JP5858722B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine that produces an effect using a screen and sound.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine (a spinning machine, slot machine) having a plurality of spinning cylinders having symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface is known. This type of gaming machine gives a certain game value to a game medium (medal) and performs a game for acquiring such a game medium. In addition, this type of gaming machine has an internal lottery triggered by the player's rotation start operation and starts rotation of a plurality of spinning cylinders, and a mode according to the result of the internal lottery as a player's stop operation trigger. In order to stop multiple cylinders. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in a state where the plurality of spinning cylinders are stopped, and medals are paid out according to the game result.

  In the gaming machine, various effects are made to improve the interest of the game. For example, a decorative member, a monitor (screen display device, liquid crystal display device), a speaker, and an LED lamp are attached, and a visual effect, a video effect, a sound effect, a light effect, and the like are performed.

In a video / audio reproduction device that receives video / audio data transmitted via an IP network or the like and reproduces audio and video in synchronization, the arrival time of each data is determined, and the video Perform delay control and audio delay control. In an electronic musical instrument device capable of displaying a score and lyrics in synchronization with sound, the fact that a predetermined time before the display processing time has been set in consideration of the time required for display processing has been reached. Detection is performed and drive for display switching is started using this as drive start timing. As a result, it is possible to display the score and lyrics (or pointers, etc.) without delaying or shifting from the position of the song being played. In a karaoke apparatus that receives data from outside and synchronizes sound and video, delay in sound in consideration of delay time until image display by processing in a signal processing circuit for improving image quality Apply processing. JP, 2005-342533, A The picture material data which forms image information, The sound material data which forms sound effects, The display control procedure which displays image information on a liquid crystal display device, The sound control procedure which a sound source circuit generates, The sound effect When elements of display control procedure and sound control procedure are arbitrarily combined and stored in the sub ROM in units of multiple “blocks”, the sub control circuit receives a designation command signal designating “block” from the main control circuit By controlling the liquid crystal display device and the sound source circuit, the control load of the control circuit is reduced, and the program storage amount of the liquid crystal display device and the sound source circuit in the main ROM is reduced. JP, 2007-082155, A The image data which is going to be reproduced with an image display device is analyzed, and according to the analysis result of this image data analysis means according to the time which reproduces the image data on the image display device An audio output adjustment time generating means for generating an audio output adjustment time is provided.

  In the production performed using the screen and sound, both are synchronized. For example, a line is made to flow from a speaker in response to a character displayed on the screen moving his / her mouth. If there is a gap between them, the player feels uncomfortable.

  Both the screen and the sound are transmitted with a predetermined command (data) from the CPU to perform an operation related to the effect. The time required from data transmission to screen display or sound generation varies depending on the type of CPU, the type of control IC on the peripheral board, and the software design. Therefore, even if data is transmitted at the same time, the timings at which presentations such as screen display and sound generation are started are different. For this reason, there may be a deviation in the presentation such as screen display and sound generation that should be started at the same time. This deviation is undesirable because it gives the player a sense of discomfort and lowers the quality of the performance. It is necessary to eliminate this deviation or at least reduce it to such an extent that the player does not feel uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of reducing a shift generated during screen display and sound generation to such an extent that the player does not feel uncomfortable. To do.

The present invention relates to a sub-board that performs processing related to an effect, a screen display unit that displays a screen related to the effect, a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on control of the sub-board, and the effect An acoustic device for generating sound, an acoustic control unit for controlling the acoustic device based on the control of the sub-board, and a data transmission unit for transmitting data to the screen display unit control unit and the acoustic control unit. In gaming machines,
Corresponding to at least one production, the screen to be displayed on the screen display unit and the sound generated by the acoustic device are predetermined,
Let Tm be the allowable amount of deviation that occurs between the display of the screen of the screen display unit and the generation of the sound of the acoustic device,
The time required to send the acoustic data corresponding to the effect from the data transmission unit to the acoustic control unit is Txmax,
The data transmitter is
Acquire the sound data corresponding to the production,
Obtaining the display timing tα of the screen corresponding to the effect,
Based on the equation: tβ = tα−Txmax / 2, the transmission timing tβ of the acoustic data is obtained,
The acoustic data is transmitted to the acoustic control unit at the transmission timing tβ.

The allowable amount Tm of the deviation is set to a short time such that the player cannot recognize the deviation,
The time Txmax required for transmitting the acoustic data is determined to be not more than twice the allowable amount Tm of deviation.

The data transmitter is
The transmission timing of the image data of the screen related to the effect associated with the sound data corresponding to the effect is tδ, and the screen display unit control unit receives the image data and displays the screen. The time required and a predetermined time is Tc,
The display timing tα of the screen may be obtained by tδ + Tc.

The screen display unit control unit obtains image data of the screen related to the effect and the display timing of the screen based on the image data, and sends the information of the effect and the display timing of the screen to the data transmission unit,
The data transmitter is
Based on the information of the effect, determine whether the acquired sound data is related to the image data of the screen related to the effect,
When the acoustic data and the image data are related, the display timing of the screen received from the screen display control unit may be set to tα.

The screen display unit control unit generates a screen related to the effect by using a predetermined frame as a unit, and displays the screen on the screen display unit by using the frame as a unit.
The data transmitter is
Obtaining a transmission timing tδ of the image data of the screen related to the effect associated with the sound data corresponding to the effect;
A frame including the transmission timing tδ is specified;
Identify the frame in which the screen is displayed based on the frame,
The start time of the frame in which the screen is displayed may be set as the display timing tα of the screen.

  According to the present invention, based on the image display timing and the transmission time of the audio data, the transmission timing is set so that the transmission of the audio data is completed within a predetermined time so as not to cause a sense of incongruity. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the difference between the display image and the generated sound so that the player does not feel uncomfortable.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door 180 degree | times. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a flowchart of the gaming process of the slot machine. It is explanatory drawing of the communication system of a sub board | substrate and a peripheral board | substrate. It is a block diagram of a data transmission part. It is explanatory drawing of the process regarding a screen display, and the process regarding audio | voice generation. It is a functional block diagram of VDP (video display processor). It is explanatory drawing (timing chart) of each process of drawing data preservation | save in VDP, drawing execution, and a display. It is a block diagram of a sound controller. It is explanatory drawing of audio | voice data. It is explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the transmission timing of the audio | voice data in the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a flowchart of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the correspondence of the kind of effect, image data, and audio | voice data. It is explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is another explanatory drawing (timing chart) of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is another flowchart of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is another flowchart of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is another flowchart of the audio | voice data transmission process which concerns on embodiment of invention. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of how to obtain tα in the process of FIG. 19.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.

  Further, a start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop switches 140 are provided corresponding to the three spinning cylinders. A medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A liquid crystal display device LCD is provided above the game display unit 131.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein. Inside the slot machine main body 120, a reel (rotating cylinder) unit 203 including three rotating cylinders is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the front door 130 is closed. The reel unit 203 includes three spinning cylinders (first to third drums) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which the player can see the symbols of the rotating drums of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 121.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front button 130 on the back side of a reject button 133 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100 according to the embodiment of the invention.
In this figure, the display about the power supply system is omitted. Although not shown, the slot machine includes a power supply unit for generating a DC power supply (+5 V or the like) from a commercial power supply (AC 100 V).

  The slot machine 100 includes a main substrate (processing unit) 10 and a sub substrate 20 that operates in response to a command from the main substrate (processing unit) 10 as main processing devices. At least the main substrate 10 is accommodated inside the case so that it cannot be contacted from the outside, and is sealed so that traces remain when these substrates are removed.

  The main board 10 is for performing an internal lottery in response to a player's operation, and performing processing (game processing) such as reel rotation / stop and medal payout. The main board 10 includes a CPU that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like.

  The sub board 20 is for receiving a command signal from the main board 10 and notifying the result of the internal lottery and performing various effects. The sub-board 20 includes a CPU that performs a control operation in accordance with a preset program corresponding to the command signal, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like. Only one command flows from the main board 10 to the sub board 20, and conversely, no command is issued from the sub board 20 to the main board 10.

  The main board 10 is paid out from a bet switch BET, a start switch 134, a stop button 140, a reel unit (including a reel driving device) 203, a reel position detection circuit 71, a hopper driving unit 80, a hopper 81 and a hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting the number of medals (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected. A peripheral substrate (local substrate) such as a liquid crystal control substrate 200 for controlling the liquid crystal display device, a speaker substrate 201, and an LED substrate 202 is connected to the sub substrate 20. The peripheral board is controlled by the sub-board 20 and produces effects mainly by video, light, and sound.

  Further, medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1 are connected to the main board 10.

  The medal selector 1 is provided with medal sensors S1 and S2 for counting medals. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are provided on the downstream side (near the exit) of a medal passage (not shown) provided in the medal selector 1 (the upstream side of the medal passage communicates with the medal slot 132). The two medal sensors S1 and S2 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval along the medal traveling direction. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, photointerrupters that have a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other, are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and are positioned so that the detection optical axis faces the medal passage from above. . Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction.

  The hopper driving unit 80 rotates the hopper 81 and performs an operation of paying out medals of the payout number instructed by the main board 10. The gaming machine includes a medal detection unit 82 that operates every time a medal is paid out, and the main board 10 receives a medal actually paid out from the hopper 81 based on an input signal from the medal detection unit 82. You can manage the number.

  The insertion accepting unit 1050 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and determines that the medal corresponding to the specified number of insertions has been inserted. A process of permitting the rotation start operation of the first reel to the third reel is performed. Note that the pressing operation of the start switch 134 is an opportunity to start rotation of the first reel to the third reel and an opportunity to execute the internal lottery. Also, a prescribed number of throws is set according to the gaming state, the prescribed number of throws is set to 3 in the normal state and the bonus established state, and the prescribed number of throws is set to 1 in the bonus state.

  When medals are inserted, the inserted medals are set to the inserted state up to a specified number of insertions according to the gaming state. Alternatively, when the bet switch BET is pressed in a state where medals have been credited to the gaming machine, the credited medals are set to the inserted state by limiting the prescribed number of insertions according to the gaming state. The main board 10 controls whether or not to accept a medal. When it is not in a state of accepting insertion of medals (when not permitted), even if medals are inserted, they are not counted by the medal sensors S1 and S2 and are returned as they are. Similarly, the main board 10 controls the validity / invalidity of the bet switch BET. When the bet switch BET is not valid (when not permitted), even if the bet switch BET is pressed, it is ignored.

  The main board 10 incorporates random number generating means 1100. The random number generation means 1100 is a means for generating a random number for lottery. The random value can be generated based on, for example, a count value of an increment counter (a counter that counts a numerical value so as to circulate a predetermined count range). In this embodiment, the “random number value” is not only a value that is randomly generated in a mathematical sense, but even if the generation itself is regular, the acquisition timing and the like are irregular. Includes a value that can function as a random number.

  The internal lottery means 1200 performs an internal lottery in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, a lottery table selection process for selecting a lottery table (not shown) stored in a memory (not shown) of the main board 10, a random number determination process for determining the winning of a random number obtained from the random number generation means 1050, The lottery flag setting process for setting a flag to that effect when a big win or the like is won by the determination result is performed.

  In the lottery table selection process, a lottery table (not shown) stored in a storage unit (ROM) (not shown) is used to determine which lottery table is used for internal lottery. In the lottery table, for each of a plurality of random values (for example, 65536 random values from 0 to 65535), replay, small role (bell, cherry), regular bonus (RB: bonus), and big bonus (BB :), etc., are associated with each other. In addition, a normal state, a bonus establishment state, and a bonus state can be set as the gaming state, and a replay lottery state, a replay low probability state, and a replay high probability state can be set as replay lottery states.

  In the random number determination process, a random value (lottery random number) is acquired from the random number generation means (not shown) for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 134, and the lottery table is referred to for the acquired random value. Then, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won.

  In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag of the winning combination determined to be won based on the result of the random number determination process is changed from the non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to the winning state (second flag state, on Status). When two or more types of winning combinations are won, a lottery flag corresponding to each of the two or more types of winning winning combinations is set to the winning state. The lottery flag setting information is stored in storage means (RAM).

  A lottery flag (possible carryover flag) that can carry over the winning state for the next game until winning, and a lottery flag that is reset to the non-winning state without bringing the winning state to the next game regardless of winning Carry-over impossible flag) may be provided. In this case, there are a regular bonus (RB) and a big bonus (BB) as a combination to which the former carry-over possible flag is associated, and other combinations (for example, small role, replay) correspond to the latter carry-over impossible flag. It is attached. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, when a regular bonus is won by internal lottery, the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over until the regular bonus is won, and when the big bonus is won by internal lottery, the big bonus lottery A process of carrying over the winning state of the flag until the big bonus is won is performed. At this time, the main board 10 determines whether or not a role other than the regular bonus and the big bonus (small role and replay) is used even in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus or big bonus lottery flag is carried over by the internal lottery function. An internal lottery is performed. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over, if a small role or replay is won in the internal lottery, the regular bonus lottery flag and the internal lottery already won In a game in which the lottery flags corresponding to two or more types of winning combinations or replay lottery flags won in the win state are set to the winning state and the winning state of the big bonus lottery flag is carried over, it is small in the internal lottery When a winning combination or replay is won, a lottery flag corresponding to two or more kinds of winning combinations including a big bonus lottery flag that has already been won and a small bonus or replay lottery flag that has been won in an internal lottery is set to a winning state. Set.

  The replay processing unit 1600 may perform control to change the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition. The replay processing unit 1600 will be described later again. The replay lottery states include a replay no lottery state in which replay is excluded from the internal lottery, a replay low probability state in which the replay winning probability is set to about 1 / 7.3, and a replay winning probability of about 1 / A plurality of lottery states such as a high replay probability state set to 6 can be set. By changing the replay lottery state, the winning probability of the replay in the internal lottery is changed.

  The reel control means 1300 rotates the first to third reels by a stepping motor based on a start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation), and the first to third reels are driven. Control that permits the pressing operation (stop operation) of the three stop buttons 140 respectively corresponding to the rotating reels in a state in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotation speed of about 80 rotations per minute). And a control to stop the first reel to the third reel, which are rotationally driven by the stepping motor, according to the lottery flag setting state (result of the internal lottery).

  In addition, the reel control means 1300 receives the reel stop signal when the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) with respect to the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated). Based on this, by stopping the supply of drive pulses (motor drive signals) to the stepping motor of the reel unit 203, control is performed to stop each of the first to third reels.

  That is, each time the three stop buttons 140 are pressed, the reel control means 1300 determines the reel stop position corresponding to the pressed button among the first to third reels. The reel is stopped at the stop position. Specifically, referring to a stop control table (not shown) stored in the storage means (ROM), the first reel according to the pressing timing, pressing order, etc. (stop operation mode) of the three stop buttons. The stop position of the third reel is determined, and the first reel to the third reel are stopped at the determined stop position.

  Here, in the stop control table, the position of the first reel to the third reel (press detection position) at the time when the stop button 140 is operated and the actual stop position (or the slip from the press detection position) of the first reel to the third reel. (Number of frames) is set. Depending on the setting state of the lottery flag, a stop control table for determining the stop positions of the first reel to the third reel may be prepared.

  In the gaming machine, the reel unit 203 includes a reel index (not shown) made of a photosensor, and the reel control means 1300 is based on a reference position signal detected by the reel index every time the reel rotates once. By determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotation axis of the step motor) from the reel reference position (the frame detected by the reel index), the current rotation state of the reel can be monitored. . That is, the main board 10 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

  The reel control means 1300 performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-out processing as control for stopping the reel. The pull-in process is a control process for stopping the reel so that the symbol corresponding to the combination whose lottery flag is set to the winning state is stopped on the winning determination line (so that the winning combination can be won). It is. On the other hand, the kicking process means that the reel corresponding to the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state does not stop on the valid winning determination line (so that the non-winning combination cannot be won) This is a control process to be stopped. That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the lottery flag setting state, the stop button 140 pressing timing, the pressing order, and the stop position of the reels that have already stopped (types of display symbols) in order to realize the pull-in processing and kicking processing. ) Etc., the stop control table is set so that the stop position of each reel changes. In this way, the main board 10 can stop the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state in a winning form, while the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state is in the winning form. Control is performed to stop the first reel to the third reel so as not to stop.

  In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the first to third reels are set to a control state in which the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button 140 is pressed. ing. That is, in the stop control table for determining the stop position of each rotating reel, the number of frames required from when the stop button 140 is pressed until each reel stops is in the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). Is set in

  The winning determination means 1400 performs a process of determining whether or not a winning combination has been won based on the stop mode of the first reel to the third reel. Specifically, referring to the winning determination table stored in the storage means (ROM), the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line when all of the first reel to the third reel are stopped, It is determined whether or not it is a predetermined winning combination.

  The winning determination means 1400 executes a winning process based on the determination result. As a process at the time of winning a prize, for example, when a small role wins, the hopper 81 is driven to perform a medal payout control process, or a credit is increased (a predetermined maximum number is increased to 50, for example, When the replay is won, a replay process is performed. When a big bonus or a regular bonus is won, a game state transition control process for shifting the game state is performed.

  The payout control means 1500 performs payout control processing relating to the payout of medals according to the game result. Specifically, when a small combination wins, the number of medals to be paid out in the game is determined based on a payout predetermined for each combination, and the medals corresponding to the determined number of payouts are determined by the hopper driving unit 80. Then, the hopper 81 is driven to pay out. At this time, a current flows through a motor (not shown) built in the hopper 81.

  When medal credits (internal storage) are permitted, instead of actually paying out medals by the hopper 81, the number of credits stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means (RAM) (not shown) A credit addition process for adding the number of payouts to the number of credited medals is performed to virtually pay out medals.

  When the replay is won, the replay processing means 1600 performs a replay process (regame process) for setting the same preparatory state as the previous game without requiring insertion of medals owned by the player for the next game. When a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed in which the same number of medals as the previous game is automatically set to the insertion state without using the player's own medals (including credit medals). The game machine is set in a state of waiting for a rotation start operation (pressing operation of the start switch 134 by the player) in the next game in a state where the same winning determination line as the previous game is validated.

  Further, the main board 10 may perform control to shift the gaming state between the normal state, the bonus establishment state, and the bonus state (gaming state transition control function). As the game condition transition condition, one condition may be defined, or a plurality of conditions may be defined. When a plurality of conditions are established, transitioning the gaming state to another gaming state based on the fact that one of the plurality of conditions is satisfied or all of the plurality of conditions are satisfied Can do.

  The normal state is a game state corresponding to the initial state among a plurality of types of game states, and a transition from the normal state to the bonus establishment state is possible. The bonus establishment state is a gaming state that shifts when a big bonus or a regular bonus is won in the internal lottery. In the bonus establishment state, when the big bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus is won, and the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state Until the regular bonus is won, the lottery flag corresponding to the regular bonus is maintained in the winning state. In the bonus state, it is determined whether or not the end condition is satisfied based on the total number of medals paid out by the bonus game, and medals exceeding a predetermined payout limit number are paid out according to the type of bonus won. The bonus state is terminated and the gaming state is returned to the normal state.

  The reel unit 203 includes three reels (not shown), and one stepping motor is attached to each of the three reels. A stepping motor includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. is there. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the reel of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases).

Next, game processing in the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG.
Generally, in a gaming machine, one game is started from the insertion of medals (insertion of credits) until the end of payout (or until the increase in the number of credits is completed). There is a rule that it is not possible to proceed to the next game until one game is finished.

  First, when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the start switch 134 is activated, and the processing of FIG. 4 is started.

  In step S1, the start switch 134 is turned on by operating the start switch 134. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S2.

  In step S2, a lottery process is performed by the main board 10. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S3.

  In step S3, the rotation of the first reel to the third reel starts. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S4.

  In step S4, when the stop button 140 is operated, the stop button 140 is turned ON. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  In step S5, rotation stop processing is performed on the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button 140 among the first to third reels. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the operation of the stop button 140 corresponding to the three reels has been performed. If it is determined that all three stop buttons 140 corresponding to the three reels have been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the lottery flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the lottery flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed. If it is determined that the winning is confirmed, the process proceeds to the next step S8. If the winning is not confirmed, no medals are paid out even if the lottery flag is established.

  In step S8, medals corresponding to winning symbols are paid out.

  The process from the insertion of the medal to the completion of the execution of step S8 is one game. When the standby process in step S8 ends, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart. In other words, the next game is possible (transition to the next game).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the connection between the sub-board 20 and its peripheral board. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal control board 200, a speaker board 201, and an LED board 202 are connected to the sub board 20. These should be called peripheral substrates of the sub-substrate 20.

  The plurality of peripheral boards are connected as shown in FIG. 5 (the display of the LED board 202 is omitted). That is, a plurality of peripheral boards are connected to a common bus (communication line, communication path), and communicate with the sub-board 20 through the bus. The signal flowing through the bus is a signal on two lines, a data line and a clock line, such as a parallel signal (for example, a signal transmitted by an 8-bit line) or a serial signal (for example, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit)). ). In the following description, serial communication is taken as an example. In the example of FIG. 5, the signal output from the sub-board 20 is returned to the sub-board 20, but this is an example, and the end opposite to the connection end is opened as in a general bus structure. Also good.

  The liquid crystal control board 200 has a built-in VDP (Video Display Processor), and the speaker board 201 has a built-in sound controller. The VDP and sound controller will be described later.

  Data is transmitted from the sub board 20 to the peripheral board by designating an address. For example, when data is sent to the liquid crystal control board 200 as a peripheral board, an address previously associated with the liquid crystal control board 200 is designated and the data is sent to the bus. When the liquid crystal control board 200 recognizes that the data is addressed to itself by the address, the liquid crystal control board 200 takes in the data subsequent to the address into the latch. A predetermined operation is performed according to the fetched data. If the fetched data is a command for transmitting data acquired or obtainable by the liquid crystal control board 200 to the sub-board 20, the data is sent to the sub-board 20 (after receiving predetermined data, it is determined in advance. Data can always be transmitted to the sub-board 20).

  The speaker substrate 201 operates in the same manner as the liquid crystal control substrate 200.

  In the following description, the term “peripheral board” is mainly used when the operation is applied to an arbitrary transmission destination such as the liquid crystal control board 200 and the speaker board 201 without specifying the transmission destination. When it is necessary to specify to which peripheral substrate the data transmission is to be made, it is specifically specified as “liquid crystal control substrate 200”.

  When transmitting data to the peripheral board, the sub-board 20 performs processing in units of data (for example, 8-bit data) in which a plurality of 0 or 1 data is collected. The sub-board 20 transmits a command (command) for causing the sub-board 20 to perform a predetermined operation. In this specification, the data includes the command. Note that the command is a set of predetermined bits of data, for example, a set of data in units of 8 bits, and is created based on a predetermined command system.

  In the following description, the term “data” is mainly used, but the term “command” may be used to clarify that the instruction is a command to the peripheral device.

  In order to send data to peripheral devices such as the liquid crystal control board 200 and the speaker board 201, the sub board 20 includes a data transmission unit 20TX. FIG. 6 shows an internal block diagram of the data transmitter 20TX. Specifically, the data transmission unit 20TX is realized by the CPU executing a program written in advance in a ROM mounted on the sub-board 20.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes a data register (command register) that receives data to be transmitted to the peripheral board. The data register 101 sends the data to the transmission data register 102 immediately after receiving the data. The data register 101 temporarily stores one unit of data. In addition, since the content of data is well-known, description about what kind of data is transmitted is abbreviate | omitted.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a transmission data register that stores a plurality of data in the accepted order and outputs them in accordance with the accepted order.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a transmission shift register that receives data output from the transmission data register 102 and transmits it to the sub-board 20. The transmission shift register 103 converts data to be transmitted from parallel to serial.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram of data (command) transmission and operations of the liquid crystal control board 200 and the speaker board 201 that have received the data (command). The sub board 20 sends image data and audio data to the liquid crystal control board 200 and the speaker board 201, respectively (reference characters P and R). In response to the image data, the liquid crystal control board 200 displays a predetermined screen (symbol Q), and in response to the audio data, the speaker board 201 generates a predetermined sound. Other sounds such as BGM and sound effects are generated in addition to the sound, but these are also included in the sound for convenience. The following voice / voice data can be said to be acoustic / acoustic data. Unless otherwise specified, in this specification, “sound” includes other sounds such as BGM and sound effects as well as sound of normal meaning.

  As can be seen from FIG. 7, the flow of command transmission by the sub-board 20-> command execution by the peripheral board, screen display, and voice generation are presented. The sub-board 20 can control what command is sent to which peripheral board at which timing, and it cannot be specified at what timing the presentation of screen display or voice generation can be performed. The timing at which the peripheral board starts presentation such as screen display and sound generation is determined by the total processing time (= Tstep1 + Tstep2 + Tstep3) including the time required for communication as follows.

  When the peripheral board is controlled by serial communication, data (commands) are set in the control IC registers of the peripheral board (the register not shown in the VDP of the liquid crystal control board 200 and the register not shown in the sound controller of the speaker board 201). The following procedure is required.

(1) Transmission data is set in the data register 101 of the data transmission unit 20TX (this processing time is set to Tstep1).

(2) Data is transmitted at a preset communication speed (this processing time is Tstep2).

(3) The reception data is analyzed by a peripheral board control IC (VDP or the like), and data is set in a pre-designated register (this processing time is set as Tstep3).

  Presentation or processing such as screen display or sound generation is started immediately after (3) above.

  The time required for each of the above (1) to (3) varies depending on the type of CPU, the type of control IC on the peripheral board, and the software design. Therefore, even if data is transmitted at the same time, the timings at which presentations such as screen display and sound generation are started are different. For this reason, there may be a deviation in the presentation such as screen display and sound generation that should be started simultaneously. This deviation is undesirable because it gives the player a sense of discomfort and lowers the quality of the performance. It is necessary to eliminate this shift or to make it small enough not to give a sense of incongruity to the players.

  The sound controller has a plurality of channels (for example, 8 channels) and can generate various sounds (sounds) such as sound, BGM, and sound effects. In serial communication, the time of (2) is long, and the amount of transmission data increases as the number of audio channels to be controlled increases. Therefore, with regard to the generation of audio, it takes time to reproduce the audio through the above (1) to (3). There is also a problem that it takes.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, by applying the processing described below (see FIG. 13 and the like), the shift that occurs during screen display and sound generation is reduced to the extent that the player does not feel uncomfortable. Yes.

  Prior to the processing according to the embodiment of the invention, a description will be given of the configuration related to screen display and sound generation in the gaming machine. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, what is drawn on the memory is displayed as an image, and what is to be read out and displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD is referred to as a screen. In general, an object such as a character represented by a bitmap is an image, and a screen in which an object is arranged on a background and becomes a single picture is a screen.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the VDP. The VDP is an LSI provided on the liquid crystal control board, an interface I / F with the CPU, a drawing engine E1 that draws an image according to a command from the CPU, a video memory VRAM that stores the drawn image, and a video memory VRAM Is provided with a display engine E2 for reading out the image stored in the memory and sending it to the liquid crystal display LCD. Each of these elements is connected to an internal bus BUS so that data can be read from and written to each other. The interface I / F can receive data such as commands from the CPU and can also output an interrupt signal from the display engine E2 or the like to the CPU. This VDP can draw and display 60 frames per second at an XGA size resolution (1024 × 768 pixel resolution), for example.

  When drawing and displaying at 60 frames per second (= 60 fps), the time for one frame is 16.67 ms. This is referred to as frame time. Two consecutive frames are referred to as V frames. Frame × 2 = V frame × 1. The time of the V frame is 33.33 ms, and the screen update rate (update frequency) is 30 fps. The frame and the V frame are a display unit and a processing unit. In the following description, the data in the frame and the V frame, the processing result (drawn image), and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD are displayed. It may mean. For example, when a number (symbol) is added, such as V frame 1, it indicates a specific V frame and may mean drawing data, image data, and display data corresponding to the specific V frame.

  The liquid crystal display device LCD is controlled in three stages: drawing data (including commands for the liquid crystal display device, moving image decoding information, etc.), drawing execution based on the drawing data, and display execution of the drawn image. That is, the CPU sends drawing data to the VDP, the drawing engine E1 of the VDP executes drawing, and the display engine E2 displays an image on the liquid crystal display device LDC. These three stages of processing are executed in parallel (independently). Since three stages are required until the image is displayed, at the timing when a certain image is displayed (V frame), the drawing execution draws an image to be displayed in the next V frame, and the storage of the drawing data is performed next. The image to be displayed in the V frame is saved. This is shown in FIG.

  Whether to save drawing data, execute drawing, and execute display is determined in one cycle for one V frame. In other words, drawing data storage (first processing), drawing execution (second processing), and display execution (third processing) are each performed in units of V frames (more precisely, frames included in the V frames). Processing is performed in units. For example, when there is data input during V frame update, drawing data related to data input in one of the two frames of V frame is saved, drawn, and displayed) . Therefore, the update frequency of the liquid crystal display device LCD of this gaming machine is 30 fps. This is a principle, and fps can change depending on the processing status.

  It takes a time corresponding to two V frames from saving the drawing data to executing the display. For example, in FIG. 9, the drawing data written with the code T1 is displayed with the code T3 delayed by two V frames. However, since storage of drawing data, execution of drawing, and execution of display are executed in parallel, the image on the liquid crystal display device LCD is updated in units of V frames. In the example of FIG. 9, the display is updated as in V frame 1, V frame 2,.

  FIG. 10 shows an internal block diagram of the sound controller SC. This figure is a conceptual diagram, and shows only the parts necessary for explaining the operation.

  SC1 is a phrase data storage unit that stores in advance phrase data including a plurality of sound data to be reproduced in a predetermined order of reproduction.

  SC2 is a decoder that reproduces sound by decoding phrase data. The decoder returns predetermined sound data (for example, WAV) to sound, and since this process is well known, the description thereof is omitted.

  SC3 is a volume adjusting unit that adjusts the volume of the sound reproduced by the decoder SC2. The volume adjustment unit SC3 is configured by a digital or analog circuit. When the input is a digital signal, it is constituted by a digital circuit, for example, a multiplier, and the volume is adjusted by multiplying the value of the volume by the acoustic digital data. When the input is an analog signal, it is constituted by an analog circuit, for example, an amplifier, and the volume is adjusted by changing the amplification factor (variable resistor) of the amplifier. The output of the volume adjuster SC3 is sent to the speaker SP.

  FIG. 11A shows an outline of the contents stored in the phrase data storage unit SC1. When there are a plurality of effects such as effects A, B, C, D,..., A sound phrase (audio data) is stored corresponding to each. There is an upper limit on the number of sound phrases, and for example, 255 sound phrases can be stored.

  FIG. 11B shows the structure of audio data (for example, WAV) of effect A. The production A is composed of three sounds, that is, a first sound (cut-in sound), a second sound (character voice), and a third sound (developed sound).

  The cut-in sound is a sound associated with a cut-in that inserts another shot into a certain shot (scene). The character voice is the sound of the dialogue of the character displayed on the screen. The development sound is a sound that is added when the production develops to another production at the end of the production.

  The sub board 20 transmits, for example, data for reproducing the cut-in sound of effect A in FIG. 11B, data for reproducing the character voice, and data for reproducing the developed sound to the speaker board 201, for example. In response to these three data (commands), the sound controller SC generates a predetermined sound.

  Next, a description will be given of processing according to the embodiment of the present invention for reducing the difference between the timing of the above-described image display and sound generation.

  For human beings, it is not constant how long the gap between the image displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD and the sound generated from the speaker can be recognized because of individual differences, but 33.3 ms (1 of 30 fps). It is said that it is difficult to recognize the difference of the frame.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the transmission start of the audio data is started at a predetermined timing so that the display start timing of the liquid crystal image is located at the center of the audio data transmission, so that the deviation is suppressed within the allowable time. Yes. Specifically, the transmission timing of the audio data is set based on the permissible time of audio deviation before and after the display timing of the liquid crystal image. The allowable time is, for example, 32 ms (<33.3 ms, allowing for a margin). This value is such a value that the discrepancy between the image and the sound cannot be recognized by the player.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram (timing chart) of the timing described above. The figure shows three cases CASE1 to CASE3. CASE1 indicates a case where the player cannot recognize the image / sound difference, CASE3 indicates a case where the player can recognize the image / sound difference (the shaded area protrudes the allowable time), and CASE2 indicates the sound data. The case where the transmission time is equal to the allowable time and becomes the boundary between CASE1 and CASE3 is shown.

  In FIG. 12, tcent1 to tcent3 indicate the midpoints of the voice data transmission times of CASE1 to CASE3, respectively. tα indicates the image display start timing. In the embodiment of the invention, the midpoints tcent1 to tcent3 coincide with tα. For other symbols, refer to the following description.

  Here, the allowable time of deviation = Tm (for example, 32 ms as described above. This value is applied both before and after the image display timing, and it is sufficient to send the audio data within a time of ± 32 ms and a total of 64 ms). , Maximum voice data transmission time = Txmax (for example, 8 ms per channel, 64 ms at 8 channels, which corresponds to CASE2 in FIG. 12). Txmax includes the time from the data set in the data transmission unit 20TX to the reception through the communication line until the data is set in the register in the sound controller SC for all data.

In order to prevent the player from recognizing the difference between the image and the sound, the transmission of all sound data must be completed within a time of 2 × Tm. Therefore, the following relationship is established.
(Relationship 1) 2 × Tm ≧ Txmax

  In CASE 3 of FIG. 12, the above (Relation 1) is not established. In order to satisfy the above (Relation 1), it is necessary to perform either or both of (a) reducing data and (b) increasing the communication speed as described below.

  Txmax is determined by the total amount of audio data to be transmitted and the communication speed. Txmax = (total amount of audio data) / (communication speed). If the total amount of audio data is large and does not satisfy the above (Relation 1), (Relation 1) is satisfied by either (a) reducing the data or (b) increasing the communication speed. Can be. Conversely, if the total amount of audio data is small, the above (Relation 1) can be satisfied even if the communication speed is lowered.

The time Tstep1 for setting transmission data to the data register 101, the time Tstep2 for transmitting data at a preset communication speed, and the time Tstep3 for analyzing the received data by the sound controller SC and setting the data in a predesignated register. Is used, the time Tx required for communication per channel is as follows.
Tx = Tstep1 + Tstep2 + Tstep3

  As can be seen from the above equation, the communication time (transmission time) Tx includes not only the time required for serial communication but also the time of the data set on the transmission side and the data set on the reception side. Since sound is generated immediately after the data set on the receiving side, Tx may be considered as the time from the start of data transmission of the data transmission unit 20Tx to the generation of sound.

If the number of transmission channels = Num, Txmax = Num x Tx
It becomes.

  Here, for example, Tx ≦ 8 ms. When the number of transmission channels = 8, Txmax = 64 ms. Similarly, when the number of transmission channels = 6, Txmax = 48 ms (CASE1 in FIG. 12), and when the number of transmission channels = 2, Txmax = 16 ms (also CASE1).

When the image display timing is tα (how to obtain this will be described later), the audio data transmission start timing is tβ, and the audio data transmission end timing is tγ, the following relationship is necessary from the above relationship 1 ( (See FIG. 12).
(Relationship 2-1) tα−Tm ≦ tβ
(Relationship 2-2) tγ ≦ tα + Tm

Since tγ−tβ = Txmax, (Relationship 2-2) can be modified as follows.
Txmax + tβ ≦ tα + Tm
(Relation 2-2 ′) tβ ≦ tα + Tm−Txmax

From relations 2-1 and 2-2 ′:
(Relationship 3) tα−Tm ≦ tβ ≦ tα + Tm−Txmax

  In the embodiment of the present invention, on the premise of the relation 1, the transmission start timing tβ is determined based on the relation 3 so as to be either CASE 1 or CASE 2 in FIG.

  Specifically, the transmission timing tβ of the acoustic data is obtained based on tβ = tα−Txmax / 2. This corresponds to setting the audio data transmission start timing tβ so that the liquid crystal image display timing tα is in the middle (midpoints) tcent1 to tcent3 of the audio data transmission time Txmax. By defining tβ in this way, the above (Relation 3) can always be satisfied as long as the above (Relation 1) is satisfied. Therefore, it can be said that tβ = tα−Txmax / 2 is the most advantageous selection.

  In addition, it can be said that the above-described method is least affected by an error in tα. When tα includes an error, it is considered that the actual display timing of the liquid crystal image is randomly distributed around the estimated tα. As described above, by setting the middle point of the audio data transmission time Txmax to be tα, even if the actual liquid crystal image display timing is deviated from tα, the amount of deviation can be reduced to the extent that the player cannot recognize it. Can increase the sex. If the amount of deviation (= ΔT) between the actual liquid crystal image display timing and tα is very small, it can always be done as such. Specifically, if ΔT ≦ Tm−Txmax / 2, the player will not recognize the deviation.

  Although the playback timing of each channel varies depending on the type of the sound controller SC and the content of the audio data, it is possible to suppress the difference between the image display and the audio playback within the allowable range by the above method.

  In CASE 1 and CASE 2 in FIG. 12, both (Relation 1) and (Relation 3) are established, and the player does not recognize the deviation. On the other hand, since CASE3 does not satisfy the above (Relationship 1), (Relationship 3) does not hold. If audio data transmission start timing tβ is determined, audio data transmission end timing tγ is automatically determined.

  FIG. 13 is a process flowchart of the data transmission unit 20TX according to the embodiment of the invention. Note that description of image data transmission processing is omitted (the transmission timing of image data is given). FIG. 14 shows the correspondence between the types of effects, image data, and audio data. In a specific performance, which image is displayed and which sound is generated at the same time is determined in advance. FIG. 14 schematically shows this relationship. Corresponding to each of the four types of effects A to D, image data A to D and audio data A to D exist.

S100: The data transmission unit 20TX acquires audio data.
When performing a predetermined effect, audio data corresponding to the effect is acquired. For example, audio data A is acquired when performing effect A, and audio data B is acquired when performing effect B.

S101: The data transmission unit 20TX acquires the display timing tα of the screen corresponding to the audio data acquired in S100.
If the acquired audio data is A, the display timing of the image data A is acquired, and if it is B, the display timing of the image data B is acquired.
A method for obtaining tα will be described later.

S102: The data transmission unit 20TX obtains the audio data transmission timing tβ.
The voice data transmission timing tβ is obtained based on the above (Relationship 3). In the examples of FIGS. 15 and 16, tβ = tα−Txmax / 2. That is, the maximum transmission time of the audio data acquired in S100 = Txmax is obtained, and half of this is subtracted from tα obtained in S101. Txmax can be obtained from the product of the number of channels and the transmission time per channel as described above.

S103: The data transmission unit 20TX determines the timing.
For example, the sub-board 20 is provided with a timer (not shown) that outputs the current time, and the timing is determined based on this time information. By defining tα and tβ in association with the time of the timer, it can be determined that the time tβ has been reached.

S104: The data transmission unit 20TX determines whether or not the timing determined in S102 has come.
In the above example, when the timer time t = tβ is reached, YES is obtained in S104.

S105: The data transmission unit 20TX transmits the audio data acquired in S100.
Specifically, the data transmission unit 20TX sets the audio data in the data register 101.

  Specific examples of the processing of FIG. 13 are shown in FIGS. These are timing charts. FIG. 15 shows an example of image data A and sound data A of effect A in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 shows an example of image data B and sound data B of effect B in FIG. .

  In FIG. 15, since the audio data A consists of 6ch data (6 × 8 ms = 48 ms), tβ = tα−Txmax / 2 = tα−24 ms. There is a margin of 8ms each before and after.

  In other words, the time (Txmax) until the transmission is completed is calculated from the total amount of audio data to be transmitted and the serial communication speed, and the audio data is transmitted earlier by half of the time (24 ms if it takes 48 ms) with respect to the screen display start timing tα. I'm trying to get started.

  In FIG. 16, since the audio data B is composed of 2ch data (2 × 8 ms = 16 ms), tβ = tα−Txmax / 2 = tα-8 ms. There is a margin of 24ms before and after each. Note that if all the data transmissions have extra time as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the communication speed can be reduced (the resistance to noise is improved by reducing the communication speed).

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, based on the display timing of the image and the transmission time of the audio data, the transmission of the audio data is completed within a predetermined time so as not to cause a sense of incongruity. Since the transmission timing is set, it is possible to suppress the difference between the display image and the generated sound and to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable. Since the transmission of the audio data can be completed within the allowable time before and after the shift centered on the image display, the player does not recognize the shift.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, even when the estimation of the image display timing tα includes an error, there is a high possibility that the transmission of the audio data can be completed within the allowable time for deviation, which is applied to an actual machine. Are better.

  Next, a specific method for acquiring the image display timing tα corresponding to the audio data will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example. In FIG. 17, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

S98: When the data transmission unit 20TX transmits image data, the transmission timing tδ is acquired.

S99: The data transmitting unit 20TX starts a timer (not shown) at the transmission timing tδ and starts measuring time.
Since the data transmission unit 20TX can know the transmission timing of the image data, the data transmission unit 20TX starts measuring time based on the timing. Specifically, a timer (not shown) is started at the timing when the image data is set in the data register 101.

S100b: The data transmission unit 20TX acquires audio data corresponding to the transmitted image data.
For example, if the transmitted image data is the image data A related to the effect A, the audio data A is acquired with reference to the table of FIG.

S101b: The data transmission unit 20TX acquires the display timing tα of the image corresponding to the audio data. Specifically:
Assuming that a screen of the image data is displayed when a certain time Tc has passed since the transmission of the image data, tα = tδ + Tc. That is, it is assumed that tα is when the time of a timer (not shown) reaches Tc. The fixed time Tc is determined in advance.

  According to FIG. 17, the image display timing tα can be estimated in a simple manner. In an actual machine, Tc varies depending on the processing load and the like, and it cannot be said that this is always constant. However, if the fluctuation range is not so large, the method of FIG. 17 is sufficiently effective, and the effects of the embodiment of the invention are exhibited. If there is a time margin as shown in FIG. 16 and the variation of Tc falls within this range, no problem occurs. According to FIG. 17, there is an effect that the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by a simple process.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing another example. In FIG. 18, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

  FIG. 18 shows a notification of when the liquid crystal control board 200 displays a screen based on image data, which is sent to the sub-board 20, and based on this, the data transmission unit 20TX acquires the display timing tα of the image. It is. As shown in FIG. 5, data transmission from the peripheral board to the sub-board 20 is possible. The liquid crystal control board 200 can know when the screen is displayed by monitoring the operation of the VDP.

S101c: The data transmission unit 20TX receives information about an image to be displayed next and a notice of the display start time from the liquid crystal control board 200.

S101d: It is determined whether the image and the audio data acquired in S100 are related.
This determination can be made by referring to the table of FIG. For example, if the image data A of effect A is received in S101c, and the audio data A is acquired in S100, the determination in S101d is YES, and if the audio data B is acquired in S100, the determination is No.
If YES, the process proceeds to S101e.

S101e: The display start time received in S101c is set as the display timing tα of the image corresponding to the audio data.

  According to FIG. 18, the image display timing tα can be acquired by a method different from that in FIG. 17. Since the information sent from the liquid crystal control board 200 can be expected to be accurate, according to FIG. 18, it is possible to acquire the display timing tα that is more accurate than FIG. FIG. 18 also has the effect according to the embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing another example. In FIG. 19, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. FIG. 20 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of FIG.

  As described above, the image display processing is performed in units of V frames (see FIG. 9 and the description thereof. Note that “V frame” is simply referred to as “frame” in the following description). As a premise of the processing in FIG. 19, it is assumed that the data transmission unit 20TX can acquire timing related to a frame. For example, the frame start timing (for example, t (n), t (n + 1), t (n + 2), t (n + 3) in FIG. 20) is received from the liquid crystal control board 200. Alternatively, when the VDP frame of the liquid crystal control board 200 is initialized, a timer or a counter (not shown) of the data transmission unit 20TX is operated in accordance with the frame. Since the timer or counter is synchronized with the frame, the data transmission unit 20TX can acquire the timing (for example, t (n), t (n + 1), t (n + 2), t (n + 3) in FIG. 20). it can.

  Since the image display process is performed in units of frames, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, if the image data A is transmitted at times t (n) and t (n + 1), the image data A is drawn. The frame T (n + 1) from the next time t (n + 1) to t (n + 2) is displayed. The frame time is constant (Tfm). The screen based on the image data A is displayed in the frame T (n + 2) from the next time t (n + 2) to t (n + 3). As described above, if the transmission timing of the image data is known, it can be understood in which frame the screen of the image data is displayed. In the example of FIG. 20, the screen is displayed in the next (second) frame after the frame of image data transmission. The start timing of the frame corresponds to the image display timing tα.

  Specifically, the following processing is performed.

S101f: The data transmission unit 20TX obtains the drawing period based on the transmission timing tδ of the image data.
In the example of FIG. 20, since the image data A is transmitted in the frame T (n), the drawing period is the next frame T (n + 1).

S101g: The data transmission unit 20TX obtains an image display period based on the obtained drawing period.
In the example of FIG. 20, the image display period is the next frame T (n + 2).

S101h: The data transmission unit 20TX sets the start timing of the image display period as the image display timing tα.
In the example of FIG. 20, the image display timing tα is the start time t (n + 2) of the frame T (n + 2).

  Note that S101f and S101g may be combined into one. For example, the data transmission unit 20TX obtains the image display period based on the transmission timing tδ of the image data. Since the image display period is two frames after the data transmission, the frame number is incremented by +2.

  According to FIG. 19, the image display timing tα can be acquired by a method different from that in FIGS. 17 and 18. According to FIG. 19, it is possible to obtain a display timing tα that is more accurate than that in FIG. Since transmission of timing information is not requested to the liquid crystal control board 200, the burden on the liquid crystal control board 200 can be reduced and an increase in traffic on the communication line can be suppressed. FIG. 19 also has the effect according to the embodiment of the invention.

  The above description has been made by taking a slot machine as an example of the gaming machine, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachinko machine.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

20 Sub-board 20TX Data transmitter 200 LCD control board (screen display controller)
201 Speaker board (acoustic control unit)
LCD Liquid crystal display (screen display)

Claims (5)

A sub-board that performs processing related to the effect, a screen display unit that displays a screen related to the effect, a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on the control of the sub-board, and sound related to the effect In a gaming machine comprising: an acoustic device to be generated; an acoustic control unit that controls the acoustic device based on control of the sub-board; and a data transmission unit that transmits data to the screen display unit control unit and the acoustic control unit.
Corresponding to at least one production, the screen to be displayed on the screen display unit and the sound generated by the acoustic device are predetermined,
Let Tm be the allowable amount of deviation that occurs between the display of the screen of the screen display unit and the generation of the sound of the acoustic device,
The time required to send the acoustic data corresponding to the effect from the data transmission unit to the acoustic control unit is Txmax,
The data transmitter is
Acquire the sound data corresponding to the production,
Obtaining the display timing tα of the screen corresponding to the effect,
Based on the equation: tβ = tα−Txmax / 2, the transmission timing tβ of the acoustic data is obtained,
The gaming machine, wherein the acoustic data is transmitted to the acoustic control unit at the transmission timing tβ.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a time Txmax required for transmitting the acoustic data is determined to be not more than twice an allowable amount Tm of the deviation. The data transmitter is
The transmission timing of the image data of the screen related to the effect associated with the sound data corresponding to the effect is set to tδ, and when the predetermined time Tc has elapsed from the transmission of the image data of the screen, the image data Suppose a screen is displayed,
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display timing tα of the screen is obtained by tδ + Tc. The screen display unit control unit obtains image data of the screen related to the effect and the display timing of the screen based on the image data, and sends the information of the effect and the display timing of the screen to the data transmission unit,
The data transmitter is
Based on the information of the effect, determine whether the acquired sound data is related to the image data of the screen related to the effect,
The game according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the sound data and the image data are related, the display timing of the screen received from the screen display control unit is tα. Machine. The screen display unit control unit generates a screen related to the effect by using a predetermined frame as a unit, and displays the screen on the screen display unit by using the frame as a unit.
The data transmitter is
Obtaining a transmission timing tδ of the image data of the screen related to the effect associated with the sound data corresponding to the effect;
A frame including the transmission timing tδ is specified;
Identify the frame in which the screen is displayed based on the frame,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a start timing of a frame in which the screen is displayed is a display timing tα of the screen.

Images