JP5906342B1 - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gaming machine capable of surely bringing a device into a non-driving state when a clock signal is inputted but serial data is not inputted normally. When an abnormal situation occurs in which a clock signal is input to a driver, but serial data is not normally input, an inverting circuit maintains an input level of an input terminal dI3 of the driver at L. The output level of the driver 120 is held at H where the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 are in the non-excitation state, and the drive motor 101 is reliably held in the non-drive state. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a driver that outputs a drive signal generated based on serial data to drive and control a predetermined device.

  Conventionally, a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine has various devices such as a stepping motor that drives a movable member used for effects, an LED that performs effects by blinking, a stepping motor that rotationally drives a reel, and the like. And a plurality of drivers provided corresponding to the respective devices in order to drive and control the devices. When serial data defining the excitation pattern of the stepping motor and the lighting pattern of the LED is input to each driver from the control device for effect control, a drive signal based on the input serial data is generated by each driver. Then, the output is output to each corresponding device, and the stepping motor and the LED, which are devices, are driven and controlled with a predetermined excitation pattern and a predetermined lighting pattern.

  For example, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a serial communication device and an LED driver that drives and controls the LED. This serial communication device includes a pulse signal for transmitting serial data defining an LED lighting pattern to an LED driver, a clock signal for synchronization, an enable signal for controlling an output state of a drive signal for the LED of the LED driver, Are generated and output, and have a plurality of output ports for outputting these various signals. Here, each output port is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with various signals, and is formed by a switch circuit having a switching element.

  When the serial communication device outputs serial data composed of bit data, it switches the switch circuit on or off according to the contents of the bit at the output timing of each bit synchronized with the clock signal. A pulse signal whose output level switches to H (high) or L (low) according to the bit content of the serial data in synchronization with the clock signal is generated and output.

  At the clock signal output port, the serial communication device generates a clock signal whose output level is, for example, H for a certain period by switching the switch circuit from on to off or from off to on at a preset timing. And output. Further, in the output port for the enable signal, the serial communication device switches the ON / OFF state of the switch circuit at the timing of switching the output state of the drive signal to the LED of the LED driver, so that the output level is between H and L at the timing. Generates and outputs an enable signal that is switched at.

  The LED driver has a plurality of input ports, and various signals output from the serial communication device are input to the corresponding input ports of the LED driver. In synchronization with the clock signal input to the port, serial data composed of bit data is input to the serial data input port, whereby serial data is transmitted from the serial communication device to the LED device.

  That is, when the LED driver takes in the serial data output from the serial communication device, the serial data input port for each bit is synchronized with the clock signal from the serial communication device to the clock signal input port. The bit content is determined according to the H or L input level of the signal input to, and a drive signal is generated. When the enable signal from the serial communication device is input to the input port for the enable signal, the LED driver outputs the generated drive signal to the LED, and drives and controls the device LED with a predetermined lighting pattern. .

JP 2009-285417 A (see paragraphs 0041 to 0062, FIGS. 7 and 8)

  By the way, in the case of performing data transmission by serial communication using a pulse signal between a serial communication device and a driver for driving control of various devices as in the conventional gaming machine described above, the transmission speed generally increases. However, to ensure stable data transmission, signal lines that transmit various signals such as serial data, clock signals, and enable signals are connected to a predetermined power source via pull-up resistors and pull-down resistors, thereby ensuring resistance. The device which raises noise nature is made.

  However, when some signal lines, such as serial data transmission signal lines, are damaged due to impacts during assembly or movement of the gaming machine, a predetermined power source is connected to the serial data transmission signal lines. Therefore, the input level of the input port for serial data of the driver is maintained at the H or L reference level by the predetermined power supply voltage, but the signal line for clock signal transmission remains normal without being damaged. Therefore, the clock signal from the serial communication device is normally input to the input port for the clock signal of the driver.

  Then, in spite of the fact that the serial data output from the serial communication device is not normally input to the driver, a signal maintained at the reference level by the predetermined power supply is transmitted to the driver, and the reference level In this case, pseudo serial data (hereinafter also referred to as “pseudo serial data”) is input to the input port for serial data of the driver, resulting in the following inconvenience.

  For example, when a reference level (H or L) signal is input to the input port for serial data, the drive signal that drives the device, such as exciting the excitation phase of the stepping motor and lighting the LED, is the driver When the signal maintained at the reference level as described above is input to the driver as pseudo serial data as described above, the stepping motor remains excited and the LED lights up. Will remain. In particular, in the case of a stepping motor, if the excited state continues for a long time, the reel is displaced, the temperature inside the gaming machine rises due to the heat generated by the motor, and the operation of the CPU becomes unstable, causing a problem in the game. There is a problem such as that occurs. In addition, when the serial communication device and the driver are mounted on different boards and connected via a connector, even when the connector is partially disconnected due to impact during assembly of the gaming machine or movement, The above problems occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can reliably hold a device in a non-driven state even when serial data is not normally input in a state where a clock signal is input. An object is to provide a gaming machine.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention includes a serial communication controller having a first output terminal that outputs serial data and a second output terminal that outputs a clock signal, A first input terminal connected to the first output terminal via a signal line; and a second input terminal connected to the second output terminal via a second signal line; a driver for driving and controlling a predetermined device and outputs a drive signal generated based on the serial data input to the synchronization first input terminal to the clock signal, the control pin is the first a switch circuit having one, a switching element off switches in response to being connected to said first signal line and one end is connected to the output terminal the serial data outputted from the serial communication controller, one Normally in but the other end is connected through a first signal line is a first resistor element, said clock signal said second input terminal connected to a first power source to said one end of the switching element when it Ru entered Tei said serial data is not input correctly to the first input terminal, and a holding means for holding the output level of the driver to a level where the device is de-energized state, the serial data Is transmitted by a signal having a high level and a low level generated by switching on and off of the switching element, and the holding means has an input level of the first input terminal of the first signal. An abnormality that the first power source connected to the line via the first resistance element is maintained at one of the high level and the low level. By Jill, when the serial data to said first input terminal of said driver is not entered correctly, the output level said device is characterized that you hold a level that a non-driven state.

  According to this configuration, serial data is output from the first output terminal of the serial communication controller to the control terminal of the switching element of the switch circuit, and the switching element is switched on and off in accordance with the serial data. The signal generated based on the serial data by turning off is input to the first input terminal of the driver via the first signal line, and the signal to the first input terminal is input to the second input terminal of the driver. A drive signal is generated based on the serial data in synchronization with the input clock signal, and this drive signal is output to a predetermined device to drive the device. At this time, if the clock signal is input to the driver but the serial data is not normally input to the driver, the output level of the driver is held at a level at which the device is not driven by the holding unit. Therefore, even if a clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver, but the abnormality that serial data is not normally input has occurred, the device can be reliably held in the non-driven state by the holding means, It is possible to prevent inconvenience caused by continuing the device in the driving state.

  The switching element may be connected to an open drain type or an open collector type.

  According to such a configuration, the other end of the switching element of the switch circuit is grounded, and the first resistance element is connected to the first power source and one end of the switching element, whereby the switching element is pulled up to be an open drain type. Or connected to open collector type. Therefore, even when using an open drain type or open collector type switching element due to the transmission speed when serial data is transmitted from the serial communication controller to the driver by serial communication, the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver. However, when the serial data is not normally input, the device can be reliably held in the non-driven state by the holding means.

  The holding unit includes an inverting circuit inserted in series with the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal, and the first input of the driver. When the serial data is not normally input to the terminal, the output level may be maintained at a level at which the device is not driven by maintaining the predetermined level by the inverting circuit.

  According to such a configuration, since the holding unit has the inverting circuit inserted in series in the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal of the driver, the clock signal is input to the driver. However, when serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the input level of the first input terminal of the driver is maintained at a predetermined level by the inverting circuit, and the output level of the driver is It is held at a level that is in a driving state. Therefore, when the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but the serial data is not normally input, the output level of the driver can be held at a level at which the device is not driven by the holding means.

  The holding means has one end connected to the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal, and the other end having a second polarity different from that of the first power source. A second resistance element connected to the power source of the driver, and when the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the second resistance element maintains the second resistance element at a predetermined level. The output level may be held at a level at which the device is not driven.

  According to this configuration, the holding means has both ends connected to the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal of the driver, and the second power supply having a polarity different from that of the first power supply. Since the clock signal is input to the driver but serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the second resistance element causes the second resistance element to be connected to the driver. The input level of one input terminal is maintained at a predetermined level by the second power supply, and the output level of the driver is maintained at a level that makes the device non-driven. Therefore, when the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but the serial data is not normally input, the output level of the driver can be held at a level at which the device is not driven by the holding means.

  The driver includes a third input terminal to which an enable signal is input, and a drive signal output terminal that outputs the drive signal when the enable signal is input to the third input terminal. The holding means deactivates the logical value of the enable signal input to the third input terminal when the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver. The output level may be maintained at a level at which the device is not driven.

  According to this configuration, when an enable signal is input to the third input terminal of the driver, the drive signal for driving the device is output from the drive signal output terminal of the driver, and the clock signal is input to the driver. When the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal, the holding means deactivates the logic value of the enable signal input to the third input terminal of the driver and the output level of the driver Since the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but the serial data is not normally input, the output level of the driver is set to the level at which the device is not driven by the holding means. Can be held in.

  In addition, the power supply further includes a DC power supply for supplying a driving voltage to the driver, and the holding means supplies the driver with the driving voltage when the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver. The output level may be maintained at a level at which the device is in a non-driven state by stopping power supply of a certain DC power source.

  According to such a configuration, when the clock signal is input to the driver but the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the holding unit stops supplying the DC power source, which is a driving voltage, to the driver. Since the output level of the driver is held at a level that causes the device to be in a non-driving state, when the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but the serial data is not normally input, the holding means The output level can be held at a level at which the device is not driven.

  A detecting unit configured to detect that an abnormal state has occurred when the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal; and when the occurrence of the abnormal state is detected by the detecting unit, the driver Control means for controlling the holding means so as to hold the output level at a level at which the device is in a non-driven state.

  According to this configuration, when the detection unit detects that an abnormal state has occurred in which the clock signal is input to the driver but the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the control unit causes the driver to Since the holding means is controlled so that the output level of the device is held at a level at which the device is not driven, when the clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but the serial data is not normally input, the holding means Thus, the output level of the driver can be held at a level at which the device is not driven.

  The driver has a data output terminal for outputting the same data as the serial data input to the first input terminal, and the detection means is connected to the first output terminal of the serial communication controller. The output serial data and the output data of the data output terminal may be compared to detect that the abnormal state has occurred when they are different.

  According to such a configuration, the detection means compares the data output from the data output terminal of the driver with the serial data output from the first output terminal of the serial communication controller, and when both are different, an abnormal state is detected. Since the occurrence is detected, it is possible to reliably detect whether or not an abnormal state has occurred in which the clock signal is input to the driver but the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver.

  The detecting means may detect that the abnormal state has occurred when a state in which the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal continues for a predetermined time.

  According to such a configuration, an abnormal state occurs when a state where the clock signal is input to the driver by the detection unit but the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver continues for a predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of an abnormal state that is not input to the first input terminal of the driver, and to detect the occurrence of the abnormal state more reliably.

  The device may be a drive motor.

  In this case, when the clock signal is input to the driver but the serial data is not normally input to the driver, the drive motor is held in the non-driven state, and the drive motor is erroneously driven due to the occurrence of an abnormal state. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as heat generation and burning due to continuing the operation.

  According to the present invention, even when a clock signal is input from the serial communication controller to the driver but serial data is not normally input, the holding unit securely holds the device in the non-driven state. It is possible to prevent inconveniences caused by continuing the device in the driving state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of a part of the slot machine of FIG. 1, and (a) to (c) are diagrams showing different states. FIG. 3 is a front view of a part of the slot machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the slot machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a partial circuit connection diagram of FIG. 4. It is a circuit connection diagram of a part of the slot machine of the second embodiment. It is a circuit connection diagram of a part of the slot machine of the third embodiment. It is a circuit connection diagram of a part of the slot machine of the fourth embodiment. It is a circuit connection diagram of a part of the slot machine of the fifth embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment in which a gaming machine of the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, a stepping motor that opens and closes a production shutter provided in front of each of the left, middle, and right reels is used as a device, and the stepping motor is controlled. An example of a slot machine is shown.

(Overview of slot machine)
The slot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is one in which a single game is executed based on a player's operation on condition that a prescribed number of game media such as medals are inserted. Is closed by the front door 5 so that it can be freely opened and closed.

  The front plate 9 is provided with a horizontally elongated display window 11. As shown in FIG. 2, left, middle, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols are arranged inside the display window 11. For example, “Red 7” “White 7” “BAR” “Bell (BE)” “Replay (RP)” “Orange (OR)” “Cherry (CH)” A total of 21 symbols of “Hana (HA)” and “Catfish (NA)” (9 types in this embodiment) are provided in a predetermined arrangement. Here, frame numbers from 0 to 20 are assigned in order to each symbol.

  Then, for example, a reel tape on which symbols of frame numbers 0 to 20 are printed is attached to the peripheral surface of the reel to form the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R. When each reel 13L, 13M, 13R rotates, a plurality of symbols are variably displayed in the order of frame numbers 20, 19,..., 0, 20,. The From the display window 11, when the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stop rotating, the symbols are set to look into a total of three, one for each of the upper, middle, and lower stages. That is, when all three reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are stopped, a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are stopped and displayed on the display window 11.

  Further, the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R have reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R (see FIG. 4) configured by stepping motors so that the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R can be independently rotated. It is connected.

  Further, the operation board 7 has a bet switch 15 for instructing to insert one medal from each credit medal stored inside as a game medium owned by the player, and the maximum per game (game) from the credit medal. In order to start rotation of the maximum bet switch 17 and the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R for instructing the insertion of medals of the inserted number (in this embodiment, set to one or three according to the gaming state). A start switch 19 having an operating lever, left / middle / right stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R for stopping the rotation of the left / middle / right reels 13L, 13M, 13R, and a checkout switch for paying out credit medals. 23 and a medal slot 25 are provided.

  In addition, a liquid crystal display 27 is provided in the approximate center above the front panel 9 to display an image or the like and perform an effect of notifying the player of winning or winning, etc., just above the liquid crystal display 27. Is provided with an explanation panel 29 on which various winning symbols are displayed, and speakers 31L and 31R for performing effects such as music are provided on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display 27 and the explanation panel 29, respectively. A central lamp portion 33M is disposed above the explanation panel 29 and the speakers 31L and 31R, and left and right lamp portions 33L and 33R are disposed on the left and right sides thereof. Each lamp unit 33M, 33L, 33R is provided with a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode). These lamp portions 33M, 33L, and 33R are integrally formed, and constitute an upper lamp portion 33 for performing effects such as notifying a player of winning and winning.

  In addition, a lower panel 35 on which a decorative image or the like is displayed is provided below the operation panel 7. A lower lamp unit in which a plurality of light sources are arranged in, for example, two rows on the left and right sides of the lower panel 35. 37L and 37R are provided. A medal payout opening 39 and a medal receiver 41 for receiving medals paid out from the payout opening 39 are provided below the lower panel 35. In addition, a winning line is drawn on the front plate 9, and a credit indicator 45 for displaying the number of stored credit medals is disposed at the lower left corner of the front plate 9. The credit display 45 is composed of, for example, two 7-segment LEDs, and can display a 2-digit stored number (up to 50).

  Each reel 13L, 13M, 13R is supported by a support frame provided inside the housing 3, and the support frame is fixed to the back wall of the housing 3. A medal is placed below the support frame. A hopper unit 43 (see FIG. 4) for discharging the water to the discharge outlet 39 is provided. Also, on the back side near the medal slot 25, a medal selector 48 (see FIG. 4) that selects whether or not the medal inserted into the medal slot 25 is genuine and guides only the regular medal to the hopper unit 43. ) Is arranged. In addition, an operation box is disposed beside the hopper unit 43 and is fixed to the left side wall of the housing 3. The operation box is provided with a power switch for switching power on and off, and winning in the lottery drawing. There are provided a key cylinder and a push button type setting change button for setting change processing for setting the probability of winning the winning combination.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, a shutter 50 made of a long rectangular plate-like body is provided in the housing 3 as an accessory, and this shutter 50 is set in front of each reel 13L, 13M, 13R. It is arranged to be movable to the front position. As shown in FIG. 2C, the front position of the shutter 50 is set to a position immediately behind the display window 11, and the shutter 50 is retracted upward from the front position and the front position in FIG. It is supported by a support mechanism, which will be described later, so as to be movable in the vertical direction through the state shown in FIG. 5B between the retracted position. As the shutter 50 moves up and down, each reel 13L, 13M, 13R The effect of seeing or shielding the design of is performed.

  Here, the support mechanism for supporting the shutter 50 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, and the left end portion of the plate-like shutter 50 is fixed to the support body 51 that is long in the vertical direction. The rack that meshes with the pinion gear 101b is formed, the rack of the support 51 meshes with the pinion gear 101b fixed to the rotation shaft 101a of the drive motor 101 that is a stepping motor that is a device according to the present invention, and the drive motor 101 rotates. By being driven, the rotational motion of the motor 101a is converted into the vertical motion of the support 51 by the pinion gear 101b and the rack, and the shutter 50 moves up and down. The support mechanism for the shutter 50 may have any configuration as long as the shutter 50 moves up and down by the rotation of the drive motor 101.

  Then, the drive motor 101 is driven and controlled in accordance with the gaming state of the slot machine 1, whereby the position of the shutter 50 is switched as shown in each of FIGS. Production to enhance the performance. Further, the lower end edge of the shutter 50 is provided with a lamp portion 102 formed by arranging a plurality of light sources 102a such as LEDs. The lamp unit 102 is driven and controlled with a predetermined lighting pattern in accordance with the movement of the shutter 50, and an effect corresponding to the gaming state is performed even when the lamp unit 102 is turned on and off.

  By the way, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 of FIG. 1 is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the insertion sensor 53 is provided in the vicinity of the medal insertion slot 25 inside the housing 3, and detects the medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 25 one by one. The payout sensor 54 is a hopper unit. It is provided at the exit of 43 and detects medals paid out to the payout opening 39 one by one.

  The left / middle / right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R shown in FIG. 4 detect the rotational positions of the left / middle / right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, for example, the left / middle / right reels 13L and 13M. , 13R, and photointerrupters for detecting the protrusions, and when the left, middle, and right reels 13L, 13M, 13R rotate, the protrusions are detected every round and the detection signal is sent to the main control board 63. Output. At this time, for example, when the left / middle / right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R detect the protrusions, the symbol of frame number 20 is positioned in the middle of the display window 11, respectively. The hopper motor 57 is disposed in the hopper unit 43, and medals are paid out toward the payout opening 39 by driving the hopper motor 57.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the slot machine 1, a main control board 63 on which a main CPU 61 that controls a game is mounted and a sub control board 73 on which a sub CPU 71 that controls an effect related to the game is mounted. And are provided separately.

(Main control board)
The main control board 63 has a main CPU 61, a ROM 65, and a RAM 67. The main CPU 61 has an interrupt function such as a timer interrupt, and by executing a game machine program stored in the ROM 65, the main control board 63 relates to the progress of the game. Control each part. The ROM 65 stores a game machine program (a program for the slot machine 1) including preset data (role lottery table, stop table). Further, the main CPU 61 transmits various data such as data indicating the gaming state of the slot machine 1 and data relating to the progress of the game such as the role lottery result of the role lottery means to the sub control board 73 (sub CPU 71) in a command format. To do.

  The RAM 65 of the main control board 63 temporarily stores data indicating the gaming state of the slot machine 1 and data relating to the progress of the game such as the role lottery result of the role lottery means. The number of medals detected by 53, the number of credit medals, and the like are also stored.

  On the other hand, the sub control board 73 includes a sub CPU 71 and a memory 75. The memory 75 includes a RAM unit that temporarily stores various data and a ROM unit that stores various programs for production. The CPU 71 has an interrupt function such as a timer interrupt, and executes an effect program stored in the memory 75 on the basis of various data relating to the progress of the game of the slot machine 1 transmitted from the main CPU 61. The contents of the production related to the progress of the are determined.

  Further, the sub CPU 71, based on the determined contents of the production, the liquid crystal display 27, the speakers 31L and 31R, the upper lamp unit 33, the lower lamp units 37L and 37R, and the operation via the I / O port of the sub control board 73. Control of the control unit 100 and the like is performed. Here, as described above, the operation control unit 100 controls the drive motor 101 that moves the shutter 50 up and down, and controls the lighting and extinction of the lamp unit 102. The operation control unit 100 receives signals from the sub CPU 71 of the sub control board 73. Based on these controls.

(Sub control board and operation control unit)
The connection relationship between the sub-control board 73 and the operation control unit 100 and the specific electrical configuration of each are as shown in FIG. And, the greatest feature of the present invention is that a device abnormality prevention measure is taken when some kind of connection failure occurs between the sub-control board 73 and the operation control unit 100. The characteristic configuration will be described below. To do.

1. Sub control board 73
When the sub control board 73 receives data related to the progress of the game as a communication command in a predetermined format from the main control board 63, the sub control board 73 receives the data and performs an effect according to the operation and state of the main control board 63. The sub-control board 73 has various functions such as a function realized by executing a program stored in the memory 75, a function realized by hardware, and a function realized by a combination thereof. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, drivers 110 and 120 for controlling the operations of the drive motor 101 for controlling the movement of the lamp unit 102 and the shutter 50 are provided in the operation control unit 100, and the sub control board 73 is The communication unit 77 for transmitting a control command composed of serial data to the drivers 110 and 120 is provided. The connector 87 on the sub control board 73 side and the connector 103 on the operation control unit 100 side are connected by a cable 88 with a connector. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the communication unit 77 includes a serial communication controller 80 and switch circuits 81 and 82 that form open collector (or open drain) type output ports P1 and P2, respectively. The serial communication controller 80 outputs an output terminal dO1 (first output terminal of the present invention) that outputs serial data that defines the excitation pattern of the drive motor 101 and the lighting pattern of the lamp unit 102 provided in the operation control unit 100. And an output terminal cO1 (second output terminal of the present invention) for outputting a clock signal.

  The switch circuit 81 includes a switching element 83 formed of an NPN bipolar transistor (or N-channel field effect transistor), and the switching element 83 has a control terminal B (base) connected to the output terminal dO1 via an input resistor r, One end C (collector) is connected to the substrate-side data line 85 (first signal line of the present invention) via the serial data output port P1, and the other end E (emitter) is grounded to thereby open collector. Connected to the mold. In the case of an N-channel field effect transistor, the control terminal B is a gate, one end C is a drain, the other end E is a source, and the switching element 83 is connected to an open drain type.

  On the other hand, the switch circuit 82 similarly has a switching element 84 composed of an NPN bipolar transistor or an N-channel field effect transistor). The switching element 84 has a control terminal B (base) connected to the output terminal cO1 via the input resistor r. One end C (collector) is connected to the substrate side clock line 86 (second signal line of the present invention) via the clock signal output port P2, and the other end E (emitter) is grounded. Connected to the open collector type. In the case of an N-channel field effect transistor, the control terminal B is a gate, one end C is a drain, the other end E is a source, and the switching element 84 is connected in an open drain type.

  Further, the substrate-side data line (first signal line) 85 and the substrate-side clock line (second signal line) 86 are respectively supplied from a power source V1 having a predetermined voltage (for example, 5V) via pull-up resistors R1 and R2. Are respectively connected to connectors 87 for external connection provided on the sub-control board 73.

  Then, the serial communication controller 80 of the communication unit 77 outputs serial data composed of bit data of “1” and “0” from the serial data output terminal dO1 port in synchronization with the clock signal. At the output timing of each synchronized bit, the switching element 83 of the switch circuit 81 is switched on and off according to the contents of the bit.

  For example, when the bit transmitted from the communication unit 77 is “1”, the switching element 83 of the switch circuit 81 is turned off so that the output level of the pulse signal output from the output port P1 becomes H (high). Is output from the output terminal dO1 of the serial communication controller 80, and when the bit transmitted from the communication unit 77 is “0”, the output level of the pulse signal output from the output port P1 is L (low). ), A signal for turning on the switching element 83 of the switch circuit 81 is output from the output terminal dO1 of the serial communication controller 80.

  Further, the communication unit 77 outputs a signal for switching the switching element 84 of the switch circuit 82 on and off at a preset predetermined cycle from the clock signal output terminal cO1 of the serial communication controller 80. As a result, a clock signal whose output level is H, for example, is generated in a certain period between predetermined clock cycles, and this clock signal is transmitted from the output port P2 to the drivers 110 and 120 of the operation control unit 100 at the subsequent stage. In this manner, the communication unit 77 generates a signal whose output level switches between H and L in accordance with the contents of each bit of the serial data in synchronization with the clock signal. This signal is output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77, and serial data for controlling the device is serially transmitted to the drivers 110 and 120 of the operation control unit 100.

2. Operation control unit 100
The operation control unit 100 includes a driver 110 that drives and controls each light source 102a provided in the lamp unit 102, a driver 120 that drives and controls the drive motor 101, an inversion circuit 130 that is a holding unit of the present invention, a connector 103, and the like. It has.

  The driver 110 is input to an input terminal dI2 to which serial data from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 is input, an input terminal cI2 to which a clock signal from the output port P2 of the communication unit 77 is input, and an input terminal dI2. Output terminal dO2 that outputs a signal having the same data content as the serial data, and output terminals O2a, O2b, and O2c that output drive signals for driving the respective light sources 102a of the lamp unit 102.

  Further, the connector 103 and the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110 are connected via the control unit side data line 104 (first signal line of the present invention), and the connector 103 and the input terminal cI2 of the driver 110 are connected to the control unit side clock. Connection is made via a line 105 (second signal line of the present invention).

  One end of each of the pull-up resistors R3 and R4 is connected to the control unit side data line 104 and the control unit side clock line 105, respectively, and the other end of each of the pull-up resistors R3 and R4 is the first power source of the present invention. Each is connected to a power source V2 having a predetermined voltage (for example, 5V). Here, the pull-up resistor R3 corresponds to the first resistance element of the present invention.

  Furthermore, the cathode side of the two light sources 102a connected in series is connected to each of the output terminals O2a to O2c, the anode side is connected to the DC power source E1, and an H drive signal is output from each of the output terminals O2a to O2c. Then, the light source 102a connected to the output terminal that outputs the H drive signal is turned off, and when the L drive signal is output from each of the output terminals O2a to O2c, the output terminal that outputs the L drive signal is output. The connected light source 102a is turned on.

  The driver 120 has an input terminal dI3 (first input terminal of the present invention) to which serial data is input from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 and an input to which a clock signal is input from the output port P2 of the communication unit 77. A terminal cI3 (second input terminal of the present invention) and output terminals O3a and O3b for outputting a drive signal for driving the drive motor 101 are provided. The output terminal dO2 of the driver 110 that outputs the same data as the serial data from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 and the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 are connected to the control unit side data line 106 (first signal of the present invention). The connector 103 and the input terminal cI3 are connected via the control unit side clock line 105.

  In addition, one end of each of the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 is connected to each of the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120, and the other end of each of the excitation phases A and B is connected to the DC power source E2. When the H drive signal is output from both output terminals O3a and O3b, the excitation phase connected to the output terminal from which the H drive signal is output is de-excited, and when the L drive signal is output, L The excitation phase connected to the output terminal from which the drive signal is output is excited.

  Further, as described above, since the connector 87 of the sub-control board 73 and the connector 103 of the operation control unit 100 are connected by the cable 88 with connector, the board-side data line 85, the cable with connector 88, the data on the control unit side. The serial data output port P1 of the communication unit 77 and the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3 of the drivers 110 and 120 are connected via the lines 104 and 106, and the board side clock line 86 and connector are connected. Via the attached cable 88 and the control unit side clock line 105, the clock signal output port P2 of the communication unit 77 and the clock signal input terminals cI2 and cI3 of the drivers 110 and 120 are connected.

  Since the drivers 110 and 120 of the operation control unit 100 are configured as described above, the drivers for the serial data are synchronized with the clock signals input to the clock signal input terminals cI2 and cI3 of the drivers 110 and 120, respectively. Serial data is input to each of the input terminals dI2 and dI3. Specifically, each of the drivers 110 and 120 synchronizes with the clock signal from the communication unit 77 to the clock signal input terminals cI2 and cI3 when capturing the serial data output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77. At this timing, the bit content of the serial data is determined according to the level H or L of the serial data input to the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3.

  Subsequently, each of the drivers 110 and 120 generates a drive signal based on the bit-structured serial data input as described above, and outputs the generated drive signal to each of the output terminals O2a to O2c and the output terminal O3a at a predetermined timing. , O3b. Accordingly, the driver 110 controls the driving of the lamp unit 102 with a predetermined lighting pattern, and the driver 120 controls the driving of the driving motor 101 including a stepping motor with a predetermined excitation pattern.

  Here, the drivers 110 and 120 define the operating state of the light source 102a connected to any one of the output terminals O2a to O2c and the excitation phase A or B connected to any one of the output terminals O3a and O3b. If the level of each of the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3 is H at the timing when the serial data having the bit contents to be input is input, the L drive signal is output from the output terminal, thereby connecting to the output terminal. The light source and the excitation phase that have been turned on are turned on and excited, respectively. On the other hand, if the level of each of the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3 is L, the drivers 110 and 120 output a drive signal of H from the output terminal, and thereby the light source connected to the output terminal and The excitation phase is turned off and de-energized.

  Further, the inverting circuit 130 corresponding to the holding means of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 is inserted in series in the control unit side data line 106 that connects the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110 and the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. As a result, the same data as the serial data input from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 to the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110 is output from the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110, and the level is inverted by the inversion circuit 130 to be input to the driver 120. Input to the terminal dI3.

3. Operation Next, an example of operations of the communication unit 77 and the operation control unit 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 will be described.

  First, the communication unit 77 drives serial data (hereinafter referred to as “lighting pattern”) to be transmitted to the driver 110 among a plurality of preset serial data that defines the lighting pattern of the lamp unit 102, respectively. Of the plurality of preset serial data defining the excitation pattern of the motor 101, serial data to be transmitted to the driver 120 (hereinafter referred to as “excitation pattern”) is determined.

  Subsequently, the communication unit 77 outputs a lighting pattern from the output port P1 by activating an enable signal EN from the communication unit 77 not shown in FIG. 5 to the drivers 110 and 120. The driver 110 receives the lighting pattern output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77, generates a drive signal based on the received lighting pattern, outputs it from each of the output terminals O2a to O2c, and transmits the lamp unit 102 to the communication unit 77. Drive control is performed with the lighting pattern transmitted from

  In addition, the communication unit 77 outputs the excitation pattern from the output port P1 by activating the enable signal EN. The driver 120 receives the excitation pattern output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77, generates a drive signal based on the received excitation pattern, outputs the drive signal from each of the output terminals O3a and O3b, and transmits the drive motor 101 to the communication unit 77. Drive control is performed with the excitation pattern transmitted from Here, the excitation pattern (serial data) output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 is input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 while being inverted by the inversion circuit 130. From P1, serial data (excitation pattern) obtained by inverting the serial data when there is no inverting circuit 130 is output. When the drivers 110 and 120 are connected in parallel to the data lines, the address data specifying the drivers 110 and 120 is output from the output port P1 from the communication unit 77, and then the driver specified by the address data. It is only necessary to output lighting pattern and excitation pattern data.

  By the way, due to an impact when the slot machine 1 is assembled or moved, the connection between the cable with connector 88 and the connectors 87 and 103 is partially disconnected, or part of the signal lines 85, 86, 104, 105 and 106. For example, although the clock signal transmission clock lines 86 and 105 are in a normal state, the data lines 85 and 104 upstream of the pull-up resistor R3 of the operation control unit 100 are disconnected. Is generated, the clock signal from the output port P2 of the communication unit 77 is normally input to the clock signal input terminals cI2 and cI3 of the drivers 110 and 120, respectively, while the output port of the communication unit 77 is output. An abnormal situation occurs in which normal serial data from P1 is not input to the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3.

  Even if such an abnormal situation occurs, as described above, since the power supply V2 is connected to the control unit side data line 104 via the pull-up resistor R3, the input of the serial data input terminal dI2 of the driver 110 is performed. Since the level is maintained at H and the input level of the input terminal dI3 for serial data of the driver 120 is maintained at L by the inverting circuit 130, normal serial data is actually input from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77. In spite of not being input to each of the terminals dI2 and dI3, the H signal is constantly input to the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110, the output terminals O2a to O2c become L, and the light sources 102a to 102c are always lit, The L signal is always input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, and the output terminals O3a and O3b become H, so that the drive mode is 101 excitation phase A of, B the driving motor 101 is de-energized state is maintained in a non-driven state.

  Therefore, in the driver 110, an H signal from the pull-up resistor R3 is continuously input to the input terminal dI2 at a timing synchronized with the clock signal, and the output levels of the output terminals O2a to O2c are set to the light sources 102a. It is held at L for turning on (driving). On the other hand, in the driver 120, at the timing synchronized with the clock signal, a signal obtained by inverting the H signal from the pull-up resistor R3 to L by the inverting circuit 130 is continuously input to the input terminal dI3, and the output terminal O3a. , O3b output level is maintained at H, which causes the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 to be non-excited and the drive motor 101 to be in a non-driven state, so that temperature rise due to continuous excitation can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, a case where the communication unit 77 designates one of the serial data transmission destination drivers 110 and 120 by outputting address data from the serial data output port P1 will be described. However, a serial data transmission destination driver may be designated by outputting a selection signal for designating a transfer destination device via a dedicated signal line.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the clock signal from the serial communication controller 80 is normally input to the drivers 110 and 120 due to poor connection of the connector, but the serial data is respectively input to the drivers 110 and 120. When an abnormal situation that is not normally input occurs, the same H signal as the signal to the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110 held at H by the pull-up resistor R3 is output from the output terminal dO2, and this H signal is Since it is inverted to L by the inverting circuit 130 and input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 is held at H, which makes the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 non-excited, The drive motor 101 can be reliably held in the non-driven state. Therefore, problems such as heat generation due to the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 being continuously excited can be reliably prevented.

  In addition, when a clock signal from the serial communication controller 80 is normally input to each of the drivers 110 and 120 due to a connector connection failure or the like, an abnormal situation occurs in which serial data is not normally input to each of the drivers 110 and 120. Further, since the input level of the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110 is maintained at H by the pull-up resistor R3, the output level of the drive signal of the driver 110 is held at L at which each light source 102a is driven, and each light source 102 is held. The lighting state can be maintained. Therefore, since all of the light sources 102a that should be driven to blink are in the lit state, it is possible to determine that some abnormality has occurred by looking at the lit state of the light sources 102a.

  Further, the other end E of the switching element 83 is grounded, and the pull-up resistor R1 is connected to one end C (substrate side data line 85) of the switching element 83, so that the switching element 83 is an open collector type (or an open drain type). ), The clock signal from the serial communication controller 80 is normally input to each of the drivers 110 and 120 due to a connection failure of the connector, but the serial data is not normally input to each of the drivers 110 and 120. When an abnormal situation occurs, the drive motor 101 can be reliably held in the non-driven state.

Second Embodiment
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the second embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment described above is that the driver 110 and the lamp unit 102 are not provided in the operation control unit 100 as shown in FIG. The data line 104 is connected to the serial data input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 through the inverting circuit 130. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Even in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, as in the first embodiment described above, when an abnormal situation occurs in which the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input, By maintaining the input level of the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 of the operation control unit 100 at L, the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 is held at H where the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 are in the non-excitation state. The drive motor 101 can be reliably held in the non-driven state.

<Third Embodiment>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment described above is that the serial data transmitted by the control unit side data line 106 as shown in FIG. 7 instead of the inverting circuit 130 in the first embodiment. An inversion circuit 131 (corresponding to the “holding means” of the present invention) configured to be able to switch between a non-inversion state in which (pulse signal) is not inverted and an inversion state in which it is inverted, and a control for performing switching control of the inversion circuit 131 The means 140 is provided.

  Then, in the state where the above-described abnormality has not occurred, the inverting circuit 131 is switched to the non-inverting state, and is similar to the serial data input to the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110, to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. On the other hand, non-inverted serial data is input from the communication unit 77. The control means 140 for controlling the switching of the inverting circuit 131 is provided with a counter 140a. Based on the count value of the counter 140a, a clock signal is input to the driver 120, but serial data is input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. When occurrence of an abnormal state that is not normally input is detected by the control unit 140, the inversion circuit 131 is controlled to be switched from the non-inversion state to the inversion state by the control unit 140.

  That is, the inverting circuit 131 is inserted in series with the control unit side data line 106 that connects the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110 and the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, similarly to the inverting circuit 130 shown in FIG. When the switching signal CS is input to the control terminal of the inverting circuit 131, the inverting circuit 131 switches from the non-inverting state to the inverting state.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 7, the control means 140 is provided with a counter 140a, the first input terminal of the control means 140 is connected to the control unit side clock line 105, and the clock signal from the serial communication controller 80 is inputted. Then, the second input terminal of the control means 140 is connected to the control unit side data line 106 and serial data to the driver 120 is branched and inputted. For example, as described in the first embodiment described above, when an abnormal situation occurs in which the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input, the control circuit 140 is initially set in the abnormal state. The inversion signal CS is not input to the inversion circuit 131, and the inversion circuit 131 is switched to the non-inversion state, and is pulled up to the voltage of the power source V2 by the pull-up resistor R3 from the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110. The H signal is input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120.

  Here, the counter 140a of the control means 140 counts the number of clocks of the clock signal after the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 becomes H, and the time during which the input level of the input terminal dI3 is held at H, that is, the clock. The time elapsed after the signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input is counted.

  When the time counted by the counter 140a is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the controller 140 determines that an abnormal state has occurred in which serial data is not input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. Then, the inversion signal CS is output from the control means 140 to the inversion circuit 131, the inversion circuit 131 is switched to the inversion state, and the input level of the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 is inverted from H to L, thereby driving the driver 120. The output level of the signal is held at H, which brings the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 into a non-excitation state, so that the drive motor 101 is reliably maintained in the non-drive state as in the first embodiment. Here, the control means 140 provided with the counter 14a corresponds to the “detection means” of the present invention.

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment described above, if the state in which the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 continues for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 140 generates an abnormality. Since the inversion circuit 131 is switched to the inversion state upon detection, the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 can be held at H where the drive motor 101 is in the non-drive state by the control unit 140. It can be reliably held in a non-driven state. In addition, since the inverting circuit 131 does not operate in the normal state, the control of inverting the data output from the communication unit 77 is unnecessary as in the first embodiment, and the control can be simplified.

  Further, since an abnormality is detected if a state where serial data is not input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 continues for a predetermined time, a state where the serial data is not instantaneously input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 due to noise or the like is erroneously mistaken. And the erroneous detection of the abnormal state by the control means 140 can be prevented beforehand. Further, for example, when an abnormality occurs in which the clock signal and the serial data are continuously output from the communication unit 77 due to, for example, the thermal runaway of the sub CPU 71 of the sub control board 73, the control is performed based on the count value of the counter 140a. It is also possible to detect this abnormality by means 140 and to control the inverting circuit 131 so that the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 is held at the H level where the drive motor 101 is in a non-driven state.

<Fourth embodiment>
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that three drivers 110a, 110b, 110c for the lamp unit 102 and a driver 120 for the drive motor 101 are provided as shown in FIG. , Control unit side data lines 106a, 106b, 106c (corresponding to the “first signal line” of the present invention) are connected in series, and each control unit side data line 106a, 106b is replaced with the inverting circuit 130 of FIG. , 106c are respectively connected to pull-down resistors R5, R6, R7 (corresponding to “second resistance element” and “holding means” of the present invention).

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, since the inverting circuit 130 is not provided in the previous stage of the driver 120, the serial state in which the driver 120 is not inverted from the communication unit 77 is the same as in the third embodiment described above. Data is transmitted. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, the description of the other configurations and operations is omitted by citing the same reference numerals, and in the following description, mainly the first embodiment described above. Different points will be described.

  Each of the drivers 110a to 110c is configured in substantially the same manner as the driver 110 shown in FIG. 5, and the lamp unit 102 is connected to each output terminal O2a. Also, one end of the pull-down resistor R5 is connected to the control unit side data line 106a that connects the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110a in the subsequent stage of the pull-up resistor R3 and the input terminal dI2 of the driver 110b, and the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110b and the driver One end of a pull-down resistor R6 is connected to the control-unit-side data line 106b that connects the input terminal dI2 of 110c, and is pulled down to the control-unit-side data line 106c that connects the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110c and the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. One end of the resistor R7 is connected, and the other end of each pull-down resistor R5, R6, R7 has a polarity different from that of the power source V2 connected to the pull-up resistor R3 (corresponding to the “second power source” of the present invention). )It is connected to the.

  When an abnormal situation occurs in which the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, for example, the control unit side upstream of the pull-down resistor R5 of the operation control unit 100 An abnormality in which the data line 106a is disconnected and the serial data output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 is not normally input to the input terminals dI2 and dI3 of the drivers 110b, 110c, and 120 downstream of the disconnection location When a situation occurs, serial data is normally input to the serial data input terminal dI2 of the driver 110a for the ramp unit 102 located upstream of the disconnected control unit side data line 106a, so that the output terminal of the driver 110a The lamp unit 102 is driven by a drive signal based on the serial data from O2a. Each light source 102a is flashing in accordance with the serial data.

  On the other hand, in the drivers 110b and 110c for the ramp unit 102, since the input level of the serial data input terminal dI2 is maintained at L by the power source V3 by the pull-down resistors R5 and R6, output from the output terminal O2a of the drivers 110b and 110c. The output level of the drive signal is held at H, which brings each light source 102a of the lamp unit 102 into a non-driven (light-off) state. Further, in the driver 120 for the drive motor 101, since the input level of the serial data input terminal dI3 is maintained at L by the power source V3 by the pull-down resistor R7, the drive signal output from the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120 Is maintained at H, which brings the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 into a non-excitation state.

  Also, the control unit side data line 106b upstream of the pull-down resistor R6 of the operation control unit 100 is disconnected, and the serial data output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77 is downstream of the disconnection location. When an abnormal situation occurs in which the data is not normally input to the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3 of the drivers 110c and 120, the serial data of the drivers 110a and 110b for the lamp unit 102 located upstream of the disconnected control unit side data line 106b. Since the serial data is normally input to the input terminal dI2, the light source 102a of the lamp unit 102 blinks in accordance with the serial data by the drive signal based on the serial data from the output terminal O2a of each of the drivers 110a and 110b. Is done.

  On the other hand, in the driver 110c for the ramp unit 102, the input level of the input terminal dI2 for serial data is maintained at L by the power source V3 by the pull-down resistor R6, so the output level of the drive signal output from the output terminal O2a is ramped. The light sources 102a of the unit 102 are held at H to bring the light sources 102a into a non-driven (light-off) state. Further, in the driver 120 for the drive motor 101, the input level of the serial data input terminal dI3 is maintained at L by the power source V3 by the pull-down resistor R7, so that the drive signal output from the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120 Is maintained at H, which brings the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 into a non-excitation state.

  In addition, the control unit side data line 106c upstream of the pull-down resistor R7 of the operation control unit 100 is disconnected, and the serial data output from the output port P1 is input although the clock signal from the communication unit 77 is input. If a situation occurs in which the input is not normally made to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 arranged downstream of the disconnection location, the drivers 110a, 110b for the lamp unit 102 positioned upstream of the disconnected control unit side data line 106c, Since serial data is normally input to the serial data input terminal dI2 of 110c, each light source 102a of each lamp unit 102 is driven by a drive signal based on the serial data from the output terminal O2a of each of the drivers 110a to 110c. Flashes according to serial data.

  On the other hand, in the driver 120 for the drive motor 101, since the input level of the serial data input terminal dI3 is maintained at L by the power source V3 by the pull-down resistor R7, the drive signal output from the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120 Is maintained at H, which brings the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101 into a non-excitation state.

  With such a configuration, when a clock signal is input to the input terminal cI3 of the driver 120 but serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, the driver 120 is connected to the driver 120 by the pull-down resistor R7 connected to the power source V3. By maintaining the input level of the input terminal dI3 at L, the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 is held at H where the drive motor 101 is in the non-driven state, and the drive motor 101 is reliably held in the non-driven state. be able to. When any one of the control unit side data lines 106a to 106c is disconnected, the drivers 110b, 110c, and 120 on the downstream side of the disconnection location are caused by pull-down resistors R5 to R7 arranged on the downstream side of the disconnection location. It is possible to reliably hold the lamp unit 102 or the driving motor 101 connected to the non-driving state.

  In addition, when a failure occurs in any of the data lines 106a to 106c for serial data, it is possible to easily identify the location where the failure occurs by checking the lighting state of each lamp unit 102. Is possible. That is, when the connector 88 of the cable with connector 88 is in the half-inserted state and any one of the control unit side data lines 106a to 106c is disconnected, the lamp unit 102 on the upstream side of the disconnected part is turned on and the drive motor 101 is turned on. When the connector of the cable 88 with the connector is normally connected and any one of the control unit side data lines 106a to 106c is disconnected, all the lamp units 102 have lighting pattern data. And the drive motor 101 is held in a non-driven state, so that the location where a failure occurs can be identified.

<Fifth Embodiment>
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the present embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment described above in that the driver 120 for the drive motor 101 has the same bit content as the serial data input to the input terminal dI3. It has an output terminal dO3 (corresponding to the “data output terminal” of the present invention) for outputting a signal, and signals output from the output terminal dO3 are the control unit side data line 107, the connector-equipped cable 88, and the board side data line 89. The configuration is such that it is fed back to the serial communication controller 80 via. In FIG. 9, the enable signal EN not shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated. Since the operating voltage of the driver 120 is different from that of the previous drivers 110a and 110b, a power source V4 and a pull-up resistor R8 are separately provided to increase the range. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment will be described by quoting the same reference numerals. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the two lamp drivers 110a and 110b for the lamp unit 102 and the drive motor driver 120 for the drive motor 101 are similar to those in the fourth embodiment described above. A power source V4 is connected via a pull-up resistor R8 to the control unit side data line 106b connected in series by lines 106a and 106b and connecting the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110b and the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the power supply unit 90 supplies the drive voltage to the drive unit 101 and the drive motor driver 120, the DC power source E <b> 1 that supplies the drive voltage to the lamp unit 102 and the lamp drivers 110 a and 110 b. DC power supply E2 to be supplied, DC power supply E1 and drivers 110a and 110b (lamp unit 102) are connected via fuse 91, and DC power supply E2 and driver 120 (drive motor 101) are connected via fuse 92. It is connected.

  The power supply unit 90 (corresponding to the “holding unit” of the present invention) does not normally input serial data to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 even though serial data is output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77. When this occurs, the power supply of the DC power source E2, which is the driving voltage for the driver 120 and the drive motor 101, is stopped, so that the output level of the drive signal output from each of the output terminals O3a and O3b can be changed. The excitation phases A and B are held at a level at which they are not excited.

  Each of the drivers 110a, 110b, and 120 includes input terminals eI2 and eI3 to which the enable signal EN from the serial communication controller 80 is input, and is output from the output terminal eO1 of the serial communication controller 80 to the input terminals eI2 and eI3. When the enable signal EN is input via the connector-equipped cable 88 and its value is in an active state, a drive signal is output from the output terminals O2a, O3a, and O3b.

  Further, the serial communication controller 80 includes a switching unit 80a, a detection unit 80b, and a control unit 80c.

  The switching unit 80a (corresponding to the “holding unit” of the present invention) activates the enable signal EN from the output terminal eO1 to each driver 110a, 110b, 120 at a predetermined timing synchronized with the clock signal. In response to the input of the enable signal EN, a drive signal is output from the output terminals O2a, O3a, and O3b of the drivers 110a, 110b, and 120 to the lamp unit 102 or the drive motor 101 at a predetermined timing. In addition, the switching unit 80a is configured so that the driver 120 receives an abnormal situation in which serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 even though serial data is output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77. By deactivating the logic value of the enable signal EN input to the input terminal eI3, the output level of the drive signal output from the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120 is set to the excitation phases A and B of the drive motor 101. Hold at H to de-energize.

  Subsequently, the detection unit 80a (corresponding to the “detection means” of the present invention) is output from the serial data output from the output terminal dO1 of the serial communication controller 80 and the output terminal dO3 of the driver 120 for the drive motor 101. The data fed back to the serial communication controller 80 is compared, and when the two are different, it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred in which serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120, and an abnormality is detected.

  Furthermore, the control unit 80c (corresponding to the “control unit” of the present invention) controls the power supply unit 90 so as to stop the power supply of the DC power supply E2 when the abnormality is detected by the detection unit 80b, and the driver 120 The switching unit 80a is controlled so as to deactivate the logical value of the enable signal EN input to the input terminal eI3.

  Next, an example of operations of the communication unit 77 and the operation control unit 100 illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described.

  If the fuse 91 connected to the DC power supply E1 is blown for some reason, power is not supplied from the power supply unit 90 to the drivers 110a and 110b for the lamp unit 102, so that data output from the output terminal dO2 of the driver 110b is not possible. It becomes stable, and the serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 although the serial data is output from the output port P1 of the communication unit 77. In such a case, since the input level of the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 is maintained at H by the power supply V4 by the pull-up resistor R8, the output level of the drive signal output from the output terminals O3a and O3b of the driver 120 is driven. The excitation phases A and B of the motor 101 are held at L to make the excitation state.

  On the other hand, the same signal as the H signal input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 is output from the output terminal dO3 and fed back to the serial communication controller 80, and output from the output terminal dO1 of the serial communication controller 80 by the detection unit 80b. The inverted serial data is compared with the data output from the output terminal dO3 of the driver 120 and fed back to the serial communication controller 80. If they are different, the serial data is applied to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120. An abnormality is detected because it is determined that an abnormal state of no input has occurred. Thus, when an abnormality is detected, the power supply unit 90 is controlled by the control unit 80c to stop the power supply of the DC power supply E2, and the logical value of the enable signal EN input to the input terminal eI3 of the driver 120 is set. The switching unit 80a is controlled so as to be inactive, and the drive motor 101 is held in a non-driven state.

  Note that the output states of the drive signals of the drivers 110 a and 110 b for the lamp unit 102 may be controlled in the same manner as the driver 120.

  Accordingly, in the fifth embodiment, the driver 120 for the drive motor 120 outputs a drive signal for driving the drive motor 101 from the output terminals O3a and O3b when the enable signal EN is active at the input terminal eI3. When the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3, the logic value of the enable signal EN input to the input terminal eI3 is deactivated, so that the drive signal of the driver 120 is The output level can be maintained at a level at which the drive motor 101 is in a non-driven state.

  Further, when the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3, the power supply to the driver 120 and the drive motor 101 by the DC power source E2 which is a driving voltage is stopped. The unit 90 can maintain the output level of the drive signal of the driver 120 at a level at which the drive motor 101 is not driven.

  In addition, the detection unit 80b compares the data output from the output terminal dO3 of the driver 120 with the inverted version of the serial data output from the output terminal dO1 of the serial communication controller 80. The occurrence of an abnormal state in which the clock signal is input to the driver 120 but the serial data is not normally input to the input terminal dI3 of the driver 120 can be reliably detected.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the gist thereof, and the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined. Also good. For example, in the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 8, the pull-down resistors R5, R6, and R7 are connected to the control unit side data lines 106a, 106b, and 106c via connection state switching switches, respectively. The on / off state of this switch may be switched by means having the same configuration as the control means 140 shown in FIG. 7 or the control unit 80c shown in FIG. Specifically, the switch for switching the connection state is turned off at the normal time, and an abnormality that the serial data is not normally input to the serial data input terminals dI2 and dI3 of each driver 110b, 110c, 120 is detected. In some cases, the switch is turned on so that the pull-down resistors R5, R6, and R7 are connected to the control unit side data lines 106a, 106b, and 106c.

  Further, the output ports P1 and P2 of the communication unit may be configured by an open emitter circuit. Further, the relationship between the pull-up resistors R1 to R4 and R8 and the pull-down resistors R5 to R7 is relative, and the connection state of the resistors is not limited to the above-described example, and the present invention. The first resistance element may be constituted by a pull-down resistor, and the second resistance element of the present invention may be constituted by a pull-up resistor.

  Further, the holding means of the present invention is configured by software processing in each driver 110b, 110c, 120, and an abnormal state in which serial data is not normally input to the serial data input terminals dI2, dI3 of each driver 110b, 110c, 120 When the signal is detected, the output level of each drive signal may be held at a level at which each device is not driven by holding means configured in each driver 110b, 110c, 120.

  Further, the device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various devices such as the reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R, the lamp units 33, 37L, and 37R, and the speakers 31L and 31R are described in the above embodiments. You may make it control similarly to.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the slot machine 1 has been described as an example of the gaming machine of the present invention. However, the present invention is applied to a gaming machine (so-called parrot) in which a slot machine and a pachinko machine are combined. Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to pachinko machines, and the present invention can be widely applied to general gaming machines.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine (game machine), 80 ... Serial communication controller, 80a ... Switching part (holding means), 80b ... Detection part (detection means), 80c ... Control part (control means), 81 ... Switch circuit, 83 ... Switching Element: 85... Substrate side data line (first signal line) 86... Substrate side clock line (second signal line) 90... Power supply unit (holding means) 101. 106a, 106b, 106c ... control unit side data line (first signal line), 105 ... control unit side clock line (second signal line), 110a, 110b, 110c, 120 ... driver, 130, 131 ... inversion Circuit (holding means), 140 ... control means (detection means), 140a ... counter (detection means), B ... control terminal, C ... one end, cI3 ... input terminal (second input terminal), dI3 ... Force terminal (first input terminal), eI3... Input terminal (third input terminal), cO1... Output terminal (second output terminal), dO1... Output terminal (first output terminal), dO3. (Data output terminals), O3a, O3b ... output terminals (drive signal output terminals), EN ... enable signal, E2 ... DC power supply, R3 ... pull-up resistors (first resistor elements), R5, R6, R7 ... pull-down resistors (Second resistance element, holding means), V2 ... power source (first power source), V3 ... power source (second power source)

Claims (10)

A serial communication controller having a first output terminal for outputting serial data and a second output terminal for outputting a clock signal;
A first input terminal connected to the first output terminal via a first signal line; and a second input terminal connected to the second output terminal via a second signal line. A driver for driving and controlling a predetermined device by outputting a drive signal generated based on the serial data input to the first input terminal in synchronization with the clock signal ;
Control in response to the serial data output control pin from the first of said serial communication controller being connected to said first signal line and one end is connected to the output terminal ON, OFF off switched switching element A switch circuit having
A first resistance element having one end connected to the one end of the switching element via the first signal line and the other end connected to a first power source;
When the clock signal is the second but Tei Ru are normally input to an input terminal to which the serial data is not input correctly to the first input terminal, the output level of the driver the device is not driven Holding means for holding at a level ,
The serial data is transmitted by a signal having a high level and a low level generated by switching on and off of the switching element,
The holding means is
The input level of the first input terminal is maintained at one of the high level and the low level by the first power source connected to the first signal line via the first resistance element. by abnormality occurs that that, when the serial data to said first input terminal of said driver is not entered correctly, the feature that you hold the output level to a level at which the device is de-energized state To play.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is connected to an open drain type or an open collector type. The holding means is
An inverting circuit inserted in series with the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal, wherein the serial data is normal at the first input terminal of the driver; 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the output level is maintained at a level at which the device is in a non-driven state by being maintained at a predetermined level by the inversion circuit when not input to the game machine. The holding means is
One end is connected to the first signal line between the first resistance element and the first input terminal, and the other end is connected to a second power source having a polarity different from that of the first power source. When the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the device maintains the output level by maintaining the output level at a predetermined level by the second resistance element. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is held at a level at which it is not driven. The driver has a third input terminal to which an enable signal is input, and a drive signal output terminal that outputs the drive signal when the enable signal is input to the third input terminal,
The holding means is
When the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the output level is set to the device by deactivating the logical value of the enable signal input to the third input terminal. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is held at a level at which the non-driving state is established. A DC power supply for supplying a driving voltage to the driver;
The holding means is
When the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal of the driver, the power supply of the DC power source that is a driving voltage to the driver is stopped, so that the output level of the device is not driven. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is held at a level that becomes. Detecting means for detecting that an abnormal state has occurred when the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal;
Control means for controlling the holding means so that the output level of the driver is held at a level at which the device is not driven when the occurrence of the abnormal state is detected by the detecting means. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6. The driver has a data output terminal that outputs the same data as the serial data input to the first input terminal;
The detecting means compares the serial data output from the first output terminal of the serial communication controller with the output data of the data output terminal, and detects that the abnormal state has occurred at different times. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein:   8. The detection unit detects that the abnormal state has occurred when a state in which the serial data is not normally input to the first input terminal continues for a predetermined time. Or the gaming machine of 8.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the device is a drive motor.

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