JP4139046B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a memory holding means capable of storing and holding control information and abnormality monitoring information in a game control device and a discharge control device when the power is shut off.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) is provided with a game control device that controls the progress of the game in accordance with the execution of a control program. In addition, when a game ball wins a game area winning opening, the storage ball side game ball is required from the discharge device to the player side (the upper plate on the front side of the gaming machine, etc.) based on information from the game control device. A discharge control device that controls the number of discharges is provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a gaming machine, if the power supply to the gaming machine is interrupted due to a power outage or the like while the game is being played, what is the gaming state of the gaming machine? Even if the information about the event disappears and the supply of power is resumed, the game cannot be resumed from the state where it was executed at the time of the power failure, and the player cannot be compensated when the power failure occurs. .
[0004]
In view of this, it has been proposed to provide a memory holding means for holding information stored in the game control device and the discharge control device when the supply of power is cut off.
[0005]
However, in this case, the following problems are concerned. A game control device or the like monitors an abnormality with a specific sensor, and when an abnormality is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined as an abnormality, and in the case of an abnormality relating to the discharge, an abnormal process such as stopping the discharge of the game ball is performed. ing. Therefore, when a power failure occurs before the abnormality is confirmed (during detection), when the power is restored from the power failure, the normal state is restored, but thereafter, the abnormality is confirmed and the abnormality processing is started. In this way, once in the fall to immediately abnormal processing after returning in a normal state, give a sense of discomfort to the player.
[0006]
On the other hand, the state of the sensor depends on man-made and physical factors such as the operation of a game shop employee during a power outage, the act of a player hitting the game table, or the ball in the gaming machine naturally collapsing. , There is a possibility that the state will change, and there is a case where it is not always the same before and after the power failure. Therefore, if there is an abnormality before the power failure, even if the abnormality is resolved during the power failure, it may be erroneously determined that there is an abnormality when the power is restored from the power failure. Especially in such a case, if the abnormality is notified, the player will be distrusted. An object of the present invention is to solve such problems.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention includes a game control device that manages the progress of a game, and the game control device monitors an abnormality and sets a flag indicating the abnormality in the RAM of the game control device when an abnormality occurs. In the gaming machine that is set in the abnormality monitoring information and supplies backup power to the RAM of the gaming control apparatus from the backup circuit when a power failure occurs in the gaming machine, the gaming control apparatus is used for abnormality monitoring. A monitoring timer is started based on the detection signal of the sensor, and when the monitoring timer expires while the detection signal is in an abnormal state, it is determined that there is an abnormality, a flag indicating the abnormality is set in the abnormality monitoring information, and the power failure In the event of a failure, the progress of the game after recovery from a power failure is started in the abnormality monitoring information included in the RAM data to be backed up The sets a flag indicating abnormality in, until progression of the game after the return from該停collector is started, the abnormality monitoring based on the detection signal of the sensor used in the abnormality monitoring.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge device provided with a mechanism for discharging the game ball guided from the storage tank side to the player side, and discharge of the game ball of the discharge device based on control information output from the game control device A discharge control device that controls the discharge control device, and when the game control device determines that an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring before the progress of the game after recovery from a power failure is started, an abnormality is detected in the discharge control device. outputs invalid flag information of the monitoring information, the emission control device is characterized in Rukoto stops the discharge of the game balls of the discharge device on the basis of incorrect flag information from the game control device.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the game control device performs abnormality monitoring by a monitoring timer based on a detection signal of a sensor used for the abnormality monitoring until the progress of the game after recovery from a power failure is started, and the detection signal is When the monitoring timer expires in a normal state, it is determined to be normal, the flag indicating the abnormality is cleared, and normal flag information out of the abnormality monitoring information is output to the discharge control device, and the discharge control device Is characterized in that the discharge of the game ball of the discharge device is restarted based on normal flag information from the game control device.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
In the first invention, when a power failure occurs before the abnormal state is confirmed , when the power recovers from the power failure, it is avoided that the abnormal state is determined immediately after returning to the normal state and the abnormality processing is started. Yes, it does not confuse the player or give the player a sense of incongruity.
[0021]
In the second invention, when the game control device determines that an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring before the progress of the game after returning from a power failure is started, the flag information in the abnormality monitoring information is sent to the discharge control device. And the discharge control device can stop the discharge of the game ball of the discharge device based on the fraud flag information from the game control device.
[0023]
In the third invention, the process can be restarted accurately and promptly after confirming whether the game is in an abnormal state or in a normal state before the progress of the game after a power failure is started .
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0028]
FIG. 1 shows the back side of a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) 1, and on the back side of a gaming board (not shown) mounted in the frame 2 of the machine front frame, each of the gaming boards provided in the gaming area is shown. A winning ball collective cover (not shown) for guiding the winning balls of the winning device, a display control device 4 for controlling the variable display device 3 (see FIG. 2), a decoration for controlling a game board, a decorative lamp on the front frame of the machine, and the like. A control device 5, a sound control device 6, a board external connection terminal board (for signal output from a game board side, etc.) 7 and the like are attached.
[0029]
On the back side of the machine front frame, on the upper part of the back mechanism board 8 attached to the back side of the frame 2, a terminal board 10 for receiving power from outside, a frame external connection terminal board (for signal output from each control device and game 11 for receiving signals from the store management device), a ball storage tank 12 for storing game balls, and a chute 13 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 12 to be aligned.
[0030]
On the right side of the back mechanism panel 8 is a payout unit (discharge device) 14 that discharges the ball guided by the chute 13 to the upper and lower plates on the front of the machine. A power supply device 15 to be supplied is attached.
[0031]
A discharge control device 16 that controls the payout unit 14, a game control device 17 that manages the progress of the game, and a launch control device 18 that controls the hitting ball launching device are attached to the lower part of the back mechanism board 8.
[0032]
In addition, 20 is a card ball lending unit and 21 is a card ball lending unit connection board.
[0033]
FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the control system. The game control device (main board) 17, the discharge control device (payout control board) 16, the display control device (display control board) 4, and the decoration control device (lamp control board). 5, a sound control device (sound control board) 6, a launch control device (launch control board) 18, a power supply device (power supply board) 15, and the like.
[0034]
The game control device 17 includes various sensors (for example, a variable display game start sensor 22, winning sensors 23 </ b> A to 23 </ b> N, a grand prize, etc.) provided in each winning device in the control program and game area of the game board. Mouth count sensor 24, continuation sensor 25, etc.), overflow sensor 26 for detecting the overflow state of the discharge channel overflow channel (the channel connecting the upper plate and the lower plate) for guiding the discharge ball of the dispensing unit 14 (FIG. 1), a chute ball break sensor 27 (see FIG. 1) for detecting a ball break (no ball) of the chute 13 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 12 to the payout unit 14; A glass frame opening sensor 28 for detecting the opening of the glass frame, and a prize ball detection sensor for detecting the discharged balls discharged by the payout unit 14 as prize balls. Based on the detection signal of the control 30, for example, a lottery drawing of a variable display game in the variable display device 3, determination of various abnormalities, and the like, and various control devices (discharge control device 16, display control device 4, decoration control device 5) are performed. , The sound control device 6, the launch control device 18), and various information devices (for example, the big prize opening solenoid 31) provided on the game board, the game is centrally controlled.
[0035]
As for the winning ball, when the gaming ball wins each winning device in the gaming area, predetermined winning ball control information in which the number of winning balls is set based on the winning device is transmitted to the discharge control device 16.
[0036]
Further, based on the detection signal of the prize ball detection sensor 30, whether or not a required number of prize balls have been discharged from the payout unit 14 within a predetermined time (during the prize ball), based on the detection signal of the overflow sensor 26, Based on the detection signal of the chute ball break sensor 27, whether the overflow state has continued for a predetermined time, whether the chute 13 has been blown for a predetermined time, and based on the detection signal of the glass frame opening sensor 28, the glass frame is opened for a predetermined time. Abnormality monitoring such as whether or not it has continued is performed, and abnormality monitoring information is transmitted to the discharge control device 16, the display control device 4, and the like.
[0037]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the work area of the abnormality monitoring information set in the RAM of the game control device 17. When a prize ball, overflow sensor 26 is turned on, chute ball break sensor 27 is turned on, glass frame opening sensor 28 is turned on, the corresponding monitoring timer is started, and when the monitoring timer expires in an abnormal state, The abnormality flag is set to indicate the abnormality (abnormality confirmation state). Even when the number of prize balls discharged from the payout unit 14 is excessive, it is determined to be abnormal, and an illegal flag indicating the abnormality (abnormal confirmed state) is set. In the case of an abnormality, the fraud flag information in the abnormality monitoring information is transmitted, and fraud commands such as a display, a lamp, and a voice are transmitted except when the power failure is restored.
[0038]
In addition, when the overflow sensor 26 is OFF, when the chute ball break sensor 27 is OFF, or when the glass frame opening sensor 28 is OFF, the corresponding monitoring timer is started. Then, the corresponding illegal flag is cleared. If normal, normal commands such as normal flag information, indicator, lamp, voice, etc. are transmitted among the abnormal monitoring information.
[0039]
The display control device 4 controls display on the variable display device 3 based on the display control information from the game control device 17. For example, in the case of a variable display game, a plurality of pieces of identification information (symbols) are displayed in a variable manner in a plurality of variable display areas of the variable display device 3 and control is performed to stop the variable display after a predetermined time. When a big hit occurs, an image corresponding to the progress of the big hit game is displayed. In addition, a predetermined image is displayed when the power failure is restored.
[0040]
The discharge control device 16 controls the operation of the payout unit 14 (discharge pulse motor) based on the award ball control information from the game control device 17 or the lending request from the card ball lending unit 20, and the required number of awards. Let the ball or rental ball be discharged.
[0041]
Further, based on the abnormality monitoring information from the game control device 17, when the number of winning prize balls from the payout unit 14 is insufficient, when excessive, when the overflow channel is in an overflow state, when the chute 13 is out of balls, When the frame is open, an abnormal process for stopping the discharge of the balls of the payout unit 14 is performed.
[0042]
Whether the card ball lending unit 20 and the operation panel board 32 are connected to the discharge control device 16 or not, based on the detection signal of the ball lending detection sensor 33 for detecting the discharged ball discharged as the ball lending by the payout unit 14. Then, abnormality monitoring is performed such as whether or not a required number of balls has been discharged from the payout unit 14 within a predetermined time at the time of lending the ball.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the work area of the abnormality monitoring information set in the RAM of the discharge control device 16. When the card lending unit 20 is not connected to the discharge control device 16, it is determined to be abnormal and the fraud flag is set. At the time of lending a ball, the monitoring timer is started, and when the monitoring timer expires in an abnormal state (abnormality of the number of discharged balls), it is determined that there is an abnormality and an illegal flag is set. In addition, in the case of abnormality, you may make it alert | report by 7 segment LED (it is provided in the discharge control apparatus 16).
[0044]
The decoration control device 5 controls the decoration light emitting devices such as the decoration lamps and LEDs, and also controls the display of the start memory display 34 of the variable display game in the variable display device 4, for example. The sound control device 6 controls the sound effect output from the sound output device. The launch control device 18 controls the hit ball launch device.
[0045]
The power supply device 15 is a device that converts an external AC power source into a DC power source and supplies it to various devices, and includes a backup circuit 35 and a power failure detection circuit 36.
[0046]
The power failure detection circuit 36 outputs a power failure detection signal and a reset signal to the game control device 17, the discharge control device 16, etc. in order when the power supply device 15 detects a predetermined voltage drop during a power failure. When the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 receive a power failure detection signal, the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 perform a predetermined power failure process, and upon receiving a reset signal, stop the operation of the CPU.
[0047]
The backup circuit 35 supplies backup power to the RAM of the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 to back up the RAM data (game data, prize ball data, abnormality monitoring data). That is, at the time of a power failure, the game control device 17 controls the game control information (for example, variable display game information, jackpot game information, information on various control devices, etc.), control information about prize balls (number of prize balls, etc.), abnormal Monitor information (information shown in FIG. 3) is stored and held. Further, at the time of a power failure, the discharge control device 16 stores and holds control information related to award balls (number of unprocessed prize balls, etc.) and abnormality monitoring information (abnormality monitoring information from the game control device 17 and information of FIG. 4).
[0048]
Then, when a power failure occurs, the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 have predetermined abnormality monitoring information among the information stored and held in this manner, that is, abnormality monitoring information regarding the discharge condition (discharge start condition) of the game ball ( Overflow flag information, shot ball break flag information) and other abnormality monitoring information (glass frame opening flag information) are set to an abnormality confirmed state (incorrect flag information) before the progress of the game after power failure recovery is started. .
[0049]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a flow for setting the predetermined abnormality monitoring information to the abnormality confirmed state when the game control device 17 recovers from the power failure.
[0050]
When the power is turned on and the operation is started, interrupts are prohibited in steps 1 to 3, all outputs are turned off, and the process waits until the power is stabilized (until the power failure detection signal is turned off).
[0051]
In steps 4 and 5, the CPU is initialized and access to the RAM is permitted.
[0052]
In step 6, it is determined whether the power is restored or the power is turned on normally. In this case, when the check data in the predetermined backup area of the RAM is a normal value, it is determined that the power is restored, and when the check data is an abnormal value, the normal power-on is determined.
[0053]
In the case of normal power-on, the process proceeds to Steps 14 to 19. In Steps 14 and 15, data (control information and abnormality monitoring information) in all RAM areas are cleared (invalidated), and initial values are set.
[0054]
In step 16, a normal power-on command is transmitted to various control devices.
[0055]
In step 17, the stack pointer is set, and in step 18, the interrupt is permitted and the process proceeds to normal processing.
[0056]
On the other hand, in the case of a power failure recovery, the process proceeds to Steps 7 to 13. In Steps 7 and 8, data in the RAM area (predetermined abnormality monitoring information) that should be set to the abnormality confirmed state at the time of power failure recovery is set to the abnormality confirmed state.
[0057]
In step 9, a command at the time of power failure recovery is transmitted to various control devices. By transmitting this command, various control devices can grasp the control start of the game control device 17. In addition, the notification screen described later of the variable display device 3 rises quickly.
[0058]
In step 10, all registers are restored, and in step 11, the stack pointer is restored. In step 12, interrupt is permitted, and in step 13, control returns to the interrupt address when a power failure occurs, and control is started.
[0059]
The discharge control device 16 performs the same processing except for steps 16 and 9.
[0060]
With this configuration, when the game control device 17 recovers from the power failure, the game control device 17 determines whether the overflow channel is in an overflow state based on detection signals from the overflow sensor 26, the chute ball break sensor 27, and the glass frame opening sensor 28. Abnormality monitoring is performed to determine whether the glass frame is open or not, and the discharge control device 16 performs abnormality processing based on the abnormality monitoring information set to the abnormality confirmed state.
[0061]
At the time of power failure recovery, the game control device 17 does not transmit an illegal command such as a display, a lamp, or a voice, and prohibits abnormality notification.
[0062]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the game control device 17 times out the corresponding monitoring timer while the overflow sensor 26, the shot ball break sensor 27, and the glass frame opening sensor 28 (not shown) are in the OFF (physical state OFF) state. Then, it is determined as normal, the illegal flag information set in the abnormality confirmed state is cleared (logic state OFF), and the corresponding normal flag information is transmitted to the discharge control device 16, the display control device 4, etc., and discharged. The control device 16 clears the corresponding fraud flag information (abnormality confirmation state) based on the normal flag information. At this time, the longest monitoring timer (for example, an overflow monitoring timer) times out, and the discharge control device Until 16 receives the corresponding normal flag information, the game ball discharge condition (discharge start condition) is not permitted, that is, the discharge control device 16 is abnormal. Continue the management.
[0063]
Therefore, as in the prior art, when a power failure occurs overflow or chute burns out or abnormality confirmation before the glass frame opening of the (counting of the watchdog timer of the sensor ON state), when waking up from a power failure, once in a normal state Immediately after returning, it is possible to avoid an overflow, a shot ball breakage, or a glass frame opening abnormality being confirmed and entering the abnormality process, so that the player will not be confused or discomforted.
[0064]
On the other hand, when the states of the overflow sensor 26, the chute ball break sensor 27, and the glass frame opening sensor 28 used for abnormality monitoring change between before and after the power failure due to human or physical factors, for example, before the power failure. In this example, when the overflow state is resolved by an operation of a game store employee or a player during a power failure, the discharge control device 16 Although an abnormal process is performed, this abnormal process only stops the discharge of the ball of the payout unit 14, and no abnormal notification is given by a display, a lamp, a voice, or the like, so that the player is not distrusted.
[0065]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6 , the game control device 17 times out the corresponding monitoring timer while the overflow sensor 26, the shot ball break sensor 27, and the glass frame opening sensor 28 (not shown) are in the OFF (physical state OFF) state. Then, it is determined as normal, the illegal flag information set in the abnormality confirmed state is cleared (logic state OFF), and the corresponding normal flag information is transmitted to the discharge control device 16, the display control device 4, etc., and discharged. The control device 16 clears the corresponding fraud flag information (abnormality confirmation state) based on the normal flag information, and at this time, the longest monitoring timer (for example, an overflow monitoring timer) times out, and the discharge control device When 16 receives the corresponding normal flag information, the game ball discharge condition (discharge start condition) is permitted, that is, the discharge unit 14 discharges the ball. Allow.
[0066]
Therefore, when there is no overflow, broken shot ball, and abnormal glass frame opening after returning from a power failure, the discharge process can be resumed promptly after these confirmations.
[0067]
In addition, when recovering from a power failure, if there is an overflow, a shot ball breakage, or an abnormal glass frame opening, after the time of the longest monitoring timer (for example, the overflow monitoring timer) has expired, Based on the command, abnormality notification is performed by a display, a lamp, sound, etc., and abnormality processing by the discharge control device 16 is performed.
[0068]
In addition, since the abnormality monitoring information is set to the abnormality confirmed state when the power failure is restored, the state before the power failure can be confirmed and notified when the power failure is restored. In fact, there is a high possibility that the state before the power failure continues even after the power failure is restored, so if the notification is made, the abnormal state before the power failure can be dealt with promptly.
[0069]
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This is because the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 store and hold predetermined abnormality monitoring information when a power failure occurs, that is, abnormality monitoring information (overflow flag information, shot ball breakage) related to a game ball discharge condition (discharge start condition). Flag information) and other abnormality monitoring information (glass frame opening flag information) are set to an abnormality confirmed state (illegal flag information), and are performed by a power failure process that is executed when a power failure detection signal is received from the power failure detection circuit 36. .
[0070]
When power failure processing is started, all outputs are turned off at step 21.
[0071]
In steps 22 and 23, data in the RAM area (the predetermined abnormality monitoring information) to be set to the abnormality confirmed state at the time of a power failure is set to the abnormality confirmed state.
[0072]
In steps 24 to 26, the stack pointer, the interruption address when a power failure occurs, and all registers are saved (control information and abnormality monitoring information are stored and held).
[0073]
In step 27, access to the RAM is prohibited.
[0074]
In this way, the processing burden at the time of power failure recovery can be reduced, and abnormality / normality determination can be made promptly after power failure recovery.
[0075]
Note that the setting of the abnormality confirmation state of the abnormality monitoring information (overflow flag information, shoot ball break flag information, glass frame opening flag information) in the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 is repeated at the time of occurrence of power failure and recovery from power failure, or It may be performed in a distributed manner.
[0076]
In addition, when returning from a power failure, the game control device 17 transmits abnormality monitoring information (overflow fraud flag information, chute ball break fraud flag information, glass frame opening fraud flag information) in an abnormality confirmed state to the discharge control device 16. In such a case, it is not necessary to set the abnormality confirmation state of the abnormality monitoring information (overflow flag information, chute ball break flag information, glass frame opening flag information) in the discharge control device 16.
[0077]
In addition, when the abnormality control information (overflow flag information, shoot ball break flag information, glass frame opening flag information) abnormality confirmation state in the discharge control device 16 is only set, and the game control device 17 returns from a power failure, the game control device 17 The abnormality monitoring information (overflow flag information, chute ball break flag information, glass frame opening flag information) may not be transmitted to the discharge control device 16.
[0078]
In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine as a gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachislot machine and an arrangement ball.
[0079]
It should be understood that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a back view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system.
FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of a work area of abnormality monitoring information in the game control device.
FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a work area of abnormality monitoring information in the discharge control device.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents.
FIG. 6 is a control timing chart.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control contents of the second embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 gaming machine 3 variable display device 4 display control device 5 decoration control device 6 sound control device 12 ball storage tank 13 chute 14 payout unit 15 power supply device 16 discharge control device 17 game control device 18 launch control device 20 card ball lending unit 22 start Sensors 23A to 23N Prize sensor 24 Count sensor 25 Continuation sensor 26 Overflow sensor 27 Shooting ball break sensor 28 Glass frame opening sensor 30 Prize ball detection sensor 31 Big prize opening solenoid 33 Wage lending detection sensor 35 Backup circuit 36 Power failure detection circuit

Claims (3)

It has a game control device that manages the progress of the game,
The game control device performs abnormality monitoring, and when an abnormality occurs, sets a flag indicating the abnormality in the abnormality monitoring information set in the RAM of the game control device,
In a gaming machine that backs up data in the RAM by supplying a backup power to the RAM of the gaming control device from a backup circuit when a power failure occurs in the gaming machine,
The game control device starts a monitoring timer based on a detection signal of a sensor used for abnormality monitoring, determines that an abnormality occurs when the monitoring timer expires while the detection signal is in an abnormal state, and indicates a flag indicating the abnormality Is set in the error monitoring information,
When the power failure occurs, the flag indicating the abnormality is set in the abnormality monitoring information included in the RAM data to be backed up until the progress of the game after the recovery from the power failure is started,
A gaming machine characterized by performing abnormality monitoring based on a detection signal of a sensor used for abnormality monitoring before the progress of the game after recovery from the power failure is started. A discharge device provided with a mechanism for discharging the game ball guided from the storage tank side to the player side;
A discharge control device for controlling the discharge of the game ball of the discharge device based on control information output from the game control device;
With
If the game control device determines that an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring before the progress of the game after returning from a power failure is started, it outputs fraud flag information among the abnormality monitoring information to the discharge control device,
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the discharge control device stops discharging the game balls of the discharge device based on fraud flag information from the game control device. The game control device performs abnormality monitoring by a monitoring timer based on a detection signal of a sensor used for abnormality monitoring until the progress of the game after recovery from a power failure is started, and the monitoring timer remains in a normal state. Is determined to be normal when time is up, clears the flag indicating the abnormality, and outputs normal flag information out of the abnormality monitoring information to the discharge control device,
The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the discharge control device resumes discharging the game ball of the discharge device based on normal flag information from the game control device.

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