JP5047560B2 - Display unit lighting device for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display unit illumination device for gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines.

A display unit illumination device of a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine is provided with a light transmissive display unit divided into a plurality on the front surface of the gaming machine, and by installing an illumination unit on the back side of the display unit, By illuminating the display unit with the lighting unit from the back side and illuminating the game information formed by characters, designs, colors, etc. depicted on each display unit, the game state at that time is notified to the player. . The lighting unit includes a frame-shaped housing that is installed on the back side of the display unit, and a plurality of light sources that are arranged in the housing so as to face each display unit and irradiate each display unit from the back side. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2554673

  However, since the illumination unit in the display unit illumination device of the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a light source for each compartment by dividing the housing into a plurality of compartments so as to correspond to each display unit, For example, when a change occurs in the number, size, etc. of the display unit due to a model change, a game theme change, etc., the lighting unit must be changed to correspond to the changed display unit. For this reason, a plurality of different types of illumination units corresponding to the number and size of the display units are required, and there is a problem that the illumination units cannot be shared.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a display unit illumination device for a gaming machine that enables sharing of an illumination unit among models having different numbers and sizes of display units. To do.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows.
(1) A display area on which a plurality of game information formed by characters, designs, colors, and the like including a light transmitting area and a light non-transmitting area is provided on the surface of the gaming machine, and the display area is illuminated from the back side. In the display unit lighting device of the gaming machine that displays the gaming information by illuminating with, the lighting unit includes a housing disposed so as to surround a back side of the display area, and a plurality of the housings. there the Setsuban specifications oriented in the longitudinal direction for dividing the compartments, the rear of the housing, is provided for each of the compartments, and a plurality of light sources capable of irradiating the rear surface of the display area, the display area One light source provided in any one of the two compartments adjacent to each other among the plurality of compartments between the back surface of the partition plate and the front end surface of the partition plate facing the back surface In the case where only one light source is emitted, the light transmission region in the one display unit is illuminated by illuminating the back side of the one display unit facing the one compartment in the display area by the light of the one light source. The game information is displayed, and the light from the one light source is applied to the boundary facing the front end surface of the partition plate on the back surface of the display area and the other display section facing the other compartment of the two compartments. When light is leaked so that the vicinity of the boundary can be irradiated, and both light sources provided in the two compartments are caused to emit light at the same time, the light transmission region and the other in the one display unit by the light sources. Illuminate each of the light transmissive regions in the display unit and overlap the light from the two light sources with each other on the boundary, the one display unit, and the other display unit. The leak parts that can be displayed as near to leaking light so as to irradiate the successive said game information depicted across between both display section of the boundary provided that, in at least one of said game information The light transmissive region is provided within the safe range so as not to protrude from a safe range excluding a range irradiated by light leakage from the light leak unit in the display unit.

(2) In the above item (1), the light leakage portion is a gap formed between the back surface of the display area and the entire front end surface of the partition plate facing the back surface .

(3) In the above item (1) or (2), a light diffusion part for diffusing light leakage from the light leakage part of the light source is provided on the front end face of the partition plate.

(4) In the above item (3), the light diffusing portion is formed in an uneven shape on the front end face of the partition plate.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the invention of claim 1, between the front end surface of the partition plate and the back surface of the display area facing the front end surface, the light of the light source facing one of the display portions adjacent to each other, The two display units are arranged such that light is leaked so that the vicinity of the boundary between one display unit and the other display unit among the two display units can be irradiated, and the light of both light sources opposed to the two display units are superimposed on each other. By providing a light leakage part that leaks light so that the vicinity of the boundary between the two can be irradiated, when a light source facing one of the display parts adjacent to each other is caused to emit light, By irradiating the display unit, the game information depicted on the display unit can be displayed. In addition, when both light sources opposed to each of the display units are caused to emit light at the same time, the two light sources illuminate the boundary between the display units and the display units, and the large size depicted so as to straddle both display units. The game information can be illuminated continuously. Thereby, it is possible to share the lighting unit among models having different numbers and sizes of display units.
In addition, by providing the light transmission area in at least one game information within the safety range so that it does not protrude from the display range on the display unit excluding the range irradiated by light leakage, both adjacent to each other. Since the light of the light source facing one of the display units does not illuminate the light transmission part of the game information depicted on the other display unit, only the game information on one display unit is reliably illuminated. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily form a light leakage portion that causes light from the light source to leak between the front end surface of the partition plate and the back surface of the display area.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the large game information drawn so as to straddle both the display portions is continued by making use of the boundary between the interference region of the light generated between the two display portions and the irradiation region that is not so. Can be illuminated beautifully.

According to invention of Claim 4, a light-diffusion part can be easily formed in the front end surface of a partition plate, and can illuminate beautifully so that the big game information drawn so that it may straddle both display parts may be continued. it can.

  1 is a front view of a gaming machine (slot machine) to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a front door as viewed from the back side, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lighting unit. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a display area depicting game information, and FIG. 6 is a display area depicting game information in a form different from FIG. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5 for explaining the irradiation area of the light source, FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of the main part, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 9 showing another embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 9 showing still another embodiment. In the following description, the front side in FIG. 1 is the front side, the back side is the back side, the left side is the left side, and the right side is the right side.

The gaming machine (1) includes a housing (2) that accommodates various gaming devices, and a front door (3) that is supported on the front of the housing (2) so as to be openable and closable. Is inserted into a medal insertion portion (4) provided on the right front side of the front door (3), whereby a predetermined game as described later can be played.

  In the present embodiment, the gaming machine (1) is described as a slot machine in which the game medium is a medal or coin. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gaming machine (1) is a game medium. It may be a pachinko machine or a slot machine that uses pachinko balls, or other gaming machines.

  In the housing (2), left, middle and right three rotating reels (5) with identification information composed of multiple types of symbols and numbers on the outer peripheral surface, a hopper capable of storing and paying out medals A unit (not shown), a main control board (not shown) for overall control of the entire game, a sub-control board (not shown) capable of outputting a control signal to the game effect means based on a command of the main control board, and a main Amusement equipment such as a power supply device (not shown) for supplying power to the control board and other electrical equipment is accommodated. As the game effect means, a liquid crystal display unit (6) provided on the back side of the front door (3) and capable of displaying various game information and effect information, a speaker (10) for generating sound effects, and light effects. There is a lamp (11) etc. that excites the effect.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the surface of the lower half of the front door (3), a medal insertion part (4) into which medals are inserted when playing a game, operated when investing credited medals in a game. Bet switch button (12), start switch lever (13) operated when rotating each reel (5), and three stop switches operated when stopping rotation of each reel (5) A button (14), a tray (15) capable of receiving medals, and the like are provided.

  An upper panel plate (31) and a lower panel plate (32) formed of a transparent acrylic plate are fitted into the upper half surface of the front door (3).

  The upper panel plate (31) is provided with an effect information display window (31a) through which game information and effect information displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal display unit (6) can be seen.

  The lower panel plate (32) is provided with a transparent identification information display window (32a) having a rectangular shape in front view through which three pieces of identification information of each rotary reel (5) can be seen through. On the left side of the identification information display window (32a), five light-transmitting effective line display windows (32b) are arranged in the vertical direction, and on the right side, predetermined game information is displayed. A possible display area (321) is provided, and in the lower part, the number of medals paid out and the number of credits (games won) displayed on the central board (16) provided on the back of the front door (3) An information display window through which various information such as the number of medals awarded as prizes and the number of medals inserted into the medal insertion unit (4) are electrically stored in a memory provided in the main control board) can be seen through (32c) is provided.

  The areas other than the display windows (31a) (32a) (32b) (32c) and the display area (321) in the upper panel plate (31) and the lower panel plate (32) are colored, patterned, etc. It is made opaque or translucent.

  Each active line display window (32b) has an active line (upper, middle, lower) according to the number of medals betted by the player on the game by illumination of an active line lighting unit (7) attached to the back side thereof. The number of 5 lines consisting of 3 lines and 2 lines intersecting in a dot-like manner in the center is displayed.

  As an example, in the display area (321), as shown in FIG. 5, game information (A), (B), and (C) formed in characters, designs, colors, and the like are depicted by a printing technique such as screen printing. .

The upper game information (A) includes a light transmissive area (A1) (outlined portion) representing characters and figures, a semi-light transmissive area (A2) (decorating a wide space) around the light transmissive area (A1). (Shaded area) and non-light transmitting area (A3) representing the background (hatched area with a narrow interval). The middle and lower game information (B) (C) is formed by the light transmissive regions (B1) (C1) and the non-light transmissive regions (B3) (C3). Thereby, when the back side of the display area (321) is illuminated by a game information lighting unit (8) to be described later, the light transmissive areas (A1), (B1), (C1) and the semi-light transmissive areas (A2) shine brightly. Thus, the player can be notified of the gaming state at that time. It should be noted that the light transmission region of game information in the present invention is a region that allows light from the light source to be transmitted, and includes light-transmitting and semi-light-transmitting regions.

  The light transmission areas (A1), (B1), and (C1) and the semi-light transmission areas (A2) of the game information (A), (B), and (C) are displayed on display units (321a described later) on the display panel (321). ) (321b) (321c) is depicted within the safety range (L4) (L5) (L6).

  In the game of the gaming machine (1), the player inserts the game medium into the medal insertion part (4), sets the bet number of medals by the bet switch button (12), and then operates the start switch lever (13). Then, it starts by rotating all the rotating reels (5).

  After a predetermined time has passed since the rotating reel (5) has rotated, the three stop switch buttons (14) are sequentially operated to stop the rotation of the rotating reels (5), and the rotating reels arranged in the effective line. The combination of identification information in (5) determines the number of medals to be paid according to the presence / absence of a prize and the size of the prize. When winning a prize, it is added to the credit number at that time by a predetermined number of winning prizes. When the number of credits exceeds the limit number (for example, 50), the number of medals corresponding to the excess amount is paid out from the hopper unit to the tray (15). Further, according to the game state at that time, one of game information (A), (B), and (C) is displayed, and the game situation is notified to the player.

  The game information lighting unit (8) is opposed to the non-light-transmissive synthetic resin housing (81) attached to the back side of the display area (321) in the lower panel (32), and the back side of the display area (321). The printed circuit board (82) fixed to the rear part of the housing (81) with screws (86) and mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board (82), and the back surface of the display area (321) is irradiated from a position separated by a predetermined amount And light sources (83), (84), and (85) constituted by possible light emitting diodes or lamps.

  The housing (81) has an upper wall (811), a lower wall (812), and left and right side walls (813) (813), and is formed in a rectangular frame shape whose front and rear surfaces are open. The interior surrounded by the upper wall (811), lower wall (812) of the housing (81) and the left and right side walls (813) (813) is topped by two non-light transmissive upper and lower partition plates (814) (815). It is divided into three compartments (816), (817) and (818).

  The housing (81) engages the rear portion of the lower wall (812) with an engaging claw (3a) (see FIG. 2) provided on the back surface side of the front door (3), and a screw (87 ) (See FIG. 2), the mounting piece (819) provided on the outer side surface of the right side wall (813) is fastened to the front door (3) to surround the periphery of the display area (321). To be fixed.

The partition plates (814) and (815) are provided so as to face in the front-rear direction, and the front end surface thereof faces the back surface of the display area (321) and is located between the side walls (813) and (813) of the housing (81). Be placed. Thus, the display area (321) displays the upper display information (321a) for displaying the upper game information (A) and the middle game information (B) corresponding to each of the compartments (816) (817) (818). The middle display unit (321b) and the lower display unit (321c) for displaying the lower game information (C) are divided.

The entire area of the front end face of each partition plate (814) (815) is recessed rearward from the respective front end edges of the upper wall (811), the lower wall (812), and the left and right side walls (813) (813). Thus, the front end surface of the upper wall (811), the lower wall (812) and the left and right side walls (813) (813) are brought into contact with the back surface of the lower panel (32), so that the housing (81) is displayed in the display area ( 321) is attached to the back surface of each partition plate (814) (815) between the front end surface and the back surface of the display area (321) facing the front end surface, each light source (83) (84) ( A gap (X) (Y) is formed in the adjacent compartments (816), (817), and (818) as a light leakage part that leaks light of 85) from an oblique direction.

  The front end face of each partition plate (814) (815) is provided with uneven light diffusion portions (814a) (815a) for diffusing light leakage from the gaps (X) (Y). Note that the light diffusion portions (814a) and (815a) may have a wave shape shown in FIG. 9, a sawtooth shape shown in FIG. 10, and a square wave shape shown in FIG. Further, it may be possible to make the unevenness depth, protrusion amount, and interval non-uniform.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the light source (83) accommodated in the upper compartment (816) irradiates the entire area of the upper display section (321a) and leaks light from the gap (X) to display the middle display section (321b). ) And the upper display part (321a) near the boundary (upper side of the middle display part (321b)). That is, the light source (83) irradiates over the entire upper display part (321a) and the upper irradiation range (L1) including a part of the middle display part (321b).

The light source (84) accommodated in the middle compartment (817) irradiates the entire area of the central display section (321b) and leaks light from the gap (X), so that the upper display section (321a) and the central display section ( Irradiates near the boundary of 321b) (the lower side of the upper display part (321a)) and leaks from the gap (Y), resulting in the boundary of the middle display part (321b) and the lower display part (321c) (lower display) Irradiate the vicinity of the upper side of the part (321c). That is, the light source (84) irradiates the entire area of the middle display section (321b) and the middle irradiation range (L2) including a part of the upper and lower display sections (321a) and (321c).

The light source (85) accommodated in the lower compartment (818) irradiates the entire area of the lower display section (321c) and leaks light from the gap (Y), thereby causing the middle display section (321b) and the lower display section ( Irradiate the vicinity of the boundary with 321c) (the lower side of the middle display portion (321b)). That is, the light source (85) irradiates the entire area of the lower display section (321c) and the lower irradiation range (L3) including a part of the middle display section (321b).

As shown in FIG. 5, the light transmission area (A1) and the semi-light transmission area (A2) of the upper game information (A) are from the display range (entire area of the upper display section (321a)) in the upper display section (321a). It is depicted in the upper safety range (L4) so as not to protrude from the upper safety range (L4) excluding the range irradiated by the light leakage of the light source (84). The light transmission area (B1) of the central game information (B) is the range irradiated by the light leakage of the light sources (83) and (85) from the display range (entire area of the central display part (321b)) in the central display part (321b). It is depicted in the central safety range (L5) so as not to protrude from the excluded central safety range (L5). In addition, the light transmission area (C1) of the lower game information (C) excludes the range irradiated by light leakage from the light source (84) from the display range (entire area of the lower display section (321c)) in the lower display section (321c). The lower safety range (L6) is depicted so as not to protrude from the lower safety range (L6).

Also, for example, when both light sources (84) and (85) facing each of the two display units (321b) and (321c) adjacent to each other are caused to emit light at the same time, the middle irradiation range (L2) and the lower irradiation range (L3 ) Overlaps with the area including the boundary between the middle display part (321b) and the lower display part (321c) (the area facing the front end face of the partition plate (815)), and both light sources (84) (E) is generated, and the middle display section (321b) and the lower display section (321c) are illuminated by brightly illuminating the area including the boundary. ) Can be illuminated continuously.

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the display area (321) is divided into upper, middle and lower display sections (321a), (321b) and (321c), and used in a form in which independent game information is displayed. In this case, the light sources facing the display units adjacent to each other are not allowed to emit light simultaneously. For example, when the light source (84) facing the middle display unit (321b) is caused to emit light, the light source (84) displays the upper and lower game information (A) (C) due to light leakage from the gap (X) (Y). Without illuminating, only the light transmission area (B1) of the middle game information (B) is illuminated, and the game information based on the middle game information (B) is displayed, and the game state at that time can be notified to the player. it can. In addition, when either one of the light sources (83) or (85) is caused to emit light, the game information (A) or (C) facing each light source (83) or (85) is also illuminated, The player can be notified of the gaming state at that time.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper game information (A) (the same as the upper game information (A) shown in FIG. 5) and the central display are displayed in the display area (321) as the model is changed and the game theme is changed. When displaying large continuous game information (D) straddling the part (321b) and the lower display part (321c) and displaying the continuous game information (D) in the display area (321), the middle and lower display The light sources (84) and (85) facing the parts (321b) and (321c) are caused to emit light simultaneously. As a result, the light source (84) (85) illuminates the back surface of the middle and lower display parts (321b) and (321c) and brightly illuminates the boundary between the middle display part (321b) and the lower display part (321c). Thus, the continuous game information (D) can be displayed in a continuous form. The continuous game information (D) is formed by a light transmission region (D1), a semi-light transmission region (D2), and a non-light transmission region (D3).

In addition, since a light diffusing portion (815a) for diffusing light leakage from the gap (Y) between the light sources (84) and (85) is provided on the front end surface of the partition plate (815), between the two display portions (321b) ( The boundary (E1) between the interference area (E) of the light generated in 321c) and the other areas (safety range (L5) (L6)) can be obscure, and continuous game information (D ) Can be displayed more smoothly and continuously.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the following various modifications and changes can be made to the present embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention.
(I) The display area of the display area (321), the number of compartments of the housing (81), or the number of partition plates are appropriately changed.
(Ii) The present invention is applied to the effective line illumination unit (7).
(Iii) The light leaking part that leaks the light from the light sources (83), (84), and (85) is replaced with a gap, and a light transmissive member is used. For example, the partition plate (814) (815) is formed of a synthetic resin material so that the front end portion thereof is transparent and transparent, and the other region is non-transmissive, and the light transmitting portion has an uneven shape. The light diffusing part is formed.

1 is a front view of a gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the upper part of the front door seen from the back side. It is a disassembled perspective view of an illumination unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged front view of a display area depicting game information. FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of a display area depicting game information in a form different from FIG. 5. It is the VII-VII line longitudinal cross-sectional view in FIG. 5 explaining the irradiation area | region of a light source. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the principal part. It is the IX-IX line cross-sectional view in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 9 showing another embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view of the same part as FIG. 9 showing still another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Game machine (slot machine)
(2) Housing
(3) Front door
(3a) Engaging claw
(4) Medal insertion part
(5) Rotating reel
(6) Liquid crystal display unit
(7) Effective line lighting unit
(8) Game information lighting unit (lighting unit)
(10) Speaker
(11) Lamp
(12) Bet switch button
(13) Start switch lever
(14) Stop switch button
(15) saucer
(16) Central board
(31) Upper panel board
(31a) Production information display window
(32) Lower panel plate
(32a) Identification information display window
(32b) Effective line display window
(32c) Information display window
(81) Housing
(82) Printed circuit board
(83) (84) (85) Light source
(86) (87) Screw
(321) Display area
(321a) Upper display
(321b) Central display
(321c) Lower display
(811) Upper wall
(812) Bottom wall
(813) Side wall
(814) (815) Partition plate
(814a) (815a) Light diffusion part
(816) (817) (818) Compartment
(819) Mounting piece
(A) Upper game information
(B) Chubu game information
(C) Lower game information
(D) Continuous game information
(A1) (B1) (C1) (D1) Light transmission region
(A2) (D2) Semi-light transmission region
(A3) (B3) (C3) (D3) Non-light-transmissive region
(E) Interference area
(X) (Y) gap (light leakage part)
(L1) Upper irradiation range
(L2) Central irradiation range
(L3) Lower irradiation range
(L4) Upper safety range
(L5) Central safety range
(L6) Lower safety range

Claims (4)

A display area on which a plurality of game information formed by characters, designs, colors, and the like including a light transmission area and a light non-transmission area is provided on the surface of the gaming machine, and the display area is illuminated by a lighting unit from the back side. In the display unit lighting device of the gaming machine configured to display the gaming information by
The lighting unit is:
A housing arranged so as to surround the periphery of the back side of the display area;
And Setsuban Specification oriented in the longitudinal direction for dividing the interior of said housing into a plurality of compartments,
In the rear of the housing, it is provided for each of the compartments, and a plurality of light sources capable of irradiating the rear surface of the display area,
Between the back surface of the display area and the front end surface of the partition plate facing the back surface, only one light source provided in any one of the two compartments adjacent to each other among the plurality of compartments. When the light is emitted, the game information is obtained by illuminating the light transmission region in the one display unit by illuminating the back side of the one display unit facing the one compartment in the display area by the light of the one light source. And the boundary of the light source of the one light source facing the front end surface of the partition plate on the back surface of the display area and the boundary of the other display unit facing either one of the two compartments In the case where light is leaked so as to irradiate the vicinity of the light source, and both light sources provided in the two compartments are caused to emit light at the same time, the light transmission region in the one display unit by the light sources. And illuminates the light transmission region in the other display unit and irradiates the boundary, the vicinity of the boundary in the one display unit, and the other display unit in a state where the lights of the two light sources are superimposed on each other Providing a light leakage portion that allows light to leak so that the game information drawn across both display portions can be displayed continuously ,
The light transmission region in at least one of said game information, so as not to protrude from the safe range excluding the range illuminated by light leakage from the light leakage portion in the display unit, that is provided within the safe range A display unit illumination device for a gaming machine. 2. The display unit illumination device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light leakage part is a gap formed between a back surface of the display area and a whole front end surface of the partition plate facing the back surface. . 3. The display unit illumination device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a light diffusion part for diffusing light leakage from the light leakage part of the light source is provided on a front end surface of the partition plate.   4. The display unit illumination device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the light diffusion part is formed in a concavo-convex shape on a front end surface of the partition plate.

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