JP5796342B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, for example.

  As a gaming machine, one having a variable winning device is known. This variable winning device includes a winning opening through which a game ball can win and an opening / closing plate attached in the vicinity of the winning opening. The opening / closing plate is in an open state that makes it easy to win a game ball in the winning opening for a predetermined time when a predetermined gaming condition is satisfied, and in a closed state that makes it difficult to win the winning opening in other cases It becomes.

  Even when the opening / closing plate is supposed to be closed, the opening / closing plate may be opened. For example, even when a predetermined gaming state is not established, the opening / closing plate may be illegally opened by a foreign object such as a wire inserted into the gaming machine.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-17998 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for notifying an abnormality when the opening / closing plate is improperly opened when the opening / closing plate should be closed and the game ball wins a winning opening. ing.

JP 2009-17998 A

  When the opening / closing plate is supposed to be in a closed state, a situation in which the opening / closing plate is in an open state is caused by a clogged game ball on the game surface in addition to the above-described fraud. In other words, the open / close plate that is once opened is prevented from changing to the closed state due to the clogging of the game balls generated in the vicinity of the variable winning device, and remains open even after a predetermined time has elapsed. Sometimes.

  A method for dealing with a situation in which the opening / closing plate is in an open state is different between the case of fraud and the case of ball clogging. For example, in the case of fraudulent acts, hall clerk etc. need to deal quickly, but in the case of clogged balls, the problem is often resolved naturally even if left as it is. No urgent action is required. With the technique of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to take appropriate measures because it is not possible to distinguish between cases of fraud and cases of ball clogging.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of notifying the abnormality of the state of the opening / closing plate according to the cause.

(1) The invention of claim 1
A gaming surface on which the game ball rolls, a winning opening formed in the gaming surface, an open state provided at the winning opening, and making it easy to win the winning ball to the winning opening, and making the winning difficult An open / close plate that can change between a closed state, an open / close plate driving means that keeps the open / close plate in the open state for a predetermined time when a predetermined game condition is satisfied, and the predetermined game condition is satisfied. An abnormally open state detecting means for detecting an abnormally open state in which the opening / closing plate is in the open state after the predetermined time has elapsed, and an image for acquiring image data by imaging the game surface Based on the data acquisition means, based on the image data, on the gaming surface, an object identifying means for identifying an object, the abnormally open state detecting means detects the abnormally open state, and the object identifying means is the game ball Other objects When another is summarized as a game machine, characterized in that it comprises a foreign material signal output means for outputting the foreign matter signal.

  In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the foreign matter signal output means detects a state where the opening / closing plate that should originally be in the closed state is in an open state (abnormally open state), and the object identifying means has identified an object other than the game ball. In this case, a foreign substance signal is output. In other words, the present invention outputs a foreign object signal when an abnormally open state occurs due to circumstances other than the clogging of gaming balls (for example, foreign objects such as wires illegally inserted into gaming machines).

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to know that an abnormally open state caused by other circumstances has occurred, in distinction from an abnormally open state caused by a blocked ball of game balls. As a result, the hall clerk and the like can appropriately cope with the abnormal open state according to the cause.
(2) The invention of claim 2
The gist of the gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising foreign matter notifying means for notifying in accordance with the foreign matter signal.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to easily know by the foreign substance notification means that an abnormally open state has occurred due to circumstances other than the game balls being jammed.
(3) The invention of claim 3
The gist of the gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the foreign matter notifying means is a display device provided on the gaming surface.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, since the foreign matter notification means is a display device provided on the game surface, it is easy for the player and the store clerk to have an abnormally open state caused by circumstances other than the clogging of game balls. I can know.
(4) The invention of claim 4
Based on the image data, a stopped game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball that is substantially stopped on the game surface, the abnormally open state detecting means detects the abnormally open state, and the stopped game is detected. 4. A ball clogging signal output unit that outputs a ball clogging signal when the ball detecting unit detects the stopped game ball, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The gist is a gaming machine.

  In the gaming machine of the present invention, the ball clogging signal output means detects a state where the opening / closing plate that should originally be in a closed state is in an open state (abnormally open state), and detects a stopped game ball (ball clogged). When detected, a ball clogging signal is output. That is, the present invention outputs a ball clogging signal corresponding to an abnormally open state caused by a ball clogging of a game ball.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to know that an abnormally open state due to the clogging of game balls has occurred. As a result, the hall clerk and the like can appropriately cope with the abnormal open state according to the cause.

It is preferable that the ball clogging signal can be distinguished from the foreign substance signal at some point. For example, the signal output, waveform, signal transmission path, signal output timing, and the like can be different between the ball clogging signal and the foreign object signal.
(5) The invention of claim 5
The game machine according to claim 4, further comprising a ball clogging notification unit that performs notification according to the ball clogging signal.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to easily know by the ball clogging notification means that an abnormally open state caused by the ball clogging of the game ball has occurred.
(6) The invention of claim 6
The gist of the gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the ball clogging notification means is a display device provided on the gaming surface.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, since the ball clogging notification means is a display device provided on the game surface, the player or the store clerk can easily know that an abnormally open state caused by the ball clogging of the game ball has occurred. Can do.
(7) The invention of claim 7
The gist of the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the abnormally open state detecting means detects that the open / close plate is in the open state based on the image data. To do.

The gaming machine according to the present invention can easily detect that the opening / closing plate is in the open state because the abnormally open state detecting means is as described above.
Examples of the image data acquisition means include an optical sensor.

1 is a front view of a gaming machine 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device 15. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the abnormality detection process which the gaming machine 1 performs. It is explanatory drawing showing the state by which the opening-and-closing plate 21a is maintained by the open state by the ball clogging.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1. Overall Configuration of Gaming Machine 1 The overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The gaming machine 1 provides a pachinko game to a player who has visited a game hall (not shown), and includes an outer frame 3 attached to a game island (not shown) and an inner frame 5 attached to the outer frame 3 so as to be opened and closed. A game board 7 attached to the inner frame 5 and arranged facing the player; a handle 9 for launching a game ball 8 on the game board 7 for the player to perform a game action; A prize provided as a result of the gaming action on the board 7, here a game ball 8 (the game ball 8 paid out as a prize is referred to as a prize ball), and a game ball discharged from the top tray 11. 8 is provided. The inner frame 5 includes a glass door 14 on the front side. The glass door 14 covers the game board 7 with a predetermined distance from the game board 7.

  A liquid crystal display device 15 is installed over the entire surface of the game board 7 facing the player (hereinafter referred to as a game surface 7a). The liquid crystal display device 15 will be described later. The game board 7 also has a normal symbol start gate 17 having a function of outputting a normal symbol start signal for a normal symbol game when the game ball 8 passes, and a normal symbol is predetermined when the normal symbol start signal is output. After the time variation display, a normal symbol display device 19 for confirming and displaying a predetermined normal symbol, and a normal symbol storage display device 20 for displaying the number of normal symbol games held are provided.

  The game board 7 includes a normal electric accessory (electric tulip) 21. The ordinary electric accessory 21 includes a pair of opening / closing plates 21a that can be opened and closed. The open / close plate 21a is shown in FIG. 1 as 21a (c) in a state where the distance between each other is narrowed (hereinafter referred to as a closed state), and as shown in FIG. In an open state).

  The ordinary electric accessory 21 includes a starting port (winning port) 23 between a pair of opening and closing plates 21a. When the opening and closing plate 21a is in a closed state, the path to the starting port 23 is narrowed and the starting port 23 is opened. It becomes difficult to win a prize. On the other hand, when the open / close plate 21a is in the open state, the path to the start port 23 is widened, and winning to the start port 23 is facilitated.

  When the normal symbol on the normal symbol display device 19 is confirmed and displayed (when a predetermined game condition is satisfied), the normal electric accessory 21 opens the open / close plate 21a for 6 seconds, and then returns to the closed state. . More specifically, when the normal symbol corresponding to the normal symbol display device 19 is confirmed and displayed, the main control board 31 described later outputs an accessory release signal to the normal symbol display device 19. When the ordinary electric accessory 21 receives the accessory release signal, it opens the open / close plate 21a for 6 seconds. The normal electric accessory 21 maintains the closed state when the normal symbol corresponding to the normal symbol display device 19 is not fixedly displayed.

  In the central part of the liquid crystal display device 15, when the game ball 8 wins at the start port 23, the special symbol variation display is performed for a predetermined time, and then the predetermined special symbol is confirmed and displayed (special symbol game). In addition, the game board 7 includes a special symbol display device 25 for displaying a result of the special symbol game (a special symbol to be confirmed and displayed).

  The game board 7 includes a special electric accessory 27 and a special winning opening 29. When the special symbol that is confirmed and displayed on the special symbol display device 25 is a predetermined jackpot symbol, the special electric accessory 27 opens the big prize opening 29. When the game ball 8 wins the big winning opening 29, a prize ball is provided. In other cases, the special electric accessory 27 closes the special winning opening 29.

A large number of game nails 30 are attached on the game surface 7a. The game nail 30 collides with the game ball 8 and changes its course in various ways.
In addition, the gaming machine 1 includes a main control board 31 and an effect control board 33 that control the above-described components and execute processing to be described later. The main control board 31 or the effect control board 33 includes storage means (not shown) such as a RAM for storing image data, locus data, and the like, which will be described later.

2. Configuration of Liquid Crystal Display Device 15 The configuration of the liquid crystal display device 15 will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal display device 15 includes an image display area 15a capable of displaying an image and a frame portion 15b surrounding the image display area 15a. An image display area 15a is provided in a portion of the game surface 7a that can be seen by the player. The frame portion 15b is provided on the outer edge portion of the game board 7 and invisible to the player.

  Pixels 35 are regularly arranged in a matrix form on the surface of the image display area 15a. Also. Each pixel 35 has a built-in photosensor (not shown) using a photodiode. The frame portion 15b is provided with an optical sensor driving circuit 37 for driving the optical sensor described above, a liquid crystal source driver 39, a liquid crystal gate driver 41, and the like.

  The liquid crystal display device 15 can display a predetermined image (for example, a special symbol variation display, a fixed display, etc.) using the pixel 35 based on a display signal input from the main control board 31 or the effect control board 33. . Since the liquid crystal display device 15 covers the game surface 7a as described above, an image is displayed on the game surface 7a.

  Further, the liquid crystal display device 15 can take an image of the game surface 7a from the game surface 7a side by using an optical sensor built in each pixel 35. That is, as viewed from the game surface 7a, an image in the front direction (direction in which the player is present) can be taken. The range in which the liquid crystal display device 15 can capture an image covers the entire game surface 7a. Examples of what can be imaged by the liquid crystal display device 15 include the opening / closing plate 21a of the ordinary electric accessory 21, the game ball 8 on the game surface 7a, and a foreign object (wire or the like) inserted on the game surface 7a. A signal (read signal) of the captured image can be output to the main control board 31 or the effect control board 33.

The liquid crystal display device 15 is sold by, for example, Sharp Corporation.
3. Abnormality detection process executed by the gaming machine 1 The gaming machine 1 (particularly the main control board 31 and the effect control board 33) can execute an abnormality detection process. This abnormality detection process will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. This abnormality detection process is repeatedly executed every predetermined time after the gaming machine 1 is powered on.

  In step 10 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether the opening / closing plate 21a of the ordinary electric accessory 21 is actually in an open state. Specifically, this is performed as follows. First, the game surface 7a is imaged by the liquid crystal display device 15 to acquire image data. Next, an object shown in the image data is recognized. If there are multiple objects, each is recognized. Examples of the objects that can be recognized include the opening / closing plate 21a of the ordinary electric accessory 21, the game ball 8 existing on the game surface 7a, and a foreign object (wire or the like) inserted on the game surface 7a. Note that a known image recognition technique can be used for object recognition.

  When the recognized position and shape of the object coincides with the position and shape of the opening / closing plate 21a in the opened state (position and shape stored in advance), the opening / closing plate 21a of the ordinary electric accessory 21 is actually Is determined to be in the open state, the process proceeds to step 20, otherwise the process ends.

  In step 20, it is determined whether or not the main control board 31 has already output the accessory release signal. If it is output, the process proceeds to step 30; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 40. Note that when the accessory release signal is not output, it means that the opening / closing plate 21a is in the open state without the output of the accessory release signal.

  In step 30, it is determined whether or not 7 seconds or more have elapsed since the opening / closing plate 21a of the ordinary electric accessory 21 is actually opened. Specifically, in the process of step 10, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the first determination of YES is 7 seconds or more. If 7 seconds or more have elapsed, the process proceeds to step 40, and if 7 seconds have not yet elapsed, this process is terminated.

  The time for which the opening / closing plate 21a of the gaming machine 1 is continuously opened is determined to be 6 seconds by the rule. Since the open / close plate 21a does not normally open continuously for more than 7 seconds, the open / close plate 21a is in an abnormally open state when 7 seconds or more have elapsed since being opened. “7 seconds” in this step is a slightly longer time than 6 seconds, which is the time during which the open / close plate 21a is continuously opened. By setting “7 seconds”, the pair of opening / closing plates 21a to be closed can be temporarily closed for a game ball (excluding a game ball that is clogged) that temporarily exists between them. When it becomes impossible to do so and the open state slightly exceeds 6 seconds, it is possible to prevent the abnormal open state from being determined.

  In step 40, it is determined whether or not the object recognized in step 10 includes an object stopped in the vicinity of the ordinary electric accessory 21 (hereinafter referred to as a stopped object). Whether or not the object is stopped can be determined as being stopped if the object is at the same position in a plurality of image data captured at different times. If there is a stop in the vicinity of the ordinary electric accessory 21, the process proceeds to step 50, and if there is no stop, the process proceeds to step 80.

  In step 50, it is determined whether or not the stopped object is a game ball 8. Whether or not it is a game ball can be determined based on the shape and size of the stationary object. That is, if the shape is spherical and the size matches the size of the game ball 8, it is determined to be a game ball. On the other hand, if the shape or size does not match the game ball 8, the game ball Judge that it is not 8. If it is a game ball 8, the process proceeds to step 60, and if it is not a game ball 8, the process proceeds to step 70.

  In step 60, a ball clogging signal is output to an external hall computer. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display device 15 (game surface 7a) is notified of a clogged ball. This notification is composed of a display of the characters “ball jammed” and an arrow indicating the position of the ball jam.

In step 70, the foreign substance signal is output to an external hall computer. In addition, a predetermined notification specific to the case where a foreign substance signal is output is given to the liquid crystal display device 15 (game surface 7a).
In step 80, an unknown signal is output to an external hall computer. Further, a specific notification specific to the case where an unknown signal is output is given to the liquid crystal display device 15 (game surface 7a).

Needless to say, the gaming machine 1 can execute normal game processing, but the description thereof is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.
4). Advantages of the gaming machine 1 (1) In the gaming machine 1, when the abnormally opened state is caused by the clogging of the game balls 8, YES is determined in the step 40 and the step 50 in FIG. A ball clogging that prevents the closing operation of 21a is recognized), and a ball clogging signal is output.

  On the other hand, if an abnormally open state is caused by a foreign object (wire or the like) inserted into the gaming machine 1, YES is determined in step 40 in FIG. 3 and NO is determined in step 50 (opening / closing plate). A foreign object that illegally opens 21a is recognized) and a foreign object signal is output.

In addition, if an abnormal open state has occurred for other reasons, it is determined NO in step 40 in FIG. 3, and an unknown signal is output.
As described above, the gaming machine 1 can output different signals to the external hall computer depending on the cause of the abnormally open state (ball clogging, foreign object insertion, etc.). As a result, the hall clerk knows the cause of the abnormally open state and can take appropriate measures.
(2) The gaming machine 1 performs different notifications depending on the cause of the abnormally open state (ball clogging, foreign object insertion, etc.) in the liquid crystal display device 15. As a result, the player can know the cause of the abnormally open state.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, the liquid crystal display device 15 may not be able to capture an image over the entire game surface 7a. For example, the liquid crystal display device 15 may be capable of capturing an image only around the ordinary electric accessory 21.

  In addition, when the gaming machine 1 outputs a ball clogging signal, a foreign object signal, or an unknown signal, the gaming machine 1 may notify by voice or the like instead of or in addition to the display on the liquid crystal display device 15. The sound can be different for each type of signal to be output.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine, 3 ... Outer frame, 5 ... Inner frame, 7 ... Game board, 7a ... Game side,
8 ... game ball, 9 ... handle, 11 ... upper tray, 13 ... lower tray,
14 ... Glass door, 15 ... Liquid crystal display device, 15a ... Image display area,
15b ... Frame part, 17 ... Normal symbol start gate, 19 ... Normal symbol display device,
20 ... Normal symbol memory display device, 21 ... Normal electric accessory, 21a ... Opening / closing plate,
23 ... Start-up port, 25 ... Special symbol display device, 27 ... Special electric accessory,
29 ... Grand prize opening, 30 ... Game nail, 31 ... Main control board,
33 ... Production control board, 35 ... Pixel, 37 ... Optical sensor drive circuit,
39 ... Liquid crystal source driver, 41 ... Liquid crystal gate driver

Claims (7)

A game surface on which a game ball rolls,
A prize opening formed on the game side;
An opening / closing plate provided at the winning opening and capable of changing between an open state that facilitates winning of the game ball to the winning opening and a closed state that makes the winning difficult;
An opening / closing plate driving means for opening the opening / closing plate for a predetermined time when a predetermined game condition is established;
An abnormally open state detecting means for detecting an abnormally open state in which the open / close plate is in the open state after the predetermined game condition is not satisfied, or after the predetermined time has elapsed;
Image data acquisition means for imaging the game surface and acquiring image data;
Object identifying means for identifying an object on the gaming surface based on the image data;
A foreign matter signal output means for outputting a foreign matter signal when the abnormally open state detecting means detects the abnormally open state and the object identifying means identifies an object other than the game ball;
A gaming machine comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a foreign matter notification unit that performs notification according to the foreign matter signal.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the foreign matter notifying means is a display device provided on the gaming surface. A stopped game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball substantially stopped on the game surface based on the image data;
A ball clogging signal output means for outputting a ball clogging signal when the abnormally open state detecting means detects the abnormally open state and the stop game ball detecting means detects the stopped game ball;
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 4, further comprising a ball clogging notification unit that performs notification according to the ball clogging signal.   6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the ball clogging notification means is a display device provided on the gaming surface.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the abnormally open state detecting means detects that the open / close plate is in the open state based on the image data.