JP3946858B2 - Competitive game equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a competitive game apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a competitive game apparatus in which a running body such as a horse competes in the form of a race and a player predicts the rank is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-259404. The traveling body disclosed here is controlled by a method known as so-called additional value control. More specifically, XY coordinates are provided in the entire course on which the traveling body travels, and the host side that controls the traveling of the traveling body is determined by the XY coordinates for each traveling body at regular intervals. The traveling body is controlled by giving the target position to be set and bringing the position of the traveling body closer to the target position. Therefore, in order to control so that a plurality of traveling bodies do not collide, it is necessary to always give different target values for each traveling body at the same control timing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this type of competitive game apparatus, there are not only a race run but also a run for demonstration such as an alignment operation before a start and a parade performed between races. Among these operations, there are cases where a plurality of traveling bodies travels in the same traveling pattern even though their absolute positions are different.
[0004]
In the one disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-25944, since the traveling of the traveling body is controlled while changing the target position determined by the XY coordinates at regular intervals, a plurality of traveling bodies are provided. Even when traveling in the same traveling pattern, the host side had to give different target positions to each traveling body at regular intervals.
[0005]
In addition, since all the traveling bodies are controlled at regular intervals, the timing at which the traveling changes in all the traveling bodies becomes almost the same, which causes unnaturalness as a race flow.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a plurality of movable bodies that travel in a desired area divided into a plurality of control sections toward a goal direction provided in the areas, and a control unit that controls the traveling of the movable bodies. In the competitive game apparatus, the control means outputs traveling data instructing the moving direction and moving speed of the movable body in the divided control section to the movable body, so that the traveling of the movable body can be reliably controlled and a plurality of movable bodies can be controlled. When the body travels in the same travel pattern, for example, when a parade travel is performed by forming a formation, all the movable bodies can be controlled with the same travel data. Therefore, the amount of travel data can be reduced. Further, since the traveling of the movable body is changed for each control section, all the movable bodies do not change in traveling at almost the same timing, and the unnaturalness in the race traveling can be eliminated.
[0007]
First traveling data for instructing the traveling speed of the movable body in the goal area in the desired area and second traveling data for instructing the traveling speed of the movable body in a direction different from the goal direction in the desired area; Since the desired area is divided into a plurality of control sections independently in the goal direction and the direction different from the goal direction, in addition to the above effects, the goal direction and the direction different from the goal direction It is possible to change the travel of the movable body for each control section.
[0008]
In a competitive game apparatus comprising a movable body that travels in a desired area divided into a plurality of control sections toward a goal direction provided in the area, and a control means that controls the traveling of the movable body. Since the travel data instructing the moving direction and moving time of the movable body in the control section into which the means is divided is output to the movable body, the traveling of the movable body can be reliably controlled, and a plurality of movable bodies can travel in the same travel pattern. In this case, for example, when the parade travel is performed by forming a platoon, all the movable bodies can be controlled with the same travel data. Therefore, the amount of travel data can be reduced. Further, since the traveling of the movable body is changed for each control section, all the movable bodies do not change in traveling at almost the same timing, and the unnaturalness in the race traveling can be eliminated.
[0009]
Third travel data for instructing the travel time of the movable body in the desired area in the goal direction and fourth travel data instructing the travel time of the movable body in the direction different from the goal direction in the desired area In addition to the above effects, in addition to the above effects, the desired area is divided into a plurality of control sections independently in the goal direction and the direction different from the goal direction. A change can be given to driving | running | working of a movable body for every control area of a direction.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present application controls a plurality of movable bodies that travel in a desired direction divided into a plurality of control sections toward a goal direction provided in the areas, and the traveling of the movable bodies. In the competitive game apparatus, the control means outputs to the movable body travel data instructing the moving direction and moving speed of the movable body in the divided control section. It is assumed that the vehicle travels according to the travel data.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the first travel data instructing the travel data in the desired area in the desired area, and the travel data in the desired area. Second traveling data for instructing the moving speed of the movable body in a direction different from the goal direction, and a plurality of independently within the desired area in the goal direction and a direction different from the goal direction. It is divided into control sections.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 3 of the present application controls a plurality of movable bodies that travel in a desired area divided into a plurality of control sections toward a goal direction provided in the areas, and the traveling of the movable bodies. In the competitive game apparatus, the control means outputs to the movable body travel data that indicates a moving direction and a moving time of the movable body in the divided control section. It is assumed that the vehicle travels according to the travel data.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is characterized in that, in claim 3, the travel data indicates the travel time of the movable body in the goal direction in the desired area, and the travel data in the desired area is the third travel data. 4th traveling data which instruct | indicates the moving time of the said movable body to the direction different from a goal direction, and each in the said desired area | region is independently several by the said goal direction and the direction different from the said goal direction. It is divided into control sections.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. In this example, the present invention is applied to a horse racing game apparatus.
[0015]
An external view of the entire horse racing game is shown in FIG.
[0016]
A traveling course 1 is provided on the upper surface of the base 2, and the upper surface of the traveling course 1 can travel model horses 30 to 30. The race model horses 30 to 30 run from the start line 7 to the goal line 8 counterclockwise.
[0017]
A plurality of gaming stations 51 to be described later are installed around the base 2, and the gaming station 51 is provided with a display device for displaying odds and the like, an operation switch, and a coin slot (not shown). It is. The player makes a prediction based on the voting conditions such as odds displayed on the display device in the game station 51, inserts coins, and uses the operation switch to vote based on the prediction.
[0018]
The traveling course 1 has a two-layer structure as shown in FIG. 2, and a lower traveling surface 3 on which a traveling body 10 constituting a movable body travels is provided below the traveling course 1 on the upper surface. Travels between the lower traveling surface 3 and the traveling course 1. The traveling course 1 constitutes a desired area.
[0019]
A magnet 17 is provided on the upper surface of the traveling body 10 and is magnetically coupled to a magnet 31 provided at the lower portion of the model horse 30 on the upper surface of the traveling course 1. Therefore, the model horse 30 also travels as the traveling body 10 travels. That is, as the traveling body 10 travels on the traveling surface 3 counterclockwise in the goal direction, the model horses 30 to 30 also travel from the start line 7 to the goal line 8 counterclockwise.
[0020]
On the back surface of the traveling course 1, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of positive feeding electrodes 4 and − feeding electrodes 5 are provided at equal intervals according to the inner and outer circumferences of the traveling course 1. 5 to supply power to the traveling body 10.
[0021]
The feeding electrode 4 is also used as a dividing line that divides the traveling course 1 into a plurality of control sections. That is, the traveling course 1 is divided in the course width direction by the power supply electrode 4. Hereinafter, the control section 1a divided by the feeding electrode 4 is referred to as a width-direction control section 1a.
[0022]
Thus, since the feeding electrode 4 also serves as a dividing line that divides the traveling course 1 into a plurality of control sections, a new dividing line is not required, and the configuration can be simplified.
[0023]
Further, an identification signal for identifying each power supply electrode 4 is supplied to each power supply electrode 4.
[0024]
Returning to FIG. 2, the lower traveling surface 3 is made of a transparent member such as acrylic, and a barcode pattern 6 having distance information is printed on the back surface of the transparent member as shown in FIG. The barcode pattern 6 has a reading direction as a goal direction on the traveling course 1 and the traveling surface 3. Therefore, the direction of the bars constituting the barcode pattern 6 is the width direction of the traveling course 1.
[0025]
The bar constituting the barcode pattern 6 uses the edge portion as a dividing line that divides the traveling course 1 into a plurality of control sections 1b. That is, the traveling course 1 is divided in the goal direction by the bars constituting the barcode pattern 6. Hereinafter, the control section 1b divided by the bar of the barcode pattern 6 is referred to as a control section 1b in the goal direction. In the corner portion 1c of the traveling course 1, the barcode pattern 6 is provided radially.
[0026]
Thus, since the bar of the barcode pattern 6 also serves as a dividing line that divides the traveling course 1 into a plurality of control sections 1b, a new dividing line is not required, and the configuration can be simplified.
[0027]
Returning to FIG. 2, the power supply pin 16 is provided so as to be in contact with the power supply electrodes 4 and 5 and receives supply of electric power. A plurality of track sensors 14 provided in a row on the upper side of the traveling body 10 detect the + feeding electrode 4, and a barcode sensor 15 provided on the lower side of the traveling body 10 reads the barcode pattern 6. Driving wheels 11l and 11r are provided on the left and right of the traveling body 10, and driving motors 12l and 12r, which will be described later, are connected to the driving wheels 11l and 11r, respectively. The infrared receiver 18 provided in the traveling body 10 receives traveling data and the like transmitted from the host control device 500 described later, and the infrared light emitter 19 also provided in the traveling body 10 receives position information from the host control device 500. Etc. Reference numeral 20 denotes an auxiliary wheel.
[0028]
Next, the system configuration of the control system is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the left side is a system configuration of the host controller 500, and the right side is a system configuration of the traveling body 10.
[0029]
First, the host controller 500 will be described. The host control device 500 constituting the control means includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and has a host control circuit 50 that controls the entire host control device 500 and the progress of the game. The command generation circuit 52 generates traveling data for controlling traveling of the traveling body 10, a start command for starting traveling, a status command for acquiring information on the traveling body, and the like. In the game stations 51 to 51, the player performs a prediction vote and displays the race result. The command transmission circuit 55 transmits traveling data, commands, and the like generated by the command generation circuit 52 to the traveling body 10 via the infrared light emitter 57. In the status receiving circuit 56, the infrared receiver 58 receives the traveling state, position information, and the like of the traveling body 10 transmitted from the traveling body control circuit 70 in the traveling body 10 via the status transmission circuit 75 by the infrared light emitter 19. Thereafter, the contents are sent to the host controller 500.
[0030]
Next, the configuration of the traveling body 10 will be described.
[0031]
The infrared light receiver 18 receives a command, travel data, and the like sent by infrared light from the infrared light emitter 57 in the host controller 500, and outputs the command, the travel data, etc. to the command reception circuit 71. The command is distinguished and output to the command execution circuit 72. The command execution circuit 72 stores the travel data in the memory 73, and the received command executes processing according to the content of the command. The timer 76 starts counting in response to a start signal transmitted from the host control device 500. The traveling control data reading circuit 74 reads the traveling data from the memory 73 and outputs it to the traveling body control circuit 70. The traveling body control circuit 70 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The traveling body control circuit 70 obtains a detection of a control section and a traveling position from information of the barcode sensor 15 and the track sensor 14, and a motor 12l to which both driving wheels 11l and 11r are connected The traveling of the traveling body 10 is controlled by controlling the current applied to 12r. The rotary encoders 13l and 13r output signals corresponding to the rotational speeds of the motors 12l and 12r to the traveling body control circuit 70. This signal is used to determine the rotational speed and travel distance of the motors 121 and 12r.
[0032]
Next, the traveling operation of the traveling body 10 will be described.
[0033]
First, the outline | summary of operation | movement of the traveling body 10 is demonstrated.
[0034]
The traveling body 10 receives traveling data from the host control device 500 before traveling and stores it in the memory 73. Of the running data transmitted from the host control device 500, the data for the race is determined by the player's expected result, and the data until after returning from the race to the start position is determined by the result of the race. The The travel data includes travel data corresponding to each control section 1b in the goal direction defined by the edge of the barcode pattern 6 and travel data corresponding to each control section 1a in the width direction defined by the feeding electrode 4.
[0035]
When a start signal is transmitted from the host controller 500, the traveling body 10 reads from the memory 73 travel data corresponding to the control section to be traveled, that is, the control section 1b in the goal direction and the control section 1a in the width direction. Start running based on the data. During traveling, the actual speed is measured from the outputs of the encoders 13l and 13r, and the vehicle travels while correcting the deviation from the traveling data. Therefore, traveling of the traveling body 10 can be reliably controlled.
[0036]
If the end of the goal direction control section 1b is reached while traveling, the time required to pass through the goal direction control section 1b and the travel data in the control section 1b are calculated. Calculate the error time with the estimated driving time. Subsequently, travel data in the next control section is read out, and travel in the next control section is controlled based on the calculated error time and the read travel data. When reading the travel data, not only the travel data in the goal direction but also the travel data in the width direction are read out. The read traveling data in the width direction is sequentially written in a FIFO buffer provided in the traveling control data reading circuit 74.
[0037]
When reaching the delimiter of the control section 1a in the width direction, the error time in the previous width direction is calculated, and the travel data in the width direction in the next control section 1a is provided in the travel control data reading circuit 74. The travel of the next control section 1a is controlled based on the calculated error time and the read travel data.
[0038]
Thereafter, the vehicle travels by repeating such an operation.
[0039]
Next, the traveling operation of the traveling body 10 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
[0040]
In this example, the moving average speed (Vxs) for each control section 1b in the goal direction defined by the edges of the barcode pattern 6 and the moving average speed for each control section 1a in the width direction defined by the feeding electrode 4 are set in this example. (Vys). In this example, since the control section distances in the goal direction and the width direction are fixed by the feeding electrode 4 and the barcode pattern 6, designating the speed in each control section means that the movement time of each control section is It will have the same meaning as you specify. The moving average speed (Vxs) for each control section 1b in the goal direction constitutes the first and third travel data, and the moving average speed (Vys) for each control section 1a in the width direction is the second and fourth. Configure travel data. Further, since the distance in the control section 1b in the goal direction is different between the inside and the outside of the traveling course 1 in the same control section corresponding to the corner portion 1c, the moving average speed (Vxs) for each control section in the goal direction is The moving average speed when traveling in the innermost control section among the control sections in the width direction defined by the feeding electrode 4 is used. Further, it is assumed that the distances between the control sections 1a and 1b in the goal direction and the width direction are stored in advance in the ROM in the traveling body control circuit 70 in the traveling body 10, respectively.
[0041]
When a start command for instructing the traveling body 10 to start traveling is sent from the host controller 500 to the traveling body 10 (step 6a), the timer 76 starts counting, and the traveling control data reading circuit 74 travels from the memory 73. The travel data (Vxs, Vys) corresponding to the control section, that is, the control section in the goal direction and the control sections 1a and 1b in the width direction are read (step 6b) and output to the traveling body control circuit 70.
[0042]
The traveling body control circuit 70 determines the rotational speeds of the left and right motors so as to satisfy the speeds in the goal direction and the width direction specified by the output traveling data (Vxs, Vys) (step 6C).
[0043]
Specifically, Vxs is used as the target speed Vx in the goal direction, and Vys is used as the target speed Vy in the width direction, and the motors 121 and 12r are controlled based on the target speeds Vx and Vy. The traveling body 10 starts traveling under the control of the motors 121 and 12r.
[0044]
When the traveling body 10 starts traveling, the output cycle of the rotary encoders 13l and 13r is measured until the bar code sensor 15 or the track sensor 14 detects the end of the control section in the goal direction or the width direction, and the actual result is obtained from the measurement result. The vehicle travels while correcting the deviation between the calculated actual speed and the travel data (steps 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h).
[0045]
When the bar code sensor 15 detects that the control section 1b in the goal direction has ended (step 6f), the time required to pass the control section 1b in the goal direction that has traveled so far and the travel data in the control section are determined. An error time with the calculated travel time is calculated (steps 6i, 6j, 6k).
[0046]
Steps 6i, 6j, and 6k will be described in detail. First, the traveling body control circuit 70 measures the actual traveling time Txo ′ of the control section 1b that has traveled so far, based on the count value of the timer 76, and the traveling body control. The distance Lxo of the control section 1b that has traveled so far is read from the ROM in the circuit 70 (step 6i).
[0047]
Subsequently, the scheduled travel time Txo set by the travel data in the control section 1b that has traveled so far is obtained from the calculation formula of Txo = Lxo / Vxs (step 6j).
[0048]
Then, an accumulated error time Dtxo obtained by accumulating an error between a time required to pass through the control section 1b in the goal direction which has traveled since the start and a planned travel time calculated from the travel data is represented by Dtxo = Dtxo + (Txo -Txo ') (Step 6k).
[0049]
When the calculation of the accumulated error time is completed, the traveling body control circuit 70 operates the traveling control data reading circuit 74 to check whether the traveling data of the next control section 1b in the goal direction exists. It is determined that there is a next control section 1b in the goal direction (step 6m), and the travel data is read from the memory 73 (step 6n). At this time, the travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction is read together with the travel data (Vxs) for the next control section 1b in the goal direction. The read travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction is sequentially written in a FIFO buffer provided in the travel control data reading circuit 74 (step 6p).
[0050]
When the storage of the travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction is completed, the traveling body control circuit 70 performs the travel data (Vxs) for the next control section 1b in the goal direction read in step 6m and the step 6k. The target speed Vx of the next control section 1b in the goal direction is obtained from the calculated expression of Vx = Vxs * (Txo / (Txo + Dtxo)) using the obtained accumulated error time Dtxo and the like, and the motors 12l, 12r is controlled (step 6q). Thereafter, the process returns to step 6d.
[0051]
When the end of the control section 1a in the width direction is detected by the track sensor 14 (step 6e), the travel calculated from the time and travel data required to pass the control section 1a in the width direction that has traveled since the start An error time with the scheduled time is calculated (steps 6r, 6s, 6t).
[0052]
Steps 6r, 6s, and 6t will be described in detail. First, the traveling body control circuit 70 measures the actual traveling time Tyo ′ of the control section 1a in the width direction that has traveled so far, based on the count value of the timer 76, The distance Lyo of the control section 1a that has traveled so far is read from the ROM in the traveling body control circuit 70 (step 6r).
[0053]
Subsequently, the travel time Tyo set by the travel data in the control section 1a in the width direction that has traveled so far is obtained from the formula Tyo = Lyo / Vys (step 6s).
[0054]
Then, an accumulated error time Dtyo obtained by accumulating an error between the time required to pass through the control section 1a in the width direction that has traveled since the start and the estimated travel time calculated from the travel data is represented by Dtyo = Dtyo + (Tyo -Tyo ') (Step 6t).
[0055]
When the calculation of the accumulated error time is completed, the travel data (Vys) stored the oldest among the travel data in the width direction is read from the FIFO buffer in the travel control data reading circuit 74 (steps 6u, 6v).
[0056]
Using the read travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction and the accumulated error time Dtyo obtained in step 6t, the target speed Vy of the next control section 1a in the width direction is expressed as Vy = Vys * (Tyo / (Tyo−Dtyo)), and the motors 12l and 12r are controlled according to the target speed (step 6q). Thereafter, the process returns to step 6d.
[0057]
In step 6u, when there is no travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction stored in the FIFO buffer in the travel control data reading circuit 74, the travel data (Vys) for the next control section 1a in the width direction. ) Is set to 0, and the process proceeds to Step 6w.
[0058]
The speed control in the goal direction at the corner portion 1c of the traveling course 1 is performed as follows. As described above, since the bar code pattern 6 is provided radially at the corner portion 1c of the traveling course 1, the distance differs between the inside and the outside of the course 1 in the control section 1b in the goal direction corresponding to this portion. In this example, the distance of the control section 1b in the goal direction in the corner portion 1c is made equal by simulating the traveling data according to the position in the width direction on the corner portion 1c of the traveling body 10. Specifically, since the speed specified by the travel data is a speed when passing through the control section 1a in the innermost circumferential width direction, the traveling body 10 is based on the position in the width direction obtained from the feeding electrode 4. In the corner portion 1c, the speed in the goal direction is increased toward the outside. The host control device 500 that determines the race development of the plurality of traveling bodies 10 by performing such control at the corner portion actually travels the same distance in the races of the traveling bodies 10 that travel different distances in the goal direction. It can be recognized as a race. Therefore, when the order of the plurality of traveling bodies 10 is determined before the race starts, it is only necessary to consider the traveling time for traveling the same distance.
[0059]
In this example, error correction in the goal direction is performed. To avoid this overcorrection, when the distance measured by the encoder exceeds the previous control section distance, the travel data speed Vxs obtained by reading the target speed Vx. You may make it return to.
[0060]
In this way, since the traveling of the traveling body is controlled in units of control sections, all the traveling bodies do not change in traveling at almost the same timing as in the past, and the unnaturalness in the race traveling can be eliminated. . In addition to this point, there is what is called a so-called game point on the course in actual horse racing and the like, and the speed is increased or decreased near this point. In the case where the running is controlled for each control section as in this example, a race such as an actual horse race can be easily realized by matching the boundary of the control section with the game points.
[0061]
Further, the travel data for controlling the travel of the traveling body is not the absolute position determined by the XY coordinates as in the prior art, but the travel direction and travel speed or the travel direction and travel time in the control section. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of traveling bodies form a platoon and perform a parade before a race, the host control device 500 has conventionally had to output different traveling data to each traveling body. In this example, all the movable bodies can be controlled with the same travel data. That is, in such a case, the operation of the host control device 500 can be reduced, and power can be saved.
[0062]
Further, since it is not necessary to provide an electric wire or the like for determining the XY coordinates inside or outside the course as in the prior art where the traveling body does not actually travel, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. .
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for example, when a movable body forms a parade and travels in a parade, it is possible to control the travel of all the movable bodies with the same travel data. Therefore, the amount of travel data can be reduced, the operation of the control means for controlling the travel of the movable body can be reduced, and power can be saved. Further, many traveling patterns can be realized with a simple traveling control data generation function and a small number of traveling control data storage memories.
[0064]
Moreover, a change can be given to driving | running | working of a movable body for every control area of a direction different from a goal direction and a goal direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall external view of an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing a driving mechanism of the traveling body and model horse of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a control section in the goal direction in FIG. 1;
4 is an explanatory diagram showing a control section in the width direction of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Desired area
1a Control section
1b Control section
8 goals
10 Movable body
500 Control means

Claims (1)

Competition game with a plurality of movable bodies to travel toward the plurality of control desired area divided into sections in the goal direction provided in the region, and a host controller for controlling the travel of the movable body In the device
The movable body includes a traveling body control circuit that controls traveling of the movable body, a command receiving circuit that receives commands and traveling data from the host control device, a memory that stores the traveling data, and a position of the control section. Further comprising a sensor for detecting the above and a motor for running the movable body,
The traveling body control circuit inputs the traveling data from the memory based on a start signal included in the command, controls traveling of the movable body, and detects the end of a control section traveled by the sensor. As a trigger, calculate the time difference between the time required to pass the control section and the scheduled travel time calculated from the travel data set before passing the control section, and then control to travel The travel data set for the section is corrected according to the time difference to set a target speed, and the motor is controlled according to the target speed,
The travel data specifies the first travel data for specifying the moving average speed in the goal direction of the control section divided in the goal direction, and the moving average speed in the width direction of the control section divided in the width direction. And the traveling body control circuit detects the end of the goal direction of the control section of the goal direction traveled based on the first traveling data. And a target speed in the width direction is set based on the second travel data when the end of the control section in the width direction that has traveled is detected. A competitive game device characterized by controlling .

Images