JP4510904B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball game machine, and a revolving game machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine that realizes a smooth symbol variation operation.

  A gaming machine is generally composed of a plurality of circuit boards separated by function, and the plurality of circuit boards operate synchronously based on control commands, thereby realizing a complex gaming operation as a whole. Such a gaming machine is generally composed of a main control board that outputs a control command and a plurality of sub-control boards that operate based on the control command from the main control board.

Each sub-control board is equipped with, for example, a computer circuit that realizes lamp effects, sound effects, and symbol effects. Display patterns such as a liquid crystal display are synchronized with the blinking operation of the illumination lamp and effect music. The player's interest is intrigued by appropriately fluctuating operation (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2574057

  However, in the circuit described in Patent Document 1, the game CPU and the display CPU are connected via the I / O port, and the processing of data transmission / reception is complicated, so that a series of symbol effects are complicated and sophisticated. Can not do it. A player expects a more interesting effect on the gaming machine, and in order to appropriately respond to such a demand, it is necessary to employ a circuit configuration that smoothly realizes a complex and advanced symbol effect.

  In addition, when trying to display a vivid design by improving the resolution of the display device, the amount of data handled per unit time increases accordingly, so a configuration that can process such enormous data without problems is provided. Necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of smoothly realizing complex and sophisticated symbol effects even when the resolution of the symbol display device is increased. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 outputs a control command and operates based on the control command output from the main control unit that mainly controls the game operation. In a gaming machine configured with a plurality of sub-control units, one or more sprites are drawn on the display device in the plurality of sub-control units based on a control command received from another control unit. A symbol control unit for a gaming machine that realizes a symbol effect operation, and the symbol control unit writes a first circuit for determining a display mode of each sprite based on the control command and the first circuit. the, on the basis of operating parameters specifying the display mode, it is configured to include a second circuit for implementing a drawing operation of the display device, wherein the second circuit, the operation para by said first circuit Chromatography with data is written, and the two instruction data table said operating parameter is read by the second circuit, for one screen drawing data of said display device, and the writing process and the reading process is cyclically switched Two frame buffers to be executed , and the second circuit finishes generating drawing data for one screen of the display device based on the operation parameter stored in the one instruction data table. And the first circuit starts the operation parameter writing process for the one instruction data table based on the drawing completion signal received from the second circuit, while the second circuit stores the other instruction data table in the other instruction data table . When drawing data for one screen of the display device is generated based on the stored operation parameters, The first circuit, based on the drawing completion signal received from the second circuit, and starts the write processing of the operating parameters for the other instruction data table.
The first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the fourth embodiment described below are not included in the technical scope of claim 1.

  In each of the above inventions, sprite originally means a group of graphic data for determining a unit such as a character or a decorative character appearing in a design effect, but in this specification, it means the character or the decorative character itself. Sometimes used as a thing. The display mode of each sprite means, for example, the display position, display posture (including inclination), and deformation state of an image such as a character. In addition, the first memory that stores the basic shape of each sprite includes the case where the basic shape is stored as compressed data, but the first memory is typically a non-volatile memory. Further, the present invention is suitably applied to a ball game machine and a revolving game machine.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a gaming machine that smoothly executes a series of complicated and sophisticated symbol effects can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the gaming machine of the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

  The illustrated pachinko machine has a main control board 1 for centrally controlling gaming operations, a lamp control board 2 for driving lamps based on a control command CMD1 received from the main control board 1, and a lamp control board 2 The symbol control board 3 for changing the characters and symbols of the liquid crystal display DISP based on the control command CMD2, the voice control board 4 for driving the speaker SP based on the control command CMD3 received from the lamp control board 2, and the main control Based on the control command CMD4 received from the board 1, the payout control board 5 for driving the payout motor M1 to pay out the game ball, the launch control board 6 for driving the launch motor M2 to launch the game ball, The power supply board 7 that supplies a DC voltage is mainly configured.

  The main control board 1, the lamp control board 2, the symbol control board 3, the voice control board 4, and the payout control board 5 are each composed of a computer circuit having a CPU (specifically, a one-chip microcomputer). The lamp control board 2 and the payout control board 5 perform a lamp effect and a game ball payout operation based on the control commands CMD1 and CMD4 transmitted from the main control board 1, respectively. On the other hand, the symbol control board 3 and the voice control board 4 execute a symbol effect and a voice effect based on the control commands CMD2 and CMD3 transmitted from the lamp control board 2, respectively.

  Here, the control commands CMD2 and CMD3 given from the lamp control board 2 to the symbol control board 3 and the voice control board 4 include a variation pattern number command for specifically specifying the effect contents. By operating 3 and 4 with the variation pattern number given from the lamp control board 2, the lamp effect, the symbol effect, and the sound effect are all executed in synchronization.

  By the way, the lamp control board 2 generates another control command through a case where the control command CMD1 received from the main control board 1 is transferred as it is, and a lottery process based on the control command CMD1 received from the main control board 1. May be transmitted. The latter control command generated by the lamp control board 2 specifically specifies the contents of the symbol effect and the sound effect, and the effect contents are precisely synchronized with the lamp effect as described above. It has become.

  On the other hand, in the former control command transferred from the lamp control board 2 to the design control board 3 as it is, a first design designation command for specifying a special design that stops at the left position and a special design that stops at the middle position are specified. A second symbol designation command and a third symbol designation command for specifying a special symbol that stops at the right position are included.

  Here, the special symbol is a symbol that means that if all three symbols are in a big hit state, if the gaming machine is in such a big hit state, it is very easy to pay out a large amount of game balls. It is like that. It is typical to stop the 3rd symbol from the 1st symbol to the left / middle / right, but when the left and right symbols match, a stage action called reach action is started and the player expects While arousing a feeling, the symbol at the central position continues to move further.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the symbol control board 3. The symbol control board 3 of this embodiment is drawn on a one-chip microcomputer 10 that receives a control command CMD2 from the lamp control board 2, a control ROM 11 that stores a control program executed by the one-chip microcomputer 10, and a liquid crystal display DISP. A graphic controller (specifically, a VDP: Video Display Processor) 12 that receives information on sprites received from the one-chip microcomputer 10 and generates a drawing signal, and pattern data of each sprite that can be drawn on the liquid crystal display DISP The CGROM 13 is configured.

  Here, the sprite is a general term for one unit of graphic data that can be arbitrarily moved independently of other images on the liquid crystal display DISP. In this embodiment, decorations “1” to “9” are used. Characters and other performance characters are specified. The background image is also composed of sprites.

  As shown in the figure, the one-chip microcomputer 10 receives a control command CMD2 from the lamp control board 2 at an input port and receives a strobe signal STB from the lamp control board 2 at an interrupt terminal IRQ1. When the strobe signal STB becomes active, the interrupt processing program stored in the control ROM 11 is activated, and the control command CMD2 is acquired by the one-chip microcomputer 10.

  The interrupt terminal IRQ0 of the one-chip microcomputer 10 receives an interrupt signal INT output from the graphic controller 12. In the case of this embodiment, the graphic controller 12 is set to output the interrupt signal INT every time the drawing data (graphic image data) is written into the frame buffer, and the cycle of the interrupt signal INT is It is 1/60 second required to display one frame of the liquid crystal display DISP.

  The frame buffer is a memory area capable of storing drawing data for one frame displayed on the liquid crystal display, and is divided into a first bank and a second bank for storing the drawing data for one frame. The first bank and the second bank function cyclically for writing and reading. For example, when drawing data is written to the first bank, the drawing data stored in the second bank is read. And output to the liquid crystal display DISP (see FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, at the next timing, drawing data is written to the second bank, while drawing data stored in the first bank is read and output. In this embodiment, the output drawing data is analog-converted and output to the liquid crystal display DISP as R, G, B image signals.

  In the interrupt processing program of the one-chip microcomputer 10 activated in response to the interrupt signal INT, necessary operating parameters should be written to the instruction data table TBL and then drawn in order to define the drawing position of each sprite. The position and deformation shape of each sprite are specified.

  This instruction data table TBL functions as a peripheral device (memory) that can be connected to the external bus of the one-chip microcomputer 10, and can be directly accessed by being positioned in the memory map of the one-chip microcomputer 10 (direct mapping). . In addition, although it is possible to perform addressing indirectly via a built-in register of the graphic controller 12 (indirect mapping), the graphic controller 12 does not participate in the writing process anyway. The input process for the one-chip microcomputer 10 is not executed.

  As described above, the graphic controller 12 only refers to the operation parameter of the instruction data table TBL, reads the pattern data of a specific sprite from the CGROM 13, and changes the deformation specified by the operation parameter to the position specified by the operation parameter. In shape, it operates to draw each sprite.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the graphic controller 12 in more detail. As shown in the figure, the graphic controller 12 is used as a CPU interface unit 14 for receiving data from the one-chip microcomputer 10, a pattern memory interface unit 15 for receiving sprite pattern data from the CGROM 13, and an instruction data table TBL. SRAM (Static RAM) 16 a, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) 16 b used as a frame buffer, sprite surface generation unit 17 for generating drawing data, and compressed data expansion unit that functions when compressed data is received from CGROM 13 18, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) 19 that functions as a work area of the compressed data decompression unit 18, DAC 20 that DA converts drawing data, and liquid crystal It is composed of a controller CTL for outputting such sync signal Isupurei DISP.

  As described above, the frame buffer is a memory area that is divided into a first bank and a second bank and stores drawing data. The relationship between the instruction data table TBL and the frame buffer 16b is as shown in FIG. It is. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the first bank and the second bank have the timing of the vertical synchronization signal of the liquid crystal display DISP every 1/60 seconds (= τ) when the liquid crystal display DISP completes the display processing for one frame. Thus, the function is cyclically switched between writing and reading.

  Incidentally, the image data of each sprite is stored in the CGROM 13, but FIG. 5 illustrates a sprite composed of 16 × 16 dots (pixels). Color information is defined for each pixel divided into 16 × 16. In the illustrated example, a dot with a color number of 00H, a dot with a color number of 02H, and a dot with a color number of 01H are appropriately set. In combination, the specific symbol “7” is realized.

  In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, n sprites (# 1 to #n) having a specific symbol are configured, and these sprites (##) that realize a background image (see FIG. 6). m) and displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. The number of pixels of the background image sprite is appropriately set according to the resolution of the liquid crystal display DISP. However, if the number of pixels exceeding the resolution of the liquid crystal display DISP is set, the background image can be moved naturally up, down, left and right. Is possible.

  FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the instruction data table TBL provided in the SRAM 16a and sprites drawn based on the data in the instruction data table TBL. In the instruction data table TBL, an operation parameter writing area of about 16 bytes is provided for each sprite (# 1 to #m), and the display position, the enlargement / reduction ratio, etc. of each sprite are determined by the written operation parameter. It has come to be identified.

  The display position of the sprite is defined by, for example, the coordinate position (DOx, DOy) of the upper left dot of the sprite. When the sprite size is 16 × 16 dots, the sprite is displayed by the operation of the sprite surface generation unit 17. Thus, drawing data within a rectangular range surrounded by the upper left end (DOx, DOy) to the lower right end (DOx + 15, DOy + 15) of the sprite surface is generated.

  As is clear from the above description, if the one-chip microcomputer 10 performs the writing operation of the instruction data table TBL and changes the display position of the sprite #n from (DOx, DOy) to (DOx + A, DOy + B), the liquid crystal display DISP In the above, the sprite #n moves by + A in the X direction and + B in the Y direction.

  However, according to the resolution of the liquid crystal display DISP, what is actually displayed is limited to a rectangular range of the number of horizontal display dots HDW × the number of vertical display lines VDW. Each sprite can be freely moved on the liquid crystal display DISP.

  As described above, the one-chip microcomputer 10 performs various symbol effects including reach effects by rewriting the contents of the instruction data table TBL in response to an interrupt signal INT (drawing interrupt) every 1/60 seconds. . In the effect operation shown in FIG. 8, if the coordinate position of the upper left corner of the sprite of a specific symbol (such as “1” to “9”) drawn in the center of the sprite surface is increased by a predetermined value in the Y direction, The image in FIG. 8A can be changed from FIG. 8B to FIG. 8C.

  Next, the operations of the one-chip microcomputer 10 and the graphic controller 12 will be described in more detail based on the time chart of FIG. FIG. 9A shows a non-display period (T1 to T2, T5 to T6) which is a blanking period of the liquid crystal display DISP. FIGS. 9B and 9C are diagrams of the graphic controller 12. FIG. The operation contents of the first bank and the second bank of the frame buffer are shown. FIG. 9D shows the processing contents of the interrupt processing program of the one-chip microcomputer 10.

  As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the function of the first bank and the second bank is switched at the timing of T1 or T5 every time the display of the image for one frame is completed (bank switching). . Then, in accordance with the bank switching timing (T1, T5), the operation parameter stored in the instruction data table TBL is read, and the drawing data is generated according to the operation parameter and written to the corresponding bank ( T1-T3). When this writing process is completed (T3), the graphic controller 12 outputs an interrupt signal INT.

  As described above, the interrupt signal INT means a drawing interrupt for the one-chip microcomputer 10, and the one-chip microcomputer 10 writes necessary data in the instruction data table TBL in the interrupt processing program. (T3-T4). Since this writing process needs to be completed before the next bank switching timing, in that sense, there are limitations on the operation parameters that can be written to the instruction data table TBL.

  Next, the operation content of the one-chip microcomputer 10 on the symbol control board 3 will be described in a confirming manner with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation of the one-chip microcomputer 10 is activated due to a command reception interrupt routine (FIG. 10B) activated due to the strobe signal STB from the lamp control board 2 and an interrupt signal INT from the graphic controller 12. A drawing interrupt routine (FIG. 10C) and a main routine (FIG. 10A) for substantially executing a series of operations of the symbol control board 3 are configured.

  Since the graphic controller 12 is set to output the interrupt signal INT every time drawing data is written to the first bank or the second bank of the frame buffer, the drawing interrupt routine of the one-chip microcomputer 10 completes drawing. The flag FLG is set to 1 to finish the interrupt process (ST10 in FIG. 10C).

  On the other hand, in the command reception interrupt routine activated due to the strobe signal STB, the control command CMD2 is first acquired from the input port of the one-chip microcomputer 10 (ST20), and the acquired control command CMD2 is received as a reception buffer having a ring buffer structure. (ST21). Then, the ring buffer pointer is cyclically increased to designate the next storage position, and the process is terminated (ST22).

  The control command stored in this way is read in the command analysis process (ST4) of the main routine, and then the pointer value of the ring buffer is returned to the original value. In the case of the present embodiment, the control command received by the symbol control board 3 (specifically, the one-chip microcomputer 10) includes a variation pattern number command that specifically specifies the symbol effect and the left position of the liquid crystal display DISP. Includes a first symbol designating command that identifies a symbol that stops at the center position, a second symbol designating command that identifies a symbol that stops at the center position, and a third symbol designating command that identifies a symbol that stops at the right position. .

  In the case of the present embodiment, the variation pattern of the display symbol is roughly divided into a hit variation pattern that finally ends in the big hit state and a deviant variation pattern that finally ends in the off state. There is a production with reach action such as 8 and a production without. When the main control board 1 or the lamp control board 2 selects a variation pattern with a reach action, the stop symbols specified by the first symbol designation command and the third symbol designation command naturally match. On the other hand, when the main control board 1 or the lamp control board 2 selects the hit variation pattern, all three stop symbols specified by the first symbol designating command to the third symbol designating command match.

  Further, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 11A, the control command for specifying the symbol effect is a ramp pattern number command → first symbol designation command → second symbol designation command → third symbol designation command in this order. A variation stop command is transmitted from the lamp control board 2 to the symbol control board 3 at the timing when all the presentation operations are completed. FIG. 11 is a time chart for explaining the rendering operation when a deviation variation pattern with reach action is selected.

  Explaining the effect operation on the symbol control board 3 shown in FIG. 11B, the symbol control board 3 starts the symbol variation operation of the liquid crystal display DISP at the timing (t1) when the variation pattern number command is received. The left symbol is stopped at timing t2. The left symbol to be stopped here is the symbol already specified by the first symbol designation command, and is the specific symbol “7” in the embodiment of FIG.

  Next, the right symbol is stopped at timing t3. This stop symbol is a symbol already specified by the third symbol designation command, and is the specific symbol “7” in the effect example of FIG. Thereafter, after an appropriate reach action is executed, the central symbol is stopped at timing t4, and the symbol variation operation is completely terminated at timing t5 when a variation stop command is received. The symbol to be stopped at the central position is a symbol that has already been specified by the second symbol designation command, and is a special symbol other than “7” in this example describing the deviation variation pattern.

  Next, the main routine shown in FIG. In the main routine, first, initialization processing is executed for the one-chip microcomputer 10 and others (ST1), and then waiting for the drawing completion flag FLG to become 1 (ST2). In this embodiment, when the one-chip microcomputer 10 receives the interrupt signal INT, the drawing completion flag FLG is set to 1 (FIG. 10C), so that FLG = 1 is set in the process of step ST2. If confirmed, the drawing completion flag FLG is reset to 0 (ST3).

  Thereafter, an analysis process is performed on the control command CMD2 transmitted from the lamp control board 2 and stored in the reception interrupt process (ST4). Specifically, an unprocessed control command is read from a reception buffer having a ring buffer configuration, and processing corresponding to the control command is performed. For example, when one of “variation pattern number”, “first symbol”, “second symbol”, or “third symbol” is specified by the control command, it is stored in an appropriate storage area. . The stored data relating to the “first symbol”, “second symbol”, and “third symbol” are read prior to the respective timings t2, t3, and t4 shown in FIG. 11 and are stopped and displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. In step ST5, necessary data is written in the instruction data table TBL of the graphic controller 12.

  Further, if a new variation pattern number command is received, the necessary preparation operation is performed such as specifying the contents of the effect by this variation pattern number and starting the timing operation of the management timer for managing the effect time. On the other hand, when the symbol variation operation is to be continued, the next image to be drawn on the liquid crystal display DISP is identified according to the progress of the series of symbol effects identified by the variation pattern number, and according to the identified contents The contents of the instruction data table TBL of the graphic controller 12 are rewritten.

  For example, if the state shown in FIG. 8 (b) is moved to the state shown in FIG. 8 (c), a sprite of a group of special symbols (1, 6, 7,...) Arranged at the center position. , The coordinate position of the upper left corner is increased by a predetermined value in the Y direction. Further, the color of the sprite is changed as necessary, and deformation processing such as enlargement / reduction is performed. These processes are realized by writing predetermined operation parameters in an area assigned for each sprite number in the instruction data table TBL. The operation parameters include, for example, the coordinate value of the upper left corner of each sprite, the enlargement / reduction ratio, the presence / absence of symbol rotation, and the like.

  When the rewriting process of the instruction data table TBL is completed as described above, after a necessary signal is output to the external terminal for the inspection engine (ST6), the process returns to the process of step ST2 and waits for the next drawing interrupt to occur. . The graphic controller 12 operates in association with the above-described operation by the one-chip microcomputer 10, and the contents thereof are as shown in FIG.

  That is, the process of step ST5 is executed in the period from T3 to T4 in FIG. 9, and the operation parameter of the instruction data table rewritten during this period is referred to after the timing of T5 when the display operation of one frame ends. Then, the pattern data of the corresponding sprite is read from the CGROM 13, and after undergoing necessary deformation processing according to the contents of the instruction data table TBL, it is arranged at the instructed coordinate position, and the frame buffer (in this example, the first data) 2 banks).

  On the other hand, after timing T6, the drawing data written in the first bank in the period from timing T1 to T3 is read out, converted to analog, and sent as an image signal RGB to the liquid crystal display. Therefore, an image different from the timings T2 to T5 is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. Subsequent operations are the same. The current image is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP as a still image for 1/60 second, and then is changed to another still image by the next interruption process, thereby realizing a variable operation.

  In the first embodiment described above, generation of drawing data is started in the non-display period (vertical blanking period) on the condition that the display operation for one frame of the liquid crystal display is completed (FIG. 9). T1). However, in the case of such an operation, the one-chip microcomputer 10 receives the interrupt signal INT (see T3 in FIG. 9) and before the bank is switched (see T5 in FIG. 9), the instruction data table TBL. It is necessary to finish writing the operation parameters to.

  Therefore, instead of the operation of the first embodiment, the graphic controller 12 may start generating the drawing data on condition that the one-chip microcomputer 10 finishes writing the operation parameters to the instruction data table TBL. . 12 and 13 are a flowchart and a time chart for explaining the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the one-chip microcomputer 10 sets / resets the drawing permission flag of the graphic controller 12, and the graphic controller 12 automatically sets the drawing data when the drawing permission flag is set. Generation is started. That is, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the one-chip microcomputer 10 sets the drawing permission flag when the writing of the operation parameter to the instruction data table TBL is finished (S7 in FIG. 12). The graphic controller 12 starts generating drawing data (see K1 in FIG. 13). The set drawing permission flag is then quickly reset (S2 in FIG. 12).

After that, when the graphic controller 12 finishes writing the drawing data to the corresponding bank (first bank in the illustrated example), an interrupt signal INT is generated as in the first embodiment (FIG. 13). See K2). When a drawing completion interrupt is generated by the interrupt signal INT, the one-chip microcomputer sets the drawing completion flag FLG (see FIG. 12C), so that the determination result in step S3 of FIG. 12 is Yes and the instruction data table TBL operates. Parameters are written (S4 to S6 in FIG. 12).
The first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described above. In any of the embodiments, the operation parameter writing time to the instruction data table TBL by the one-chip microcomputer 10 and the drawing data by the graphic controller 12 are changed. The sum total with the writing time cannot exceed the period of the vertical synchronizing signal of the liquid crystal display DISP (see T1 to T5 in FIG. 9). Therefore, in order to realize a complicated symbol production, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which two instruction data tables TBL are provided when it is desired to take a longer time to write operation parameters to the instruction data table TBL by the one-chip microcomputer 10.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the third embodiment. In the first instruction data table TBL1 and the second instruction data table TBL2, m sprite areas (# 1 to #m) are provided, respectively. . Here, the first instruction data table TBL1 and the second instruction data table TBL2 store operation parameters for the same sprite, and the position and shape of each sprite defined by the first instruction data table TBL1 are as follows. At the next timing, the position and shape are defined by the second instruction data table TBL2.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the third embodiment, the drawing data generation process is started at the bank switching timing (T1, T5) as in the first embodiment. Unlike the case, the first instruction data table TBL1 is referred to and the second instruction data table TBL2 is referred to. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the contents of the first instruction data table TBL1 are referenced after the bank switching timing T1, and the contents of the second instruction data table TBL2 are referenced after the bank switching timing T5. The drawing data generated in the section from T1 to T3 is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP after the timing T6.

  Further, when the operation in the section T1 to T3 is completed, the interrupt signal INT is set to be generated as in the case of the first embodiment. Therefore, the one-chip microcomputer 10 uses the instruction data table TBL in the interrupt processing program. Write the operation parameters to. However, unlike the case of the first embodiment, since two instruction data tables are provided in the third embodiment, the operation parameter writing process started from the timing T3 is performed before the timing T5. It is not necessary to finish the writing process. In the illustrated example, the operation parameter writing process is performed using the time from timing T3 to timing T44.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the operations from timing T3 to T44 are executed beyond timings T5 and T6. However, after timing T5, drawing data is generated based on the contents of the second instruction data table TBL2. There will be no problems. When the graphic controller 12 outputs the interrupt signal INT again when writing of the drawing data to the second bank is completed taking time T5 to T7, the one-chip microcomputer 10 uses the second instruction data table in the interrupt processing program. Drawing data is generated based on the contents of TBL2.

  FIG. 14A is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the one-chip microcomputer realizing the above operation. In response to the interrupt signal INT from the graphic controller 12 (see SS7 to SS9 in FIG. 14), the one-chip microcomputer 10 writes the operation parameters in the first instruction data table TBL1 (SS2 in FIG. 14 and T3 in FIG. 15). To T44).

  Next, the drawing interruption by the interruption signal INT is permitted (SS3), and it waits for the drawing completion flag FLG to be set to 1 (SS4). If it is confirmed that the drawing completion flag FLG is set to 1, the drawing completion flag FLG is returned to 0 and the drawing interruption is prohibited (SS5). Next, the operation is performed on the second instruction data table TBL2. The parameter is written (see SS6 in FIG. 14 and T7 and after in FIG. 15).

  Thereafter, when the writing of the operation parameter is completed, the drawing interrupt by the interrupt signal INT is permitted (SS7), and the process waits for the drawing completion flag FLG to be set to 1 (SS8). The subsequent processing is the same as the above-described operation. When the drawing completion flag FLG is set to 1, the drawing completion flag FLG is returned to 0 and the drawing interrupt is prohibited (SS9), and the first instruction data The operation parameter is written in the table TBL2 (see SS6 in FIG. 14 and T7 and subsequent in FIG. 15).

  Although the symbol control board 3 according to the embodiment has been specifically described above, the specific description content does not particularly limit the present invention. For example, in each of the above embodiments, each time the liquid crystal display DISP displays a screen for one frame, the bank is switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this operation, and the screen display is repeated a plurality of times. The bank function may be switched later.

  FIG. 17 is a time chart showing an embodiment in which the bank function is switched in two cycles (2τ) of the vertical synchronizing signal of the liquid crystal display DISP. In this embodiment, the drawing data is generated based on the instruction data table TBL, the drawing process for writing the drawing data in the first or second bank, and the setting process by the one-chip microcomputer 10 for writing the operation parameter in the instruction data table TBL. Since the total processing time is 2τ at the maximum, it is possible to produce a sophisticated design with a complicated screen.

  FIG. 18 shows an embodiment in which the bank switching period is set to 2τ and the first and second instruction data tables TBL1 and TBL2 are provided. In this case, the total processing of the drawing process and the setting process is performed. Since the time is 4τ at the maximum, more sophisticated and sophisticated symbol production becomes possible.

  Furthermore, in the case of each of the above-described embodiments, the main control unit 1 is controlled by the CPU mounted on the main control board 1 and the sub control board (the lamp control board 2, the symbol control board 3, the voice control board 4, and the payout control board 5). Although the sub-control unit is configured, each control board is not necessarily configured separately, and may be combined appropriately.

  In the above embodiment, the lamp control board 2 and the payout control board 5 function as the first sub-control unit, and the symbol control board 3 functions as the second sub-control unit. Of course, the arrangement positions of the board and the voice control board may be appropriately changed, and all or a part of each control board may be combined to form a single board.

  Finally, a pachinko machine to which the present invention is preferably applied will be described for confirmation. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 22 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 20 is a side view of the pachinko machine 22. A plurality of pachinko machines 21 are arranged in the length direction of the island structure of the pachinko hall while being electrically connected to the card-type ball lending machine 22.

  The illustrated pachinko machine 21 includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 23 that is detachably mounted on an island structure, and a front frame 24 that is pivotably mounted via a hinge H fixed to the outer frame 23. It consists of A game board 25 is detachably attached to the front frame 24 from the back side, and a glass door 26 and a front plate 27 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The front plate 27 is provided with an upper plate 28 for storing game balls for launch. A lower plate 29 for storing game balls overflowing from or extracted from the upper plate 28 and a launch handle 30 are disposed below the front frame 24. And are provided. The launch handle 30 is interlocked with the launch motor, and a game ball is launched by a hitting bar 31 that operates in accordance with the rotation angle of the launch handle.

  On the right side of the upper plate 28, an operation panel 32 for lending the ball to the card-type ball lending machine 22 is provided, and on this operation panel 32, a card remaining amount display unit 32a for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number. A ball lending switch 32b for instructing lending of game balls for a predetermined amount, and a return switch 32c for instructing to return the card at the end of the game. On the upper part of the glass door 26, a big hit LED lamp P1 indicating a big hit state is arranged. In addition, in the vicinity of the big hit LED lamp P1, abnormality notification LED lamps P2 and P3 are provided to indicate a replenishment state or a full state of the lower plate.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the game board 25 is provided with a guide rail 33 formed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in an annular shape, and a liquid crystal color display DISP is provided at the approximate center of the game area 25a inside. Has been placed. In addition, at a suitable place in the game area 25a, a symbol start opening 35, a big winning opening 36, a plurality of normal winning openings 37 (four on the right and left of the big winning opening 36), and a gate 38 which is two passage openings are arranged. Has been. Each of these winning openings 35 to 38 has a detection switch inside, and can detect the passage of a game ball.

  The liquid crystal display DISP is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to a big hit state and displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. This liquid crystal display DISP has special symbol display portions Da to Dc in the center portion and a normal symbol display portion 39 in the upper right portion. The normal symbol display unit 39 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 38 is detected, the displayed normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time, and a lottery is drawn at the time the game ball passes through the gate 38. The stop symbol determined by the random number for lottery is displayed and stopped.

  The symbol start opening 35 is opened and closed by an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 35a, and when the stop symbol after the fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 39 hits and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claw 35a is kept at a predetermined time. Only to be released. When a game ball wins the symbol start opening 35, the display symbols of the special symbol display portions Da to Dc change for a predetermined time, and are determined based on a lottery result corresponding to the winning timing of the game ball to the symbol start opening 35. Stop at the stop symbol pattern.

  The special winning opening 36 is controlled to be opened and closed by an opening / closing plate 36a that can be opened forward. When the stop symbol after the symbol variation of the special symbol display portions Da to Dc is a winning symbol such as “777”, “big hit” is obtained. A special game is started and the opening / closing plate 36a is opened. There is a specific area 36b inside the big winning opening 36, and when the winning ball passes through the specific area 36b, a special game advantageous to the player is continued.

  After the opening / closing plate 36a of the big winning opening 36 is opened, the opening / closing plate 36a is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls wins. At this time, if the game ball does not pass through the specific area 36b, the special game ends, but if it passes through the specific area 36b, the special game is continued up to, for example, 15 times, which is advantageous to the player. To be controlled. Furthermore, when the stop symbol after the change is a certain symbol of the special symbols (hereinafter referred to as a specific symbol), a privilege of shifting to a high probability state is given after the special game ends.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the pachinko machine which concerns on an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a symbol control board. 2 illustrates an internal configuration of a graphic controller of a symbol control board. The relationship between the instruction data table and the frame buffer is illustrated. It is drawing explaining the structure of a sprite. This is an example of a background image in a design effect. It is drawing explaining the relationship between the instruction | indication data table TBL and the sprite surface comprised by this. It is drawing which illustrated the reach action among design change operations. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of a graphic controller and a one-chip microcomputer. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the one-chip microcomputer of a symbol control board about a 1st Example. It is a time chart explaining a symbol variation operation. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the one-chip microcomputer of a symbol control board about a 2nd Example. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of a graphic controller and a one-chip microcomputer about 2nd Example. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the one-chip microcomputer of a symbol control board about a 3rd Example. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of a graphic controller and a one-chip microcomputer about a 3rd Example. In the third embodiment, the relationship between the instruction data table and the frame buffer is illustrated. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of a graphic controller and a one-chip microcomputer about 4th Example. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of a graphic controller and a one-chip microcomputer about 5th Example. It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine which concerns on an Example. It is a side view of the pachinko machine. It is drawing which shows the game board of the pachinko machine.

Explanation of symbols

DISP display device (liquid crystal display)
3 Design control unit (design control board)
22 game machines (ball game machines)
10 First circuit (one-chip microcomputer)
12 Second circuit (graphic controller)

Claims (7)

In a gaming machine comprising a main control unit that outputs a control command to centrally control a gaming operation and a plurality of sub-control units that operate based on the control command output from the main control unit, The sub-control unit includes a game machine symbol control unit that realizes a symbol effect operation by drawing one or more sprites on a display device based on a control command received from another control unit. And
The symbol control unit is configured to determine a display mode of each sprite based on the control command, and an operation parameter written by the first circuit to specify the display mode of the display device. is configured to include a second circuit for implementing a drawing operation, a
Wherein the second circuit, together with the operation parameters are written by said first circuit, and two instruction data table said operating parameter is read by the second circuit, for one screen drawing data of said display device, There are provided two frame buffers in which the writing process and the reading process are cyclically switched ,
When the second circuit finishes generating drawing data for one screen of the display device based on the operation parameter stored in the one instruction data table , the first circuit draws from the second circuit. On the basis of the completion signal, while starting the operation parameter writing process for the one instruction data table ,
When the second circuit finishes generating drawing data for one screen of the display device based on the operation parameter stored in the other instruction data table , the first circuit draws from the second circuit. A gaming machine characterized in that, based on a completion signal, an operation parameter writing process for the other instruction data table is started. The game according to claim 1, wherein the operation parameter writing process is started in an interrupt disabled state in which a drawing completion interrupt signal is not accepted, and when the writing process is completed, the interrupt disabled state is changed to the interrupt enabled state. Machine The functions of the two frame buffers are switched alternately at a switching cycle (nτ) that is an integer n times (n> 1) a display cycle (τ) for repeatedly displaying one screen of the display device. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein The control commands that the symbol control unit receives from other control units are:
And presentation information for specifying the symbol effect operation to proceed in response to effect operation of the other control unit, and a plurality of pattern information to be displayed stopped delimited timing of progress of the design effect operation, is configured to identify the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, are. The first circuit includes a control command received from another control unit, based on the elapsed time from the start of the symbols effect operation, according to any one of claims 1-4 which determines the display mode of the sprite Game machines. The operating parameters, the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which contains the coordinate position of each sprite. The second circuit includes a operating parameters written by the first circuit, based on the data on the basic shape of each sprite stored in the nonvolatile memory, the display claim is generating drawing data of the device 1 The gaming machine according to any one of to 6 .