JP5424418B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a control command transmitted from a main control unit to a sub-control unit for controlling an effect device that produces an effect in a game.

  As for the control of the effect device in such a gaming machine, in the case of a slot machine, the operation of the start lever for the game start, the setting of the number of bets, the stop operation of the symbol display device, etc. As a result of a ball hitting operation performed based on the game, there is known a device that produces an effect of a symbol or an effect by light or sound in accordance with a player's game machine operation such as when a game ball enters a winning opening. In such a gaming machine, a control command for effect control is created by the CPU of the main control unit in accordance with the operation of the game machine by the player, and the created control command is a sub-control unit that controls the effect device. On the other hand, on the other hand, the CPU of the sub-control unit performs the effect control of the symbol and the effect control by light or sound based on the received control command.

  In such a gaming machine, the sub-control unit is tampered with in order to prevent unauthorized operation that may affect the main control unit that performs the central control of the exit control of the gaming machine. The main control unit employs a one-way communication that transmits a signal to the sub-control unit.

  By the way, in the gaming machine as described above, since a large number of electromagnetic parts that generate electromagnetic noise are used in the rendering device for controlling the rendering of the gaming machine, the connection for connecting the main control unit and the sub-control unit There is a risk that electromagnetic wave noise is induced in the line, and the control command transmitted from the main control unit to the sub-control unit cannot be received normally. However, since the communication between the main control unit and the sub control unit is one-way communication as described above, the sub control determines whether or not the control command transmitted from the main control unit to the sub control unit is correctly received by the sub control unit. There is no means to notify the main control unit from the unit. For this reason, as a countermeasure when the control command sent from the main control unit to the sub-control unit cannot be received normally, the sub-control unit receives the control command from the main control unit multiple times and correct the control command using the majority method. A gaming machine that determines whether or not is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, a gaming machine that can detect and repair an error in a control command received on the receiving side by transmitting a control command that results in a specific operation result when a specific logical operation is performed on the control command is disclosed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 4316045 Japanese Patent No. 4256612

As described above, in the conventional technique, when the sub-control unit on the receiving side determines the normality of the control command and determines that the received control command is abnormal, the normal control command is determined based on the transmitted information. It is a technique to try to guess. However, in such a conventional technique, when a received control command is determined to be abnormal, a command that is substituted for it is only a command that is presumed to be a normal command, so it is difficult to reliably prevent malfunction. In other words, if the main control unit on the transmission side can determine what state the sub control unit is in, the main control unit can determine that the sub control unit has received an incorrect control command. The main control unit determines whether or not the sub control unit has received an incorrect control command. As a result, there is a problem that normal control commands cannot be retransmitted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a game that can determine the occurrence of an error in a control command transmitted by a main control unit on the transmission side and retransmit a normal control command. The purpose is to provide a machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention determines a gaming machine processing content according to the progress of a game, and creates a control command indicating the determined gaming machine processing content and gaming result And a main board having main control unit output means for transmitting communication data including the determined control command, sub-control unit input means for receiving communication data from the main control unit output means, and the sub-control unit input A sub-control having a sub-control unit that determines a control method of the effect device according to a control command included in the communication data received through the means, and an effect control unit that controls the effect device based on the determination of the sub-control unit A gaming machine including a board, wherein the main control unit output means transmits the communication data as transmission communication data in the form of an electric signal to the sub-control unit input means, and to the main control unit input means within the main board. The transmission communication data is generated by a digital signal composed of a binary signal of a high signal having a high voltage level and a low signal having a low voltage level, and this 2 is transmitted to both the main control unit input means and the sub control unit input means. A threshold value is set to determine one of the value data. The threshold value is determined from the high signal detection threshold value that becomes the threshold when the low signal changes to the high signal, and the high signal value. A threshold for detecting a low signal that becomes a threshold when changing to a low signal is set, and a threshold for detecting a high signal of the main control unit input means is used for detecting a high signal of the sub control unit input means. The low signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input means is set to a value higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means. The part input means Communication data is received as received communication data by the threshold value of the control unit input means, and the main control unit communicates the control command by comparing the information included in the transmitted communication data with the information included in the received communication data. Comparing / determining means for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the communication, when it is determined by the comparing / determining means that an error has occurred during communication, the communication data having the same content as the transmitted communication data is retransmitted and the sub-control The production control unit has provisional control means, and when the sub control unit determines that an error during communication has occurred in the communication command received by the sub control unit via the sub control unit input means, provisional provisional When the production control is performed and the sub control unit receives the communication data via the sub control unit input means from the time when the communication data is received until the predetermined retransmission waiting period elapses Is characterized in that the provisional effect control is switched to effect control based on a control command included in the communication data as the retransmitted data of the communication data.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of appropriately performing communication between the main control unit and the sub-control unit.

It is a front view of the slot machine according to the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the slot machine which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control system structure of the slot machine which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the control system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of the main board | substrate in the 1st aspect of a control system. It is an operation | movement figure which shows the threshold value characteristic for main control part detection in the 1st aspect of a control system. It is a circuit diagram which shows the main control part input means and the sub control part input means in the 1st aspect of a control system. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st operation | movement flow of the sub control board | substrate in the 1st aspect of a control system. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd operation | movement flow of the sub control board | substrate in the 1st and 2nd aspect of a control system. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of the main board | substrate in the 2nd aspect of a control system. It is an operation | movement figure which shows the 1st form of the predetermined | prescribed logic operation in the 2nd aspect of a control system. It is an operation | movement figure which shows the 2nd form of the predetermined | prescribed logic operation in the 2nd aspect of a control system. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st operation | movement flow of the sub control board | substrate in the 2nd aspect of a control system. It is a timing chart which shows the loopback operation in the 1st and 2nd mode of a control system. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the information of a control system in the pachinko machine concerning an embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a slot machine 1 (see FIG. 1) as an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described. First, a schematic configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a front view showing the external structure of the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the slot machine 1, and FIG. 3 is a configuration of a control system in the slot machine 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the control system of the slot machine 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot machine 1 includes a front door 2 that faces a player, and a housing 3 (see FIG. 2) to which the front door 2 can be opened and closed. The front door 2 includes an upper panel part 4, a center panel part 5, and a lower panel part 6, and is formed of a metal frame (not shown) and a front panel formed of a hardened plastic as a whole. Thereby, the structure is strengthened.

  The upper panel portion 4 is formed by various LEDs (lamps) 4a called upper lamps, sound emitting portions 4b and 4c to which speakers are attached, a liquid crystal display for displaying a color image, and the like that can be seen by the player. 4d is provided. The image display device 4d displays various images when performing an effect during the game. The central panel unit 5 includes various types of LEDs 5a and 5b, and a rotating reel device including rotating reels R1, R2, and R3 that are rotatably provided by motor driving (three in this embodiment). 7 is provided, and a substantially rectangular transparent window WD formed of a transparent cured plastic plate is provided in front of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3. While protecting from the outside, the player can visually recognize the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 through the transparent window WD.

Each of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 is configured in a ring shape, and a tape reel on which a plurality of winning symbols (designating a winning combination) are printed is affixed to the outer peripheral surface thereof. For example, 21 types of symbols are arranged at equal intervals on the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, and a different symbol arrangement is provided for each reel R1, R2, and R3. The number of medals acquired by the player is displayed on the central panel 5 and below the spinning reel device 7, or an error code is displayed when an abnormality occurs in the game operation or the machine operation. An acquired number display section (error display section) 5c is provided. When the error code is displayed, the gaming machine is disabled.

  Furthermore, an operation unit 5d for a player to operate is provided at the lower end of the central panel unit 5. The operation unit 5d includes a medal insertion unit MD for inserting game medals and a game per game. Bet buttons B1, B2, B3 for presenting the number of medals, a start lever ST for instructing the start of one game, and 3 for individually stopping the spinning reels R1, R2, R3 in the spinning cylinder Stop buttons SP1, SP2 and SP3 are provided. On the lower panel 6, an image or the like (not shown) related to the game contents of the slot machine 1 is drawn, and a discharge port 6a and a tray 6b for paying out a medal acquired by the player and a speaker are attached. The sound emission part 6c provided is provided. During the game, various effects such as lighting / flashing of the various LEDs 4a, 5a, 5b, sound emission from the speakers SR, SL, SW, and image display by the image display device 4d are performed. Further, the presentation includes a notice presentation of the possibility of winning the role.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the back surface structure of the front door 2 and the internal structure of the housing | casing 3 are demonstrated roughly. FIG. 2 shows a state where the front door 2 is unlocked and opened from the housing 3. In FIG. 2, speakers SR and SL constituting the sound emitting units 4 b and 4 c described above are provided on the upper surface of the rear surface of the front door 2, and an image display device 4 d is provided between the speakers SR and SL. The sub-control board 20 is attached to the back side of 4d. Below the image display device 4d and the sub-control board 20, a substantially rectangular frame 5e formed with the above-described transparent window WD and the panel surface of the central panel portion 5 is attached.

  Also, below the frame body 5e, a distribution mechanism G1 for determining whether an input inserted from the medal input unit MD is a regular game medal or a foreign object and a distribution mechanism distributed by the distribution mechanism G1 From the guide member G2 for guiding medals to the hopper device HP provided on the housing 3 side, the guide member G3 for guiding and discharging the foreign matter distributed by the distribution mechanism G1 to the discharge port 6a, and the hopper device HP. A guide member G4 that guides and outputs the payout medal to the discharge port 6a is provided, and a speaker SW is attached in the vicinity of the discharge port 6a corresponding to the sound emitting portion 6c. Further, a long central display board 30 is attached to a region between the frame 5e and the distribution mechanism G1, and a setting button CS and numerals 0 to 6 are provided at one end on the back side of the central display board 30. A setting display element CT composed of light emitting diodes for performing the segment display is provided.

  The housing 3 includes a power supply device PWU, an auxiliary storage unit SHP for storing game medals overflowing from the hopper device HP, and a spinning reel R1, R2, R3 facing the transparent window WD. In addition to the rotation reel device 7, a power supply substrate 40 is provided on the side of the power supply device PWU, the rotation device substrate 50 is provided on the upper end of the rotation reel device 7, the main substrate 10 is provided above the rotation reel device 7, and the housing. An external concentration terminal board 70 as an external concentration terminal device is attached to one end of the inner wall 3.

  Here, the main substrate 10, the sub-control substrate 20, the spinning device substrate 50, the central display substrate 30, the power supply device substrate 40, and the external concentration terminal substrate 70 are all insulatively formed with conductive wiring patterns. Formed as a so-called electric circuit board in which electronic components such as integrated circuit devices (ICs), transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc. are mounted on a resin substrate and are connected by wiring, in particular, main board 10, sub-control board 20, and external concentrated terminals Each of the substrates 70 has a unit structure that is individually housed in a cured plastic housing case.

Hereinafter, an outline of the configuration of the control system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The main board 10 includes a system unit that manages the entire operation of the slot machine 1 and a storage unit configured by a semiconductor memory or the like in which an execution program for the slot machine game is stored in advance, and a main control unit CPU that executes these programs A main control unit 11 having a main control unit 11 (detailed later), and a main control unit input means (detailed later) and main control unit output means (detailed later) provided in the main control unit CPU and the remaining sub-controls The wiring board is connected to the substrate 20, the rotating device substrate 50, the central display substrate 30, the power supply device substrate 40, and the external concentrated terminal substrate 70.

  In addition, the speakers SR, SL, SW, the various LEDs 4a, 5a, 5b, and the image display device 4d are connected to the sub-control board 20 via connection lines, and effect control is supplied from the main control unit CPUm11 in the main board 10. The electric circuit provided on the sub-control board 20 drives the speakers SR, SL, SW, the various LEDs 4a, 5a, 5b, and the image display device 4d according to the signal, thereby appealing to the visual and auditory sense of the player. I do.

  The spinning device substrate 50 is connected to the spinning reel device 7 including the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 that are rotationally driven by an electric motor, and is supplied from the main control unit CPUm11 in the main substrate 10. By controlling the above-described electric motor according to the reel control signal, the rotation, braking, and stop of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 are controlled. A distribution mechanism G1, bet buttons B1, B2, B3, a start lever ST, stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3, a setting display element CT, and a setting button CS are connected to the central display board 30 by wiring. The medal detection signal output from the mechanism G1 and the on / off signals output from the bet buttons B1, B2, B3, the start lever ST, and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3 to the main control unit CPUm11 in the main board 10, respectively. At the same time, based on the segment display signal supplied from the main control unit CPUm11, numbers from 0 to 6 are displayed on the setting display element CT.

  A setting switch BO, a power switch BQ, a hopper device HP, and a power supply device PWU are connected to the power supply board 40 by wiring, and an on / off signal output from each of the setting switch BO and the power switch BQ is sent to the main board 10. The data is transferred to the control unit CPUm11. Further, the power supply substrate 40 is formed with a power distribution circuit that distributes various power supply voltages generated by the power supply device PWU to the hopper device HP and other parts. The power supply necessary for the operation of the slot machine 1 is supplied from the power distribution circuit. Has been done.

  Next, the flow of control information in the control system configured as described above will be described. Between the main controller 10 and the setting switching / display unit 32, two-way communication is performed for information collection and control of the setting button CS and the setting display element CT. In addition to the game control function, the main control device 10 also has a payout control function. Between the main control device 10 and the hopper device HP, a medal payout monitoring input at the hopper device HP and a drive signal for the payout device are provided. Is bidirectional communication. Between the main controller 10 and the power supply board 40, bidirectional communication is performed for power interruption detection and backup power supply control. Between the main controller 10 and the input operation unit 33, information related to the player's medal insertion, operation of the start lever ST and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3 is collected, and the medal is inserted at a timing when the medal insertion is not permitted. In order to output a drive signal of a flow path switching solenoid (not shown) that cannot be turned on, the input operation unit 33 and the main controller 10 are bidirectionally communicated. Between the main control device 10 and the spinning device substrate 50, control information for controlling the rotation of the spinning reels R1, R2, R3 is transmitted from the main control unit 10 to the spinning device substrate 50. One-way communication with the trunk device substrate 50 is performed. Between the main controller 10 and the external concentrated terminal board 70, one-way communication is performed for displaying external information. Further, as described above, one-way communication is performed between the main control device 10 and the sub control board 20 to prevent unauthorized operation.

Here, a sub control command for sub control is transmitted from the main controller 10 to the sub control board 20 by one-way communication. Sub-control board 20, image display device 4d, speakers SR, S
L, SW, and various LEDs (or lamps) 4a, 5a, and 5b are unidirectionally communicated to perform AT system game control such as image control, sound control, lamp control, or game assist control for each device. ing. The sub-control board 20 performs the overall management of these effects by sub-control.

  Next, the flow of control information in the sub-control board 20 will be described with reference to FIG. A sub control command for controlling each function in the sub control board output from the main control device (main board) 10 is received by the command receiving unit (sub control unit input means) s20. The sub-control command received by the command receiving unit (sub-control unit input means) s20 is NMI / high-order interrupted upon reception of the strobe signal by 8-bit parallel communication, and is received by the sub-control unit CPUs11. The sub-control unit CPUs11 analyzes the received control contents of the sub-control command, draws a lottery according to the random number information of the sub-control ROMs 40 and the control means, and creates voice control commands and display control commands to control various stage devices. Then, bidirectional communication is performed with each device.

  Between the sub control unit CPUs 11 and the image control CPUs 50, the image control CPUs 50 receives a display control command from the sub control unit CPUs 11 and transmits information related to the display state of the image to the sub control unit CPUs 11, so that bidirectional communication by serial communication is performed. ing. The image control CPUs 50 analyzes the display control command received from the sub-control unit CPUs 11 and controls the image according to the control means stored in the image control ROMs 51. Image control information from the image control CPUs 50 is received by the VDPs 52 that drive the image display device 4d to perform image processing, and the characters stored in the character ROMs 53 by the VDPs 52 are displayed on the image display device 4d as image control information. Is done. Note that bi-directional communication using parallel communication is performed between the image control CPUs 50 and the VDPs 52. A drive line for driving the image display device 4d from the VDPs 52 is one-way communication.

  Between the sub-control unit CPUs11 and the voice control ICs 60, the voice control ICs 60 receives a voice control command from the sub-control unit CPUs 11 and transmits information related to the voice control to the sub-control unit CPUs 11 so as to be bidirectional communication by parallel communication. Yes. The audio control ICs 60 and the speakers SR, SL, and SW are unidirectionally communicated in order to control the sound using the speakers. The control lines for driving the sub-control unit CPUs11 and the various LEDs (lamps) 4a, 5a, 5b are unidirectional communication. An input device such as a motor reference position sensor used in the sub-control unit 21 is input to the sub-control unit 21.

  In the slot machine control system configured as described above, a first mode in which the occurrence of an error in the control command transmitted by the main control unit on the transmitting side is determined and the normal control command is retransmitted to the sub-control unit. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the main board in the first mode of the control system. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram showing detection threshold characteristics of the main board and the sub control board input means in the first mode of the control system. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing main control unit input means and sub control unit input means in the first mode of the control system. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a first operation flow of the sub-control board in the first mode of the control system. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second operation flow of the sub control board in the first and second modes of the control system.

Here, the configuration and operation of the first aspect of the part related to command transmission / reception in the control system constituted by the main board and the sub-control board will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the main board 10 is provided with a main control unit output unit m20 and a main control unit input unit m30 in addition to the main control unit 11 described above. The main control unit 11 detects the operation of the medal detection signal output from the distribution mechanism (also referred to as selector) G1, the operation of the start lever ST and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3, and is output as an operation signal. In accordance with the calculation processing result based on the signal and the progress of game control, a control command is generated (created) so that the sub control unit can identify the processing content and game result executed by the main control unit CPUm11. The main control unit CPUm11 temporarily stores the created control command in a RAM which is temporary storage means (not shown). Further, the main control unit CPUm11 creates transmission communication data by including information other than the control command in the control command created as necessary (step 100 in FIG. 5). Then, the created transmission communication data is transmitted to the sub-control board 20 in the form of an electric signal by the main controller output means m20 (step 110 in FIG. 5). Here, the main controller output means m20 and the sub controller input means s20 provided on the sub control board 20 are electrically connected, and the main controller output means m20 and the main controller input means m30 are connected. The main board 10 is looped back to be electrically connected. In the following description, the connection with loopback is referred to as loopback connection. The sub-control board 20 determines specific effect control contents based on the received transmission communication data, and the speakers SR, SL, SW, various LEDs 4a, 5a, 5b, and the image display device with the determined effect control contents. To control.

  Here, the previous transmission communication data is generated by a digital signal composed of two values of a low signal having a low voltage level and a high signal having a high voltage level, and is transmitted to both the main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20. A threshold value for determining either of the binary data is set. The threshold values are a threshold for detecting a high signal that becomes a threshold when changing from a low signal to a high signal, and a threshold for detecting a low signal that becomes a threshold when changing from a high signal to a low signal. Are set separately (also referred to as hysteresis), and the high signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input means m30 is set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means s20. The low signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input unit m30 is set to a value higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input unit s20. Details of the detection threshold will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The main control unit 11 is further connected to the main control unit input means m30 in a loopback connection and received (step 120 in FIG. 5). The control command included in the received communication data and the control command stored in the RAM which is a temporary storage means The comparison determination unit m13 is provided for detecting whether there is an error in the control command by comparing the two (step 130 in FIG. 5).

  Based on the comparison described above, the comparison determination unit m13 determines whether an error has occurred in the control command included in the transmission communication data transmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 to the sub-control unit input unit s20 (changes from a normal command). It is determined whether or not (step 140 in FIG. 5). When determining that an error has occurred, the main control unit CPUm11 retransmits the communication data to the sub-control unit input unit s20 (step 150 in FIG. 5). In the main control unit 11, the main control input means m30 outputs the input signal once or a plurality of times at a loopback timing that can be variably set after a predetermined period has elapsed since the transmission communication data was transmitted. Check whether or not to receive, when the main control unit input means m30 receives an input signal different from the default value (all low signal or high signal), that is, the timing when the transmission control data is not transmitted by itself When there is an input other than the default value, it is preferable to provide an abnormality monitoring means m14 that determines that there is an abnormality. In addition, since it may be due to noise in the case of only one time, it is desirable to determine that there is an abnormality when receiving multiple times. The detailed operation of the main control unit 11 when such information is received will be described later.

In addition to the above-described sub-control unit 21, the sub-control board 20 is provided with a sub-control unit input unit s20, an effect control unit s14, and a comparison determination unit s12 used in the second mode of the control system. The sub control unit input means s20 receives the communication data transmitted by the main control unit output means m20 (step 200 in FIG. 8), and the received communication data is passed to the sub control unit CPUs11 (step 210 in FIG. 8). The sub control unit CPUs11 determines whether or not the control command included in the received communication data is different from the predetermined control command (FIG. 8).
If it is different from the predetermined control command, it is determined that an error has occurred in the received control command, and the effect control device s14 performs temporary effect control (step 230 in FIG. 8). When it is determined that there is no error in the received control command, the specific effect control content is determined based on the gaming machine processing content and game result in the main board 11 included in the received control command, and the determined effect The speakers SR, SL, and SW, various LEDs 4a, 5a, and 5b, and the image display device 4d are controlled by the control content (step 235 in FIG. 8).

  The setting of the detection threshold values of the main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20 in the first aspect of the control system will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The purpose of setting the detection threshold value is to make it possible to detect a control command error more reliably in the main control unit input means m30 than in the sub control unit input means s20.

  The main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20 are connected by a connection line. The communication data transmitted from the main control unit output means m20 is in the form of an electric signal combining a high signal and a low signal, but noise generated from various electromagnetic components provided in the gaming machine on this connection line is generated. Guided on the connecting line. If a 5V power supply is used for the main control unit output means m20, the power supply voltage of the main control unit output means m20 is affected by the power supply voltage fluctuation and the voltage drop in the circuit inside the main control unit output means m20. It is assumed that the output voltage of the high signal transmitted by the unit output means m20 is 4.5V, and conversely the low signal is 0V. Here, when an induced noise of 0.9 V is induced on the connection line between the main control unit output means m20 and the sub control unit input means s20 from the electromagnetic components in the gaming machine, the input signal level of the sub control unit input means s20 is high. The signal can drop to 3.6V and the low signal can rise to 0.9V.

  In the first aspect of the control system, in order to determine whether or not the control command transmitted from the main control unit is correctly transmitted to the sub-control unit, the main control unit on the transmission side of the control command outputs A loopback connection is provided in which a connection line connecting from the means m20 to the sub-control unit input unit s20 is folded and connected to the main control unit input unit m30 in the main board. Inductive noise from electromagnetic components in the gaming machine is superimposed on the connection line. Similar to the electrical signal input to the sub-control unit input unit s20, the input electrical signal is also affected by the induced noise in the main control unit input unit m30. Therefore, the high signal output from the main control unit output signal means m20 falls to 3.6V due to the influence of the induction noise, and the low signal becomes a voltage raised to 0.9V. Here, the voltage drop of the high signal and the voltage rise of the low signal due to the induction noise have the same magnitude in the sub-control unit input unit s20 and the main control unit input unit m30, but the control transmitted from the main control unit. Whether or not the command is correctly transmitted to the sub-control unit needs to be determined more reliably than the sub-control unit side at the main control unit which is the transmission side of the control command. For this reason, it can be considered that the detection threshold value of the main control unit input means m30 and the detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means s20 are set to different values.

  For example, it is possible to use Renesas 74HC04 for the main control unit input means m30 and 74HC14 for the sub control unit input means s20. FIG. 6 shows the threshold characteristics for detecting the high and low signals of 74HC04 and 74HC14. In 74HC04, the detection threshold value for detecting a low signal as a high signal and the detection threshold value for detecting a low signal as a high signal are the same values on the data sheet, and even if they are actually different. It is around 0.1V. The 74HC14 is a Schmitt trigger circuit having a hysteresis characteristic in which the detection threshold value for determining a low signal as a high signal is 3.15V, and the detection threshold value for determining a high signal as a low signal is 0.9V. is there. 74HC04 having such characteristics is used as the main control unit input means m30, and 74HC14 is used as the sub control output means s20.

Here, 74HC04 used for the main control unit input means m30 has different characteristics depending on individual ICs, but a detection threshold for detecting a low signal as a high signal and a detection threshold for detecting a low signal as a high signal. Is 2.25V. In addition, it is assumed that the magnitude of the induction noise induced from the electromagnetic component is 2.3V. The high signal output from the main control unit output means m20 drops to 2.2V, and the low signal rises to 2.3V. 74HC04 of the main control unit input means m30 erroneously receives the high signal output from the main control output means m20 as a low signal and erroneously receives the low signal as a high signal. On the other hand, 74HC14 of the sub control unit input means correctly receives the high signal output from the main control output means m20 as a high signal and correctly receives the low signal as a low signal. In this way, the low signal detection of the main control unit input means m30 is set so that the high signal detection threshold of the main control unit input means m30 is lower than the high signal detection threshold of the sub control unit input means s20. Is set to a value higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub-control unit input means s20. With this setting, the main control unit input means m30 is more susceptible to the influence of induced noise due to electromagnetic components of the gaming machine than the sub control unit input means s20.

  Here, the ICs used for the main control unit input means m30 and the sub control unit input means s20 are not limited to 74HC04 and 74HC14. The high signal detection threshold value in the main control unit input means m30 can be set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value in the sub-control unit input means s20. All types of driver ICs whose threshold value can be set higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub-control unit input means s20 can be used.

  An example in which the main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20 are configured using a driver system circuit other than 74HC04 and 74HC14 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram in which the main control unit input means and the sub control unit input means in the first mode of the control system are configured by a transistor circuit and a Darlington circuit.

  The transistor circuit shown in FIG. 7A may be used for the main control unit input unit m30, and the Darlington circuit shown in FIG. 7B may be used for the sub control unit input unit s20. A connection line in which the output of the main control unit output unit m20 is looped back is connected to the input terminal of the main control unit input unit m30. The base of the transistor circuit serves as the input terminal of the main control unit input unit m30. The collector of the transistor is connected to the power supply voltage via a predetermined resistor, and the emitter is connected to ground. Further, the collector of the transistor circuit becomes an output terminal of the main control unit input means m30. The output of the main control unit output unit m20 is connected to the input terminal of the sub-control unit input unit s20 via a connection line. The input terminal of the Darlington circuit becomes the input terminal of the sub-control unit input unit s20. The output terminal of the Darlington circuit becomes the output terminal of the sub control unit input means s20.

The transistor circuit shown in FIG. 7A operates as described below. The base-emitter voltage V _BE of the transistor circuit of FIG. 7A is generally about 0.6V. That is, when the input voltage of the transistor circuit is changed from 0 V to 0.6 V or more, the transistor circuit is turned on from the off operation. When the input voltage of the transistor circuit is 0.6 V or more and 0.6 V or less, the transistor circuit is turned off from the on operation. In other words, the detection threshold value from the low signal to the high signal of the main control unit input means m30 is 0.6V. The detection threshold value from the high signal to the low signal of the main control unit input means m30 is 0.6V.

The Darlington circuit shown in FIG. 7B operates as described below. Since the base-emitter voltage of the Darlington circuit of FIG. 7B is the base-emitter voltage of the two-stage transistor, V _BE is 1.2V. That is, when the input voltage of the Darlington circuit is changed from 0V to 1.2V or more, the Darlington circuit is turned on from the off operation. When the input voltage of the Darlington circuit is 1.2 V or more and less than 1.2 V, the transistor circuit is turned off from the on operation. In other words, the detection threshold value from the low signal to the high signal of the sub-control unit input means s20 is 1.2V. The detection threshold value from the high signal to the low signal of the sub-control unit input means s20 is 1.2V.

  Here, inductive noise is superimposed on the connection line connecting the main control unit output means m20 and the sub control unit input means from the electromagnetic components in the gaming machine. This inductive noise raises a voltage close to the ground potential to a high voltage. It is known that the induced noise is more than the induced noise that reduces the potential close to the power supply voltage to a low voltage. Therefore, by using the transistor circuit having different threshold characteristics for detection as described above for the main control unit input unit m30 and using the Darlington circuit for the sub control unit input unit s20, the main control unit input unit m30 is sub-controlled. From the part input means s20, it becomes a structure which is easy to receive to the influence of the induction noise by the electromagnetic component of a game machine.

  Here, it has been described that the transistor circuit shown in FIG. 7A is the circuit of the main control unit input means m30, and the Darlington circuit shown in FIG. 7B is the circuit of the sub control unit input means s20. However, the transistor circuit and the Darlington circuit shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are circuit configurations showing the basic principle, and of course, the present embodiment is not limited to these configurations. Rather, various circuit components not actually shown are used. As an example, the emitter of each circuit is set directly to the ground potential, but each emitter is connected to the ground via a resistor, so that the output terminal of each circuit is turned on. It is also conceivable to configure the potential to be higher than that of the circuit showing the basic principle. It is also conceivable to change the input potential of each circuit by attaching a bleeder circuit with two resistors between the power source and the ground to the base of the transistor of each circuit.

  Elements that can be used as a switching circuit are not limited to the above-described transistor circuit and Darlington circuit. It is also possible to configure with a MOSFET. An individual MOSFET element may be used, or a MOSFET integrated as a driver IC may be used. Using individual MOSFET elements, it is possible to configure the circuit so that the main controller input means m30 and the sub controller input means s20 perform different on / off operations. The high signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input means m30 can be set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means s20. All types of driver ICs whose threshold value can be set higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub-control unit input means s20 can be used.

  In the above description, it has been explained that the induction noise generated by the electromagnetic components of the gaming machine is superimposed on the connection line connecting the main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20. As a result, there is a case where pulse noise whose potential is momentarily raised is superimposed on the connection line. The sub-control unit input means s20 outputs a strobe signal when the communication data received due to such pulse noise is instantaneously changed to an incorrect potential, whereby the communication received by the sub-control unit CPUs11. A noise filter is provided at the input terminal of the sub control unit input means s20 so as not to capture data. The noise filter is realized by adding a smoothing circuit composed of a resistor and a capacitor to the input terminal. It is preferable not to add such a noise filter to the input terminal of the main control unit input unit m30, and to reliably detect pulse noise superimposed on the connection line rather than the sub control unit input unit s20.

Further, as a technique for making the main control unit input unit m30 more susceptible to the influence of pulse noise due to electrostatic noise than the sub control unit input unit s20, it is conceivable to employ driver ICs having different switching characteristics. Specifically, the switching characteristic on the main control unit input means m30 side is made good, and the switching characteristic on the sub control part input means s20 side is made dull. With this configuration, when electrostatic noise with a short pulse width is mixed in the connection line, the main control unit input means m30 having good switching characteristics is likely to be affected by the noise, which is preferable. .

  The main control unit input unit m30 determines that there is a possibility that inductive noise is superimposed on the connection line connecting the main control unit output unit m20 and the sub control unit input unit s20 and an error occurs in the communication data. It is possible to detect errors in communication data by superimposing pulse noise on the connection line connecting the main control unit output unit m20 and the sub control unit input unit s20 and the embodiment that enables detection more reliably than s20. The embodiment has been described in which the main control unit input unit m30 can be detected more reliably than the sub control unit input unit s20.

  The above-described embodiment in which the main control unit input unit m30 can reliably detect the generation of induction noise or pulse noise from the sub control unit input unit s20 is also effective against illegal acts. A fraudulent person who tries to induce a fraudulent signal on the connection line between the main control unit output means m20 and the sub control unit input means s20 by some method is surely ensured on the main control unit side rather than the sub control unit side. An illegal signal can be detected. Further, an effect is obtained that the main control unit can take some measures against such an illegal act. In particular, when the sub-control unit performs an effect that influences the appearance (a so-called assist time game in which an effect of notifying the winning combination of a stop operation procedure that is advantageous to the player is performed for a predetermined game period). It is beneficial to.

  The function of the comparison determination unit m13 described above can be configured to include a process of comparing and calculating two control commands in a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. Alternatively, the control circuit included in the communication data received by the main control unit CPUm11 and the control command stored in the RAM, which is a temporary storage means, are input, and an electric circuit using a comparison circuit that compares these two commands It is also possible to configure. As described above, the specific means for realizing the function shown as the first aspect can be constructed by various methods.

  Next, the operation of transmitting retransmission communication data in the first aspect of the control system will be described in detail.

  When the comparison determination unit m13 determines that there is an error in the communication data received by the main control unit input unit m30, the main control unit CPU m11 outputs the communication data stored in the RAM, which is a temporary storage unit, to the main control unit output. It is comprised so that it may resend from the means m20.

  Alternatively, when the comparison determination unit m13 determines that there is an error in the communication data received by the main control unit input unit m30, the main control unit CPU m11 retransmits the communication data stored in the RAM as the temporary storage unit. Communication data to which retry instruction data indicating retry information is added may be transmitted from the main control unit output means m20 as retransmission communication data.

Such retry information can be obtained by adding 1 bit as information indicating retransmission to a control command composed of an identification number and an operation number. The function of adding retransmission information as retransmission communication data and transmitting retransmission communication data can be realized as a function of a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. Alternatively, it can be configured by an electric circuit. For example, the comparison determination unit m13 outputs a signal indicating that an error has occurred in the communication data, and the control command stored in the RAM, which is a temporary storage unit, using the signal indicating that the error has occurred as a trigger signal, It is possible to configure the electric circuit so that the data to which the bit indicating the retry information is added is sent as retransmission communication data to the main control unit output means m20.

  As described above, in any case, when the comparison determination unit m13 determines that there is an error in the communication data received by the main control unit input unit m30, the main control unit CPU m11 transmits the communication data to the main control. Since it is configured to retransmit from the unit output unit m20, it is possible to give an opportunity to receive the communication data again when there is a possibility that appropriate data may not be transmitted to the sub control unit input unit s20. is there. In addition, when retry information is given, it is possible to reliably grasp whether or not the data is retransmitted on the side of the sub-control unit, so that subsequent processing can be appropriately executed.

  Next, the operation of the sub-control unit in the first aspect of the control system will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The sub control unit input unit s20 receives the communication data output from the main control unit output unit m20 (step 200 in FIG. 8). The received communication data is passed to the sub control unit CPUs11 (step 210 in FIG. 8). The sub-control unit CPUs11 determines whether or not there is an error in the received control command (step 220 in FIG. 8). The type of the control command is determined in advance, and a control command that does not fall into any of the predetermined types due to the induction noise superimposed on the connection line connecting the main board 10 and the sub-control board 20 There is a possibility of receiving. Thus, the sub-control CPUs 11 determine whether or not an error has occurred in the received control command depending on whether or not the control command is different from a predetermined type of control command. If the sub-control unit CPUs11 determines that there is no error in the received control command, the sub-control unit CPUs11 controls the effect device according to the control command received by the effect control means s14 (step 235 in FIG. 8). If it is determined that there is an error in the control command, temporary effect control that is provisional effect control is performed (step 230 in FIG. 8).

  By performing such provisional performance control, it is possible to appropriately prevent an inconsistent state that gives a player a sense of expectation when the performance is not performed. In addition, when the effect is continuously executed, the command content changes due to the superimposition of the induction noise, and an effect execution command that is clearly different from the control command for executing the previous effect control is received (specifically, Even if only the command indicating the first stop operation is received after the game is started, the next command is a command indicating the bonus flag winning, and an obviously abnormal command is received). In this case, it is desirable to perform effect control so as to execute a temporary effect that does not differ from the effect content that changes due to subsequent command reception without executing an effect based on the command.

  Subsequently, a process of waiting for reception of the retransmitted communication data by the retransmit communication data receiving means s13 is performed. The retransmission communication data receiving means s13 checks whether or not the communication data is retransmitted from the main control unit output means m20 until the predetermined predetermined retransmission waiting period ends (step 240 in FIG. 8). ). When the sub control unit input means s20 receives the retransmitted communication data, the received communication data is passed to the retransmit communication data receiving means s13 (step 250 in FIG. 8). When the re-transmission communication data is received, the effect control means s14 interrupts the temporary effect control, and effects the effect device according to the control command included in the received communication data (step 260 in FIG. 8). Here, even if the predetermined retransmission wait period ends, there is a possibility that the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 will not re-receive communication data. In this case, the effect control means s14 continues the temporary effect control (step 265 in FIG. 8).

Here, when the communication data is retransmitted until the predetermined retransmission waiting period ends, the effect control means s14 controls the effect device according to the control command included in the retransmitted communication data. Although described as (step 260 in FIG. 8), the effect control means s14 performs temporary effect control until then. However, depending on the state of progress of the temporary effect control, it may be better to interrupt the temporary effect control and not immediately switch to the appropriate effect that is originally the appropriate effect content. In addition, communication data may be retransmitted immediately after the temporary effect control is started. In such a case, it is better not to immediately switch to an appropriate effect that is originally an appropriate effect content.

  By the way, since the player does not recognize the temporary performance control separately from the normal performance control, the player feels uncomfortable if the player suddenly switches to the normal performance control while the temporary performance control is being performed. Will be given. For example, in an effect image in which a character is jumping, switching to an appropriate effect that is inherently appropriate effect content during the jump will give the player a sense of discomfort. For this reason, the character jumps and the landing point is set in a state where the effect can be switched. In this way, it is desirable to include a state in which the effect can be switched in the provisional effect control routine so that the player does not feel uncomfortable even if the effect is switched. In addition, it is set as an effect switching limit time from the temporary effect control to another effect control until a certain timing period elapses after the temporary effect control is started. By providing the effect switching limit time, immediately after the provisional effect control is started, it is possible to avoid switching to an appropriate effect that is originally an appropriate effect content and giving the player a sense of incongruity. By doing in this way, when the communication control data s14 is received again, the effect control means s14 performs the temporary effect control in progress until the effect switchable state is reached or until the effect switching limit time elapses. It is preferable to continue and switch to effect control based on the re-received communication data when the effect can be switched or when the effect switching limit time has elapsed. Note that these switching operations may be performed by only one of management based on the above-described state or management by time, or may be performed by appropriately combining both.

  As described in step 235 described above, when it is determined that there is no error in the control command received by the sub control unit CPUs11, the effect control means s14 controls the effect device according to the control command. Also in this case, the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 checks whether or not communication data is retransmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 (step 240 in FIG. 8).

  The reason why the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 performs the process even though it is determined that the control command received by the sub control unit CPUs11 is correct is that the detection threshold value of the main control unit input means m30 is This is based on the fact that it is set to a detection threshold value that reliably detects the influence of induced noise rather than the detection threshold value of the input means s20. Even when the sub control unit CPUs 11 determines that there is no error in the received control command, the main control unit 11 may determine that an error has occurred in the transmitted control command and retransmit the communication command. Therefore, the sub-control unit 21 executes a process of waiting for whether or not communication data is retransmitted from the main control unit 11 until the predetermined retransmission waiting period ends (FIG. 8). Step 240).

  Subsequently, the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 checks whether communication data is retransmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 until a predetermined retransmission waiting period ends (FIG. 5). 9 step 700). When the sub control unit input means s20 receives the retransmission communication data (step 710 in FIG. 9), the received communication data is passed to the effect control means s14. When the retransmitted communication data is received, the effect control means s14 effects control the effect device according to the control command included in the received retransmitted communication data (step 720 in FIG. 9). Here, even if the predetermined retransmission wait period ends, there is a possibility that the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 will not re-receive communication data. In this case, the effect control means s14 continues the effect control (step 725 in FIG. 9).

Here, the function executed by the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 of the sub-control unit 21 can be realized such that the program executed by the sub-control unit CPUs11 executes the above-described steps. Alternatively, an electric circuit can be configured using a counter circuit so as to count a predetermined retransmission wait period.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the second mode of the control system including the main board and the sub control board will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 9 to 14 described above. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the second operation flow of the sub control board in the second mode of the control system (common use with the first mode). FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the main board in the second mode of the control system. FIG. 11 is an operation diagram showing a first form of the comparison / determination means in the second mode of the control system. FIG. 12 is an operation diagram showing a second mode of the comparison / determination means in the second mode of the control system. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a first operation flow of the sub control board in the second mode of the control system. FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing a loopback operation in the second mode of the control system.

  Here, in the second aspect of the control system as well, the control system of the slot machine is represented by FIG. 4 as in the first aspect, and basic parts such as generation of control commands that form the core of the transmission communication data are shown. Is substantially the same as the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the second mode, in order to enable detection of whether or not an error has occurred in the control command transmitted from the main control unit output means m20, the main control unit CPU m11 uses a first logical operation result to be described later as a control command. The point of difference is that the communication data added to is created (step 510 in FIG. 10) and that the first logical operation result is used for command abnormality determination.

  In the second aspect of the control system, the high signal and low signal detection threshold values of the main control unit input means m30 are set in the same manner as in the first aspect. The low signal detection threshold value is set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value of the unit input means s20, and the low signal detection threshold value is set to a value higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub-control unit input means s20. .

  Below, a different part from the 1st aspect of a control system is mainly demonstrated. In the second aspect of the control system, the control command created by the main control unit CPUm11 has a first control command portion and a second control command portion. The main control unit CPUm11 performs a predetermined logical operation on the first control command portion and the second control command portion. A result of the predetermined logical operation is referred to as a first logical operation result (step 520 in FIG. 10). The transmission communication data transmitted from the main control unit 11 to the sub-control unit 21 includes the first logical operation result together with the control command (step 530 in FIG. 10). The created transmission communication data is transmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 to the sub-control unit input unit s20 in the form of an electric signal, and is also transmitted to the main control unit input unit m30 that is loopback connected in the main board. The

  The main control unit input means m30 receives the transmission communication data as reception communication data (step 540 in FIG. 10). The received communication data includes the control command created by the main control unit CPUm11 and the first logical operation result. The comparison determination unit m13 performs a predetermined logical operation on the first control command portion and the second control command portion of the control command included in the received communication data. The predetermined logical operation result is set as the second logical operation result and compared with the first logical operation result (step 550 in FIG. 10). If the comparison results match, it is determined that no error has occurred in the control command, and the operation of the comparison determination unit m13 is terminated (step 565 in FIG. 10). If the comparison results do not match, it is determined that an error has occurred in the control command, and the main control unit CPUm11 performs processing for retransmitting communication data to the sub-control unit 21 (step 560 in FIG. 10).

A plurality of modes can be considered as the predetermined logical operation of the first control command portion and the second control command portion described above. An example of the predetermined logical operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an operation diagram showing a first form of comparison determination means (predetermined logical operation) in the second mode of the control system.

  The main control unit CPUm11 determines the control content according to the gaming state of the gaming machine and creates a control command. Here, the control command is a binary code composed of a combination of 0 and 1, and is composed of 2 bytes in units of 1 byte which is 8 bits of the binary code. The first byte is an identification number indicating which production device is to be controlled, and the second byte is an operation number for instructing the operation of the production device designated by the identification number.

  Since the first byte as the identification number and the second byte as the operation number each have an 8-bit configuration, it can be expressed in hexadecimal notation in units of 4 bits. It is possible to create a combination of the first byte and the second byte such that the logical sum of the first byte and the second byte becomes a constant value, for example, “FF” H. For example, the identification number is a numerical value of “80” H (binary number “1000 0000”) or more in hexadecimal notation, the operation number is a numerical value of “7F” H (binary number “0111 1111”) or less, and the identification number If the 0th to 7th bits of the operation number and the operation number are set so that 0 and 1 are different from each other, the logical sum of the first byte and the second byte is “FF”. H.

  Specifically, if the identification number is “E1” H (binary number “1110 0001”) and the operation number is “1E” H (binary number “0001 1110”) as shown in FIG. In each position of the 0th to 7th bits, 0 and 1 are different numbers in the identification number and the operation number, and the logical sum of the identification number and the operation number is “FF” H. In this way, it is possible to set the logical sum of the identification number and the operation number to be “FF” H (binary number “1111 1111”). In the control command having such a configuration, if an error occurs in the 0th bit of the identification number as shown in FIG. 11B as an example, the identification number “E1” H (binary number “1110 0001”) is “E0”. "H (binary number" 1110 0000 "). Since the operation number is “1E” H (binary number “0001 1110”), when the logical sum of the identification number and the operation number is calculated, the operation result is “FE” H (binary number “1111 1110”), and the logical sum is Since “FF” H (binary number “1111 1111”) is not obtained, it is possible to detect that an error has occurred.

  As described above, the main control unit CPUm11 obtains the logical operation result indicating that the logical sum of the identification number as the first byte of the control command and the operation number as the second byte is “FF” H as the first logical operation result. Is added to the control command to create communication data (step 510 in FIG. 10). This communication data is transmitted as transmission communication data from the main control unit output means m20 in the form of an electric signal of a high signal and a low signal to the sub control unit input means s20 via the connection line (step 520 in FIG. 10). Further, since the main control unit output means m20 is loop-back connected to the main control unit input means m30 in the main board, the main control unit input means m30 receives communication data transmitted from the sub control unit output means m20. Received as data (step 530 in FIG. 10).

The control command received by the main control unit input means m30 is transferred to the comparison determination means m13 of the main control unit 11 (step 540 in FIG. 10). The comparison determination unit m13 performs a logical OR operation on the identification number, which is the first byte of the control command included in the received communication data, and the operation number, which is the second byte, and sets this as the second logical operation result (FIG. 10). Step 550). As shown in FIG. 11, if the first logical operation result and the second logical operation result match, the result of the first logical sum operation is “FF” H (binary number “1111 1111”). Therefore, it is determined that a normal control command has been transmitted to the sub-control unit. If the comparison between the first logical operation result and the second logical operation result does not match, the logical sum operation result is not “FF” H (binary number “1111 1111”). It is determined that there is a possibility that an error has occurred in the transmitted control command, and communication data to be retransmitted by the main control unit CPUm11 is created (step 560 in FIG. 10).

  In this way, the comparison determination unit m13 is provided, and when it is determined that an error has occurred, the retransmission control data is retransmitted, so that the sub-control unit on the control command receiving side performs erroneous performance control with an incorrect control command. It is possible to prevent the production control from being disabled due to the possibility of the display control or the sub control unit receiving an incorrect control command.

  Here, the function of the comparison determination unit m13 can be configured as a function executed by a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. Alternatively, the function of the comparison determination unit m13 can be configured by an electric circuit. A logical sum circuit (or addition circuit) having two inputs, the identification number that is the first byte of the control command included in the received communication data and the operation number that is the second byte, the output of the logical sum circuit, and the received communication By using a comparison circuit that receives the first logical operation result included in the data as two inputs, the comparison / determination means m13 can be configured by an electric circuit.

  Moreover, although the control command is shown as an example composed of two bytes of the identification number as the first byte and the operation number as the second byte, it is not limited to two bytes. The control command can be composed of a plurality of bytes of 2 bytes or more. For example, the control command is composed of 6 bytes, the first byte portion and the second byte portion are provided in the 6-byte control command, and the logical sum of the first byte and the second byte is a constant value. It is also possible to do. Furthermore, in addition to calculating the control command in two parts in units of bytes, a configuration in which the logical sum is made a constant value in units of 4 bits is possible, and the method is not limited to the method shown in FIG. .

  Next, a second embodiment of the comparison determination unit m13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The second form of the comparison / determination means m13 is characterized in that a parity bit is added to communication data.

  The control command created by the main control unit CPUm11 according to the gaming state of the gaming machine is composed of 2 bytes in units of 1 byte corresponding to the binary code 8 bits, and the first byte indicates which rendering device is controlled. The identification number shown and the second byte indicate the operation number for instructing the operation of each rendering device. As shown in FIG. 12A, a parity bit is added to each byte of the identification number as the first byte and the operation number as the second byte. As the parity bit, two parity bits of an odd parity bit or an even parity bit are known. The odd parity bit counts the number of bits 1 in 1 byte in units of 8 bits, adds a parity bit that is bit 1 when the number is odd, and when the number of bits 1 is an even number A parity bit which is bit 0 is added.

  The receiving side counts the number of bits 1 included in the received byte, and checks whether the parity bit is bit 1 if it is odd or whether the parity bit is 0 if it is even. . It is possible to detect that an error has occurred in one bit of data transmitted by the transmission side. Even parity is a method of adding a parity bit which is bit 1 on the transmission side when the number of bits 1 included in one byte is 1 on the transmission side. It is possible to detect that an error has occurred in one bit.

The main control unit CPUm11 determines the control content and creates a control command corresponding to the determined control content (step 500 in FIG. 10). The number of bits 1 in the created control command is counted. An odd parity bit or an even parity bit based on the result of counting the number of bits 1 is set as a first logical operation result. The main control unit CPUm11 creates communication data in which the first logical operation result is added to the control command (step 510 in FIG. 10). The created communication data is sent to the main control unit output means m20 as transmission communication data. The main control unit output means m20 outputs communication data in the form of electrical signals (step 520 in FIG. 10). The main control unit input unit m30 receives the communication data output from the main control unit output unit m20 as received communication data via the loopback connection (step 530 in FIG. 10).

  The main control unit input unit m30 passes the received communication data to the comparison determination unit m13. The comparison determination unit m13 counts the number of bits 1 in the control command included in the received communication data, and sets the odd parity bit or even parity bit based on the result of counting the number of bits 1 as the second logical operation result. And The comparison determination unit m13 compares the first logical operation result and the second logical operation result included in the received communication data (step 540 in FIG. 10). If the comparison results match, it is determined that no error has occurred in the communication data transmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 to the sub-control unit 21, and the operation of the comparison determination unit m13 is terminated. If the comparison results do not match, it is determined that an error has occurred in the communication data transmitted from the main control unit output means m20 to the sub-control unit 21, and communication data to be retransmitted by the main control unit CPU m11 is created (step 560 in FIG. 10). ). The operation of creating communication data to be retransmitted will be described in detail later.

  Moreover, although the control command is shown as an example composed of two bytes of the identification number as the first byte and the operation number as the second byte, it is not limited to two bytes. The control command can be composed of a plurality of bytes of 2 bytes or more. In the data of 2 bytes or more constituting the control command, it is possible to add a parity bit to each byte unit to obtain communication data. The function of counting the number of bits 1 in byte units can be realized as a function of a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. It is also possible to configure with an electric circuit so as to count the number of bits 1. Similarly, the function of adding a parity bit according to the number of bits 1 can be realized as a function of a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. It is also possible to configure the circuit with an electric circuit so as to generate parity bits corresponding to whether the number of counted bits 1 is an odd number or an even number. Further, the main control unit CPUm11 has a function in which the comparison determination unit m13 counts the number of bits 1 in the control command included in the received communication data and compares it with the first logical operation result included in the received communication data. It can be realized as a function of a program executed by the computer or an electric circuit.

  The method of adding a parity bit, which is the second form of the predetermined logical operation, can also be realized with a row direction parity bit and a column direction parity bit, and will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12B, the control command is composed of two bytes of an identification number as the first byte and an operation number as the second byte. Parity bits are added to the first byte and the second byte. This parity bit becomes a row direction parity bit. Further, the number of bit 1s of the two 0th bits of the 1st byte and the 2nd byte is counted as a parity bit of the 0th bit. Similarly, for each of the 1st bit to the 7th bit, bit 1 And the parity bits from the first bit to the seventh bit are created. The parity bit becomes a column direction parity bit. The main control unit CPUm11 can create the transmission communication data by adding the row direction parity bit and the column direction parity bit created in this way as the first logical operation result to the control command (FIG. 10). Step 510).

Next, the operation of Step 530 in FIG. 10 is performed, and the comparison determination unit m13 calculates the row direction parity bit and the column direction parity bit of the control command included in the received communication data, and the calculation result is set as the second logical operation result. The row direction parity bit and the column direction parity bit, which are the first logical operation results included in the received communication data, are compared (step 540 in FIG. 10). If the comparison results match, the main control unit output means m20 Then, it is determined that no error has occurred in the communication data transmitted to the sub-control unit, and the operation of the comparison determination unit m13 is terminated (step 565 in FIG. 10). If the comparison result does not match, based on where the row-direction parity bit and the column-direction parity bit do not match, in which bit of the 0th bit to the 7th bit of the first byte and the second byte the error occurred It becomes possible to detect whether or not. Further, it is determined that there is a possibility that an error has occurred in the communication data transmitted from the main control unit output means m20 to the sub-control unit, and detailed operation will be described later, but communication data to be retransmitted by the main control unit CPUm11 is created. (Step 560 in FIG. 10).

  Moreover, although the control command is shown as an example composed of two bytes of the identification number as the first byte and the operation number as the second byte, it is not limited to two bytes. The control command can be composed of a plurality of bytes of 2 bytes or more. It is also possible to add communication data by adding a row direction parity bit and a column direction parity bit to data of 2 bytes or more constituting the control command. The function of counting the number of bits 1 can be realized as a program function of the main control unit CPUm11. It is also possible to configure with an electric circuit so as to count the number of bits 1. Further, the main control unit CPUm11 can realize a function of adding a parity bit according to the number of bits 1 as a function of a program. It is also possible to implement an electric circuit so as to generate a parity bit corresponding to whether the number of counted bits 1 is an odd number or an even number. Further, the result of counting the number of bits 1 in the control command included in the received communication data by the comparison / determination means m13 is defined as the second logical operation result, and the first logical operation result included in the received communication data. The function to be compared with can be realized as a program function of the main control unit CPUm11, or can be realized by an electric circuit.

  Various types other than the first form of the predetermined logical operation for performing a logical OR operation on the first byte and the second byte, and the second form of the predetermined logical operation for adding a parity bit of the first byte and the second byte. The predetermined logic operation is known. It is also possible to add the result of these known predetermined logical operations to the control command as the first logical operation result.

  As an example of such a known logical operation, it is also possible to use a CRC standardized as CRC-32-IEEE 802.3. A CRC operation value obtained by performing CRC operation on the control command is used as a first logical operation result, which is added to the control command as communication data. Alternatively, a hash value, which is a calculation result using a hash function that is a one-way function known by names such as MD4, MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-2, is added to the control command as the first logical operation result. Communication data can also be used. The comparison determination unit m13 of the main control unit or the comparison determination unit s12 of the sub-control unit performs CRC calculation on the control command included in the received communication data, or calculates a hash value by a hash function. These calculation results are used as the second logical calculation results, and the first logical calculation result included in the received communication data is compared with the CRC calculation result or the hash value. It is determined that no error has occurred in the communication data. If the comparison results do not match, it is possible to determine that an error has occurred in the received communication data.

  The predetermined logical operation function using these CRC operations or hash functions can be realized as a function executed by a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11. Alternatively, it can be realized by an electric circuit using an IC in which a CRC operation or a hash function is incorporated.

Here, the operation of the sub-control unit in the second mode of the control system will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The sub-control unit input unit s20 receives the communication data output from the main control unit output unit m20 as received communication data (step 600 in FIG. 13). The received communication data is passed to the sub-control unit comparison / determination means s12 (step 610 in FIG. 13). The sub-control unit comparison / determination means s12 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the received communication data (step 620 in FIG. 13). As described above, the sub-control comparison / determination means s12 performs a predetermined logical operation on the control command included in the received communication data. The predetermined logical operation result is set as the second logical operation result, and is compared with the first logical operation result included in the received communication data. If the comparison results match, it is determined that no error has occurred in the received control command, and the effect control means s14 controls the effect device according to the control command received (step 635 in FIG. 13).

  If the comparison results do not match, it is determined that an error has occurred in the received control command, and the effect control means s14 performs temporary effect control that is a provisional effect (step 630 in FIG. 13). The reason for performing the temporary effect control is that the control command is created by the main control unit 11 based on the result of the operation of the gaming machine by the player, and the player has some effect as a result of operating the gaming machine. Since there is an expectation, the production control means s14 performs temporary production control, which is provisional production control, in order to give the player a sense of discomfort unless production control is performed (step 630 in FIG. 13).

  Subsequently, processing for waiting for reception of retransmission communication data by retransmission communication data receiving means s13 is entered. The retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 checks whether or not communication data is retransmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 for a predetermined retransmission waiting period (step 640 in FIG. 13). When the sub control unit input means s20 receives the retransmitted communication data, the received communication data is passed to the retransmit communication data receiving means s13 (step 650 in FIG. 13). Upon receiving the retransmission communication data, the effect control means s14 interrupts the temporary effect control, and effects the effect device according to the control command included in the received retransmission communication data (step 660 in FIG. 13). Here, even if the predetermined retransmission wait period ends, there is a possibility that the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 will not receive the retransmission communication data. In this case, the effect control means s14 continues the temporary effect control (step 665 in FIG. 13).

  Here, as described above as step 635, when it is determined that there is no error in the control command received by the sub-control unit comparison determination means s12, the effect control means s14 controls the effect device according to the control command. Also in this case, the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 checks whether or not retransmission communication data is transmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 during a predetermined retransmission waiting period (step 700 in FIG. 9). The reason why the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 performs the process even though the sub-control part comparison / determination means s12 determines that there is no error in the received control command is that the main control part comparison / determination means m13 and the sub-control part comparison / determination means This is because there is a possibility that the detection result is different from s12, and retransmission communication data may be transmitted from the main control unit output means m20. The retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 executes a process of waiting for whether or not retransmission communication data is transmitted from the main control unit output unit m20 until a predetermined retransmission waiting period ends. Note that the above-described processing may be configured to determine whether or not the timing received by the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 is within the retransmission waiting time, and thereby the same result can be obtained.

  When the sub control unit input means s20 receives the retransmission communication data, the received communication data is passed to the effect control means s14 (step 710 in FIG. 9). When the retransmission communication data is received, the effect control means s14 effects control the effect device according to the control command included in the received retransmission communication data (step 720 in FIG. 9). Here, even if the predetermined retransmission wait period ends, there is a possibility that the retransmission communication data receiving means s13 will not receive the retransmission communication data. In this case, the effect control means s14 continues the effect control (step 725 in FIG. 9).

  By the way, as described above, since the main control unit input unit m30 is intentionally susceptible to noise, retransmission is performed despite proper command reception on the sub control unit input unit s20 side. Communication data may be transmitted. In such a case, even if the retransmission communication data is received, the effect based on the already received communication data is continued. It is also conceivable that already received communication data is appropriate but different from retransmission communication data. In this case, it is possible to determine whether or not retransmission communication data is further input with respect to the retransmission communication data, or whether or not it is an appropriate effect by majority decision of the retransmission communication data received over a plurality of times. Desirably, this can be expected to improve the accuracy of communication data.

  Here, the function executed by the retransmission communication data receiving unit s13 of the sub-control unit 21 can be realized such that the program executed by the sub-control unit CPUs11 executes the above-described steps. Alternatively, an electric circuit can be configured using a counter circuit so as to count a predetermined retransmission wait period.

  Next, the operation of the abnormality monitoring means for detecting the presence or absence of a control command error on the main control unit side will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This function can be applied to both the first mode and the second mode of the control system including the main board and the sub-control board.

  After the main control unit CPU m11 creates communication data and the main control unit output unit m20 transmits the communication data, the input signal is received from the main control unit input unit m30 a plurality of times at a loopback timing that can be variably set. It is to check whether or not.

  Referring to FIG. 14, the main control unit output means m20 is assumed to operate in a serial signal format, and corresponds to bit 1 or 0 of communication data to be transmitted, for example, a high signal or a low signal at the rising edge of the clock. The transmission of communication data is started in the electrical signal format. Since the cycle of the clock signal is t1 time and the control command is composed of the identification number 8 bits and the operation number 8 bits, the main control unit output means m20 transmits the identification number in (t1 × 8) time. Further, the operation number is transmitted in (t1 × 8) time. When the main control unit input unit m30 receives a signal indicating the start of transmission from the main control unit transmission unit m20 (not shown in FIG. 14), the communication data received via the loopback connection is, for example, the falling edge of the clock. Whether the signal is a high signal or a low signal at the edge time is detected. If the signal is a high signal, bit 1 is detected.

  In FIG. 14, if the left side is an earlier time, it indicates that the main control unit input means m30 has received the identification number which is the binary number “1110 0001”. The main control unit 11 receives the identification number and the operation number in (t1 × 16) time. The abnormality monitoring unit m14 checks whether or not the main control unit input unit m30 has received a signal from the loopback connection line for a time (t1 × 16) after the time t2 has elapsed after receiving the control command. The operation of checking whether or not the main control unit input means m30 has received a signal from the loopback connection line may be repeated a plurality of times.

  It is conceivable that an unauthorized player operates a gaming machine in an advantageous manner for the player by inducing an unauthorized signal on a connection line connecting the main control unit output unit m20 and the sub-control unit input unit s20. After the main control unit output unit m20 transmits the communication data, the abnormality monitoring unit m14 checks whether or not the main control unit input unit m30 has received the signal a plurality of times via the loopback connection line. Therefore, since there is a possibility that such an unauthorized operation by the player can be detected, it is a useful measure in terms of preventing fraud for both good players and game stores.

The function of checking whether or not the abnormality monitoring unit m14 has received the signal for a plurality of times via the loopback connection line is the main control unit CPUm11.
It can be realized as a function of a program executed by. In addition, by providing a counter circuit for counting clocks and counting time t2 and a counter circuit for counting timing (t1 × 16) time for reception check in main board 10, main control unit input means m30 is looped back. It is also possible to configure with an electric circuit so as to check whether or not a signal has been received from the connecting line a plurality of times.

  In FIG. 14, the control command has an identification number and an operation number of 8 bits, respectively, and the time when the main control unit output means m20 transmits the identification number and the operation number is shown as (t1 × 8) time. Each of the number and the operation number may have a length other than 8 bits. Further, communication data transmitted by the main control unit output means m20 may include data other than the control command. Therefore, the time for the main control unit input means m30 to start counting the time t2 is not limited after (t1 × 16) time has elapsed. It is configured to start counting t2 time after the end.

  As a method for an unauthorized player to operate a gaming machine in an advantageous manner for a player by inducing an unauthorized signal on a connection line connecting the main control unit output means m20 and the sub-control unit input means s20, abnormal data It is also beneficial to change the priority of whether or not the abnormality monitoring means m14 has received a signal via the loopback connection line depending on whether or not is a command affecting the ball. It is. For example, if the data received as abnormal data exactly matches the data transmitted by itself, it is determined as an error by one reception, and if it does not match the data transmitted by itself, the data is received multiple times. Judged as an error. Even with this configuration, it is possible to appropriately determine whether the input is simply an abnormal input due to noise or intentional abnormal input, and if the input is intentional abnormal input, appropriate processing control such as abnormality notification is performed at an early stage. It becomes possible.

  The first aspect and the second aspect of the control system have been described above. That is, a loopback connection is made so that the main control unit input means m30 reliably detects the induced noise induced on the connection line connecting the main control unit and the sub control unit from the sub control unit, and the main control unit input means A method has been described in which the detection threshold value of m30 is set to a detection threshold value different from the detection threshold value of the sub-control unit s20. Furthermore, a plurality of modes have been described as the comparison determination unit m13 for determining the possibility that an error has occurred in the communication data transmitted to the sub control unit on the main control unit side.

  Here, the output of the main control unit output means m20 is loop-back connected to the main control unit input means m30, and the detection threshold value of the main control unit input means m30 is set so that the induction noise can be reliably detected. The effect is great. Inductive noise is superimposed on the connection line connecting the main control unit 11 and the sub control unit 21, but the same input is used depending on the position where the induced noise is superimposed or on the main control unit input unit m30 and the sub control unit input unit s20. Even if an IC is used, there is a possibility that different detection results may occur due to variations in the characteristics of each IC. As a result, there is a possibility that presentation control different from the control command transmitted from the main control unit side is performed on the sub control unit side.

  Therefore, the effect of setting the threshold value for detection so that the main control unit side reliably detects the influence of the induction noise is larger than that of the sub control unit side.

  Moreover, although the some aspect of the comparison determination means m13 was demonstrated, the structure method of the comparison determination means m13 is not limited to the thing of the aspect described in the said embodiment. In short, any comparison determination means that can validate the comparison determination by setting different threshold values for detection on the main control unit side and the sub control unit side may be used. Further, even when another comparison determination method capable of determining that a change has occurred in transmission side data other than those described in the present embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the above, an induced noise induced on the connection line between the main board 10 and the sub-control board 20 or an error occurring in the control command due to an illegal operation by the player is detected on the main board 10 side, and the retransmission communication data is obtained. The mode of transmission has been described. In the description, it is described that each aspect can be realized as a function of a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11 or the sub control unit CPUs11 or can be configured by an electric circuit.

  The comparison determination unit m13 and the abnormality monitoring unit m14 shown in FIG. 4 are all realized as functions of a program executed by the main control unit CPUm11, or some of these functions are executed by the main control unit CPUm11. In addition, other functions can be configured by an electric circuit, and all functions can be configured by an electric circuit.

  Similarly, all of the comparison determination means s12, the retransmission communication data reception means s13, and the effect control device s14 included in the sub-control unit 21 shown in FIG. 4 may be configured by the function of the program executed by the sub-control unit CPUs11. Alternatively, some of these functions may be functions of a program executed by the sub-control unit CPUs11, and other functions may be configured by an electric circuit, or all functions may be configured by an electric circuit. It is.

  The gaming machine according to the embodiment is not limited to a slot machine, and may be a pachinko machine. A pachinko machine as another embodiment of the gaming machine will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the pachinko machine includes a launch system p32 for hitting a game ball, a lending game ball and a payout device p31 for paying out a prize ball when the game ball wins, a prepaid electronic money, etc. A CR unit p33 for paying a game ball rental fee using a card, and a frame side control device p30 for controlling these launch system p32, a payout device p31, and the CR unit p33 are provided. In addition, a prize detection sensor p50 that detects a prize when a game ball hit by a player wins a prize slot on the game side, and a special game state is provided to the player as a big hit when a prize is awarded at a specific prize slot. And a variable prize winning portion solenoid p51 for the purpose. Furthermore, an image display device p21 that displays a predetermined image so that the player can visually recognize the game according to the progress of the game, various LEDs p23 that control the operation of effect lighting and sound, and a speaker p22 are provided. In addition, various visual and auditory effects are performed. A sub-control board for controlling the image display device p21 that performs these various effects, the various LEDs p23, and the speaker p22 is provided. Moreover, as an external connection device that outputs various game information to a power supply board p40 that supplies power to these control boards and various electronic devices, etc., and a gaming machine management device (management computer) installed in the gaming hall An external concentrated terminal substrate p52 is provided. Further, a main control device (main substrate) p10 for controlling the whole of each of these substrates is provided. And each of these board | substrates has a structure which can be attached or detached with respect to a game machine.

  Here, the above-mentioned main board p10 is the operation of the above-mentioned various boards and devices according to the operating state of the gaming machine by the player (game progress such as the falling of the gaming ball starting from the hitting of the hit ball) and the gaming state. Overall control. In addition, it collects information on operating status from various substrates and devices. In addition, the sub control board p20 comprehensively controls various effects by visual and auditory senses for the player using the image display device p21, the speaker p22, various LEDs p23, and the like. The effect control by the sub control board p20 is performed based on the overall game control by the main board p10 determining the overall game control of the gaming machine.

Hereinafter, a schematic flow of control information in the control system of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, between the frame side control device (payout control board) p30 and the payout control device p31 is bidirectional communication for collecting game ball payout control and game ball payout information by the game ball payout device. Yes. Between the frame side control device p30 and the launching system device p32, bidirectional communication is performed in order to collect information related to game ball launch control and game ball launch. Between the frame side control device p30 and the CR unit p33, two-way communication is performed in order to collect card reader control / lending control and card reader information. Moreover, the frame side control device p30 has an error notification unit for performing error notification. Between the main control device (main board) p10 and the frame side control device p30, control information regarding game control and payout control by the main control device (main board) p10 is transmitted to the frame side control device p30. Bidirectional communication is used to transmit information on the payout device p31, the launch device p32, and the CR unit to the main control device p10.

  Bidirectional communication is performed between the main controller p10 and the power supply board p40 for power interruption detection and backup power control. One-way communication is performed between the main controller p10 and the winning detection sensor p50 in order to transmit the winning information of the game ball detected by the winning detection sensor p50 to the main controller p10. Between the main control device p10 and the variable winning portion solenoid (large winning opening internal drive mechanism) p51, the main controlling device p10 performs one-way communication in order to control the opening of the large winning opening when the game ball is won. ing. In addition, as described above, one-way communication is performed between the main control device p10 and the sub control board p20 to prevent unauthorized operation. The main controller p10 performs one-way communication for external display on the external concentrated terminal board p70.

  Here, a sub control command for sub control is transmitted from the main control device p10 to the sub control board p20 by one-way communication. One-way communication is performed between the sub-control board p20 and the image display device p21, the speaker p22, and the various LEDs p23 for image control, sound control, and lamp control of each device. In the sub-control board p20, the management of the entire effect control is performed by sub-integrated control.

  As described above, also in the pachinko machine, like the slot machine, the main control device p10 and the sub-control board p20 are unidirectionally communicated to prevent unauthorized operation by the player. In the pachinko machine, since many electromagnetic components are used in the gaming machine, induction noise is superimposed on a connection line connecting the main board p10 and the sub control board p20. Therefore, there is a possibility that an error may occur due to the induced noise on which the control command transmitted from the main board p10 to the sub control board p20 is superimposed, but an erroneous performance is caused by the induced noise superimposed on the receiving side sub control board p20. There is a possibility to control.

  Therefore, an embodiment in which an error occurring in a control command is detected on the main board side and retransmission communication data is transmitted as described in detail operation with reference to FIGS. 4 to 14 as aspects of the control system is applied to a pachinko machine. This makes it possible to prevent the possibility of erroneous presentation control on the sub-control board side of the pachinko machine. In the case of a pachinko machine, a form in which a long-time production from a change of a symbol to a stop is collectively entrusted to the sub-control device side by a control command transmitted at a time is adopted. This is particularly suitable because troubles are increasing.

As described above, the aspect of determining an error in the connection line between the main board and the sub control board in the control system according to the present embodiment has been described. In the slot machine and the pachinko machine, the connection location adopting the one-way communication is not limited between the main board and the sub-control board. There are other places where one-way communication is adopted at a connection place between a game operation by a player or a board relating to a gaming state, or a device and a main control unit. In the slot machine control system shown in FIG. 4, for example, the main board is connected to the input operation unit and the spinning device board. In the pachinko machine control system shown in FIG. 15, the main control part, the winning detection sensor, and the variable winning part. The connection with the solenoid is one-way communication. Loopback connection is applied to these connection lines, the detection threshold is set to a different value between the main board and another device, and the transmitted data and the data received through the loopback connection are determined by the comparison determination means. The configuration of the present embodiment can be extended to other connection locations using one-way communication in the gaming machine.

1 Slot machine 2 Front door 3 Housing 4 Upper panel 4a Various LEDs (lamps)
4b Sound emission part 4c Sound emission part 4d Image display device 5 Center panel part 5a Various LEDs (lamps)
5b Various LEDs (lamps)
5d Operation part 5e Frame 6 Lower panel part 6a Discharge port 6b Receptacle 6c Sound emitting part 7 Spinning reel device B1 Head button B2 Head button B3 Head button BO Setting switch BQ Setting switch CS Setting button CT Setting display element G1 Distribution mechanism G2 guide member G3 guide member G4 guide member HP hopper device MD medal insertion portion PWU power supply device R1 spinning reel R2 spinning reel R3 spinning reel SHP auxiliary storage portion SL speaker SP1 stop button SP2 stop button SP3 stop button SR speaker ST start Lever SW Speaker WD Transparent window 10 Main board 11 Main control part 20 Sub control board 21 Sub control part 30 Central display board 32 Setting switching / display part 33 Input operation part 40 Power supply board 50 Cylinder board 70 External collection Middle terminal board m11 Main control unit CPU
m13 Comparison determination means m14 Abnormality monitoring means m20 Main control unit output means p10 Main control device, main board p20 Sub control board p21 Image display device p22 Speaker p23 Various LEDs (Various LEDs (lamps))
p30 frame side control device p31 payout device p32 launch system device p33 CR unit p40 power supply board p50 winning detection sensor p51 variable winning portion solenoid (large winning opening internal drive mechanism)
p52 External concentration terminal board s11 Sub control unit CPU
s12 Comparison determination unit s13 Retransmission communication data reception unit s14 Retransmission control unit s20 Command reception unit, sub-control unit input unit s30 Production control output unit s40 Sub-control ROM
s50 Image control CPU
s51 Image control ROM
s52 VDP
s53 Character ROM
s60 Voice control IC
s61 Voice data ROM

Claims (10)

A main control unit that determines the gaming machine processing content according to the progress of the game, creates a control command indicating the determined gaming machine processing content and game result, and main control that transmits communication data including the determined control command A main board having a part output means, a sub control part input means for receiving the communication data from the main control part output means, and a control command included in the communication data received via the sub control part input means A gaming machine comprising a sub-control board having a sub-control unit that determines a control method of the effect device according to the effect control means for controlling the effect device based on the determination of the sub-control unit,
The main control unit output means transmits the communication data as electrical communication format transmission communication data to the sub-control unit input means, and is looped back to the main control unit input means in the main board,
The transmission communication data is generated by a digital signal consisting of binary values of a high signal having a high voltage level and a low signal having a low voltage level. Both of the main control unit input means and the sub control unit input means have the binary data A threshold value for determining any one of the threshold values is set, and the threshold value is a threshold value for detecting a high signal that becomes a threshold when changing from the low signal to the high signal, and the high signal. A threshold for detecting a low signal that becomes a threshold when changing from a low signal to a low signal is set, and the high signal detecting threshold of the main control unit input means is the sub control unit input means Is set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value, and the low signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input means is higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means. Each with a value It has been constant,
The main control unit input means receives the communication data as received communication data according to the threshold value of the main control unit input means,
The main control unit has comparison determination means for determining whether or not an error occurs during communication of the control command by comparing information included in the transmission communication data and information included in the reception communication data, When it is determined by the comparison determination means that an error has occurred during the communication, the communication data having the same content as the transmission communication data is retransmitted,
The sub control unit includes the effect control unit, and the effect control unit determines that an error during communication has occurred in the communication command received by the sub control unit via the sub control unit input unit. The temporary control of the provisional effect is performed, and the sub-control unit performs the communication via the sub-control unit input means from the time when the communication data is received until a predetermined retransmission wait period elapses. When data is received, the gaming machine is characterized in that the provisional effect control is switched to effect control based on a control command included in the communication data as the retransmitted data of the communication data.   When the sub control unit receives the communication data via the sub control unit input means from when the communication data is received until a predetermined retransmission waiting period elapses, temporary effect control is performed. The system is configured to switch to the effect control based on the received communication data based on one of the fact that the switchable state is reached or the effect switching limit time has elapsed. The gaming machine according to 1. A main control unit that determines the gaming machine processing content according to the progress of the game, creates a control command indicating the determined gaming machine processing content and game result, and main control that transmits communication data including the determined control command A main board having a part output means, a sub control part input means for receiving the communication data from the main control part output means, and a control command included in the communication data received via the sub control part input means A gaming machine comprising a sub-control board having a sub-control unit that determines a control method of the effect device according to the effect control means for controlling the effect device based on the determination of the sub-control unit,
The main control unit output means transmits the communication data as electrical communication format transmission communication data to the sub-control unit input means, and is looped back to the main control unit input means in the main board,
The transmission communication data is generated by a digital signal consisting of binary values of a high signal having a high voltage level and a low signal having a low voltage level. Both of the main control unit input means and the sub control unit input means have the binary data A threshold value for determining any one of the threshold values is set, and the threshold value is a threshold value for detecting a high signal that becomes a threshold when changing from the low signal to the high signal, and the high signal A threshold for detecting a low signal that becomes a threshold when changing from a low signal to a low signal is set, and the high signal detecting threshold of the main control unit input means is the sub control unit input means Is set to a value lower than the high signal detection threshold value, and the low signal detection threshold value of the main control unit input means is higher than the low signal detection threshold value of the sub control unit input means. Each with a value It has been constant,
The main control unit input means receives the communication data as received communication data according to the threshold value of the main control unit input means,
The main control unit has comparison determination means for determining whether or not an error occurs during communication of the control command by comparing information included in the transmission communication data and information included in the reception communication data, When it is determined by the comparison determination means that an error has occurred during the communication, retransmission communication data in which retry instruction data indicating retry is added to the control command is transmitted from the main control unit output means. ,
The sub control unit includes the effect control unit, and the effect control unit determines that an error during communication has occurred in the communication command received by the sub control unit via the sub control unit input unit. In such a case, provisional temporary performance control is performed, and the sub-control unit performs the retransmission via the sub-control unit input means from the time when the communication data is received until a predetermined retransmission wait period elapses. When the communication data is received, the provisional effect control is switched to effect control based on a control command included in the retransmission communication data.   If the sub control unit receives the retransmission communication data via the sub control unit input means from the time when the communication data is received until a predetermined retransmission waiting period elapses, temporary effect control is performed. It is configured to switch to effect control based on the received retransmission communication data based on either the effect changeable state or the effect change limit time has elapsed. The gaming machine according to claim 3.   The comparison determination unit determines whether or not an error has occurred during communication of the control command by comparing a control command included in the transmission communication data with a control command included in the reception communication data. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. The control command has a first control command part and a second control command part, and the transmission communication data is transmitted from the main control unit to the first control command part and the second control command part. Including a first logical operation result that is a result of applying,
The comparison determination means is a result obtained by performing the predetermined logical operation on the first logical operation result and the first control command portion and the second control command portion included in the received communication data. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the presence / absence of an error during communication of the control command is determined by comparing the logical operation results.   The logical sum of the first control command part and the second control command part is configured to be a constant value, and the first logical operation result and the second logical operation result are the first control command part and the second control command part. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the gaming machine is a result of performing a logical OR operation on two control command portions. The main control unit, after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time of transmitting the transmission communication data,
It is abnormal if the main control unit input means receives an input signal for a plurality of times at a loopback timing that can be variably set, and the main control unit input means receives an input signal. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality monitoring unit that determines that   If the rendition communication data is received while performing the temporary effect control, the effect control means changes the temporary effect control to effect control based on the second control command included in the retransmit communication data. The temporary production control is configured to be continued when the retransmission communication data is not received before the retransmission wait period elapses. A gaming machine according to any one of the above.   If the production control means does not detect an error in the control command, the production control means performs production control based on the first control command included in the normally received communication data, and performs the retransmission within the retransmission wait period. When the communication data is received, the first control command is compared with the second control command included in the retransmission communication data. If the comparison result does not match, the first control command is based on the second control command. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is configured to perform the production control.

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