JP4789278B2 - Medal insertion detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal insertion detection device for a gaming machine that detects a medal inserted when starting a game of a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a game machine, and in particular, medal insertion detection capable of preventing a fake insertion of a medal. Relates to the device.

  In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a game can be started by inserting medals (including coins, coins, etc.). In such a gaming machine, a medal is not inserted completely, a string is attached to the medal, the medal is pulled back when the medal passes through the sensor unit, or the sensor unit is mounted using a cell plate imitating the medal. By passing it through, it can be seen that illegal use of starting a game as if a medal has passed through the sensor unit.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a medal insertion detection method that eliminates such fraud. The medal detection method disclosed in that document is such that the first sensor and the second sensor are provided in parallel at an interval narrower than the medal diameter, and the medal is detected when the medal is detected by the first sensor. It is confirmed that the sensor No. 2 has not detected a medal, and when the first sensor no longer detects a medal, it is confirmed that the second sensor has detected a medal. That is, an abnormality in which the medals advance in the opposite direction after the time for detecting the passage of the medals by the two sensors (retracting the medals once passed by a string or the like) is detected.

Such detection of the passage of medals is performed by providing a sensor that is a pair of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit on opposite side walls of the passage through which the medal passes (falls), and when the medal passes, the light is blocked by the medal. It is done by detecting that. The first sensor and the second sensor are provided separately at both ends so that the first sensor and the second sensor are not biased toward the upper and lower (or left and right) one ends of the medal path.
JP-A-11-203541

However, even in the medal insertion detecting device having such a structure, a pair of LEDs corresponding to the positions of the first sensor and the second sensor is attached to the light shielding plate and inserted into the sensor position, and the actual medal sensor When fraud is performed by controlling the blinking of the light emission of each LED according to the passing speed and generating the same signal as when the medal actually passes through the light receiving portions of the first sensor and the second sensor There is a problem that fraud cannot be detected.
An object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion detection device that solves such a problem.

For this reason, the present invention provides a medal insertion detection device including a passage through which a medal can slide or fall, and a sensor having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit for detecting a medal provided in the passage. A drive unit that varies the light emission output, a signal comparison unit that compares the output signal from the light receiving unit and the output signal from the drive unit to detect whether the waveforms match, and a signal comparison unit Determination means for determining whether or not a medal is inserted based on a signal indicating whether the waveforms match or not , the sensor includes a first sensor and a second sensor, and the driving unit includes the first and second sensors. Each of the sensors includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit that individually output and drive different output signals, and the signal comparison unit includes the first sensor and the second drive unit. The corresponding receiver of the sensor The output signal from the part that is assumed for comparing the output signals from the first and second drive unit for the corresponding.

  According to the present invention, the determination means determines whether or not the medal is inserted based on the coincidence of the waveform from the signal comparison unit and the mismatch signal, so that when the detection of light blocking by the sensor is impersonated by light emission control such as an LED, It is possible to prevent an erroneous determination that a medal is inserted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a medal insertion detection device according to the first embodiment.
The medal insertion detection device 1 includes a light emitting unit 3a and a light receiving unit 3b that constitute the sensor 3, a light emitting unit 5a and a light receiving unit 5b that constitute the sensor 5, drive units 13A and 13B, and light blocking detection units 15A and 15B. , Signal comparison units 17A and 17B, a determination unit 21, and a gate 23.

The light emitting unit 3a is driven by an output signal S0A from the driving unit 13A which is the first driving unit of the present invention so that the light emission output periodically fluctuates with a predetermined waveform. The output signal S0A from the drive unit 13A is also input to the signal comparison unit 17A.
The light receiving unit 3b receives the output light from the light emitting unit 3a and inputs an output signal S1A corresponding to the intensity of the light to the light blocking detection unit 15A and the signal comparison unit 17A.

The light blocking detection unit 15A detects whether or not the level of the output signal S1A exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and if it exceeds, a Low signal corresponding to the light non-blocking state (OFF) corresponding to the medal non-detection is output. If not exceeded, a Hi signal corresponding to the light blocking state (ON) corresponding to medal detection is input to the determination unit 21.
The signal comparison unit 17A compares the output signal S1A with the output signal S0A and detects whether or not the two signal waveforms match. For example, the Hi signal is detected when they match, and the Low signal when they do not match. Is input to the gate 23.

Similarly, the light emitting unit 5a emits light that varies periodically depending on a waveform different from the output signal S0A output from the drive unit 13B, which is the second drive unit of the present invention, for example, an output signal S0B having a different period. The output signal S0B from the drive unit 13B is also input to the signal comparison unit 17B.
The light receiving unit 5b receives the output light from the light emitting unit 5a and inputs an output signal S1B corresponding to the intensity of the light to the light blocking detection unit 15B and the signal comparison unit 17B.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the housing in the vicinity of the medal slot showing the arrangement of sensors in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view showing an XX cross section in FIG.
The medal insertion detection device 1 includes a side wall 8 (8a) parallel to the wide surface of the medal M of the medal passage 7 in which the medal M inserted from the medal insertion slot 2 provided in the housing 10 such as a game machine can slide or drop. 8b) are provided with first and second sensors 3, 5 for medal detection. The sensors 3 and 5 are provided separately on both ends of the medal M in the direction perpendicular to the passing direction indicated by the arrow Y (the vertical direction in the figure), and the two sensors 3 and 5 are predetermined in the passing direction of the medal M. They are offset by a distance A.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the sensors 3 and 5 is a pair of a light emitting unit 3a and a light receiving unit 3b, and a pair of a light emitting unit 5a and a light receiving unit 5b, which are disposed facing each other with both side walls 8a and 8b open. It is configured. That is, the light from the light emitting unit 3a is received by the opposing light receiving unit 3b. Similarly, the light from the light emitting unit 5a is received by the opposing light receiving unit 5b. With this configuration, when the medal M passes, the light from the light emitting units 3a and 5a is blocked and cannot be detected by the light receiving units 3b and 5b. Since the light can be detected when the light is not blocked, it is determined whether or not the medal M is passing or not depending on whether or not the light detection unit 3b, 5b outputs a light detection signal. be able to.

  The diameter of the medal M is, for example, about 25 mm, the light emitting units 3 a, 5 a and the light receiving units 3 b, 5 b are about several mm in diameter, and the center of the sensor is 5-10 mm from the upper and lower ends of the side wall 8. It is provided so that its central part is located at a certain position. The predetermined distance A is set such that when the medal M moves in the direction of the arrow Y and the light receiving portion 5b of the downstream sensor 5 begins to block light by the medal M, the light receiving portion 3b of the upstream sensor 3. Also, the distance where light is still blocked by the medal M, for example, 5 mm or less.

The light blocking detection unit 15B detects whether the level of the output signal S1B exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If the output signal S1B exceeds the Low signal corresponding to the light non-blocking state (OFF). A Hi signal corresponding to the light blocking state (ON) is input to the determination unit 21.
The signal comparison unit 17B compares the output signal S1B with the output signal S0B to detect whether or not the two signal waveforms match, and outputs a Hi signal when they match, and a Low signal when they do not match. Input to the gate 23.

For example, a known comparator circuit is used for the light blocking detection units 15A and 15B.
The signal comparison unit 17A, for example, inputs the output signal S0A to the reference input terminal of the waveform comparator after performing predetermined gain adjustment and delay time adjustment, and inputs the output signal S1A to the input terminal of the waveform comparator. The configuration. As the waveform comparator, for example, a known EX-OR gate applied phase comparator, RS flip-flop applied phase comparator, or the like can be used.
The signal comparison unit 17B is configured to similarly input the output signal S0B and the output signal S1B to the waveform comparator.

The determination unit 21 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and the medal M moves in a normal direction based on a change of Low → Hi → Low of the signals from the light block detection units 15A and 15B, and the light block for a predetermined time. It is determined whether or not this occurs in the sensors 3 and 5, and if it corresponds, one pulse is output to the gate 23.
If it does not correspond, an error signal (not shown) is output without being output to the gate 23.
The determination unit 21 incorporates a timer function for checking a normal light blocking time by the medal M, and set values T1 and T2 (T1 <T2) of a predetermined time of the determination reference.
Note that the set value T1 is smaller than T2 by an amount corresponding to the predetermined distance A until the sensor 3 enters the non-light-blocking state due to the normal passage of the medal M after the sensor 5 enters the light-blocking state. Value.

  The gate 23 is composed of an AND gate circuit, and when receiving the output from the determination unit 21 and receiving both the Hi signals from the signal comparison units 17A and 17B, the output of the determination unit 21 is passed and the medal is inserted. Signal. If no output is received from the determination unit 21, or if either of the signal comparison units 17A and 17B is a Low signal even if the output is received from the determination unit 21, no medal insertion signal is output.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of control for determining the medal insertion.
When the medal insertion detection device 1 is turned on, the drive units 13A and 13B input the output signals S0A and S0B having a predetermined cycle to the corresponding light emitting units 3a and 5a, and also input to the signal comparison units 17A and 17B. To do.
For example, the light emission intensity of the light emitting units 3a and 5a varies with sine waves of different periods that are positively biased by the drive units 13A and 13B (see FIG. 5A).

The light blocking detection unit 15A receives the output signal S1A from the light receiving unit 3b, and outputs a Low signal or a Hi signal according to the signal level.
The signal comparison unit 17A outputs a Hi signal or a Low signal as a result of comparing the output signal S1A with the output signal S0A.
Similarly, the light blocking detector 15B and the signal comparator 17B output signals.
The steps 101 to 106 and 109 in the following flowchart are controlled by the determination unit 21, and the steps 107 and 108 are controlled by the gate 23.

In step 101, the determination unit 21 checks whether the light block detection unit 15B has output the Hi signal within a predetermined ΔT seconds corresponding to the predetermined distance A after the light block detection unit 15A outputs the Hi signal. . That is, after the sensor 3 is in the light blocking state (ON), has the sensor 5 been in the light blocking state (ON) within a predetermined ΔT seconds (whether the sensor 3 is turned on after the sensor 3 is turned on)? Check if.
If the sensor 5 is in the light blocking state (ON) within a predetermined ΔT seconds after the sensor 3 is in the light blocking state (ON), the process proceeds to step 102. If not, the process proceeds to step 109.
In step 102, the timer t starts counting.

In step 103, it is checked whether the sensor 3 is in a non-light-blocking state (OFF) or not based on a signal from the light-blocking detection unit 15A.
If the light is not blocked, the process proceeds to step 105, and if not, the process proceeds to step 104.
In step 104, it is checked whether the timer t is equal to or longer than a predetermined time T1. If the timer t is equal to or longer than the predetermined time T1, the light blocking time corresponding to the time required for the medal M to pass is too long, and the routine proceeds to step 109 as abnormal. When the timer t is less than the predetermined time T1, the process returns to step 103, and the check of whether the light is not blocked or not is repeated.

When the process proceeds from step 103 to step 105, it is checked whether the sensor 5 is in the light non-blocking state (OFF) or not based on the signal from the light blocking detection unit 15B.
If the sensor 5 is in the light non-blocking state, the determination unit 21 outputs the signal to the gate 23 and proceeds to Step 107.
If the sensor 5 is not in the light non-blocking state, the process proceeds to step 106.
In step 106, it is checked whether the timer t is equal to or longer than a predetermined time T2. If the timer t is equal to or longer than the predetermined time T2, the light blocking time corresponding to the time required for the medal M to pass is too long, and the routine proceeds to step 109 as abnormal. If the timer t is less than the predetermined time T2, the process returns to step 105, and the check is repeated to determine whether the light is not blocked or not.

  When the process proceeds from step 105 to step 107, the gate 23 checks whether the signal waveforms match. That is, it is checked whether the Hi signal is input from both the signal comparison units 17A and 17B.

The coincidence and mismatch of signal waveforms in step 107 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the output waveforms of the light emitting sections 3a and 5a of the sensors 3 and 5 and the waveforms of the output signals S1A and S1B of the light receiving sections 3b and 5b. (A) shows the case where the medal M has actually passed, and (b) shows that the LED is illegally inserted at the position of the sensors 3 and 5 so as to block the light of the light emitting units 3a and 5a, and the light emission of the LED is turned on. The case where the off control is performed is shown. It is assumed that the LED on / off control is set to be substantially synchronized with the medal passage time.

In FIG. 5A, as a result of the waveform comparison, the waveforms of the output signals S1A and S1B from the light receiving units 3b and 5b match the waveforms of the corresponding output signals S0A and S0B of the drive units 13A and 13B. open.
In step 108, the output of the determination unit 21 is passed and output as a medal insertion signal, the timer timing is stopped, and the process returns to step 101.

In FIG. 5B, as a result of the waveform comparison, the output signals S1A and S1B do not match the output signals S0A and S0B, respectively.
If either of the waveforms does not match, the gate 23 does not open, so the timer count is stopped without outputting the medal insertion signal, and the process returns to step 101.
Thereby, in the case of (a), the game machine using the medal insertion detection device 1 increments the medal insertion number by one every time a medal insertion signal is received.

When the process proceeds from step 101, 104, 106 to step 109, the determination unit 21 outputs an error signal, stops timer timing, and returns to step 101.
In the present embodiment, the light blocking detection units 15A and 15B, the determination unit 21 and the gate 23 related to the execution of the processes of steps 101 to 109 in the flowchart constitute the determination unit of the invention.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after detecting light blocking for a predetermined time based on the signals from the light receiving units 3b and 5b, the waveform of the output signal S1A from the light receiving unit 3b is the output signal S0A from the drive unit 13A. Since the medal insertion signal is output after confirming that the waveform of the output signal S1B from the light receiving unit 5b is the same as that of the output signal S0B from the driving unit 13B, the LED is used. Even if the light blocking time in the output signal from the light receiving units 3b and 5b is disguised like a medal passing illegally, no medal insertion signal is output. As a result, fraud can be prevented.
Furthermore, since the two drive units 13A and 13B output the output signals S0A and S0B having different periods, they have a strong resistance against fraud using LEDs.
In addition, the two sensors 3 and 5 are arranged close to each other, and the order of the light blocking state (ON) and the light non-blocking state (OFF) and the light blocking time are checked in the determination unit 21 so that the reverse direction is obtained. The movement of the medal (when the medal is pulled back with a string or the like) and the excessive movement time of the medal can be detected as an error as in the conventional case.

In this embodiment, the output signals S0A and S0B of the drive units 13A and 13B are sine wave signal waveforms to which a positive bias is applied. However, as a modification, a rectangular wave signal waveform may be used as shown in FIG.
In this case, the light blocking detection units 15A and 15B are omitted, and when the predetermined number or more of rectangular pulses are not continuously input in the determination unit 21, the light blocking state (ON) is set, and the rectangular pulses have a predetermined cycle. When input, it is determined that the light is not blocked (OFF).
FIG. 6 shows the output waveforms of the light emitting units 3a and 5a of the sensors 3 and 5 and the waveforms of the output signals S1A and S1B of the light receiving units 3b and 5b. (A) shows the case where the medal M has actually passed, and (b) shows that the LED is illegally inserted at the position of the sensors 3 and 5 so as to block the light of the light emitting units 3a and 5a, and the light emission of the LED is turned on. The case where the off control is performed is shown.
As described above, even when the light emitting units 3a and 5a are controlled to emit light with a predetermined period of a rectangular waveform, it is possible to prevent fraud of the medal insertion disguise by the LED by comparing the waveforms.

In this embodiment, the light blocking detection units 15A and 15B are comparator circuits. However, the output signals S1A and S1B are converted from analog signals to digital signals, and the signal level is determined by the microcomputer constituting the determination unit 21. You may do it.
Although the output of the determination unit 21 is controlled by the gate 23, the function of the gate 23 is included in the determination unit 21, and the determination unit 21 makes a comprehensive determination and outputs a medal insertion signal. Good.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
The medal insertion detection device 1 ′ of the present embodiment omits the light blocking detection units 15A and 15B and the gate 23 from the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and determines the outputs of the signal comparison units 17A and 17B as the determination unit 20. The other configuration is the same.
The signal comparison unit 17A compares the output signal S1A from the light receiving unit 3b with the output signal S0A from the drive unit 13A, and the signal comparison unit 17B compares the output signal S1B from the light reception unit 5b with the output signal S0B from the drive unit 13B. Compared with, a Hi signal is output when they match, and a Low signal is output when they do not match.

While the light emitting unit 3a and the light receiving unit 3b of the sensor 3 and between the light emitting unit 5a and the light receiving unit 5b of the sensor 5 are not blocked by medals, the outputs of the signal comparison units 17A and 17B are Hi signals.
When the medal passes between the positions of the sensor 3 and the sensor 5, if the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are blocked, the value of the output signal S1A from the light receiving unit 3b or the output signal S1B from the light receiving unit 5b becomes zero. The signal comparison units 17A and 17B output a Low signal because they are different from the output signal S0A or S0B.
Even when the values of the output signals S1A and S1B from the light receiving sections 3b and 5b are not zero, the signal comparison sections 17A and 17B output a Low signal even when the waveforms are different.

The determination unit 20 has a timer function and measures the length of each Low signal from the signal comparison units 17A and 17B.
The determination unit 20 further compares the time T3 in which the length T0 of the Low signal adds a predetermined margin to the time required for the medal to pass the normal sensors 3 and 5 and the length T0 of the Low signal.
As shown in FIG. 8A, when the length T0 of the Low signal (that is, the time of mismatch) is less than T3, the determination unit 20 determines that the Low signal is due to the passage of a normal medal. The medal insertion signal is output.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the length T0 of the Low signal is equal to or greater than T3, the determination unit 20 does not output a medal insertion signal.
Although FIG. 8 shows the sensor 3 side, the same applies to the sensor 5 side.
In this embodiment, the determination unit 20 that determines the output of the medal insertion signal based on the comparison of the length of the Low signal constitutes the determination means of the invention.

The second embodiment is configured as described above, and even with this, even if the light blocking time in the output signal from the light receiving units 3b and 5b is impersonated using the LED illegally, the medal is inserted. Since no signal is output, fraud can be prevented.
And since it does not have a light interception detection part and a gate with respect to a 1st Example, it has the advantage that the structure for fraud prevention can be implement | achieved more simply and cheaply.
Although the waveform has been described as a sine wave, it can be similarly applied to a rectangular wave as in the first embodiment.

In each of the embodiments, the driving units 13A and 13B for changing the light emission intensity are provided for the light emitting units 3a and 5a, respectively. Good. In that case, the signal comparison unit is provided only for the output signal from the light receiving unit corresponding to the light emitting unit whose output intensity varies.
As another method for reducing the manufacturing cost, the light emitting units 3a and 5a may be driven by one common driving unit that changes the light emission intensity. In that case, the signal comparison units 17A and 17B may be provided for the output signals from both light receiving units, or the signal comparison unit may be provided only for one of the light receiving units.

It is a block block diagram of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the sensor of a medal insertion detection apparatus. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of determination of medal insertion. It is a figure which shows the output waveform of the light emission part of a medal detection sensor, and the output waveform of a light-receiving part. It is a figure which shows the output waveform of the light emission part of a medal detection sensor, and the output waveform of a light-receiving part. It is a block block diagram of a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the output waveform of the light emission part of a sensor, a light-receiving part, and the output waveform of a signal comparison part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal insertion detection apparatus 2 Medal insertion slot 3, 5 Sensor 3a, 5a Light emission part 3b, 5b Light reception part 7 Medal passage 8, 8a, 8b Side wall 10 Housing | casing 13A, 13B Drive part 15A, 15B Light interception detection part 17A, 17B Signal comparison unit 20, 21 Judgment unit 23 Gate

Claims (2)

In a medal insertion detection device comprising a passage through which a medal can slide or fall, and a sensor having the light emitting unit for detecting the medal and a light receiving unit provided in the passage, an output signal is input to the light emitting unit and the light emission output thereof A drive unit that fluctuates the signal, a signal comparison unit that compares the waveform of the output signal from the light receiving unit and the output signal from the drive unit to detect whether the waveforms match, and the waveform from the signal comparison unit Determining means for determining whether or not the medal has been inserted based on the coincidence / non-coincidence signal, the sensor comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, and the drive unit comprises the first and second sensors. Each of the sensors includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit that individually output and drive different output signals, and the signal comparison unit includes the first sensor and the second drive unit. Sensor support Medal detecting apparatus characterized by comparing the output signals from the first and second driving portion in which the corresponding output signal from the light receiving unit that. The determination means inserts the medal based on a change in the output signal from the light receiving unit due to light blocking by the light emitted from the light emitting unit, in addition to the signal of the coincidence or mismatch of the waveform from the signal comparing unit. The medal insertion detection device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed.

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