JP5928695B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball, or a sparrow ball, and more particularly, to a gaming machine capable of giving a new performance operation to a performance body such as an accessory performing a performance.

  In recent gaming machines, there are many models in which a display such as a liquid crystal panel is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, and the entertainment of the game is enhanced by various effects such as moving pictures displayed on the screen.

  For example, like the `` game table '' in the following patent document, the screen is blocked by moving the sliding door provided in front of the display, or a movable object such as a character appears in front of the display, Some of them have been devised to raise the attention of the player and improve the fun of the game. However, if the screen is blocked by the door or a movable object such as a character appears in front of the display, there is little impact on the player. There were things that were devised to further enhance the fun of the game, such as by placing or moving movable items on the stage.

JP 2005-000540 A

  However, when the sliding door or the movable object is moved in front of the display, the LED light source mounted on the effector is made to emit light, or the movable accessory is moved, there are problems such as lack of sufficient impact.

For this reason, the applicant of the present application is from the gaming machine main body side (the gaming machine main body part excluding the rendering body described later) in the viewing area of the gaming machine for the purpose of giving the gaming machine a new production effect that has never existed before. directing body independently to operate have invented a game machine employing the (independent director member).

  This production body performs directing operation by self-running by supplying power from the charging unit (rechargeable battery) without electrical connection with the gaming machine body side, but if the charging unit is not fully charged When the power supply from the charging unit becomes insufficient during the operation, the operation may be stopped in the middle of the production operation.

  The present invention was devised in order to solve such problems and the like, and the operation of the director so that the director, such as an accessory performing the director operation independently, can complete the director operation without fail. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine characterized by controlling the above.

In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to the present invention includes a main control unit that performs a main control process of a game, and a command that is provided separately from the main control unit and that is transmitted from the main control unit. A sub-control unit that performs auxiliary control processing other than main control processing, a charging unit that stores power, a power supply unit that receives power supply at a predetermined standby position of the gaming machine body, and sends power to the charging unit, charging An effect execution unit capable of performing an effect appealing to the visual perception of the player by supplying power from the unit, and an independent effect body provided with an effect control unit for controlling the effect operation by the effect execution unit, and In the state where the independent performance body is separated from the predetermined standby position on the gaming machine body side based on the command transmitted from the sub-control unit and the power supply from the gaming machine body side is cut off, The charging part Perform predetermined effect operation by the power supply of al, in the gaming machine back to the waiting position again after a predetermined effect operation, the sub-control unit effect operation of the basis of the charging status selectable the independent effect of the charging portion It is characterized by sorting the types of

  According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to avoid inconveniences associated with giving a new effect to the gaming machine that has never existed.

It is a front view of a slot machine. It is a perspective view of the slot machine showing a state where the front door is closed. It is a perspective view of the slot machine showing a state where the front door is opened. It is a rear view of a front door. It is a front view inside a housing | casing. It is a disassembled perspective view of a panel unit. It is a perspective view of a backlight and its periphery. It is an assembly perspective view of a motor plate, a motor, a backlight, and a reel. It is a perspective view of a motor plate and a backlight. It is a front view of a backlight. It is an expanded view of the strip-shaped reel tape which comprises each reel. It is a front view of a selector. It is a front view of a slot machine dedicated to three bets. It is a front perspective view of an example of a production body unit. It is a front perspective view of an example of a production body unit. It is a front perspective view of an example of a production body unit. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the switching device part. It is the figure which showed the independent production | presentation body. It is a figure showing the state where the projection part of the independent production body was dropped in the rail groove. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal block of the frame when there is an independent effect body at the standby position. It is a circuit diagram of a director unit. It is a front perspective view of other examples of a production unit. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the main control board of a slot machine. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the sub control board of a slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the NMI interruption process in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the power-on process in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the normal process in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process in a sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows the command interruption process in a sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows the power failure process in a sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows the main process in a sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows the timer process in a sub control board. It is the flowchart shown in detail about the processing flow of 10 ms timer processing. It is the flowchart shown in more detail about the processing flow of a charge / stop process. It is a flowchart about the effect determination process which is one of the received command check processes. It is the table | surface which showed an example of the production table at the time of winning combination winning. It is the table | surface which showed the other example of the production | presentation table at the time of winning combination winning.

  Hereinafter, a basic configuration of a slot machine, which is a kind of gaming machine, will be described in detail based on the drawings, and then a rendering unit that is a technical feature of the gaming machine of the present invention and its control processing will be described. .

  1 is a front view of the slot machine, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine with the front door closed, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine with the front door open, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the front door. FIG. 5 is a front view of the inside of the housing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the slot machine 10 includes a housing 11 that forms an outer shell thereof. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the housing 11 includes a top plate 11a, a bottom plate 11b, a back plate 11c, a left side plate 11d, and a right side plate 11e formed in a wooden plate shape, and adjacent plates 11a to 11e. Is fixed by fixing means such as adhesion, so that it is formed in a box shape with the front surface opened as a whole. In addition, each board 11a-11e may be comprised with a synthetic resin panel or a metal panel other than being comprised with a wooden panel, or it is comprised by forming in the box shape integral with a synthetic resin material or a metal material. May be.
The casing 11 configured as described above is attached by, for example, driving nails against a so-called island facility at the time of installation in the game hall.

  A front door 12 as a front open / close door is attached to the front side of the housing 11 so as to be openable and closable. That is, the left side plate 11d of the housing 11 is provided with a pair of upper and lower support shafts 25a and 25b as shown in FIG. Each of the support shafts 25a and 25b includes a tapered shaft portion that protrudes upward. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the front door 12 is provided with support brackets 26a and 26b having insertion holes into which the shaft portions of the support shafts 25a and 25b are inserted corresponding to the support shafts 25a and 25b. It has been. Then, the support brackets 26a and 26b are arranged above the support shafts 25a and 25b, and the front door 12 is lowered, whereby the shaft portions of the support shafts 25a and 25b are inserted into the insertion holes of the support brackets 26a and 26b. It is assumed that it was done. Thereby, the front door 12 is supported so as to be rotatable about an opening / closing axis extending in the vertical direction connecting the both support shafts 25a and 25b with respect to the housing 11, and the front opening side of the housing 11 is opened by the rotation. It can be closed or closed.

  The front door 12 is brought into a locked state that cannot be opened by a locking device provided on the rear surface. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the key cylinder 20 which is an unlocking operation part is provided in the upper right side upper part of the front door 12. As shown in FIG. The key cylinder 20 is integrated with a locking device, and is configured such that the locked state is released by a predetermined key operation on the key cylinder 20. Therefore, an outline of the lock mechanism including the locking device will be described.

  On the right end side of the front door 12, that is, on the opposite side of the opening / closing axis of the front door 12, a locking device is provided on the back surface. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the locking device includes a base frame that extends in the vertical direction and is fixed to the front door 12, and a key that is provided so as to extend from the top of the base frame to the front of the front door 12. A cylinder 20 and a long interlocking rod 21 assembled so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the base frame are provided. And only the key cylinder 20 is provided in the state which protruded ahead of the front door 12 among the locking devices. The position where the key cylinder 20 is provided is the thin upper portion of the front door 12, and as a result, a versatile key cylinder 20 having a short overall length can be employed. In the present embodiment, Omlock (trade name) having a high function of preventing unauthorized unlocking is used as the key cylinder 20. The interlocking rod 21 is moved downward by operating the key inserted into the key cylinder 20 clockwise. The interlocking bar 21 is provided with a pair of upper and lower bar brackets 22 having a hook shape. When the front door 12 is closed with respect to the casing 11, the bar bracket 22 is locked to the casing 11 side. 23 is locked. In addition, the urging member 22 is provided with an urging member such as a coil spring for urging to the side maintaining the locked state. When the key is operated clockwise with respect to the key cylinder 20, the interlocking rod 21 moves downward, and the saddle fitting 22 is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member. The locked state with the locking bracket 23 is released, and the locked state of the front door 12 with respect to the housing 11 is released.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a display panel (sometimes referred to as a “decorative body”) 30 for notifying the player of the gaming state is provided on the upper side of the center portion of the front door 12. . The display panel 30 is formed with three vertically long display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R arranged side by side. The display windows 31L, 31M, 31R are made of a transparent or translucent material, and the inside of the slot machine 10 is visible through the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R. The display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R may be combined into a single display window. Furthermore, on the left and right sides of the display panel 30, a pattern or the like for performing an effect or the like for improving the interest of the player is drawn by being illuminated brightly from the back side.

  A panel unit 201 having a substantially rectangular frame shape with an opening at the center is fixed to the rear surface of the display panel 30 so that a picture of a reel, which will be described later, can be seen from each display window 31L, 31M, 31R of the display panel. (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

  Various display devices for performing lamp, 7-segment display, LED, liquid crystal display, and the like are disposed on the back side of the display panel 30, and most of the various display devices each have a predetermined printed circuit board (display panel substrate 220 (220R)). , 220M, 220L)) and an LED (light source) and the like are integrally attached thereto. The printed circuit board on which the various display devices are arranged is fixed to the frame shape of the panel unit, whereby the various display devices are arranged on the back surface of the display panel to constitute the panel unit (see FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the panel unit. The panel unit 201 includes a substantially rectangular frame-shaped frame 203 having an opening at the center, and a display panel substrate 220 on which various display devices (not shown) are arranged. It is fixed to the back side of the frame mold 203.
The frame 203 serves as a base for a plurality of various display devices, but also has a function for preventing light from each display device from leaking to other display areas. In the slot machine panel unit 201 shown in the figure, the lamp housings 205 in the left and right portions of the frame 203 are divided into six sections S so as to correspond to the picture drawn on the display panel. In each section, a display device (not shown) on the display panel substrate 220 attached from the back side is arranged. Here, this section is formed by being partitioned by a partition plate (wall surface) so that light does not reach the pattern adjacent to the irradiated pattern.
And when the model of slot machine etc. is changed or the display panel is scratched or damaged, the display panel can be easily replaced with the front door so that only the display panel can be replaced without replacing the entire housing and front door. It is configured to be detachable.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the inside of the housing 11 is divided into two vertically by a divided horizontal plate 40, and a reel unit 41 constituting variable display means is attached to the upper part of the divided horizontal plate 40. . The reel unit 41 includes a left reel 42L, a middle reel 42M, and a right reel 42R each formed in a cylindrical shape (annular shape). Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R only needs to be configured to be at least endless, and is not limited to a cylindrical shape (annular shape).
Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is rotatably supported so that the central axis thereof is the rotation axis of the reel. The rotation axes of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are arranged on the same axis extending in the substantially horizontal direction, and the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R correspond to the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R on a one-to-one basis. . Accordingly, a part of the surface of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R is visible through the corresponding display windows 31L, 31M, 31R. When the reels 2L, 42M, and 42R rotate forward, the surfaces of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are projected as if they are moving from the top to the bottom through the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R.

  Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is connected to reel drive motors (stepping motors) 61L, 61M, and 61R (see FIG. 8) fixed to the motor plate 53, and each reel drive motor is driven to drive each reel 42L, 42M, and 42R. The reels 42L, 42M, and 42R can be driven to rotate individually, that is, independently of each other.

  Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R includes a reel frame 50 that forms a cylindrical frame, and a strip-shaped reel tape wound endlessly on the outer peripheral surface thereof. And it is affixed on the reel frame 50 through a pair of seal parts formed along both long sides of the reel tape so as to maintain the wound state. On the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape, a number of patterns as identification information are printed at regular intervals.

  On each reel tape of each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, a plurality of, specifically 21 patterns are drawn in the long side direction (circumferential direction). Therefore, in order to switch from a picture at a predetermined position to the next picture, the reel drive motors 61L, 61M, 61R generate 24 pulses (= 504 pulses / 21 pictures). For this reason, which picture is visible from the display window 31 (31L, 31M, 31R) according to the number of pulses from when the detection signal of the reel index sensor 55 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) is output. It is possible to perform control for recognizing or making any picture visible from the reel display window 31.

  Of the patterns attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, the number of patterns that can be visually recognized through the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R is mainly determined by the vertical length of the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R. Is limited to a predetermined number. In this embodiment, three reels are provided. For this reason, in a state where all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are stopped, 3 × 3 = 9 pictures are visible to the player.

  Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R has backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R that illuminate the reel tape from the inside, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, on the inner surface side of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R. It is arranged and fixed to a predetermined motor plate 53 (53L, 53M, 53R) with screws 106.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R are attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R in a one-to-one correspondence, and the left backlight device 100L and the middle backlight device are attached. 100M and the right backlight device 100R. As described above, each of the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R is attached to the display panel side of the side surface of the motor plate 53 that is arranged corresponding to each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R in the reel unit 41. . And each backlight apparatus 100L, 100M, 100R is arrange | positioned in the same position seeing to an up-down direction.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the left backlight device 100L. Since each of the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R has the same structure, the left backlight device 100L is illustrated as a representative.
As shown in FIG. 10, the left backlight device 100L has a box shape with the front side opened, and the length in the vertical direction and the length in the horizontal direction are substantially the same as the display window 31L (FIG. 1). A base 101L is provided. In the base 101L, two partition walls that divide the opening area are formed vertically at equal intervals, so that the first opening area 102L, the second opening area 103L, and the third opening area 104L are arranged in the upper, middle, and lower stages. It has a configuration. When the front door 12 is closed, the opening regions 102L, 103L, and 104L are located behind the positions corresponding to the upper, middle, and lower stages of the display window 31L, respectively. Specifically, the first opening area 102L is located behind the upper stage of the display window 31L, the second opening area 103L is located behind the middle stage of the display window 31L, and the third opening area 104L is the display window 31L. Located behind the lower tier. In addition, the opening front of the first opening region 102L is slightly upward, and the opening front of the third opening region 104L is slightly downward. Therefore, the side surface of the base 101L has an arc shape that swells toward the display panel 30 side.

  In each of the opening regions 102L, 103L, and 104L, four backlights 105 made of LEDs are disposed so as to stand up frontward. Two backlights 105 in each of the opening regions 102L, 103L, and 104L are arranged in two upper and lower rows with a predetermined interval, and the backlights 105 in each row are horizontal with a predetermined interval. Are lined up like That is, the left backlight device 100L includes a first line L1 that is an upper row of the first opening region 102L, a second line L2 that is a lower row, and a third line that is a row above the second opening region 103L. L3 and the fourth line L4, which is the lower row, the fifth line L5, which is the upper row of the third opening region 104L, and the sixth line L6, which is the lower row, total 6 in the vertical direction across the partition wall. There will be a line of backlight 105 in the column. The middle backlight device 100M and the right backlight device 100R also have a total of six lines of the backlight 105. As described above, the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R are viewed in the vertical direction. Since they are arranged at the same position, the lines L1 to L6 of the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R are located on the same line. That is, the line L1 is a line that horizontally connects a total of six backlights 105 arranged in a row above the first opening regions 102L, 102M, and 102R of the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R. Become. The same applies to the other lines L2 to L6. Each backlight 105 is controlled for each of the lines L1 to L6. Accordingly, the backlight 105 is turned on and off for each of the lines L1 to L6.

When the backlights 105 on the lines L1 to L6 are turned on, different positions of the reel tapes of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are illuminated in red from the rear. As described above, each of the bases 101L, 101M, and 101R is divided into three opening regions 102 to 104 by the partition walls. Accordingly, when the backlight 105 on the first line L1 and the second line L2 is turned on, only the inner surface of the reel tape near the position corresponding to the upper stage of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R is illuminated, and the display window The inner surface of the reel tape near the positions corresponding to the middle and lower stages of 31L, 31M, and 31R is not illuminated. This is the same when the backlight 105 on the other lines L3 to L6 is turned on. As described above, since the reel tape is made of a material that can transmit the irradiated light to some extent, when the reel tape is illuminated from the rear by the backlight 105, the light transmitted through the reel tape is displayed. It is visually recognized by the player through the windows 31L, 31M, 31R. Thereby, it is possible to make the player visually recognize that the outer surface of the reel tape of the portion irradiated with the light is red, and the pattern attached to the portion of the reel tape irradiated with the light Can be emphasized more than the pattern attached to other parts. For example, when the backlight 105 on the line L1 and the line L2 is turned on, the reel tape near the position corresponding to the upper stage of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R turns red, and corresponds to the upper stage of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R. The pattern attached to the reel tape near the selected position can be emphasized. Further, when the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are rotating, the pattern attached to the reel tape passing in front of the lit backlight 105 is emphasized. Note that the backlights 105 of the backlight devices 100L, 100M, and 100R are turned on in a predetermined pattern when synchronization fluctuation described later is performed, and are basically turned off when the synchronization fluctuation is not performed. As a light source for illuminating a picture attached to the reel tape of each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R while the synchronous fluctuation is not performed, a front light (not shown) is on the rear side of the front door 12 and the display windows 31L, 31M, It is disposed above 31R. Also the backlight device 100L, 100M, instead of the backlight 105 of the 100R, for example, by using a liquid crystal device as a light source, it is also Rukoto to emphasize this in light of the pattern that is attached to reel tape from the rear side .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display panel 30 is connected to each display window 31L, 31M, 31R, and three combined lines in total, 3 in parallel in the horizontal direction and 2 in the diagonal direction. Is attached. Of course, the maximum number of combined lines may be 6 or more, or less than 5, and the maximum number of combined lines may be changed according to a predetermined condition. Corresponding to these combination lines, effective line display sections 32, 33, and 34 are provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R. The first effective line display unit 32 is notified by lighting or the like when the central horizontal line (center line) of the combination lines is activated. When the upper and lower horizontal lines (upper line and lower line) of the combination lines are activated, the second effective line display unit 33 is displayed and notified by lighting or the like. The third effective line display unit 34 is notified by lighting or the like when a pair of diagonal lines (downward right line and upward right line) of the combination lines is activated. A winning is awarded when the pattern is stopped in a predetermined combination on the activated combination line, that is, the activated line, and a predetermined medal payout process, a transition process to a specific game, and the like are executed.

Next, the pattern attached to each reel 42L, 42M, 42R will be described.
FIG. 11 shows a pattern arrangement drawn on a reel tape wound around each of the left reel 42L, the middle reel 42M, and the right reel 42R. As shown in the figure, each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is provided with 21 patterns in a row. Although numbers 1 to 21 are assigned to the respective reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, these are given for convenience of explanation, and are not actually attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R. . However, in the following description, the number is used for explanation.

  As the designs, there are a “7” design (for example, the 20th reel reel tape) and a “youth” design (for example the 19th reel tape) as the first special design for shifting to the big bonus game. In addition, there is a “BAR” pattern (for example, the 14th reel tape on the left) as the second special pattern for shifting to the regular bonus game. Further, there is a “replay” pattern (for example, the 11th reel reel tape) as a third special pattern for shifting to the replay game. Also, a “watermelon” design (for example, the 9th left reel tape), a “bell” design (for example, the 8th left reel tape), a “cherry” design (for example, the 9th) , Left reel tape 4th). In the reel tapes wound around the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, the number and arrangement order of various patterns are completely different.

  Here, the payout number relating to each picture when winning is explained. Regarding the small role design, when the “Watermelon” design is aligned with the left, middle, and right on the active line, 15 medals are paid out. When the “Bell” design is aligned with the left, middle, and right on the effective line Pays out 8 medals, and when the “cherry” pattern on the left reel 42L stops on the active line, 2 medals are paid out. That is, the “cherry” pattern on the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R is irrelevant to the medal payout. In addition, for the “cherry” design, medals are paid out regardless of the combination with the other design, so that the multiple effective lines of the left reel 42L overlap (specifically, the upper or lower level) with “ When the “cherry” pattern is stopped, medals are paid out by multiplying the number of overlapping active lines. As a result, in this embodiment, four medals are paid out.

  As for other designs, if the “7” design or “youth” design, which is a combination of the first special design (big bonus design), is aligned with the left, middle and right on the active line with the same design 15 medals are also paid out when the “BAR” pattern, which is a combination of 15 medal payouts and the second special pattern (regular bonus pattern), is aligned with the left, middle and right on the active line. In the present embodiment, for example, a case where a “7” pattern and a “cherry” pattern are simultaneously established may occur. In such a case, 15 medals are paid out. This is because the upper limit number for one medal payout is set to 15.

  Further, when the “replay” pattern that is the combination of the third special pattern is aligned with the left, middle, and right on the active line, the medal payout is not performed. In other cases, that is, when the “cherry” pattern of the left reel 42L does not stop on the active line and the same pattern as the left, middle, and right is not aligned on the active line, no medal payout is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a start lever 71 is provided on the lower left side of the display panel 30. The start lever 71 is operated to start rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R all at once (not necessarily simultaneously). . The start lever 71 constitutes start operation means or start operation means operated to start rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, that is, to start variable display. The start lever 71 is a lever that is pushed by the hand when the player starts the game, and automatically returns to the original position after the hand is released. When the start lever 71 is operated while a medal is inserted, the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R start to rotate all at once.

  On the right side of the start lever 71, button-like stop buttons 72, 73, and 74 that are operated to individually stop the rotating reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are provided. The stop buttons 72, 73, and 74 are respectively disposed directly below the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R corresponding to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R to be stopped. The stop buttons 72, 73, 74 constitute stop operation means operated to stop variable display based on the rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, 42R. Each of the stop buttons 72, 73, 74 can be stopped when the reels 42L, 42M, 42R are rotated at a constant speed, and a stop operation is performed by lighting a lamp (not shown) during such a state. It is notified that this is possible, and is turned off when the rotation stops.

  On the lower right side of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R, there is provided a medal slot 75 for inserting a medal as an investment value. The medal slot 75 constitutes an input means for inputting the investment value. If attention is paid to the point that the medal insertion slot 75 is accompanied by an operation of directly inserting a medal by the player, it can be said that the medal insertion slot 75 constitutes a direct input means for directly inputting the investment value.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 12, the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 75 is guided to either the storage passage 81 or the discharge passage 82 by the selector 83 provided on the back surface of the front door 12. It is burned. The selector 83 is provided with a medal passage switching member 84 to be described later, so that the medal passage direction is switched between the discharge passage 82 side and the storage passage 81 side according to the state of the medal passage switching member 84. It has become. The medal guided to the storage passage 81 is guided to the hopper device 91 housed in the housing 11. On the other hand, the medal guided to the discharge passage 82 is guided to the medal tray 18 from the medal discharge port 17 provided in the lower front portion of the front door 12 and returned to the player.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the selector 83. The two-dot chain line in the figure indicates the medal passage route for easy understanding. The selector 83 is formed with a guide passage 85 for guiding medals inserted from the medal insertion port 75 to the storage passage 81. The guide passage 85 is formed in a curved line that draws an arc from the upper end to the lower right in the drawing so that medals can pass in one row. More specifically, the selector body constituting the selector 83 is provided with a ridge 85a protruding toward the front side of the figure, and a guide passage 85 is formed along the ridge 85a. Thereby, the medal that has reached the guide passage 85 flows in the downstream direction so as to roll on the ridge 85a.

  The medal passage switching member 84 includes a passage switching piece 84a that is provided upstream of the guide passage 85 and can be moved in and out of the guide passage 85, and a solenoid (not shown) for operating the passage switching piece 84a. doing. When the solenoid is not excited, the passage switching piece 84a protrudes into the guide passage 85, and the flow of medals to the storage passage 81 is obstructed. As a result, the medal falls downward so as to get over the protrusion 85 a and is guided to the discharge passage 82. Further, the passage switching piece 84a is sunk outside the guide passage 85 when the solenoid is excited. Thereby, the medal flows along the guide passage 85 and is guided to the storage passage 81.

  A first inserted medal detection sensor 86 for detecting the passage of medals and a second inserted medal detection sensor 87 are arranged close to each other on the downstream side of the passage switching piece 84a so as to be arranged upstream and downstream of the guide passage 85. (At least one time is set to a close state where the same medal is detected at the same time). When the solenoid of the medal path switching member 84 is not energized, the medal falls downward from the middle of the guide path 84, so that the inserted medal detection sensors 86 and 87 do not detect the passage of the medal. On the other hand, at the time of solenoid excitation of the medal path switching member 84, the passage of medals is sequentially detected by the inserted medal detection sensors 86 and 87.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the hopper device 91 as a payout means for giving a medal to a player includes a storage tank 92 for storing the medal and a payout device 93 for paying out the medal to the player. Yes. The payout device 93 rotates a medal payout rotating plate (not shown) to discharge the medal to the opening 94 provided in the central right part of the discharge passage 82 and to the medal tray 18 through the discharge passage 82. To come out. Further, a reserve tank 95 is provided on the right side of the hopper device 91 in order to avoid storing a predetermined amount or more of medals in the storage tank 92. A guide plate 96 for discharging medals from the storage tank 92 to the reserve tank 95 is provided inside the storage tank 92 of the hopper device 91. Therefore, when medals are stored more than the height at which the guide plate 96 is provided, the medals are stored in the reserve tank 95.

  A button-like return switch 76 is provided below the medal slot 75 (see FIG. 1). The return switch 76 is a switch that is pressed when a medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 75 is jammed in the selector 83. When this switch is pressed, the selector 83 is mechanically operated to operate the selector 83. The medals packed in 83 are returned from the medal discharge port 17.

  A power supply box 121 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 91 inside the housing 11 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The power supply box 121 includes a power switch 122, a reset switch 123, a setting key insertion hole 124, and the like. The power switch 122 is a start switch for supplying power to each unit including the main controller 131.

  The reset switch 123 is a switch for resetting various states of the slot machine 10. This slot machine 10 has a backup function for various data, and even if a power failure occurs, it retains the state at the time of the power failure and returns to the state at the time of the power failure at the time of recovery from power failure (power recovery). It can be done. Therefore, for example, when the power supply is shut down by a normal procedure, such as when the game hall is closed, the state before the power shut-off is stored, but if the power switch 122 is turned on while pressing the reset switch 123, the backup data is reset. It has become so. If the reset switch 123 is pressed while the power switch 122 is on, the error state is reset.

  The setting key insertion hole 124 is used by a hole manager or the like to adjust the appearance of medals. That is, the setting state (winning probability setting process) of the slot machine 10 can be changed from “setting 1” to “setting 6” by operating the hole manager or the like by inserting the setting key into the setting key insertion hole 124. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a main control device 131 is attached to the back plate 11 c of the housing 11 above the reel unit 41. The main control device 131 includes a CPU that controls the main control, a ROM that stores a game program, a RAM that temporarily stores necessary data according to the progress of the game, a port that communicates with various devices, time counting and synchronization. A main board including a clock circuit and the like used in the case of planning is provided, and the main board is accommodated in a board box as an encapsulating means made of a transparent resin material or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the lower left side of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R, there is provided a button-like first credit insertion switch 77 for inserting three credited virtual medals as investment values at a time. ing. Further, on the left side of the first credit insertion switch 77, a second credit insertion switch 78 and a third credit insertion switch 79 are provided as button switches smaller than the switch 77. The second credit insertion switch 78 is for inserting two credited virtual medals at a time, and the third credit insertion switch 79 is for inserting one virtual medal. Each of the credit insertion switches 77 to 79, together with the medal insertion slot 75, constitutes an input means for inputting an investment value. Further, if the medal insertion slot 75 is accompanied by an operation of directly inserting a medal by the player, each credit insertion switch 77 to 79 is only accompanied by an operation of inserting a virtual medal based on the storage memory. It can also be said that it constitutes an indirect input means for indirectly inputting the investment value.

  The first credit insertion switch 77 has a built-in lamp as a light emitting member (not shown) to urge that the maximum number of medals that can be inserted per game (three) has not been reached. The lamp is turned on when the switch operation of the first credit insertion switch 77 is valid and prompts the operation of the switch 77. However, when there is no credited virtual medal or three medals have already been inserted. It is turned off under the circumstances. Here, instead of the above-described lighting, the player may make it easier to understand the prompt for medal insertion by blinking.

  A button-like changeover switch 80 is provided on the left side of the start lever 71. The change-over switch 80 is configured to be a toggle type that is turned on when pressed once, turned off when pressed again, and turned on / off every time the pressing operation is performed. The changeover switch 80 is operated to change the handling format of inserted medals inserted into the medal slot 75 more than necessary, or acquired medals returned to the player as a result of a predetermined game.

  When the change-over switch 80 is in the ON state, the “credit mode” is set so that surplus inserted medals up to a predetermined maximum value (for example, 50 medals) and winning medals are stored and stored as credit medals. " When the changeover switch 80 is in the OFF state, the “direct mode” is set so that surplus inserted medals and winning medals are paid out as actual medals. If there is a credit medal when the credit mode is switched to the direct mode, the corresponding credit medal is paid out as an actual medal. Thus, the player can execute the game in a format according to his / her preference by switching between the credit mode and the direct mode. The changeover switch 80 constitutes a changeover operation means for changing over the input value and game value handling formats. Further, if paying attention to the function of paying out a credited virtual medal as an actual medal, it can be said that the changeover switch 80 constitutes a settlement operation means for actually paying out the stored game value. In addition to being configured to switch between the “credit mode” and the “direct mode” by operating the changeover switch 80, the virtual medal stored and stored is paid out when the changeover switch 80 is operated by always setting the “credit mode”. It may be made to function as only a settlement switch.

  Below the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R of the display panel 30, a remaining number display unit 35 that displays the number of medals that are activated and stored in the credit mode, and a special gaming state such as a big bonus or a regular bonus. For example, a game number display unit 36 for displaying the number of remaining games and an acquired number display unit 37 for displaying the number of acquired medals are provided. Although these display parts 35-37 are comprised by the 7 segment display, it is naturally possible to substitute by a liquid crystal display etc. FIG.

  Here, a procedure for betting medals will be described. In both the direct mode and the credit mode, a bet is placed when a medal is inserted from the medal slot 75 at the start of the game.

  That is, when the first medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 75, the first effective line display section 32 is turned on, and the corresponding center line becomes the effective line, and the second medal is the medal insertion slot. When the number 75 is inserted, the second effective line display section 33 is turned on, and a total of three combination lines including an upper line and a lower line corresponding to the second effective line display section 33 become effective lines, respectively, and the third medal is a medal. When it is inserted into the insertion port 75, the third effective line display unit 34 is further turned on, and a total of five combination lines including a pair of diagonal lines corresponding thereto become effective lines.

  When four or more medals are inserted into the medal slot 75, the surplus medals exceeding three are switched to the discharge passage 82 by the selector 83 if the current mode is the direct mode. It is returned from the outlet 17 to the medal tray 18. On the other hand, in the credit mode, it is stored inside the slot machine, and the number of stored sheets is displayed on the remaining number display unit 35. An upper limit number is determined for the number of stored sheets (for example, 50), and when a medal exceeding the number is inserted, it is returned from the medal discharge port 17 to the medal tray 18.

  In addition, when a game is played in the credit mode and the number of stored items is displayed on the remaining number display unit 35, the virtual number is displayed even when any of the first to third credit insertion switches 77 to 79 is pressed. A medal is inserted and a bet is placed.

  When the third credit insertion switch 79 is pressed, the numerical value displayed on the remaining number display section 35 is decremented by one as a virtual medal is inserted, and the first effective line display section 32 is displayed. Illuminates and the center line becomes the active line. When the second credit insertion switch 78 is pressed, two numerical values displayed on the remaining number display unit 35 are decremented as two virtual medals are inserted, and the first valid line display unit 32 and The second effective line display section 33 is lit and a total of three combination lines become effective lines. When the first credit insertion switch 77 is pressed, three numerical values displayed on the remaining number display unit 35 are decremented as three virtual medals are inserted, and all the effective line display units 32 to 32 are decremented. 34 lights up and a total of five combination lines become effective lines.

  In addition, when the virtual medal to be inserted when any of the first to third credit insertion switches 77 to 79 is pressed is not stored, for example, when the display of the remaining number display unit 35 is 2, the first For example, when the credit insertion switch 77 is pressed, all the values in the remaining number display section 35 are decremented to 0, and a bet is made for the amount of virtual medals that can be inserted.

  On the upper part of the front door 12, there are an upper lamp 13 that lights up or flashes as the game progresses, and a pair of left and right sounds that make various sound effects as the game progresses and inform the player of the game state Speaker 14 and an auxiliary display unit 15 for providing the player with various information for improving the effect of presentation such as video. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary display unit 15 is configured by a liquid crystal display device (liquid crystal panel) for the purpose of diversifying display contents and increasing the display effect. However, other display devices such as a dot matrix display may be used. May be used. The auxiliary display part 15 is for performing the production | presentation by a display with progress of a game. And since the game by each reel 42L, 42M, 42R can be considered to be based on a main display part, it is called the auxiliary display part in this embodiment. The display of the auxiliary display unit 15 has a rectangular shape having the same area as the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R of the display panel 30, and an upper lamp 13, a speaker 14, and an auxiliary display unit are provided on the back of the auxiliary display unit 15. Is provided with a display control device 111. The positions and numbers of the upper lamp 13 and the speakers 14 are not limited to those described above.

  A lower plate 16 on which a model name, a character related to a game, and the like are displayed is mounted above the medal tray 18. In addition, an ashtray 19 that can be reversed to the lower side on the front side is provided on the left side of the medal tray 18.

  The slot machine described above is a so-called one-sheet betting model, but there are other slot machines dedicated to the so-called three-sheet betting such as the model shown in the front view of FIG. In this slot machine, although the above-mentioned combination line is attached, the effective line display section is not provided unlike the slot machine of FIG. Instead, in this part (the left side of the display window 31L), a pattern 52a such as a character is drawn in the upper half space, and the characters "left", "middle", and "right" are written in the lower half space. Instruction display portions 51L, 51M, and 51R that are the three display areas are provided. The instruction display portions 51L, 51M, and 51R are displays for giving instructions to the player to align the winning combination, and are brightened in a predetermined order to guide the pressing order of the stop buttons 72, 73, and 74. It is displayed. Further, a picture 52b for improving the player's interest is drawn in the area on the right side of the display window 31R, and this picture is also displayed brightly at a predetermined timing during the game. Since the slot machine 10 is a model dedicated to three bets, the second credit insertion switch 78 and the third credit insertion switch 79 shown in FIG. 1 and the like are not provided, and only the first credit insertion switch 77 is provided. Is provided.

  The reels 42L, 42M, and 42R start to rotate only when three actual medals are inserted or when three credited virtual medals are inserted. Of course, even if it is a model dedicated to three bets, as with the case of inserting three medals in a normal slot machine, a total of five combination lines including a central line, an upper line, a lower line, and a pair of diagonal lines. Are all active lines. Regarding other points, there is no significant difference between the normal slot machine and the three-wager dedicated slot machine.

  As described above, in the slot machine dedicated to three bets, the second credit insertion switch and the third credit insertion switch are not provided on the exterior, but the internal structure is compatible with each switch. Therefore, a switch can be provided by replacing the operation panel 59 or partially modifying it as necessary.

This slot machine can further enhance the interest of the game by adding a new production effect to the gaming machine such as the slot machine 10 having the basic structure as described in FIG. 1 and FIG. It has become.
In other words, this slot machine has an electrical connection between the effector performing the effect operation and the game machine main body side (the game machine main body part excluding the effector and actually means the frame part described later). It is possible to move the director (hereinafter referred to as “independent director”) independently without any connection, and to control the light emission and movement of the accessories of the independent director, and eliminate the unsightly wiring. This eliminates the restriction of the movement of the independent effect body with a character or the like so that the independent effect body can be moved as if it floats in the visual recognition area. If the wiring is eliminated, naturally, the wiring will not be broken or broken due to repeated bending stress of bending and stretching, or contact and rubbing with other parts.
In the following, the structure of a production unit, which is a characteristic part of the slot machine, will be described in detail.

14 to 17 show perspective views of the rendering unit 500 attached to the front of the gaming machine. In addition, a liquid crystal display device and other accessories serving as the auxiliary display device 15 are attached to the effect body unit 500 from the rear side, and then attached to the front door 12 of the gaming machine. However, the liquid crystal display device and the like are omitted.
This director unit 500 includes a liquid crystal display device in front of the gaming machine, a main body 510 attached so as to cover the screen, and an independent director 550 that performs a staging operation on the main body.

  The main body 510 of the director body unit 500 has a certain gap between the guide plate and the frame body 512 having an opening in the center and forming the outer shape of the director body, and the guide plate 514 attached to the opening of the frame body. A cover plate 516 that is attached to the frame body at an interval so as to form a space, and a switching device 518 for sliding the guide plate relative to the frame body are provided.

The guide plate 514 is a substantially rectangular flat plate made of a colorless and transparent resin having a size that is slightly larger than the rectangular screen of the liquid crystal display device and a thickness of about 5 mm. The guide plate 514 has a slight gap from the screen of the liquid crystal display device. It is attached to the opening part of the frame so that it can be covered. Three rail grooves 522 (522a, 522b, 522c) (guide portions) traversing left and right are formed on the back surface of the surface facing the screen of the liquid crystal display device. The rail groove 522 serves as a guide for moving an independent effect body 550 described later along the rail groove 522, and the width and depth thereof are both about 3 mm. The upper, middle, and lower three rail grooves 522 are arranged in parallel (horizontally) at 1 cm intervals at the left and right ends without crossing each other, while the upper rail groove 522a is directed upwards at the center. The middle rail groove 522b extends in a straight line, and the lower rail groove 522c is curved downward. The number of rail grooves 522 and the paths are not limited to the above, and can be formed on any path where the independent director 550 is desired to move. For example, four or more rail grooves can be formed, or the rail groove paths can be formed. It is also possible to cross.
Also, on the lower side of the right side of the guide plate 514, concave and convex teeth 515 that mesh with a gear 519 of a switching device 518 described later in a rack-pinion manner are formed. The independent effect body 550 can selectively follow one of these rail grooves 522 (522a, 522b, 522c) according to the type of effect by the switching operation by the switching device 518.

The cover plate 516 is a colorless and transparent glass rectangular flat plate that is slightly smaller than the size of the frame, and the front surface of the frame 512 is spaced so that a space with a width of about 1 cm is formed between the cover plate 516 and the guide plate. It is attached to the side, and the front surface of the rendering unit 500 is configured by attaching a cover plate to the frame.
When the production unit 500 is attached to the front door of the gaming machine 10 from the back side, only the screen portion of the liquid crystal display device is exposed from the window of the front panel (the design panel constituting the upper front of the front door) and the other portions are the front side. Since it is hidden behind the picture on the panel, the switching device 518, which will be described later, and the independent effector 550 when in the standby position are not visible to the player.

The frame 512 is a colored rectangular frame in which an opening having the same size as the screen is formed so that a rectangular screen of the liquid crystal display device can be seen. The bottom three sides are wide and the top side is narrow. Further, insertion grooves (not shown) are formed in the vertical direction on the left and right sides of the frame body 512 so as to cover the openings so that the guide plate 514 can be smoothly slid up and down. Has been. In addition, one rail groove 522 ′ extending in the width direction (horizontal direction) is engraved in the front center portion of the left and right sides of the frame 512. The rail groove 522 ′ is moved up and down the guide plate 514 using the switching device 518 described below, so that the rail groove 522 ′ is in series with any one of the three rail grooves 522 (522a, 522b, 522c) of the guide plate. It is connected smoothly and without any step to form a single rail groove.
Further, a connection terminal block 524 for supplying power and transmitting a command signal to an independent rendering body 550 described later is provided near the left end of the rail groove 522 ′ on the left side of the frame 512.

  A switching device 518 shown in an enlarged perspective view in FIG. 17 includes a switching motor 520 that is driven by the supply of electric power from the control device, a gear 519 attached to the shaft of the switching motor, and the like, and a frame 512. The gear 519 engaged with the concave and convex teeth 515 on the lower right side of the guide plate 514 is rotated to slide the guide plate upward within a range of 2 cm from the state shown in the figure. Be able to. Therefore, when the guide plate 514 is lowered to the bottom, the rail grooves 522 ′ formed on the left and right sides of the frame body 512 are connected to the upper rail groove 522a of the guide plate, and when the guide plate is raised 1 cm, the frame The rail grooves formed on the left and right sides of the body are connected to the middle rail groove 522b of the guide plate, and are formed on the left and right sides of the frame when the guide plate is raised to the top (up 2 cm). The rail groove is connected to the lower rail groove 522c of the guide plate to form one rail groove.

FIG. 18A shows a perspective view of the independent effect body 550 viewed from the bottom surface side, and FIG. 18B shows a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the independent effect body. This independent effect body 550 is a so-called effect object shaped like a vehicle having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a height of about 1 cm, a total length of about 5 cm, and a total width of about 2 cm. Main wheels 552 are attached in the same direction. The top surface 554 of the independent effect body 550 is a flat plate parallel to the bottom surface 556, on which a character design or the like is drawn (not shown). Further, the bottom surface 556 of the independent effector 550 is provided with protrusions 558 that extend downward at a length of about 4 mm and are arranged in two places at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the independent effector, as shown in FIG. As described above, the projecting portions 558 are dropped into the rail groove 522 of the guide plate and the rail groove 522 ′ of the frame body, so that the independent effect body moves along the rail groove.
Here, the independent director 550 rotates in a space formed between the guide plate 514 and the cover plate 516 while its main wheel 552 is in contact with the guide plate 514, and its top surface 554 is the cover plate 516. Can slide smoothly along the rail grooves 522 and 522 ′ while being sandwiched between the two plates. Therefore, the tip of the protrusion 558 has a shape like a sphere, and the frictional resistance with the rail grooves 522 and 522 ′ is minimized. Note it may be like the wheel to rotate the protrusion 558 in the groove direction in the rail groove 522, 522 '. Further on the top surface 554 of the independent effect body 550 provided driven pulley wheel cover plate 516 and the top Metropolitan is preferred to Rukoto so as not to directly contact (not shown).

  18, between the top surface 554 and the bottom surface 556 of the independent effector 550, there is a motor 562 (effect execution unit) for rotating the main wheel 552 and a rechargeable battery 564 (which supplies power to the motor). Charging unit), a central processing unit 566 (production control unit) including a storage device for controlling the production operation such as rotation of the motor, and the like, and this independent production body is provided on the left side of the frame 512. When it reaches the left end position of the rail groove 522 ′ (this position is referred to as “standby position”), it contacts the contact point of the connection terminal block 524 to electrically connect the gaming machine main body side and the independent effector. A connection terminal 572 (power supply unit and command signal transmission unit) is provided. That is, as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 20, the connection terminal block 524 of the frame 512 and the connection terminal 572 of the independent effector 550 are connected to the ground line (ground line) when the independent effector moves to the standby position. The electrical connection is made when the three contacts of the plus line and the command signal line come into contact with each other.

  Then, as shown in the circuit diagram of the rendering unit in FIG. 21, when the independent rendering body 550 is in the standby position, its connection terminal 572 contacts the connection terminal block 524 on the gaming machine body side, and the grounding on the gaming machine body side A circuit is formed by electrically connecting the wire and the plus wire to the rechargeable battery 564 of the independent effector, whereby the rechargeable battery is charged. When the independent production body 550 is in the standby position, the ground line and the command signal line on the gaming machine main body side are electrically connected to the central processing unit 566 of the independent production body to form a circuit. A command signal for controlling the rotation of the motor 562 of the independent effector is transmitted to the central processing unit and temporarily stored. This command signal is program data in which the rotation speed and rotation direction of the motor 562 are associated with time. Under the control of the central processing unit 566, the independent effect body 550 is transmitted to the rail grooves 522 and 522 at a predetermined timing and a predetermined speed. It is possible to make a performance action by moving forward or backward along '.

  On the gaming machine main body side, a power supply board 582 and a sub control board 584 connected to the power supply board and receiving power supply are provided, and wiring extending from the sub control board is connected to the connection terminal block 524 of the frame 512. . The sub-control board 584 is provided with a sensor 586 for judging whether or not the connection terminal 572 of the independent effector 550 is in contact with the connection terminal block 524 and is in an energized state. Is in the standby position, and power is supplied to the rechargeable battery 564 of the independent effector and a command signal is transmitted only when the gaming machine main body side and the independent effector are in electrical contact.

  Note that various control patterns for moving the independent rendering body 550 in a desired operation are preset and stored in the storage device of the central processing unit 566, and transmitted to the central processing unit of the independent rendering body through the command signal line. The command signal may be a simple trigger signal for selecting any one of the control patterns preset. In this case, the central processing unit 566 that has received the trigger signal calls a predetermined control pattern from the storage device of the central processing unit 566 as a trigger, and rotates the main wheel 552 according to the control pattern to the independent effector 550. A production operation will be performed.

  Although detailed explanation is omitted, as another effect execution unit, a light source such as an LED is provided on the top surface 554 of the independent effector 550, or the entire top surface part of the independent effector or the movable member attached to the independent effector. Other motors that rotate or vibrate small items are provided, and, similar to the control of the motor 562, a command signal is transmitted from the gaming machine body side to the central processing unit when the independent director is at the standby position. The light source can be turned on and blinking at a predetermined timing, or another motor can be rotated or vibrated in a predetermined direction by the control based on this. Of course, the command signal can be used as a simple trigger signal by presetting the blinking pattern of the light source and the control pattern of another motor.

According to the production body unit 500 configured as described above, the rechargeable battery 564 is always charged when the independent production body 550 is in the standby position, and the independent production body is operated in production such as reach action. When trying to do so, after transmitting the command signal to the central processing unit 566 of the independent effector through the command signal line and causing the storage device to perform the desired effect operation, the control pattern is temporarily stored, By driving the motor 562 of the independent director based on the control pattern, the independent director leaves the standby position and starts independent driving.
Here, the control of the switching device 518 provided on the frame 512 is performed before the start of the independent effector 550 and the guide plate 514 is slid in the vertical direction so that the upper, middle, and lower tiers that become the path on which the independent effector travels. One of the rail grooves 522 (522a, 522b, 522c) is selected. The independent director 550 crosses the guide plate 514 from the standby position on the left side of the frame 512 and travels to the right side of the frame, and then reciprocates again across the guide plate and back to the standby position on the left side of the frame. However, the forward path and the return path may follow the same route through the same rail groove 522, or the guide plate is slid in either the vertical direction by the switching device 518 when the independent director is at the right position of the frame. it is to, may be follow different paths through different rail groove in the forward and reverse passes.

As described above, according to the gaming machine 10 using the rendering unit 500 according to the present embodiment, the independent rendering body 550 such as a character can be operated in a desired manner without wiring connection to the gaming machine main body side. Can be increased. Incidentally independent director member 550 may be moved in any position as long as the visual area of the surface of the gaming machine 10, but to move in front of the screen of the liquid crystal display device as in this embodiment, for example, displayed on the screen By operating the independent director in association with the animation, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game by making the most of its features.

In the above, the independent director 550 moves so as to follow the rail groove 522 formed in the guide plate 514. However, the independent director itself has a steering function in order to further diversify the movement paths of the independent director. Rukoto can also be as that was.
In this case, by forming the or rail groove 522 'to provide a switching device 518 to the frame 512, Rukoto to form irregularities teeth 515 on the guide plate 514 mesh with the gear 519 of the rail groove 522 and the switching device is not required, The guide plate need not be slidable up and down. That is, the guide plate 514 and the cover plate 516 are both fixed to the frame body 512 with a gap of about 1 cm, and the independent effector 550 can freely move within a predetermined range within the gap. ing.

  The perspective view which looked at the production body unit 500 which gave the steering function to the independent production body in FIG. 22 from the front side was shown. The predetermined range in which the independent performance body 550 can travel is restricted by the frame body 512, and can travel freely to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the frame body except for the left side portion of the frame body. In the left side portion, when the independent effector travels to the left, the range in which the independent performance body can travel so as to be forcibly guided to the connection terminal block 524 provided in the central portion of the left side of the frame is narrowed toward the connection terminal block. That is, a step 562 that cannot be exceeded by the main wheel 552 of the independent effector 550 is formed in a tapered shape toward the connection terminal block 524 at the left side portion of the frame. Therefore, when the independent effector 550 travels to the left end of the left side of the frame 512, the independent effector is naturally guided to the standby position, and the connection terminal 572 is electrically connected to the connection terminal block 524. Become. The independent performance body 550 in the standby position can be placed in a stable state so that the connection terminal does not come off the connection terminal block due to the influence of vibration or the like.

Here, what causes the independent effector to travel along the guide groove is to control only the forward and backward movement of the independent effector 550 by driving the main wheel 552 by controlling one motor 562. However, an independent director with a steering function is provided with independent motors for the left and right front wheels (or rear wheels) of the main wheel, and the independent director is steered by controlling the rotation of the two motors. Control is possible. Note Besides providing two motors 552, the steering mechanism is provided independently directing member 550 may be control the steering angle. Further, the independent effect body 550 is not provided with a projection like the above.

And in this effect body unit 500, when the independent effect body 550 is in the standby position, the charging to the rechargeable battery 562 and the central processing are performed in the same manner as that for causing the independent effect body to travel along the guide groove. A command signal is transmitted to the device 566. This command signal associates the rotational speed and direction of each motor 562 for the left and right wheels with time and may be temporarily stored in the central processing unit 566 or preset for each motor for the left and right wheels. The trigger signal for calling the desired control pattern (the rotation speed and the rotation direction associated with time) may be the same as described above.
Further, the independent effect body 550 may be provided with a light source such as an LED, or the top surface of the independent effect body itself or another motor that rotates or vibrates the movable accessory provided on the independent effect body may be further enhanced. Preference is also given to the above.

  According to the effect body unit 500, the independent effect body 550 sandwiched between the guide plate 514 and the cover plate 516 can be freely driven according to the control pattern without using the rail groove 522. By running this along various routes, it is possible to give a new stage effect that has never been seen before and to further enhance the interest of the game.

  In addition, each structure of a production | presentation body unit is not restricted to what was mentioned above, Of course, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. For example, the independent director 550 is not provided with a self-propelled mechanism, is fixed to the center of the cover plate 516, and the frame 512 is separated from the independent director with the shoji opening so that the independent director can play the game. In a state where there is no electrical connection with the machine body side, a light source such as an LED as an effect execution unit can be turned on and blinked at a predetermined timing, or a movable accessory can be rotated or vibrated.

  Next, the main control board, the sub control board, and the like disposed in the control board storage box inside the slot machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main control board 1150 and the like of the slot machine 10, and FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the sub control board 584 and the like of the slot machine 10.

  The main control board 1150 performs the main control processing of the game, and is connected to the MPU 1151 as a one-chip microcomputer, which is an arithmetic device, and to various input / output means such as sensors and switches. A connected input / output port 1152 is mounted and constitutes the main control unit of the present invention.

  The MPU 1151 is a ROM 1153 storing a control program such as a coin detection program 1153a executed by the MPU 1151 and fixed value data, and various data for temporarily storing the control program stored in the ROM 1153. A RAM 1154 that is a memory and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are incorporated.

  The coin detection program 1153a recognizes that the coin is discharged based on the detection signal output from the coin detection sensor 1114c of the hopper device 91 when, for example, the changeover switch 80 is operated to start the coin discharge, It is configured to generate an eject command.

The RAM 1154 recognizes the number of coins recognized based on the detection signals output from the first inserted coin passage detection sensor 86 and the second inserted coin passage detection sensor 87 of the selector 83 when the storage switch 80 is set to the storage mode. In addition, a coin number storage area 1154a that electronically stores a predetermined number of coins acquired by winning a prize, for example, up to 50, and constitutes a coin number storage unit of the present invention is provided.
And the program of the flowchart shown by FIGS. 25-28 mentioned later is memorize | stored in ROM1153 as a part of control program.

  The input / output port 1152 includes a changeover switch 80, a start lever 71, stop buttons 72, 73, 74, a coin detection sensor 1114c, a first inserted coin passage detection sensor 86, a second inserted coin passage detection sensor 87, and an effective line display section. (1 to 3 bet lamps) 32, 33, 34, remaining number display section 35, game number display section 36, acquired number display section 37, sub-control board 584, external concentration terminal board 1167, and the like are connected.

  The sub control board 584 is provided separately from the main control board 1150 and receives a command transmitted from the main control board 1150 to perform auxiliary control processing other than games, and constitutes a sub control unit of the present invention. To do. The sub-control board 584 is turned on and blinking by the upper lamp 13 and output control of the notification sound from the speaker 14 and controls the display control board 1166 to display effects on the liquid crystal display (auxiliary display unit) 15. It is configured.

  The sub-control board 584 is connected to the MPU 1161 as a one-chip microcomputer as an arithmetic unit, and to various input / output means such as sensors and switches, and transmitted from the main control board 1150. An input / output port 1162 for receiving a command is mounted.

  The MPU 1161 includes a control program such as a discharge coin number determination program 1163a and a notification control program 1163b (which may include a function of a discharge coin number determination program) executed by the MPU 1161, a reference discharge coin number, a reference coin discharge notification time, A ROM 1163 storing fixed value data such as an upper lamp light emission table and a notification sound table, and various data such as the number of coins discharged (counted by a coin counter 1165 to be described later) when executing a control program stored in the ROM 1163. For the temporary storage of the count count), RAM 1164 having a discharge coin count storage area 1164a, various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, a data transmission / reception circuit, and the operation of the changeover switch 80. Based on coin removal From the start of coins to the end of coin discharge, based on the coin discharge command transmitted from the main control unit 1150, the number of coins to be discharged is counted, and the discharged coin number counter 1165 constituting the coin number counting unit, etc. Various counters are built in. The programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 29 to 33 are stored in the ROM 1163 as a part of the control program.

  The input / output port 1162 is connected to a light emission control controller 1121a, a notification sound output controller 1122a, a display control board 1166, an external concentration terminal board 1168, and the like. It is configured to be able to send and receive. The light emission control controller 1121a is configured to control light emission of the LED of the upper lamp 13 based on the light emission data for the upper lamp read from the light emission table for the upper lamp of the ROM 1163 by the MPU 1161, and forms illumination means together with the upper lamp 13 To do. The notification sound output controller 1122a is configured to output a notification sound from the speaker 14 based on the notification sound data read from the notification sound table of the ROM 1163 by the MPU 1161, and forms a notification sound output unit together with the speaker 14.

  The power supply board 1170 is provided in the power supply box 121. In addition to the main control board 1150, a power supply unit 1171 that supplies driving power to each electronic device of the slot machine 10 and a power failure monitoring that monitors the occurrence of power interruption Various circuits such as a circuit 1172 are provided. After the slot machine 10 is powered off, a backup voltage is supplied to the RAM 1154 from the power supply unit 1171 of the power supply board 1170.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 1172 powers down to the NMI terminal of the main control board 1150, the input / output port 1152, and the NMI terminal of the sub control board 584 when the power is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like (including the power cut off due to the power switch 122 being turned off). It is a circuit for outputting a signal. The power failure monitoring circuit 1172 monitors the DC stable voltage of 24 volts, which is the largest voltage output from the power supply board 1170, and determines that a power failure (power failure) has occurred when this voltage is less than 22 volts. It is configured to output a power failure signal. Based on the output of the power failure signal, the main control board 1150 is configured to recognize the occurrence of the power failure and to execute the process at the time of the power failure. The power failure signal of the power failure monitoring circuit 1172 may be input to the INT terminal instead of the NMI terminals of the main control board 1150 and the sub control board 584.

  In addition, the power supply board 1170 keeps the output of 5 volts, which is the drive voltage of the control system, to a normal value for a time sufficient for the execution of the power failure processing even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts becomes less than 22 volts. Configured to maintain. For example, in this embodiment, the drive power supply is output for 30 msec. Therefore, the main control board 1150 can normally execute the power failure process. Further, the power failure monitoring circuit 1172 may be provided not on the power supply board 1170 but on the main control board 1150, for example.

  Next, each process performed in the main control board 1150 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. The main control board 1150 includes a main process that starts when the power is turned on, a timer interrupt process that starts periodically (in this embodiment, at a cycle of 1.49 ms), and a power failure to the NMI terminal. An NMI interrupt process activated by the input of a signal is set. In the following description, for convenience, the NMI interrupt process and the timer interrupt process will be described, and then the main process will be described.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the NMI interrupt process. When the power is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 1172 and output to the MPU 1151 of the main control board 1150. The NMI interrupt process is immediately executed by the MPU 1151 that has received the power failure signal via the NMI terminal. As described above, when the main control board 1150 is configured to provide the INT terminal instead of the NMI terminal, the power failure signal of the power failure monitoring circuit 1172 is input to the INT terminal.

  In the NMI interrupt process, first, in step S101, the data of the used register provided in the MPU 1151 is saved to the stack area provided in the RAM 1154. Next, in step S102, a power failure flag is set in a predetermined work area provided in the RAM 1154. Thereafter, the data saved in the stack area in step S103 is returned to the use register mounted in the MPU 1151, and the processing of this routine is terminated. If the power failure flag can be set without destroying the data in the register used, the saving and restoring processing to the stack area can be omitted.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a timer interrupt process that is executed periodically (in this embodiment, every 1.490 ms) on the main control board 1150. In this timer interruption process, for example, an operation state reading process of the changeover switch 80, a monitoring process of various sensors such as the coin detection sensor 1114c of the hopper device 91 and the coin passage detection sensors 86 and 87 of the selector 83 are performed.

  First, in the register saving process shown in step S201, the values of all the registers used in the normal process (see FIG. 28) are saved in the stack area. In step S202, it is confirmed whether or not the power failure flag is turned on. If the power failure flag is turned on (Yes in step S202), the power failure has occurred as described in the NMI interruption process of FIG. Proceeding to step S203, a power failure process is executed.

  In the present embodiment, the power failure process in step S203 is performed immediately after the register saving process (step S201) in the timer interrupt process, and therefore can be executed without interrupting other interrupt processes. . Therefore, the power failure process is not executed by interrupting each process, such as during the transmission process of various commands or the reading process of the switch state (ON or OFF). Therefore, it is not necessary to create a power failure processing program that takes into account that power failure processing is executed. This simplifies the power failure processing program and reduces the program capacity.

  On the other hand, if the power failure flag is not turned on (No in step S202), no power failure has occurred, and therefore, the processing after step S204 is performed.

  In step S204, a watchdog timer clear process for initializing the value of the watchdog timer that monitors the occurrence of malfunction is performed. In step S205, an interrupt end declaration process for issuing an interrupt permission to the MPU 1151 itself is performed. In step S206, a rotating motor control process for rotating the rotating motor (stepping motor) of each rotating drum 11 housed in the housing 2 is performed. In step S207, switch state reading processing for reading on / off states of various switches is performed.

  In step S208, sensor monitoring processing is performed to read the state of various sensors and monitor whether the reading result is normal. In step S209, a timer subtraction process for subtracting the value of each counter or timer is performed. In step S210, IN / OUT counter processing is performed. In step S211, command output processing for transmitting a command to the sub control board 584 is performed.

  In step S212, a segment data setting process for setting the segment data displayed in the remaining number display unit 35, the game number display unit 36, and the acquired number display unit 37 is performed. In step S213, the segment data is displayed for each segment. Segment data display processing for displaying numbers, symbols and the like is performed by supplying the data to the units 26 to 28, respectively. In step S214, port output processing for outputting output data from the input / output port 1152 is performed.

  After execution of these processes, in step S215, the value of each register saved in the stack area is returned to the corresponding register, and in step S216, an interrupt that allows generation of the next timer interrupt is permitted. The permission process is performed and the timer interrupt process is terminated.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a startup process executed by the main control board 1150 when the power is turned on. When the power switch 122 is turned on and the slot machine 10 is turned on (including power-on due to recovery from a power failure), this process is executed. First, as initialization processing, a stack pointer value is set (step S301), an interrupt mode is set (step S302), and CTC / built-in register setting processing is performed (step S303).

  When the initialization process is completed, in step S304, it is determined whether or not a setting key is inserted in the setting key switch 13c. When the setting key switch 13c is turned on (Yes in step S304), the process proceeds to step S305 to execute a forced RAM clear process to clear all contents of the RAM 1154 to zero. Thereafter, a six-stage probability setting process is executed in step S306. In the 6-stage probability setting process, the winning probability of the game is switched to 6 stages, and the process proceeds to a normal process (see FIG. 28) for performing main control related to the game described later.

  On the other hand, if the setting key switch 13c is not turned on in step S304 (No in step S304), the process proceeds to step S307, and it is determined whether or not the setting value of the six-stage probability setting value is normal. Specifically, it is a normal set value in the range of 1 to 6, and it is determined whether it is not 0 or 7 or more. If the set value is normal (Yes in step S307), the process proceeds to step S308 to check whether the power recovery flag is set. When the power recovery flag is confirmed (Yes in step S308), the process proceeds to step S309, and it is confirmed whether or not the RAM determination value is normal. Specifically, the checksum value in the RAM 1154 is checked to check whether the checksum value including the RAM determination value is normal 0 or not. When the checksum value including the RAM determination value is 0 (Yes in step S309), it is determined that the data in the RAM 1154 is normal.

  If it is determined in step S309 that the RAM determination value is normal, the process proceeds to step S310, the stack pointer value stored in the backup area is written to the stack pointer of the MPU 1151, and the stack state is restored to the state before the power-off. Let Next, in step S311, a power recovery command that tells execution of power recovery processing is set. Thereafter, in step S312, the game state is stopped and automatic settlement setting processing is performed. Subsequently, in step S313, the switch state of the changeover switch 80 and the like is initialized. After the above processing is completed, the power failure flag is reset in step S314, and the processing returns to the address before turning off the power. Specifically, the process returns to the timer interrupt process, and the watchdog timer clear process (step S204) is executed.

  On the other hand, if No in any of steps S307 to S309, an abnormality such as destruction of data in the RAM 1154 has occurred, so the process proceeds to the processing after step S315 to perform the operation prohibition processing. . Specifically, in step S315, the next timer interrupt process is prohibited, and then in step S316, all output ports in the input / output port 1152 are cleared, and all the input ports connected to the input / output port 1152 are cleared. Control the actuator to the off state. In step S317, an error display is performed to notify the occurrence of a backup error, and an infinite loop is entered.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart of normal processing performed by the MPU 1151 of the main control board 1150 after the main processing after power-on is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This routine is a main control process of the slot machine 10 that is repeatedly performed by the MPU 1151 of the main control board 1150. When the setting key switch 13c is turned off after power-on (No in step S304), the address at the previous power-off time Return to. On the other hand, when the setting key switch 13c is turned on after the power is turned on (Yes in step S304), the forced RAM clear process (step S305) and the six-stage probability setting process (step S306) shown in FIG. 27 are performed. To step S401 of this routine.

  First, in step S401, an interrupt permission setting for permitting an interrupt is performed in this routine as an initialization process, and in step S402, a stop and automatic settlement setting process is performed as a gaming state, which is provided in the power supply box 121, for example. The state of the stop / presence switch and the automatic settlement presence / absence switch (not shown) are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1154, and then the process proceeds to a repetitive routine described below.

  In step S403, a RAM initialization process is performed, and a process of clearing an area used for one game in the RAM 1154 (one game area in the RAM 1154) is performed. In this step, for example, information on the error that has occurred, winning symbols (including losers), winning line, winning interval information such as the number of winning coins, random numbers used in the game, rotating drum 11 rotation information, etc. are cleared. Is done.

  When the initialization process of the RAM 1154 is performed, the process proceeds to step S404, and a starter ON waiting process for determining whether the start lever 71 is operated is performed. In this step, when the start lever 71 is not operated, the MPU 1151 waits without performing control processing. In the process of step S404, since the routine is on standby until the start lever 71 is operated, various processes are performed.

  For example, when a game is not played for a predetermined time because the start lever 71 is not operated as described above, a timer setting process for shifting to a demonstration performed on the liquid crystal display 15 is performed. If the game is a re-game, an automatic coin insertion process is performed (the number displayed on the remaining number display unit 35 is not changed). On the other hand, when the game is not replaying, a process of determining whether the coin is full based on a detection signal from a full sensor (not shown) provided beside the hopper device 91 is performed.

  After such processing, sensor monitoring processing is performed in the timer interrupt processing (step S208), and as described above, the coin detection sensor 1114c of the hopper device 91 and the first inserted coin passage detection sensor of the selector 83. 86, the second inserted coin passage detection sensor 87, the auxiliary tank sensor of the auxiliary tank 14a, and the like are monitored, and when an abnormality occurs in these sensors, a sensor error notification process for performing error notification is performed. Do.

  It is determined whether a sensor error has occurred or whether the changeover switch 80 has been operated after performing a predetermined sensor error notification process. When it is determined that the changeover switch 80 has been operated, a settlement discharge start command for starting coin discharge is generated, and the process proceeds to a stored coin discharge process to discharge the stored coin.

  In the stored coin discharge process performed by the MPU 1151, for example, the number of coins stored electronically in the coin number storage area 1154a of the RAM 1154 is read, and the read value is set to 1 based on the detection signal of the coin detection sensor 1114c of the hopper device 91. Subtract one by one. Each time the number of coins in the coin number storage area 1154a is decremented by one, a coin discharge command is stored in the ring buffer of the RAM 1154 so that it can be transmitted to the sub control board 584. Then, when the read value of the coin count storage area 1154a becomes zero, it is recognized that the discharge from the hopper device 91 is completed. At this time, a payment discharge end command for the completion of the coin payment is generated and stored in the RAM 1154.

  When a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 34, a determination process for the number of inserted coins is performed. For example, an appropriate detection signal is recognized as one coin based on detection signals from the first inserted coin passage detection sensor 86 and the second inserted coin passage detection sensor 87 of the selector 83. At this stage, if a predetermined effect such as a coin discharge notification is being performed, a command (for example, a coin discharge notification forced end command) for forcibly ending the predetermined effect upon recognition of a coin by the MPU 1151 is generated. .

  For example, after 1 to 3 coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot 34 or any of the bet buttons 31 to 33 is operated and the number of inserted coins reaches a specified number, If it is determined that the start lever 71 has been operated, processing for prohibiting the acceptance of coins is performed. For example, the switching piece 44a of the selector 83 is protruded into the coin passage 42, the coins inserted during the coin acceptance prohibition are guided to the discharge passage 9, and discharged from the coin payout opening 7 of the front door 3 to the coin tray 16. Processing is performed. Alternatively, even if any one of the bet buttons 31 to 33 is operated, a process is performed so as not to determine that the bet button is operated. Then, a coin acceptance prohibition process is performed and the process of this step is terminated. Alternatively, if the start lever 71 has not been operated even at this stage, the above-described sensor error process is repeated.

  In this way, when an error occurs, coin settlement is started, the switching piece 44a of the selector 83 is moved in / out, or a coin is inserted, the sub-control board 584 is loaded. A command generated in each process for transmitting the command is stored in a ring buffer of the RAM 1154.

  When the start lever 71 is operated in step S404, the process proceeds to step S405, and random number generation processing is performed. Specifically, when the operation of the start lever 71 is recognized by the MPU 1151 in step S404, the count number of a free running counter (not shown) that counts based on a predetermined period of the oscillator mounted on the main control board 1150 is hard-coded. It is created by latching in software and reading out as a random value by the MPU 1151 at a predetermined timing. The random number value read out by the MPU 1151 in this way is stored in the RAM 1154.

  When the random number is generated, the process proceeds to step S406, and an internal lottery process is performed based on the winning probability determined according to the set value set in the six-stage probability setting process (step S306). The internal lottery process is a process of determining whether or not a prize is won based on the random number value stored in the RAM 1154 in step S405 by comparison with a numerical value range of a prize table preset in the ROM 1153.

  The winning table used in the internal lottery process includes a winning combination such as a big bonus (hereinafter referred to as BB) and a regular bonus (hereinafter referred to as RB) with a relatively large amount of payout of coins, and symmetrical with these winning combinations. In addition, a winning combination such as a cherry with a relatively small amount of coins to be paid out (usually, multiple types of winning combinations are set and referred to as “small roles”), and coins are paid out not corresponding to such winning combinations. There are multiple types of winning combinations such as a re-gamer that can perform the next game only once without inserting coins. For each winning combination, the ratio of winning the winning combination is set to a predetermined range of random numbers generated by a free running counter within a predetermined numerical range. Each winning combination is set by changing the numerical range based on the winning probabilities (“Setting 1” to “Setting 6”) set in the six-stage probability setting process (Step S306). For example, the smaller the numerical value of the winning probability setting value, the narrower the numerical value range of winning combinations other than the loss is set. Then, the set value currently set and the result obtained by the internal lottery are stored in a predetermined work area of the RAM 1154.

  When the internal lottery process is performed in the MPU 1151, the process proceeds to step S407, where the rotation rotation initialization process is performed. In the rotation rotation initialization process, a table number is determined from the drum control table used for the rotation control of the rotary drum 11 based on the internal lottery result in step S406.

  In step S408, a 4.1 second elapsed waiting process is performed to determine whether 4.1 seconds have elapsed since the start of the previous rotation of the rotary drum 11. Specifically, the set value of the 4.1 second timer is set. A check is made to see if is zero. If 4.1 seconds have not elapsed in this step, a state command indicating the current gaming state (hereinafter simply referred to as “state command”) is stored in the RAM 1154 and wait processing (through the upper lamp 13 or the like) That is, 4.1 seconds) is notified.

  On the other hand, if 4.1 seconds have elapsed, a 4.1 second timer is set for the next 4.1 second waiting process, a status command is stored in the RAM 1154, and timer interrupt control processing is performed. A predetermined setting is performed so that the number of inserted coins can be output (step S210).

  Thereafter, motor control initialization processing of the rotating drum 11 is performed, and processing for setting a predetermined area of the RAM related to rotation of the rotating drum 11 for starting rotation is performed. When such setting is performed, acceleration processing of the rotating motor (stepping motor) is actually started based on the rotating motor control processing of step S206, and rotation of the rotating drum 11 is started.

  When the rotating drum 11 actually starts to rotate, the process proceeds to step S409, where the rotating drum rotation process is performed. In this step, a predetermined area of the RAM used in the rotating cylinder rotation process is initialized (step S408 described above), the rotating cylinder rotation information command and the state command are stored, and the rotating drum 11 is based on the above-described acceleration process of the rotating cylinder motor. Wait until becomes normal rotation. The determination of whether or not the rotation of the rotating drum 11 is normal is performed by index detection at the time when the acceleration process is completed based on the rotating motor control process (step S206). When it is determined that the rotation of the rotary drum 11 is normal based on the index detection, the setting state of the slot machine 10 is a state in which the rotation of the rotary drum 11 can be stopped by a predetermined stop operation described later. And informing that the rotation can be stopped.

  The notification that the rotation of the rotary drum 11 is in a stoppable state is performed by changing the light emission form of the lamps built in the stop buttons 72, 73 and 74. For example, the notification is performed by changing the color of the lamps of the stop buttons 72, 73, and 74, or by turning on the lamp that has been turned off. Note that such notification is performed only at the stop button for which the operation of the stop buttons 72, 73, and 74 is enabled.

  When the activated stop buttons 72, 73, 74 are actually operated, the rotary drum 11 is stopped based on the table number set in step S407 for the combination of stop symbols determined in the internal lottery process in step S406. To perform the process. In this step, it is not always necessary to stop the rotating drum 11 as set by the table number. For example, the table number may be changed according to the stop order or stop position of the stop buttons 72, 73, 74, or forced. Thus, the drive control of the stepping motor of the rotary drum 11 is performed so as to perform the process of pulling the rotary drum 11 in the process. When the rotating drum 11 stops, the operation permission of the stop buttons 72, 73, 74 corresponding to the stopped rotating drum 11 becomes invalid.

  Such stop processing of the rotating drum 11 is performed until all the rotating drums 11 are stopped, and every time the rotation of the rotating drums 11 is stopped, the operation permission of the corresponding stop buttons 72, 73, 74 is invalidated. This step is finished when the operation permission of the stop buttons 72, 73, 74 is invalidated. In step S409, every time one of the rotating drums 11 stops, the rotation rotation information command and the stop symbol command are stored in the RAM 1154.

  When all the rotating drums 11 are stopped, the process proceeds to step S410 and a winning symbol determination process is performed, and it is determined in what combination the symbols of the rotating drum 11 that can be recognized through the viewing window 24 are stopped.

  In this step, first, an active line is determined according to the gaming state. Specifically, which of the five active lines is effective is determined based on the gaming state. For example, when the gaming state is a normal game, the effective lines are 1 to 5 lines according to the number of bets. For example, when the number of bets is 3, all 5 lines are effective lines. When the gaming state is an accessory game, the number of bets is one and only one line is valid.

  When the number of effective lines is recognized, it is determined for each effective line which combination of symbols (for 9 squares) that can be recognized through the viewing window 24 is stopped on the effective line. The design in the viewing window 24 is recognized based on the design number assigned to each design of each reel.

  When a combination of symbols for each activated line is recognized and the symbols are arranged in a predetermined winning symbol, it is set as a winning symbol, and the payout number corresponding to the winning symbol can be paid out from the hopper device 91. Predetermined settings are made so that they can be performed. At this time, when there are a plurality of winning symbols on the active line, a process of sequentially adding the number of payouts corresponding to each winning symbol is performed. Since only a prescribed number (usually 15) of coins is paid out, when the prescribed number is exceeded by adding the number of paid-out coins, a process of changing the paid-out number to the prescribed number is performed. Further, when a symbol other than the winning symbol determined by the internal lottery process in step S406 stops on the active line, it is recognized as an error.

  In step S410, if a recognized winning symbol, a valid line having a winning symbol, and an error occur, the error is stored in the RAM 1154 as a winning symbol command, a winning line command, and an error command, respectively.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S411, and coins acquired based on the payout number set in step S410 are paid out. When the payout number is 0 in step S410, step S411 is skipped to the next step without being performed.

  When the storage mode is set by the operation of the changeover switch 80, the credit function of the slot machine 10 is used to electronically store up to 50 coins in the coin number storage area 1154a of the RAM 1154 (remaining number display unit 35). 1 is added to the numerical value displayed on the screen), and when the number exceeds 50, the coins are paid out from the hopper device 91. On the other hand, when the payment mode is set, coins corresponding to the number of payouts recognized in this step are paid out from the hopper device 91.

  In this step, a payout start command for paying out the acquired coins and a payout end command for paying out all the acquired coins are stored in the RAM 1154 as payout type commands.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S412, and it is determined whether or not the winning symbol set in the winning symbol determining process in step S410 is a winning symbol related to replay. If the winning symbol is not a replay, this step is skipped without being performed. On the other hand, when re-game is set as the winning symbol, necessary settings such as setting the internal state to re-game are performed, and a status command indicating that the game state is re-game is stored in the RAM 1154.

  If the current internal state is BB or RB, the process proceeds to step S413 to perform processing during the operation of the accessory. When the BB is in progress, the upper limit number of coins that can be acquired in the BB is checked. When the RB is in progress, the number of RBs is checked. When these checks are performed, the internal state is changed, the output information of the external concentrated terminal board 1167 is changed, and the like.

  If this step is in BB and it is determined that the BB has ended, the special game control end command is stored in the RAM 1154, then the end delay is processed, the output information clear processing of the external concentration terminal board 1167, the stop / Automatic settlement processing (BB automatic settlement described later) is performed, the area of the RAM 1154 used for BB is cleared, and this step is terminated.

  If the winning symbol set in the winning determination process in step S410 is BB or RB, the process proceeds to step S414 to perform the accessory action determination process. In this step, if the winning symbol is BB, wait processing at the start of BB, initialization processing of RAM 1154, setting processing of the number of coins acquired during BB, change processing of output information of external concentration terminal board 1167, Processing necessary for starting BB such as RB start processing is performed. On the other hand, in the case of RB, the RB maximum game number command and the RB game number command are stored in the RAM 1154.

  If the internal state is BB or RB, the process proceeds to step S415 to perform a game number display setting process. Specifically, a predetermined process for causing the game number display unit 36 to display the number of games checked in step S413 or step S414 is performed. When the internal state is other than BB or RB, the display of the game number display unit 36 is cleared. If the internal state has changed after the game has ended (such as during BB or during RB), the state command is stored in the RAM 1154.

  When the routine described above is completed, the routine returns to step S403 and this routine is repeated.

  Next, each process performed in the sub control board 584 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. As processing performed in the sub control board 584, timer interrupt processing performed at predetermined intervals, command interrupt processing performed when command data is transmitted from the main control board 1150, power failure processing, sub control Main processing mainly performed on the substrate 584 is set. In the following description, for convenience, the timer interrupt process, the command interrupt process, and the power failure process will be described, and then the main process will be described.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of a timer interrupt process performed periodically (every 1.0 ms in the present embodiment) by the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584. The timer interrupt process is periodically executed in the sub-control board 584 to accumulate the number of interrupts in the RAM 1164 and used for the timer process (1 ms timer process) in the main process executed by the MPU 1161 (FIG. 32).

  When the timer interrupt process is started, first, in step S501, an interrupt flag is read. This process is performed to clear the interrupt flag read at the end of this routine. When the interrupt flag is read in step S501, the process proceeds to step S502, and it is confirmed whether or not the read interrupt flag is a valid flag. If the interrupt flag is not valid (No in step S502), the routine ends without performing the processing described below.

  On the other hand, if the interrupt flag is valid (Yes in step S502), the process proceeds to step S503, "+1" is added to the interrupt timer counter, and the value of the counter is updated. When the value of the interrupt timer counter is updated, the process proceeds to step S504, the interrupt flag is cleared so that the next interrupt can be performed, and the timer interrupt process ends. In this routine, if there is an interrupt every 1.0 ms, the count value of the interrupt timer counter is simply incremented by “+1”, and the updated value of the interrupt timer counter is not cleared unless it is subtracted. ing.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command interrupt process performed when a command is transmitted from the main control board 1150. As described above, the sub control board 584 is configured to control the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the like based on the command transmitted from the main control board 1150, and transmits a predetermined command to the main control board 1150. Therefore, it is necessary to reliably receive a command from the main control board 1150. For this reason, this routine is a control process provided to reliably receive a command transmitted from the main control board 1150 in the sub control board 584, and is a control process performed in the sub control board 584. Above all, the priority is set high.

  First, in step S601, it is checked whether the received strobe is normal. In this embodiment, since one command transmitted from the main control board 1150 is composed of 2 bytes, it is confirmed whether the first byte of the first command has been transmitted. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the processing by this routine from being performed based on noise such as chattering that occurs when the changeover switch 80 or the like is operated.

  If the received strobe is normal (Yes in step S601), the first byte of the transmitted command is acquired in step S602. In step S603, it is determined whether the acquired command data is normal.

  If the acquired command data is normal (Yes in step S603), the process proceeds to step S604, and a command reception process for actually receiving a command for the acquired command data is performed. Specifically, since the first byte of the command data is received, the next 1 byte is received and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1164. As described above, the command data transmitted from the main control board 1150 needs to be received with certainty. Therefore, when it is determined that the command data is normal, the main data which is reliably captured and held by the MPU 1161 is used. The command data can be analyzed by the processing (see FIG. 33).

  For example, a command related to the operation of the changeover switch 80 transmitted from the main control board 1150 side, a payment discharge start command based on the operation of the changeover switch 80, a payment discharge end command related to the end of discharging the stored coins, a coin discharge command, etc. Is received by this routine. In this routine, the command transmitted from the main control board 1150 is only stored in a predetermined work area of the RAM 1164.

  When the command reception process ends in step S604, the process proceeds to step S605, and the maximum number of retries is set in the retry counter. In step S604, since the command data of the main control board 1150, which is the object of this routine, is received and stored in the RAM 1164 of the sub control board 584, the maximum number of retries is set in the retry counter.

  On the other hand, if the strobe is not normal (No in step S601), there is a high possibility that the signal is caused by noise or the like as described above, so the process proceeds to step S606 without performing command data acquisition processing, and is the same as step S605. Set the maximum number of retries to the retry counter.

  If it is determined that the command data is abnormal when the command data is acquired (No in step S603), the process proceeds to step S607, and +1 is added to the retry counter and updated.

  When retry counter processing is performed in each of steps S605 to S607, it is determined in step S608 whether the value of the retry counter is the maximum value. As described above, in steps S605 and S606, since the maximum number of retries is set in the retry counter, the process proceeds to the process described below. On the other hand, if the process has shifted through step S607, the maximum number of retries (maximum value) may not be set in the retry counter, so the maximum value is reached by reading the value of the retry counter. Determine if.

  When the value of the retry counter is the maximum value (Yes in step S608), the process proceeds to step S609, and reading for interrupt clear is performed by the interrupt flag reading process, and then the process proceeds to step S610 to set the value of the retry counter. Finally, the interrupt flag is cleared in step S611.

  On the other hand, if the value of the retry counter has not reached the maximum value (No in step S608), this routine ends without performing the processing from step S609 to step S611. Since the value of the retry counter is not the maximum value, command data is continuously acquired from the main control board 1150 by repeating this routine until it reaches the maximum value.

  When the command interrupt process is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 30, the command data is checked twice in the process of step S601 and the process of step S603 prior to the command data reception process in step S604. Thus, noise can be eliminated, so that command data transmitted from the main control board 1150 can be received reliably. Even if command data cannot be received at a time in step S604, command data can be reliably received by repeating this routine until the value of the retry counter reaches the maximum value.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the power failure process performed in the sub control board 584 in synchronization with the start of the power failure process by the NMI interrupt process shown in FIG.

  First, when the external RAM writing process is performed in step S701, the process proceeds to step S702 to determine whether or not the voltage is restored. As described above, the power failure monitoring circuit monitors the voltage of the power supply board, and a power failure signal is transmitted from the power failure monitoring circuit to the NMI terminal of the sub control board 584 when the voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage (22 volts). Therefore, it is monitored whether the voltage has returned to a predetermined voltage or higher. If the voltage does not return (No in step S702), the process waits until the voltage returns. The power failure signal may be transmitted to the INT terminal instead of the NMI terminal.

  On the other hand, if the voltage is restored (Yes in step S702), the process proceeds to step S703, waits for 30 ms, further proceeds to step S704, and determines again whether the voltage is restored. Note that the standby time of this step is not limited to 30 ms, and various times can be set.

  In step S704, it is determined whether the voltage has returned to a predetermined voltage as in the processing in step S702. If the voltage has not returned to the predetermined voltage (No in step S704), the process waits until the voltage returns as in step S702.

  On the other hand, when the voltage returns to the predetermined voltage (Yes in step S704), the process proceeds to step S705, the activation process is performed, and the process proceeds to the main process described below.

  FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing performed by the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584. This routine is a main control process repeatedly performed by the MPU 1161 of the sub-control board 584. The command transmitted from the main control board 1150 is analyzed, and the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14 and the like are controlled based on the analysis result. Make the necessary settings.

  First, in step S801, initialization processing is performed by the MPU 1161. For example, a signal related to lighting of the upper lamp 13 is output from the MPU 1161 via the input / output port 1162 or a signal for displaying the liquid crystal display 15 on the display control board 1166 is output. In step S802, prior to the main processing of this routine, it is determined whether the system state of the slot machine 10 is in a voltage drop state.

  When the system state is in a voltage drop state (Yes in step S802), for example, based on the turning-off operation of the power switch 13b, it is determined that the processing is proceeding as much as possible so that the slot machine 10 is powered off, and the routine described below is performed First, the process proceeds to the power failure process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  On the other hand, if the system state is not a voltage drop state (No in step S802), the process proceeds to step S803 to determine whether or not the count number is added to the interrupt timer counter. As described in the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 29, the timer interrupt process is started at a cycle of 1.0 ms, and the count is gradually added to the interrupt timer counter. It is determined whether or not the interrupt timer counter is updated by reading the count number of the counter.

  If the count number of the interrupt timer counter has been updated (Yes in step S803), the process proceeds to step S804, and the count number is updated by subtracting “−1” from the count number of the interrupt timer counter. In step S805, 1 ms of processing subtracted from the interrupt timer counter is executed as 1 ms timer processing.

Here, the 1 ms timer process will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a 1 ms timer process performed in the course of the main process.

  First, in step S901, a startup command check process is performed. For example, when an error is displayed because the data in the RAM 1154 is destroyed after the slot machine 10 is started by turning on the power switch 13b (step S317 in FIG. 27), the MPU 1151 itself of the main control board 1150 has an error. The state cannot be transmitted to the sub control board 584, and the command indicating that no command data is transmitted from the main control board 1150 cannot be output to the main control board 1150 also on the sub control board 584 side. Accordingly, in step S901, when the command from the main control board 1150 is not received within a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds, the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584 displays an error on the liquid crystal display 15 through the display control board 1166, A control for notifying the occurrence of the error to the surroundings is performed by transmitting a signal related to the occurrence of the error to the hall computer in the game hall through the external concentration terminal board 1167.

  In step S901, when it is recognized that the command is normally received by the startup command check process, the process proceeds to step S902, and the device control process is performed. Specifically, in the previous 1 ms timer process, when the effect data change process such as the upper lamp light emission data and the notification sound data is performed (step S907 described later), the upper part is set so that the notification can be performed based on the change data. Change data is set in the lamp 13, the left and right speakers 14, and the like. For example, the MPU 1161 reads out the notification sound data whose volume is increased by one step from the notification sound table in the ROM 1163 and sets it in the notification sound output controller 1122a of the speaker 14.

  When the device control process in step S902 is performed, the process proceeds to step S903, and a system state change process is performed. The system state includes, for example, a voltage drop state, an initialization state (including an initialization waiting state of the liquid crystal display 15), etc., and necessary setting processing is performed on the sub-control board 584 when the system state is changed. Done.

  Subsequently, it progresses to step S904 and a stored coin adjustment process is performed. When the stored coin is discharged, the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584 determines whether or not the number of discharged coins has reached the reference number of discharged coins based on a command from the main control board 1150.

Then, the process proceeds to step S905, and if the voltage state of the slot machine 10 is checked by the voltage drop check process, the process proceeds to step S906, and a 10 ms timer process is performed. In the 10 ms timer process, for example, the upper lamp emission table (LED data table) of the LED of the upper lamp 13 is updated, or changed notification sound data is set as illustrated in the above-described device control process (step S902). Then, in addition to the process of actually changing the volume of the speaker 14 by the notification sound output controller 1122a, a charge / stop process, a motor drive setting process, an LED / audio synchronization check process, an audio fade-out process, a demonstration start check, which will be described later Processing is performed.
Here, the timer process is performed every 10 ms. However, even if the process is performed every longer cycle, it does not affect the coin discharge notification control that is actually performed. You may do it.

  When the 10 ms timer process in step S906 ends, the process proceeds to step S907, and an effect data change process is performed. Here, in the next 1 ms timer process, when the notification sound of the speaker 14 is changed, for example, when the notification sound from the speaker 14 is increased by one step, the notification sound output based on the notification sound data is one. The notification sound data relating to the notification sound having a larger level is extracted from the notification sound table of the ROM 1163 and prepared so that it can be set in the notification sound output controller 1122a in the next 1 ms timer process.

  When the series of processing from step S901 to step S907 is performed in this way, this routine ends.

  Returning to the description of the main process in FIG. 32, when the 1 ms timer process in step S805 ends, the process proceeds to step S806 to determine whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state. When the system state is a voltage drop state (Yes in step S806), the process proceeds to a power failure process as in the case where it is determined in step S802 that the system state is a voltage drop state.

  On the other hand, when the count number is not added to the interrupt timer counter (No in step S803) and when the system state is not a voltage drop state (No in step S806), the process proceeds to step S807 to determine whether there is a received command. . If there is no reception command (No in step S807), the process proceeds to step S809, where it is updated by adding the random number base value, and the process returns to step S802.

  On the other hand, if there is a received command (Yes in step S807), the process proceeds to step S808, where the received command check process is performed, and the command transmitted from the main control board 1150 is analyzed.

  In command analysis by the received command check processing of this routine, processing for each received command is first performed to recognize the type of the received command. As described above, since the command transmitted from the main control board 1150 is stored in a predetermined work area of the RAM 1164 by the command interrupt process by the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584 (see FIG. 24), the RAM 1164 is used. The first byte of the command is read from the work area, and the command type is recognized. In the present embodiment, for example, payout type information for allowing the MPU 1161 of the sub control board 584 to recognize what command is used to pay coins from the hopper device 91 is set.

  Next, the second byte of the command is read, and it is recognized whether or not a command is further set in the payout type information. For example, since four types of stored coin discharge command, inserted coin discharge command, acquired coin payout command, and automatic settlement command are set as the payout type command, which command has been transmitted is analyzed. In the present embodiment, for example, the MPU 1161 analyzes that it is a stored coin discharge command (a command transmitted from the main control board 1150 by operating the changeover switch 80).

  When the received command analysis is completed by the received command check process in step S808, the random number base value is updated in step S809, and the process returns to step S802.

  The control processing by the main control board and the sub control board described above is for a general slot machine and is common to the slot machine (game machine) of the present invention. As described above, the slot machine having the basic structure as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 13 causes the independent production body to perform the production operation independently without electrical connection with the gaming machine body side. In addition to the control processing in a typical slot machine, special control processing related to the independent director is required. Therefore, each process performed on the sub control board will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  In the slot machine of the present invention, the independent director is provided with a charging unit that stores electric power, and the rendering operation by the independent director is performed by driving a motor that rotates the main wheels of the independent director by supplying power from the charger. However, it is conceivable that the predetermined rendering operation cannot be completed depending on the charging state of the charging unit. For example, when a big hit is made again immediately after turning on the power or immediately after performing a long-lasting performance operation with a movable accessory last time, there is a possibility that the charged performance of the charging unit is not sufficient and the predetermined performance operation may not be completed Etc.

  In such a case, the 10 ms timer process S906 in the 1 ms timer process shown in FIG. 33 performed in the process of the main process (FIG. 32) is performed in the above-described manner so as not to cause a problem in the rendering operation by the independent director. In addition to the general processing such as the update processing of the LED data table and the processing for changing the volume of the speaker 14 (voice volume check processing), the slot machine of the present invention has an independent director as a special processing which is a subroutine during the 10 ms timer processing. The charging / stopping process to the charging unit is performed. Then, after all the various processes are completed, the process returns to the main process by returning, and this routine is terminated. In the main process, it is determined whether or not the system state in step S806 is a voltage drop state.

FIG. 34 shows the processing flow of the 10 ms timer process (step S906) in more detail.
In the 10 ms timer process, every time the 1 ms timer process is performed once, the 10 ms timer counter (and interrupt timer counter) is incremented by one count, and the 10 ms timer counter is updated (step S1001). Then, the count value of the 10 ms timer counter is checked (step S1002). If this is 10 or more, the counter value of the 10 ms timer counter is decremented by 10 and then the 10 ms timer counter is updated (step S1003). Various processes described below are performed. On the other hand, if the count value of the 10 ms timer counter is less than 10 (substantially 9 or less), the return returns to the 1 ms timer processing to end this routine, and the 1 ms timer processing continues the effect data change processing (step S907). I do.

  As the various processes after the count value of the 10 ms timer counter is 10 or more and the 10 ms timer counter is subtracted / updated, first, the connection terminal block is used to charge the charging unit 564 of the independent effector described below. After performing the charging / stopping process (step S1004), which is a process for controlling the energization to 524, as other processes, the rendering operation selected from the rendering data table by the independent rendering body is set in the output data buffer. Motor drive setting process that is a process for performing the process, update process of the LED data table that is a process for performing data setting from the LED data table to the output data buffer, and a process for synchronizing the BGM and the LED effect in the bonus A certain LED / audio synchronization check process, 30 seconds when no operation is left during BGM playback Voice fade-out process, which is a process for reducing the volume of BGM after a while, Demo start check process, which is a process for starting a demonstration effect after 60 seconds if left without any operation, Volume knob value The voice volume check process or the like, which is a process for checking the voice volume and changing the voice volume, is performed (step S1005).

FIG. 35 shows the processing contents of the above-described charging / stopping processing performed as a subroutine during the 10 ms timer processing of the slot machine of the present invention.
In this charging / stopping process, first, the independent effector is in the standby position, and the connection terminal 572 of the independent effector 550 and the connection terminal block 524 of the frame body 512 on the gaming machine main body side are brought into electrical connection. In order to check whether or not there is, it is determined whether or not the position data indicates that it is at the origin (step S1101). When it is confirmed that the position data is at the origin, that is, the independent effector is at the standby position, the count value of the 10 ms timer counter is subtracted and updated (step S1102), and the independent effect is made from the connection terminal block. A charging process for supplying power to the charging unit of the body is performed (step S1103). Also in this charging process is performed to monitor the amount of charge to the charging unit, when the charging of the charging unit is determined to be sufficient is done processing you cut off the power supply to the connection terminal block, then Returning to the 10 ms timer process of FIG. 34, the routine is terminated. Whether or not the charging amount to the charging unit is sufficient may be determined by directly measuring the voltage of the charging unit or charging based on the time that the independent director is continuously waiting at the standby position. the amount may be determined.
On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the position data is at the origin, it is confirmed whether charging is in progress, that is, whether the connection terminal block 524 is energized (step S1104). If you are the it cuts off this (step S1105). Thereafter, the routine is terminated by returning to the 10 ms timer process of FIG.

  The above is a description of the general process in the 10 ms timer process during the 1 ms timer process and the charge / stop process for the independent effector, which is a special process. Next, the received command check process in the main process shown in FIG. S808, that is, a received command check process in which the sub control board analyzes the received command when the sub control board receives a command from the main control board and determines that there is a received command, other than those described above. An effect determination process which is one of the received command check processes will be described with reference to FIG.

In the received command check process, the sub-control board that has received the lottery result command from the main control board is the main lottery result that is the main lottery result in the effect determination process, that is, in any winning combination such as a big bonus or a regular bonus Information on whether or not there is obtained, and a random number for determining the type of effect is obtained (step S1201). Note that this random number is acquired by the count value taken at the timing of the slot start operation by the player, for example, by accumulating the count every 1 ms and repeating the count from 0 to 99.
Subsequently, in the charging / stopping process, it is determined whether or not the position data of the independent effector is at the origin and the charging unit is sufficiently charged (step S1202).
Here, there are various methods for determining whether or not the charging unit is sufficiently charged, but in this embodiment, after the independent director performs a performance operation for supplying power from the charging unit. The sub-control unit counts the standby time after returning to the standby position, that is, the charging time at the standby position. If the standby time has exceeded a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes), the charging unit is charged. Judged to be sufficient (full tank). As another method for determining the charging status, the sub-control unit monitors the reduction state of the charging current (or the reduction state of the charging voltage) sent through the power supply unit, and the charging is performed when the current becomes a predetermined current (voltage) or less. There is a method of determining that the charging of the part is sufficient (full). Also, when the power to the gaming machine is turned on, the independent director is already in the standby position, but when the power is turned off, the charging unit may be discharged and the charging state may not be sufficient. The charging amount of the charging unit at the time is determined that the charging unit is sufficiently charged (full) when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed based on the elapsed time from power-on. It shall be.
If the charging of the charging unit is sufficient and there is no insufficient charging flag, processing for selecting a normal performance table is performed (step S1203). On the other hand, if the position data of the independent effector is not at the origin, or if charging to the charging unit is insufficient, a process for selecting the effect table for when the insufficient charge is raised is performed (step ST). S1204). After determining the normal effect table selection process or the shortage effect table selection process, the effect data corresponding to the random number acquired with reference to the selected effect table is acquired (step S1205), and will be described next. Among the effect data acquired based on the effect selection selected from the effect table illustrated in FIG. 37, a setting is made as to which of the screen display of the liquid crystal display device, the lamp blinking, or the effect operation of the independent effector is performed. Further, the other routine of the received command check process is performed (step S1206), thereby ending this routine.

FIG. 37 shows an example of an effect table when a winning combination such as a big bonus or a regular bonus is established. This effect table is based on the relationship between the counter value of the internal counter that accumulates the count every 1 ms and repeats the count of 0 to 99 and the charging status of the charging unit of the independent effector. It expresses whether or not to make a production.
When selecting a shortage shortage effect table when charging is insufficient (during charging), when the counter value of the internal counter is 0 to 49, the effect (effect A) is performed only on the screen of the liquid crystal display device, When the counter value is 50 to 99, an effect (effect B) is performed by blinking the screen of the liquid crystal display device and the lamp. On the other hand, when charging is sufficient and there is no insufficient charging flag and a normal effect table is selected (full), when the counter value of the internal counter is 0 to 19, an effect (effect) on the screen of the liquid crystal display device only A) is performed. When the counter value is 20 to 49, an effect (effect B) is produced by blinking the screen and the lamp of the liquid crystal display device. When the counter value is 50 to 99, the screen and the lamp of the liquid crystal display device are performed. In addition to the flashing of, an effect operation (effect C) of the independent effector is also performed. The effect time of the effect operation C is, for example, about 30 seconds, and the independent effector performs the effect operation by driving the motor by power supply from the charging unit.

  In this way, by causing the independent director to perform the rendering operation only when the charging of the independent director to the charging unit is sufficient, the independent director is in the middle of the rendering operation due to insufficient charging to the charging unit. It is possible to avoid problems such as stopping.

  FIG. 38 shows another example of the effect table when winning is established. In the example of FIG. 37, it is selected which of the effects A to C is performed by the independent effector according to the two types of distinction of whether the charging state of the charging unit is charging or full and the counter value of the internal counter. However, in the example of FIG. 38, it is possible to distinguish three types (first half of charge, second half of charge, almost full) by judging the degree of charge (charging state) when the charging unit is charging. From this and the counter value of the internal counter, it is determined by selecting which of the effects A to D is performed by the independent effector. Specifically, as described above, the charging status of the charging unit is determined based on the elapsed charging time or the decrease in charging current, and the charging status is 0 to 50%, and the counter value of the internal counter is 0 to 0. When it is 49, effect A is performed, and when the counter value is 50 to 99, effect B is performed. When the charging status is 51 to 90% and the counter value of the internal counter is 0 to 19, the effect A is displayed. When the counter value is 20 to 49, the effect B is displayed. When the counter value is 50 to 99, the effect C 'is displayed. Do. Further, when the charging status is 91 to 100% and the counter value of the internal counter is 0 to 19, effect A is displayed. When the counter value is 20 to 49, effect B is displayed. When the counter value is 50 to 69, effect C 'is displayed. When the counter value is 70 to 99, the effect D is performed. Here, both the production C ′ and the production D are for causing the independent production body to perform the production operation in addition to the flashing of the screen of the liquid crystal display device and the lamp. For example, in the production C ′, the production operation time is 10 seconds. Then, the length is set to 30 seconds. If the charging to the charging unit is insufficient (for example, half or less), the independent director does not perform the rendering operation, and the charging unit is charged to some extent (for example, 51 to 90%). To allow an independent director to perform a short-time production operation, and to allow an independent production body to perform a long-time production operation if charging is sufficient (for example, 91% or more). By doing so, the variation of the production operation of the independent production body is enriched to improve the freedom of selection of the production operation, and the situation where the independent production body stops during the production operation is avoided.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of embodiment mentioned above, For example, you may implement as follows. Incidentally, the configurations of the following different modes may be applied individually or in combination to the configurations in the above embodiment.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a game machine of a type different from the above embodiment, specifically, a ball-type game machine using a game ball as a game medium, a so-called pachinko machine or the like. For example, a pachinko machine that unlocks a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, a pachinko machine that generates a right when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, and other objects The present invention may be implemented as a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine, or a sparrow ball provided with the above.
Furthermore, a non-ballistic gaming machine, for example, a gaming machine main body that is supported by an outer frame so as to be openable and closable is provided with a storage unit and an intake device, and a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage unit are obtained by the intake device. The present invention may be implemented as a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are fused, in which rotation of a reel is started by operating a start lever after being taken in.

The background art of the present invention and the problems to be solved by the present invention will be described below for confirmation.
For example, as a type of gaming machine equipped with a reel unit, there is a slot machine that rotates a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols (designs) drawn on the outer periphery of a cylinder.
In this slot machine, when the player inserts a medal and operates the start lever at the start of the game, the left reel, middle reel and right reel of the reel unit start to rotate, and then the left reel stop button, middle Each reel is stopped by pressing the reel stop button and the right reel stop button in any order. At that time, a predetermined number of medals are paid out or a gaming state advantageous to the player is made in accordance with the combination of patterns on each reel.

  The main body of such a slot machine is composed of a housing having a front opening and a front door that can be opened and closed at the front opening. A reel display window for viewing a picture is formed, and a decorative body such as a display panel on which a decorative pattern or the like is drawn (hereinafter, “decorative body” is often expressed as a “display panel”) is provided. It has been.

  On the back side of the display panel, a back side member (panel unit) on which various display devices for performing lamps, 7-segment display, LED, liquid crystal display, and the like are disposed is attached. By illuminating the display panel from the back side and visually observing the light transmitted through the display panel, it is possible to produce effects that improve the interest of the player's game or display internal information of the slot machine.

  In addition, for example, a liquid crystal display (liquid crystal panel) as an auxiliary display unit is provided on the upper side of the display panel, that is, the upper part of the front surface of the front door, and allows a player to visually observe a moving image displayed on the auxiliary display unit. In order to enhance the fun of the game not only by the combination of the design of each reel that can be seen from the reel display window and the lighting / flashing of the decorative pattern on the display panel, but also by various effects by moving images displayed on the auxiliary display section There are many models that have been made.

  Here, for example, as a “game table” in the following patent document (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-000540), depending on the model, a sliding door is provided in front of the auxiliary display portion as one of the effects of the gaming machine. Some screens are screened by moving, or a moving object such as a character appears in front of the auxiliary display unit, so that there is an effect body that draws a player's attention or improves game performance. However, if the screen is blocked by the door or a movable object such as a character appears in front of the auxiliary display unit, the impact on the player is small. There were things that were devised to further enhance the fun of the game by placing or moving movable items on the director.

However, moving the sliding door or movable object in front of the auxiliary display unit, or emitting light from the LED light source mounted on these effects or moving the movable accessory still lacks sufficient impact, further enhancing the interest of the game. A directing effect was sought.
In addition, in order to move productions such as sliding doors and movable objects, to light the LED light source provided on them, and to move movable objects, the harness main body side (game machine) it is necessary to supply electric power from the point) side portions other than the director member of the disconnection or breakage of the wiring due to repeated bending stress of bending and stretching of the wire when the effect of such sliding door or movable object moves There is a problem that the wire is likely to break or break due to contact with other parts and rubbing. In addition, there was a problem that the harness for moving the movable accessory did not look good.

In order to solve these problems, the applicant of the present application, for example, moves the director (independent director) independently without the electrical connection between the director and the gaming machine main body, such as a role performing the director, A game machine has been devised that gives an unprecedented directing effect and enhances the fun of the game by causing the LED light source mounted on the independent director to emit light or moving a movable accessory. In addition, in this gaming machine that employs an independent director, it reduces the restrictions on the operation of the independent director by eliminating the wiring connecting the independent director and the main body of the game machine, and at the same time disconnects or breaks the wiring due to bending stress or rubbing. There is also an advantage that it can be reduced and the appearance can be improved.
However, in order to move the independent production body without electrical connection with the gaming machine body side, the independent production body itself needs a charging unit as a power source, but if the power supply from the charging unit is insufficient, The independent director may not be able to complete the predetermined director operation. Therefore, in the present invention, the rendering operation is controlled according to the charging state of the charging unit.

  First, the features of the gaming machine adopting the independent performance body to which the present invention is applied will be described as confirmation items.

[Game machine 1A]
A charging unit that stores power, a power supply unit that receives power supplied to the charging unit at a predetermined standby position of the gaming machine body, and an effect that appeals to the player's vision by supplying power from the charging unit And an effect control unit that controls the effect operation by the effect execution unit, and the power supply unit is separated from a predetermined standby position on the gaming machine main body side. The gaming machine is characterized in that, in a state where the power supply from the gaming machine main body side is cut off, the production execution unit performs the production operation by the power supply from the charging unit.

[Game machine 2A]
An effect execution unit capable of performing an effect appealing to the player's vision, an effect control unit for controlling the effect operation by the effect execution unit, and the effect from the gaming machine body side at a predetermined standby position of the gaming machine body A command signal transmission unit for transmitting a command signal to the control unit, and the command signal transmission unit is separated from a predetermined standby position on the gaming machine main body side and separated from the gaming machine main body. A gaming machine, characterized in that, in a state where transmission of a command signal is cut off, the control unit controls the effect execution unit based on a command signal received before separation.

  According to the gaming machine 1A or 2A, the independent effector is separated from the predetermined standby position on the gaming machine body side, and the power supply and / or command signal transmission from the gaming machine body side is interrupted. Since it is possible to perform production operations, it is possible to reduce the number of wires for electrical connection with the gaming machine body, which has been necessary in the past, and to give new production effects to independent production bodies. Can do. In addition, since there is less wiring for making an electrical connection between the independent rendering body and the gaming machine main body, the risk of disconnection and breakage is reduced.

[Game machine 3A]
In the above gaming machine 1A or 2A, the independent effector is provided with a self-propelled mechanism, and the effect of self-propelled in the area where the independent effector can visually recognize the player without electrical connection with the game machine body side. A gaming machine characterized by performing an action.
In addition to simply separating the independent director from the gaming machine main body side, it is possible to enhance the interest of the game more effectively by allowing the independent director to run without electrical connection. Since the independent director is not connected with wiring, there is almost no restriction on the self-running operation.

[Game machine 4A]
In the gaming machine 3A, the independent effector performs an effect operation along a guide portion formed on a surface of a transparent or translucent flat plate material.
By causing the independent director to travel along the guide portion, it is possible to cause the independent director to perform a desired traveling operation easily and reliably.

[Game machine 5A]
In the above gaming machine 3A, the independent effector performs an effect operation in a state of being sandwiched between two transparent or translucent flat plates facing each other with a gap. A gaming machine.
A guide part like the above-mentioned gaming machine 4A is formed on a flat plate material by performing a self-propelled production operation with the independent performance body sandwiched between two transparent or translucent flat plate materials. Even without this, the independent director can be self-propelled in a free path by the steering operation of the independent director itself.

[Game machine 6A]
In any one of the gaming machines 3A to 5A, the independent rendering body performs a rendering operation on a front side of a liquid crystal display unit provided in the gaming machine body.
By making the independent director move in front of the screen of the liquid crystal display device, for example, by operating the independent director in association with the animation displayed on the screen, it is possible to dramatically increase the interest of the game.
[Game machine 7A]
In any one of the gaming machines 1A to 6A, the independent effector is controlled so as to return to a predetermined standby position on the gaming machine main body side when the effect operation ends.
By controlling the independent effector for which the effect operation has been completed to return to the standby position, it is possible to prepare for charging the charging unit and receiving the next command signal.

  As described above, in these gaming machines 1A to 7A, it is possible to give a new effect that does not exist in the gaming machine described in the example of the prior art patent document, and to further enhance the interest of the game. .

  Next, the gaming machine that performs the production control, which is a feature of the present invention extracted from the above-described embodiment, will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary.

[Game machine 1B]
A main control unit that performs a main control process of the game, and an auxiliary control process other than the main control process of the game that is provided separately from the main control unit and is transmitted from the main control unit A sub-control unit, a charging unit that stores power, a power supply unit that receives power supplied to the charging unit at a predetermined standby position of the gaming machine body, and appeals to the player's vision by supplying power from the charging unit And an independent director provided with an effect controller capable of performing an effect and an effect controller for controlling the effect operation by the effect executing unit, and the independent director is transmitted from the sub-control unit. In a state where the power supply from the gaming machine main body side is cut off from the predetermined standby position on the gaming machine main body side based on the command to be performed, and the presentation execution unit performs the predetermined rendering operation by the power supply from the charging unit The line In the gaming machine that returns to the standby position after a predetermined production operation, the sub-control unit selects a type of the production operation of the movable accessory that can be selected based on the charging status of the charging unit. Machine.

[Game machine 2B]
In the gaming machine 1B, the sub-control unit performs the determination of the charging status of the charging unit based on the standby time of the independent effector that has returned to the standby position after the end of the previous effect operation. .

[Game machine 3B]
In the gaming machine 1B or 2B, the sub-control unit performs a determination of a charging state of the charging unit based on a decrease state of a charging current sent through the power supply unit.

[Game machine 4B]
In the gaming machine 2B or 3B, the sub-control unit performs the determination of the charge amount of the charging unit at the time of selecting the type of the first effect operation immediately after the power is turned on, based on the elapsed time since the power is turned on. A featured gaming machine.

[Game machine 5B]
In any one of the gaming machines 1B to 4B, the sub control unit determines the type of effect operation in which the movable accessory is separated from the standby position only when the charging state of the charging unit is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value. A game machine characterized in that it is possible to select.

[Game machine 6B]
In the gaming machine 5B described above, a gaming machine in which different types of operating times are provided in the rendering operation in which the movable accessory is separated from the standby position in accordance with the charging status of the charging unit.

  Incidentally, any one of the characteristic configurations of the gaming machine 1A to the gaming machine 7A or a combination thereof may be applied to the gaming machine 1B1 to 6B, or the gaming machine A1 to the gaming machine A7, the gaming machine 1B to the gaming machine. The characteristic configurations of the machine 7B may be combined with each other.

  The basic configuration of the gaming machine to which the above features can be applied is shown below.

  The present invention is the gaming machine according to any one of the gaming machines 1B to 6B, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine. Above all, the basic configuration of the slot machine is “equipped with variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and for operating the starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). As a result, the dynamic display of the identification information is started, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed. The game machine is provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on the condition that the confirmed identification information is specific identification information. In this case, examples of the game media include coins and medals.

  The present invention is the gaming machine according to any one of the gaming machines 1B to 6B, wherein the gaming machine is a pachinko gaming machine. Above all, the basic configuration of a pachinko gaming machine is provided with an operation handle, and a ball is launched into a predetermined game area according to the operation of the operation handle, and the ball is placed in an operation port disposed at a predetermined position in the game area. As a necessary condition for winning a prize (or passing through the operating port), the identification information dynamically displayed on the display device is confirmed and stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special gaming state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning opening) arranged at a predetermined position in the gaming area is opened in a predetermined manner so that a ball can be won, and a value corresponding to the number of winnings is obtained. Examples include those to which values (including data written on magnetic cards as well as premium balls) are given.

  The present invention is the gaming machine according to any one of the above gaming machines 1B to 6B, wherein the gaming machine is a fusion of a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine. Among them, the basic configuration of the merged gaming machine includes “a variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and a starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). The change of the identification information is started due to the operation of, the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation hand throw (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses, Special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player, on condition that the confirmed identification information at the time of stoppage is specific identification information, and using a ball as a game medium, and the identification The game machine is configured so that a predetermined number of balls are required at the start of dynamic display of information, and a large number of balls are paid out when a special gaming state occurs.

  The gaming machine of the present invention can be used mainly for gaming machines such as slot machines, pachinko machines, and parrot machines, as long as it is useful to produce an effect without connecting wiring to the effector. It can be applied to various other devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine as a game machine, 12 ... Front door, 13 ... Upper lamp, 14 ... Speaker, 15 ... Auxiliary display part, 20 ... Key cylinder, 21 ... Interlocking rod, 22 ... Bracket, 23 ... Locking bracket, 25a, 25b ... support shaft, 26a, 26b ... support metal fittings, 30 ... display panel, 31L, 31M, 31R ... display window, 41 ... reel unit, 42L, 42M, 42R ... reel, 51L, 51M, 51R ... indication display section Design: 52a, 52b, 53: Motor plate, 59: Operation panel, 61L, 61M, 61R: Reel drive motor, 71: Start lever, 72, 73, 74 ... Stop button, 75: Medal slot, 77-79 ... Credit insertion switch, 80 ... Changeover switch, 83 ... Selector, 81 ... Storage passage, 82 ... Discharge passage, 84 ... Medal passage switching member 84a ... passage switching piece, 85 ... guide passage, 85a ... ridge, 86 ... first insertion medal detection sensor, 87 ... second insertion medal detection sensor, 91 ... hopper device, 92 ... storage tank, 93 ... dispensing device, 94 ... Opening, 95 ... Spare tank, 96 ... Induction plate, 107 ... Light source, 111 ... Display control device, 121 ... Power supply box, 122 ... Power switch, 123 ... Reset switch, 124 ... Setting key insertion hole, 131 ... Main control device 201 ... Panel unit, 203 ... Frame type body, 205 ... Lamp housing, 220 ... Display panel substrate, 500 ... Production unit, 510 ... Main body part, 512 ... Frame body, 514 ... Guide plate, 515 ... Uneven tooth, 516 ... cover plate, 518 ... switching device, 519 ... gear, 520 ... switching motor, 522 (522a, 522b, 522c), 522 ' Rail groove (guide part), 524 ... connection terminal block, 550 ... independent production body, 552 ... main wheel, 554 ... top surface, 556 ... bottom surface, 558 ... projection, 562 ... motor (production execution unit), 564 ... filling Battery (charging unit), 566 ... Central processing unit (production control unit), 572 ... Connection terminal (power supply unit and command signal transmission unit), 582 ... Power supply board, 584 ... Sub control board, 586 ... Sensor, 562 ... Step

Claims (6)

A main control unit that performs the main control processing of the game;
A sub-control unit that is provided separately from the main control unit and performs auxiliary control processing other than the main control processing of the game based on a command transmitted from the main control unit;
A charging unit that stores power, a power supply unit that receives power supply at a predetermined standby position of the gaming machine main body, sends power to the charging unit, and can provide an effect appealing to the player's vision by supplying power from the charging unit And an independent director provided with an effect control unit that controls an effect operation by the effect execution unit,
In the state where the independent effect body is separated from a predetermined standby position on the gaming machine main body side based on a command transmitted from the sub-control unit and the power supply from the gaming machine main body side is cut off, the effect execution unit In a gaming machine that performs a predetermined presentation operation by supplying power from the charging unit and returns to the standby position again after the predetermined presentation operation,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the sub-control unit selects a type of the rendering operation of the independent rendering body that can be selected based on a charging state of the charging unit. The sub-control unit, the game according to claim 1, wherein performing, based on the waiting time of the independent effect body returned to the standby position determination of the charging condition of the charging unit after the previous effect operation ends, it is characterized by Machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the sub-control unit performs a determination of a charging state of the charging unit based on a reduction state of a charging current transmitted through the power supply unit. 4. The sub control unit according to claim 2, wherein the charging state of the charging unit at the time of selecting the type of the first effect operation immediately after power-on is determined based on an elapsed time from power-on. The gaming machine described in 1. The sub-control unit can select a type of effect operation in which the independent effector is separated from the standby position only when it is determined that the charging status of the charging unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein a type of operation time corresponding to a charging state of the charging unit is provided in an effect operation in which the independent effector is separated from a standby position.