JP5949989B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

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

  In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a player launches a gaming ball on the gaming surface by operating a handle. On the game side, a large number of game members such as game nails and windmills, and winning holes are provided. The game balls roll on the game surface while colliding with game nails and game members, and when a prize is entered in any one of the winning holes, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out.

  A game ball that rolls on the game surface may stop due to being fitted into a game nail or a game member (so-called ball clogging). When the ball clogging occurs, it becomes impossible to play the game normally. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the ball clogging at an early stage to eliminate the ball clogging.

  As a method for detecting a clogged ball, the method of Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In the method of Patent Document 1, a plurality of optical sensors are provided on the game surface. The optical axes of these optical sensors are parallel to the game surface, and the optical axes of some optical sensors and the optical axes of other optical sensors intersect with each other. When the optical sensor detects a game ball at the same point continuously for a predetermined time, the occurrence of a ball clogging is notified.

JP 2007-229335 A

  In the method of Patent Document 1, since the optical axis of the optical sensor is parallel to the game surface, the light of the optical sensor is blocked by the gaming member in a portion where the gaming member exists. Therefore, an area where a game ball (ball clogging) cannot be detected is generated on the game surface.

  Further, in the method of Patent Document 1, since the optical axis of the optical sensor is parallel to the game surface, a plurality of game balls may exist on the optical axis. However, the output of the optical sensor does not change regardless of whether the number of game balls existing on the optical axis is one or more, and therefore the number of game balls on the optical axis cannot be identified. Therefore, in the method of Patent Document 1, it is not possible to determine how many game balls the ball is clogged with.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can accurately detect the state of a clogged ball.

(1) The invention of claim 1
A game surface on which a game ball rolls, an image data acquisition unit that captures an image of the game surface from the side of the game surface and acquires image data, and a stop on the game surface based on the image data. a detection means for detecting game balls that are, if a game ball, stationed detected by said detecting means is present more than a predetermined number, and a notification signal output means for outputting a notification signal, said notification signal output means The gist of the gaming machine is characterized in that the notification signal is output at a different timing depending on a place where a predetermined number or more of the stopped gaming balls detected by the detecting means exist.

The gaming machine of the present invention detects a game ball on the game surface based on image data obtained by imaging the game surface from the game surface side. Therefore, unlike the technique of Patent Document 1, light used for detection is blocked by a game member on the game surface, and a region where a game ball cannot be detected does not occur on the game surface.

  In addition, the game balls can be detected individually from the image data obtained by imaging the game surface. Therefore, the gaming machine of the present invention can identify the number of game balls detected by the detection means, and can determine how many game balls are clogged with balls.

  In addition, the gaming machine of the present invention outputs a notification signal only when a predetermined number or more of game balls detected by the detecting means exist. Therefore, in the case of a clogged ball that does not substantially affect the game (for example, only one game ball is clogged), the output of the notification signal can be omitted. Thus, it is not bothered by the output of an originally unnecessary notification signal.

The predetermined number can be calculated from the number of game balls fired per unit time, for example, and can be a value that exceeds the range of game balls that normally exist on the game surface in a state where no ball clogging has occurred. .
(2) The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that a game surface on which a game ball rolls, an image data acquisition unit that captures an image of the game surface from the side of the game surface, and acquires image data, is reflected in the image data. A detecting means for detecting a stationary game ball on the gaming surface based on the shape and size of the recognized object, and a stationary gaming ball detected by the detecting means. The gist of the gaming machine is characterized by comprising a notification signal output means for outputting a notification signal when there is a predetermined number or more.

1 is a front view of a gaming machine 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device 15. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the ball clogging detection process which the gaming machine 1 performs. It is explanatory drawing showing the division in the game board. It is explanatory drawing showing the ball clogging display in the gaming machine 1. It is a flowchart showing the ball clogging detection process which the gaming machine 1 performs.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

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

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

  The game board 7 includes a normal electric accessory (electric tulip) 21. The ordinary electric accessory 21 includes a pair of opening and closing plates 22 and 22 that can be opened and closed. The open / close plates 22 and 22 may be in either a state where the distance between them is narrowed (hereinafter referred to as a closed state) or a state where the distance between each other is widened (hereinafter referred to as an open state). it can.

  The ordinary electric accessory 21 includes a start port 23 between the opening and closing plates 22 and 22 described above. When the opening and closing plates 22 and 22 are in a closed state, the path to the start port 23 is narrowed and the start port 23 is opened. It becomes difficult to win a prize. On the other hand, when the opening and closing plates 22 and 22 are in the open state, the path to the start port 23 is widened, and winning to the start port 23 becomes easy. When the normal symbol hitting the normal symbol display device 19 is confirmed and displayed, the normal electric accessory 21 opens the open / close plates 22 and 22 for 6 seconds, and then returns to the closed state.

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

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

  A large number of nails 30 are attached on the game surface 7a. The nail 30 collides with the game ball 8 and changes its course in various ways. In addition, the gaming machine 1 includes a main control board 31 and an effect control board 33 that control the above-described components and execute processing to be described later.

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

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

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

  Further, the liquid crystal display device 15 can take an image of the game surface 7a from the game surface 7a side by using an optical sensor built in each pixel 35. That is, as viewed from the game surface 7a, an image in the front direction (direction in which the player is present) can be taken. The range in which the liquid crystal display device 15 can capture an image covers the entire game surface 7a. A signal (read signal) of the captured image can be output to the main control board 31 or the effect control board 33.

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

In step 10, the liquid crystal display device 15 captures an image on the game surface 7a and acquires image data.
In step 20, the object shown in the image data acquired in step 10 is recognized. If there are multiple objects, each is recognized. Note that a known image recognition technique can be used for object recognition.

  In step 30, it is determined whether or not there is a game ball 8 that is stationary among the objects recognized in step 20. Here, whether or not it is a game ball can be determined based on the shape and size of the recognized object. That is, if the shape is spherical and the size matches the size of the game ball 8, it is determined to be a game ball. On the other hand, if the shape or size does not match the game ball 8, the game ball Judge that it is not 8. As for the stop, if an object exists at the same coordinates between the image data acquired a predetermined time ago and the most recently acquired image data, it can be determined that the object is stopped. If there is a game ball that is parked, the process proceeds to step 40. If there is no game ball that is parked, this process is terminated.

In step 40, it is determined whether or not there are two or more game balls that are stopped. If there are two or more, the process proceeds to step 50, and if only one game ball is stopped, the present process is terminated.

  In step 50, it is determined whether or not the interval between two or more game balls that are stopped is within 1.1 cm. If there are 3 or more parked game balls, whether or not the distance between each of the parked game balls and any of the other parked game balls is within 1.1 cm is determined. to decide. If it is within 1.1 cm, it is determined that the ball is clogged and the process proceeds to step 60. If it exceeds 1.1 cm, it is determined that the ball is not clogged, and this processing is terminated.

  In step 60, it is determined whether or not the stopping time of the stopped game ball is 10 seconds or longer. Specifically, based on the image data acquired in the past, it is determined whether or not each game ball constituting the ball blockage has stopped at the same place for 10 seconds or more. If the stop time is 10 seconds or more, the process proceeds to step 70, and if the stop time is less than 10 seconds, the process is terminated.

  In step 70, the position where the ball clogging has occurred on the gaming surface 7a is acquired. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the game surface 7a is divided into areas A1 to A4 by virtual straight lines L1 to L3, and acquires whether the position of the ball clogging is any of the areas A1 to A4.

  In step 80, a notification signal is output to the hall computer. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid crystal display device 15 (game surface 7a) is notified of a ball clogging. This notification is composed of a display of characters “ball is clogged” and an arrow indicating the position of the ball clog.

  The notification signal differs depending on the position of the ball clogging. That is, when the position of the ball clogging is the area A1, the notification signal is S1, when the position of the ball clogging is the area A2, the notification signal is S2, and when the position of the ball clogging is the area A3, the notification The signal is S3, and when the position of the ball clogging is the area A4, the notification signal is S4.

  Further, the content of the notification indicating the ball clogging also varies depending on the position of the ball clogging. For example, the size of the indication “the ball is clogged” is the largest when the position of the ball clogging is A1, and decreases in the order of A2, A3, and A4.

Needless to say, the gaming machine 1 can execute normal game processing, but the description thereof is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.
4). Effects Played by the Game Machine 1 (1) The game machine 1 detects the game ball 8 on the game surface 7a based on image data obtained by imaging the game surface 7a using the liquid crystal display device 15. Therefore, unlike the technique of Patent Document 1, light used for detection is blocked by a gaming member or the like on the game surface 7a, and a region where a game ball cannot be detected does not occur on the game surface 7a.

  (2) Since the gaming machine 1 uses image data obtained by imaging the gaming surface 7a using the liquid crystal display device 15, the gaming balls 8 can be detected individually. Therefore, the gaming machine 1 can identify the number of detected game balls 8 and can determine how many game balls 8 are jammed.

  (3) The gaming machine 1 outputs a notification signal only when the number of game balls to be stopped is two or more. For this reason, the output of the notification signal is omitted in the case of a single game ball clogging that does not substantially affect the game. Thus, it is not bothered by the output of unnecessary notification signals.

  (4) Since the gaming machine 1 outputs a notification signal only when the ball clogging has continued for 10 seconds or more, it outputs a notification signal wastefully with respect to the ball clogging that is naturally resolved over time. There is no such thing.

(5) Since the gaming machine 1 performs notification based on the notification signal, the player can recognize the occurrence of the clogged ball.
(6) The gaming machine 1 outputs a notification signal to the outside of the gaming machine 1. The hall computer receives the notification signal and performs notification with an external notification device (not shown). In this case, the hall clerk can recognize the occurrence of the ball clogging.

  (7) In the gaming machine 1, the notification signal varies depending on the position of the ball jam. Therefore, the hall computer can know the position of the ball clogging according to the type of the notification signal. In addition, the hall computer can set a priority order for the type of notification signal (that is, the position of ball clogging). When a notification signal is received, the notification method, notification timing, notification order, and the like can be changed according to the priority order of the notification signal. By doing so, for example, even when a plurality of ball cloggings occur at the same time, it is possible to take appropriate measures such as dealing in order from the highest priority.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, there may be no step 60 for determining whether or not the stopping time of the game ball that is stopped is 10 seconds or longer. In this case, the clogging detection process is as shown in FIG. Here, the processing of steps 110 to 170 in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing of steps 10 to 50 and 70 to 80 in FIG. According to this ball clogging detection process, after a ball clogging has occurred, it is possible to promptly notify.

  Further, the liquid crystal display device 15 may not be capable of capturing an image over the entire game surface 7a. For example, the liquid crystal display device 15 has a predetermined area on the game surface 7a where ball clogging is likely to occur (for example, the periphery of the ordinary electric accessory 21, the periphery of the special electric accessory 27, the periphery of the ordinary symbol start gate 17). In this case, an image can be captured.

  Further, in steps 40 and 140, notification is not performed if the number of parked game balls 8 is less than two, but the number of judgment criteria here is not limited to two. Any number (eg, 3, 4, 5, 6,...) Can be selected.

Further, when the gaming machine 1 detects a clogged ball, it may be notified by voice or the like instead of or in addition to the display on the liquid crystal display device 15.
Moreover, you may change the timing to alert | report depending on the place which detected the ball blockage. For example, during a big hit, if a ball clogging is detected in an area that does not affect the big hit game, the ball clogging may be notified after the big hit ends. On the other hand, if a ball clogging is detected in a region that affects the big hit game during the big hit game, the clogged ball may be notified during the big hit game. Examples of the area that does not affect the big hit game include an area A2 in a state where a right hit big hit has occurred.

In steps 50 and 150, the determination may be performed as follows. That is, it is determined whether or not all parked gaming balls are within a preset range (predetermined range). If so, the process proceeds to step 60 (step 160). The process shown in FIG. In addition, when the game balls that are stopped are present at a plurality of locations that are separated from each other, for each location, all the game balls that are stopped at that location are within a preset range (predetermined range). It can be determined whether or not it falls within.

  Further, it is possible to proceed to step 60 (step 160) as it is without making the determination in steps 50 and 150.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine, 3 ... Outer frame, 5 ... Inner frame, 7 ... Game board, 7a ... Game side,
8 ... game ball, 9 ... handle, 11 ... upper tray, 13 ... lower tray,
15 ... Liquid crystal display device, 15a ... Image display area, 15b ... Frame part,
17 ... Normal symbol start gate, 19 ... Normal symbol display device,
21 ... Ordinary electric accessory, 22 ... Opening / closing plate, 23 ... Starting port,
25 ... Special symbol display device, 27 ... Special electric accessory, 29 ... Grand prize opening,
30 ... Nail, 31 ... Main control board, 33 ... Production control board, 35 ... Pixel,
37... Optical sensor drive circuit, 39... Liquid crystal source driver,
41 ... Liquid crystal gate driver

Claims (2)

A game surface on which a game ball rolls,
Image data acquisition means for imaging the game surface from the game surface side and acquiring image data;
Detection means for detecting a game ball that is parked on the game surface based on the image data;
A notification signal output means for outputting a notification signal when there are a predetermined number or more of the stopped game balls detected by the detection means;
With
The game signal output means outputs the notification signal at a different timing depending on a place where a predetermined number or more of the stopped game balls detected by the detection means exist. A game surface on which a game ball rolls,
Image data acquisition means for imaging the game surface from the game surface side and acquiring image data;
Detecting means for recognizing an object shown in the image data and detecting a game ball stopped on the game surface based on the shape and size of the recognized object;
A notification signal output means for outputting a notification signal when there are a predetermined number or more of the stopped game balls detected by the detection means;
A gaming machine comprising: