number of credits corresponding to the prize ball is added. To end the credit game, the credit switch 70 that has been turned on may be turned off or the credit display area 58 may be touched. If the credit switch 70 is sounded when the credit display area 58 is touched, the credit switch 70 is returned to OFF. As a result, the credit game is ended, and if the number of credits is not zero at that time, game balls corresponding to the number of credits are discharged to the upper plate 57 or the lower plate 66.
[0034]
As described above, the symbol display device 10 according to the present embodiment has the EL panel 54a disposed on the front side of the symbol belt 12, so that only the award lines 53a to 53e that are effective on the symbol belt 12 are displayed. it can. Since the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e are not displayed with light emission (they are not visible because they are transparent), the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e are in the way, or the valid prize lines 53a to 53e are mistaken for the invalid prize lines 53a to 53e. Nothing happens.
[0035]
In addition, since the bet display areas 56a to 56e connected to the valid prize lines 53a to 53e are also displayed by the EL panel 54a, the above-described effects are further ensured.
Since two types of dual display can be performed by the symbol belt 12 and the EL panel 54a, variations in display by the symbol display device 10 can be abundant. In particular, in the case where the symbols are displayed by the rotating body such as the symbol belt 12 or the drum of this embodiment, the display variations can be greatly increased by the variable display by the EL panel 54a.
[0036]
The symbol display device 10 has a touch panel 54b laminated on the surface side of the EL panel 54a, bet display areas 56a to 56e set on the touch panel 54b and displayed by the EL panel 54a, a credit display area 58, stop areas 60a to 60c, By providing the payout display area 62 and the game information display area 64, the player can touch these switch areas with a fingertip or the like to input selections or requests.
[0037]
It is not necessary to attach switches for the player to input selections and requests by operating them on the front of the gaming machine, etc., because not only switches as parts but also a mechanism to install it and installation work are not necessary, The number of parts is reduced and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. In addition, since the switch area can be set at any location on the touch panel 54b, the degree of freedom in arrangement is also greatly increased.
[0038]
In particular, since the stop areas 60a to 60c are provided as a kind of switch area set on the touch panel 54b, the player only has to trace the stop areas 60a to 60c arranged side by side with a fingertip once. This is the same as operating the three stop switches 65a to 65c. Since it is not necessary to operate the three stop switches 65a to 65c in order of ton, ton, and ton three times in order, the player's operation is easy and less fatigued except in a special gaming state called bonus or chance. .
[0039]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described according to the Example, this invention is not limited to such an Example, and it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, although the embodiment describes a symbol display device including a symbol belt, a drum or the like may be used instead of the symbol belt, or an electric display means such as a liquid crystal display panel may be used. In addition, the symbol display device can be mounted on a gaming machine other than the slot machine, for example, a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine equipped with a symbol display device of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of the symbol display device according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Symbol display device 12. Symbol belt (variation display area of symbol, rotating body)
50 ... Slot machine (game machine)
53a to 53e ... Award line 54a ... Electroluminescence panel (EL panel)
54b ... touch panels 56a to 56e ... bet display area (bet switch area)
58… Credit display area (credit switch area)
60a-60c ... Stop area (stop switch area)
61a-61c ... bet switch 63 ... start switch 64 ... game information display area 65a-65c ... stop switch 70 ... credit switch

Claims (4)

In a symbol display device that performs variable display of symbols,
Is distribution in front of the variable display area of the symbol, 1 number of game value bet on the game (hereinafter, referred to as the number of bets.) To the corresponding transparent electroluminescent panel that displays the prize line (hereinafter, referred to as an EL panel .)When,
A central part is a rectangular and transparent display window facing the variable display area, and a decorative sheet pasted on the back of the EL panel;
Pattern display apparatus, comprising the. The symbol display device according to claim 1,
A symbol display device characterized in that a surface side of the EL panel is a touch panel, and a player can input selections and requests by touching the touch panel with a fingertip or the like. In the symbol display device according to claim 2,
The touch panel is provided with any one of a stop switch area for stopping the change display of the symbol, a bet switch area for selecting the bet number, and a credit switch area for instructing execution of a credit game ,
A frame corresponding to each of the stop switch area, the bet switch area or the credit switch area provided on the touch panel is drawn on the decorative sheet, and the inside of the frame is dark. A symbol display device characterized by that. In the symbol display device according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
The symbol display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the symbol variation display is a scroll display by rotation of a rotating body on which a plurality of symbols are drawn.

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