JP4662845B2 - Gaming machine and gaming machine management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and more particularly to a configuration for detecting an open / closed state of a door and a gaming machine management system .

  In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a player can enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals and game media such as a game ball into the gaming machine. The game media necessary for the game can be borrowed at a game media rental machine or the like provided in the game hall, and the game can be started by putting it into the game media slot of a desired game machine.

  The slot machine basically pays out medals as prizes when the symbols are arranged, but whether or not the symbols are arranged depends on the result of a lottery by an internal computer. Various prizes, such as big bonuses, regular bonuses, and small roles, also follow the results of internal computer lottery. The contents of the lottery process can be changed within a predetermined range, and the setting work is performed by the store in a hall where a gaming machine is installed. To change the setting, open the door of the gaming machine, turn on the power switch while turning on the setting key switch provided on the power supply unit, enter the mode where the setting can be changed, and then press the setting change switch. It was performed according to the operating procedure.

  A small part of the players performed a dishonest act (so-called goto act). For example, there has been a person who illegally changes the setting of the gaming machine to one advantageous for himself by performing the setting operation illegally. Moreover, it seems to be replaced with a storage device (ROM) in which the program is illegally changed so as to be advantageous to the player. In order to prevent such an illegal act, the door of the gaming machine is provided with a key so that it cannot be easily opened and closed, but the gaming machine door may still be opened and closed illegally.

  A door sensor for detecting opening and closing of the door of the gaming machine has been provided for reasons such as preventing the above fraud (Patent Document 1). The sensors were mechanical contacts or transmissive / reflective optical. In addition, it has also been possible to prevent fraud by managing electronic locks of the doors of each gaming machine with a hall computer (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-135844 “Game Machine” An unauthorized setting change in a state where the front door is closed is prohibited. A front door opening / closing sensor for detecting the front door in the closed position is provided inside the slot machine housing. When the front door is opened, the detection signal from the front door opening / closing sensor is not output, so it is determined that the setting change is valid, and the setting can be changed. On the other hand, when the front door is closed, it is determined that the setting change is invalid. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-136743 “Key Unit, Unit Controller, and Game Hall Key System” A technique for releasing an electronic lock on a door of a gaming machine with a hall computer is disclosed. A plurality of key units and a unit controller are connected via a communication line. The key unit provided in the game-related device changes the state of the electronic lock mechanism only when a state change command is given from the unit controller via the electronic lock mechanism and the communication line.

  However, even if a sensor that detects the opening and closing of the door is attached, it may be constructed so that it does not function (for example, an action that forcibly shorts the output of the sensor to the ground or power supply by a jumper wire) , The opening of the door could not be detected. If such a work is added, even if the locking of each gaming machine is managed by the hall computer, it becomes difficult to prevent fraud.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a fraudulent act of disabling the sensor, in particular, a fraud that adds a work to the sensor output, such as shorting the sensor output to ground or a power supply by a jumper wire. An object is to effectively prevent an act, and an object is to provide a gaming machine and a gaming machine management system capable of reliably detecting opening of a gaming machine door.

The present invention includes a housing having an opening on the front surface, a door that can be opened and closed to close the opening of the housing, a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that receives light from the light emitting portion, and shows the open / closed state of the door In a gaming machine comprising a door opening detection sensor that outputs a signal and a main board that determines an open / closed state of the door based on an output of the door opening detection sensor,
Based on the output of the light receiving unit, a first signal that repeats on and off in a predetermined first pattern is output when the door is in a closed state, and a predetermined second signal is output when the door is in an open state. The door opening detection sensor includes an output unit that outputs a second signal that repeatedly turns on and off in the pattern of
The main board stores the patterns of the first signal and the second signal, respectively, and the door is closed when the output of the door opening detection sensor matches the pattern of the first signal. When the output of the door open detection sensor matches the pattern of the second signal, it is determined that the door is in an open state, and the output of the door open detection sensor is the first signal and the second signal. If it does n’t match any of the patterns,
The first pattern of the first signal and the second pattern of the second signal are different from each other so that they can be distinguished from each other, and are turned on and off in a time shorter than expected to be required for fraud. Is switched multiple times.

The present invention includes a housing having an opening on the front surface, a door that can be opened and closed to close the opening of the housing, a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that receives light from the light emitting portion, and shows the open / closed state of the door A gaming machine comprising a door opening detection sensor for outputting a signal;
In a gaming machine management system comprising a hall computer that determines an open / closed state of the door based on an output of the door opening detection sensor,
The gaming machine outputs a first signal that repeats on and off in a predetermined first pattern when the door is in a closed state based on the output of the light receiving unit, and in advance when the door is in an open state. The door opening detection sensor includes an output unit that outputs a second signal that repeatedly turns on and off in a predetermined second pattern,
The hall computer stores the patterns of the first signal and the second signal, respectively, and the door is closed when the output of the door opening detection sensor matches the pattern of the first signal. When the output of the door open detection sensor matches the pattern of the second signal, it is determined that the door is in an open state, and the output of the door open detection sensor is the first signal and the second signal. If it does n’t match any of the patterns,
The first pattern of the first signal and the second pattern of the second signal are different from each other so that they can be distinguished from each other, and are turned on and off in a time shorter than expected to be required for fraud. Is switched multiple times.

  For example, one of the first pattern and the second pattern is binary 0101 and the other is binary 0011.

  According to the present invention, when the door is in the closed state, the first signal that repeats on and off in a predetermined first pattern is output, and when the door is in the open state, the first signal is turned on in the predetermined second pattern. And an output unit that outputs a second signal that repeatedly turns off, and outputs this output as the output of the door opening detection sensor, so that the sensor is forcibly turned on or off to disable this, particularly It is possible to detect fraudulent acts that add a work to the output of the sensor, such as an action of shorting the output of the sensor to the ground or the power supply by a jumper wire, and invalidate such fraudulent actions. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the opening of the door of the gaming machine and to prevent fraud.

  A gaming machine (slot machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine showing a state where the door is closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine showing a state where the door is opened 180 degrees.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And an attached door 130. The slot machine main body 120 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing having an opening on the front surface thereof. The door 130 closes the opening. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided in the center of the front surface of the door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided in the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Further, a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100 is provided below the medal insertion slot 132.

  Further, a start button 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop buttons 140 are provided corresponding to the three reels. At the center of the lower end of the door, a medal payout opening 135 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals in one payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the door 130. A hopper device 121 is provided for paying out each one. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein. Inside the slot machine main body 120, a reel unit 203 including three rotating reels is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the door 130 is closed. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which a player can see the symbols of each rotating reel of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided between the upper hopper unit 121 and the reel unit 203.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

  A player who wants to enjoy a game with a slot machine can first borrow a medal as a game medium from a medal lending machine (not shown) or the like, and insert a medal directly into the medal slot 132 of the medal slot device. The start switch 134 is a lever positioned obliquely below the rotary reel, and starts driving the reel unit 203 on condition that a game medal is inserted. The reel unit 203 is stopped from driving by a stop switch 140. The reel unit is composed of three rotating reels. Each rotating reel includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin and a tape-like reel tape attached around the rotating drum. A plurality of (for example, 21) symbols are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the invention.
In FIG. 3, reference numerals 200 and 201 denote a main board (control unit) and a sub board, each incorporating a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The main board 200 performs medal insertion, payout, reel control, winning process, and the like. The sub-board 201 performs processing such as effect display. An operation unit 202 includes switches such as a start switch 134, a stop switch 140, and a bet switch (not shown). A reel unit 203 includes three rotating reels. An effect display unit 204 includes a game display unit 131, internal illumination of a reel, a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, and the like. The effect display unit 204 notifies the winning combination and the pressing order. A power supply unit 205 supplies power to each unit. 121 is a hopper device for paying out stored medals one by one to a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the door 130.

  3 is provided with a door opening detection sensor DS. The output of the door opening detection sensor DS is sent to the main board 200. The main board 200 detects the opening of the door 130 based on the output of the door opening detection sensor DS. The output of the door opening detection sensor DS is also sent to a hall computer provided outside the gaming machine. The hall computer is a known computer for managing a plurality of gaming machines. The hall computer monitors the open / closed state of each gaming machine door. In FIG. 3, for easy understanding, the output of the door opening detection sensor DS is directed directly to the hall computer. However, in an actual gaming machine, the output of the door opening detection sensor DS is It is sent to the hall computer via an external terminal board (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the door opening detection sensor DS. FIG. 4 shows an example of this type of sensor. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the door 130 is closed, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the door 130 is open. Both are views of the gaming machine as viewed from above.

  The door opening detection sensor DS includes a light emitting unit 10 such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a light receiving unit 12 such as a photodiode (PD) that receives light from the light emitting unit 10. The light emitting unit 10 and the light receiving unit 12 of the door opening detection sensor DS are arranged such that the arrival state of light from the light emitting unit 10 to the light receiving unit 12 changes according to the opening / closing of the door 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting unit 10 is attached to the door 130 so that the output light is directed toward the inside of the housing 120 of the gaming machine, and the light receiving unit 12 is in a state where the door 130 is closed. The light receiving surface is attached so as to face the light emitting unit 12. As shown in FIG. 4A, the output light L of the light emitting unit 10 enters the light receiving unit 12 with the door 130 closed. However, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, when the door 130 is opened, the output light L of the light emitting unit 10 is directed to the outside of the housing 120, and the output light L does not enter the light receiving unit 12. At this time, the light receiving unit 12 outputs a signal indicating that the door 130 is opened. In order to increase the detection sensitivity, the light emitting unit 10 and the light receiving unit 12 may be provided as far as possible from the rotation center of the door 130 (provided at the right end of the door 130 in the example of FIG. 4).

  The configuration of the door opening detection sensor DS of FIG. 4 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as an optical sensor, a light emitting part, a light receiving part, and an action part that moves when the door is opened are configured such that when the door is opened, the action part shields interrupt light between the light emitting part and the light receiving part. (Specifically, the light emitting part and the light receiving part are provided at the edge of the casing of the gaming machine, and the light receiving part is configured to receive light from the light emitting part. The door is closed) Then, since the action part provided in the door is inserted between them, the light is shielded.When the door is opened, the action part is separated and the light enters the light receiving part, and the light receiving part is separated from the light emitting part. The light reception signal is output as a door open signal). Including such a sensor, the present invention can be applied to a sensor of a type that outputs a signal notifying the opening of the door based on the output signal of the light receiving unit.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the door opening detection sensor DS according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows a first signal generator 13-1 for generating a predetermined first signal, a second signal generator 13-2 for generating a predetermined second signal, And a switching unit 14 that selects and outputs one of the outputs. The first signal and the second signal will be described later. The switching unit 14 performs a switching operation based on the output of the light receiving unit 12. In the following description, the first signal generator 13-1, the second signal generator 13-2, and the switching unit 14 are referred to from the viewpoint of switching and outputting the first signal and the second signal. May be referred to as an output unit DS-O.

  The configuration of FIG. 5 is characterized in that as the output of the door opening detection sensor DS, the output of the light receiving unit 12 is not output to the outside as it is, but a signal different from the conventional output signal is output. As will be described later, the on / off signal is standardized so that the output signal of the sensor cannot be disguised by simple work such as energization / disconnection. In addition, the light receiving unit 12 and the output unit DS-O, that is, the light receiving unit 12, the first signal generator 13-1, the second signal generator 13-2, and the switching unit 14 are the door opening detection sensor. The light receiving side unit DS-R is integrated (preferably sealed). Therefore, the light receiving unit 12 cannot be accessed from the outside, and no work can be added to the output. A signal output from the light receiving side unit DS-R is from the output unit DS-O, and if an unauthorized person adds a work, the signal is output from the output unit DS-O. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect the cheating as described later.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the output of the door opening detection sensor DS. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the door 130 is closed, the first signal is output as the output of the door opening detection sensor DS. When the door 130 is open, the second signal is output as the output of the door opening detection sensor DS. In a device (for example, a hall computer) that receives the output of the door opening detection sensor DS, the door of the gaming machine is opened and closed by determining whether the received signal is the first signal or the second signal. The state can be determined.

  The first signal is a signal that repeats ON and OFF in a predetermined first pattern when the door 130 is in a closed state, and the second signal is a second signal that is predetermined when the door 130 is in an open state. This signal repeats ON and OFF in the pattern (different from the first pattern). The said pattern means the combination (arrangement of on-off) of several on-off. When ON or OFF is repeated every certain time T, a combination of repeating ON, OFF, ON, OFF,... Every time T is one pattern. Similarly, a combination of repeating ON, ON, OFF, OFF,... Is a pattern.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, any on / off repetition can be adopted as the first pattern and the second pattern. However, the first pattern and the second pattern must be different so that the first signal and the second signal can be distinguished. Further, from the viewpoint of detecting fraud, it is preferable that the on / off switching is performed a plurality of times in a time (for example, 1 second) shorter than the time required for the fraud. For example, the on / off time (interval) T may be set to about one thousandth of a second, and the number of on / off times (signal repetition period) in the pattern may be set to several times or several tens to hundreds.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of the first signal and the second signal. As described above, the first signal and the second signal should not be the same, and it is desirable that the on / off state, that is, the digital H / L level change as complicatedly as possible. The first signal and the second signal are different pulse trains (such that the first signal is binary 0101 and the second signal is also 0011).

  On the other hand, the output signal of the conventional sensor is a simple digital H / L level signal (on / off signal) as shown in FIG. However, such a simple on / off signal can be easily camouflaged by a signal line jumper action or the like (dotted line in FIG. 6C). In the embodiment of the present invention, the on / off signal output at normal time is standardized and changed so that it cannot be camouflaged by simple energization / disconnection.

  FIG. 7 shows a process flowchart for determining the open / closed state of the door based on the output of the door opening detection sensor DS. This figure shows a case where the hall computer determines the open / closed state of the door.

  The output of the door opening detection sensor DS is transmitted from the gaming machine (S1). The output is shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). The hall computer receives the output of the door opening detection sensor DS (S2). It is determined whether or not the received sensor output matches the first signal (S3). The kind of the first signal is stored in advance by the hall computer (the same applies to the second signal). When it coincides with the first signal (YES in S3), the door is determined to be closed (S4). Otherwise (NO in S3), it is determined whether or not the received sensor output matches the first signal (S5). When it coincides with the second signal (YES in S5), the door is determined to be open (S6). If not (NO in S5), it is determined as an illegal act, and that fact is notified by a sound or light alarm (S7). As described above, the output of the door opening detection sensor DS is either the first signal or the second signal that is determined in advance, and other than these signals are illegal using the jumper wires described above. It can be determined that an action is being performed.

  According to an embodiment of the invention, a fraudulent act of disabling the sensor, particularly a fraudulent act of adding a work to the sensor output, such as shorting the sensor output to ground or a power supply by a jumper wire, A distinction can be made between signals and closed signals. The opening of the door of the gaming machine can be reliably detected, and it is possible to make it difficult to execute the illegal act by determining the illegal act and performing an alarm notification.

  In the above description, the slot machine is described as an example of the gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines, for example, pachinko machines.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the door 180 degree | times. A functional block diagram of the slot machine is shown. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a door open detection sensor. It is a block diagram of the door opening detection sensor which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the door opening detection sensor which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a process flowchart which determines the open / closed state of the door which concerns on embodiment of invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal selector 10 Light emission part 12 Light reception part 13-1 1st signal generator 13-2 2nd signal generator 14 Switching part 100 Slot machine 120 Slot machine main body 121 Hopper apparatus 122 Hopper tank 130 Door 131 Game display part 132 Medal Input port 133 Reject button 134 Start button 135 Discharge port 136 Derivation path 140 Stop button 200 Main board 201 Sub board 202 Operation part 203 Reel unit 204 Production display part 205 Power supply part DS Door open detection sensor DS-R Light reception by door open detection sensor Side unit DS-O output section

Claims (3)

It includes a housing having an opening on the front surface, an openable / closable door that closes the opening of the housing, a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that receives light from the light emitting portion, and outputs a signal indicating the opening / closing state of the door In a gaming machine comprising a door opening detection sensor and a main board for determining an open / closed state of the door based on an output of the door opening detection sensor ,
Based on the output of the light receiving unit, a first signal that repeats on and off in a predetermined first pattern is output when the door is in a closed state, and a predetermined second signal is output when the door is in an open state. The door opening detection sensor includes an output unit that outputs a second signal that repeatedly turns on and off in the pattern of
The main board stores the patterns of the first signal and the second signal, respectively, and the door is closed when the output of the door opening detection sensor matches the pattern of the first signal. When the output of the door open detection sensor matches the pattern of the second signal, it is determined that the door is in an open state, and the output of the door open detection sensor is the first signal and the second signal. If it does n’t match any of the patterns,
The first pattern of the first signal and the second pattern of the second signal are different from each other so that they can be distinguished from each other, and are turned on and off in a time shorter than expected to be required for fraud. The gaming machine is characterized in that the switching is performed a plurality of times . A housing having an opening on the front surface; an openable / closable door that closes the opening of the housing; and a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that receives light from the light emitting portion, and outputs a signal indicating an open / closed state of the door A gaming machine comprising a door opening detection sensor;
In a gaming machine management system comprising a hall computer that determines an open / closed state of the door based on an output of the door opening detection sensor,
The gaming machine outputs a first signal that repeats on and off in a predetermined first pattern when the door is in a closed state based on the output of the light receiving unit, and in advance when the door is in an open state. The door opening detection sensor includes an output unit that outputs a second signal that repeatedly turns on and off in a predetermined second pattern,
The hall computer stores the patterns of the first signal and the second signal, respectively, and the door is closed when the output of the door opening detection sensor matches the pattern of the first signal. When the output of the door open detection sensor matches the pattern of the second signal, it is determined that the door is in an open state, and the output of the door open detection sensor is the first signal and the second signal. If it does n’t match any of the patterns,
The first pattern of the first signal and the second pattern of the second signal are different from each other so that they can be distinguished from each other, and are turned on and off in a time shorter than expected to be required for fraud. A gaming machine management system, characterized in that the switching is performed a plurality of times . The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the first pattern and the second pattern is binary 0101 and the other is binary 0011.

Images