JP6016873B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  For game machines represented by so-called pachinko machines or slot machines, for example, an operation unit such as a count switch or a solenoid actuator that drives an opening / closing member of a big prize opening used for game control, and electric power to the operation unit A main control board that performs supply and transmission / reception of control signals, and a relay terminal board that relays and transmits electrical signals such as control signals between the main control board and the operating unit are provided.

In general, in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, the number of devices to be controlled, the number of operating parts, the structure, etc. are frequently changed along with the model change.
In addition, if there is a vacant terminal on a board such as the main control board or the relay terminal board, a signal may be illegally input through the vacant terminal.

  For example, when there is a change in the number of used boards or operating parts of a gaming machine or a change in the structure, the number of power terminals or input / output terminals for control signals is changed accordingly. Furthermore, each board is changed or designed for each gaming machine model so that there is no empty terminal on the board.

  For this reason, it is often necessary to manufacture and replace the main control board and the relay terminal board for each model of the gaming machine, resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost of the gaming machine.

  As a related technology for this, in the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, when there is an unused input / output unit (empty terminal), it is possible to suppress unauthorized control by performing processing on an input signal for this empty terminal. A gaming machine is disclosed.

JP-A-6-261978

  However, in the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, when there is an unused input / output terminal, it is necessary to invalidate the function of the signal input to this input / output terminal. There is an inconvenience that the process of invalidating the input requires enormous costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a gaming machine in which the generation of empty terminals on a control board is suppressed.

According to the present invention, an operation unit , a control board having at least one of a plurality of input ports or a plurality of output ports, and a control signal relay line for transmitting a control signal between the operation unit and the control board And the control signal relay line branches the control signal transmitted from one operation unit and transmits it to the plurality of input ports, or the control output from the plurality of output ports. gaming machine is provided, it characterized that you have made to the configuration for transmission is combined signals to the operation of one.

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of an empty terminal in a control signal port of a control board while sharing a mode in which a plurality of different operation units are connected to the control board via a control signal relay line. Can be provided.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the gaming machine of Embodiment 1. It is a front view of a gaming machine. It is a figure which shows the game board arrange | positioned in a gaming machine. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main control structures of a gaming machine. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the gaming machine of Embodiment 2. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the gaming machine of Embodiment 3. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal circuit structures of the game machine of Embodiment 4. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal circuit structures of the gaming machine of Embodiment 5. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the game machine of Embodiment 6. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the conventional machine. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the main internal structures of the conventional machine.

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
The gaming machine 10 according to the first embodiment is a so-called pachinko gaming machine, and fires a game ball on a front area (hereinafter referred to as a game area 50a) of a game board 50 on which a large number of game nails (not shown) are erected. (See FIG. 3), a game in which a prize ball is obtained when a game ball enters a specific prize opening (for example, a big prize opening or the like) is performed.
In the following embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine that uses pachinko balls (hereinafter referred to as “game balls”) as game media and performs various game effects according to the game situation. However, the present invention may be applied to, for example, a revolving game machine (so-called slot machine) that uses medals as game media.

[About the outline of the gaming machine 10]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to the first embodiment.
The gaming machine 10 includes a control board 100 having a control signal port 104 connected to a control signal relay line 253 through which a control signal is transmitted to and from the operating unit 400, and the control signal relay line 253 branches to control signals. Connected to port 106.

Here, a control signal relay line (referred to as a branch control signal relay line 283) branched from the control signal relay line 253 is connected to the control signal port 106. As a result, the control signal relay line 253 (and the branch control signal relay line 283) connected to the operation unit 400 is connected in parallel to the control signal ports 104 and 106.
Here, the plurality of control signal ports 104 and 106 provided in the control board 100 are referred to as a control signal port group 101. That is, the control signal port group 101 includes control signal ports 104 and 106. A branch point on the control signal relay line 253 is a branch point 284.

Here, the operation unit 400 includes an operation unit used for controlling the game, an operation unit indicating the state of the gaming machine, and an operation unit used for producing the game.
The “operation unit used for controlling the game” is started when a gaming ball enters a specific winning opening when the gaming machine 10 is a pachinko gaming machine, and is determined by various functional units described later. The operation unit used for a series of game processes until the result is output (the operation unit used for controlling the game) is included. Specifically, a count switch that detects a ball entering a winning opening such as a start opening, which triggers a series of games, and a normal electric combination or special electric combination that outputs the result of the determined game. Examples include an opening / closing member attached as an object and an actuator (solenoid actuator or motor actuator) that drives the operation of a member that operates in conjunction with a game result.

  In addition, the operation unit 400 serving as the “operation unit indicating the state of the gaming machine” includes an illegal component installed in the gaming machine 10, a magnetic sensor that detects an illegal act of guiding a game ball using a magnet, A sensor for detecting the opening of the door is included.

  In addition, when the gaming machine is a revolving type gaming machine (so-called slot machine), the start operation is notified when a start condition such as betting a medal is satisfied, A series of processes from the internal lottery, receiving the reel stop operation, determining the reel stop pattern, granting a bonus corresponding to winning (entering the winning slot such as the starting slot) and performing medal processing An operation unit used for game processing.

In addition, the “operation unit used for the game effect” includes output means (hereinafter referred to as “output means”) used for the game effect in the gaming machine 10. Examples of the output means include an effect display device, a speaker, and a decorative lamp (LED). Further, the other output means includes an effect display device, a substrate (controlled substrate) provided with a decoration lamp such as a speaker and an LED, an effect actuator for driving an effectable movable accessory, and the like.
Here, the “game effect” refers to an effect that is executed in conjunction with a series of processes executed for a game or triggered by these processes and is output in a sensible manner for the player.

  In addition, when the gaming machine 10 is a swing-type gaming machine (so-called slot machine), a start operation notification is received when a start condition such as betting a medal is satisfied, and this Then, an internal lottery is performed, a reel stop operation is received, a reel stop pattern is determined, a privilege corresponding to a prize is awarded, and a medal process is performed until a medal process is performed (action unit 400). Is included).

Here, the control signal includes various signals such as a detection signal sent from the operation unit 400 of the gaming machine 10 to the control board 100 and an operation command sent from the control board 100 to the operation unit 400.
More specifically, a detection signal sent from the operation unit 400 to the control board 100 indicating that the operation of the game ball in the gaming machine 10 has been detected, a detection signal indicating an error detected by the magnetic sensor, and an operation from the control board 100 A command signal, a drive signal (drive current signal), and the like that are sent to the unit 400 and control operations in the operation unit 400 are included.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the gaming machine 10, the control signal relay line 253 through which the control signal is transmitted is connected to the control signal port 104 and the operation unit 400 provided on the control board 100. A branch control signal relay line 283 branched from the control signal relay line 253 is connected to the control signal port 106 provided on the control board 100.
Note that the gaming machine 10 may have a configuration including control signal relay lines connected to different operation units (not shown) included in the operation unit 400.
“The control signal is transmitted” indicates a mode in which the control signal is sent from one of the control board 100 and the operation unit 400 to the other via the control signal relay line 253. Note that “transmitted” includes transferring the control signal to be transmitted by performing processing such as copying and branching, reinforcing, filtering such as noise removal, and the like.

  In the first embodiment and the second to sixth embodiments to be described later, major winning ports 55, 56, a first starting port 57, a second starting port 59, an operation gate 63, a normal winning port 67 ( 67a, 67b, 67c) and the like (see FIG. 3).

  Further, as the control board 100, the main control boards 110, 130, and 150 having various functions that control the game in the gaming machine 10 and affect the game result, and the effects that control the effects related to the game. A control board 300 is included. Each of these substrates will be described later.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the branch control signal relay line 283 branched from the control signal relay line 253 is directly connected to a control signal port (referred to as “empty port”) that can be unused on the control board 100. Has been.
In other words, the branch control signal relay line 283 is connected to the control signal port 106 (empty port) that is not connected to the control signal relay line and can be in an unused state. Therefore, even when there is a model change in the gaming machine, a model structure or a model specification change, it is possible to use the control board 100 in common (control board common use).

[About empty ports in the gaming machine 10]
Here, the “empty port” will be described.
In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a spinning machine (slot machine), as described above, the number and structure of controlled devices and output means corresponding to the control board are changed in accordance with the model change or the like.
For this reason, for example, as the model is changed from the old model to the new model, one or more of the different operating units connected to the control board in the old model are in the new model. It can happen that it is no longer used (it becomes unnecessary).
In such a case, the operation unit (operation unit D1: not shown) on the side that is no longer used in the new model, the control signal relay line (control signal relay line L1: not shown) connected to the operation unit D1, and The control signal port on the control board to which the control signal relay line L1 was connected becomes unnecessary.
Here, when a new model uses the same control board as the old model, the control signal port of the control board to which the control signal relay line L1 is connected in the old model becomes an unused port. That is, the control signal port that is an unused port is referred to as an “empty port”.
For this reason, in the gaming machine 10 according to the first embodiment (corresponding to a “new model” here), as shown in FIG. 1, a branch control signal relay line 283 is provided for the control signal port 106 serving as an empty port. It has a connected configuration. Thereby, even when the control board 100 common to the old model is used in the new model (game machine 10), it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an empty terminal in the control board 100.

In addition, the control signal relay line 253 and the branch control signal relay line 283 in the gaming machine 10 of the first embodiment are each configured by a flexible cable, and the control board 100 and the operation unit 400 include the control signal relay line 253 and the branch control signal. You may be connected by the aerial wiring by the relay line 283. FIG.
Further, as a connection mode between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400, a relay terminal plate is provided between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400, and the control signal relay line 253 and the branch control signal relay line 283 are provided on the relay terminal plate. The structure in which a part of is patterned with a conductor may be used.

[Appearance of gaming machine]
Next, the appearance of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that gaming machines 10a, 20, 30, and 10b, which will be described later, also have the same appearance.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gaming machine 10 has a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 15 that opens forward and backward, and a game board 50 (FIG. 3) that is detachably held on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15. A frame (not shown) and a front frame 12 configured to cover the front side of the game board 50 (medium frame).

The front frame 12 is rotatably supported on the left end side by the hinge mechanism 21 and can be opened and closed with respect to the middle frame. The front frame 12 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23.
The front frame 12 includes a transparent member 25 disposed so as to cover the game area 50a (FIG. 3), and the game area 50a and the game board 50 are see-through protected by the transparent member 25.
The front frame 12 includes an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 that store game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are provided integrally with the front frame 12 so as to be spaced apart from each other.
The front frame 12 is provided with an operation handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29 so that the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a by the turning operation of the operation handle 31. It has become.

A pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 12, respectively. In addition, the upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34 and 36 of the front frame 12 are formed by a light-transmitting cover, and the illumination devices 35 (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e, and 35f) are respectively provided in the interior. 35 g). The speaker 33 and the illuminating device 35 can output sound or can be turned on or off in conjunction with effects or error notifications that occur during the game.
The front frame 12 is provided with a button 37 at the front portion of the upper ball tray 27. The button 37 can accept a player's operation performed to switch effects generated during the game or to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 by the player.

  Below the lower ball receiving tray 29, a ball removal mechanism 39 for discharging the game balls stored in the lower ball receiving tray 29 downward is provided. By operating the ball removal mechanism 39, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball receiving tray 29 is opened, and the game ball is naturally dropped and discharged from the bottom opening.

The effect display device 80 is disposed substantially at the center of the game board 50. The effect display device 80 can display various effects including changes in effect symbols. Here, the effect symbol is a symbol displayed on the effect display device 80 in order to further enhance the interest of the game in the gaming machine 10, and is specifically composed of numbers, patterns, or a combination thereof.
In general, the player of the gaming machine 10 is intrigued by the fluctuating effect of the effect symbol displayed on the effect display device 80, and the effect display device 80 is arranged at a position that is easily visible to the player. ing.
As the effect display device 80, a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal panel is housed in a housing case is generally adopted. However, the display device 80 is not limited to this, and various types of display devices such as a drum type and a dot matrix type are used. Can be adopted.

  The effect display device 80 displays an effect symbol in the approximate center of its display area, and further displays the effect symbols on the left and right sides of the effect symbol, respectively. That is, the effect display device 80 displays effect symbols on “left”, “middle”, and “right”, respectively, and the displayed effect symbols form one or more columns. By scrolling these effect symbols in the up-down direction or the left-right direction, the effect symbols are variably displayed in the display area of the effect display device 80.

The symbol display device 90 is disposed at a position that is less visible to the player than the effect display device 80, such as the lower right side of the effect display device 80. Further, the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the effect display device 80.
In the symbol display device 90, a plurality of lamps are arranged. The lamp used in the symbol display device 90 in the present embodiment is a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED). The symbol display device 90 shows various information depending on the arrangement of the light emitting LEDs, and includes a special symbol display device 91 and a normal symbol display device 92.

  The special symbol display device 91 displays the lottery result (special symbol) of the special symbol variation game by the light emission patterns of a plurality of (for example, 16) LEDs. More specifically, the special symbol display device 91 of the present embodiment is controlled by the first special symbol display device 91a controlled by the first special symbol display control unit 1151 and the second special symbol display control unit 1152. And a second special symbol display device 91b (see FIG. 4). The first special symbol display device 91a includes eight LEDs on the left side of the 16 LEDs constituting the special symbol display device 91. Further, the second special symbol display device 91b is composed of eight right-side LEDs among the 16 LEDs constituting the special symbol display device 91. The normal symbol display device 92 displays the lottery result (ordinary symbol) of the normal symbol variation game by the light emission patterns of the LEDs (for example, two) less than the special symbol display device 91.

On the front surface of the game board 50, a large number of game nails (not shown), windmills 52, decorative members, and the like are arranged, so that a game area 50a is drawn so that the launched game ball rolls. It is made. Further, on the left side and the upper side of the game area 50a, curved outer rails 51 and inner rails 53 provided for guiding game balls launched by the rotation operation of the operation handle 31 to the upper part of the game area 50a are arranged. Has been. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 as viewed from the center of the game area 50a.
Here, the windmill 52 is a mechanism for changing the direction in which the game ball is dropped, and is a nail-like one.

  The gaming machine 10 can increase or decrease the strength of the game ball according to the magnitude of the rotation operation amount (for example, the rotation angle) of the operation handle 31, and the first flow path in which the weakly launched game ball rolls. Various obstacles enter the game area 50a so that the game ball rolls in any one of X (so-called left-handed) and the second flow path Y (so-called right-handed) in which the more strongly launched game ball rolls. Has been placed.

In the game area 50a, various winning holes (for example, a large winning hole 55) are arranged, and behind each winning hole, various switches (for example, a count switch SW4, etc.) for detecting a game ball that has entered are arranged. Has been. In the following description, winning means that a game ball enters a specific winning opening.
Note that the various switches in the present embodiment are arranged at positions that are not visible to the player, and are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

  In FIG. 3, the main winning opening 55, the large winning opening 56, the first starting opening 57, the second starting opening 59, the operation gate 63, and the normal winning opening 67 (67a, 67b, 67c) are illustrated as main winning openings. To do. The winning award shown here is an example, and the number and arrangement thereof may be changed as appropriate.

The first start port 57 is arranged at the center lower part (below the effect display device 80) of the game area 50a, and is generally called “navel”.
Behind the first start port 57, a first start port switch SW1 for detecting a game ball that has entered is disposed.
A start condition for starting a special symbol variation game by detecting a game ball entering the first start port 57 by the first start port switch SW1, and a payout condition for paying out a predetermined number of game balls as prize balls And are given.
In the present embodiment, the game area 50a enters the first start port 57 when the game ball rolls from the first flow path X rather than when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y. Various obstacles are arranged to make it easier. That is, the first start port 57 is provided in the first flow path X mainly on the left side of the game area 50a.

The second start port 59 is disposed in the lower right part of the game area 50a (the lower right side of the effect display device 80), and the ordinary starter 61 is attached to the second start port 59. The ordinary electric accessory 61 is an opening / closing member that can be switched to an open state in which a game ball can easily enter the second starting port 59 or a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the ball. Transition to one of the closed states. The control of the ordinary electric accessory 61 will be described in detail later.
Behind the second start port 59, a second start port switch SW2 for detecting an incoming game ball is arranged. By detecting the game ball that has entered the second start port 59 with the second start port switch SW2, the start condition of the special symbol variation game and the payout condition of the prize ball are given.
In the present embodiment, the game area 50a enters the second start port 59 when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y, rather than when the game ball rolls from the first flow path X. Various obstacles are arranged to make it easier. That is, the second start port 59 is provided in the second flow path Y mainly on the right side of the game area 50a.

The operation gate 63 is disposed above the second start port 59 (on the right side of the effect display device 80). Behind the operation gate 63, a normal symbol variation switch SW3 for detecting a passed game ball is disposed. The actuating gate 63 can be given a starting condition for the normal symbol variation game by detecting the entered game ball with the normal symbol variation switch SW3.
In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the detection of the normal symbol variation switch SW3 is not included in the award ball payout condition. That is, even if a game ball enters the operation gate 63 of this embodiment, the prize ball is zero.
Further, the operation gate 63 may be a so-called gate type winning opening in which the passed game ball rolls again in the game area 50a after passing. In this case, passing through the operation gate 63 is also referred to as “entrance ball” in this specification.

  The special winning opening 55 is arranged above the second start opening 59 (lower right side of the effect display device 80). A special electric accessory 65 that opens and closes by the operation of the actuator AC2 is disposed in the opening of the special winning opening 55. Behind the big winning opening 55 is a count switch SW4 that detects a game ball that has entered. When the count switch SW4 detects a game ball that has entered the special winning opening 55, a payout condition for the prize ball is given.

The big prize opening 56 is arranged above the big prize opening 55 (on the right side of the effect display device 80). A special electric accessory 66 that opens and closes by the operation of the actuator AC3 is disposed in the opening of the special winning opening 56. Behind the big prize opening 56, a count switch SW5 that detects a game ball that has entered the big prize opening 56 is arranged. Here, when the count switch SW5 detects a game ball that has entered the special winning opening 56, a payout condition for the prize ball is given.
In addition, a communication path (not shown) communicating with the special winning opening 56 is provided, and a count switch SW0 for detecting a game ball that has passed is disposed in the communication path. The communication path is configured such that the passing path of the game balls is branched into a plurality of paths, and by distributing the game balls passing through the passing path from one passing path to the other passing path, one or the other A sorting member is provided to open the passage route.
Here, during the big hit game, the passage route where the count switch SW0 is arranged is opened for a predetermined time, and when the game ball is detected by the count switch SW0, the probability is changed after the big hit game is over at that time. A state is given as a privilege.
That is, the winning probability control unit 1141 that controls the provision of the probability variation state provides a privilege advantageous to the player due to the game ball passing through a specific passage route.
The function of the winning probability control unit 1141 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The big winning opening 55 is opened by the opening operation of the special electric accessory 65 during the big hit game which is won in the special symbol variation game caused by the entry of the first starting opening 57 or the second starting opening 59. Entering game balls is allowed. Also, the big winning opening 56 is opened by opening the special electric accessory 66 during the big hit game which is won in the special symbol variation game caused by the entry of the first starting port 57 or the second starting port 59. And game balls are allowed to enter.
Regardless of which jackpot game is played, the player's chances of winning a prize ball can be greatly increased. In this embodiment, when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y, it is easier to enter the big winning opening 55 or the big winning opening 56 than when rolling from the first flow path X. Various obstacles are placed in the area.

  The normal winning opening 67 (67a, 67b, 67c) is arranged at the lower left portion of the effect display device 80. A count switch (not shown) for detecting a game ball that has entered the ball is disposed behind the normal winning port 67. By detecting the game ball that has entered the normal winning port 67 with this count switch, a payout condition for the winning ball can be given.

  The out port 69 is disposed at the lowermost part of the game area 50a. The game balls that have not entered the above-described winning gates (in the case where the operating gate 63 is of a gate type, the gaming balls that have passed through the operating gate 63 and have not won other winning ports are included). It falls into 69 and is processed as an out ball.

[About control configuration of gaming machine 10]
Next, the control configuration of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the control board or main control board in gaming machines 10a, 20, 30, 10b, and 40 described later has the same control configuration. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a main control configuration of the gaming machine 10.
Note that each function illustrated in FIG. 4 is a function necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10, and a function not illustrated here may be added to the gaming machine 10. Further, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have all of the functions illustrated here, and some functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The gaming machine 10 includes a main control board that realizes various functions including the functions shown in FIG. 4 by processing the board and functional components electrically connected to the board. Yes.
More specifically, the main control board includes a CPU that executes a control operation in a predetermined procedure, a ROM (not shown) that stores a control program for the CPU, and a RAM that can write and read necessary data ( (Not shown).
In addition, various functions can be realized by executing a control program read from the ROM by the CPU and writing or reading various data in the RAM.
The various functions shown in FIG. 4 are functions that can be realized with only one board, functions that can be realized by exchanging various data between a plurality of boards, and functional parts that are not mounted on the board and the board. Functions that can be realized by being electrically connected to each other are mixed. There may be various hardware configurations for realizing these various functions, and the hardware configuration is not necessarily limited to one.

The control board (main control board) includes a main control unit 1000 that controls the game in an integrated manner. The main control unit 1000 is a component that functions as a so-called main control board having a function that affects or may affect the game result. Here, the main control board provided with the main control unit 1000 corresponds to the control board 100 of the first embodiment, the second and sixth embodiments to be described later, and the main control boards 130, 150, and 110 in the third to fifth embodiments. .
As shown in FIG. 4, the main control unit 1000 has a number of functions, and these functions are connected to each other. However, the configuration shown here is an example, and this is not necessarily the case. It is not limited to.

  The main functions of the main control unit 1000 include a special drawing lottery control unit 1130, a general drawing lottery control unit 1170, a gaming state control unit 1140, a symbol display control unit 1150, a variation pattern determination unit 1110, and the like.

The special drawing lottery control unit 1130 has a function of controlling other components in relation to the special symbol variation game or a function of managing a jackpot game.
The regular drawing lottery control unit 1170 has a function of controlling other components or a function of managing a winning game in relation to the normal symbol variation game.
The game state control unit 1140 has a function of managing the presence / absence of the probability change state and the presence / absence of the change state, and controlling the granting and release (transition to the normal state).
The symbol display control unit 1150 has a function of causing the symbol display device 90 to display a special symbol selected as a result of the special symbol variation game or a normal symbol selected as a result of the normal symbol variation game.

The variation pattern determination unit 1110 determines a variation pattern used for determination of a display effect performed in connection with the special symbol variation game based on the selected special symbol, and the determined variation pattern is represented by the effect control unit 320. To communicate.
The effect control unit 320 has a function of controlling effects related to games played by the gaming machine 10, in particular, special symbol variation games.

  The functions listed in the previous stage and the previous stage will be described in more detail below.

[About random numbers for jackpot determination and special figure hold]
The main control unit 1000 includes a first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111, a second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112, and a special figure reservation control unit 1120.

The first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 holds the lottery value acquired by winning the game ball in the first start port 57 in a stored manner. The second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 holds the lottery value acquired by winning the game ball at the second start port 59 in a reserved manner.
When the lottery value is stored on hold in the second special drawing lottery value acquisition unit 1112, the special figure selection unit 1132 regardless of whether the lottery value is stored on hold in the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111. In addition, it is possible to perform the lottery determination based on the lottery value stored on hold in the second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112.

  More specifically, the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 detects that the first start port 57 has entered the first start port 57 or the second start port switch SW2 detects the second start port. When 59 balls are detected, a big hit determination random number used as a lottery value for the special symbol variation game is acquired and stored (pending storage) in a dedicated storage area. The upper limit number of lottery values that can be stored on hold by the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 is determined in advance. In the present embodiment, the upper limit number is four.

  The second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 detects the entrance of the second start port 59 by the second start port switch SW2, or the entrance of the first start port 57 is detected by the first start port switch SW1. Then, a jackpot determination random number used as a lottery value for the special symbol variation game is acquired and stored in a dedicated storage area (holding storage). The upper limit number of lottery values that can be stored on hold by the second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 is determined in advance, and in the present embodiment, the upper limit number is four.

  When the special figure lottery control section 1130 is not performing the control related to the special symbol variation game or the control related to the big hit game, the special figure hold control section 1120 is configured to receive the first special figure lottery value acquisition section 1111 or the second The lottery value (random number for jackpot determination) stored on hold by the special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 is read. When the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 and the second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 both hold one or more lottery values, the special figure reservation control unit 1120 displays the second special figure lottery value. It is possible to preferentially read out the lottery value stored on hold by the acquiring unit 1112.

  Since the jackpot lottery unit 1131 executes the jackpot lottery using the lottery value read by the special figure hold control unit 1120, as a result, from the lottery value stored in the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 The lottery values stored in the second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112 are preferentially processed.

  Here, a random number (a big hit determination random number) refers to a series of numbers that are disorderly and have the same appearance frequency as a whole. When the gaming machine 10 is operating, a random number is always generated inside the player machine, and the random number is used for various lottery processes. As a random number generation method, there are a method of generating by a dedicated IC (hardware method), a method of generating by a dedicated program (software method), or a method of generating by a combination thereof. In this embodiment, several types of random numbers including the above-mentioned jackpot determination random number are used. However, any of the methods described above may be used to generate these random numbers.

  The special figure hold control unit 1120 monitors the number of lottery values stored on hold in the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 or the second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1112. Further, the special figure hold control unit 1120 may issue a command to the symbol display control unit 1150 so that the number of lottery values being monitored is displayed on the symbol display device 90, or the effect display device 80 displays the command. As such, a command may be issued to the effect control unit 320.

[About jackpot lottery and jackpot games]
The special drawing lottery control unit 1130 is a function for managing a big hit lottery and a big hit game, and has a big hit lottery unit 1131, a special drawing selection unit 1132, and a big hit game control unit 1133.

The jackpot lottery unit 1131 performs a jackpot winning lottery using a lottery value (random number for jackpot determination) acquired when a game ball enters the first start port 57 or the second start port 59. Note that the winning probability of the lottery performed by the big hit lottery unit 1131 is lower in the normal state than in the probability variation state, and is higher in the probability variation state than in the normal state.
Here, “predetermined processing is performed in response to winning” means that the predetermined processing can be executed thereafter on the condition that a ball is detected. That is, even if a ball is detected, the predetermined process does not necessarily have to be executed. For example, in this embodiment, when the number of lottery value hold of the first special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1111 exceeds the upper limit, the ball detected by the first start switch SW1 or the second special figure lottery value acquisition The entry detected by the second start port switch SW2 when the number of lottery value reservations in the part 1112 exceeds the upper limit does not become the start condition of the special symbol variation game.

The special symbol selection unit 1132 selects a special symbol based on the result of the success / failure lottery performed by the jackpot lottery unit 1131, and displays the selected special symbol as the symbol display control unit 1150 (the first special diagram display control unit 1151 or the second special diagram). Display to the display control unit 1152) to display the special symbol display device 91 (the first special symbol display device 91a or the second special symbol display device 91b).
The selection here includes a case where the lottery value used in the winning / failing lottery and the number of types of special symbols prepared in advance are the same and are uniquely “determined” without “selection”.

The jackpot game in this embodiment is controlled by the jackpot game control unit 1133.
First, after winning and winning lottery by the jackpot lottery unit 1131, the jackpot symbol selected by the special symbol selection unit 1132 in the special symbol variation game displayed on the special symbol display device 91 is stopped and displayed. Be started.
Before the big hit game is started, the big hit game control unit 1133 issues a command to the special figure hold control unit 1120, the universal figure hold control unit 1160, etc., and the process related to the big win lottery or the process related to the big lottery is performed. Issue a command to pause.
When the big hit game starts, the big hit game control unit 1133 issues a command related to the opening effect indicating the start of the big hit game to the effect control unit 320. The effect control unit 320 executes the opening effect for a predetermined time (opening time) in accordance with the command of the jackpot game control unit 1133.
After the opening effect is completed, the round game in which the big prize opening 55 or the big prize opening 56 is opened is performed a plurality of times, with a predetermined number of times (number of rounds) as an upper limit. One round game is until the grand prize opening 55 or the grand prize opening 56 is opened and closed a predetermined number of times (the number of times of opening and closing). The game ball is released until the (game win upper limit) game balls are won or until a specified time (round game time) elapses. In the round game, a round effect is performed.

  After the end of the round game, the big prize opening 55 or the big prize opening 56 is closed for a predetermined time (interval time), and the big prize opening 55 or the big prize opening 56 is opened again with the start of the next round game.

  The jackpot game control unit 1133 is a special power control that includes, as control information, the number of rounds, the number of times of opening / closing, the upper limit of the number of winnings, the round game time, the interval time, etc., in order to open the big prize opening 55 The data is transmitted to the unit 1190.

  The special electric role control unit 1190 operates the actuator AC2 or the actuator AC3 according to the command received from the big hit game control unit 1133 to open the special electric role item 65 or the special electric role item 66. In addition, the special electric role control unit 1190 is a game ball that has entered the big prize opening 55 or the big prize opening 56 during one round game while the special electric combination 65 or the special electric combination 66 is opened. Is monitored based on the detection of the count switch SW4 or the count switch SW5. When the winning upper limit is reached, the actuator AC2 or the actuator AC3 is operated to close the special electric accessory 65 or the special electric accessory 66. Let

The big hit game control unit 1133 issues a command related to the effect related to the round game to the effect control unit 320. The effect control unit 320 executes the round effect according to the command of the jackpot game control unit 1133.
When the round game of the specified number of rounds is completed, the big hit game control unit 1133 issues a command related to the ending effect indicating the end of the big hit game to the production control unit 320. The effect control unit 320 executes the ending effect for a predetermined time (ending time) according to the command of the jackpot game control unit 1133, and the jackpot game is ended.
In the big hit game of the present embodiment, since the game ball rolls in the second flow path Y is easier to win the big winning opening 55, so-called right-handed is more advantageous for the player.

[About game state control]
The gaming state control unit 1140 has a function of controlling the gaming state, and has a winning probability control unit 1141 and a change control unit 1142.

Detection by the count switch SW0 is transmitted to the winning probability control unit 1141, and the winning probability control unit 1141 gives a certain change state triggered by the detection.
That is, at the end of the big hit game in which the passage route where the count switch SW0 is arranged is opened for a certain time, it is determined whether or not the detection by the count switch SW0 has occurred from the start to the end of the big hit game. When it occurs, the winning probability control unit 1141 gives a probability variation state.
The change control unit 1142 gives a change state when the big hit game executed by the big hit game control unit 1133 ends.

[About winning lottery and winning games]
The gaming machine 10 includes a general drawing lottery value acquisition unit 1113 and a general drawing hold control unit 1160.
When the normal symbol variation switch SW3 detects the entrance of the operation gate 63, the normal symbol lottery value acquiring unit 1113 acquires a hit determination random number used as a lottery value for the normal symbol variation game, and stores it in a dedicated storage area. Store (hold storage). The upper limit number of lottery values that can be held by the normal lottery value acquisition unit 1113 is determined in advance. In the present embodiment, the upper limit number is four.
The special figure hold control unit 1160 does not perform the control related to the big hit game when the special drawing lottery control unit 1170 does not perform the control related to the normal symbol variation game or the control related to the winning game. At the time, the lottery value (random number for winning determination) stored and held by the usual lottery value acquisition unit 1113 is read at a predetermined cycle.

  The general figure hold control unit 1160 monitors the number of lottery values stored on hold in the general drawing lottery value acquisition unit 1113. Further, the general symbol hold control unit 1160 may issue a command to the symbol display control unit 1150 to display the number of lottery values being monitored on the symbol display device 90, or display the command on the effect display device 80. As such, a command may be issued to the effect control unit 320.

  The gaming machine 10 includes a general drawing lottery control unit 1170 and a normal electric role control unit 1180. The regular drawing lottery control unit 1170 has a function of managing winning lottery and winning games, and includes a winning lottery unit 1171, a universal drawing selecting unit 1172, and a winning game control unit 1173.

  The winning lottery unit 1171 uses the winning determination random number read from the general drawing lottery value acquiring unit 1113 by the general drawing hold control unit 1160 to determine whether or not to shift the ordinary electric accessory 61 to the open state. I do. The winning probability of the lottery performed by the winning lottery unit 1171 is lower in the normal state than in the variable state, and is higher in the variable state than in the normal state. .

The common symbol selection unit 1172 selects a normal symbol based on the result of the open lottery by the winning lottery unit 1171 and transmits the selected normal symbol to the symbol display control unit 1150 (general symbol display control unit 1153). It is displayed on the symbol display device 92. One of the two LEDs corresponding to the normal symbol display device 92 hits one and the other corresponds to the off, and the normal symbol display control unit 1153 emits either one according to the normal symbol selected by the normal symbol selection unit 1172. Let
The selection here is the same as the selection by the special figure selection unit 1132, and the lottery values used in the open lottery and the number of types of special symbols prepared in advance are the same, and “selection” is not performed. In some cases, it is uniquely determined.

When the winning game control unit 1173 wins the winning lottery by the winning lottery unit 1171, the winning game control unit 1173 transmits a command to the ordinary electric combination control unit 1180 and operates the actuator AC 1 to open the ordinary electric combination 61 under a predetermined opening condition. .
The ordinary electric combination control unit 1180 controls the ordinary electric combination 61 so as to increase the unit time of the opened state or the number of times of opening in the variable state.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, Embodiment 2 which is a structure provided with the relay terminal board 200a between the control board 100 and the action | operation part 400 of FIG. 1 is demonstrated using FIG. Here, the gaming machine of the second embodiment is a gaming machine 10a. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the gaming machine according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the relay terminal board 200a of the gaming machine 10a includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 215a and 217a connected to the control signal ports 104 and 106 of the control board 100, and control signal relays. A control signal relay line portion 282a that is a part of the line 253a (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 1). In addition, the relay terminal board 200a is provided between the control board 100 and the operation | movement part 400 as mentioned above.
Further, the control signal relay line portion 282a on the relay terminal board 200a and the branch control signal relay line portion 285a which are part of the branched control signal relay line 283a (corresponding to the branch control signal relay line 283 in FIG. 1) are different. The control signal ports 104 and 106 are connected to the control signal relay terminals 215a and 217a.
Here, the plurality of control signal ports provided in the control board 100 are referred to as a control signal port group 101. That is, the control signal port group 101 includes control signal ports 104 and 106.

  Here, the control signal relay line portion 282a indicates a signal transmission line portion (print pattern portion) in which a conductor is disposed (patterned) on the relay terminal plate 200a. The branch control signal relay line portion 285a indicates a signal transmission line portion (print pattern portion) in which a conductor is disposed (patterned) on the relay terminal board 200a branched at the branch point 284a of the control signal relay line portion 282a. .

Further, the relay terminal board 200a includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 215a and 217a on the side facing the control board 100. In addition, the relay terminal plate 200 a includes an operation signal relay terminal 219 a on the side facing the operation unit 400.
Here, the control signal relay terminals 215a and 217a and the operation signal relay terminal 219a are respectively connected to an internal terminal connected to the print pattern on the relay terminal board 200a, a device or a board outside the relay terminal board 200a, and a transmission line. Consists of external terminals to be connected.
The external terminals of the control signal relay terminals 215a and 217a are connected to the control signal ports 104 and 106 via transmission lines 183 and 185, respectively, and the external terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 219a is an operation unit via the transmission line 193. 400 is connected.
The control signal relay line 253a includes a transmission line 183 connected to the control signal port 104 of the control board 100, a control signal relay terminal 215a, a control signal relay line portion 282a, an operation signal relay terminal 219a, and a transmission line 193.
Here, the branch control signal relay line portion 285a is connected to the branch point 284a and the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217a. For this reason, in the gaming machine 10a provided with the relay terminal plate 200a, the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217a becomes an empty terminal (corresponding to “empty port”).

  The control signal relay line 282a disposed on the relay terminal plate 200a is a print pattern connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 215a and the inner terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 219a as described above. The branch control signal relay line portion 285a is also a print pattern signal wiring disposed on the relay terminal board 200a.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 10a, the transmission line 185 is connected to the control signal port 106 that can be an empty port in the control board 100, and this transmission line 185 branches to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217a connected to the outer terminal. By connecting the control signal relay line portion 285a, the generation of empty terminals (empty ports) on the relay terminal board 200a is suppressed.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, as a third embodiment, a gaming machine 20 that is a more specific embodiment corresponding to the above-described second embodiment (FIG. 5) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6. . Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the internal circuit configuration of the gaming machine 20.
In the gaming machine 20 (FIG. 6), various switches provided in the gaming machine are provided as operation units corresponding to the operation unit 400 in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) and the second embodiment (FIG. 5).
Here, specifically, the various switches are generic names including the first start port switch SW1, the second start port switch SW2, the normal symbol variation switch SW3, the count switches SW4, SW5, SW0, and the like (FIG. 4). reference).
In the gaming machine 20, as shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 130 corresponding to the control board 100 (FIG. 5), the relay terminal board 202 corresponding to the relay terminal board 200a (FIG. 5), and the operation unit 400 (FIG. 5). A count switch 420 corresponding to is provided.

  That is, the gaming machine 20 detects a ball entering a start opening, a big winning opening, etc. and outputs a detection signal (corresponding to a control signal), and a main control for acquiring a detection signal from the count switch 420 A substrate 130 is included. The main control board 130 supplies power (power supply) to the count switch 420. The relay terminal board 202 includes a part of each of a power relay line and a control signal relay line that perform the power supply and detection signal relay.

  Here, each of the control signal ports 113 and 115 provided on the main control board 130 in the gaming machine 20 is an input to which the detection signal (control signal) sent from the count switch (operation unit) 420 is input to the main control board 130. Port.

The count switch 420 is driven by power supply from the main control board 130. Further, the count switch 420 includes a detection signal output unit 424 that detects a game ball passing through its own opening 422 and outputs a detection signal (output signal) corresponding to a control signal.
The count switch 420 may be configured to be driven by receiving a power supply from a power supply unit different from the main control board 130.

The relay terminal board 202 includes a control signal relay line 282 that is a part of the control signal relay line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 1), and the control signal relay line 282 branches off to control signal relay. A branch control signal relay line portion 285 connected to the terminal 217 is provided. Here, the branch point on the control signal trunk line part 282 is defined as a branch point 284c.
The relay terminal board 202 includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 215 and 217 and a power relay terminal 211 on the side facing the main control board 130. Here, the control signal relay terminals 215 and 217 are an internal terminal connected to the print pattern on the relay terminal board 202, and an external terminal connected to a device or board outside the relay terminal board 202 via a transmission line or connector. Consists of. The external terminals of the control signal relay terminals 215 and 217 are connected to the control signal ports 113 and 115 via transmission lines 183 and 185, respectively.
Here, the control signal relay line portion 282 is a print pattern disposed on the relay terminal board 202, and is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 215 and the inner terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 263. The branch control signal relay line 285 is a print pattern that connects the branch point 284 c on the control signal relay line 282 to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217.

Note that the control signal line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 1) connecting the count switch 420 and the main control board 130 is specifically a count switch line, and (−) of the count switch 420. The terminal is connected to the main control board 130 via a printed pattern on the relay terminal board 202.
That is, the control signal line connecting the count switch 420 and the main control board 130 branches at the branch point 284c on the relay terminal board 202 and is connected in parallel to the control signal ports 113 and 115, respectively. For this reason, the same detection signal is sent from the count switch 420 to each of the control signal ports 113 and 115.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 20, the transmission line 185 is connected to the control signal port 115 that can be an empty port in the main control board 130, and the branch control signal relay line unit 285 is connected to the transmission line 185 with the control signal relay. Since the connection is made via the terminal 217, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of empty ports (empty terminals) in the main control board 130 and the relay terminal board 202.

[About empty port of gaming machine 20]
Here, the empty ports of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an old model (game machine 60 as a conventional machine).
The main control board 130 and the count switch 420 are the same as those in the third embodiment (FIG. 6). The count switch 620 (FIG. 10) is the same type as the count switch 420.

As described above, in gaming machines such as pachinko machines, the number of controlled devices corresponding to the control board (main control board 130) and the configuration / structure of the output means are frequently changed by changing the model.
Here, the gaming machine 60 including the count switches 420 and 620 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the gaming machine 60 includes a relay terminal board 500 (corresponding to the relay terminal board 202 (FIG. 6)) between the main control board 130 and the count switch 420 (620), similarly to the gaming machine 20 (FIG. 6). It shall be.

  The gaming machine 60 has count switches 420 and 620 that detect a game ball entering a prize winning opening and the like and output a detection signal, and a control signal relay line that relays the detection signal from the count switches 420 and 620 ( The relay terminal board 500 is provided with a part of the control signal relay line 253 in FIG.

  The count switch 620 is driven by power supply from the main control board 130. The count switch 620 includes a detection signal output unit 624 that detects a game ball passing through its own opening 622 and outputs a detection signal (output signal) corresponding to a control signal.

The relay terminal board 500 includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 513 and 515 on the side facing the main control board 130, and includes a plurality of different operation signal relay terminals 563 and 565 on the side facing the count switches 420 and 620, respectively. ing.
The control signal relay terminals 513 and 515 are each composed of an inner terminal connected to the printed pattern on the relay terminal board 500 and an outer terminal connected to a device or board outside the relay terminal board 500 via a transmission line.

  Here, the count switch 420 is connected to the outer terminal of the power relay terminal 561 provided in the relay terminal board 500 via the power transmission line 381, and the outer terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 563 of the relay terminal board 500. Are connected via a transmission line 383. The count switch 620 is connected to the outer terminal of the power relay terminal 562 of the relay terminal board 500 via the power transmission line 572, and to the outer terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 565 of the relay terminal board 500. They are connected via a transmission line 574.

  The relay terminal board 500 includes control signal relay lines 583 and 585 as print patterns, which are part of the control signal relay line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 1). The control signal relay line 583 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 513 and the inner terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 563, and the control signal relay line 585 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 515 and the operation signal relay terminal. 565 is connected to the inner terminal.

In addition, the gaming machine 60 includes a power relay line that is connected to the power port 111 of the main control board 130 and the count switches 420 and 620 and relays power supply from the main control board 130 to the count switches 420 and 620.
Here, the power relay line that relays the power supply from the main control board 130 to the count switch 420 is the power transmission line 181 connected to the power port 111 of the main control board 130 and the power relay terminal 511 of the relay terminal board 500. , A power relay line portion 581 connected to the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 511 and the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 561, and a power transmission line 381 connected to the power relay terminal 561 and the count switch 420.
The power relay line that relays the power supply from the main control board 130 to the count switch 620 is a power transmission line 181 connected to the power port 111 of the main control board 130 and the power relay terminal 511 of the relay terminal board 500, A power relay line portion 581 from the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 511 to the branch point, a branch power relay line portion 587 having both ends of the power relay line portion 581 branch point and the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 562, and a power relay terminal A power transmission line 572 that connects 562 and the count switch 620 is included.
Here, the power relay line connecting the count switches 420 and 620 and the main control board 130 is a common line of the count switch, and a branch point on the relay terminal board 500 from the (−) terminal of each of the count switches 420 and 620. Is connected to the power port 111 via

Here, with the model change from the old model (the gaming machine 60) to the new model (the gaming machine 20), etc., the different ones connected to the main control board 130 in the old model (FIG. 10) via the relay terminal board 500 are different. One of the plurality of count switches 420 and 620 (here, referred to as count switch 620) is assumed to be removed (no longer necessary) in the new model (FIG. 6).
In this case, the count switch 620 that is not used in the new embodiment 3 (FIG. 6), the power transmission line 572, the transmission line 574, and the relay terminal on the relay terminal plate 500 to which the count switch 620 was connected. (Power relay terminal 562, operation signal relay terminal 565, control signal relay terminal 515), branch power relay line portion 587, control signal relay line portion 585, control signal port 115 on main control board 130, transmission line 185, etc. are not yet present. It will be in use.
Here, when the control signal relay terminal 515 is connected to the control signal port 115 via the transmission line 185, the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 515 becomes an unused terminal (empty terminal).

In the gaming machine 20, as shown in FIG. 6, a branch control signal relay line portion 285 for transmitting a detection signal to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217 (corresponding to the control signal relay terminal 515 in FIG. 10) is provided. It is connected.
As a result, the generation of empty terminals on the relay terminal board 202 (corresponding to the relay terminal board 500) is suppressed, and the control signal port 115 connected to the control signal relay terminal 217 via the transmission line is not used. Can be deterred.
Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to shift from the old model to the new model by changing the relay terminal board without changing the main control board.

[Configuration of main control board 130]
Next, the internal configuration of the main control board 130 in the gaming machine 20 and the gaming machine 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 10. Note that the main control board 130 in the gaming machine 20 and the gaming machine 60 has the same or equivalent functional configuration.
Here, the main control board 130 performs execution processing based on a preset program based on detection signals sent from various switches (including the count switch 420) of the gaming machine 20, and executes various controls relating to the game. The main controller 1000 is provided (see FIG. 4).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 130 includes a power supply unit 131 that supplies power (in this case, 12 volts) to the count switch 420 connected via the power port 111 and the power relay line. I have. In the gaming machine 60 (FIG. 10), power is supplied to the count switches 420 and 620 connected in parallel to the power port 111.
Here, the power relay line is a power transmission line that is connected to the count switch 420 or the count switch 620 from the power port 111 of the main control board 130 and relays power supply (power supply) performed to each.
Note that the power relay line in the third embodiment includes a power transmission line 181, a power relay terminal 211, a power relay line unit 281, a power relay terminal 261, and a power transmission line 381.
Further, the main control board 130 compares two voltages applied to the (+) and (−) terminals, and outputs a logical value (1 or 0 (H or L)) as a comparison result. Devices 135 and 137 are provided.
Here, the (−) side terminal of the comparator 135 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal port 113, and the (−) side terminal of the comparator 137 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal port 113 via a print pattern. Yes.

Further, the main control board 130 detects whether or not the voltage potential applied to the (−) terminal of each of the comparators 135 and 137 has reached a certain value based on the output from the comparators 135 and 137. A CPU 105 is provided.
In addition, a power supply unit 139 is connected in parallel to the output line of the comparator 135 via a resistance element R136 and to the output line of the comparator 137 via a resistance element R138. (5V) is performed. The CPU 105 is an integrated circuit that performs an execution process based on a preset program.

Here, the functional configuration excluding the CPU 105 included in the main control board 130 in the gaming machine 20 is the control signal acquisition unit 130A, and the functional configuration included in the main control board 130 in the gaming machine 20 is the control signal acquisition unit 130B. And
6 and 10, the power supply line from the power supply unit 131 is branched on the main control board 130, one branch line is connected to the inner terminal of the power port 111, and the other branch line is connected in series. Is connected to the ground 133 through the resistance elements R132 and R134 connected to. The branch line branches between the resistance elements R132 and R134 and is connected in parallel to the (+) side terminals of the comparators 135 and 137, respectively.

  Therefore, a constant voltage (constant voltage) is applied from the power supply unit 131 to the (+) side terminals of the comparators 135 and 137. Here, the constant voltage potential is a potential that is lowered due to the influence of the resistance element R134 and the resistance element R132 connected to the ground. Here, a constant voltage is applied to the (+) side terminals of the comparators 135 and 137, and this constant potential is set as a “reference potential” in the control signal acquisition units 130A and 130B.

Here, when the detection signal (control signal) from the count switch 420 is input to the (−) side input terminal of the comparator 135, the signal input to the (−) side input terminal of the comparator 135. Exceeds the (+) terminal constant voltage, the output from the comparator 135 is switched (from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0).
That is, when a detection signal is input to the (−) side input terminal of the comparator 135, the voltage potential applied to the (−) side input terminal of the comparator 135 is applied to the (+) side terminal. Since the voltage exceeds the constant voltage potential, the logic value output from the comparator 135 is switched.

In the third embodiment, when a detection signal (control signal) is output from the count switch 420, the same detection signal is input to each of the control signal ports 113 and 115 which are input ports.
At this time, the voltage potential applied to the (−) side input terminal of each of the comparators 135 and 137 exceeds the (+) side terminal constant voltage, and the output from each of the comparators 135 and 137 changes from 0 to 1, (or The CPU 105 receives the output logic values from the comparators 135 and 137, respectively.

Note that the CPU 105 is configured to exclude one signal even when a signal indicating switching of the output logic value from each of the two comparators 135 and 137 is detected, or to switch the logic value output from the comparator 137. It is good also as a setting which excludes the signal which shows.
Thereby, even when the detection signal from the count switch 420 in this embodiment is input from each of the branched control signal relay lines, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an error in the number of detections of the detection signal and erroneous detection. .

  Here, the gaming machine 20 has an acquisition signal suppression unit (not shown) that suppresses one of a plurality of different detection signals (control signals) input via the control signal ports 113 and 115 that are different input ports. The structure provided with may be sufficient.

Here, the main control unit 1000 of the main control board 130 may function as an acquisition signal suppression unit, so that one of the detection signals sent from the count switch 420 and input from the control signal ports 113 and 115 may be suppressed. .
That is, when the main control unit 1000 functions as an acquisition signal suppression unit, one of the control signals input from the control signal port 113 or the control signal port 115 (here, input from the control signal port 115). Control signal) is suppressed. Here, the acquired signal suppression unit is realized by the main control unit 1000 performing an execution process based on the program.
The acquired signal suppression unit may be realized by an integrated circuit element (CPU) provided on the main control board 150 or provided on a board outside the main control board 150 or the like.

  In the main control board 130 of FIG. 6, the CPU 105 controls the control signal acquisition unit 130 </ b> A so that the control signal input from the control signal port 115 is suppressed, so that the acquisition signal suppression unit is realized. It may be.

That is, the acquired signal suppression unit excludes the detection signal input from the control signal port 115, that is, suppresses the detection signal input from the control signal port 115 from being input to the comparator 137.
As a result, the detection signal sent from the count switch 420 can be prevented from being erroneously detected or erroneously detected by the CPU 105.

  In addition, the relay terminal plate 202 of the third embodiment includes control signals sent to the different control signal ports 113 and 115 via the branch point 284c in the control signal relay line portion 282 on the relay terminal plate 202. A configuration including a relay signal suppression unit (not shown) that suppresses one control signal may be used.

Here, the relay signal suppression unit may be an integrated circuit connected to the control signal relay line unit 282 and the branch control signal relay line unit 285 on the relay terminal board 202. Further, the relay signal suppression unit performs a process of suppressing one of the detection signals branched and sent at the branch point 284c. Here, it is assumed that processing for suppressing the detection signal sent via the branch control signal trunk line unit 285 is performed.
As a result, one of the detection signals, which are the same signals branched and sent at the branch point 284c, can be excluded before being sent to the main control board 130. For this reason, the detection signals sent from the count switch 420 are It is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous detection times and false detections in the CPU 105.

In the third embodiment, as described above, the configuration in which the comparator 135 and the comparator 137 are provided in each of the control signal acquisition unit 130A (FIG. 6) and the control signal acquisition unit 130B (FIG. 10) has been described. The main control board 130 may have a configuration in which the entire control signal acquisition unit 130A or a part of the internal configuration of the control signal acquisition unit 130A is realized by an integrated circuit.
Also in this case, the main control board 130 performs a process of suppressing the detection signal (control signal) sent through the branch control signal relay line unit 285, for example.
In this case, even if the detection signal sent via the branch control signal relay line unit 285 is received, the processing is not performed (does not react), so that the processing when the detection signal is received by the CPU 105 of the main control board 130 is incorrect. The occurrence of malfunction such as being performed can be suppressed.

As described above, in the gaming machine 20 of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the branch power relay line is connected to the control signal port 115 that can be an empty port (actually, the branch control signal relay). Since the transmission line 185 connected to the line part 285 via the control signal relay terminal 217 is connected), it is possible to suppress the generation of empty terminals on the main control board 130, and further, the operating part (here) Then, even when the number and configuration of the count switches are changed, it is possible to use the main control board 130 before the change in common.
That is, when a model change is performed, it is possible to change from the old model to the new model by changing the relay terminal board without changing the main control board.

[Embodiment 4]
Next, as a fourth embodiment, a gaming machine 30 that is a more specific embodiment corresponding to the above-described second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Here, FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the gaming machine 30. As shown in FIG.
In the gaming machine 30 (FIG. 7), various actuators are provided as operation units corresponding to the operation unit 400 in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) and the second embodiment (FIG. 5).
Here, the various actuators are specifically, an actuator AC1 that drives an opening / closing member that can be switched to an open state in which a game ball can easily enter the second start port 59 or a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the ball. An actuator AC2 for operating the opening / closing operation of the special electric accessory 65 provided in the opening of the winning opening 55, an actuator AC3 for driving the opening / closing operation of the special electric accessory 66, etc. are shown (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
In each of the actuators AC1, AC2, and AC3, the coils are excited by the current (current supply) sent from the main control board 150 (FIG. 7), and the corresponding opening / closing member and special electric accessory are moved by electromagnetic force. .

  Also in the fourth embodiment, as described above, the special electric combination control unit 1190 operates the actuator AC2 in accordance with the command received from the big hit game control unit 1133, thereby opening the special electric combination item 65. Further, according to the command received from the big hit game control unit 1133 by the special electric combination control unit 1190, the actuator AC3 is operated to close the special electric combination item 66. Also, the normal electric combination control unit 1180 is a normal drawing lottery control unit 1170. Based on the command from, the actuator AC1 is actuated to open the ordinary electric accessory 61 under a predetermined opening condition (see FIG. 4).

The actuators AC1, AC2, and AC3 may be solenoid actuators, motor actuators, and the like, respectively.
In the fourth embodiment, the actuators AC1, AC2, and AC3 are collectively referred to as solenoid actuators.

Hereinafter, a gaming machine 30 having a configuration including a solenoid actuator 440 (hereinafter referred to as “solenoid 440”) will be described with reference to FIG.
The gaming machine 30 has a relay terminal board 204 (corresponding to the relay terminal board 200a in FIG. 5) between the main control board 150 (corresponding to the control board 100 in FIG. 5) and the solenoid 440 (corresponding to the operation unit 400 in FIG. 5). It has.
The main control board 150 supplies current to the solenoid 440 via the power relay line and outputs a control signal for controlling the driving operation of the solenoid 440. The relay terminal board 204 includes a part of each of a power relay line and a control signal relay line that perform the current supply and relay of the control signal.

The solenoid 440 uses the current supplied from the main control board 150 to drive the opening / closing operation of the special electric accessory 65 and the special electric accessory 66. Specifically, the solenoid 440 is energized to drive an opening / closing operation in an opening / closing member such as an opening / closing blade.
For example, when the solenoid 440 is energized and driven, the pair of opening and closing blades moves to an open position that opens the winning opening, and the energization state of the solenoid 440 is changed from a high voltage to a low voltage by sending a control signal. Is switched from the open position of the opening / closing blade to the closed position for closing the winning opening, and the movement of the opening / closing blade from the closed position to the open position is controlled.
In the gaming machine 30, the control signal output from the main control board 150 is transmitted via the control signal port (transmission port) 123, the transmission line 193, the control signal relay line portion 293, and the transmission line 393 of the main control board 150. Sent to solenoid 440.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the relay terminal board 204 includes a power relay line portion 291 that is a part of the power relay line and a part of the control signal relay line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253a (FIG. 5)). The control signal trunk line 293 and the control signal trunk line 293 are branched and connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 225 (branch control signal trunk line 285a (FIG. 5)). )). Here, a branch point on the control signal trunk line portion 293 is set as a branch point 284d.
The relay terminal board 204 includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 223 and 225 connected to the control signal ports 123 and 125 of the main control board 150, respectively.

Here, each of the control signal ports 123 and 125 is an output port from which a control signal transmitted to the solenoid 440 (operation unit) is output.
The external terminal of the control signal relay terminal 225 and the external terminal of the control signal port 125 are connected via a transmission line 195. For this reason, the branch control signal relay line unit 295 is connected to the control signal port 125 via the control signal relay terminal 225.

  Further, the relay terminal plate 204 has a configuration in which a power relay line portion 291 that is a part of the power relay line is printed on the relay terminal plate 204. Further, the control signal relay line portion 293 which is a part of the control signal relay line is disposed on the relay terminal board 204 as a print pattern, and the operation signal relay is a relay terminal on the control signal relay terminal 223 and the solenoid 440 side. The terminal 273 is connected. Further, the control signal port 123 of the main control board 150 and the control signal relay terminal 223 of the relay terminal board 204 are connected to each other via a transmission line 193.

  As a result, in the gaming machine 30 of the fourth embodiment, the branch control signal relay line unit 295 is connected to the control signal port 125 that can be an empty port via the transmission line 195. Can be suppressed.

[About empty ports in the gaming machine 30]
Here, the empty ports of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a main internal circuit configuration of an old model (game machine 70 as a conventional machine).
Note that the gaming machine 70 includes the same main control board 150 and solenoid 440 as those in the fourth embodiment (FIG. 7). The gaming machine 70 includes a solenoid 640 that is the same type as the solenoid 440. Here, it is assumed that the solenoid 640 has the same power consumption as the solenoid 440.

  As described above, in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, the number and structure of controlled devices corresponding to the control board are frequently changed by changing the model. Here, it is assumed that the model change from the old gaming machine 70 to the new gaming machine 30 is performed.

Here, the gaming machine 70 including the solenoids 440 and 640 will be described with reference to FIG.
The gaming machine 70 includes a relay terminal board 600 (corresponding to the relay terminal board 204 (FIG. 7)) between the main control board 150 and the solenoids 440 and 640. The relay terminal board 600 is connected to the main control board 150. Are provided with a part of the control signal relay line for relaying the control signal sent to the solenoids 440 and 640 respectively.

  Further, the solenoid 440 is connected to the power relay terminal 661 of the relay terminal plate 600 via the power transmission line 391, and is connected to the operation signal relay terminal 663 of the relay terminal plate 600 via the transmission line 393. Has been. In addition, the solenoid 640 is connected to the external terminal of the power relay terminal 662 of the relay terminal plate 600 via the power transmission line 693 and transmits to the external terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 665 of the relay terminal plate 600. They are connected via line 694.

The relay terminal board 600 includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 613 and 615 on the side facing the main control board 150, and includes a plurality of different operation signal relay terminals 663 and 665 on the side facing the solenoids 440 and 640, respectively. ing.
The control signal relay terminals 613 and 615 are each composed of an inner terminal connected to the printed pattern on the relay terminal board 600 and an outer terminal connected to a device or board outside the relay terminal board 600 via a transmission line. Here, the external terminals of the control signal relay terminals 613 and 615 are connected to the control signal ports 123 and 125 via transmission lines 193 and 195, respectively.

Further, the relay terminal board 600 has control signal relay line portions 683 and 685 as print patterns, which are a part of the control signal relay line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253a in FIG. 5).
The control signal relay line portion 683 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 613 and the inner terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 663, and the control signal relay line portion 685 is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 615 and the operation signal relay terminal. 665 is connected to the inner terminal.

In addition, the gaming machine 70 includes power relay lines that are connected to the solenoids 440 and 640 from the power port 121 of the main control board 150 and relay current supply from the main control board 150 to the solenoids 440 and 640, respectively. Yes.
Here, the power relay line that relays the current supply from the main control board 150 to the solenoid 440 is a power transmission line 191 connected to the power port 121 of the main control board 150 and the power relay terminal 611 of the relay terminal board 600, A power relay line portion 681 connected to the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 611 and the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 661 and a power transmission line 391 connected to the power relay terminal 661 and the solenoid 440 are included.

The power relay line that relays the current supply from the main control board 150 to the solenoid 640 includes a power transmission line 191 connected to the power port 121 of the main control board 150 and the power relay terminal 611 of the relay terminal board 600, power The power relay line portion 681 from the inner terminal of the relay terminal 611 to the branch point, the branch power relay line portion 687 connected to the branch point and the inner terminal of the power relay terminal 662, and the power relay terminal 662 and the solenoid 640 are connected. Power transmission line 693.
Here, the power relay line portion 681 and the branch power relay line portion 687 are print patterns arranged on the relay terminal board 600.
The power relay lines connecting the solenoids 440 and 640 and the main control board 150 are common lines of the solenoids 440 and 640, and the power ports 121 are connected from the solenoids 440 and 640 through branch points on the relay terminal plate 600. It is connected to the.

  Here, with the model change from the old model (the gaming machine 70) to the new model (the gaming machine 30), etc., the different ones connected to the main control board 150 in the old model (FIG. 11) via the relay terminal board 600 are different. One of the plurality of solenoids 440 and 640 (here, the solenoid 640) is assumed to be removed (no longer necessary) in the new model (FIG. 7).

In this case, the solenoid 640 that is not used in the new embodiment 4 (FIG. 7), the power transmission line 693 and the transmission line 694 to which the solenoid 640 was connected, and the relay terminal (power relay) on the relay terminal plate 600 are connected. Terminal 662, operation signal relay terminal 665, control signal relay terminal 615), branch power relay line portion 687, control signal relay line portion 685, control signal port 125 on main control board 150, transmission line 195, etc. Become.
Here, when the control signal relay terminal 615 is connected to the control signal port 125 via the transmission line 195, the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 615 becomes an unused terminal (empty terminal).

In the gaming machine 30, as shown in FIG. 7, a branch control signal relay line portion 295 for transmitting a detection signal to an inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 225 (corresponding to the control signal relay terminal 615 in FIG. 11) is provided. It is connected.
As a result, the generation of an empty terminal (control signal relay terminal 225) on the relay terminal board 204 is suppressed, and the control signal port 125 connected to the control signal relay terminal 225 via the transmission line 195 is unused ( It is possible to suppress the occurrence of an empty port.
Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to shift from the old model to the new model by changing the relay terminal board without changing the main control board.

[Configuration of main control board 150]
Next, the internal configuration of the main control board 150 in the gaming machine 30 and the gaming machine 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, and 11. Here, the main control board 150 in the gaming machine 30 and the gaming machine 70 has an equivalent functional configuration.

  The main control board 150 includes a power supply unit 151 that supplies a driving current to the solenoid 440 connected via a power relay line (here, 30 volts). In the gaming machine 70 (FIG. 11), the main control board 150 supplies current to solenoid actuators (hereinafter referred to as “solenoids”) 440 and 640 connected in parallel.

Further, the main control board 150 includes a main control unit 1000 that performs various controls relating to the game by performing coefficients based on a preset program and performs drive control on the solenoid 440 or the solenoid 640 (FIG. 4). reference).
The main control unit 1000 controls the output of a drive control current (corresponding to a control signal) used for drive control in the solenoid 440 or 640.
Note that the function (output control function) for controlling the output of the drive control current (corresponding to the control signal) is provided on the main control board 150 or an integrated circuit provided on the board outside the main control board 150 or the like. It may be realized by a circuit element (CPU).

Further, the main control board 150 includes driver terminals 155 and 157 for outputting a drive control current used for drive control in the solenoid 440 or 640. In addition, when a drive object is a motor, it is set as a motor drive.
Solenoid drives (hereinafter referred to as “driver terminals”) 155 and 157 are driver terminals such as power semiconductor elements, and generate and send out drive control currents in the solenoids 440 and 640.
The main control board 150 includes a CPU 105 that controls the sending of the drive control current at the driver terminals 155 and 157 by applying a voltage to the input terminals (IN terminals) at the driver terminals 155 and 157. The CPU 105 is an integrated circuit that performs control processing related to the operation of the driver terminals 155 and 157.

  Note that the GND elements of the driver terminals 155 and 157 are respectively connected to the ground 153 in the main control board 150, and resistance elements R152 and R154 are provided on input lines from the CPU 105 to the IN terminals of the driver terminals 155 and 157, respectively. . The control signal ports 123 and 125 included in the main control board 150 are output ports for outputting drive control currents to the solenoids 440 and 640 (FIGS. 7 and 11).

  Here, the functional configuration excluding the CPU 105 included in the main control board 150 of FIG. 7 is the control signal generation unit 150A, and the functional configuration included in the main control board 150 of FIG. 11 excluding the CPU 105 is the control signal generation unit 150B. . In the main control board 150 of FIG. 7, the output control function may be realized by the control signal generation unit 150 </ b> A including the driver terminals 155 and 157 and the CPU 105.

The gaming machine 30 includes an output signal suppression unit (not shown) that suppresses one of the control signals output from a plurality of different output ports (here, the control signal ports 123 and 125). Also good.
Here, the output signal suppression unit performs a process of excluding (suppressing) the control signal (drive control current) output from the control signal port 125 before output. The output signal suppression unit is provided in connection with the control signal ports 123 and 125 as output ports.
Here, the output signal suppression unit may be realized by the CPU 105 performing a control process based on a preset program for the control signal generation unit 150A. That is, even if the CPU 105 performs the control to suppress the output of the drive control current from the driver terminal (here, the driver terminal 157) of the control signal generation unit 150A, the functional operation of the output signal suppression unit is realized. Good.

Further, the main control unit 1000 functions as an output signal suppressing unit, thereby realizing a process in which the output of one of the control signals output from the control signal port 123 or the control signal port 125 is suppressed. May be.
Here, the main control unit 1000 provided on the main control board 150 may perform the above-described output control function and the output signal suppressing unit by performing an execution process based on a program.
The output signal suppression unit may be realized by an integrated circuit element (CPU) provided on the main control board 150 or provided on a board outside the main control board 150 or the like.
Thereby, the control signal sent from the control signal port 123 to the solenoid 440 is stabilized, and the occurrence of malfunction in the solenoid 440 can be suppressed.

  The relay terminal board 204 is one of the control signals output from the different control signal ports 123 and 125 (output ports) provided in the main control board 150 and input to the control signal relay terminals 223 and 225, respectively. A relay input signal suppression unit that suppresses the control signal may be provided.

Here, the relay input signal suppressing unit may be an integrated circuit connected to the control signal relay line unit 293 and the branch control signal relay line unit 295 on the relay terminal board 204. In addition, the relay input signal suppression unit performs a process of excluding one control signal of the control signals input from the control signal relay terminals 223 and 225 before being input to the branch point 284d. Here, it is assumed that processing for excluding the detection signal input from the branch control signal trunk line unit 295 is performed.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the control signal output from the control signal port 125 from being superimposed on the control signal output from the control signal port 123 and sent to the solenoid 440. Therefore, the control signal sent to the solenoid 440 And the occurrence of malfunction in the solenoid 440 can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 30 of the fourth embodiment, the branch power relay line is connected to the control signal port 125 that can be an empty port (actually, the control signal relay terminal is connected to the branch control signal relay line unit 295). Since the transmission line 195 connected via the H.225 is connected to the control signal port 125), it is possible to suppress the generation of empty ports (empty terminals) in the main control board 150, and further, the operating unit ( Here, even when the number and configuration of the count switches are changed, the main control board 150 before the change can be used in common with the gaming machine 30 as well. In addition, this makes it possible for the gaming machine 30 to effectively suppress the occurrence of an empty terminal in the transmission port that outputs the control signal in the main control board 150.

  In the third and fourth embodiments, the configuration in which the main control board 130 and the main control board 150 include one of the reception port and the transmission port has been described. However, the main control board or the effect control board has the reception port and the transmission port. The structure which has both of these may be sufficient. For example, the above-described control signal acquisition unit 130A and control signal generation unit 150A may be provided in a single main control board having the CPU 105.

[Embodiment 5]
Next, Embodiment 5 provided with the operation | movement part 410 as an output means used for the production relevant to a game is demonstrated using FIG. Hereinafter, the gaming machine of Embodiment 5 (FIG. 8) is referred to as a gaming machine 10b.
Examples of the output means include an effect display device (liquid crystal display device) 80, a speaker 33, an illumination device 35 such as an LED, a movable accessory (not shown), and the like (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The output means also includes an effect display device, a substrate (non-control substrate) provided with a speaker, a decorative lamp, etc., an effect actuator 38 (see FIG. 4) for driving a movable accessory for effect. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the gaming machine 10b has a relay terminal board between the operation unit 410 (corresponding to the operation unit 400 of FIG. 5) and the effect control board 300 (corresponding to the control board 100 of FIG. 5). 200b is provided.
Further, the gaming machine 10b includes a main control board 110 that transmits an effect control signal (effect control command) related to the game to the effect control board 300. The production control command includes a voice production by the speaker 33, a lamp production by the lighting device 35 such as an LED or a cold cathode ray tube discharge tube, a symbol production by the production display device 80, and a role for driving a production gimmick such as a movable accessory. Includes control commands for realizing product effects.

The effect control board 300 performs control for driving the effect operation by the operation unit 410 by sending a control signal to the operation unit 410 used for the effect related to the game.
In addition, the effect control board 300 includes an effect control unit 320 that controls operations in the effect display device 80, the lighting device 35, the speaker 33, and the like, as shown in FIG.

Here, the effect control unit 320 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The effect control unit 320 performs various operations based on the special symbol selected by the special symbol selection unit 1132 of the main control unit 1000, the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern determination unit 1110, the player's operation received by the button 37, or the like. Perform the production. The effect control unit 320 may variably switch the effect according to the player's operation received from the button 37 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Further, the effect control unit 320 may control the operation of the movable accessory (so-called effect gimmick) provided on the periphery of the effect display device 80 by the effect actuator 38 (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

  Here, the variation pattern determination unit 1110 of the main control unit 1000 is connected to the special figure hold control unit 1120, the special figure lottery control unit 1130, the gaming state control unit 1140, the general figure hold control unit 1160, and the general figure lottery control unit 1170. Thus, by obtaining signals (data) from these functions, a variation pattern suitable for game control by the main control unit 1000 can be generated. In the variation pattern, a time from when the special symbol starts to display the variation to the end (stop display) is defined.

In addition, the effect control unit 320 uses the special symbol selected by the special symbol selection unit 1132 or the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern determination unit 1110 to change the effect of the effect symbol (for example, reach effect or the like) or other effects. The effect mode is determined, and the determined effect is displayed on the effect display device 80, the illumination device 35, or the speaker 33.
It is assumed that the effect control unit 320 in the fifth embodiment has acquired the special symbol selected by the special diagram selection unit 1132 via the variation pattern determination unit 1110 (see FIG. 4).
The effect mode determined by the effect control unit 320 includes, in addition to the development mode of the symbol variation effect in the effect display device 80, the background sound and color displayed on the effect display device 80, and the effect sound (sound output by the speaker 33). Music), the luminescent color and intensity of the lighting device 35, the timing of accepting the operation of the button 37, and the like.

Next, the relay terminal board 200b provided in the gaming machine 10b will be described with reference to FIG.
The relay terminal board 200b is a control signal connected to the control signal relay line 282b, which is a part of the control signal relay line 253b, and the control signal ports 304 and 306 of the effect control board 300 via transmission lines 183b and 185b, respectively. There are provided relay terminals 215b and 217b, and a branch control signal relay line section 285b branched from the control signal relay line section 282b and connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 217b.

  As described above, the control signal relay line portion 282b is a part of the control signal relay line 253b (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253a (FIG. 5)), and a conductor is disposed (patterned) on the relay terminal plate 200b. The signal transmission line portion (print pattern portion) is shown. The branch control signal relay line portion 285b (corresponding to the branch control signal relay line portion 285a (FIG. 5)) is a part of the branch control signal line branched from the control signal relay line portion 282b, and is on the relay terminal plate 200b. A signal transmission line portion (print pattern portion) provided with a conductor (patterning) is shown.

The effect control board 300 performs control for driving the effect operation in the operation unit 410 by sending a control signal to the operation unit 410 and the operation unit 410 as the output means used for the effect of the game.
The control signal is generated by the effect control unit 320 based on the effect control command sent from the main control board 110. Further, in the output means, various effects are realized by performing an execution operation based on the control signal sent from the effect control board 300. Further, the control signal includes a control signal (detection signal) sent from the operation unit 410 to the effect control unit 320.

As shown in FIG. 8, the relay terminal plate 200b of the gaming machine 10b includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 215b and 217b connected to the control signal ports 304 and 306 of the effect control board 300, and an operation unit. 410 is provided with an operation signal relay terminal 219b connected via a transmission line 193b, and is provided between the effect control board 300 and the operation unit 410.
The relay terminal board 200b includes a control signal relay line 282b as a part of the control signal relay line 253b and a branch control signal relay line that is a part of the control signal relay line branched from the control signal relay line 282b. The unit 285b is connected to the control signal ports 304 and 306 via different control signal relay terminals 215b and 217b.

Here, the relay terminal board 200b includes a plurality of different control signal relay terminals 215b and 217b on the side facing the effect control board 300. In addition, the relay terminal plate 200 b includes an operation signal relay terminal 219 b on the side facing the operation unit 410.
The control signal relay terminals 215b and 217b and the operation signal relay terminal 219b are connected via an internal terminal connected to the printed pattern on the relay terminal board 200b and devices and boards outside the relay terminal board 200b via transmission lines. Including external terminals.
The external terminals of the control signal relay terminals 215b and 217b are connected to the control signal ports 304 and 306 via transmission lines 183b and 185b, respectively. The external terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 219b is connected to the operation unit 410 via the transmission line 193b. It is connected to the.
Here, the control signal relay line 253b includes the transmission line 183b, the control signal relay terminal 215b, the control signal relay line portion 282b, the operation signal relay terminal 219b, and the transmission line 193b from the control signal port 304 of the effect control board 300. A control signal transmitted and received between the effect control board 300 and the operation unit 410 is relayed.

In addition, the control signal relay line portion 282b disposed on the relay terminal board 200b is as described above.
The print pattern is connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal 215b and the inner terminal of the operation signal relay terminal 219b, and has a branch point 284b. The branch control signal relay line portion 285b is a print pattern signal wiring disposed on the relay terminal board 200b having both ends of the branch point 284b and the control signal relay terminal 217b.

  In addition, the control signal relay line 253b and the branch control signal relay line 283b in the gaming machine 10b are each configured by a flexible cable, and the control board 100 and the operation unit 400 are in the air by the control signal relay line 253b and the branch control signal relay line 283b. It may be connected by wiring. At this time, the effect control board 300 and the operation unit 410 are connected by aerial wiring using a flexible cable.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 10b, the branch control signal relay line 283b is connected to the control signal port 306 that can be an empty port on the effect control board 300 (actually, control is performed on the branch control signal relay line unit 285b. Since the transmission line 185b connected via the signal relay terminal 217b is connected), it is possible to suppress the generation of empty terminals in the effect control board 300. For this reason, the number and configuration of output means included in the operation unit 410 Even when is changed, it is possible to use the presentation control board before the change in common. That is, when the model is changed, it is possible to change from the old model to the new model by changing only the relay terminal board connected to the output means without changing the production control board. .

[Embodiment 6]
Next, Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the gaming machine of the sixth embodiment is a gaming machine 40. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the gaming machine 40 according to the sixth embodiment.

  Here, the gaming machine 40 may include a power relay line 251 connected to a constant potential, and the power relay line 251 may be branched and connected to the control signal port 108.

Here, the constant potential refers to a connection target (constant potential connection target) of the power relay line 251 to which a constant voltage potential is applied in the gaming machine 40, for example, a power supply terminal to which operating power is supplied, An operation unit 400 to which a constant potential is applied, a ground (earth) such as a frame ground, and the like are included.
The constant potential connection target in the gaming machine 40 includes a power supply terminal and ground (earth) provided in the control board 100, and a power supply terminal and ground provided outside the control board and the relay terminal board. It is.

  Here, the control board 100 includes a power port 102 to which a power relay line 251 is connected as shown in FIG. In addition, the control board 100 includes a power supply unit 131 d that supplies power to the operation unit 400 connected via the power port 102 and the power relay line 251.

  Furthermore, the control board 100 according to the sixth embodiment receives a control signal transmitted from the operation unit 400 to the control board 100, or transmits a control signal transmitted from the control board 100 to the operation unit 400, at least. Three control signal ports (here, control signal ports 104, 106, and 108) are provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, a branch point in the control signal relay line 253 is a branch point 284. A signal line having both ends of the branch point 284 and the control signal port 106 of the control board 100 is referred to as a branch control signal relay line 283.
A branch point in the power trunk line 251 is referred to as a power branch point 254. A signal line having both ends of the power branch point 254 and the control signal port 108 of the control board 100 is referred to as a branch power relay line 255.
The control board 100 includes a main control board and an arithmetic control board in the gaming machine 40.

[About empty ports in the gaming machine 40]
Next, “empty port” in the sixth embodiment will be described.
In the gaming machine, when the model of the gaming machine is changed from the old model to the new model (the gaming machine 40), a plurality of different operating units (for example, the operating units D2, D3) connected to the control board 100 in the old model. (Not shown) may become unnecessary in the new model.
In such a case, the control signal relay lines (for example, L1 and L2 (not shown)) connected to the operation units D2 and D3 in the old model, and the control signal relay lines L1 and L2 are connected. The control signal ports (for example, P1 and P2 (not shown)) on the control board 100 that has been used become unused (unnecessary) in the new model (game machine 40).

  Here, when the game machine 40 which is a new model uses the control board 100 common to the old model, the control signal ports 106 and 108 (control signal ports) to which the control signal relay lines L1 and L2 are connected in the old model. P1 and P2) are unused ports. That is, here, the control signal port that is used in the old model but can be unused in the new model is referred to as an “empty port”. In the sixth embodiment, this unused port is provided in the control board 100 of the new model. Can occur.

  Here, in the gaming machine 40, as shown in FIG. 9, the branch control signal relay line 283 is connected to the control signal port 106 which is one of the vacant ports, and further to the control signal port 108 which is another vacant port. The branch power trunk line 255 is connected.

Further, the gaming machine 40 includes one or a plurality of power relay lines 251 that perform relay transmission of power supply, and a control signal relay line 253 that relays a control signal transmitted between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400. Have.
In addition, a control signal relay line 253 that relays a control signal transmitted between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400 is connected to the control signal port 104, and the control signal relay line 253 branches to control signal port 106. Connected to. Further, a branch power relay line 255 branched from the power relay line 251 is connected to the control signal port 108 of the control board 100.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the control board 100 from generating a plurality of empty ports. For this reason, even if there is a model change in the gaming machine (model change from the old model to the gaming machine 40), a change in the internal structure or model specification of the model, etc., the control board 100 should be used in common (control board Sharing) is possible.

In addition, in the gaming machine 40 of the sixth embodiment, the power relay line 251 and the branch power relay line 255, the control signal relay line 253, and the branch control signal relay line 283 are each configured by a flexible cable, and the control board 100 and the operation unit 400 are in the air. It may be connected by wiring.
Further, as a connection mode between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400, one or a plurality of different relay terminal plates (corresponding to the relay terminal plate 200a in FIG. 5) are provided between the control board 100 and the operation unit 400, and the control signal The relay line 253, the branch control signal relay line 283, the power relay line 251, and a part of the branch power relay line 255 may be patterned on the relay terminal plate with a conductor.

This relay terminal board corresponds to each control signal port provided on the control board 100 (corresponding to the control signal relay terminals 215 and 217 in FIG. 6 and the control signal relay terminals 223 and 225 in FIG. 7). It shall be equipped with.
Here, the inner terminals of a plurality of different control signal relay terminals on the relay terminal board can be “empty terminals” (empty ports), but branch power relay lines branched from the power relay line 251 or the control signal relay line 253, branches By adopting a configuration in which the control signal relay line is connected, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an empty terminal on the relay terminal board.

Further, in the gaming machine 40, for example, when a ground (corresponding to “constant potential connection target”) provided outside the relay terminal plate and a power relay line connected to the relay terminal plate are provided. The power relay line may be branched and connected to the inner terminal of the control signal relay terminal that can become an empty terminal on the relay terminal board.
As a result, when changing the model of an amusement machine from the old model to the new model, it is possible to change the old model from the old model to the new model by changing only the relay terminal board without changing the main control board and production control board. It is possible to make a transition to

  As described above, even when a plurality of vacant terminals (two control signal ports 106 and 108 in this case) can be generated in the control board 100 as the configuration is changed in the old model gaming machine, In the gaming machine 40 (FIG. 9), which is a model, the branch control signal relay line 283 is connected to one empty port (control signal port 106), and the branch power relay line 255 is connected to the other empty port (control signal port 108). Therefore, even when the control board 100 common to the old model is used in the new model, the generation of a plurality of empty ports in the control board 100 can be suppressed.

In the sixth embodiment, a configuration in which a branch power relay line 255 branched from the power relay line 251 and a branch control signal relay line 283 branched from the control signal relay line 253 are connected to two empty ports, respectively. However, if there are two or more vacant ports on the control board 100, the branch power trunk line (corresponding to the branch power trunk line 255 in the figure) and the branch power trunk line can be used. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which branched power lines (re-branching power relay lines: not shown) are respectively connected to empty ports.
As a result, the generation of a plurality of empty ports in the control board 100 is suppressed.
Also, two different branch power trunk lines branched at two different branch points in the power trunk line (corresponding to the power trunk line 251 in FIG. 9) (for example, the branch power trunk line C and the branch power trunk line D). May be connected to each of the vacant ports on the control board 100.

If there are two (or more) ports that can be vacant ports, a branch control signal relay line branched from the control signal relay line, and a control signal relay line further branched from this branch control signal relay line ( (Re-branch control signal relay line) may be connected.
As a result, the generation of a plurality of empty ports on the control board 100 can be suppressed. Further, a configuration in which branch control signal relay lines branched at two different branch points in the control signal relay line (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 9) are respectively connected to empty ports may be employed.

  That is, when there are a plurality of different vacant ports (unused control signal ports) on the control board 100, a power trunk line for transmitting the power supplied to the operation unit 400 is branched into a plurality and generated. You may connect to an available free port. Also, a plurality of control signal relay lines (corresponding to the control signal relay line 253 in FIG. 9) for branching a control signal between the operation unit 400 and the control board 100 are branched into a plurality of different vacant ports that may be generated May be connected.

  Further, when the gaming machine 40 has a power relay line whose one end is connected to a power supply terminal, an operation unit 400, a ground, or the like, which is a constant potential connection target, the power relay line branches to branch power relay lines (see FIG. 9 branch power relay line 255) may be connected to an empty port of the control board 100.

  As described above, in the gaming machines 10, 10 a, 20, 30, 10 b, and 40 in the first to sixth embodiments, the power relay line branches to the control signal port included in the control board (main control board or effect control board). By being connected, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of empty terminals (empty ports) on a control board (main control board or effect control board) provided with a control signal port as a transmission port or a reception port. Furthermore, since the logic circuit included in the control board is logically fixed, the potential environment in the control board is stabilized, thereby making it possible to suppress the occurrence of unexpected signals on the control board. In addition, when the model is changed from the old model to the new model, the transition from the old model to the new model can be made by changing only the relay terminal board without changing the main control board and the production control board. Can be done.

This embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
(1) A control board having a control signal port connected to a control signal relay line through which a control signal is transmitted to and from the operating unit is provided, and the control signal relay line is branched and connected to the control signal port A gaming machine characterized by being made.
(2) A relay provided between the control board and the operation unit, including a plurality of different control signal relay terminals connected to each of the control signal ports and the control signal relay line. (1), wherein the control signal relay line and the branched control signal relay line are connected to the control signal port via the different control signal relay terminals. Gaming machine.
(3) The gaming machine according to (2), wherein the control signal port is an input port to which the control signal sent from the operating unit is input.
(4) The game according to (3), further comprising an acquisition signal suppression unit that suppresses one of the plurality of different control signals input to the control board via each of the plurality of different input ports. Machine.
(5) The relay terminal board includes a relay signal suppression unit that suppresses one of the control signals sent to each of the different control signal ports via a branch point in the control signal relay line. The gaming machine according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the gaming machine is provided.
(6) The gaming machine according to (2), wherein the control signal port is an output port from which the control signal for the operating unit is output.
(7) The gaming machine according to (5), further including an output signal suppression unit that suppresses one of the control signals output from the plurality of different output ports.
(8) The relay terminal plate is a relay input signal suppression unit that suppresses one of the control signals that is input from the different output ports of the control board to each of the plurality of control signal relay terminals. The gaming machine according to any one of (6) and (7), comprising:
(9) Any one of (1) to (8), including a power relay line connected to a constant potential, wherein the power relay line branches and is connected to the control signal port. The gaming machine described in one.

10, 10a, 10b, 20, 30, 40, 60, 70 Gaming machine 12 Front frame 15 Outer frame 21 Hinge mechanism 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a 33b) Speaker 34, 36 Left and right frame 35 (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e, 35f, 35g) Illuminating device 37 Button 39 Ball removal mechanism 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 55 , 56 Grand prize opening 57 1st start opening 59 2nd start opening 61 Normal electric accessory 63 Actuating gate 65, 66 Special electric accessory 67, 67a, 67b, 67c Normal winning opening 69 Out opening 80 Production display device 90 Symbol display Device 91 Special symbol display device 91a First special symbol display device 91b Second special symbol display device 92 Normal symbol display device 100 Control board 101 Control signal port group 102, 111, 121 Power port 104, 106, 108, 113, 115, 123, 125, 304, 306 Control signal port 105 CPU
110, 130, 150 Main control boards 130A, 130B Control signal acquisition units 131, 131d, 139, 151 Power supply units R132, R134, R136, R138, R152, R154 Resistance elements 133, 153 Ground 135, 137 Comparators 150A, 150B Control signal generators 155, 157 Driver terminals 181, 191, 381, 391, 572, 693 Power transmission lines 183, 183b, 185, 185b, 191, 193, 193b, 195, 383, 393, 574, 693, 694 Transmission lines 200, 200a, 200b, 202, 204, 500, 600 Relay terminal plates 215, 215a, 215b, 217, 217a, 217b, 223, 225, 513, 515, 613, 615 Control signal relay terminals 211, 221, 261, 271 511, 561, 562, 611, 661, 662 Power relay terminals 219a, 219b, 263, 273, 563, 565, 663, 665 Operation signal relay terminals 251, 251a, 251b Power relay lines 253, 253a, 253b Control signal relay lines 254 Power branch point 255 Branch power relay line 281, 291, 581, 681 Power relay line part 282, 282 a, 282 b 293, 583, 585, 683, 685 Control signal relay line part 283, 283 a, 283 b Branch control signal relay line 284, 284a, 284b, 284c, 284d Branch point 285, 285a, 285b, 295 Branch control signal relay line unit 300 Production control board 320 Production control unit 400, 410 Operation unit 420, 620 Count switch 422, 622 Opening unit 424, 624 Detection signal output Force unit 440, 640 Solenoid actuator 587, 687 Branch power relay line unit 1000 Main control unit 1110 Fluctuation pattern determination unit 1111 First special drawing lottery value acquisition unit 1112 Second special figure lottery value acquisition unit 1113 Universal drawing lottery value acquisition unit 1120 Special figure hold control part 1130 Special figure lottery control part 1131, 1171 Lottery part 1132 Special figure selection part 1133, 1173 Game control part 1140 Game state control part 1141 Winning probability control part 1142 Shortening control part 1150 Symbol display control part 1151 1st Special map display control unit 1152 Second special map display control unit 1153 Universal map display control unit 1160 Universal map hold control unit 1170 Universal map lottery control unit 1172 Universal map selection unit 1180 Normal electrical role control unit 1190 Special electrical role control unit SW0, SW4, SW5, SW6 Count switch SW1 First start port switch SW2 2 starting opening switch SW3 normal symbol variation switch AC1, AC2, AC3 actuator

Claims (3)

A moving part ;
A control board having at least one of a plurality of input ports or a plurality of output ports;
And a control signal relay line control signals are transmitted between the control board and the operation portion,
The control signal relay line is configured to branch the control signal transmitted from one operation unit and transmit it to the plurality of input ports, or to join the control signals output from the plurality of output ports. gaming machine characterized that you have made to the configuration to be transmitted to the operation of one. An acquisition signal suppression unit that suppresses any one of the control signals input from a plurality of different input ports after being transmitted from one operation unit and branched, or output from a plurality of different output ports The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising an output signal suppression unit that suppresses any one of the control signals. The acquired signal suppression unit is configured to receive the control input from the other input ports except for the one input port among the plurality of input ports connected to one operation unit via the control signal relay line. The gaming machine according to claim 2, which is realized by a program process for excluding signals.

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