JP4250756B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

【００１８】
電源装置１００には、パチンコ機１０に組付けられた各電装装置に所定の電位の電力を供給する電圧変圧部１０６、電源遮断を検出する停電検出部１０４並びに電源スイッチ１０８及び初期化スイッチ１０２等の各種スイッチ類が設けられる。
電圧変圧部１０６は、図３に示すように、メイン制御部２００、賞球制御部３００、音制御部４００、表示制御部５００に所定の電位の電力を供給する一方、各種電装装置（入賞球センサ５０、始動口センサ３２、図柄表示器２２、ソレノイド３５、賞球装置４０、スピーカ４８等）に所定の電位の電力を供給する。すなわち、電圧変圧部１０６は、ホールの交流電源からの交流入力を整流回路により整流・平滑し、この整流・平滑化した直流電源を、レギュレータにより各電装装置に適した電圧に変換して供給する。なお、図３には、メイン制御部２００及び賞球制御部３００以外の装置への電力供給線はその図示を省略している。
停電検出部１０６は、ホールの交流電源からの交流入力を継続的に監視し、その波形が所定周期だけ欠落した状態が続いた場合に電源が遮断されたと判断し、メイン制御部２００、賞球制御部３００に停電信号を出力する。また、電源スイッチ１０８は、ホールの交流電源からの交流入力のＯＮ／ＯＦＦを操作するためのスイッチであり、図２に示すようにパチンコ機の裏面に設けられている。
なお、電圧変圧部１０６、停電検出部１０４、電源スイッチ１０８の構成等は、従来公知のパチンコ機と同様であれば良く、本発明を特に特徴付けるものでもないので、その詳細な説明については省略する。
【００１９】
初期化スイッチ１０２は、停電復帰後の営業開始時等にホール店員によって操作されるスイッチで、上述したメイン制御部２００、賞球制御部３００の処理を初期化するために操作される。この初期化スイッチ１０２は、図２に示すようにパチンコ機の裏面（詳しくは、電源装置１００の基板上１２０）に設けられている。この初期化スイッチ１０２を、図４を参照して詳しく説明する。
初期化スイッチ１０２は、押圧されることにより接点を閉じる形式のいわゆるリードスイッチである。具体的には、図４（ｂ）に示すように、電源装置１００の基板１２０上に配設されたプッシュ型のスイッチである。この初期化スイッチ１０２は、弾力性を有するプラスチック材料で形成されたケーシング１１０内に収容されている。ケーシング１１０には、図４（ａ）に示すように、初期化スイッチ１０２と対向する位置に押圧部１１４が設けられ、この押圧部１１４の周囲３方向には切り抜き１１２が設けられている。押圧部１１４の内側の面（初期化スイッチ１０２に対向する部分）には、初期化スイッチ１０２側に突出する接触部１１６が形成されている。
かかる構成の初期化スイッチ１０２をＯＮ状態とするには、ホール店員等が押圧部１１４を基板１２０側に押圧する。押圧部１１４が基板１２０側に押圧され図４（ｃ）に示すように変形すると、接触部１１６が初期化スイッチ１０２を押し、初期化スイッチ１０２がＯＮ状態となる。初期化スイッチ１０２をＯＦＦ状態とするためには、押圧部１１４の押圧を解除する。これにより、接触部１１６がその弾性によって初期化スイッチ１０２から離れ、初期化スイッチ１０２の接点が開きＯＦＦ状態となる（図４（ｂ）の状態）。
なお、押圧部１１４は、図４（ｂ）に示すように、ケーシング１１０の表面から突出することなくツライチとされることで、誤って押圧部１１４が押されてしまうことを防止する。
【００２０】
上述したように構成される初期化スイッチ１０２と、この初期化スイッチ１０２に接続された各制御部（本実施の形態では、メイン制御部２００、賞球制御部３００）との関係を、図５を用いて説明する。
図５に示すように、初期化スイッチ１０２の出力信号は、２つのバッファＩＣ（図中Ａ、Ｂで示す）を介して各制御部に入力される。図５に示す回路図から明らかなように、初期化スイッチ１０２がＯＦＦ状態では、初期化スイッチ１０２の出力信号はHighレベルの信号となり、２つのバッファＩＣを介して制御部にHighレベルの信号が入力する。一方、初期化スイッチ１０２がＯＮ状態では、初期化スイッチ１０２の出力信号はLowレベルの信号となり、２つのバッファＩＣを介して制御部にLowレベルの信号が入力する。
したがって、メイン制御部２００の乱数プログラムを初期化させようとする者は、初期化スイッチ１０２とメイン制御部２００との間に不正基板を介装し、不正基板からメイン制御部２００に初期化信号を出力することとなる。
【００２１】
次に、上述のように構成されるパチンコ機１０の電源遮断時の作用及び初期化スイッチ操作時（初期化信号入力時）の作用について説明する。まず、電源遮断時の作用について説明する。
本実施の形態のパチンコ機１０では、パチンコ機１０への電力供給が遮断されると、停電検出部１０４は、まず電源遮断が本当に発生したかどうか（瞬間的な停電かそうでないか）を判断する。電源遮断が発生していると判断した場合（所定時間の間、交流入力が無い場合）には、メイン制御部２００（同時に、賞球制御部３００）に停電信号を出力する。メイン制御部２００は、この停電信号を受信すると、ＣＰＵ２０２により停電処理を開始する。すなわち、ＲＡＭ２０２ｂへのアクセスを禁止することによって、その時点でＲＡＭ２０２ｂに記憶されている記憶内容（例えば、確率変動情報等）を保持する。同様に、賞球制御部３００においても、ＣＰＵ３０２によりＲＡＭ３０２ｂへのアクセスが禁止され、ＲＡＭ３０２ｂに記憶された記憶内容（例えば、球払い出し情報等）が保持される。
【００２２】
次に、初期化スイッチ操作時におけるパチンコ機１０の作用について説明する。本実施の形態に係るパチンコ機１０では、上述したことから明らかなように、メイン制御部２００及び賞球制御部３００に設けられたＲＡＭ２０２ｂ、３０２ｂには電源遮断時の記憶内容がそのまま保持される。これらＲＡＭ２０２ｂ、３０２ｂに記憶されている記憶内容は、電源遮断時に遊技を行っている遊技者が電源復帰後も同じパチンコ機で遊技を行う場合には保持される必要があるが、電源遮断時に遊技を行っている遊技者が電源遮断中に帰った場合には、記憶内容を保持することは好ましくない。例えば、メイン制御部１００のＲＡＭ２０２ｂに記憶されている確率変動情報が保持されたまま営業が開始されると、そのパチンコ機は最初から確率変動状態で遊技を再開することとなり、ホールに配置された他のパチンコ機で遊技を行う遊技者との間で不公平が生じ、かつ、ホール側の不利益ともなる。また、賞球制御部３００のＲＡＭ３０２ｂに記憶されている球払い出し情報が記憶されたまま営業が開始されると、営業開始時に人が座っていないにもかかわらず賞球が払い出されることとなるため、ホール店員が払い出されたパチンコ球を回収する等の手間が生じる。そこで、本実施例のパチンコ機１０では、初期化スイッチ１０２を操作することで、ＲＡＭ２０２ｂ、３０２ｂの記憶内容をクリアすることが可能となっている。
【００２３】
以下、初期化信号が入力したときのメイン制御部２００、音制御部４００の処理について、図６を参照して説明する。
まず、図６（ａ）に示すフローチャートを参照してメイン制御部２００の初期化信号入力時の処理を説明する。初期化信号が入力すると、メイン制御部２００は、まずＣＰＵ２０２の初期化を行う（Ｓ１０）。この際に、ＣＰＵ２０２で実行されている乱数プログラムも初期化されることとなる。
次いで、初期化信号が入力した旨を報知するためのコマンド（大当りオープニング音を指示するコマンド）を音制御部４００に出力する（Ｓ１２）。このコマンドを受信した時の音制御部４００における処理は、後で説明する。
ステップＳ１４では、ＲＡＭ２０２ｂに記憶されている記憶内容をクリアする。ステップＳ１４の処理によってＲＡＭ２０２ｂの記憶内容がクリアされると、メイン制御部２００は、図柄表示器２２に所定の画面（デフォルト画面）を表示するためのコマンドを表示制御部５００に出力する（Ｓ１６）。したがって、表示制御部５００は、ステップＳ１８で出力されたコマンドの受信に基づいて図柄表示器２２にデフォルト画面を表示するための処理を行う。
これらの処理が完了すると、ＲＡＭ２０２ｂの記憶内容がクリアされた状態となって、通常の遊技処理であるメイン処理に移行する（Ｓ２２）。この遊技処理に移行すると、上述した乱数プログラムは初期状態から再起動されて乱数を発生させることとなり、また、遊技の進行に応じて図柄表示器２２、スピーカ４８、ランプ類を作動させる。
【００２４】
次に、メイン制御部２００から出力されたコマンドを受信した音制御部５００の処理について、図６（ｂ）を参照して説明する。
図６（ｂ）に示すように、コマンドを受信すると音制御部５００は、まず、受信したコマンドの解析処理を行う（Ｓ２０）。具体的には、受信したコマンドがどの効果音を指示するコマンドであるかを解析する（表１参照）。このコマンド解析処理によって、スピーカ４８から発生させる音の種類（本実施例では大当りオープニング音）が判明するので、次に、解析したコマンドに応じた音声をスピーカ４８から出力させる（Ｓ２２）。
【００２５】
上述したことから明らかなように、本実施例のパチンコ機では、メイン制御部２００に初期化信号が入力すると、スピーカ４８から大当りオープニング音が出力する。したがって、メイン制御部２００に初期化信号を入力する不正が働かれると、大当りでないにもかかわらず大当りオープニング音が頻繁に出力されることとなる。このため、ホール店員等が遊技機に異常（不正）が発生していることを発見することができる。特に、大当りオープニング音は、乱数抽選の結果が当り値の場合に出力される音であってその出現頻度が低いので、ホール店員等は容易に遊技機に異常が発生していることに気付くことができる。
また、上述した遊技機では、メイン制御部２００から音制御部４００にコマンドを出力し、音制御部５００がスピーカ４８を駆動して報知音（大当りオープニング音）を出力する。このため、音制御部４００において、初期化信号が入力した時にメイン制御部２００から出力されるコマンドを無効とする不正をさらに働くことが考えられる。しかしながら、本実施例では、遊技演出で発生される効果音によって報知することとしているため、コマンドを無効にする不正が働かれると正常な遊技状態においてその効果音が出力されないこととなる。したがって、出力されるべき効果音が出力されないということから、パチンコ機の異常に気付くことができる。
さらに、初期化信号が入力したことを報知する報知音が遊技演出として出力される効果音と共通化されているため、メイン制御部から音制御部に送信するコマンドは既存のコマンドを用いることができる。したがって、音制御部は、既存の装置、処理プログラム等をそのまま用いることができる。
【００２６】
なお、上述した実施例では、メイン制御部２００に初期化信号が入力したことをスピーカ４８から報知音（大当りオープニング音）を出力することでホール店員等に報知するようにしたが、本発明はこのような例に限られず、別途パチンコ機に装備されたランプ（発光装置）、図柄表示器２２等を作動させることで報知するようにしても良い。この場合には、大当り時に行われる発光演出又は図柄表示演出を利用することができる。
また、上述した実施例は、本発明の技術をパチンコ機に適用した例であったが、本発明が適用できる遊技機はパチンコ機に限られず、乱数を用いた抽選の結果によって遊技者に有利な遊技状態とする各種遊技機に適用することができる。例えば、スロットマシン等に適用することができる。
【００２７】
以上、本発明の具体例を詳細に説明したが、これらは例示にすぎず、特許請求の範囲を限定するものではない。特許請求の範囲に記載の技術には、以上に例示した具体例を様々に変形、変更したものが含まれる。
また、本明細書または図面に説明した技術要素は、単独であるいは各種の組み合わせによって技術的有用性を発揮するものであり、出願時請求項記載の組み合わせに限定されるものではない。また、本明細書または図面に例示した技術は複数の目的を同時に達成するものであり、そのうちの一つの目的を達成すること自体で技術的有用性を持つものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本発明の一実施例に係るパチンコ機の外観を示す正面図。
【図２】 図１に示すパチンコ機の背面図。
【図３】 図１に示すパチンコ機の電装系の構成を示すブロック図。
【図４】 初期化スイッチの構造を説明するための図面。
【図５】 初期化スイッチと制御部の接続関係を説明するための回路図。
【図６】 制御部における初期化処理のフローチャート。
【図７】 初期値が変更されない乱数発生方式と初期値が変更される乱数発生方式を説明するための図
【符号の説明】
１０・・パチンコ機
４８・・スピーカ
１００・・電源装置
１０２・・初期化スイッチ
１０８・・電源スイッチ
２００・・メイン制御部
３００・・賞球制御部
４００・・音制御部
５００・・表示制御部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a control device that performs a lottery due to the establishment of a lottery condition and places a gaming state advantageous to the player when the lottery result is a win.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine is provided with a control device that controls various electrical devices assembled to the gaming machine, and the control device performs lottery due to the establishment of a predetermined lottery condition. When the result is successful, the various electrical devices are controlled so that a gaming state advantageous to the player is achieved. As a lottery method performed by this control device, a lottery by random numbers is generally performed.
That is, the control device generates a random number that is updated every predetermined time and circulates within a preset numerical range. Then, a random number generated when the lottery condition is satisfied is acquired, and a gaming state advantageous to the player is determined depending on whether or not the acquired random number is a winning value (a numerical value appropriately determined within a set numerical range). Decide whether or not to do. For specific explanation, it is assumed that the random number is updated every 4 ms and programmed to circulate within a numerical range of 0 to 249. When the control device starts the random number program, it is generated while updating the random number every 4 ms in order from the initial value (usually set to 0). When the random number reaches 249, it returns to 0 again, and the random number is returned as before. Update. When the lottery condition is satisfied, the random number generated at that time is acquired, and when the random number is a winning value (for example, 7), a gaming state advantageous for the player (for example, a specific winning device is released) State).
[0003]
In such a lottery method using random numbers, the random value hit value is usually a constant value. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7A, a program (for example, 0 to 249 is updated in order from 0 to 249 so that the random number generated by the control device always returns to a constant initial value, and 0 to 249 are circulated after the next period. If the random number becomes the initial value, the time (t1, t2) from when the random number becomes the initial value until the hit value is generated is always a constant time. Therefore, there is a case where a fraudulent act (a so-called act of hitting a random number using a sensation device (metronome) or the like) is performed using this. Based on this situation, an initial value change type random number system has been developed in which the initial value of the random number generated by the control device is changed at predetermined intervals.
Also in the case of the initial value changing random number method, the random number is updated every predetermined time and circulates within a preset numerical value range, as in the example shown in FIG. However, in the case of the initial value change type random number method, when the random number circulates within a set numerical value range for a predetermined period (for example, one period), it is programmed to change the initial value to start the next update. . For the sake of specific explanation, as in the above-described example, the random number is updated and circulated within the numerical range of 0 to 249 every 4 ms, and the initial value is changed every cycle (one cycle). . As shown in FIG. 7B, in the case of the initial value change type random number method, the first cycle circulates the random number from 0 to 249, and the next cycle changes the initial value (for example, 0 to 150). Will circulate through 150-249, 0-149. Therefore, according to the initial value change type random number system, the time from when the random number becomes the initial value until the hit value is generated changes with the change of the initial value (in the example of FIG. t2) It is possible to prevent fraud as described above.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are cases in which fraud cannot be prevented even with the initial value changing random number method.
That is, even in the initial value change type random number method, the initial value is a fixed value (usually 0) in the process of the first cycle when the control device starts the random number program. For this reason, if the random number program is forcibly initialized and the program is restarted, the initial value at the time of restart is always a fixed value. That is, the time for which the random number becomes the winning value after the signal for initializing the random number program is input to the control device is always a fixed time. Therefore, even if it is the initial value change type random number system, by forcibly restarting the random number program executed in the control device, it is possible to know the timing when the random number becomes the winning value, and thus acts illegally Is possible.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can prevent damage caused by fraud by facilitating discovery of fraud.
[0006]
[Means, actions and effects for solving the problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the gaming machine according to claim 1 includes an effect device that performs a game effect and a control device that controls the effect device, and the control device causes the effect device to play a game effect as the game progresses. A random number obtained by the control device that obtains a random number due to the establishment of the lottery condition and makes the gaming state advantageous to the player when the obtained random number is a winning value. Is updated in order from the initial value every predetermined time and circulates within a preset numerical range, and the initial value is programmed to be updated and changed every predetermined period. When an initialization signal for initializing the random number program is input, the program is programmed to cause the effect device to perform one game effect among the game effects performed in accordance with the progress of the game.
Here, the “initialization signal” may be any signal as long as it initializes and restarts the random number program. For example, a power failure signal (signal for starting power failure processing), a clear signal (power failure signal) A signal for clearing information stored in the storage device sometimes) corresponds to the initialization signal.
In the gaming machine, when the initialization signal is input to the control device, the effect device performs a predetermined game effect. Therefore, it becomes possible for a hall clerk or the like to discover that the initialization signal has been input to the control device by a game effect performed by the effect device, and to prevent damage due to fraud. In addition, since the notification that the initialization signal is input is shared with one of the game effects performed in the effect device according to the progress of the game, there is no need to provide a new device for notification, Man-hours for program development for notification can be reduced.
[0007]
In the above gaming machine, it is preferable that the game effect performed when the initialization signal is input to the control device is a game effect with a low appearance frequency. According to such a configuration, since it is notified that the initialization signal has been input by a game effect with a low appearance frequency, it is possible to facilitate the discovery of fraud by hall clerk and the like. Here, the “game effect with low appearance frequency” refers to a game effect that does not appear in normal game progress and is performed when a special condition is established. For example, it corresponds to a game effect performed when the random number acquired by the control device is a winning value. In addition, when there are a plurality of game effects to be performed when the winning value is obtained, one game effect may be selected from these game effects.
[0008]
The above-described control device includes a main control unit that performs random number acquisition processing, command output processing for instructing a game effect, and a sub-control unit that controls the effect device based on the output command. There is a case. In such a case, the program of the sub control unit is modified so as to invalidate the notification command output from the main control unit (command output to the sub control unit to perform a game effect when an initialization signal is input). It is possible to make it impossible to detect fraudulent activity.
However, according to the above gaming machine, it is possible to detect an illegal act even in such a case. That is, in the above configuration, when an initialization signal is input to the main control unit, a command is output from the main control unit to the sub-control unit so as to perform a predetermined game effect, and the sub-control unit generates a predetermined game effect by this command. Let the staging device do it. Therefore, when the command (command for fraud notification) output from the main control unit to the sub-control unit is invalidated, the game effect that should be performed in the normal gaming state is not performed. Therefore, since the gaming effect that should be performed is not performed, an abnormality (injustice) of the gaming machine can be found.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Each gaming machine described above can be suitably implemented in the form described below.
(Embodiment 1) The above gaming machine is equipped with an image display device that displays an image according to the progress of the game, a sound output device that outputs sound, and a lamp device that emits light as the effect device. When the initialization signal is input to the control device, at least one of these effect devices performs a predetermined game effect.
[0010]
【Example】
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of the pachinko machine, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the initialization switch, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the initialization switch, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the process when the initialization signal is input in the main control unit. It is a flowchart of the process in the sound control part when the flowchart and the command output from the main control part are received.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, on the game board surface 12 of the pachinko machine 10, a symbol display device 14, a first type starting port 30, a special winning opening 34, and the like are appropriately arranged.
The first type start port 30 has a start port sensor (not shown), and detects a pachinko ball that has won the first type start port 30 by the start port sensor. The special winning opening 34 has an open / close lid 36, and the open / close lid 36 is opened and closed by a solenoid (not shown) under specific conditions. The period during which the open / close lid 36 is opened ends, for example, when a predetermined number (generally 10) of pachinko balls enter the big prize opening 34 or until 30 seconds have passed since opening. To do.
The symbol display device 14 includes a symbol display 22 that variably displays special symbols. The symbol display 22 displays the variation of the special symbol due to the establishment of a specific condition (for example, the winning of a pachinko ball to the first type starting port 30). The special symbol variably displayed on the symbol display 22 indicates to the player that the special game state (a state where the big prize opening 34 is opened; a state advantageous to the player) is changed according to the display mode at the time of the suspension of the variation. Has a function to recognize.
A pachinko ball that has won a prize opening such as the first type starting opening 30 and the grand prize opening 34 is detected by a winning ball sensor (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board surface 12, and the back side of the game board surface 12 is also the same. Pachinko balls are paid out from a prize ball device (not shown) assembled in the. The operation of the prize ball device is controlled by a prize ball control unit described later.
[0012]
In addition to the game board surface 12 described above, the pachinko machine 10 is provided with lamps (light emitting devices) that emit light according to the gaming state, an upper plate 46 that stores pachinko balls including prize balls and rental balls, and the like. . On the back side of the upper plate 46, a speaker (sound output device) that generates sound effects when a pachinko ball is won at each of the above-described winning holes, sound effects when a special symbol is variably displayed on the symbol display 22, and the like. 48) is equipped. Further, below the upper plate 46, there are provided a lower plate 40 for temporarily storing the pachinko balls stored in the upper plate 46, an ashtray 42 for storing cigarette butts, and the like. . Since the structure of these devices is the same as that of a known pachinko machine, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0013]
Next, the structure of the electrical system of the pachinko machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical system of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes a power supply device 100 and a control device that controls the entire pachinko machine using electric power supplied from the power supply device 100, as in a conventional pachinko machine. (Hereinafter referred to as a main control unit) 200, a prize ball control unit 300 that controls the prize ball device 40 based on control information (command data) transmitted from the main control unit 200, and a control transmitted from the main control unit 200 A sound control unit 400 that performs control to generate sound effects from the speaker 48 based on information (command data), and a display control unit that controls the symbol display 22 based on control information (command data) transmitted from the main control unit 200 500, a winning ball sensor 50, a start port sensor 32, and a solenoid 35 (open lid 3 of the large winning port 34) electrically connected to the main control unit 200. And a driving device) or the like for opening and closing the. The main control unit 200 is connected to the hall computer 600 when installed in the game hall, and outputs business information such as the number of jackpots.
The configuration of the display control unit 500 may be the same as that provided in a conventional pachinko machine, and does not particularly characterize the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0014]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the main control unit 200, the prize ball control unit 300, the sound control unit 400, and the power supply apparatus 100 will be described. The main control unit 200, the prize ball control unit 300, the sound control unit 400, and the power supply device 100 are all provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine.
The main control unit 200 includes a CPU (processor) 202, a storage device such as a ROM 202a and a RAM 202b connected to the CPU 202, an input processing circuit 204, an output processing circuit 208, a communication control circuit 206, and the like. The CPU 202 controls the pachinko machine 10 according to a control program stored in the ROM 202a. For example, when a winning detection signal is received from the start port sensor 32, a random number is acquired, and a command is output to the display control unit 500 so as to variably display a special symbol based on the acquired random number. Specifically, if the acquired random number is a winning value, a command is output to the display control unit 500 so as to stop the special symbol from being displayed as a big hit, and the opening operation of the special winning opening 34 (ie, the solenoid 35). (Opening / closing control of the opening / closing lid 36). On the other hand, if the acquired random number is not a winning value, a command is output to the display control unit 500 so that the special symbol stops at the display of losing. Note that the random number acquired in the above-described processing is generated by the CPU 202 executing the random number program of the initial value changing random number system already described. The control program stored in the ROM 202a also includes a program for realizing an initialization process (a process when an initialization signal is input), which will be described later.
The RAM 202b indicates that there is a high probability that the winning ball information transmitted from the winning ball sensor 50, the starting port information transmitted from the starting port sensor 32, and the special symbol displayed on the symbol display 22 will be a “hit”. Various data such as probability variation information is stored. In the RAM 202b, the electric charge stored during energization in the capacitor provided in the power supply line connecting the power supply apparatus 100 and the main control unit 200 flows when the energization is interrupted (at the time of power failure). . As a result, the stored contents stored in the RAM 202b are held even while the power is turned off. In addition to the above-described method, the stored content stored in the RAM 202b can also be stored by using a nonvolatile flash memory for the RAM 202b as a method for storing the stored content in the RAM 202b when the power is shut off. . The input processing circuit 204 is a circuit that processes signals transmitted from the winning ball sensor 50, the start port sensor 32, the initialization switch 102, the power failure detection unit 106, and the like so that the CPU 202 can handle them. The output processing circuit 208 is a circuit that outputs a drive signal to the solenoid 35, and the communication control circuit 206 transmits command data to the prize ball control unit 300, the sound control unit 400, and the display control unit 500, and a game hall After the installation, a circuit for outputting sales information such as the number of jackpots to the hall computer 600 and a notification signal for notifying that the initialization signal has been input to the main control unit 200.
[0015]
In response to the command data (ball payout information) transmitted from the main control unit 200, the prize ball control unit 300 performs a prize ball payout process for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls from the prize ball device 40. As with the main control unit 100, the prize ball control unit 300 includes a CPU 302, a ROM 302a, a RAM 302b, a communication control circuit 303, an input processing circuit 304, an output processing circuit 306, and the like.
The CPU 302 performs prize ball payout control and the like of the prize ball device 40 according to a control program stored in the ROM 302a. The control program stored in the ROM 302a includes a program for initializing the storage contents of the RAM 302b.
The RAM 302b stores various data such as ball payout information and input / output signals. Similar to the RAM 202b of the main control unit 100, the RAM 302b also uses the charge stored in the capacitor during energization so that the contents stored in the RAM 302b are retained even while the power is shut off. . Note that the storage contents of the RAM 302b may be retained using a non-volatile flash memory, as in the case of the main control unit 100.
The communication control circuit 303 is a circuit for receiving data transmitted from the main control unit 200, and the input processing circuit 304 is a circuit for receiving signals output from the initialization switch 102 and the power failure detection unit 104. Further, the output processing circuit 306 receives the data sent from the CPU 302 and performs prize ball payout control (drive control of the prize ball motor (typically, a stepping motor)) for the prize ball device 40. This is a circuit that outputs a drive signal for the purpose.
[0016]
The sound control unit 400 receives the command data transmitted from the main control unit 200 and performs a process of generating a sound effect (game effect) corresponding to the command data from the speaker 48. Similarly to the main control unit 200 and the prize ball control unit 300 described above, the sound control unit 400 is also configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.
Here, the command data transmitted from the main control unit 200 to the sound control unit 400 is provided with a plurality of types of command data as shown in Table 1. That is, the main control unit 200 transmits various command data to the sound control unit 400 according to the progress of the game, and the sound control unit 400 outputs a sound effect corresponding to the transmitted command data from the speaker 48.
As is apparent from Table 1, when an initialization signal is input to the main control unit 200, the main control unit 200 transmits command data for instructing a big hit opening sound to the sound control unit 400. Therefore, when an initialization signal (whether or not an unauthorized means is used) is input to the main control unit 200, a sound generated when the special gaming state is started is output from the speaker 48.
[0017]
[Table 1]

[0018]
The power supply device 100 includes a voltage transformer 106 that supplies electric power of a predetermined potential to each electrical device assembled in the pachinko machine 10, a power failure detection unit 104 that detects power interruption, a power switch 108, an initialization switch 102, and the like. Various switches are provided.
As shown in FIG. 3, the voltage transformer 106 supplies power of a predetermined potential to the main controller 200, prize ball controller 300, sound controller 400, and display controller 500, while various electrical devices (winning balls) The sensor 50, the start port sensor 32, the symbol display 22, the solenoid 35, the prize ball device 40, the speaker 48, etc.) are supplied with electric power of a predetermined potential. That is, the voltage transformer 106 rectifies and smoothes the AC input from the AC power supply of the hall by a rectifier circuit, converts the rectified and smoothed DC power supply to a voltage suitable for each electrical device by a regulator, and supplies the converted voltage. . In FIG. 3, the illustration of power supply lines to devices other than the main control unit 200 and the prize ball control unit 300 is omitted.
The power failure detection unit 106 continuously monitors the AC input from the AC power source of the hall, and determines that the power source has been shut off when the waveform continues to be missing for a predetermined period. A power failure signal is output to the control unit 300. Moreover, the power switch 108 is a switch for operating ON / OFF of AC input from the AC power supply of the hall, and is provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine as shown in FIG.
The configuration of the voltage transformer 106, the power failure detection unit 104, and the power switch 108 may be the same as that of a conventionally known pachinko machine and does not particularly characterize the present invention. .
[0019]
The initialization switch 102 is a switch operated by a hall clerk at the start of business after a power failure recovery, and is operated to initialize the processing of the main control unit 200 and the prize ball control unit 300 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the initialization switch 102 is provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine (specifically, on the substrate 120 of the power supply device 100). The initialization switch 102 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
The initialization switch 102 is a so-called reed switch that closes the contact when pressed. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the push-type switch is disposed on the substrate 120 of the power supply device 100. The initialization switch 102 is accommodated in a casing 110 formed of a plastic material having elasticity. As shown in FIG. 4A, the casing 110 is provided with a pressing portion 114 at a position facing the initialization switch 102, and a cutout 112 is provided in three directions around the pressing portion 114. A contact portion 116 that protrudes toward the initialization switch 102 is formed on the inner surface of the pressing portion 114 (a portion facing the initialization switch 102).
In order to turn on the initialization switch 102 having such a configuration, a hall clerk or the like presses the pressing portion 114 toward the substrate 120 side. When the pressing portion 114 is pressed toward the substrate 120 and deformed as shown in FIG. 4C, the contact portion 116 presses the initialization switch 102, and the initialization switch 102 is turned on. In order to set the initialization switch 102 to the OFF state, the pressing of the pressing portion 114 is released. As a result, the contact portion 116 is separated from the initialization switch 102 due to its elasticity, and the contact of the initialization switch 102 is opened to enter an OFF state (the state shown in FIG. 4B).
In addition, as shown in FIG.4 (b), the press part 114 is made into a pitch without protruding from the surface of the casing 110, and it prevents that the press part 114 is accidentally pressed.
[0020]
The relationship between the initialization switch 102 configured as described above and each control unit (in this embodiment, the main control unit 200 and the prize ball control unit 300) connected to the initialization switch 102 is shown in FIG. Will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the output signal of the initialization switch 102 is input to each control unit via two buffer ICs (indicated by A and B in the figure). As is clear from the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5, when the initialization switch 102 is in the OFF state, the output signal of the initialization switch 102 becomes a high level signal, and a high level signal is sent to the control unit via the two buffer ICs. input. On the other hand, when the initialization switch 102 is in the ON state, the output signal of the initialization switch 102 is a low level signal, and the low level signal is input to the control unit via the two buffer ICs.
Therefore, a person who wants to initialize the random number program of the main control unit 200 inserts an unauthorized board between the initialization switch 102 and the main control part 200, and an initialization signal is sent from the unauthorized board to the main control unit 200. Will be output.
[0021]
Next, the operation when the power is shut off and the operation when the initialization switch is operated (when the initialization signal is input) of the pachinko machine 10 configured as described above will be described. First, the operation when the power is shut off will be described.
In the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, when the power supply to the pachinko machine 10 is interrupted, the power failure detection unit 104 first determines whether or not a power interruption has actually occurred (whether it is an instantaneous power failure). To do. When it is determined that the power is shut off (when there is no AC input for a predetermined time), a power failure signal is output to the main controller 200 (at the same time, the prize ball controller 300). When the main control unit 200 receives this power failure signal, the CPU 202 starts power failure processing. That is, by prohibiting access to the RAM 202b, the storage contents (eg, probability variation information) stored in the RAM 202b at that time are held. Similarly, in the prize ball control unit 300, the CPU 302 prohibits access to the RAM 302b, and the storage contents (for example, ball payout information) stored in the RAM 302b are held.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 when the initialization switch is operated will be described. In the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, as is apparent from the above description, the RAM 202b and 302b provided in the main control unit 200 and the prize ball control unit 300 retain the stored contents when the power is shut off. . The stored contents stored in these RAMs 202b and 302b need to be retained when the player who is playing the game at the time of power-off plays the same pachinko machine after the power is restored. If the player who is playing returns while the power is shut off, it is not preferable to retain the stored contents. For example, if the business is started while the probability variation information stored in the RAM 202b of the main control unit 100 is retained, the pachinko machine will restart the game in the probability variation state from the beginning, and is placed in the hall. Unfairness occurs with players who play with other pachinko machines, and it is also a disadvantage on the hall side. Further, if the business is started with the ball payout information stored in the RAM 302b of the prize ball control unit 300 being stored, the prize ball will be paid out even though no person is sitting at the start of the business. , Troubles such as collecting the pachinko balls paid out by the hall clerk occur. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, the stored contents of the RAMs 202b and 302b can be cleared by operating the initialization switch 102.
[0023]
Hereinafter, processing of the main control unit 200 and the sound control unit 400 when the initialization signal is input will be described with reference to FIG.
First, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6A, processing when the initialization signal is input to the main control unit 200 will be described. When the initialization signal is input, the main control unit 200 first initializes the CPU 202 (S10). At this time, the random number program executed by the CPU 202 is also initialized.
Next, a command for notifying that the initialization signal has been input (command for instructing a big hit opening sound) is output to the sound control unit 400 (S12). Processing in the sound control unit 400 when this command is received will be described later.
In step S14, the stored contents stored in the RAM 202b are cleared. When the stored content of the RAM 202b is cleared by the process of step S14, the main control unit 200 outputs a command for displaying a predetermined screen (default screen) on the symbol display 22 to the display control unit 500 (S16). . Therefore, the display control unit 500 performs a process for displaying the default screen on the symbol display 22 based on the reception of the command output in step S18.
When these processes are completed, the contents stored in the RAM 202b are cleared, and the process proceeds to a main process that is a normal game process (S22). When the game process is started, the random number program described above is restarted from the initial state to generate a random number, and the symbol display 22, speaker 48, and lamps are operated in accordance with the progress of the game.
[0024]
Next, the processing of the sound control unit 500 that has received the command output from the main control unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6B, when receiving a command, the sound control unit 500 first analyzes the received command (S20). Specifically, it analyzes which sound effect the received command indicates (see Table 1). Since this command analysis process reveals the type of sound generated from the speaker 48 (in this embodiment, the big hit opening sound), the sound corresponding to the analyzed command is output from the speaker 48 (S22).
[0025]
As is clear from the above, in the pachinko machine of this embodiment, when the initialization signal is input to the main control unit 200, a big hit opening sound is output from the speaker 48. Therefore, if the injustification of inputting the initialization signal to the main control unit 200 is activated, the big hit opening sound is frequently output even though the big hit is not. For this reason, a hall clerk or the like can discover that an abnormality (injustice) has occurred in the gaming machine. In particular, the jackpot opening sound is a sound that is output when the random lottery result is a winning value, and its appearance frequency is low, so that hall clerk and others are easily aware that an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine Can do.
In the gaming machine described above, the main control unit 200 outputs a command to the sound control unit 400, and the sound control unit 500 drives the speaker 48 to output a notification sound (big hit opening sound). For this reason, in the sound control unit 400, it is conceivable that a fraud that invalidates a command output from the main control unit 200 when an initialization signal is input is further considered. However, in the present embodiment, since the notification is made by the sound effect generated in the game effect, the sound effect will not be output in a normal gaming state when a fraud that invalidates the command is activated. Therefore, since the sound effect to be output is not output, it is possible to notice an abnormality of the pachinko machine.
Furthermore, since the notification sound for notifying that the initialization signal has been input is shared with the sound effect output as the game effect, the command transmitted from the main control unit to the sound control unit may use an existing command. it can. Therefore, the sound control unit can use an existing device, a processing program, or the like as it is.
[0026]
In the above-described embodiment, the hall clerk or the like is notified by outputting a notification sound (big hit opening sound) from the speaker 48 that the initialization signal has been input to the main control unit 200. It is not restricted to such an example, You may make it alert | report by operating the lamp | ramp (light-emitting device), the symbol display 22, etc. which were equipped with the pachinko machine separately. In this case, it is possible to use a light emission effect or a symbol display effect performed at the time of a big hit.
The above-described embodiments are examples in which the technology of the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine. However, game machines to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to pachinko machines, and are advantageous to the player depending on the result of a lottery using random numbers. The present invention can be applied to various gaming machines that have different gaming states. For example, it can be applied to a slot machine or the like.
[0027]
Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
In addition, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electrical system of the pachinko machine shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of an initialization switch.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for explaining a connection relationship between an initialization switch and a control unit;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of initialization processing in a control unit.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a random number generation method in which the initial value is not changed and a random number generation method in which the initial value is changed.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Pachinko machine
48 ・ ・ Speaker
100 ... Power supply
102 .. Initialization switch
108 .. Power switch
200 .. Main control part
300 ... Prize ball control unit
400 ・ ・ Sound controller
500 ... Display control unit

Claims (4)

An effect device that performs a game effect and a control device that controls the effect device are provided. The control device causes the effect device to perform a game effect according to the progress of the game, and obtains a random number due to establishment of a lottery condition. And a gaming machine having a gaming state advantageous to the player when the acquired random number is a winning value,
The random number acquired by the control device is programmed so that it is updated every predetermined time in order from the initial value and circulates within a preset numerical range, and the initial value is updated and changed every predetermined period. And
The control device is programmed to cause the effect device to perform one game effect of the game effects performed in accordance with the progress of the game when an initialization signal for initializing the random number program is input. A featured gaming machine. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a game effect performed when an initialization signal is input to the control device is a game effect with a low appearance frequency. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the game effect having a low appearance frequency is one of game effects performed when the random number acquired by the control device is a winning value. The control device is composed of a main control unit that performs random number acquisition processing, command output processing for instructing a game effect, and a sub-control unit that controls the effect device based on the output command. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

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