JP4545359B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of a gaming machine that performs a ball lending operation while exchanging information with a card device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The prior art will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. The payout control unit 700 that controls the payout of the ball presses the ball rental switch 601 of the upper plate 600 in a state in which a high-level P ready signal is output to the prepaid card unit 500 that is another pair with the gaming machine. And the ball rental ready signal goes high. In this state, each time a ball lending request signal from the prepaid card unit 500 rises, the ball lending approval signal becomes high level (active) in response to this, so that a predetermined number, for example, 25 lending ball dispensing devices 800 are paid out. In the meantime, the payout of balls was done with a card.
[0003]
Then, the payout control unit 700 backs up the remaining number to be paid out when power is not supplied due to a power failure or the like at the time indicated by the vertical line A in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the power supply is resumed, the payout control unit 700 performs a power interruption recovery process and pays out the remaining number by the lending ball payout device 800.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as indicated by the symbol X in FIG. 11, at this time, although the lending request signal is not output, the lending approval signal is in a high level active state. For this reason, there has been a problem that the operation of the gaming machine stops when it is determined that the gaming machine is in an abnormal state or some fraud has been performed. Even if the operation of the gaming machine does not stop, there is a problem that the prepaid unit 500 that does not have a backup function has been determined to be in an abnormal or illegal state by being supplied with an error signal.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of normally paying out a lending ball even if a power interruption recovery process is performed.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention activates a lending approval signal to the card device in response to an activation of a lending request signal from a card device that accepts a card in which valuable value information is recorded. When the power supply is started (when the power supply is started) In a gaming machine provided with a payout control means configured to perform a payout operation of the remaining number based on this backup data,
The payout control means includes:
A signal output flag is stored in response to the lending request signal becoming active, and only when it is grasped that the signal output flag is set, the lending approval signal is output,
The signal output flag is forcibly lowered and backed up in response to the determination that the terminal is in the power interruption state.
[0005]
According to this invention, only when it is grasped that the signal output flag is set, the lending approval signal is output, while the signal output flag is set in response to determining that the signal output flag is in the power interruption state. Since this is forcibly lowered and this is backed up, it is possible not to output the lending completion signal at the time of recovery from power interruption, so that it is possible to pay out the lending balls normally even if power failure recovery processing is performed Can do.
[0006]
The above operation can be realized by a computer reading and executing a program of a recording medium recorded as a program. As such a recording medium, it is possible to record and read digital contents such as a semiconductor recording medium such as ROM and semiconductor IC, an optical recording medium such as DVDROM and CDROM, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk, and a magneto-optical recording medium. A recording medium may be mentioned.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a gaming board 100 constituting a part of a gaming machine (pachinko machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008]
(Game machine side configuration)
The game board 100 is formed with a circular game area 103 surrounded by a substantially circular outer guide rail 101 and a substantially circular inner guide rail 102 having a smaller radius than the outer guide rail 101, and is illustrated by a player's operation. A game is played when a game ball launched from a launching device that does not rolls in the game area 103. The game area 103 is provided with a large number of game nails for contacting the game balls and rolling them in a plurality of directions, but the game nails are not shown for the sake of simplicity. Yes.
[0009]
At a substantially central position of the game board 100, there is a special design that includes a display area that can independently display and change the identification information composed of symbols of numbers and characters in an array pattern such as a horizontal row or a vertical row. A display device 104 is provided. A normal symbol display device 107 is disposed directly above the special symbol display device 104. A special symbol starting port 105 is disposed immediately below the special symbol display device 104, and normal symbol operation gates 106 and 106 are disposed on both sides of the special symbol display device 104.
[0010]
A variable winning device 108 is disposed below the special symbol starting port 105. In the variable winning device 108, a wide movable member 116 rotates to the front side of the drawing during the big hit period, and the movable member 116 is A large winning opening 109 in which a game ball can be won before turning in a direction to return to the original direction, and a movable member 117 having a narrow width during a small hit, rotate to the front side of the drawing, and this movable member 117 is the original. And a normal electric accessory 110 in which the game ball is in a state in which the game ball can be won before it is rotated in the direction to return to.
[0011]
In the game area 103, four windmills 111, two windmills 112 with lamps for changing the rolling direction of the game ball together with a game nail (not shown), and a lamp display that is lighted and controlled according to the game state of the game machine. Devices 114 and 115, an out port 113 and the like for discharging a non-winning game ball to the back side of the game board 100 are provided.
[0012]
Then, a game ball is won at the special symbol starting port 105 and a random number lottery is generated by a loop counter for generating a big hit random number. When the random number selected is a big hit value, After the identification information is displayed in a variable display state, a predetermined pattern (for example, “7, 7, 7”) is displayed by the special symbol display device 104, and the special winning opening 109 is controlled to open / close with a predetermined open / close pattern. The winning device 108 is changed from a disadvantageous state to a player to an advantageous state.
[0013]
In addition, when the normal symbol operation gate 106 detects the passing of the game ball, a random number lottery is generated by a loop counter for generating a small hit random number, and when the random number selected is a small hit value, If the display of the normal symbol display device 107 is a predetermined one (for example, “7” or “3”), the normal electric accessory 110 is released (small hit state), and if a game ball is won during this open period, a big hit A lottery will be held.
[0014]
If the result of the lottery is a big win, the identification information is variably displayed in the display area in the same manner as described above, and the display with a predetermined pattern is performed by the special symbol display device 104. The opening / closing control is performed by the pattern, and the variable winning device 108 is changed from a disadvantageous state to a player's advantageous state. Note that game balls that are not won are discharged through the out port 113. In addition, this gaming machine is configured to have a probability variation function that improves the next big hit probability when a specific symbol is a big hit.
[0015]
As mentioned above, although each apparatus arrange | positioned at the game board 100 was demonstrated, the main thing of these apparatuses is operation-controlled by the microcomputer system, and these are demonstrated with reference to a control block diagram. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of main devices arranged in the game board 100. Actually, a control unit such as a launching device or a prize ball discharging device (not shown) is provided.
[0016]
The main control unit 200 includes a microprocessor with a built-in CPU. A table area 215 to be described later is formed, a ROM 201 for storing a control program and control data describing a series of control procedures, and a counter area 216 to be described later. And a RAM 202 in which various work areas are formed, and is an integrated one-chip microcomputer. The main control unit 200 and the payout control unit 701 described later can be backed up and read out even when power is supplied from the backup power source 300 and power supply is not performed.
[0017]
Further, the main control unit 200 is configured to be able to control by sending a required command to the payout control unit 701 that controls the payout operation. Further, a detection signal from the power supply state detection unit 310 is sent to the main control unit 200 and the payout control unit 700, and power supply is stopped when the power supply is not performed (when power is interrupted), or when power is interrupted. It is possible to detect when is resumed (at the time of recovery).
[0018]
The main control unit 200 includes a special symbol start switch 204 and a normal symbol operation gate 106 which are arranged inside the special symbol start port 105 and detect a winning of the game ball to the special symbol start port 105 through the input port 203. A normal symbol operation switch 205 that is disposed inside and detects the passage of the game ball through the gate, a large winning port switch 206 that is disposed inside the large winning port 109 and detects the winning of the gaming ball to the large winning port 109, and a normal electric motor An ordinary electric accessory switch 207 that is disposed inside the accessory 110 and detects a winning of a game ball to the ordinary electric accessory 110 is connected, and the main control unit 200 can receive each detection signal.
[0019]
In addition, the main control unit 200 can display and stop the identification information composed of symbols of numbers and characters via the output port 208, and can display a special symbol composed of a display device such as an LCD. Display device 104, for example, a normal symbol display device 107 realized by a 7-segment display device, and a large winning opening operating solenoid for controlling the opening of the large winning port 109 by rotating the wide movable member 116 of the large winning port 109 209, an ordinary electric accessory actuating solenoid 210 for controlling the opening of the ordinary electric accessory 110 by controlling the rotation of the movable member 117 of the ordinary electric accessory 110, and a lamp display device 114 (115) for controlling lighting of the lamp and LED. And a speaker 211 for outputting sound effects are connected, and the main control unit 200 can transmit control signals for controlling these devices. Going on.
[0020]
The main control unit 200 is connected to a power supply circuit 212 for supplying power and a reset circuit 213 that outputs a reset signal every predetermined time. Further, the main control unit 200 is connected to the reset circuit 213. A pulse signal generated by the periodic timer counter is input, and a monitor signal for monitoring a current supply state from the power supply circuit 212 is input.
[0021]
Next, main random number generation counters used by the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Each random number counts up one by one in a predetermined cycle (for example, 4 msec) until it reaches the upper limit value starting from the value “0”, and when the count value exceeds the upper limit value, the initial value “ The counters are generated by using so-called infinite loop counters that are cleared at 0 and the count operation is repeated. These infinite loop counters are formed in the RAM 202, and the main control unit 200 controls the count operation.
[0022]
As the main counts, as shown in FIG. 4, a jackpot determination random number counter (count value: 0 to 239) 401, a reach selection counter (count value: 0 to 99) 402, a jackpot symbol selection random number counter (count Value: 0 to 8) 403, off-left symbol selection random number counter (counter value: 0 to 8) 404, off-center symbol selection random number counter (counter value: 0 to 8) 405, and off-right symbol selection random number There is a counter (counter value: 0 to 8) 406.
[0023]
The big hit state determination counter 401 is a counter used for determining whether or not to cause a big hit state. In the normal gaming state (in the normal probability state), the counter value is “7”, and a big hit state is generated. In other cases, the big hit state is not generated. In the high probability state, the big hit state is caused by the counter values “7”, “39”, and “139”, and in other cases, the big hit state is not caused. Thus, if the total count value is “240”, a big hit state is generated with a probability of 1/240 in the normal gaming state, and a big hit state with a probability of 1/80 in the high probability state. Can be born.
[0024]
The reach selection random number counter 402 is a counter used for selecting a variation pattern of a special symbol. When the counter value is selected, a symbol variation pattern corresponding to the selected counter value is selected. The jackpot symbol selection random number counter 403 is used to select a special symbol used to stop and display, for example, three identical symbols in a horizontal row in the display area of the special symbol display device 104 when a big hit state occurs. When the counter value is selected by lot, each display unit of the special symbol display device 104 is displayed in a symbol pattern corresponding to the selected counter value.
[0025]
When the counter value is “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “1”, “2”, respectively. , “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9” are selected and displayed. The off-left symbol selection random number counter 404, the off-center symbol selection random number counter 405, and the off-right symbol selection random number counter 406 are stopped and displayed in the display area of the special symbol display device 104 when the big hit state does not occur. These are counters used to select special symbols. When these counter values are selected, the left, middle and right symbols corresponding to the selected counter values are displayed on the special symbol display device 104. There are other counters related to normal symbol display and the like, and these are stored in the counter area 216.
[0026]
(Composition of the payout related department)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a portion related to paying out a ball. A payout control unit 701 that can receive a command from the main control unit 200 and controls a ball payout operation, a lending ball payout device 800 that actually pays out a ball, and an upper plate unit 600 provided with a lending switch 601 And a prepaid card unit 500 that receives a prepaid card in which valuable information such as the remaining number of game balls that can be rented is recorded from the card insertion slot 501 and transmits / receives a required signal to / from the payout control unit 701. ing. Although the prepaid card unit 500 does not have a backup function, the main control 200 and the payout control unit 710 are configured such that required data is backed up by the backup power supply 300 when power is interrupted.
[0027]
The upper plate 600 includes a card frequency display unit (not shown), a return switch for instructing card return, and a sound output unit for sounding a chime or the like during a payout operation.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the main part of the prepaid card unit 500. The prepaid card unit 500 includes a ROM 520 that records an operation program, a CPU 510 that performs an operation according to the operation program, a RAM 530 that functions as a work area, and a card insertion / ejection unit 540. When a card is inserted from the card insertion slot 501, the card insertion / ejection unit 540 draws it into itself, and the CPU 510 reads the remaining number and stores it in the RAM 530. Further, when a return button (not shown) is pressed, the card insertion / ejection unit 540 ejects the card that has been drawn in, and causes the leading end of the card to protrude from the card insertion slot 501.
[0029]
(General operation on the gaming machine side)
Next, a general control operation performed by the main control unit 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the like, and then a main part of the present invention will be described to facilitate understanding of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the gaming operation of the gaming machine. 3 is executed by the main control unit 200, but is executed from step S100, which is the first step, triggered by a reset signal supplied from the reset circuit 213 every predetermined time (for example, 4 msec).
[0030]
First, when the power supply circuit 212 is activated by a power switch (not shown), the main control unit 200 is activated, and it is determined whether or not the first processing is executed after the power is turned on ( Step S100). In the case of the first process after the power is turned on (Yes), the process proceeds to step S102, and in other cases (No), the process proceeds to step S108.
[0031]
In step S102, the RAM 202 is cleared, and a predetermined area including at least the counter area 216 is cleared. Next, in step S104, data for performing initial control processing is set in the predetermined area of the RAM 202, and step S106 is performed. Migrate to
[0032]
On the other hand, in step S108, the counter values of the various random number counters 401 to 407 described above are incremented by 1, and the counter values are updated. Next, in step S110, the detection signals output by the special symbol start switch 204, the normal symbol operation switch 205, the big prize opening switch 206, and the normal electric accessory switch 207 are input to the register in itself (not shown) via the input port 203. In order to control the operations of the port input processing for reading and storing, the special symbol display device 104, the normal symbol display device 107, the special prize opening operation solenoid 209, the normal electric accessory operating solenoid 210, the lamp display device 114 (115), and the speaker 211. A port output process for outputting control data stored in an output buffer (not shown) of the RAM 202 to a corresponding device via an output port 208 in a control process at each step to be described later. The output buffer that stored the output control data The output buffer clear process for clearing, and executes the "common processing 1" which includes various timers process of updating the timer value of the various timer (not shown) used in the game machine operation control.
[0033]
Next, in step S112, the switches 204, 205, 206, and 207 are checked for disconnection or short circuit. If it is determined that these faults have occurred (Yes), the process proceeds to step S116. Then, the error flag is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 202 and error processing for performing control necessary for notifying that there is an abnormal state is executed, and the process proceeds to step S126. On the other hand, these failures occur. If it is determined that it is not (No), the process proceeds to step S118 (step S114).
[0034]
Next, in step S118, when the special symbol start switch 204, the normal symbol operation switch 205, the big prize opening switch 206, and the ordinary electric accessory switch 207 output detection signals for detecting a winning ball, the update is made in step S108. The random numbers corresponding to the output detection signals are drawn out from the various random number counters, stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 202, and hit determination and symbol determination are performed with reference to the stored random number values.
[0035]
Specifically, when the special symbol start switch 204 or the normal symbol electric accessory switch 207 outputs a winning ball detection signal, the information is extracted by referring to the information stored in the table area 215 described above. Stored in the table area 215 to determine whether or not the random number value (random hit counter 401 for determining the big hit state) causes the big hit, the big hit state symbol selecting random number counter 403, the off-set symbol selecting random number counters 404 to 406. The special information to be displayed is determined with reference to the stored information, and necessary control data is stored in a predetermined position of the output buffer.
[0036]
Further, with reference to the information stored in the big hit state symbol selection random number counter 403 and the table area 215, it is determined whether or not the specific game state transition symbol should be displayed. Further, when the normal symbol operation switch 205 outputs a detection signal, a small hit state is generated by referring to a random number generated by a random number counter (not shown) and a small hit value stored in the ROM 201 in advance. In addition to deciding whether or not to perform, a normal symbol to be displayed is determined and necessary control data is stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer.
[0037]
Next, in step S120, the special symbol display device 104 and the normal symbol display device 107 are subjected to symbol display control such as symbol variation and stop, and the control or jackpot period for displaying the symbol selected in step S118. Control data necessary for performing control for displaying an animation image therein is stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer.
[0038]
Next, in step S122, control data for controlling opening / closing of the big winning opening 109 and the ordinary electric accessory 110 in a predetermined opening pattern during the big hit state or the small hit state period is stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer. Various control data stored in the output buffer as described above is transmitted to the corresponding device by the port output processing in step S110, and the device that has received the control data performs operation control based on the received control data.
[0039]
Next, the process proceeds to step S126, external information output set processing for storing various game data in a predetermined area of the output buffer in a game machine information processing device (not shown), and prize ball command data is sent to a prize ball discharge device (not shown). Prize ball control process to be output, lamp display control process to store control data necessary for lighting control of the lamp device 114 (115) in a predetermined area of the output buffer, control data necessary to drive and control the speaker 211 “Common processing 2” including sound effect control processing stored in a predetermined area of the output buffer is executed.
[0040]
In step S106, a reset standby process is executed until a reset signal is input from the reset circuit 213. If a reset signal is input, the process proceeds to step S100 to continue operation control of the gaming machine. The reset waiting process includes updating the counter value for generating random numbers of various random numbers described above.
[0041]
(Operation)
Next, the operation of the main part of the present invention will be described. For ease of understanding, the normal operation will be described again. Each signal is assumed to be active at high level and inactive at low level.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the normal operation. The payout control unit 701 that controls the payout of the ball presses the ball rental switch 601 of the upper plate 600 while outputting a high-level P ready signal to the prepaid card unit 500 separate from the gaming machine. Then, the ball lending ready signal becomes high level. In this state, every time a ball rental request signal from the CPU 510 of the prepaid card unit 500 rises, a signal output flag “1” is set in the flag area 710 in response thereto. Then, the payout control unit 701 actively outputs the ball rental approval signal as a high level only when this signal output flag is set. When the lending ball dispensing apparatus 800 is driven to pay out a predetermined number, for example, 25, the lending control unit 710 sets the lending approval signal to a low level and sets a signal output flag. Lower it to “0”.
Thus, only when it is determined that the signal output flag is set, the lending completion signal is actively output.
[0043]
On the other hand, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation at the time of power interruption and recovery from the power interruption. Each time a ball rental request signal from the CPU 510 of the prepaid card unit 500 rises, a signal output flag “1” is set in the flag area 710 in response thereto. Then, the payout control unit 701 actively outputs the ball rental approval signal as a high level only when this signal output flag is set. At this time, if a power outage occurs in which the power supply to the payout control unit 701 is interrupted by the detection signal from the power supply state detection unit 310 (S), the payout control unit 701 drives the lending ball payout device 800. Is stopped, the signal output flag in the flag area 710 is lowered (set to “0”), and this is backed up in the backup area 720 together with the remaining number data and the like.
[0044]
Thus, the signal output flag is forcibly lowered according to the occurrence of power interruption, and this information and data such as the remaining number data are backed up.
[0045]
When the payout control unit 701 determines that the power supply is restored by the supply of the detection signal from the power supply state detection unit 310 (R), the remaining number data exists based on the backup data. In this case, the lending ball dispensing device 800 is driven to perform the remaining number dispensing operation to complete the dispensing operation. However, at this time, since the signal output flag is lowered, the payout control unit 701 does not output the lending approval signal as indicated by the symbol X.
[0046]
Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the payout control unit 701 outputs the lending approval signal only when it knows that the signal output flag is set, while determining that it is in a power interruption state. In response, the signal output flag is forcibly lowered and backed up, so that it is possible not to output the lending completion signal during the payout operation of the remaining number performed at the time of recovery from power interruption. Even if the power interruption recovery process is performed, it becomes possible to normally pay out the lending balls.
[0047]
In addition, when the payout control unit 701 performs a remaining payout operation without outputting a ball rental approval signal at the time of recovery, if an LED (not shown) is lit to notify this fact, It can be grasped that the remaining number payout operation is performed without outputting an acknowledgment signal.
[0048]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and changes can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, each signal is set to active low. In the above description of the embodiment, a pachinko machine has been described as an example of a gaming machine. However, the present invention can be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachislot machine and a TV game.
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to normally pay out the lending balls even if the power interruption recovery process is performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the front of a gaming machine.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the gaming machine.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining operation control of the gaming machine.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of various counters.
5 is a configuration diagram of a prepaid card unit 500. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a relevant part of a payout operation.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a prior art.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 game board 104 special symbol display device 200 main control unit 201 ROM
202 RAM
212 power supply circuit 213 reset circuit 300 backup power supply 310 power supply state detection unit 500 prepaid card unit 501 card insertion slot 600 upper plate part 601 ball rental switch 701 dispensing control unit 800 rental ball dispensing device

Claims (1)

In response to the activation of a lending request signal from a card device that accepts a card that records valuable value information, the lending approval signal is activated and output to the card device to perform a ball lending payout operation. In addition, when the power supply is interrupted (when the power is cut off), the remaining number of remaining rented balls is backed up, while when the power supply is started (at the time of recovery), the remaining number is paid out based on this backup data. In a gaming machine having a payout control means configured to perform an operation,
The payout control means includes:
In response to the lending request signal becoming active, a signal output flag is set, and only when it is grasped that this signal output flag is set, the lending approval signal is output,
A gaming machine, wherein the signal output flag is forcibly lowered and backed up in response to determining that the terminal is in a power interruption state.

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