JP4869764B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a screen display method for a gaming machine including a multi-view display that can visually recognize different screens depending on the viewing direction.

In gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines, various effects are displayed during the game using a display device provided in the gaming board. A liquid crystal panel is often used for this effect display. The liquid crystal panel displays an image with pixels arranged in a matrix. Liquid crystal panels that display only one type of image regardless of the viewing direction are the mainstream, but recently, a liquid crystal panel that can display two types of images depending on the viewing direction (hereinafter referred to as “multi-view display”) has also been proposed. Has been. The term “multi-view display” is sometimes used to mean a display device that can simultaneously display two types of images having different numbers of scanning lines, such as a computer monitor screen and a television screen. The display device can be used to visually recognize different screens from a plurality of directions.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-view display in which a parallax barrier is provided in front of pixels arranged in a matrix. The parallax barrier is a member that limits the range in which each pixel can be visually recognized. Due to the action of the parallax barrier, the odd-numbered pixels of the pixels arranged in a matrix are only visible when the multi-view display is viewed from the first oblique lateral direction, and the even-numbered pixels are different from the second one. The visible range is limited so that it is visible only when viewed from an oblique lateral direction. As a result, it is possible to see the first screen expressed using only odd-numbered pixels from the first oblique horizontal direction, and only using even-numbered pixels from the second oblique horizontal direction. You can see the second screen. By using different odd and even lines, it is possible to show different screens when viewed from above and from below.

JP 2005-99787 A

In gaming machines, since new productions that always enhance interest are being sought, production displays using a multi-view display are being proposed. However, as described above, in order to use the multi-view display, it is necessary to change the data generation method for driving the liquid crystal panel in the following two points. First, in the multi-view display, since two types of screens are displayed simultaneously, data corresponding to each screen must be generated. Secondly, the data of the two screens need to be output alternately to pixels in odd columns and even columns, or to odd rows and even rows. Conventional gaming machines have not been configured to realize such data generation and data output. An object of the present invention is to enable the above-described data generation and output unique to a multi-view display to be realized in a gaming machine, and to make use of the multi-view display for presentation display.

The present invention is directed to a gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on a game board surface. Includes pachinko machines and swivel machines. The gaming machine of the present invention includes a multi-view display as a display device. In the multi-view display, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In this case, the display device can visually recognize the second screen. As shown in the prior art, a display using a liquid crystal panel has been proposed, but various display devices such as a plasma display and an organic LE can be used. The first direction and the second direction may be diagonal directions of the display device, or may be diagonal directions.

The gaming machine includes a sub control board. The sub-control board outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the game situation. The gaming machine can further be provided with a main control board for controlling the whole, a payout control board for controlling payout of prize balls and the like. When the main control board is prepared, the sub-control board determines the contents of the effect according to the command from the main control board, and outputs the display command described above. The gaming machine is provided with a display control board that receives the display command and drives the display device. The display control board of the present invention provides the following functions in terms of hardware or software in order to drive a multi-view display.

The display control board is provided with a screen data storage unit, a drawing control unit, a character memory, a display data generation unit, and a rearrangement circuit. The screen data storage unit stores screen data that defines the configuration of the display screen to be displayed on the display device. Since the screen data is associated with the display command, the display screen corresponding to the display command is determined by using the screen data. The screen data may specify a screen in which the first screen and the second screen are arranged on the left and right or top and bottom (hereinafter, this screen is referred to as a “linked screen”), or the first screen and the second screen. May be defined individually. The drawing control unit determines a screen to be displayed according to the display command, and outputs the drawing command based on the screen data. The drawing command is a command for developing an image in pixel units of the display device. In the present invention, sprite data representing predetermined sprites displayed on the display screen in pixel units of the display device is recorded in the character memory. The drawing command includes, for example, a command for designating the arrangement of the sprite, how to superimpose a plurality of sprites, and drawing of a figure or line segment other than the sprite.

In this specification, “character” and “sprite” are used in the following meaning. The sprite means an image displayed as a unit on the screen of the gaming machine. For example, when various persons are displayed on the screen, data for drawing each person is referred to as “sprite”. In order to display a plurality of persons, a plurality of sprites are used. Not only a person but also a house, a mountain, a road and the like constituting a background image can be used as sprites. The entire background image may be a single sprite. The gaming machine can display various images by determining the arrangement of each sprite on the screen and determining the vertical relationship when the sprites overlap.

In a gaming machine, for the convenience of handling data, each sprite is configured by combining a plurality of rectangular regions of a certain size such as 64 pixels vertically and horizontally. Data for drawing this rectangular area is called a “character”. In the case of a small sprite, it can be expressed by one character, and in the case of a relatively large sprite such as a person, for example, it can be expressed by a total of 6 characters arranged in a horizontal 2 × vertical 3, etc. . If the sprite is larger than the background image, it can be expressed using a larger number of characters. The number and arrangement of characters can be arbitrarily specified for each sprite.

The display data generation unit arranges the specified sprite data at the specified position in accordance with the drawing command, and generates display data representing an image corresponding to the screen data for each of the first screen and the second screen. Display data refers to image data that is bitmap-developed on a canvas having a predetermined number of pixels. At this stage, the images on the first screen and the second screen are each drawn in a collective drawing area on the canvas. In order to display these images on the multi-view display, the rearrangement circuit generates and displays drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in pixel units. Output to the device. The rearrangement can be performed by various methods. For example, a frame memory capable of storing data of all the pixels of the display device may be prepared, and rearrangement may be performed when writing to the frame memory or when reading from the frame memory. Considering that drive data is output in units of rasters, the same sort can be performed using a line memory capable of storing data for one raster of the display device.

The first configuration of the present invention has the following characteristics when generating drive data in the above-described process. The canvas described above is provided with a dummy area of a predetermined size between the drawing area for the first screen and the drawing area for the second screen. In the process of generating the drive data, the display data generation unit or the rearrangement circuit is configured to ignore the display data corresponding to the dummy area. When sprites are used, the sprites are not necessarily arranged so as to fit entirely within the screen. For example, when the drawing areas for the first screen and the second screen are arranged adjacent to each other on the left and right, if a sprite is arranged so as to protrude to the right end for the first screen, a part of the drawing area is drawn for the second screen. There is a risk of entering the area. According to the configuration of the present invention, since the dummy area is provided between the first screen and the second screen, a screen using sprites can be generated by a relatively simple process without causing such an adverse effect. Is possible.

In order to stably obtain the above effect, it is preferable that the dummy area is set to a size that allows the sprite data to be arranged without protruding from the dummy area. When the first screen and the second screen are arranged in the left-right direction, the width in the left-right direction of the dummy area is preferably set in a range exceeding the maximum size in the left-right direction of the sprite data. When the first screen and the second screen are arranged in the vertical direction, it is preferable to set the vertical width of the dummy area within a range exceeding the maximum vertical size of the sprite data. When there is a possibility that the sprite data is arranged in a rotated state, it is preferable to determine the maximum size in consideration of the rotated state.

The process of ignoring the data in the dummy area can be performed by either the display data generation unit or the rearrangement. For example, the display data generation unit may take a method of outputting data ignoring the dummy area out of the data developed on the canvas to the rearrangement circuit. However, since the display data generation unit has a large processing load in drawing on the canvas, it is preferable that the process of ignoring the data in the dummy area is performed by the rearrangement circuit from the viewpoint of reducing the processing load. In this aspect, the display data generation unit outputs the display data including the dummy area to the rearrangement circuit, and the rearrangement circuit ignores the dummy area and rearranges to generate drive data.

The rearrangement at this time can employ a storage unit that stores display data for at least one raster, that is, a line memory, and a method of rearranging when writing to the line memory. The storage address may be set so that the display data received from the display data generation unit is rearranged and stored. Although the data rearrangement itself can be performed at the time of reading from the line memory, in the above aspect, the process of ignoring the data in the dummy area and the rearrangement are collectively performed in comparison with the aspect of rearranging at the time of reading. Therefore, there is an advantage that drive data can be generated efficiently.

Next, the second configuration of the present invention will be described. The second configuration can be applied regardless of the presence or absence of the sprite data and the dummy area described above. The second configuration is suitable for displaying a screen in which a part of the first screen and the second screen are common. As an example of a screen that is partially in common, for example, when a landscape is displayed on the first screen, some sprites are further displayed in the landscape on the second screen. In such a display, the player can view the sprite by looking into the display device. Therefore, in order to confirm the presence of the sprite, it is necessary to perform an operation of looking into the display device during the game, and an effect that enhances the excitement becomes possible.

In the second configuration, the display data generation unit generates display data only for a portion of the first screen or the second screen excluding a portion overlapping with the other screen. In the overlapping portion, the display data takes a default data value such as a gradation value 0 (corresponding to black). The rearrangement circuit determines whether or not each pixel constituting the drive data is an overlapping portion, and switches the rearrangement processing method according to the result. That is, the generated display data is used for both the first screen and the second screen for the overlapping portion, and the display data unique to the first screen and the second screen is used for the other portions. As described above, for the overlapping portion, display data is generated only for one of the first screen and the second screen, and the display data is used on both screens. By doing so, it is possible to omit generation of display data for the overlapping portion, and to reduce the processing load.

In the second configuration, various methods can be applied to determine whether each pixel corresponds to an overlapping portion. As a first method, the drawing control unit may generate control data for specifying overlapping portions and output the control data to the rearrangement circuit. The rearrangement circuit can determine whether or not there is an overlapping portion based on the control data. The control data can take various forms. For example, a flag string indicating whether or not each pixel is an overlapping portion may be used as the control data.

As a second method, display data may be generated in a form in which data set in advance as values unique to the overlapping portion is stored in the pixels corresponding to the overlapping portion. The rearrangement circuit can determine whether or not there is an overlapping portion based on the data value stored in the display data. In the overlapping portion, display data is not generated and a default value is output as display data. This default value is set as a value unique to the overlapping portion. In order to avoid confusion between the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping image portion, it is preferable to avoid the use of a color corresponding to this unique value when the first screen and the second screen are graphics images. In the case of using a natural image, it is preferable to partially correct the gradation value so that pixels corresponding to this unique value do not appear.

As a third method, control data for specifying an overlapping portion may be stored in a part of the display data. For example, a method of storing in the header portion of the display data can be adopted. The rearrangement circuit can determine whether or not there is an overlapping portion based on the control data.

In the second configuration, rearrangement can be performed by rearranging at the time of writing to the line memory described above. The storage address may be set so that the display data received from the display data generation unit is rearranged and stored. The display data corresponding to the overlapping portion may be stored at two addresses corresponding to the first screen and the second screen on the line memory. Other portions need only be stored at addresses corresponding to either the first screen or the second screen. The data rearrangement itself can be performed at the time of reading from the line memory. However, in the above aspect, the processing unique to the overlapping portion and the rearrangement are collectively performed in comparison with the aspect of rearranging at the time of reading. Therefore, there is an advantage that drive data can be generated efficiently.

Next, the third configuration of the present invention will be described. The third configuration can be adopted regardless of whether or not the characteristic portions of the first configuration and the second configuration described above are applied. In the third configuration, screen data for defining the display screen is individually stored for the first screen or the second screen. That is, the screen data is stored not in the form of a concatenated screen in which the first screen and the second screen are arranged, but in the form of data in units of the first screen and the second screen. However, each screen data does not need to be classified as dedicated to the first screen and dedicated to the second screen, and may include data that can be used for both the first screen and the second screen.

In the third configuration, the drawing control unit determines a screen to be displayed on each of the first screen and the second screen in accordance with a display command, and arranges screen data defining each screen vertically or horizontally. A drawing command for drawing one screen including the first screen and the second screen, that is, a connected screen is output. By doing so, according to the third configuration, it is possible to perform screen display in which the first screen and the second screen are combined in various ways, and it is possible to realize more various effects display.

In the third configuration, the screen data stored in advance may further include screen data in a state where both the first screen and the second screen are arranged, that is, screen data corresponding to the linked screen. When the drawing control unit receives a display command corresponding to the linked screen, it may read the screen data for the linked screen. In this case, the process for arranging the first screen and the second screen may be omitted, and a drawing command based on the read screen data may be output. By doing so, it is possible to selectively use a method of generating a linked screen by combining the first screen and the second screen and a method of using a linked screen prepared in advance by a display command, thereby easily realizing various effects. be able to.

Next, a fourth configuration of the present invention will be described. The fourth configuration can be adopted regardless of whether or not the characteristic portions of the first to third configurations described above are applied. The fourth configuration is suitable for displaying a moving image on one of the first screen and the second screen and displaying a still image on the other. In the fourth configuration, the screen for displaying a moving image needs to be updated in a short cycle, but the screen for displaying a still image is displayed by taking advantage of the point that it is sufficient to update in a long cycle.

In the fourth configuration, similarly to the third configuration, screen data that individually defines the configuration of the first screen or the second screen is used. The drawing control unit determines a screen to be displayed on at least one of the first screen and the second screen according to the display command, and outputs a drawing command for drawing the determined screen. At the timing when both the first screen and the second screen should be updated, a drawing command for drawing both screens is output. At the timing when only one of the screens should be updated, only the drawing command for drawing that screen is displayed. Is output. The display data generation unit generates display data of at least one of the first screen and the second screen according to the drawing command.

In the fourth configuration, in order to rearrange the display data, a frame memory that stores data for one frame including the first screen and the second screen is used. Then, the rearrangement circuit rearranges the display data using the frame memory to generate drive data. At this time, the rearrangement circuit determines whether or not both the first screen and the second screen are included in the display data, and the frame memory is determined based on the data included in the display data among the first screen and the second screen. Update the contents of. If the display data includes both the first screen and the second screen, the entire frame memory is updated. If only one screen data is included, only the part corresponding to that screen is displayed. Update. According to the fourth configuration, when displaying two types of images with different screen update periods simultaneously, such as displaying a moving image on one screen and displaying a still image on the other screen, the processing load is reduced. Can be reduced. This is because a screen with a long update cycle such as a still image can be displayed using the previous data in the frame memory without generating display data in association with the update cycle of the moving image. .

In the fourth configuration, various methods can be used to determine whether to update both the first screen and the second screen. As a first method, control data indicating whether or not to update both may be output from the drawing control unit to the rearrangement circuit. The rearrangement circuit can make the above determination based on this control data.

As a second method, in the display data, data set in advance as a value of the non-updated screen may be stored in a pixel for the non-updated screen among the first screen and the second screen. The rearrangement circuit can make the above-described determination based on the data value stored in the display data.

As a third method, control data indicating whether or not to update both the first screen and the second screen may be stored in a part of the display data. The rearrangement circuit can make the above determination based on this control data.

In the present invention, it is not necessary to have all the various features shown in the first to fourth configurations described above, and some of them may be omitted or may be applied in combination as appropriate. The above-described characteristic portions in the present invention may be realized by hardware or software.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. A. Configuration of gaming machine: B. Control hardware configuration: C.I. Screen display example: Drive data generation method: Display control processing: Modification: G. Second embodiment:

A. Configuration of Gaming Machine: FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine 30 as an embodiment. In this embodiment, a configuration as a pachinko machine is illustrated. The game area of the game board can be seen through a circular opening window 31 provided in the center. A player can play a game by driving a game ball into the game area and winning a prize at the winning opening. The gaming machine may be not only a pachinko machine but also a revolving type gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing a configuration example of the game area 37. A windmill 90 is provided at an appropriate position in the game area 37. Many obstacle nails are also arranged in a gauge, but the illustration is omitted. Near the center of the game area 37, there is provided a variable winning device 91 having a prize winning opening 92 for an accessory that can be opened and closed. Below the variable winning device 91, a second start winning port 97 and a pair of first starting winning ports 96 and a general winning port 98 arranged on the left and right sides thereof are provided. When a game ball enters the first start winning opening 96, the prize winning opening 92 for an accessory opens and closes once in a predetermined time. When a game ball enters the second start winning opening 97, the prize winning opening 92 for an accessory is opened and closed twice in a predetermined time. If a game ball is taken into the apparatus while the winning prize winning opening 92 is open, a payout of a prize ball or a lottery is performed.

An LCD 374 for displaying effects during the game is provided inside the variable winning device 91. In this embodiment, the LCD 374 is a multi-view display that can visually recognize different screens depending on the viewing direction. The user can see different screens when the LCD 374 is viewed from the front and when viewed from the right side. FIG. 2 is merely an example of the structure of the game board and the installation location of the LCD 374 using the multi-view display, and the structure of the game board and the installation position of the LCD 374 in this embodiment are not limited to this. Further, the multi-view display can be configured such that different screens can be visually recognized when viewed from above and when viewed from the front. However, for convenience of explanation, the following description will be made assuming that the LCD 374 is a multi-view display that can visually recognize different screens on the left and right. A screen viewed from the left direction is referred to as a “left image”, and a screen viewed from the right direction is referred to as a “right image”.

B. Control Hardware Configuration: FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control hardware configuration of the gaming machine 30. The gaming machine 30 is controlled by distributed processing of each control board such as the main control board 300, the payout control board 310, the sub control board 350, and the display control board 380. The main control board 300, the payout control board 310, and the sub-control board 350 are each configured as a one-chip microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and perform various control processes according to programs recorded in the ROM. Realize.

In the gaming machine 30 of the embodiment, the input from the outside to the main control board 300 is restricted in order to prevent various frauds. The main control board 300 and the sub control board 350 are connected by a unidirectional parallel electric signal, and the main control board 300 and the payout control board 310 are connected by a bi-directional serial electric signal for the necessity of control processing. Yes. The payout control board 310 and the sub control board 350 operate in accordance with commands from the main control board 300, respectively. The display control board 380 operates in response to a command from the sub control board 350. The gaming machine 30 includes
There is also a mechanism that the main control board 300 directly controls. In the drawing, a solenoid 302 for driving a variable prize device is illustrated as an example of a device controlled by the main control board 300.

To the main control board 300, detection signals from various sensors are input in order to detect an action during the game and an illegal act performed during the game. Some of them are illustrated in the figure. The solenoid sensor 321 detects an abnormality related to the operation of the solenoid 302 that operates the variable winning device. The door opening switch 322 detects the open / closed state of the front frame of the gaming machine 30. The magnetic sensor 323 detects the presence or absence of cheating using a magnet. The start port switch 325 detects the presence / absence of a winning at the starting winning port for performing a big win lottery. The winning detector 301 detects a winning of a ball to a winning opening other than the starting winning opening. In the gaming machine 30, the game balls won in each of the above-described winning holes are collected into one flow path on the back of the game board. The winning ball counting switch 326 wins the above-described winning opening and counts the number of game balls collected. In addition to this, various detection signals can be input to the main control board 300. For example, when a distribution mechanism using a rotating body is provided in the variable winning device, the rotation of the rotating body is normal. A switch (sometimes referred to as an index sensor) may be provided for detecting whether or not the operation is performed.

Other controls during the game are performed via the payout control board 310 and the sub-control board 350. The payout control board 310 controls the launch and payout of the ball being played in the following procedure. The launch of the sphere is controlled directly by the launch control board 312. That is, when the player operates the operation handle, the launch control board 312 controls the launch motor 313 to launch a ball. The payout control board 310 indirectly controls the launch of the sphere by sending a launch control signal to the launch control board 312.

When a command indicating that a prize has been won during the game is received from the main control board 300, the payout control board 310 controls the payout motor 315 to pay out a specified number of balls while counting the number of balls. The payout control board 310 detects the shortage of spheres stored for payout by the ball break switch 314, and outputs a ball shortage detection signal to the sub control board 350 via the main control board 300. In response to this signal, the sub control board 350 turns on a predetermined part of the frame decoration lamp 376.

The sub control board 350 controls effects such as voice, display, and lamp lighting during the game. These effects vary according to the status during the game, such as a normal time, a prize, a big win, an error, an alarm when an illegal act or other abnormality occurs. When an effect command corresponding to each status is transmitted from the main control board 300, the sub-control board 350 activates a program corresponding to each command to realize the effect instructed from the main control board 300. .

In this embodiment, the sub control board 350 directly controls the speaker 351 as shown in the figure. A plurality of speakers 351 may be connected. The LCD 374 controls the display control board 380. The circuit configuration of the display control board 380 will be described later. The lamps to be controlled by the sub-control board 350 include a panel decoration lamp 372 provided on the game board surface and a frame decoration lamp 376 provided on the frame. The sub-control board 350 is connected to these lamps 372 and 376 via a lamp driving board 370 and a lamp relay board 375, and each lamp can blink individually.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of the display control board 380. Display control board 380 outputs drive data for displaying a screen on LCD 374 in response to a display command received from sub control board 350. The drive data is data indicating display gradation values of the R, G, and B pixels provided in a matrix on the LCD 374. The pixel arrangement in the LCD 374 is shown in an enlarged view on the upper side of the figure. The letter R at the beginning of the code attached to each pixel represents red, G represents green, and B represents blue. The last character, L, represents the left image, and R represents the right image. In order to make it easier to grasp the arrangement of the pixels for the left image and the right image, the pixels for the left image are hatched in the drawing. As illustrated, in the LCD 374, pixels for the left image and pixels for the right image are alternately arranged in the left-right direction. Since the surface of these pixels is provided with a parallax barrier, the player can view only the pixels for the left image when viewing the LCD 374 from the left side, and the right image when viewed from the right side. Only the pixels for use can be visually recognized.

The display control board 380 is provided with various circuits illustrated in order to realize a function of generating drive data corresponding to a display command. First, the display control board 380 is provided with a CPU 381, a RAM 382, and a ROM 383 as a microcomputer for controlling generation of drive data. The ROM 383 stores a display program for generating drive data, a screen to be displayed in response to a display command, a scheduler for defining the display time, a display order, and screen data for defining the configuration of each screen. Although the contents of the screen data will be described later, at this stage, the data does not correspond to the pixels of the LCD 374. The screen data is data that specifies the configuration of the left image and the right image individually, or data that specifies a screen in which the left image and the right image are arranged on the left and right (hereinafter referred to as a “connected screen”). .

The CPU 381 refers to the ROM 383, extracts screen data corresponding to the display command, and outputs it to a VDP (Video Display Processor) 385. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the processing contents in the rearrangement circuit 390 are switched in accordance with the contents of the screen data. In order to realize this switching, the control signal CTL can be output from the CPU 381 to the rearrangement circuit 390.

The character ROM 386 stores sprite data, that is, data representing a sprite displayed on the screen as a bitmap. The VDP 385 extracts sprite data to be displayed from the character ROM based on the screen data received from the CPU 381, generates display data, that is, data obtained by bitmap-expanding the image to be displayed, and outputs the generated data to the rearrangement circuit 390. . Hereinafter, a storage area for developing a bitmap is referred to as a “canvas”. Since the display data is drawn based on the screen data, at this stage, the left image and the right image are each represented in a grouped area on the canvas. The display data is output in such a manner that data in a range excluding the peripheral portion that cannot be displayed on the LCD 374 is sequentially output in units of pixels from the upper left pixel.

The rearrangement circuit 390 rearranges the display data from the VDP 385 to the LCD 374, that is, rearranges the left image data and the right image data alternately, and outputs the rear image data to the LCD 374. Hereinafter, data that has been rearranged and is ready to be output to the LCD 374 will be referred to as drive data.

The rearrangement is performed by the following circuit using the line memory 397. The line memory 397 is a memory for storing data of pixels of one raster of the LCD 374, that is, one row in the horizontal direction. The timing generation circuit 391 receives the synchronization signal output from the VDP 385, that is, the horizontal blanking signal, the vertical blanking signal, and the dot clock, and outputs the synchronization signal to the LCD 374 at the timing of the start point of one frame.

The address generation circuit 392 is a circuit that sets an address when reading from and writing to the line memory 397. When display data of the left image is sequentially output from the VDP 385, the address generation circuit 392 sets a storage address so that every other display data is stored in the line memory 397. Similarly, when the display data of the right image is sequentially output, the storage address is set so that every other line is stored in the line memory 397. In this embodiment, the address generation circuit 392 realizes rearrangement into drive data by controlling the storage location of display data.

The input memory 393 is a buffer that temporarily holds display data for one line when the display data received from the VDP 385 is written to the line memory 397. The output memory 394 is a buffer for reading the rearranged drive data from the line memory 397 and outputting it to the LCD 374. The line memory 397 is a memory having a capacity capable of storing two lines. The storage area for two lines (hereinafter, one is called a first line area and the other is called a second line area) functions as a so-called double buffer. While the display data is being written in the first line area while being rearranged, drive data that has been rearranged and stored in the previous process is read from the second line area. When reading from the second line area is completed, read / write is switched, the rearranged drive data is read from the first line area, and the display data is written to the second line area while being rearranged. The arbitration controller 395 controls the timing so that input and output to the line memory 397 do not interfere, and generates an address for rearranging and writing and an address for reading rearranged data to the address generation circuit 392. Request.

C. Screen Display Example: FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example on the LCD 374. FIG. 5A shows a left image example, and FIG. 5B shows a right image example. As shown in the drawing, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the screen example 115, a moving image of a landscape including a road with a right curve is displayed in the right image. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the screen example 115, in the left image, a moving image of a landscape including a road with a right curve is displayed along with a mirror image 402 reflected on the vehicle door mirror at the right end. In the mirror image 402, a sprite 412 approaching from the rear of the vehicle is displayed. The player can view the right image in FIG. 5B by looking into the LCD 374 from the right side during the game. For example, the type and position of the sprite 412 can represent the reliability of the reach that occurs during the game of the pachinko machine, etc. Can be increased. This is merely an example of a display screen on a multi-view display, and the LCD 374 can be used in a wider variety of ways.

D. Driving Data Generation Method: FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a driving data generation method for displaying a multi-view display. FIG. 6A illustrates screen data. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal panel having 800 pixels in the horizontal direction and 600 pixels (800 × 600) in the vertical direction is used as the LCD 374. Since the left image and the right image are simultaneously displayed on the liquid crystal panel, each image is displayed with 400 × 600 pixels. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the screen data is prepared as data constituting the left image IML and the right image IMR in an area of 400 × 600 pixels.

The screen data is not data obtained by bitmap-expanding the display screen, but data defining a figure or the like to be drawn on the display screen. As shown in FIG. 6A, when displaying the sprite CH1, the screen data specifies the type of the sprite CH1 and specifies the coordinates (X1, Y1) of the representative point of the sprite CH1. The arrangement of the sprite CH1 is defined. In the example shown in the figure, the lower left corner of the sprite CH1 is the representative point. However, the representative point can be arbitrarily set. The same designation is made for the sprite CH2 shown in the figure. When a plurality of sprites overlap each other like sprites CH1 and CH2 in the figure, the screen data also defines the vertical relationship.

The screen data also defines drawing of graphics other than sprites. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when a straight line is drawn, a “straight line” is designated as a figure to be drawn, and the start point coordinates (XL1, YL1) and the end point coordinates (XL2, YL2) are designated. To do.

FIG. 6B shows an example of display data generated based on the screen data. This is data generated by the VDP 385. A portion indicated by a broken line in the figure represents a canvas for developing an image into a bitmap when generating display data. As shown in the drawing, the area representing the left image IML and the area representing the right image IMR are each defined as a rectangular area of 400 × 600 pixels. A dummy area of width d pixels is provided between the left image IML and the right image IMR. In addition, the canvas is provided with areas to be called margins around the left image IML and the right image IMR. The width in the left-right direction of the peripheral portion is Mx pixels, and the height in the vertical direction is My pixels.

The canvas is provided with the dummy region d and the peripheral portion for the following reason. As described above, in this embodiment, an image is drawn using sprite data. In this case, the sprite is not always arranged so as to be entirely contained in the left image IML and the right image IMR. As shown in FIG. 6B, there is a case where a part is arranged so as to protrude. If no dummy area is prepared between the left image IML and the right image IMR, a part of the sprite CH1 protrudes into the right image IMR. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to perform processing for deleting a portion of the sprite CH1 that protrudes from the left image IML at the time of display data generation. On the other hand, when the dummy area is provided, even if the sprite CH1 is arranged in a state of partially protruding from the left image IML, the protruding part is only drawn in the dummy area. The right image IMR is not affected. Therefore, the left image IML and the right image IMR can be appropriately rendered without determining whether or not the sprite protrudes. The peripheral part is also for the same reason. That is, when the sprite is arranged on the upper side, the left side, the lower side, etc. of the left image IML, and a part of the sprite protrudes from the left image IML, it is not necessary to perform processing such as deleting a part of the sprite by the action of the peripheral part. The drawing becomes possible. The above description has been made taking the left image IML as an example, but the same applies to the right image IMR.

In order to obtain the above effect, the width d of the dummy region is preferably set in a range larger than the maximum value that the sprite can protrude from the left image IML or the right image IMR. When there is a possibility that the sprite is rotated and arranged, it is preferable to determine the width of the dummy region d in consideration of the rotation state. In the present embodiment, the width d of the dummy area is set to be twice the maximum width of the sprite with a further allowance.

When the display data in the figure is generated, the VDP 385 sequentially outputs the display data excluding the peripheral portion of the data in the canvas to the rearrangement circuit 390. For example, for the raster R in the display data, the data is sequentially output while scanning the left image IML in the direction of the arrow S1. Thereafter, as shown by the arrow S2, the data output is skipped for the dummy region d, and then the right image IMR is outputted as shown by the arrow S3.

These data are sequentially stored in the line memory 397 in the direction of the arrow SLCD. As described above, the line memory 397 is a memory that stores data for one raster in the order of output to the LCD 374. Since the LCD 374 has the left image pixels and the right image pixels alternately arranged, the display data on the line memory 397 is also arranged with the left and right image data alternately. Accordingly, as shown in the drawing, display data corresponding to the leftmost pixel of the left image IML is stored in the leftmost memory areas R1L, B1L, and G1L of the line memory 397. However, in order to avoid complication of illustration, the arrows are shown only for the memory region R1L. In the memory areas G1R, R1R, and B1R adjacent to the memory areas R1L, B1L, and G1L, display data corresponding to the leftmost pixel of the right image IMR is stored, as indicated by broken lines in the drawing. It is the function of the rearrangement circuit 390 that performs such rearrangement.

If the display data of the left image and the right image is generated, the images can be rearranged in the order for displaying them on the multi-view display by the above-described method. However, in this embodiment, in order to further improve the efficiency of the rearrangement process, when there are overlapping portions in the left and right images, the rearrangement is performed in a manner different from that shown in FIG. . Next, a rearrangement method when there are overlapping portions will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for generating drive data when there are overlapping portions in the left image and the right image. FIG. 7A shows a left image IML and a right image IMR arranged. The left image IML and the right image IMR are the same as the screens shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively. As described above, the left image IML and the right image IMR are common images where the scenery is displayed, and only the mirror image portion reflected in the door mirror of the vehicle is different. The screen data originally defines the entire display content of the left image IML and the right image IMR as described above. However, in the present embodiment, it is possible to further simplify the setting, and as shown below, for the overlapped portions in the left image IML and the right image IMR, preparation of screen data is omitted, and display data is generated. Omitted.

FIG. 7B schematically shows an example of screen data in this embodiment. This is screen data corresponding to FIG. For the left image IML, screen data of the entire display image is prepared. As for the right image, no screen data is prepared for a portion common to the left image IML (hatched portion in the figure) (hereinafter, this region is referred to as an overlapping image IMR1). In the right image IMR, screen data is prepared only for a different part IMR2 from the left image IML.

FIG. 7B also shows display data generated by the VDP 385, assuming that the peripheral part of the canvas and the dummy area are omitted. Since no screen data is prepared for the overlapping image IMR1, display data is not generated in the hatched portion in the figure, and display data is generated only for the different image IMR2. Since the display data generated by the VDP 385 is not stored in the hatched portion, the canvas default value is stored.

FIG. 7C is an enlarged view of the raster R (see FIG. 7B) on the display data. Pixels L1 to L400 correspond to the left image IML, and pixels R1 to R400 correspond to the overlap image IMR1 and the difference image IMR2. A hatched portion represents a pixel of the overlapping image IMR1. The lower part of FIG. 7C also shows how pixels are rearranged. Each cell in the lower stage represents a memory area in the line memory. A partial hatched square indicates a memory area corresponding to the left image, and a blank square indicates a memory area corresponding to the right image.

The pixel L1 of the left image IML corresponds to the pixel R1 of the overlap image IMR1. Therefore, the rearrangement circuit 390 stores the data of the pixel L1 in the memory areas R1L, B1L, and G1L in the line memory, and also stores the data in the memory areas G1R, R1R, and B1R corresponding to the pixel R1. In each memory area, the gradation values of each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) included in the pixel L1 of the display data are stored separately for colors corresponding to the memory area. In the figure, the storage destinations in the memory area are indicated by solid line arrows and broken line arrows, respectively. Similarly, the pixel L2 is stored in the memory area R2L for the left image and the memory area G2R for the right image.

On the other hand, the pixels L399 and L400 of the left image IML correspond to the pixels R399 and R400 of the different images. Accordingly, as indicated by solid line arrows in the figure, the pixels L399 and L400 are stored only in the memory area corresponding to the left image. Pixels R399 and R400 are stored only in the memory area corresponding to the right image. As described above, when the overlapping image IMR1 exists, the display data generated for the left image is written in both the left image memory area and the right image memory area in the line memory, whereby the overlapping image IMR1 is written. The screen data of IMR1 can be omitted, and the generation of display data can be omitted. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the memory capacity for storing screen data and the generation load of display data. In the example of the drawing, the example in which the generation of the display data of the overlapping image IMR1 is omitted in the right image IMR is shown, but all the display data is generated in the right image IMR, and the display data of the overlapping portion in the left image IML is displayed. A method of omitting the generation can also be adopted.

E. Display Control Process: FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the display control process. This is part of the process for generating drive data for the LCD 374 according to the display command by the method shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and is the process until the CPU 381 of the display control board 380 outputs the screen data to the VDP 385. In this embodiment, the CPU 381 executes this process according to the display program in the ROM 383.

When the display control process is started, the CPU 381 inputs a display command from the sub-control board 350 (step S10). Then, the contents of the display command are analyzed and it is determined whether or not individual designation is made (step S12). The individual designation means designation that the left image and the right image are designated by separate screen data, and both are arranged to create a linked screen. If not individually designated (step S12), the CPU 381 reads screen data corresponding to the display command (step S14). An example IMD of screen data is shown in the figure. As shown in the figure, when not individually designated, the left image IML and the right image IMR are prepared as a group of screen data.

On the other hand, in the case of individual designation (step S12), the screen data of the left image and the right image are read (step S16). Then, the left image and the right image are arranged to generate screen data corresponding to the connected screen (step S18). An example of arrangement processing is shown in the figure. For example, consider a case where screen data such as IML1 and IML2 is prepared as the left image and screen data such as IMR1 and IMR2 is prepared as the right image. When the left image IML1 and the right image IMR1 are designated by the display command, the screen data IMD shown in the figure is generated by arranging these screen data on the left and right. In the figure, the screen data of the left image and the screen data of the right screen are prepared separately. However, the two screens selected from the two screens prepared without dividing them are shown. You may arrange | position to the right and left and may produce | generate a connection screen.

Next, the CPU 381 generates control data CTL indicating the difference range between the left image and the right image (step S20). The contents and data structure of the control data CTL can be arbitrarily set. For example, as shown in the figure, if the hatched portion of the right image is the overlapping image IMR1, and the white portion is the different image IMR2, The coordinates of the two vertices P1 and P2 on the diagonal line of the difference image can be used as the control data CTL. The CPU 381 outputs the screen data generated by the above processing to the VDP 385, and outputs the control data CTL to the rearrangement circuit 390 (step S22).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of display data generation processing and drive data output processing. The left display data generation process is a process executed by the VDP 385, and the right drive data output process is a process executed by the rearrangement circuit 390. In this embodiment, the VDP 385 and the rearrangement circuit 390 execute these processes in hardware, but they may be executed in software according to the illustrated flowchart.

When starting the display data generation process, the VDP 385 inputs screen data from the CPU 381 (step S40). This screen data is output by the CPU 381 in step S22 of the display control process (FIG. 8) described above.

The VDP 385 performs drawing on the canvas based on the screen data (step S42). As shown in FIG. 6B, the sprite data is arranged, the figure is drawn, and the screen data is bitmap-developed. When the drawing is completed, the VDP 385 outputs a synchronization signal and display data, that is, RGB data for each pixel, to the rearrangement circuit 390 in units of rasters (step S44). The VDP 385 repeats this process until the output of all rasters is completed (step S46).

When the rearrangement circuit 390 starts the drive data output process, the rearrangement circuit 390 receives the control data CTL output from the CPU 381 (step S60), and receives the synchronization signal and display data output from the VDP 385 (step S62). The input display data is written to the line memory for each pixel in the following procedure. First, the rearrangement circuit 390 determines whether or not the pixel to be processed is a pixel corresponding to the overlapping image (step S64). If the rearrangement circuit 390 is the overlapping image (step S64), the rearrangement circuit 390 As described with reference to FIG. 7C, data is written redundantly to the pixels of the left image / right image (step S66 in FIG. 9). If it is not an overlapping image (step S64), as described above with reference to FIG. 6, the data is rearranged into each pixel of the left image / right image and written (step S68 in FIG. 9).

In this embodiment, in the case of overlapping images, the data of the left image is also used for the right image. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether or not the image is an overlapping image during the processing of the left image. Therefore, the determination in step S64 may be performed by determining whether or not the pixel of the right image corresponding to the pixel to be processed is defined as a duplicate image in the left image. Further, in this embodiment, since the area that should be a different image is specified by the control data CTL, a range that does not correspond to this area is determined to be an overlapping image.

The rearrangement circuit 390 repeats the above processing (steps S64 to S68) until writing for all the pixels of the raster is completed (step S70). When writing for one raster is completed, this data is output as drive data from the line memory 397 to the LCD 374 via the output memory 394 (step S72). As described above with reference to FIG. 4, since the line memory 397 is a double buffer, the above-described writing and output to the LCD 374 are performed in parallel. The rearrangement circuit 390 repeatedly executes the above processing until all the rasters are completed (step S74). By outputting drive data for all rasters, the LCD 374 displays the left image and the right screen specified by the screen data.

According to the display control board 380 of the present embodiment described above, the LCD 374 using the multi-view display can be efficiently driven with a light load. First, by providing a dummy area (see FIG. 6) on the canvas, it is possible to effectively use sprite data with a light load even when a multi-view display is used. Secondly, the left image and the right image can be individually specified (see step S18 in FIG. 8), so that a variety of combinations of images can be displayed on the LCD 374. Can be realized. Thirdly, for duplicate images (see FIG. 7), it is possible to reduce the processing load when generating display data by writing the display data generated in the left image or right image in duplicate in both images. it can. However, the above-described features described in the embodiments need not be all provided, and some of them may be omitted.

F. Modification: F1. Determination of whether or not the image is an overlapping image: In the embodiment, an example is shown in which it is determined whether or not each pixel corresponds to an overlapping image based on the control signal CTL output from the CPU 381. This determination can also be made by other methods. For example, a value that is not used in the display data may be set as the default value of each pixel on the canvas. With this setting, this value is unique to the duplicate image. As such a value, a value very close to black, a gradation value (R, G, B) of (00, 00, 01) or the like can be used. In the display data, the gradation value (00, 00, 00) is used as black, and the use of (00, 00, 01) may be avoided. When a natural image is used, the gradation value may be partially corrected so that the gradation value (00, 00, 01) is not generated when the display data is generated. By using the unique value in this way, the rearrangement circuit 390 can determine whether or not the images are overlapping based on the gradation value of the display data output from the VDP 385.

As another example, control data for specifying a duplicate image may be stored in a part of display data output from the VDP 385. For example, a method of storing in the header portion of the display data can be adopted. The rearrangement circuit 390 can determine whether or not there are duplicate images based on the control data.

F2. Rearrangement into drive data: FIG. 10 is a flowchart of drive data output processing as a modification. In the embodiment, the case where the rearrangement corresponding to the multi-view display is performed when the display data is written in the line memory 397 is illustrated. This rearrangement can also be performed when data is output from the line memory 397 to the LCD 374. In the modified example, processing for performing rearrangement when reading display data from the line memory 397 will be described. This process is a process executed by the rearrangement circuit 390. Specifically, the address generation circuit 392 is a process executed by controlling the read address of data from the line memory 397.

When the drive data output process in the modification is started, the rearrangement circuit 390 receives the control data CTL from the CPU 381 (step S60), and receives the synchronization signal and display data from the VDP 385 (step S62). Then, the display data input to the line memory 397 is written (step S63). No sorting is done at this stage. Therefore, the line memory 397 stores the left image data and the right image data in continuous areas.

Next, the rearrangement circuit 390 determines whether or not the pixel to be processed is a duplicate image (step S64A), and in the case of a duplicate image, from the same memory area on the line memory for the left image and the right image. Data is read out (step S66A). If it is not an overlapping image, the left image data and the right image data are rearranged and read from the line memory 397 (step S68A).

When the process for the duplicate image is performed at the time of writing to the line memory 397, as described in the embodiment, it is desirable to determine whether or not the image is a duplicate image when storing the data of the left image. On the other hand, when the process for the duplicate image is performed at the time of reading from the line memory 397 as in the modification, it is desirable to determine whether or not the image is the duplicate image when reading the data of the right image. That is, when data is read from the line memory 397 at the timing when the right image data is to be output, it is determined whether or not it is a duplicate image, and in the case of a duplicate image, the left image data is read redundantly. is there.

The rearrangement circuit 390 repeats the processes of steps S64A to S68A until the output of drive data for one raster is completed (step S70A). Further, the process from step S62 onward is repeatedly executed until the data output for all the rasters on the LCD 374 is completed (step S74A). Also by the drive data output process of the modified example described above, it is possible to omit generation of the screen data and display data of the duplicate image by switching the processing method depending on whether or not the image is a duplicate image. Of course, what is shown in FIG. 10 is merely an example, and in the modified example, by omitting steps S64A and S66A, the data may be rearranged at the time of reading regardless of whether or not the images are duplicated. Is possible.

G. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, application to a pachinko machine has been described as an example, and the LCD 374 has been described as an example in which different screens can be viewed when viewed from the left and right directions. In the embodiment, the processing example in the case where the left image and the right image are updated at the same image update cycle is shown. In addition to this, this embodiment can take various configurations. In the following, as a second embodiment, a case where a multi-view display is provided so that different screens can be visually recognized when viewed from above and below in an example of application to a slot machine will be described. Furthermore, an image viewed from below (hereinafter referred to as “lower image”) is updated in a short cycle, and an image viewed from above (hereinafter referred to as “upper image”) is updated in a long cycle of several seconds. An example, that is, an example in which the lower image and the upper image have different image update cycles will be described. Here, the update means that the content of the screen to be displayed on the LCD 374 is not changed, but the drive data is not output again on the LCD 374.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the gaming machine of the second embodiment. The slot machine 10 which is a spinning type gaming machine is a gaming machine which plays a game using a medal (game medal) as a game medium as a game value. “Game value” means that a game is played for a single game in a game hall (hall), and is paid out as a privilege according to the result of the game.

A front view of the slot machine 10 is shown on the left side of the figure, and an AA cross-sectional view is shown on the right side. In order to avoid complication of the drawing, only the door portion of the slot machine 10 is shown in the AA sectional view. The slot machine 10 includes a large LCD 21 (the screen size is about 19 inches in this embodiment) on the upper side. Three cylindrical reels 22 are arranged below the LCD 21. These reels 22 are drawn with game symbols, and can be rotated about the horizontal direction in the drawing as a rotation axis.

When the player inserts a medal and operates the start lever 15, the reel 22 starts to rotate. When the player operates the three stop buttons 16 respectively, the rotation of the reel 22 corresponding to the position of the button can be stopped. The slot machine 10 pays out medals according to the number of medals inserted and the arrangement of symbols when the rotation stops.

The LCD 21 is a multi-view display, and the player can visually recognize the lower image DISP1 when viewed from the lower side, and can view a different upper image DISP2 when viewed from the upper side. . The slot machine 10 performs an effect display during the game using the LCD 21. Although both the lower image DISP1 and the upper image DISP2 may be used for effect display by using the function of the multi-view display, in this embodiment, the lower image DISP1 performs effect display, and the upper image DISP2 displays a slump graph. Is to be displayed. The slump graph is a graph showing the history data of the difference number of medals in the past game of the slot machine 10 and the history of the difference number of medals in the current game, and is used to advantageously advance the game in the slot machine 10. It is one of the support information.

The slump graph does not need to be frequently updated as in the effect display, and it is sufficient to update the slump graph at a frequency of about once every several seconds. Since the image has a long update cycle in this way, the slump graph can be handled as one of the still images. In the following, the display control of the LCD 21 will be described by taking as an example a case where a moving image as an effect display is displayed on the lower image DISP1 and a still image is displayed on the upper image DISP2. Also in the second embodiment, the configuration of the display control board 380 for controlling the display of the LCD 21 is the same as that of the embodiment (see FIG. 4). However, the line memory 397 is used in the embodiment, but the second embodiment is different in that a frame memory capable of storing data for all the pixels of the LCD 21 is used.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the display control process in the second embodiment. This is a process executed by the CPU 381 of the display control board 380. When this process is started, the CPU 381 inputs a display command from the sub-control board (step S100). Then, it is determined whether or not it is a still image update timing (step S102). The update of the still image may be instructed by a display command, or may be periodically performed at intervals of several seconds.

When it is not the update timing of the still image (step S102), the CPU 381 reads the effect screen, that is, the screen data of the lower image DISP1 (step S104). Since it is not necessary to update the still image, the data of the upper image DISP2 is not read. The hatching in the figure indicates this. On the other hand, at the update timing of the still image (step S102), the CPU 381 reads the production screen data, that is, the screen data of the lower image DISP1, and the still image data, that is, the screen data of the upper image DISP2 (step S106). It is desirable to adopt a method of individually reading the screen data of the lower image DISP1 and the upper image DISP2 and generating the screen data of the connected screens arranged above and below. In addition, the CPU 381 generates control data CTL instructing to update a still image and outputs the control data CTL to the rearrangement circuit 390 (step S108). The control data CTL need only be a flag for instructing whether to update a still image. The CPU 381 outputs the screen data generated by the above process to the VDP 385, and ends the display control process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the display data generation process and the drive data output process in the second embodiment. The display data generation process executed by the VDP 385 is shown on the left side, and the drive data output process executed by the rearrangement circuit 390 is shown on the right side. When the display data generation process is started, the VDP 385 inputs screen data from the CPU 381 (step S120) and performs drawing on the canvas (step S122). The drawing is illustrated in the figure. The left side shows the state when the still image is not updated. The broken line represents the canvas. In this case, only the lower image DISP1 to be updated is drawn on the canvas. The right side is a state when a still image is updated. In this case, the lower image DISP1 and the upper image DISP2 are drawn on the canvas. A dummy area is provided between the two, as in the first embodiment. As described with reference to FIG. 6B, even if the sprite is arranged in a state of protruding from one of the lower image DISP1 and the upper image DISP2, the other image is not affected. In the second embodiment, since the images are arranged in the vertical direction, it is preferable that the interval between the dummy areas is determined based on the maximum height of the sprite. When the display data is generated as described above, the VDP 385 sequentially outputs to the rearrangement circuit 390 in units of rasters until all rasters are completed together with the synchronization signal (steps S124 and S126).

When the rearrangement circuit 390 starts the drive data output process, the control data CTL is input from the CPU 381 (step S140), the synchronization signal and display data from the VDP 385 are input (step S142), and the contents of the frame memory are updated. (Step S144). The update method is shown in the figure. The memory area of the frame memory is schematically shown in the center. Rasters R1U and R2U (hatched rasters in the figure) represent data memory areas for displaying the upper image DISP2, and rasters R1L and R2L represent data memory areas for displaying the lower image DISP1. Yes. In the second embodiment, in order to change the displayed image in the vertical direction, the data of the upper image DISP2 and the lower image DISP1 are alternately arranged in raster units.

When the still image is not updated, only the display data of the lower image DISP1 is output from the VDP 385 as shown on the left side of the figure. The rearrangement circuit 390 updates the rasters R1L, R2L, etc. corresponding to the lower image DISP1 with this display data. The previous display data is still stored in the rasters R1U and R2U corresponding to the upper image DISP2. On the other hand, when the still image is updated, as shown on the right side of the figure, the display data of both the upper image DISP2 and the lower image DISP1 are output from the VDP 385. The rearrangement circuit 390 stores the data of the upper image DISP2 in the rasters R1U and R2U for the upper image, stores the data of the lower image DISP1 in the rasters R1L and R2L for the lower image, and stores the contents of the entire frame memory. Update. The rearrangement circuit 390 repeatedly executes the above processing until writing for all rasters is completed (step S146), outputs the frame memory data to the LCD 21 (step S148), and ends the drive data output processing.

In the second embodiment described above, the frame memory is used, and when it is not the update timing of the still image, only the portion corresponding to the moving image is updated in the data of the frame memory. As a result, when the still image is not updated, display can be performed using the previous data in the frame memory, and generation of display data for the still image can be omitted. Therefore, in the second embodiment, display of moving images and still images can be realized with a light processing load.

Also in the second embodiment, various modifications described in the first embodiment can be applied. For example, whether or not it is the update timing of the still image may use the control data CTL, or may embed a gradation value specific to the non-update timing in the display data. Further, data corresponding to the control data may be attached to the header of the display data.

As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. Various configurations described in the first embodiment can be applied to a slot machine. Moreover, you may apply the structure demonstrated in 2nd Example to the pachinko machine.

(Solution 1)
  A gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on the surface of the game board,

  In the display device, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In some cases, it is a multi-view display that can visually recognize the second screen,

  A sub-control board that outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the state of the game;

  A display control board that receives the display command from the sub-control board and drives the display device;

  The display control board is:

    A screen data storage unit for storing screen data defining a configuration of a display screen to be displayed on the display device;

    A drawing control unit that determines a screen to be displayed according to the display command and outputs a drawing command based on the screen data;

    A character memory for recording sprite data representing a predetermined sprite displayed on the display screen in pixel units of the display device;

    In accordance with the drawing command, the designated sprite data is arranged at the designated position, and the images corresponding to the screen data are grouped on the canvas having a predetermined number of pixels for each of the first screen and the second screen. A display data generation unit that generates display data of the first screen and the second screen by drawing in the drawn area;

    A rearrangement circuit that generates drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in units of pixels and outputs the drive data to the display device;

  The canvas has a dummy area of a predetermined size between the drawing area for the first screen and the drawing area for the second screen,

  A gaming machine in which the display data generation unit or the rearrangement circuit ignores the display data corresponding to the dummy area in the process of generating the drive data.

  (Solution 2)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 1, comprising:

  A gaming machine in which the dummy area is set to a size that allows the sprite data to be arranged without protruding from the dummy area.

  (Solution 3)
A gaming machine according to Solution 1 or 2,
  The display data generation unit outputs display data including the dummy area to the rearrangement circuit,
  A gaming machine in which the rearrangement circuit generates the drive data by performing the rearrangement while ignoring the dummy area.

  (Solution 4)
A gaming machine according to Solution 3,
  The rearrangement circuit includes:
  A storage unit for storing the display data for at least one raster;
  A gaming machine comprising: an address generation circuit for setting a storage address in the storage unit so as to store the display data received from the display data generation unit after performing the rearrangement.

  (Solution 5)
  A gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on the surface of the game board,
  In the display device, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In some cases, it is a multi-view display that can visually recognize the second screen,
  A sub-control board that outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the state of the game;
  A display control board that receives the display command from the sub-control board and drives the display device;
  The display control board is:
    A screen data storage unit for storing screen data defining a configuration of a display screen to be displayed on the display device;
    A drawing control unit that determines a screen to be displayed according to the display command and outputs a drawing command based on the screen data;
    In accordance with the drawing command, a display data generation unit that generates a display data of the first screen and the second screen by drawing in a collective drawing area on a canvas having a predetermined number of pixels;
    A rearrangement circuit that generates drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in units of pixels and outputs the drive data to the display device;
  The display data generation unit generates the display data only for a portion of the first screen or the second screen except for an overlapping portion with the other screen,
  The rearrangement circuit determines whether or not each pixel constituting the drive data is the overlapping portion, and uses the generated display data for both the first screen and the second screen for the overlapping portion, A game machine that generates the drive data using display data unique to the first screen and the second screen for the other portions.

  (Solution 6)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 5,
  The drawing control unit outputs control data for specifying an overlapping portion of the first screen and the second screen to the rearrangement circuit;
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether or not the overlapping portion is based on the control data.

  (Solution 7)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 5,
  In the display data, the pixel corresponding to the overlapping portion stores data preset as a value unique to the overlapping portion,
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether or not the overlapping portion is based on a data value stored in the display data.

  (Solution 8)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 5,
  The display data stores, in part, control data for specifying the overlapping portion,
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether or not the overlapping portion is based on the control data.

  (Solution 9)
  A gaming machine according to any one of the solutions 5 to 8,
  The rearrangement circuit includes:
  A storage unit for storing the display data for at least one raster;
  A gaming machine having an address generation circuit for setting a storage address in the storage unit so as to store the display data received from the display data generation unit while performing the process of generating the drive data.

  (Solution 10)
  A gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on the surface of the game board,
  In the display device, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In some cases, it is a multi-view display that can visually recognize the second screen,
  A sub-control board that outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the state of the game;
  A display control board that receives the display command from the sub-control board and drives the display device;
  The display control board is:
    A screen data storage unit for storing screen data individually defining the configuration of the first screen or the second screen;
    According to the display command, a screen to be displayed on each of the first screen and the second screen is determined, screen data defining each screen is arranged vertically or horizontally, and the first screen and the second screen are displayed. A drawing control unit for outputting a drawing command for drawing a single screen including:
    Display data generation for generating display data of the first screen and the second screen by drawing an image corresponding to the screen data in a collective drawing area having a predetermined number of pixels in accordance with the drawing command And
    A gaming machine comprising: a rearrangement circuit that generates drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in pixel units and outputs the drive data to the display device.

  (Solution 11)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 10, comprising:

  The screen data storage unit further stores screen data in a state where both the first screen and the second screen are arranged,

  When the drawing control unit receives a display command to use the screen data in which both are arranged, the drawing control unit reads the screen data corresponding to the display command, omits the arrangement, and draws the command based on the screen data. A game machine that outputs.

  (Solution 12)
  A gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on the surface of the game board,
  In the display device, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In some cases, it is a multi-view display that can visually recognize the second screen,
  A sub-control board that outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the state of the game;
  A display control board that receives the display command from the sub-control board and drives the display device;
  The display control board is:
    A screen data storage unit for storing screen data individually defining the configuration of the first screen or the second screen;
    A drawing control unit that determines a screen to be displayed in at least one of the first screen and the second screen in accordance with the display command, and outputs a drawing command for drawing the determined screen;
    In accordance with the drawing command, an image corresponding to the screen data is drawn in a drawing area on the canvas having a predetermined number of pixels, thereby generating display data of at least one of the first screen and the second screen. A display data generation unit;
    A frame memory for storing the display data for one frame including the first screen and the second screen;
    A rearrangement circuit that generates drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in units of pixels using the frame memory, and outputs the drive data to the display device And
  The rearrangement circuit determines whether the display data includes both the first screen and the second screen in the rearrangement process, and displays the display among the first screen and the second screen. A gaming machine that updates the contents of the frame memory with data included in the data.

  (Solution means 13)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 12,
  The drawing control unit outputs control data indicating whether to update both the first screen and the second screen to the rearrangement circuit;
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether to update the data of both screens in the frame memory based on the control data.

  (Solution 14)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 12,
  In the display data, data set in advance as a value of the non-updated screen is stored in pixels for the non-updated screen of the first screen and the second screen,
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether to update the data of both screens in the frame memory based on a data value stored in the display data.

  (Solution 15)
  A gaming machine according to Solution 12,
  The display data partially stores control data indicating whether or not to update both the first screen and the second screen,
  The rearrangement circuit is a gaming machine that determines whether to update the data of both screens in the frame memory based on the control data.

It is a front view of game machine 30 as an example. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a configuration example of a game area 37. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration for controlling the gaming machine 30. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure of the display control board | substrate 380. FIG. FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen display example on the LCD 374. It is explanatory drawing which shows the production | generation method of the drive data for displaying a multi view display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the production | generation method of drive data when an overlap part exists in a left image and a right image. It is a flowchart of a display control process. It is a flowchart of a display data generation process and a drive data output process. It is a flowchart of the drive data output process as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the game machine of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart of the display control process in 2nd Example. It is a flowchart of the display data generation process and drive data output process in 2nd Example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine 15 ... Start lever 16 ... Stop button 21 ... LCD 22 ... Reel 30 ... Game machine 31 ... Opening window 37 ... Game area 90 ... Windmill 91 ... Variable prize-winning device 92 ... Prize winning port 96 ... First start Prize opening 97 ... Second start prize opening 98 ... General prize opening 115 ... Screen example 300 ... Main control board 301 ... Winning detector 302 ... Solenoid 310 ... Discharge control board 312 ... Launch control board 313 ... Launch motor 314 ... Ball cut switch 315... Dispensing motor 321. Solenoid sensor 322. Door opening switch 323. Magnetic sensor 325. ... Lamp relay board 376 ... Frame decoration lamp 380 ... Control board 381 ... CPU 382 ... RAM 383 ... ROM 385 ... VDP 386 ... Character ROM 390 ... Sort circuit 391 ... Timing generator 392 ... Address generator 393 ... Input memory 394 ... Output memory 395 ... Arbitration controller 397 ... Line memory 402: Mirror image 412 ... Sprite

Claims (2)

A gaming machine that performs a predetermined effect display during a game by a display device provided on the surface of the game board,
In the display device, the pixels for the first screen and the pixels for the second screen are alternately arranged, and when viewed from the first direction, the first screen can be visually recognized and observed from the second direction. In some cases, it is a multi-view display that can visually recognize the second screen,
A sub-control board that outputs a display command for controlling the effect display according to the state of the game;
A display control board that receives the display command from the sub-control board and drives the display device;
The display control board is:
A screen data storage unit for storing screen data individually defining the configuration of the first screen or the second screen;
According to the display command, a screen to be displayed on each of the first screen and the second screen is determined, screen data defining each screen is arranged vertically or horizontally, and the first screen and the second screen are displayed. A drawing control unit for outputting a drawing command for drawing a single screen including:
Display data generation for generating display data of the first screen and the second screen by drawing an image corresponding to the screen data in a collective drawing area having a predetermined number of pixels in accordance with the drawing command And
A gaming machine comprising: a rearrangement circuit that generates drive data in which display data for the first screen and display data for the second screen are alternately arranged in pixel units and outputs the drive data to the display device . A gaming machine according to claim 1,
The screen data storage unit further stores screen data in a state where both the first screen and the second screen are arranged,
When the drawing control unit receives a display command to use the screen data in which both are arranged, the drawing control unit reads the screen data corresponding to the display command, omits the arrangement, and draws the command based on the screen data. A game machine that outputs .