JP3735693B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to an invention of prize ball control for paying out a game ball to a player as a prize ball.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In gaming machines, such as pachinko gaming machines, when the launched game ball wins the winning opening or passes the passing opening, the symbols are displayed on the screen for a predetermined time and then displayed statically (stopped display). If is a combination of predetermined symbols, the game content is advantageous to the player. In order to be able to win a game ball that has been launched very easily when it becomes advantageous to the player, a control for opening or expanding a feature called a continuous feature or a normal electric feature is executed. Whether the game content is advantageous to the player or not, and the control such as the opening operation of the accessory are executed by a control board called a main control board.
When a game ball wins each winning opening arranged on the surface of the game board such as the above-mentioned accessory, all the winning game balls are gathered as a winning ball in a safe ball tank, and if there is a winning ball, it is provided in the safe ball tank. A predetermined number (usually 5 to 15) of game balls are paid out to one winning ball detected by the sensor, and after the payout, the winning ball is discharged from the safe ball tank one by one. In addition, when game balls win the winning opening as the starting opening, they are collected in a safe ball tank. The winning is detected by a sensor provided at the starting opening, and a predetermined number (usually 5-6) After paying out the game balls, discharge them one by one from the safe ball tank. This prize ball payout control is generally executed by a control board called a prize ball control board or the like.
As an invention relating to the above-described prize ball payout control, a “game machine ball discharge control device” disclosed in JP-A-6-71027 is known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However,The following problems were considered for the above-mentioned bullet ball game machine having the safe ball tank. (1) Since it is necessary to provide a safe ball tank, the mechanism is bulky, and particularly in recent probability fluctuation machines, there is a possibility that big hits may occur continuously. Therefore, it is necessary to configure the capacity of the safe ball tank to be large ( 2) The control is complicated because all the winning balls that have won the winning balls with different number of winning balls are gathered in the safe ball tank. (3) The number of winning balls that have won the starting or large winning holes is counted. There was a problem that it was necessary to transmit the counted data to a prize ball control board (ball discharge control device). In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to perform prize ball payout control on the main control board, but the burden of control on the main control board will increase. The bullet ball game machine of the present invention suitably solves the aforementioned problems while reducing the burden of control of the main control board.It was made for the purpose.
[0004]
[Means and effects for solving the problems]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the gaming machine according to claim 1,
  It is determined whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player in accordance with a random value extracted due to the timing at which the game ball launched on the game board wins a specific winning opening or passes a specific passing opening.At the same time, it directly detects the game balls to be won in the ordinary electric accessory and the big prize opening.A main control board;
  A prize ball control board for controlling a prize ball dispensing device for delivering a prize ball;
  A prize ball detection means for outputting a prize ball detection signal when a prize ball discharged from the prize ball dispensing device is detected;
  Includes the above-mentioned ordinary electric accessories and special prize openingA winning detection means for outputting a winning detection signal when detecting a winning ball at each winning slot on the game board surface;
  A ball game machine configured to include:
  In addition to the prize ball control board,
  Each detection signal output by the winning ball detection means and the winning detection meansallDetection signal acquisition means for directly acquiring;
  Without receiving the winning ball data corresponding to the winning ball from the main control boardBased on the winning detection signal acquired by the detection signal acquisition means, the prize ball data corresponding to the number of winning balls that have not been paid out by the winning ball payout device is added, and the winning ball detection acquired by the detection signal acquisition means Prize ball data calculating means for subtracting the prize ball data based on the signal;
  Memory holding means for storing and holding prize ball data calculated by the prize ball data calculating means;
  Prize ball instructing means for instructing the prize ball dispensing device to pay out a prize ball according to the prize ball data stored by the memory holding means;
  A ball game machine characterized by comprising:
[0005]
Here, whether or not to make the game content advantageous to the player according to the random number value selected due to the timing at which the game ball launched on the game board surface wins a specific winning opening or passes a specific passing opening Of course, it is naturally included that it is advantageous to the player directly by the value of the random number extracted due to the timing of winning or passing through a specific passing port at a specific winning port, When a predetermined specific winning opening is opened by a random number value extracted due to timing of winning or passing through a specific winning opening, and a game ball passes through a specific area in the opened specific winning opening. Also included is a game content such as a so-called “type 3 gaming machine (right)” that is advantageous to the player, such as a game machine that is indirectly advantageous to the player.
In addition, not only the so-called “big hit game” in which the big winning opening on the game board surface is continuously opened, but also the case where the game is advantageous only for the player, or the case where the game is opened only once, Also included is an opening or expansion operation of an electrically-opening accessory whose opening is 55 mm or less, and is extracted due to the timing at which a game ball wins a specific winning opening or passes a specific passing opening All of the configurations that are advantageous to the player by the value of random numbers are included.
[0006]
Prize detectionmeansWhen a prize ball discharged from the prize ball payout device is detected, a prize ball detection signal is output.meansOf course, a configuration for detecting a game ball as a prize ball to be discharged by providing a switch or sensor on the downstream side of the prize ball payout device is naturally included, and a switch or sensor on the upstream side of the prize ball discharge device is included. And a configuration for detecting a game ball corresponding to a game ball discharged from the prize ball discharge device.
[0007]
The winning detection means may be any means for outputting a winning detection signal when a winning ball is detected at each winning opening on the game board surface, and a switch or a sensor is provided at every winning opening on the gaming board surface. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which winning balls are gathered in a collecting bowl for each winning opening with a different number of payouts and detected for each difference in the number of winning balls. In short, any configuration that can distinguish at least the difference in the number of prize balls is sufficient.
[0008]
The detection signal acquisition means may be any means for directly acquiring the detection signals output by the winning ball detection means and the winning detection means. Here, the direct acquisition means that the winning ball detection means and the winning detection means output. This means that each detection signal is acquired as it is, and even if the configuration is such that the detection signal is acquired as it is, it may be acquired via another circuit board such as the main control board. In short, it is not necessary to have a configuration in which some data is processed such as once acquired by another circuit board, and the acquired detection signals are aggregated, and the processed data is acquired.
[0009]
The prize ball data calculation means adds and calculates the prize ball data corresponding to the number of prize balls that have not been paid out by the prize ball payout device based on the winning detection signal acquired by the detection signal acquisition means, and acquires the detection signal. Any means may be used as long as the means for subtracting the prize ball data based on the prize ball detection signal acquired by the means. Specifically, the detection signal is output to the prize ball data corresponding to the number of prize balls that have not been paid out by the prize ball dispensing device. Based on the winning detection signal acquired by the acquiring means, the data of the number of winning balls set for each winning opening is added and calculated, and the detection signal is acquired from the winning ball data corresponding to the number of winning balls that have not been paid out by the winning ball payout device. Any configuration may be used as long as data corresponding to the number of prize balls paid out based on the prize ball detection signal acquired by the means is subtracted.
[0010]
The memory holding means may be any means for storing and holding the winning ball data calculated by the winning ball data calculating means, and may be configured so that the calculated winning ball data is not lost due to a temporary power failure. Although it is good, a configuration in which the battery is backed up so that the prize ball data is not lost even during a long power failure is preferable. This battery backup configuration may be a configuration in which a capacitor or the like is mounted on the prize ball control board, or a configuration in which a capacitor or the like is mounted on a power supply circuit board which is another board and power is supplied from this board for backup. good.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes a rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader 13 is provided on the left side of the outer frame 11. The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by hinges 14 at the upper and lower left ends.
An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12, and a lending button 16, a settlement button 17 and a balance display unit 18 are provided on the upper plate 15. When a prepaid card is inserted into the card slot 19 of the card reader 13, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display unit 18, and when the lending button 16 is pressed, the game balls are lent out and the game balls are drawn from the payout opening of the upper plate 15. Discharged.
A window-shaped metal frame 20 is removably attached to the front frame 12 with respect to the front frame 12. A plate glass 21 is double fitted in the metal frame 20. A game board 22 is stored behind the plate glass 21.
A lower plate 23 is provided at the lower part of the front frame 12 of the upper plate 15, and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A rotation ring (not shown) is held on the outer periphery of the launch handle 24, and the game ball can be launched onto the game board 22 by rotating clockwise.
The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected to each other, and are configured to guide the game ball to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 is full of game balls.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 viewed from the back side. As shown in the drawing, a mechanism board 26 to which the above-described game board 22 is detachably attached is housed in the above-described outer frame 11. The mechanism panel 26 is provided with a ball tank 27, a guide rod 28, and a payout device 29 from above. With this configuration, if there is a winning game ball at the winning opening on the game board 22, a predetermined number of gaming balls can be discharged from the ball tank 27 to the above-described upper plate 15 through the guide rod 28 by the payout device 29. .
In addition, the main control board 30 and the prize ball control board 31 can be attached to and detached from the mechanism board 26, a special symbol display device 32 is provided on the game board 22, a launch control board 33 is provided on the lower left part of the front frame, and a special symbol display device is provided. External connection terminal boards 50 are respectively attached to the left side of 32. It should be noted that the structure related to the payout of game balls with the mechanism panel 26 as the center is the same as the conventional structure, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0013]
Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 22 has an LCD panel unit (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 32a constituting a special symbol display device 32 at the center, and a normal electric accessory serving as a first type starting port at the lower part thereof. 36, the normal symbol display device 37 on the upper part of the LCD 32a, the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 32a used for starting the variation of the symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 37, and the big winning opening 40 on the lower part of the ordinary electric accessory 36. Further, an out port 41 at the bottom of the board surface, other various winning ports, a windmill, a game nail (not shown), and the like are provided.
With this configuration, when the above-described launch handle 24 is rotated, the launch motor 33c (see FIG. 4) driven by the launch control board 33 is driven, and the game ball on the upper plate 15 is played through the guide rail 22 via the guide rail. Fired up. If the launched game ball wins each winning hole, the game ball is taken into the back of the board as a safe ball, and if not won, it is taken into the back of the board through the out port 41 as well.
[0014]
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 described above will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
As shown in the figure, the electric circuit of the pachinko machine 10 includes the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31, the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board 35, and the like. ing. In this circuit diagram, a so-called relay board for transferring signals is not described.
[0015]
The main control board 30 is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer incorporating a ROM that stores a game control program and a RAM that serves as a work area for operations and the like. An external input / output circuit for inputting / outputting with various actuators is also provided.
On the input side of the main control board 30, there are a first type start port switch 36a, normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, an accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter simply referred to as "V switch") 40a, a count switch 40b, and the like. It is connected. On the output side, a special prize opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40d, a normal accessory solenoid 36b, an external connection terminal board 50, and the like are connected.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the input side of the main control board 30 includes an input buffer 30a and an input port 30b, and it is guaranteed that data cannot be output from the input port 30b by the input buffer 30a.
[0016]
The first type start port switch 36a is in the above-described normal electric accessory 36 on the game board 22, the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a are in the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39, respectively, and the V switch 40a is in the big prize opening 40. In the specific area, the count switches 40b are respectively attached to the special winning opening 40. Here, the V switch 40a wins the prize winning opening 40 when the game ball that has won the prize winning opening 40 has passed the special device operating area (hereinafter referred to as "special area"). This is for detecting all the game balls.
The large winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is used for the large winning opening 40, the V solenoid 40d is used for a special area in the large winning opening 40, and the ordinary accessory solenoid 36b is used for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 36. Is. The V solenoid 40d is for closing the special area when one game ball passes through the special area.
[0017]
The special symbol display device 32 includes the above-described LCD 32a, a symbol display device control board (hereinafter simply referred to as “design control board”) 32b for driving and controlling the LCD 32a, and an accessory unit 32c such as a backlight and an inverter board. ing. Similar to the main control board 30 described above, the symbol control board 32b is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer.
[0018]
As with the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31 is configured as a logical operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer incorporating a ROM storing a program for paying out a prize ball and a RAM serving as a work area for operations and the like. In addition, an external input / output circuit for performing input / output with various switches and various actuators is also provided.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the input side of the prize ball control board 31, in addition to the full tank switch 43, the supply switch 44, the prize ball payout switch 51, the other prize opening switch 52, and the reset switch 53, The first-type start port switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected via the control board 30, and the ball cutting motor 54 and the error display LED (7-segment LED) 55 are connected to the output side. The prepaid card unit 13 and the CR payment display board 42 are also connected.
The full tank switch 43 is in the lower plate 23, the replenishment switch 44 is in the ball tank 27, the prize ball payout switch 51 is downstream of the ball cutting motor 54 in the payout device 29, and the reset switch 53 is in the payout device 29. Is provided.
The full tank switch 43 indicates that the game ball is full in the lower plate 23, the replenishment switch 44 indicates that there is a game ball in the ball tank 27, and the prize ball payout switch 51 indicates the ball of the payout device 29. The game balls to be paid out as prize balls by the cutting motor 54 are respectively detected, and the reset switch 53 is a switch operated by a store clerk in the pachinko hall.
[0019]
Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first type start port switch 36a, the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, the V switch 40a, and the count switch 40b are connected to the input buffer 30a of the main control board 30. At the same time, the first type start port switch 36 a and the count switch 40 b are branched in front of the input buffer 30 a and connected to the input buffer 31 a of the prize ball control board 31. The input buffer 30a is connected to the input port 30b. A prize ball payout switch 51, other prize winning switch 52, reset switch 53, full tank switch 43, and replenishment switch 44 are connected to the input buffer 31a. The input buffer 31a is connected to the input port 31b. Further, in the present embodiment, the other winning opening switch 52 is arranged for each difference in the number of winning balls, and a winning opening switch 52a for a payout opening for 15 payouts and a winning opening switch 52b for a payout opening for 10 payouts. The payout opening switch 52c for a payout opening for five payouts. It should be noted that there is no problem even if the other winning opening switch 52 is provided individually for all winning openings. Alternatively, the first type start port switch 36a and the count switch 40b may be connected to the input buffer 31a of the winning ball control board 31 and branched in front of the input buffer 31a to be connected to the input buffer 30a of the main control board 30. There is no problem.
The CR adjustment display board 42 includes the lending button 16, the adjustment button 17, and the balance display unit 18 of the upper plate 15 described above.
[0020]
The launch control board 33 drives and controls the launch motor 33c in accordance with the amount of rotation of the launch handle 24 operated by the player. When the player presses the launch stop switch 24b, the launch control board 33 stops firing or launches. When the touch switch 24a built in the handle 24 is on, the touch lamp 45 is turned on. The touch switch 24 a is incorporated in the launch handle 24 and is used to detect that the player is touching the launch handle 24.
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the input side of the firing control board 33 is constituted by an input buffer 33 a and an input port 33 b, and the full switch 43 and the replenishment switch 44 are the input buffer of the prize ball control board 31. In addition to being connected to 31 a, it branches off before the input buffer 31 a and is connected to the input buffer 33 a of the launch control board 33. The full tank switch 43 and the replenishment switch 44 may be connected to the input buffer 33a, branched in front of the input buffer 33a, and connected to the input buffer 31a. By adopting a structure that branches before the input buffer 31a, it is ensured that the microcomputer of the winning ball control board 31 cannot output data to the outside via the input port 31b.
[0021]
The lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of drive elements such as transistors. Upon receiving a command from the main control board 30, the lamp control board 34 is used for normal symbol display devices 37, lamps such as big hit lamps and error lamps, and various lamps such as LEDs. It is intended to light up the display.
[0022]
The sound control board 35 includes a sound source IC, an amplifier, and the like, and is used to drive and control the speaker 46 in response to a command from the main control board 30.
[0023]
A circuit for one-way communication so that the transmission to the special symbol display device 32, the prize ball control board 31, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35 can be transmitted only from the main control board 30. It is configured as.
Further, power is supplied to the control boards 30 to 35 by the power supply circuit PS. The power supply circuit PS is equipped with a large-capacity capacitor, and the RAM of the one-chip microcomputer on the control boards 30 to 32 is backed up by a battery.
[0024]
Processing executed by the 8-bit one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as “microcomputer”) in the main control board 30 of the pachinko machine 10 having the circuit configuration described above will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 represents a main process executed by the microcomputer of the main control board 30, and is a process periodically executed by a hardware interrupt about every 2 ms. In this embodiment, each process from step S100 to S200 is a process that is executed only once in the interrupt process and is referred to as “main process”. As long as time is allowed within the remaining time after executing this main process. The processing of steps S210 and S220 that are repeatedly executed is referred to as “residual processing”.
[0025]
When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not the interrupt is a normal interrupt (step S100). This determination process is performed by determining whether or not the value of a predetermined area of the RAM as a memory is a predetermined value. When the process executed by the microcomputer shifts to this process, the normal process is executed. It is for judging whether it is okay. As an unusual case, microcomputer runaway due to noise or the like can be considered, but when the microcomputer runs away, the value of the predetermined area of the RAM is different from the predetermined value.
If it is determined that it is not normal (step S100: NO), the initial value is written to the work area of the memory, such as writing a predetermined value in the predetermined area of the memory, and using a special symbol and a normal symbol as an initial symbol, that is, Initial settings are made (step S110), and the process proceeds to a residual process.
[0026]
If an affirmative determination is made (step S100: YES), an initial random number update process is first executed (step S120). This process is an increment process that increments the initial random number value by 1 each time this process is executed. The initial random number value before execution of this process is incremented by 1; however, the random value before this process is executed is the maximum value. In the case of “329”, the initial value is returned to “0” in the next processing, and 330 integers from “0” to “329” are repeatedly generated in ascending order.
The success / failure random number update process (step S130) subsequent to step S120 is an increment process that increments by one each time the process is executed in the same manner as the initial random number update process. However, when the maximum value “329” is reached, The initial random number at that time is set as an initial value (hereinafter referred to as “update initial value”), and further incremented by +1 for each interrupt, and a value “1” less than the update initial value (hereinafter referred to as “maximum update”). In the next process, 330 integer values from “0” to “329” are repeatedly created with the initial random number at that time as the initial value. In other words, +1 is added for each interrupt process, and setting the elements constituting the random number to 330 integer values from “0” to “329” is not different from the initial random number. In the next interrupt processing, the initial value of the update is used as the initial value, and +1 is added for each interrupt until the maximum update value is reached, and the next update initial value is used as the initial value. As a result, the random number is set to 330 integer values from “0” to “329” as elements constituting the random number, and is incremented by +1 for each interrupt process. Since it is changed to a value determined by the initial random number, the value of the random number can be made unpredictable. In addition, the constituent elements of the random number determined by the update initial value and the update maximum value are the same as the 330 integer values “0” to “329” that are the same as the conventional pass / fail random numbers, and thus the elements constituting the random numbers The appearance rate is made uniform.
[0027]
The jackpot symbol random number update process (step S140) is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates 15 integers “0” to “14”, and is incremented by 1 every time this process is exceeded and is an initial value “0”. Return to. Each of the 15 random numbers “0” to “14” is “111”, “222”, “333”, “444”, “555”, “666”, “ 777 ”,“ 888 ”,“ 999 ”, [AAA”, “BBB”, “CCC”, “DDD”, “EEE”, “FFF”, respectively.
The off symbol random number update process (step S150) is composed of a random symbol for the left symbol, a random number for the middle symbol, and a random number for the right symbol, and is used as a miss symbol when it is not a big hit. The left symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers “0” to “14”, and is incremented by 1 every time this process is exceeded, and returns to the initial value “0”. The middle symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates 15 integers “0” to “14”. When the left symbol random number returns to “0”, the process is incremented by 1 and exceeds the maximum value. Return to "0". The right design random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates 15 integers from “0” to “14”. When the medium design random number returns to “0”, it is incremented by 1 every time this process is exceeded and exceeds the maximum value. Return to "0".
The normal symbol random number update process (step S160) is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates seven integers “0” to “6”, and is incremented by 1 in this process and becomes the initial value “0” when the maximum value is exceeded. Return.
[0028]
The initial random number, the success / failure random number, the jackpot symbol random number, the off symbol random number, and the normal symbol random number are respectively updated by the random number update processing (steps S120 to S160) described above. The input processing of each switch connected to the main control board 30 is executed. In the present embodiment, the operating status of each of the switches such as the full switch 43, the replenishing switch 44, the first type start port switch 36a, the V switch 40a, the count switch 40b, and the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a is checked. Processing is executed.
[0029]
When there is an input to the first type start port switch 36a by this input process, it is the time when a game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the start port, and the value of the success / failure random number at the time of this interrupt process is extracted. Then, it is compared with an appropriateness determination value (step S180). The pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment is configured as a probability variation machine, and the success / failure determination value is “1” at the normal probability, and “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “ 9 ”and“ 11 ”. As described above, the appearance rate of each of the 330 integer values “0” to “329” constituting the success / failure random number is uniform, and is extracted at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the starting port. The value of the random number is a randomly extracted value because the winning timing cannot be adjusted in minute time units as compared to 2 ms, which is the minute time of the hard interrupt, and the wrong number functions as a complete random number. Accordingly, the probability that the extracted value of the random number of hit / fail matches the hit / fail judgment value and is a big hit is 1/330 at the normal probability and 1/55 (= 6/330) at the high probability. In the present embodiment, the probability that the jackpot is generated shifts from the low probability state to the high probability state. In the present embodiment, the value of the jackpot symbol random number in the interrupt processing when the jackpot occurs is “1”, “3”, “ "5", "7", "9", "11" and "13", that is, the jackpot symbol is "111", "333", "555", "777", "999", "BBB" and "DDD" ”(Hereinafter referred to as“ high probability symbol ”), it shifts to a high probability with a probability of 7/15 when a big hit occurs. If the jackpot symbol when the jackpot is generated again during the high probability is the high probability symbol, the higher probability state continues.
[0030]
When the success / failure determination process (step S180) is completed, the main control board 30 transmits a predetermined command to the special symbol display device 32 in order to display an image according to the result of the success / failure determination process on the LCD 32a of the special symbol display device 32. To do. Thereby, the special symbol display device 32 performs a process of statically displaying the image for notifying the player of the determination result of the success / failure after the image is variably displayed for a predetermined time (step S190).
[0031]
In each subsequent output process (step S200), as the game progresses, the main control board 30 includes a special symbol display device 32, a launch control board 33, a lamp control board 34, a sound control board 35, a prize winning solenoid 40c, and the like. A predetermined output process is executed for each solenoid.
[0032]
The remaining process subsequent to the above-described process is composed of an outlier symbol random number update process (step S210) and an initial random number update process (step S220), which are exactly the same as the above-described steps S150 and S120, respectively. These two processes form an infinite loop and are repeatedly executed as long as time is allowed until the next interrupt is executed. The time required to execute the main processing from steps S100 to S200 described above differs for each interrupt depending on whether or not to execute the big hit processing, the difference in display mode of special symbols, and the like. As a result, the number of times the remaining process is executed is different for each interrupt, and the interrupted process shown in FIG. 7 is executed once, and the values to be updated (added) of the random symbols and initial random numbers are uniform. Disappear. Thereby, there is no possibility that the initial random number and the out-of-sequence random number are synchronized with the random number. In the present embodiment, since the update of the random number is changed according to the value of the initial random number, there is no possibility of synchronization. The normal symbol random number update process (step S160) described above may also be executed in the remaining process.
[0033]
By executing the processes described above, the pachinko machine 10 performs the following operations.
A game ball is launched onto the game board 22 by the launch motor 33c in accordance with the amount of rotation of the launch handle 24 operated by the player, and the launched game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the first type starting port. In this case, it is detected by the first type start port switch 36a, and the special symbol is variably displayed on the screen of the LCD 32a of the special symbol display device 32 so as to be statically displayed. When the special symbol displayed statically displays a predetermined specific symbol, for example, the same three-digit symbol such as “777”, the game content advantageous to the player is provided as a big hit state. Whether or not it becomes a big hit state is determined by whether or not the value of the success / failure random number extracted when the game ball is detected by the first type start port switch 36a is a predetermined value. When the big hit state is reached, the grand prize opening 40 is opened for about 30 seconds or until 10 seconds when the game is won by the count switch 40b, whichever comes first, at which time the big prize opening 40 is awarded. When the V switch 40a detects that the game ball has passed through the special area, the special winning opening 40 is once closed and then opened again, and this opening operation is repeated up to 16 times. Normally, 15 game balls are paid out as prize balls for one game ball won in the big prize opening 40. Therefore, when one big hit state occurs, about 2400 (= 15 × 10 × 16) game balls can be obtained as prize balls. This prize ball discharging operation is executed by the prize ball control board 31. Next, processing performed by the prize ball control board 31 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. It should be noted that the control executed by the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 during the game has the same configuration as the conventional one, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0034]
Each of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 shows processing executed by the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31 and is periodically executed by a method such as hardware interruption. Here, the “prize ball addition routine” shown in FIG. 8 will be described first. When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the winning ball control board 31 shifts to this routine, it is determined whether or not there is a winning game ball at each winning port on the game board surface (steps S300 and S310). Specifically, the states of the first type start port switch 36a, the ten count switch 40b, and the other winning port switches 52a, 52b and 52c are scanned to determine whether or not there is a winning. If it is determined that there is a winning, an addition update process of the payout incomplete data PD is executed (step S320), and the process returns to the return. If a negative determination is made in step S310, the process returns. The addition update process in step S320 is executed for each number of prize balls. That is, if there is one game ball winning in the winning opening with five payout balls, the value of the payout incomplete data PD1 is incremented (+1), and the game ball is inserted in the winning opening with ten payouts. If there is one winning game, the value of the payout incomplete data PD2 is incremented (+1), and if the number of payouts is 15 and there is one game ball win, the value of the payout incomplete data PD3 is incremented (+1) ) Therefore, in this embodiment, the value of the payout incomplete data PD is composed of payout incomplete data PD1 representing 5 prize balls, PD2 representing 10 prize balls, and PD3 representing 15 prize balls. Become. In this embodiment, the number of prize balls is set to 5 for the ordinary electric accessory 36, and the number of prize balls is set to 15 for the big prize opening 40. The value of the payout incomplete data PD may be configured to add a specific number to each of the data PD1 to PD3, or may be configured to add a specific number directly to the data PD.
[0035]
In the “prize ball subtraction routine” shown in FIG. 9, it is first determined whether or not the values of the data PD1 to PD3 of the payout incomplete data PD are not zero (step S350). If it is determined that any of the data PD1 to PD3 is not zero, the ball cutting motor 54 is driven and instructed to pay out a prize ball (step S360). In the present embodiment, if two or more of the three data PD1 to PD3 are not zero, the payout of the winning ball is instructed from the larger number of winning balls.
When a prize ball payout instruction is executed (step S360), the state of the prize ball payout switch 51 is detected and it is checked whether or not the designated number of prize balls has actually been paid out (step S370). If an affirmative determination is made that the designated number of prize balls has been paid out, the values of the corresponding data PD1 to PD3 of the payout incomplete data PD are decremented (-1) (step S380), and the process returns. Exit. By repeatedly executing the processes of steps S350 to S380, the payout of the winning ball is executed until the values of the data PD1 to PD3 of the payout incomplete data PD are all zero. In this embodiment, since the payout of the winning ball corresponding to the next data is executed after the data with the larger number of winning balls becomes zero, it is said that the player is paying out the winning ball early. Has the effect of giving a feeling.
[0036]
The contents of the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) subjected to addition processing in step S320 and subtracted in step S380 are updated and written and stored in the RAM. In this embodiment, the RAMs mounted on the main control board 30, the winning ball control board 31 and the symbol control board 32b of the special symbol display device 32 are backed up by a capacitor of the power supply circuit PS. Therefore, even if a power failure occurs, the contents of the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) are not erased.
If the award ball is not paid out in step S370 and this state is not detected for a predetermined period of time (step S390), an error process is executed as an abnormality in the award ball payout system (step S400), and the process returns. Exit. In the present embodiment, a process of displaying “1” on the error display LED (7-segment LED) 55 and lighting the error lamp is executed. The error display processing of the error display LED 55 and the like is executed until the store clerk of the pachinko hall cancels the cause of the error such as a ball clogging and operates the reset switch 53. Even if the reset switch 53 is operated, the value of the payout incomplete data PD is not cleared.
If the payout of the prize ball is detected by the prize ball payout switch 51 even though the value of the payout incomplete data PD is zero in step S350 (step S410), it is caused by a game failure or illegal action. Error processing is executed assuming that there is excessive payout processing (step S420), and the processing returns to return. This error process includes a process of displaying the character “2” on the error display LED 55, turning on the error lamp, and forcibly stopping the ball cutting motor 54. This error processing is not canceled until the reset switch 53 is operated.
[0037]
When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the winning ball control board 31 shifts to the “ball cutting / full tank routine” shown in FIG. 10, it is first checked that the error flag is not set (step S450). If an affirmative determination is made that the error flag is not set, then it is determined whether the refill switch 44 is turned on (step S460) or whether the full switch 43 is turned on (step S470). The If a negative determination is made that neither of them is on, the process goes on to “return” without any abnormality. Here, if an affirmative determination is made that either one is on, the process proceeds to error processing (step S480), and the process returns.
In the error processing, when the replenishment switch 44 is on, an error flag is set, the character “3” is displayed on the error display LED 55, and the error lamp is lit to notify. When the full tank switch 43 is on, an error flag is set, a character “4” is displayed on the error display LED 55, an error lamp is lit to notify the user, and the ball cutting motor 54 is driven and controlled. When it is, control to stop driving is executed.
If a negative determination is made in step S450 that the error flag is set, it is determined in this case that an error has occurred and whether the refill switch 44 or the full tank switch 43 is still on ( Steps S490 to S500). If either one is on, the process goes to “Return” as it is because the error has not been cancelled. If it is determined that both are not on, the error flag is reset and “0” is displayed in the error display LED 55. "Is displayed, the error lamp is turned off (step S510), and the process returns to return. When the above-described full tank switch 43 is on, the firing control board 33 executes processing for stopping the operation of the firing motor 33c.
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment described in detail, the first ball starting board switch 36a, the count switch 40b, and the first ball starting board switch 36a for detecting the winning ball that the winning ball control board 31 has won in each winning hole arranged on the game board 22. The winning ball switches 52a to 52c and the winning ball payout switch 51 for detecting the winning balls discharged from the ball cutting motor 54 directly acquire the detection signals respectively output, and the winning ball data to be paid out based on the acquired detection signals. The payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) can be calculated and stored. Therefore, the main control board 30 calculates the winning ball data corresponding to the winning ball that has won the first type start port switch 36a and the count switch 40b as in the prior art, and transmits the calculated winning ball data to the winning ball control board 31. Therefore, it is possible to omit the processing to be performed, and it is possible to further reduce the processing load of the main control board 30.
[0039]
Further, the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) updated and stored by executing the addition process (step S320 in FIG. 8) and the subtraction process (step S380 in FIG. 9) can be stored and held. It is not necessary to hold the winning ball until it is, and it has an excellent effect that the winning ball can be discharged out of the machine immediately after detecting the winning ball. As a result, the conventional safe ball tank for temporarily holding all the winning balls, the device for discharging the winning balls one by one every time there is a winning ball from the safe ball tank, etc. can be eliminated. There is also an excellent effect that the configuration can be further simplified.
[0040]
Further, in this embodiment, the payout incomplete data PD is made to correspond to the number of prize balls in each winning opening, and 5 prize balls have not been paid out data PD1, 10 prize balls have not been paid out data PD2 and 15 prizes. Since the ball payout incomplete data PD3 is separated and incremented if there is a winning, and decremented if there is a payout of the winning ball, there is also an effect that the use area of the RAM can be reduced.
In this embodiment, since the RAM of the one-chip microcomputer mounted on the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31 and the symbol control board 32b employs a configuration in which the battery is backed up by the power supply circuit PS. Even if a problem occurs, the game can be resumed from the game state before the power failure and the game can be resumed after the power failure is restored.
[0041]
Further, in the present embodiment, the first type start port switch 36a and the count switch 40b are connected to the input buffer 30a of the main control board 30 and branched before the input buffer 30a to input the input buffer of the winning ball control board 31. Since the configuration connected to 31a is adopted, the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the first type starting opening and the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the big winning opening 40 are provided. The main control board 30 can also be used to perform random number extraction, and when the ten winning balls 40 are won in the big winning opening 40, the big winning opening solenoid 40c is driven to close the big winning opening 40. It has the effect that it can be used. As a result, the main control board 30 uses the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the ordinary electric accessory 36 only for random number extraction, and the detection signal corresponding to the winning ball to the big winning opening 40 is the main control board 30. Then, it is used for closing the special winning opening 40, and the prize ball control board 31 has an extremely excellent effect that any detection signal relating to the prize ball can be directly inputted.
[0042]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, the other prize port switches 52 used in the first embodiment are individually provided in all the prize holes other than the ordinary electric accessory 36 and the big prize port 40. As an addition process (step S320 in FIG. 8) that is an increment process of the payout incomplete data PD (PD1 to PD3) employed in the example, the “payout incomplete data write routine” shown in FIG. 12 is executed as a subtraction process (step S380 in FIG. 9) which is a decrement process of PD1 to PD3).
[0043]
In the second embodiment, the scanning operation of the winning ports SW provided corresponding to all the winning ports is executed, and when it is determined that there is a winning, the value of the winning number counter CN is set to one winning ball. The increment (+1) is made (step S550), and the winning ball number code is written in a predetermined area of the RAM (step S560). A 1-byte memory is prepared as the winning number counter CN, and it is stored by this winning number counter CN that a maximum of 256 winnings have been made. In addition, the value of the winning ball number code is “01” when it is detected that a winning ball has been won at the winning port of five award balls, and “10” when it is detected that the winning ball has been won at the winning port of ten award balls. When it is detected that the value of is won at the winning opening of 15 prize balls, the value of “11” is written in a predetermined area of the RAM. In this writing of the winning ball number code to the RAM, as illustrated in the memory map of FIG. 13, the winning ball number code for one winning ball is written in units of 2 bits in a 1-byte memory.
[0044]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the memory area of the number-of-award ball number code is prepared from addresses “E000” H to “E07F” H. For example, a winning ball for which a payout has not been executed yet. When it is detected that the winning number of five winning balls is won in the state where there are 96 numbers, the value of the winning number counter CN is incremented and the value of “97” is stored as the winning number counter CN. In the memory area of the address converted from the value of “01”, in the present embodiment, the code “01” is stored in the first bit area and the second bit area of the 8-bit memory that constitutes one byte at address “E018” H. In this state, when it is detected that the winning of the ten winning balls is won in this state, the value of the winning number counter CN is incremented and the value “98” is stored as the winning number counter CN. Code "10" is written in the area of a memory area of addresses converted from the value "E018" 3rd and 4th bits of the H address. That is, the code written in the unit of 2 bits from the “E000” H address to the “E07F” H memory area indicates the number of winning balls that are won earlier as the code written in the lower address of the memory address. The written code indicates the number of winning balls of the latest winning ball.
[0045]
In the prize ball payout process, the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31 instructs to pay out the number of prize balls corresponding to the code written in the first and second bits of the address “E000” H. The ball cutting motor 54 is driven and controlled, and when the designated number of winning balls is paid out by the winning ball payout switch 51, the value of the winning number counter CN is decremented (-1) and stored as the latest winning number counter CN. (FIG. 12, Step S600), a process of deleting the paid-out prize ball number code is executed (Step S610). In this embodiment, the prize ball number code paid out is deleted by executing a right shift instruction for shifting the data in the memory area where the prize ball number code has been written from left to right by 2 bits twice in a 1-byte memory. Is executed.
[0046]
More specifically, the data written in the 3rd and 4th bits of address "E000" H shifts to the 1st and 2nd bits, and is written in the 5th and 6th bits. Data shifts to the 3rd and 4th bits, data of the 7th and 8th bits shifts to the 5th and 6th bits, and the 1st and 2nd bits of address "E001" H The shift process is sequentially executed for all the areas in which the codes are written so that the data shifts to the 7th and 8th bits of address “E000” H. Thus, every time the processing executed by the microcomputer of the prize ball control board 31 shifts to this routine, the prize ball corresponding to the prize ball number code written in the first bit and the second bit of the address “E000” The control for paying out a number of game balls is executed until the value of the winning number counter CN becomes zero.
[0047]
According to the second embodiment, in addition to having the same effect as the first embodiment, the prize ball control board 31 pays out the number of prize balls set in the order in which the prize balls are paid out into the game ball winning slot. It has an excellent effect that it can be produced. As a result, a process such as paying out a prize ball having a different number of prize balls to the start opening or the like in preference to winning in another prize opening is executed, and the total number of prize balls to be finally paid out to the player is calculated. Unlike the conventional technology of matching, the game balls with the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning mouth are always paid out to the player in real time, so the question is "There is no winning ball corresponding to the winning mouth?" Can be eliminated in advance.
The second embodiment employs a configuration in which the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning balls that have not been paid out is stored in chronological order in the order of winning, but the number of winning balls is encoded and stored. As a result, the memory usage area can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a pachinko machine 10 according to a first embodiment employing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board 22 of the pachinko machine 10;
4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between a main control board 30 and a prize ball control board 31;
6 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between a prize ball control board 31 and a launch control board 33. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing executed in a “main routine”.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “prize ball addition routine” executed by the prize ball control board 31;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “prize ball subtraction routine” executed by the prize ball control board 31;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “ball-cut / full-routine routine” executed by the prize ball control board 31;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “payout incomplete data write routine” executed by the prize ball control board 31 of the second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing performed in a “payout incomplete data erasing routine” executed on the prize ball control board 31 of the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a memory map showing a prize ball number code writing area of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Pachinko machine 22 ... Game board
24 ... Launch handle 24a ... Touch switch
30 ... Main control board 31 ... Prize ball control board
32 ... Special symbol display device
32a ... LCD panel unit (LCD)
32b ... design display control board (design control board)
33 ... Launch control board
30a, 31a, 33a ... input buffer
30b, 31b, 33b ... input port
34 ... Lamp control board 35 ... Sound control board
36 ... Ordinary electric accessory (starting port) 36a ... First type starting port switch
37 ... Normal symbol display device 40 ... Big prize opening
40a ... thing continuous operation switch (VSW)
40b ... Ten-count switch (count SW)
43 ... Full tank switch 44 ... Supply switch
51. Prize ball payout switch
52 (52a, 52b, 52c) ... Other prize opening switches
53 ... Reset switch
54 ... Ball cutting motor 55 ... Error display LED
PS ... Power supply circuit

Claims (1)

It is determined whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player in accordance with a random value extracted due to the timing at which the game ball launched on the game board wins a specific winning opening or passes a specific passing opening. In addition, a main control board that directly detects a game ball that wins each of the ordinary electric accessory and the big prize opening ,
A prize ball control board for controlling a prize ball dispensing device for delivering a prize ball;
A prize ball detection means for outputting a prize ball detection signal when a prize ball discharged from the prize ball dispensing device is detected;
A winning detection means for outputting a winning detection signal when detecting a winning ball to each winning opening on the surface of the game board including the ordinary electric accessory and a large winning opening ;
A ball game machine configured to include:
In addition to the prize ball control board,
Detection signal acquisition means for directly acquiring all the detection signals output by the winning ball detection means and the winning detection means;
Based on the winning detection signal acquired by the detection signal acquisition means without receiving the winning ball data corresponding to the winning ball from the main control board, a prize corresponding to the number of winning balls that have not been paid out by the winning ball payout device. Prize ball data calculation means for adding and calculating ball data, and subtracting the prize ball data based on the prize ball detection signal acquired by the detection signal acquisition means;
Memory holding means for storing and holding prize ball data calculated by the prize ball data calculating means;
Prize ball instruction means for instructing the prize ball payout device to pay out the prize balls according to the prize ball data stored by the memory holding means;
A ball game machine characterized by comprising:

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