JP6125575B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that generates a big hit state by a lottery process caused by a gaming operation, and more particularly to a gaming machine capable of a novel and powerful production operation.

  A ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a symbol start opening provided on the game board, a symbol display section for displaying a series of symbol variation patterns by a plurality of display symbols, and a big winning opening for opening and closing the opening and closing plate. Configured. When the detection switch provided at the symbol start port detects the passage of the game ball, the winning state is entered, and after the game ball is paid out as a prize ball, the display symbol is changed for a predetermined time in the symbol display section. Thereafter, when the symbol is stopped in a predetermined manner such as 7, 7, 7, etc., a big hit state is established, and the big winning opening is repeatedly opened to generate a gaming state advantageous to the player.

  Whether or not to generate such a game state is determined by a jackpot lottery executed on the condition that a game ball has won at the symbol start opening, and the above symbol variation operation is based on this lottery result. It has become a thing. For example, when the lottery result is in a winning state, an effect operation called reach action or the like is executed for about 20 seconds, and then the special symbols are aligned. On the other hand, a similar reach action may be executed even in the case of a lost state. In this case, the player pays close attention to the big hit state and pays close attention to the transition of the performance operation. When the predetermined symbols are aligned on the stop line at the end of the symbol variation operation, the player is guaranteed to be in the big hit state.

  The above-mentioned production operations are centered on image production on a liquid crystal display device, but in conjunction with this image production, lamp production that blinks various lamps, audio production that outputs a sound that excites the player, etc. are executed Is done.

JP 2014-151153 A

  The above-described sound effect is generally realized by the host CPU setting appropriate operation parameters (setting values) for a dedicated sound processor. The present inventor facilitates this sound control operation. A new control method has already been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above invention, the setting value generation process to the sound processor and the generated setting value transmission process have different configurations in the program, and it is necessary to match the two processes. When an attempt is made to realize a high-level audio production that is multiplexed by overlapping the audio signals, there is a problem that the program structure becomes complicated.

  In addition, the manner of transitioning the audio volume is uniform, and there is a lack of power in that sense. In some cases, an unnatural deviation movement may occur, which is also a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of smoothly performing complicated and advanced sound effects.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides speech synthesis means provided with a plurality of reproduction channels for reproducing a predetermined unit effect by voice based on a group of original sound data so as to be able to operate in parallel, and one or a plurality of units. In response to the start and progression of a series of audio effects composed of effects, a plurality of playbacks can be performed by setting new unit effects and operation parameters that define the playback volume in a predetermined control register of the speech synthesizer. An effect control means for realizing parallel operation of channels, wherein the effect control means includes a scenario storage means for storing predetermined effect information for realizing a series of sound effects, and a sound Volume management means for storing management data for managing the playback volume is provided for the playback channel of the synthesizing means, and the playback volume of one or a plurality of unit effects is changed in stages. If that is the, by referring to the volume management means every predetermined time, the operation parameters generated based on the management data, is configured to set the predetermined control register, the said volume management means, the volume identifiable management data increases and decreases direction that is stored.

  In the volume management means, the volume management means (VOL_TBL) preferably stores management data that defines how many times the reference number should be generated to generate the operation parameter.

  Preferably, the present invention is provided with a fade management means (FDTBL) for defining a shift mode of the transition operation for changing the reproduction volume in a stepwise manner. For the shift mode to be realized, the volume change amount for each time is defined. Here, in the fade management means (FDTBL), it is preferable that the volume change amount of each time is defined corresponding to the total volume change amount in the transition operation.

  Preferably, the production control means writes the volume management means (VOL_TBL) by referring to the fade management means (FDTBL) when starting the control operation to change the reproduction volume stepwise. Management data to be included is specified.

  The volume management means (VOL_TBL) preferably stores management data capable of specifying the reference position of the fade management means (FDTBL), and the volume management means (VOL_TBL) It is preferable that management data capable of specifying the reference count is stored.

  The scenario storage means typically includes a plurality of scenario tables for specifying the contents of a plurality of effect scenarios having different effect contents. In this case, one or more appropriate scenario tables are identified corresponding to the start or progress of the production scenario, and the predetermined production scenario starts or progresses based on the time information described in the scenario table. The scenario table includes a unit effect that should be started at a predetermined timing specified by the time information, along with its playback volume, while another part of the scenario table is being executed. It is preferable that information for changing the playback volume of the unit effect is described.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to a ball game machine, and is preferably applied to a spinning machine or other game machines.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly realize a complicated and advanced sound production.

It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine of a present Example. It is a schematic front view of the game board of a present Example. It is a block diagram which shows the whole circuit structure of a present Example. It is drawing explaining the circuit structure and circuit operation | movement of a power supply board. It is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an effect control unit. It is drawing explaining the internal structure and output signal of a voice processor. It is drawing which shows the internal structure of an audio | voice processor in detail. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of an effect control part. It is a flowchart explaining the scenario update process which comprises the main process of an effect control part. It is a flowchart explaining the sub scenario update process which comprises a scenario update process. It is a flowchart explaining a sub scenario update process and a part of main process. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation content by a sub scenario update process. It is drawing for demonstrating fade operation | movement.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine GM of the present embodiment. This pachinko machine GM includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 1 that is detachably mounted on an island structure, and a front frame 3 that is pivotably mounted via a hinge 2 fixed to the outer frame 1. It is configured. A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 3 from the front side, not from the back side, and a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be openable and closable.

  On the outer periphery of the glass door 6, an electric lamp such as an LED lamp is arranged in a substantially C shape. On the other hand, a total of five speakers (TL, TR, ML, MR, BTM) are arranged on the left and right positions of the upper part of the glass door 6, the left and right positions of the middle part, and the lower side close to the abdomen of the player. (See FIG. 2).

  The two speakers (TL, TR) arranged at the upper position and the two speakers (ML, MR) arranged at the middle position respectively output the left and right sounds recognized by the player. The panpot production is executed. Here, pan (PAN) means the position (localization) of the sound heard from the left and right speakers. Specifically, the pan operation is realized by setting the volume balance of the left and right speakers asymmetrically. .

  The panpot effect is executed, for example, as an appropriate notice operation, (1) P1 effect in which the notice sound moves from left to right or from right to left, (2) from top to bottom, or down P2 effect in which the warning sound moves upward from the top, (3) P3 effect in which the warning sound moves downward in the tilt direction or upward in the tilt direction, and (4) the warning sound in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Various rotating P4 effects are executed by changing the pan displacement time, pan displacement mode, and the like.

  In addition, a volume switch VSW capable of adjusting the volume of the effect sound by the player is disposed below the glass door 6. The volume switch VSW is a directional key having a + contact and a −contact on the left and right, and enables, for example, 10-level volume adjustment. The operation for adjusting the volume is permitted only during the production standby in which the audio production is not executed. In response to the operation of the volume switch VSW, the confirmation production sound is output and the setting level is displayed. It is displayed on the screen.

  In this embodiment, the volume output from each speaker (TL, TR, ML, MR, BTM) is the total value of the primary volume V1, the secondary volume Vs (= V2, V3, V4) and the total volume TV. Although defined by (V1 * Vs * TV), the set value of the volume switch VSW that is artificially defined by a staff member or a player is reflected in the final total volume value TV.

  On the other hand, the secondary volume value Vs (= V2, V3, V4) is set by software so as to realize an appropriate audio effect in the panpot effect and other notice effects, and the primary volume value V1 is normally set to It is set to a fixed regulation level. Accordingly, the sound volume of each speaker (TL, TR, ML, MR, BTM) is output at a volume of V1 * Vs * TV exclusively reflecting the set value of the secondary volume value Vs. become.

  Note that the volume setting value (total volume value TV) set by the player is returned to the clerk setting value by the setting switch SET (see FIG. 3) at the timing when the player thinks that he has left the gaming machine. For example, when a serious abnormal situation is detected even during a game, the total volume value TV and the primary volume value V1 are at the maximum level regardless of the operation amount of the volume switch VSW. Abnormal alarm sound is output at a high volume. Therefore, illegal activities cannot be continued in silence.

  The front plate 7 is provided with an upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launching, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing or extracted from the upper plate 8 and a launch handle at the lower part of the front frame 3. 10 are provided. The launch handle 10 is interlocked with the launch motor, and a game ball is launched by a striking rod that operates according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 10.

  A chance button 11 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper plate 8. The chance button 11 is provided at a position where it can be operated with the left hand of the player, and the player can operate the chance button 11 without releasing the right hand from the firing handle 10. The chance button 11 does not function normally, but when the game state becomes the button chance state, the built-in lamp is turned on and can be operated. The button chance state is a game state provided as necessary.

  On the right side of the upper plate 8, an operation panel 12 for ball lending operation with respect to the card-type ball lending machine is provided, a frequency display unit for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number, and a ball of game balls for a predetermined amount A ball lending switch for instructing lending and a return switch for instructing to return the card at the end of the game are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 13 made of a metal outer rail and an inner rail is provided on the surface of the game board 5 in an annular shape, and a central opening HO is provided at the approximate center thereof. Corresponding to the four vertices of the central opening HO, four speakers (TL, TR, ML, MR) are arranged inside the glass door 6, and a low-frequency speaker BTM is located at the lower right of the central opening HO. Has been placed. These speakers are virtually shown in FIG.

  A display device DS composed of a large liquid crystal color display (LCD) is disposed in the central opening HO. The display device DS is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to the big hit state and displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. This display device DS has special symbol display portions Da to Dc in the center portion and a normal symbol display portion 19 in the upper right portion. In the special symbol display portions Da to Dc, there is a case where a reach effect that expects a big hit state is invited, and in the special symbol display portions Da to Dc and the surroundings, an appropriate notice effect is executed.

  In the game area where the game ball falls and moves, a symbol start port 15, a big winning port 16, a normal winning port 17, and a gate 18 are arranged. Each of these winning openings 15 to 18 has a detection switch inside, and can detect the passage of a game ball. When the game ball passes through the symbol start port 15, a series of image effects accompanied by the special symbol changing operation is started on the special symbol display portions Da to Dc, assuming that the game ball has won. Corresponding to this image effect, a sound effect with background music and effect sound, and a lamp effect in which the lamp blinks are executed.

  The symbol start port 15 is configured to be opened and closed by an electric tulip having a pair of left and right open / close claws 15a, and when the stop symbol after the fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 19 displays a winning symbol, a predetermined time is displayed. The opening / closing claw 15a is opened only until a predetermined number of game balls are detected.

  The normal symbol display unit 19 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 18 is detected, the normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time and is extracted when the game ball passes through the gate 18. The stop symbol determined by the selected lottery random value is displayed and stopped.

  The special winning opening 16 includes an opening / closing plate 16a that advances and retreats in the front-rear direction. The operation of the special winning opening 16 is not particularly limited, but in a typical big hit state, a predetermined time elapses after the opening / closing plate 16a of the special winning opening 16 is opened, or a predetermined number (for example, ten) of games. When the ball wins, the opening / closing plate 16a is closed. Such an operation is continued up to 15 times, for example, and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player. In addition, when the stop symbol after the change of the special symbol display parts Da to Dc is a specific symbol among the special symbols, there is a privilege that the game after the end of the special game becomes a high probability state (probability variation state). Is granted.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration of the pachinko machine GM that realizes the above-described operations. As shown in the figure, this pachinko machine GM receives AC24V and outputs various DC voltages and power supply abnormality signals ABN1 and ABN2, a main control board 21 mainly responsible for game control operations, and a main control. An effect control board 22 that executes a lamp effect and a sound effect based on a control command CMD received from the board 21; an image control board 23 that drives the display device DS based on a control command CMD ′ received from the effect control board 22; , A payout control board 24 for controlling the payout motor M based on the control command CMD "received from the main control board 21 and paying out the game ball, and a launch control board 25 for firing the game ball in response to the player's operation. And it is composed around.

  The control command CMD output from the main control board 21 is transmitted to the effect control board 22 without going through the relay board, but the control command CMD ′ output from the effect control board 22 passes through the image interface board 28. Is transmitted to the image control board 23. The control command CMD "output from the main control board 21 is transmitted to the payout control board 24 via the main board relay board 32. The control commands CMD, CMD ', CMD" are all 16 bits long. However, the control commands related to the main control board 21 and the payout control board 24 are sent in parallel in two portions every 8 bits. On the other hand, the control command CMD 'transmitted from the effect control board 22 to the image control board 23 is 16 bits in length and transmitted in parallel. Therefore, even when the notification effects including the movable notification effect are diversified and a large number of control commands are continuously transmitted and received, the processing can be completed quickly, and other control operations are not hindered.

  In this embodiment, the image interface board 28 and the image control board 23 are directly connected to each other with a male connector and a female connector without passing through a wiring cable, and two circuit boards are laminated. . Therefore, even if the circuit configuration of each electronic circuit is complicated and sophisticated, the storage space of the entire board can be minimized, and noise resistance can be improved by minimizing the connection lines.

  The main control board 21, the effect control board 22, the image control board 23, and the payout control board 24 are each equipped with a computer circuit including a one-chip microcomputer. In view of this, the control boards 21 to 24 and the circuits mounted on the interface board 28 and the operations realized by the circuits are collectively referred to as functions. In this specification, the main control section 21 and the effect control section 22 are used. , Image control unit 23 and payout control unit 24. That is, in this embodiment, the image control board 23 and the image interface board 28 constitute the image control unit 23. All or part of the effect control unit 22, the image control unit 23, and the payout control unit 24 is a sub-control unit.

  The pachinko machine GM is roughly divided into a frame side member GM1 surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3 and a board side member GM2 fixed to the back of the game board 5. The frame side member GM1 includes a front frame 3 on which a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached, and a wooden outer frame 1 on the outside thereof. Is fixedly installed. On the other hand, the board side member GM2 is replaced in response to the model change, and a new board side member GM2 is attached to the frame side member GM1 instead of the original board side member. All except the frame side member GM1 is the panel side member GM2.

  As shown in the broken line frame in FIG. 3, the frame side member GM1 includes a power supply board 20, a payout control board 24, a launch control board 25, a frame relay board 35, and a lamp drive board 36. These circuit boards are respectively fixed at appropriate positions of the front frame 3.

  A plurality of LEDs are connected to the lamp drive board 36, and drive data SDATA for driving these LED groups is transmitted via the effect control board 22 → the frame relay board 34 → the frame relay board 35 as a serial signal. Are transmitted to a plurality of LED drivers mounted on the lamp driving board 36.

  On the back surface of the game board 5, a main control board 21, an effect control board 22, an image control board 23, and an image interface board 28 are fixed together with the display device DS and other circuit boards. And the frame side member GM1 and the board | substrate side member GM2 are electrically connected by the connection connectors C1-C4 concentratedly arranged in one place.

  The power supply board 20 is connected to the main board relay board 32 through the connection connector C2, and is connected to the power supply relay board 33 through the connection connector C3. The internal configuration of the power supply substrate 20 is as shown in FIG. 4A. A bridge-type rectifier circuit 61 that performs full-wave rectification of AC24V received from the outside, a power factor correction circuit 62 that receives the output of the rectifier circuit 61, An inrush current preventing circuit 63 for suppressing a transient current of the rectifier circuit, four DC-DC converters RG1 to RG4 and their associated circuits, an AC monitoring circuit 64 for monitoring an AC power supply interruption and an abnormality in the DC output voltage, It is comprised.

  The power factor correction circuit 62 includes a choke coil L1, switching transistors Q1 and Q2, a step-up type power factor control circuit PFC that realizes chopper operation by controlling ON / OFF of the two transistors, and a smoothing capacitor C1. The input voltage peak value 33.9V (= 24 * SQR2) is boosted and a direct current voltage of the design value DC35V is output. The DC voltage DC35V is distributed to the main control board 21, the payout control board 24, and the effect control board 22, respectively.

  The power factor control circuit PFC performs ON / OFF control of the transistors Q1 and Q2 in a complementary manner, thereby causing a low-amplitude sawtooth wave charging / discharging current to flow through the AC24V power line (see FIG. 4D). That is, when the transistor Q1 is ON (Q2 is OFF), the energy stored in the choke coil L1 is charged to the smoothing capacitor C1 when the transistor Q2 is ON (Q1 is OFF). The input current is improved to a substantially sinusoidal shape.

  The inrush current prevention circuit 63 includes an N-channel MOS type switching transistor Q3, a thermistor TH disposed between the drain terminal and the source terminal of the transistor Q3, and a bias element (ZD1, R1, R2) that defines the gate voltage of the transistor Q3. , C2). As shown in the figure, since the bias element includes the Zener diode ZD1, a bias voltage is not applied to the gate terminal and the transistor Q3 is turned off in a transient state until the Zener diode ZD1 breaks down and turns ON. .

  Therefore, immediately after the power is turned on, the input current of the AC 24V power line passes through the path of the rectifier circuit 61 → the power factor improving circuit 62 → the thermistor TH → the rectifier circuit 61, and a transient current (rush current) when the power is turned on. Is optimally limited by the thermistor TH.

  The AC monitoring circuit 64 includes a full-wave rectifier circuit including diodes D5 and D6 and a load resistor R3, a current limiting resistor R4, and a converter RG4. The voltage across the load resistor R3 has a pulsating waveform with a peak value of about 34V (see FIG. 4B), and this pulsating voltage is supplied to the monitoring terminal Sin1 of the converter RG4 via the current limiting resistor R4. Yes. Then, converter RG4 determines the interruption of AC power supply AC24V based on the voltage supplied to monitoring terminal Sin1.

  The four converters RG1 to RG4 operate by receiving the DC voltage (DC35V) of the same level at the DC input terminal Vin, and function together with the passive elements (R, L, C) (not shown), so The voltage (12V or 5V) is output. That is, converter RG1 and converter RG2 each generate 12V and output it to output terminal Vout. Output voltage DC12V of converter RG1 is distributed to effect control board 22, and output voltage DC12V of converter RG2 is the main voltage. Power is distributed to the control board 21 and the payout control board 24.

  Converter RG3 generates DC5V distributed to production control board 22 and outputs it from output terminal Vout of converter RG3. Converter RG4 generates DC5V distributed to main control board 21 and payout control board 24, Output from the output terminal Vout of the converter RG4. Thus, in the power supply board 20 of the present embodiment, only three types of DC voltages (35V, 12V, 5V) are generated, and the control boards 20, 21, 22 that receive the distribution of these DC voltages are necessary. Accordingly, a configuration in which one or a plurality of power supply voltages at a drop level is generated is adopted, and the configuration of the power supply circuit as a whole gaming machine is not wasted.

  A backup power supply BAK of DC5V is generated based on the output of the converter RG4 and is distributed to the main control board 21 and the payout control board 24. Here, the backup power source BAK is a DC power source of DC 5V that retains data in the built-in RAM of the one-chip microcomputer of the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24 even after the AC power source 24V is shut off due to business termination or power failure. is there.

  Further, converters RG1 to RG4 are provided with a control terminal CTL for controlling whether or not the DC-DC conversion operation of each circuit element is permitted, and the internal circuit functions on condition that the control terminal CTL is at the H level. A DC-DC conversion operation is performed. For example, the internal configurations of converters RG2 and RG4 are as shown in FIG. 4C, and the internal circuit (DC conversion circuit CNV) functions and performs DC-DC conversion on condition that the control terminal CTL is at the H level. The action is executed.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the output terminal Sout2 of the converter RG2 is connected to the control terminal CTL of the converter RG1 together with its own control terminal CTL. Similarly, the output terminal Sout2 of the converter RG4 is connected to the control terminal CTL of the converter RG3 together with its own control terminal CTL. Therefore, when the DC voltage DC35V drops and the output voltage of the output terminal Sout2 of the converter RG2 or the converter RG4 transitions to the L level, the four converters RG1 to RG4 thereafter stop the DC-DC conversion function all at once. It will be. As described above, in this embodiment, when the input voltage to be DC-DC converted (DC35V) drops to an abnormal level, the DC-DC conversion operation is automatically stopped, and hence the subsequent abnormal operation may occur. There is no.

  By the way, the power supply board 20 of the present embodiment does not generate a power supply reset signal indicating that the AC power is turned on, and the power supply reset signal is transmitted to the main control board 21, the payout control board 24, the effect control board 22, and the like. Instead, each control board 21, 24, 22 generates a power reset signal based on the distributed DC voltage (5V, 12V). Therefore, there is no possibility that the CPU is abnormally reset by superimposing noise on a signal line that transmits a power reset signal from the power supply board to each control board.

  The power supply board 20 has been described so far, and another configuration of the gaming machine GM will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the main control board 21 is connected to the power supply board 20 via the main board relay board 32, and has three types of DC voltages DC35V, DC12V, and DC5V, a backup power supply BAK, and a power supply abnormality signal. Received ABN1. On the other hand, the payout control board 24 is directly connected to the power supply board 20 without going through a relay board, and receives the same power abnormality signal ABN2 and backup power supply BAK as the main control unit 21 receives, with three types of DC voltages DC35V. , DC12V, DC5V together.

  In this embodiment, the RAM clear signal CLR is generated by the main control unit 21 and transmitted to the one-chip microcomputer of the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24. Here, the RAM clear signal CLR is a signal for deciding whether or not to initialize all the areas of the built-in RAM of the one-chip microcomputer of each control unit 21 and 24. It has a value corresponding to the / OFF state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 21 transmits a control command CMD ″ to the payout control unit 24 via the main board relay board 32, while the payout control unit 24 indicates a game ball payout operation. A prize ball counting signal, a status signal CON relating to an abnormality in the payout operation, and an operation start signal BGN are received, and the status signal CON includes, for example, a replenishment signal, a payout shortage error signal, and a lower plate full signal. The operation start signal BGN is a signal for notifying the main control unit 21 that the initial operation of the payout control unit 24 has been completed after the power is turned on.

  The main control unit 21 is connected to each game component of the game board 5 via the game board relay board 31. And while receiving the switch signal of the detection switch built in each winning opening 16-18 on a game board, solenoids, such as an electric tulip, are driven. The solenoids and the detection switch are configured to operate with the power supply voltage VB (12 V) distributed from the main control unit 21. Each switch signal indicating a winning state to the symbol start opening 15 is converted to a TTL level or CMOS level switch signal by an interface IC that operates with the power supply voltage VB (12 V) and the power supply voltage Vcc (5 V). And then transmitted to the main control unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the effect control unit 22 receives a control command CMD and a strobe signal STB from the main control unit 21. Then, the effect control unit 22 supplies the lamp drive data SDATA (serial signal) to the LED drivers mounted on the lamp drive board 29 and the lamp / motor drive board 30. Although not particularly limited, the LED driver mounted on the lamp driving board 29 or the lamp / motor driving board 30 has the same configuration as the LED driver mounted on the lamp driving board 36.

  Further, in this embodiment, the stepping motor is driven using the same LED driver, and the production motor groups M1 to Mn are driven via the lamp / motor drive board 30 as indicated by the broken line. . In this case, the motor drive data is a serial signal similar to the lamp drive data, and even if the number of production motors is increased in order to enrich production contents, the number of wiring cables does not increase, and the device configuration is simplified. .

  The effect control unit 23 receives three types of DC voltages (12V, 5V, and 32V) from the power supply board 20, and the DC voltage 32V is transferred to the lamp / motor drive board 30 as it is to drive the power supply for the effect motor and the like. It is utilized as. On the other hand, the DC voltage 5V is used as a power supply voltage for various digital circuits of the effect control board 22, and the DC voltage 12V is used as a power supply voltage for the digital amplifiers 46a and 46b and is also transferred to the drive boards 29 and 30. Used for lamp production and motor production.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the effect control unit 22 sends a control command CMD ′ and a strobe signal STB ′, two types of DC voltages (12V, 5V), and a system reset signal SYS to the image control unit 23. Is output. Here, the system reset signal SYS is a signal generated in the reset circuit RST & WDT of the effect control unit 22 based on the DC voltage (12V, 5V) received from the power supply board 20.

  Then, the image control unit 23 resets the power of various semiconductor IC elements based on the system reset signal SYS received from the effect control unit 22 and drives the display device DS based on the control command CMD ′ received from the effect control unit 22. Various image effects are executed. The display device DS emits light by the LED backlight, and receives five pairs of LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling) signals and a backlight power supply voltage (12 V) from the image interface board 28. (See FIG. 5).

  Next, the configuration of the effect control unit 22 described above will be described in more detail based on FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, the effect control unit 22 is a one-chip microcomputer 40 (hereinafter referred to as an effect control CPU 40) that executes processing such as voice effect, lamp effect, notice effect by effect movable body, and data transfer. And a control memory (flash memory) 41 for storing the control program of the effect control CPU 40 and various effect data, and an audio signal based on instructions of the effect control CPU 40 set in the built-in registers RG0 to RGn. A sound processor (sound synthesis circuit) 42 for outputting, a sound memory 43 for storing compressed sound data as original data of a sound signal to be reproduced, a digital amplifier 46 for receiving a sound signal output from the sound processor 42, It is comprised.

  The effect control unit 23 includes a power supply circuit including three DC-DC converters (CONV1 to CONV3) and a reset circuit RST & WDT. The power supply circuits (CONV1 to CONV3) generate three types of DC voltages (1.0V, 1.8V, 3.3V) based on the DC voltage 12V received from the power supply board 20, and the one-chip microcomputer 40, the control memory 41, the power supply voltage of the sound processor 42 and the sound memory 43. Therefore, the possibility that only a part of the power supply voltage of the one-chip microcomputer 40, the control memory 41, the sound processor 42, and the sound memory 43 drops is virtually zero, and there is a possibility of a local outage. Virtually does not occur.

  The reset circuit RST & WDT of the embodiment not only generates a system reset signal SYS but also functions as a watchdog timer. When the clear signal CLR to be received from the effect control CPU 40 is interrupted, an abnormal reset signal RSET is output to forcibly reset the effect control CPU 40, the control memory 41, and the audio processor 42. Therefore, when the production control CPU 40 does not function normally, the audio production can be immediately returned to the initial state.

Next, the audio processor 42 according to the present embodiment accesses the audio memory 43 based on operation parameters (set values by the audio command SND) received from the effect control CPU 40 to the built-in registers (audio control registers) RG0 to RGn. Plays and outputs the necessary audio signal. As shown in FIG. 5, the audio processor 42 and the audio memory 43 are connected to each other by a 26-bit audio address bus and a 16-bit audio data bus. Therefore, 1 Gbit (= 2 ²⁶ * 16) data can be stored in the audio memory 43.

In the case of the present embodiment, the compressed audio data stored in the audio memory 43 is phrase compressed data specified by a phrase number NUM (000H to 1FFFH) having a 13-bit length, and is a series of background music. Minutes (BGM), a group of effect sounds (notice sounds), and the like are stored in a maximum of 8192 types (= 2 ¹³ ) corresponding to the phrase number NUM. The phrase number NUM is specified by the set value (operation parameter) of the voice command SND transmitted from the effect control CPU 40 to the voice control registers RG0 to RGn of the voice processor 42.

  By the way, in this specification, in the following description, the group effect sound specified by one phrase number NUM may be referred to as “unit effect”. In this sense, one piece of background music (BGM sound) is also a kind of “unit effect”, which is started by winning a game ball at the symbol starting point, and ends by notifying the result of the lottery. The audio effect that constitutes the variation effect is realized by appropriately combining a plurality of “unit effects”.

  The voice command SND is a plurality (2 or 3) bytes long, and is used for a write purpose of transmitting a predetermined set value to any one of the many voice control registers RG0 to RGn built in the voice processor 42. The However, the voice command SND according to the present embodiment is used not only for a write application for writing a set value such as a phrase number NUM but also for a read application for reading status information (error information) STS from a predetermined voice control register RGi. The predetermined audio control register RGi to be accessed is specified by a 1-byte register address.

  The setting (Write) of the set value to the sound control register RGi is not necessarily executed individually for each sound control register, and a group of sound control is performed by designating the SAC data stored in the sound memory 43. A series of setting operations for the registers RGi to RGj can be completed. Here, the SAC data is an aggregate of a maximum of 512 pieces (up to 1024 bytes) in which the register address (1 byte) of the voice control register RGi is associated with the set value (multiple bytes) in the voice control register RGi. Means.

  In the present embodiment, only a necessary set of such SAC data is stored in the audio memory 43 in advance, and a set of SAC data is specified by a SAC number of about 13 bits that is a single ID information. It is like that. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the voice command SND for write use specifies a SAC number and specifies a set of SAC data, or specifies a set value and a register address individually.

  In order to realize the above operation, the effect control CPU 40 and the audio processor 42 are parallel signal lines (data bus) CD0 to CD7 capable of transmitting / receiving 1-byte data, and 2-bit operation management data capable of transmitting operation management data. Lines (address buses) A0 to A1, 2 bit length control signal lines WR and RD capable of controlling read / write operations, and a chip select signal line CS for selecting the audio processor 42 are connected. .

  The parallel signal lines CD0 to CD7 are realized by the data bus of the effect control CPU 40 built in the one-chip microcomputer 40, and the operation management data lines A0 to A1 are realized by the address bus of the effect control CPU 40. The voice processor 42 is assigned three port numbers PORT having the upper 6 bits in common and the lower 2 bits 00, 01, 10, and the effect control CPU 40 assigns I to these port numbers PORT. When the / OREAD instruction or the I / OWRITE instruction is executed, the circuit is configured so that the chip select signal CS becomes an active level in any case.

  The data output to the lower 2 bits A0 to A1 of the address bus when the I / OREAD instruction or the I / OWRITE instruction is executed becomes the operation management data A0 to A1 for the voice processor 42. Based on this, it is specified whether the 1-byte data of the data buses CD0 to CD7 at that time is a register address, or write data or read data.

  That is, if the address data A0-A1 is [00], the data bus data CD0-CD7 at that timing is evaluated as a register address, while if the address data A0-A1 is [01], The data CD0 to CD7 on the timing data bus become write data or read data. The read data is executed when the I / OREAD instruction is executed, and the write data is executed when the I / OWRITE instruction is executed.

  Therefore, the transmission operation of the voice command SND for writing the predetermined set value in the predetermined control register RGi is as shown in the time chart of FIG. 5B, and the lower 2 bits A0, This is realized by continuously executing the I / OWRITE instruction while changing A1. Specifically, the lower 2 bits A0 to A1 of the address data are changed from [00] → [01], while 1-byte data of the data bus is changed to [register address of the voice control register RGi] → [voice control]. By shifting the write data to the register RGi], the transmission operation of the predetermined voice command SND is realized.

  When the write data is a plurality of bytes long as in the case of transmitting the SAC number (13 bits), the operation management data A0 to A1 of [01] are changed from [00] → [01] → [01]. → Send the data of multiple bytes while repeating [01].

  The voice command transmitted in this manner is subsequently validated inside the voice processor 42 as long as there is no communication abnormality. However, if a communication error is recognized, such as data having a plurality of bytes inconsistent with each other, the voice command SND is not activated. Then, an error flag of the voice control register RGn is set. This error flag (status information STS) is an I / OREAD in which the address bus operation management data A0 to A1 is changed from [01] to [10]. It can be received by executing the instruction (see FIG. 5D).

  As described above, in this embodiment, error information (abnormality of a plurality of bits) is obtained in the final cycle in which the operation management data A0 to A1 are changed from [00] → [01] →... [01] → [10]. FFH) can be obtained. Then, by retransmitting the voice command SND that could not be properly transmitted in parallel, the voice effect can be appropriately advanced. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably eliminate the unnaturalness that the sound effect suddenly stops.

  On the other hand, the data reading operation by the I / OREAD operation is as shown in the time chart of FIG. 5C, and the lower 2 bits A0 and A1 of the port number PORT of the voice processor 42 are changed and the I / OWRITE instruction is changed. This is realized by continuously executing the I / OREAD instruction. When the read data has a length of a plurality of bytes, the I / OREAD instruction is continued for the required number of bytes.

  Specifically, first, as the I / OWRITE operation, for the port number PORT in which the lower two bits A0 to A1 of the address data are [00], [the register address of the voice control register RGi that stores the operation status and the like. (1 byte length)] is output. Next, if the I / OREAD instruction is executed for the port number PORT in which the lower 2 bits A0 to A1 of the address data are [01], necessary data such as operation status can be obtained from a predetermined control register. it can.

  The audio reproduced by the audio processor 42 having the above-described configuration is in the form of a 5-bit signal (SCLK, LRO, SD0, SD1, SD2) shown in FIG. The signals are transmitted to the digital amplifiers 46a and 46b, are subjected to class D amplification by the digital amplifiers, and are supplied to the speakers as analog audio signals. Specifically, the amplified output (analog audio signal) of the digital amplifier 46a is supplied to the lower speaker BTM for bass, and the amplified output (analog audio signal) of the digital amplifier 46b is up, down, left and right with respect to the player. It is supplied to four speakers TL, TR, ML, and MR that are substantially aligned at the positions.

  Next, another circuit configuration of the effect control unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a 4-bit switch signal is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 40 from a setting switch SET operated by an attendant. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the one-chip microcomputer 40 includes a plurality of parallel input / output ports PIO (Pi + Pi '+ Po + Po') and a plurality of serial output ports SI. More specifically, the serial output port SI includes three-channel serial ports (S0 to S2). Each of the LED drivers mounted on the lamp driving boards 36, 29, and 30 is connected to each of the LED drivers. Serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 are output in synchronization with clock signals CK0 to CK2.

  That is, the serial port S0 to serial port S2 transmit serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 to the corresponding lamp drive boards 36, 29, and 30 based on the clock synchronization method. The serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 are mostly brightness data (lamp drive data) for adjusting the light emission brightness of each LED by PWM control (pulse width modulation), but drive the production motors M1 to Mn. Motor drive data to be included is also included.

  The parallel output port Po ′ outputs 3-bit operation enable signals ENABLE0 to ENABLE2 to the lamp drive boards 36, 29, 30 and the LED drivers mounted on the lamp drive boards 36, 29, 30. Starts operation based on one of the operation enable signals ENABLE0 to ENABLE2. The output port Po 'outputs a MUTE signal for silencing the outputs of the digital amplifiers 46a and 46b. This MUTE signal is used, for example, when power is turned on, which may cause the operation to become unstable, or when an abnormal operation of the voice processor 42 is detected.

  Corresponding to such a configuration, the production control board 22 includes parallel output ports Po ′ of the one-chip microcomputer 40, serial buffer SI, and output buffer circuits 47, 48, and 49 for transmitting various signals to be output. Is provided. Here, the output buffer 47 is related to the LED group of the 0th channel, and outputs the lamp driving data SDATA0, the clock signal CK0, and the operation permission signal ENABLE0 output from the one-chip microcomputer 40 to the frame relay board 34. doing. The output 3-bit signal is transmitted to the LED driver of the lamp driving board 36 via the frame relay board 34 and the frame relay board 35.

  Similarly, the output buffer 48 transmits the lamp drive data SDATA1, the clock signal CK1, and the operation enable signal ENABLE1 output from the one-chip microcomputer 40 to the LED driver of the lamp drive board 29, and the output buffer 49 The drive data SDATA2, the clock signal CK2, and the operation permission signal ENABLE2 are transmitted to the LED driver of the lamp / motor drive board 30. The LED driver of the lamp driving board 29 drives the LED group of the first channel, and the LED driver of the lamp / motor driving board 30 drives the LED group of the second channel and the effect motors M1 to Mn. Yes.

  On the other hand, the control command CMD and the strobe signal STB from the main control unit 21 are input to the input port Pi of the parallel input / output port PIO via the input buffer 44, and the output buffer 45 is input from the command output port Po. A control command CMD ′ and a strobe signal STB ′ are output via the route.

  Specifically, the control command CMD and the strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB output from the main control board 21 correspond to the power supply voltage 3.3 V of the one-chip microcomputer 40 in the input buffer Pi. Is converted to a logical level and supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 40 in units of 8 bits. The interrupt signal STB is supplied to the interrupt terminal of the one-chip microcomputer 40, and the effect control unit 22 is configured to acquire a control command CMD by reception interrupt processing.

  The control command CMD acquired by the one-chip microcomputer 40 of the effect control unit 22 includes (1) abnormality notification and other notification control commands, and (2) various effect operations resulting from winning at the symbol start opening. A control command (variation pattern command) for specifying an outline and a control command (design specifying command) for specifying a symbol type are included. Here, the outline of the production operation specified by the variation pattern command includes the production total time from the production start to the production end and the result of winning or failing in the jackpot lottery.

  In addition, the symbol designating command includes information for identifying information on the jackpot type (15R probability variation, 2R probability variation, 15R normal, 2R normal, etc.) in the case of a jackpot according to the result of the jackpot lottery. In some cases, information for identifying a loss is included. The outline of the production operation specified by the variation pattern command includes the production total time from the production start to the production end, and the result of success or failure in the big hit lottery. In addition to these, the change pattern command including the presence or absence of the reach effect or the notice effect may be specified, but even in this case, the specific content of the effect content is not specified.

  Therefore, when the production control unit 22 (one-chip microcomputer 40) acquires the variation pattern command, the production lottery is subsequently performed, and the production outline of the variation production specified by the obtained variation pattern command is embodied. For example, specific contents of the reach effect and the notice effect are determined and a series of fluctuating effects are specified. Then, in accordance with the determined specific game content, a lamp effect by blinking the LED group and a sound effect preparation operation by the speaker are performed, and the image control unit 23 is synchronized with the effect operation by the lamp and the speaker. A control command (production command) CMD ′ relating to the produced image production is output.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of main scenario tables Mj (see FIG. 9B) are prepared corresponding to a series of variation effect types, and based on the result of the effect lottery, a plurality of main scenario tables Mj are stored. Any one or more are specified. For example, a main scenario table M0 that realizes a series of fluctuating effects and a main scenario table Mx, My,... That realizes one or more notice effects that function at appropriate timing are specified. Note that it is not necessary to specify all the main scenario tables Mj when receiving a variation pattern command. For example, when receiving a symbol designating command, one or a plurality of main scenario tables Mj corresponding to the symbol specified by the command are selected. You may specify.

  In any case, in the main scenario table Mj, scenario information for specifying the contents of the effects of the sound effects, the lamp effects, and the motor effects to be executed in association with each other and the execution duration time of the effects are described. However, in the main scenario table Mj shown in FIG. 9B, the description regarding the lamp effect and the motor effect is omitted for convenience.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the scenario information regarding the audio effect is specifically the sub-scenario number of the sub-scenario table Sk. In the sub-scenario table Sk specified by the sub-scenario number, a phrase number NUM that specifies a unit effect, a playback volume value of the unit effect, and the like are defined (see FIG. 9C).

  In order to realize an image effect synchronized with the effect operation of the effect control unit 22, the effect control unit 22 uses a 16-bit control command together with a strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB ′ to the image control unit 23 through the command output port Po. CMD ′ is output toward the image interface board 28. Upon receiving the effect command CMD ′ related to the effect lottery, the effect control unit 22 specifies an image scenario table corresponding to the effect command CMD ′, and starts an image effect defined in the image scenario table.

  An output buffer 45 is provided corresponding to the configuration of the effect control board 22 described above, and outputs a 16-bit control command CMD ′ and a 1-bit interrupt signal STB ′ to the image interface board 28. . These data CMD ′ and STB ′ are transmitted to the image control board 23 via the image interface board 28. These signals are at a logic level corresponding to the power supply voltage 3.3 V of the one-chip microcomputer 40.

  FIG. 6A also shows a connection relationship among the audio processor 42, the one-chip microcomputer 40 (production control CPU), and the audio memory 43 along with the schematic internal configuration of the audio processor 42. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the audio processor 42 includes a large number of audio control registers 51 (RG0 to RGn) accessed from the effect control CPU 40, a sound control module 52 for comprehensively controlling the audio reproduction operation, and audio. The main generator 53 that decodes the phrase compressed data read from the memory 43 and mixes the decoded data of the plurality of phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH31 at an appropriate volume ratio, and realizes a desired frequency characteristic by digital filter processing. An effect unit 54 that realizes an equalizer function and a compressor function that changes input / output gain characteristics, a total volume TV that defines a final volume, and five types of signals SCLK, LRO, SD0, SD1, and SD2 for serial transmission are generated. Digital IF unit 55 and It is configured to include a.

  The internal configuration of the main generator 53 is shown in more detail as shown in FIG. 7. The main generator 53 is a decoder divided into 32 phrase reproduction channels (CH0 to CH31) that can be independently decoded. 60, a primary volume V1, a secondary volume Vs (= V2, V3, V4), a channel volume having a panpot portion and adjustable sound volume and volume balance, and 32 phrase playback channels (CH0) To CH31) and a channel mix unit 61 that mixes the audio of CH31).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the L0 signal, R0 signal, R1 signal, L1 signal, SUB0 signal, and SOB1 signal are output for each phrase playback channel (CH0 to CH31). These six types (32 × 6 in total) are output. Are mixed by the channel mixing unit 61 and output as a mixed L0 signal, a mixed R0 signal, a mixed R1 signal, a mixed L1 signal, a mixed SUB0 signal, and a mixed SUB1 signal.

  The mixed L0 signal and the mixed R0 signal are each subjected to class D amplification by the digital amplifier 46b, and then supplied to the upper left and right speakers TL and TR. Also, the mixed L1 signal and the mixed R1 signal are respectively digital amplifier 46b. And then supplied to the speakers ML and MR on the left and right sides of the middle part. On the other hand, the mixed SUB0 signal and the mixed SUB1 signal are each subjected to class D amplification by the digital amplifier 46a and then supplied to the low-frequency speaker BTM.

  The 6-channel signals L0, R0, R1, L1, SUB0, and SOB1 are all PCM data in the process of passing through the main generator 53 → effect unit 54 → total volume TV → digital IF unit 55, and digital amplifiers. An analog signal is obtained by passing through 46a and 46b. Also, 6-channel signals L0, R0, L1, R1, SUB0, and SOB1 are collected into 3-channel audio serial signals SO0 to SD2 and transmitted to the digital amplifiers 46a and 46b.

  As schematically described above, the sound control register 51 (RGi) of the sound processor 42 has a write register that the effect control CPU 40 performs write processing and a function of the sound processor 42 so that the sound processor 42 functions as intended. In order to grasp the operation state, the effect control CPU 40 is divided into a read register to be read-processed.

  Write data to the write register includes (1) a phrase number NUM that specifies a unit effect of the BGM sound and effect sound to be reproduced, (2) a volume (V1, Vs) instruction of the reproduced sound, and (3) the number of times of reproduction. (4) Operation instruction such as playback start and pause, (5) Panpot instruction that is the volume balance of the upper and lower speakers and left and right speakers, (6) Final volume (TV) instruction, etc. include. Here, the effect sound includes a warning sound for notifying with a predetermined reliability (≦ 100%) that there is a possibility of shifting to a big hit state during a series of fluctuating operations.

  Also, (1) phrase number NUM specification, (2) volume (V1 / Vs) instruction, (3) loop instruction, (4) operation instruction, and (5) panpot instruction are all phrase playback of the decoder 60. It is configured to be performed by designating channels CH0 to CH31. Therefore, a maximum of 32 types of phrase compressed data corresponding to the phrase playback channels CH0 to CH31 are simultaneously and independently reproduced based on the above instructions (1) to (5), and are mixed by the channel mix unit 61. Will be output.

  In this embodiment, the volume transition operation for transitioning the volume value of the audio signal stepwise is realized by software, and the primary volume V1, the secondary volume Vs (= V2, V3, V4), and the total volume. Volume transition operation is possible for the TV. However, in this embodiment, the volume transition operation is executed only for the secondary volumes Vs (= V2, V3, V4) in consideration of the control burden.

  Specifically, the volume transition operation of the secondary volume Vs means a fade-out operation or a fade-in operation. Then, the volume transition operation is based on (1) the target value that is the final volume value and (2) the transition speed to reach the target value based on the instruction value described in the sub-scenario table Sk. This is realized by specifying the volume indication value of the secondary volume Vs in a stepwise manner.

  In other words, in this embodiment, not only the fade-out operation and the fade-in operation, but also the left and right pan pots and the upper and lower pan pots in the pan pot effect suddenly change the pan (localization) up and down and left and right, and the pan is slowly displaced. All the volume transition operations including the operation are realized by software processing by the effect control CPU 40.

  Incidentally, the sound control module 52 of the sound processor 42 causes each part of the apparatus to function for each instruction based on the individual instructions from the effect control CPU 40 written in the sound control register 51 (RGi). In this embodiment, the voice processor 42 is provided with a simple access function and a sequencer function in order to simplify the control operation of the effect control CPU 40. Here, simple access is a function that can execute a plurality of commands (instruction sequences) registered in advance in an external memory (specifically, the voice memory 43) with one command. It means an automatic performance function that realizes the phrase playback and volume / pan functions according to the procedure registered in the voice memory 43 in advance.

  In this embodiment, the above-described simple access function and sequencer function are utilized as necessary, but the operation of the main generator 53 is basically the same whether or not these functions are utilized. . Therefore, for the sake of convenience, in the following description, the presentation control CPU 40 individually controls the audio processor 42 without using the simple access function or the sequencer function.

  As described above, the main generator 53 is a channel having the decoder 60 divided into a plurality of phrase reproduction channels (CH0 to CH31), the primary volume portion V1, and the secondary volume portion Vs (= V2, V3, V4). And a volume (see FIGS. 6A and 7). Accordingly, in response to such a configuration, the effect control CPU 40 of the present embodiment uses the decoders of the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH1 to reproduce the BGM sound, and notifies the occurrence of a serious abnormal situation. In this case, the decoder of the phrase reproduction channel CH29 is used.

  In addition, for the reproduction of the effect sound that realizes the notice effect or the like, one of the 22 phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH23 is used in an empty state, and the operation effective sound is reproduced using the phrase reproduction channel CH27. The phrase reproduction channel CH28 is used for the reproduction of the winning sound. Here, the operation effective sound is an effect sound generated in response to pressing of the chance button 11, for example. The winning sound is, for example, a congratulations that the invitation to the big hit state has been confirmed at the end of the fluctuating production, or a congratulations that the button state in the button chance state has been successfully operated and the chance state has been effective. It is a sound. In addition, although CH24-26 and CH30-31 are used for another use, since it is not related to the meaning of this invention, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In any case, in the present embodiment, the phrase reproduction channel to be used is fixed for the error notification sound, the operation effective sound, and the winning sound whose occurrence frequency is low and the sound pattern is substantially uniform. To reduce the control burden. On the other hand, when executing a notice effect or the like, since it is necessary to multiplexly combine many kinds of sounds (unit effects specified by the phrase number NUM), among the 22 phrase playback channels CH2 to CH23, In this case, a free decoder is selectively used.

  However, in order to facilitate the search processing of the free decoder, in this embodiment, the 22 phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH23 are divided into the upper channel SE1 (CH2 to CH7) and the lower channel SE2 according to the production priority. Divided into (CH8 to CH23). Note that the priority means the magnitude of each volume value of a plurality of unit effects that are played back simultaneously. A unit effect with a high priority is played on the upper channel, and a unit effect with a lower priority is played on the lower channel. This facilitates management of the volume value at the time of overlapping production. That is, in this embodiment, if necessary, the volume values of the upper channel SE1 are collectively increased, and conversely, the volume values of the lower channel SE2 are collectively decreased, so that a plurality of temporally overlapping notice effects are obtained. Is playing effectively. Further, if necessary, the volume of the BGM sound is suppressed to prevent the production sound from being overheard. In the following description, the effect sound reproduced on the higher channel SE1 is expressed as the notice sound SE1 or the effect sound SE1, and the effect sound reproduced on the lower channel SE2 is expressed as the notice sound SE2 or the effect sound SE2. Sometimes.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the description of the internal configuration of the audio processor 42 will be continued. As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 7, the output signals of 6 channels of the channel mix 61 (mixed L0, mixed R0, mixed). L1, mixed R1, mixed SUB0, mixed SUB1) are supplied to the total volume unit TV after being subjected to digital filter processing in the effect unit 54 based on operation parameters defined in a predetermined audio control register 51 (RGi). Amplified based on the total volume value TV. The total volume value TV is defined by an operation parameter written in the corresponding voice control register 51 (RGi). In this embodiment, the operation parameter is basically set by a setting switch SET (FIG. 3) operated by an attendant. ). However, when the player operates the volume switch VSW (FIG. 1) during the game operation (but during the sound production standby), the total volume TV is defined based on the set value.

  Hereinafter, conceptually described, the volume of the audio signal output from each speaker is the product of the product of the primary volume V1 and the secondary volume Vs defined by the effect control CPU and the total volume TV based on the player's intention. Therefore, all sound effects are realized at a volume intended by the player. However, when a serious abnormal situation is detected, the secondary volume Vs becomes the minimum value, and the primary volume V1 and the total volume TV of the phrase playback channel CH29 are at the highest level regardless of the intentions of the staff and the player. The alarm sound at the time (abnormal alarm sound) cannot be hidden by operating the volume switch VSW.

  The audio signals (mixed L0, mixed R0, mixed L1, mixed R1, mixed SUB0, mixed SUB1) that have passed through the total volume unit TV having such significance are stored in the output buffer BUF and based on the digital IF unit 55. It is converted into three-channel serial signals SD0, SD1, and SD2. As described above, the serial signals SD0 and SD1 are serial signals that specify PCM data related to the stereo signals R and L that drive the left and right speakers TR, TL, MR, and ML disposed in the upper and middle parts of the gaming machine. The serial signal SD2 is a serial signal that specifies PCM data related to a monaural signal that drives a low-frequency speaker disposed at the lower part of the gaming machine. These serial signals SD0, SD1, and SD2 are output together with the channel control signal (word clock signal) LRO in synchronization with the bit clock signal BCO (FIG. 6B).

  Next, the operation of the effect control unit 22 will be described with a focus on the characteristic part of the present embodiment in the sound effect operation. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the characteristic part of the operation content of the effect control unit 22. The operation of the effect control unit 22 includes a main process (FIG. 8 (a)) executed in an infinite loop after the effect control CPU 40 is reset, and a timer interrupt process (FIG. 8 (b)) started every 1 mS. ), A reception interrupt process (not shown) for receiving a control command transmitted by the main control unit 21, and a reproduction completion interrupt process (FIG. 8 (c)) activated by an interrupt signal received from the audio processor 42. It is realized with.

  First, the main part of the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 8B will be described. In the timer interrupt process, the interrupt counter is incremented (+1) (ST20), and an effect command CMD ′ to be transmitted is prepared. The effect command CMD ′ is transmitted to the image control unit 23 (ST21). Then, other processing is executed to finish the interrupt processing (ST22). The other processes include a motor effect using an effect motor and a process of advancing a lamp effect that blinks an LED lamp.

  Next, the main process shown in FIG. 8A will be described. After the CPU reset, the effect control CPU first performs appropriate initial setting operations for the RAM work area and internal circuits of the one-chip microcomputer 40 and the audio processor 42. Is executed (ST10). Next, it waits for the interrupt counter updated every 1 ms in the timer interrupt processing to reach 16 (ST11). When the interrupt counter reaches 16, the interrupt counter is cleared to zero (ST12), and steps ST12 to ST19. Execute the loop process.

  Therefore, the loop processing of steps ST12 to ST19 is repeatedly executed every 16 ms. In the loop processing, error processing is executed based on the switch signal acquired in the previous switch input processing (ST15) and the control command (error command) acquired in the reception interrupt processing (ST13). This error process includes an error notification process executed based on the error scenario, and an error scenario corresponding to the detected abnormal situation is first identified.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the non-gaming state has continued for a predetermined time. If no gaming operation is permitted, a demo process is executed based on a predetermined demo scenario (ST14). Subsequently, a switch input process for determining a pressing operation of the setting switch SET operated by the clerk and the chance button 11 operated by the player is executed (ST15). If this timing is a button chance state, a chance scenario of the button chance game is specified, and the chance game is started based on the scenario.

  Next, command analysis processing for analyzing the control command CMD acquired in the reception interrupt processing is executed (ST16). When a predetermined control command (variation pattern command) is received, an effect lottery for determining specific content of the effect is executed, and a series of effects are determined based on the effect scenario specified in accordance with the determination result. The variation effect is started (ST16).

  A series of fluctuating effects are executed synchronously in conjunction with an image effect using the display device DS, a lamp effect that blinks the lamp, and a sound effect that uses a speaker. Added. For this reason, in the production scenario that specifies these series of fluctuating actions, specific contents of various productions are defined together with the execution start time and execution duration time. It should be noted that the image effect, the lamp effect, and the sound effect are executed synchronously based on a predetermined scenario, similarly for the error scenario, the demo scenario, and the chance scenario.

  In this embodiment, one or more main scenario tables Mj for specifying a series of fluctuating effects are prepared for the production scenario, the error scenario, the demo scenario, and the chance scenario. The scenario information (sub-scenario number) for specifying the contents of the effect and the execution duration time of the effect are described. For convenience, as described above, the main scenario table Mj in FIG. 9B omits the description regarding the lamp effect and the motor effect.

  In any case, when an error notification, demonstration effect, button effect, or variable effect is executed, it is necessary to advance the contents as time elapses, and then a scenario update process is executed next. (ST17). Since the scenario update process is executed every 16 ms, when the necessary switching timing is reached, a process for specifying the effect content to be executed next is executed. Specifically, the reference positions of the main scenario table Mj and the sub-scenario table Sk are updated for the scenario being executed.

  This point will be described with respect to the sound effect. The sound effect is executed based on the voice command SND received by the sound processor 42 from the effect control CPU 40. That is, the sound effect is executed by the sound processor 42 reproducing a predetermined unit effect specified by the sound command SND with a predetermined sound volume. Therefore, when the voice effect switching timing is reached, the effect control CPU 40 transmits a new unit effect and a voice command for specifying the playback volume to the voice processor, and the series of processes other than the scenario update process. (ST17).

  When the scenario update process having the above contents is completed, the fade process is executed (ST18). Here, the fading process means a volume changing process for changing the volume of the sound effect being executed. Typically, the mutual volume adjustment is executed for the BGM sound and the effect sound (notice sound) reproduced in duplicate. For example, (1) In order to reproduce a predetermined warning sound, the volume of the BGM sound being played is suppressed. (2) Another warning sound having a high importance (reliability) is superimposed on the warning sound being played. For example, operations such as suppressing the volume of the warning sound being reproduced for reproduction, (3) suppressing the volume of the BGM sound or effect sound for error notification, and the like are applicable.

  Note that the volume adjustment mode includes not only the instantaneous operation of changing to the target volume at a stretch, but also a fade-in operation and a fade-out operation of changing the volume in stages. In either case, the effect control CPU 40 writes the phrase playback channel CHn and the voice command SND for specifying the playback volume in the playback channel CHn to a predetermined voice control register 51 (RGi) of the voice processor 42. Is done. The playback volume is specified by the primary volume value V1 or the secondary volume value Vs, but the playback volume of the BGM sound and the warning sounds SE1 and SE2 is the set value of the secondary volume Vs for both the instantaneous operation and the fade operation. The reproduction volume of the error notification sound is specified by the volume setting values for the primary volume V1 and the secondary volume Vs. The volume setting value is appropriately set. When an error is notified, the primary volume V1 of the phrase reproduction channel CH29 is set to the maximum value, while the primary volume V1 of the other phrase reproduction channels CH0 to 28 and CH30 to 31 is minimized. Set to value.

  When the fade process (ST18) having the above contents is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step ST11 after executing other processes. Other processing includes update processing of lamp drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 serially transmitted from the serial port SI, update processing of random values for effect lottery, and the like.

  As described above, the rendering operation of the present embodiment includes registration processes such as error scenario registration (ST13), demo scenario registration (ST14), chance button scenario registration (ST15), and scenario scenario registration (ST16). The process starts with specifying the scenario table and setting initial data. As will be described later, this registration operation is a process of writing the main scenario number and the waiting time into the progress management channel MCHm in an empty state. Then, every 16 mS, the effect control CPU 40 refers to each scenario table (ST17), and when the update timing is reached, the effect operation is advanced by changing the reference position of the scenario table.

  Here, the production scenario table is roughly divided into a main scenario table Mj (FIG. 9B) and a sub-scenario table Sk specified in the main scenario table Mj (FIG. 9C). In general, a plurality of main scenarios are in a parallel running state during the production, and as a result, the effect control CPU 40 has a plurality of main scenario tables Mj to Mx and a plurality of corresponding scenarios. Based on the sub-scenario tables Sk to Sy, the sound effect is advanced in a multiple manner. In this embodiment, since the scenario numbers and the scenario tables correspond one-to-one, in the following description, the main scenario table Mj is identified with the main scenario number mcNo and the main scenario, and the sub-scenario table Sk is The sub-scenario number scNo and the sub-scenario may be identified.

  Based on the above schematic explanation, the voice production for effecting the production scenario (see ST16) will be described in more detail. As described above, in this embodiment, the selection operation for appropriately selecting the empty channels CHn of the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH31 of the audio processor 42, the plurality of main scenario tables Mj to Mx, and the plurality of sub-channels An appropriate reference operation for the scenario tables Sk to Sy is required. Therefore, in order to facilitate these operations, in this embodiment, a scenario progress table INFO_TBL as shown in FIG. 8D and a use CH management table PlayNow_TBL shown in FIG. 8E are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8 (d), the scenario progress table INFO_TBL has variable values for advancing the production scenario specified by the main scenario number Mj to the progress management channel MCHm for specifying the main scenario number Mj being executed. Is a two-dimensional array configured to be rewritable. Although not particularly limited, the progress management channel MCHm is 64 channels (m = 0 to 63), and variable values for proceeding the production scenario include (1) main scenario number mcNo, (2) scenario The timer scTm, (3) main scenario execution line mcIx, (4) sub-scenario execution line scIx, and (5) standby time delay are included.

  Here, (1) the main scenario number mcNo is number information for specifying the main scenario table Mj, (2) the scenario timer scTm is time information for managing the progress of the production scenario specified by the main scenario number mcNo, (3 ) The main scenario execution line mcIx is line information for specifying the reference line of the main scenario table Mj. (4) The sub-scenario execution line scIx is line information for specifying the reference line of the sub-scenario table Sk. (5) Waiting time delay. Is a delay time from when the main scenario number mcNo is written to the progress management channel MCHm until execution of the production scenario of the main scenario number mcNo is started, and the production start timing is specified. The scenario timer scTm and the delay time delay are time information with 16 mS as a unit.

  For example, the registration information of the progress management channel MCH0 illustrated in FIG. 8D means that the main scenario M10 is started 60 * 16 mS after the information registration to the progress management channel MCH0. Further, according to the registration information of the progress management channel MCH1, the main scenario M20 is started immediately after the information is registered in the progress management channel MCH1. The scenario registration process executed in the processes of steps ST13, ST14, ST15, and ST16 means that the main scenario number mcNo and the standby time delay are written in any of the free progress management channels MCHm. . In this scenario registration process, initial values are written in the scenario timer scTm, the main scenario execution line mcIx, and the sub-scenario execution line scIx. These values are updated as appropriate in the scenario update process (ST17).

  As shown in FIG. 8E, the use CH management table PlayNow_TBL is a management table for managing the use status of the phrase playback channels CH0 to CH31 of the audio processor 42. In this embodiment, the phrase playback channels CH0 to CH29 The state of “reproducing”, “stopped”, or “paused” is stored. These pieces of information can be grasped by reading the status flag value from a predetermined audio control register 51 (RGi) of the audio processor 42, but in this embodiment, “playing” and “paused” This is set based on program control of the control CPU 40. For this reason, in this embodiment, there is no problem of a time delay from when the voice command SND for starting or pausing playback is issued to the voice processor 42 until the voice processor 42 actually reacts.

  In this embodiment, 64 scenario management tables MCHm of the scenario progression table INFO_TBL are provided (m = 0 to 63), and voice commands SND necessary for analysis processing in each progression management channel MCHm are continuously transmitted. Of particular importance. That is, prior to the transmission of the voice command SND, the voice processor 42 is accessed, and the availability of the phrase playback channels CH0 to CH29 is checked from the status flag, so that the phrase playback specified by the voice command SND issued immediately before is checked. In many cases, the channel CHn still maintains “stopped”, and therefore, there is a possibility that the phrase playback channel CHn specified immediately before is duplicated, and this causes the previous unit effect to disappear. It will be.

  On the other hand, the “stopped” information in the used CH management table PlayNow_TBL is updated based on the reproduction completion interrupt process shown in FIG. That is, when receiving the interrupt signal from the audio processor 42, the effect control CPU 40 accesses a predetermined audio control register RGi of the audio processor 42 and specifies the phrase reproduction channel CHn that has been reproduced (ST25). Next, for the phrase playback channel CHn that has been played back, the data in the used CH management table PlayNow_TBL is rewritten from “playing” to “stopped” (ST26).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the latest situation of the phrase playback channel CHn that can be used from time to time can be grasped in real time, and optimal phrase playback control can be realized. That is, if it is not appropriate to grasp the empty channel CHn, for example, in the upper channel SE1 (CH2 to CH7) with a limited number of channels (= 6), it is unavoidable to execute unit effects to be executed simultaneously. However, in the present embodiment, the upper channel SE1 can be effectively used, and up to six unit effects can be appropriately executed simultaneously. As described above, in this embodiment, the unit effect is a group of effect sounds and BGM sounds specified by one phrase number NUM.

  Next, the scenario update process (ST17) will be further described based on FIG. In this scenario update process, the processes of steps ST31 to ST43 are executed for all the progress management channels MCHm (m = 0 to 63) of the scenario progress table INFO_TBL, and necessary voice commands SND are sequentially sent to the voice processor 42. Sending. In order to realize such an operation, in the scenario update process, first, it is first determined whether or not a significant main scenario number mcNo is described in a specific progress management channel MCHm in the scenario progress table INFO_TBL (ST31). . If no significant main scenario number mcNo is described in the m-th progress management channel MCHm, the process jumps to step ST44 to determine the next m + 1-th progress management channel MCHm + 1.

  On the other hand, if a significant main scenario number mcNo is described in the m-th progress management channel MCHm, the value of the standby time delay described in the progress management channel MCHm is determined (ST32). As described above, the value of the standby time delay means a delay time from when the main scenario number mcNo is written to the progress management channel MCHm until execution of the effect scenario of the main scenario number mcNo is started. . Therefore, when the standby time delay ≠ 0, the standby time delay is decremented (−1) and the process is terminated (ST33).

  Conversely, if the standby time delay = 0, the reference line specified by the main scenario execution line mcIx is referred to in the main scenario table Mj corresponding to the main scenario number mcNo described in the progress management channel MCHm (ST34). ). As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the main scenario table Mj describes one or a plurality of sub-scenario numbers scNo for realizing the main scenario Mj and the execution duration time of each sub-scenario. The main scenario execution line mcIx identifies the reference line, and the execution duration is managed by the progress of the scenario timer scTm updated every 16 ms.

  For example, the main scenario of the main scenario number M01 executes the sub-scenario of the sub-scenario number S02 after executing the sub-scenario of the sub-scenario number S02 of 1500 * 16 mS, and then executes the sub-scenario of the sub-scenario number S20 of 500 * 16 mS. Is executed for 2000 * 16 mS to finish the process. D_SEEND means the end of data. In some cases, a loop specification such as D_SELOP + 0 may be described instead of the end data. In this case, jump to the jump line indicated after + (the first line is 0 in the illustrated example). The processing below the jump line is repeated.

  The same applies to the main scenario with the main scenario number M02. After executing the sub-scenario with the sub-scenario number S01 of 3000 * 16 mS, the sub-scenario with the sub-scenario number S25 is executed with 1000 * 16 mS. The sub-scenario of S26 is executed for 1000 * 16 ms, and the process ends.

  The sub-scenario table Sk specified by the main scenario table Mj is as exemplified in FIG. 9C, FIG. 12B, and FIG. 12C, and a plurality of lines managed by the sub-scenario execution line scIx. In addition, specific contents of the sound production are specified by specifying the production start timing managed by the scenario timer scTm. That is, each row of the sub-scenario table Sk includes (1) a phrase number NUM that specifies a unit effect, (2) playback mode information that specifies the playback mode, and (3) a fade shift or moment that occurs in the middle of the audio performance. All or part of the volume transition mode (sound control information) such as deviation is defined. The playback mode is specified by a playback volume (secondary volume Vs), a loop request, a stereo request, and the like.

  For example, the timing of the first and second lines of the sub-scenario table Sk (= 001) shown in FIG. 12B and the timing of the second line of the sub-scenario table Sk (= 002) shown in FIG. In addition, when a new unit effect is started, (1) phrase number NUM and (2) reproduction mode information are essentially stored. When the volume of another unit effect is changed in accordance with the start timing, (3) sound control information is further stored.

  On the other hand, at the timing of the third line of the sub-scenario table Sk (= 001) shown in FIG. 12B and the second and third lines of the sub-scenario table Sk (= 002) shown in FIG. A new unit effect is not started, and the volume of the unit effect that has been executed so far changes.

  Returning to FIG. 9C, the description will be continued. The sub-scenario table Sk of this embodiment includes (1) a phrase number NUM that identifies a unit effect, and (2) a unit effect with respect to reproduction mode information of the unit effect. These are stored separately according to the type. Here, the types of unit effects are six types: BGM sound, effect sound SE1, effect sound SE2, error notification sound, operation effective sound, winning sound, and so on. Corresponding to the number (= 6), the sub-scenario table Sk is divided into six sections, and the section of the sound control information is added to the sub-scenario table Sk, and is divided into seven sections as a whole (FIGS. 12B and 12C). )reference). As described above, the phrase reproduction channel CHn of the audio processor 42 used to reproduce the BGM sound, error notification sound, operation valid sound, and winning sound is fixedly defined in advance. . On the other hand, the higher-order effect sound SE1 and the lower-order effect sound SE2 are arbitrarily selected from the empty phrase playback channel CHn.

  More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 9B and 9C, in the production scenario specified by the main scenario number M02, first, the sub-scenario having the sub-scenario number S01 is selected. Then, in the sub-scenario of the sub-scenario number S01, the sound production of the first line is immediately started, the sound production of the second line is started at the timing of the scenario timer scTm = 1000, and further, at the timing of the scenario timer scTm = 1500. Start audio production on the 3rd row. Then, when the audio effect defined by the information on the third line is finished, the processing of the sub-scenario S01 is finished. In the above description, the start of the sound effect mainly means that the unit effect described in the corresponding line of the sub-scenario table Sk is newly started, but FIG. 12 (b) and FIG. 12 (c). As is confirmed from the above, the start of the volume transition operation of the unit effect being executed is also included.

  In any case, after starting the audio production in the third line of the sub-scenario S01, the process returns to the main scenario table M02 of FIG. 9B, and the sub-scenario of the sub-scenario number S25 is performed at the timing of the scenario timer scTm = 3000. Is selected, and the sound production of the sub-scenario number S25 is executed with an execution duration of 1000 * 16 ms. Note that the audio effect specified in the third line of the sub-scenario S01 automatically ends when the playback time of the unit effect expires or when the volume transition operation ends.

  The processing after step ST34 in FIG. 9A realizes the above operation. As described above, in the process of step ST34, in the main scenario table Mj (see FIG. 9B) corresponding to the main scenario number mcNo described in the predetermined progress management channel MCHm, the main scenario execution line mcIx is Since the specified reference line is referred to, next, the data of the reference line is determined (ST35).

  If the data is the final data D_SEEND, the execution of the main scenario described in the progress management channel MCHm is completed, so that it is described in the progress management channel MCHm (see FIG. 8B). The main scenario number mcNo is deleted and the scenario update process is terminated (ST36). Therefore, the progress management channel MCHm that has been used until then is released for another main scenario to be started thereafter, and the scenario timer scTm, The sub-scenario execution line scIx and the main scenario execution line mcIx are cleared.

  On the other hand, if the data in the reference line is not the final data D_SEEND but the duration information, the sub-scenario is based on the sub-scenario number scNo, the scenario timer scTm, and the sub-scenario execution line scIx described in the reference line. Sk is updated, and the necessary voice command SND is transmitted to the voice processor 42 (ST37). The details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the scenario timer scTm is incremented by 1 (ST38), and it is determined whether or not the updated scenario timer scTm is equal to or longer than the duration described in the main scenario table Mj (ST39). If the scenario timer scTm ≧ the duration, the main scenario execution line mcIx is incremented by 1 and updated (ST40).

  Then, the information indicated by the updated main scenario execution line mcIx is determined (ST41). If the information is a loop designation indicated by “D_SELOP + jump destination”, the main scenario execution line mcIx is set to the jump destination. Change to a line (ST42). In any case, the scenario timer scTm ≧ duration means that one sub-scenario Sk (one unit of the main scenario Mj) specified by the sub-scenario number has ended. Therefore, in the progress management channel MCHm, the scenario timer scTm, the sub-scenario execution line scIx, and the standby time delay are cleared (ST43). Note that the values of the main scenario execution line mcIx and the scenario timer scTm are maintained for execution of the next sub-scenario.

  Since the processing of steps ST31 to ST43 described above is processing for the m-th progress management channel MCHm (m = 0 to 63), next, in order to perform the same processing for the m + 1st progress management channel MCHm + 1, The process proceeds to step ST31 (ST43). Then, when the process for all 64 channels is finished, the scenario update process (ST17) is finished.

  Subsequently, the sub-scenario update process in step ST37 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the sub-scenario update process specifies the sub-scenario number scNo specified by the main scenario execution line mcIx in the main scenario table Mj corresponding to the main scenario number mcNo registered in the scenario progress table INFO_TBL. Start with state. Therefore, the address value specified by the sub-scenario execution line scIx (see FIG. 8D) is acquired in the sub-scenario table Sk corresponding to the sub-scenario number scNo (ST50).

  Here, if the stored data at that address is the end data D_SEEND, the processing is finished as it is. On the other hand, if it is not the end data D_SEEND but the start time defines the start timing, the value is compared with the scenario timer scTm (ST52). Then, if the scenario timer scTm ≧ start time, a voice command output process is performed in which the phrase playback channel CHn of the voice processor 42 is designated and an appropriate voice command SND is transmitted (ST53). As shown in FIG. 9C, the sub-scenario table Sk stores a phrase number NUM that identifies a unit effect, a playback volume value (secondary volume Vs) of the unit effect, and the like.

  When the voice command output process (ST53) ends, the sub-scenario execution line scIx stored in the scenario progress table INFO_TBL (FIG. 8 (d)) is updated by +1, and the process returns to step ST51. Therefore, as in the third and fourth lines of the sub-scenario 002 in FIG. 12C, the sound control information can be activated at the same timing for a plurality of sound control information having the same start timing. .

  The voice command output process executed in step ST53 is as shown in FIG. 10B, and (1) a voice command SND for specifying a unit effect to be newly started, or (2) being executed. The voice command SND for changing the voice of the unit effect is transmitted. When such a voice command output process (ST53) ends, the subscenario execution line scIx is updated and the subscenario update process ends (ST54).

  Next, the voice command output process (ST53) shown in FIG. In the voice command output process, first, it is determined whether or not the scenario reproduction channel CHn specified in the sub-scenario table Sk is a fixed channel (ST55). As described above, the BGM sound, the error notification sound, the operation effective sound, and the winning sound use the phrase playback channel CHn specified in advance. Phrase reproduction channels CHn to be designated by the command SND are determined as CH0 + CH1, CH28, CH27, and CH28, respectively (ST56).

  Next, in the determined phrase reproduction channel CHn, one or a plurality of voice commands SND are set to start a unit effect of a predetermined phrase number NUM described in the sub-scenario table Sk with a predetermined secondary volume Vs value. Is transmitted to the voice processor 42 (ST57). The transmission of the voice command SND is as shown in FIG. 10C, and (1) a phrase number NUM, () is sent to a predetermined voice control register RGi that manages the operation of the phrase playback channel CHn of the voice processor 42. 2) One or a plurality of voice commands SND specifying set values such as secondary volume values, (3) left and right pan pots, and (4) upper and lower pan pots are transmitted. The voice command SND is 2 bytes or 3 bytes having a register number + set value structure.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST55 that the scenario playback channel CHn specified in the sub-scenario table Sk is not a fixed channel, the processing in steps ST56 to ST57 is skipped, and the corresponding line in the sub-scenario table Sk is displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not data relating to the production sound SE1 / SE2 is described (ST58). For example, as in the third line of the sub-scenario Sk (= 001) in FIG. 12B, there is a case where there is no data relating to the production sound SE1 / SE2, and only data relating to sound control is described. .

  If the data related to the effect sound SE1 / SE2 is described in the corresponding line of the sub-scenario table Sk, the phrase reproduction channel CHn for reproducing the effect sound SE1 or the effect sound SE2 is detected (ST59). . This reproduction CH detection process (ST59) is as shown in FIG. 11A, and the used CH management table PlayNow_TBL shown in FIG. 8E is searched in order to detect an empty phrase reproduction channel CHn. . As a return value of the reproduction CH detection process (ST59), an empty phrase reproduction channel CHn is returned, and when there is no empty channel, invalid data NULL is returned.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, in the reproduction CH detection process (ST59), the initial setting value differs depending on whether the effect sound SE1 is reproduced or the effect sound SE2 is reproduced. = Initially set as CH0, and in the case of the production sound SE2, the initial setting is set as CH = CH8 (ST70). An empty channel is searched for in the used CH management table PlayNow_TBL within the range of the scenario playback channels CH0 to CH7 or the scenario playback channels CH8 to CH23.

  In the reproduction CH detection process (ST59), if the effect sounds SE1 and SE2 to be reproduced are stereo sounds, two continuous channels starting from even channels are secured (ST72 to ST77). Then, for one or two detected empty channels, the corresponding column of the used CH management table PlayNow_TBL is rewritten from “stopped” to “playing” (ST77).

  As described with reference to FIG. 8C, the use CH management table PlayNow_TBL is always updated by the interruption process from the audio processor 42 to determine whether or not each phrase reproduction channel CHn is “stopped”. In (ST59), information on the latest state can be referred to and there is no omission of detection. In addition, at the timing of step ST77, the phrase playback channel CHn “stopped” is rewritten to “playing”, so that the sub-scenario update for another progress management channel MCHm (m = 0 to 63) continues thereafter. In the process (reproduced CH detection process), an empty channel is not erroneously detected.

  Returning to FIG. 10B, the description of the voice command output process (ST53) is continued. If an empty channel CHn is detected for the effect sound SE1 / SE2, the phrase playback channel CHn is used to create a new channel. The necessary voice command SND is transmitted to the voice processor 42 in order to start the reproduction of the production sound SE1 / SE2 as the unit production. As shown in FIG. 10C, the voice command SND has a length of a plurality of bytes combining the register number of the control register RGi of the voice processor 42 and the set value.

  As the set values, the phrase number NUM of the effect sound SE1 / SE2 and the secondary volume Vs of the effect sound SE1 / SE2 are required values, and up / down / left / right pan pot setting values and the like are added as necessary. In the present embodiment, the operation state of the phrase playback channel CHn of the audio processor 42, that is, any of the “stopped”, “paused”, and “playing” states, indicates all available phrase playback channels. It understands about CHn (n = 0 to 29) (see FIG. 8E).

  When such step ST60 is completed, it is next determined whether or not data relating to sound control is described in the corresponding line of the sub-scenario table Sk. If data relating to sound control is described, sound control processing for transmitting a voice command necessary to execute the volume transition operation is executed (ST62). The operation content of the sound control process in step ST62 is as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C and will be described later.

  FIG. 12A illustrates data relating to sound control. In this embodiment, sound control data having a 4-byte (Bit31-Bit0) configuration is used. First, the least significant 3 bits (Bit2-Bit0) indicate the transition time from the start to the end of the volume transition operation as a numerical value of 1 to 4, and the transition time is 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 1. It means 5 seconds and 2 seconds. Next, the lower 4 bits (Bit19 to Bit16) of the third byte designate the volume target value of the secondary volume Vs in four stages from the minimum value (0x00) to the maximum value (0x80). In the sound control data, 13 bits (Bit 15 to Bit 3) composed of the second byte and the higher byte of 1 byte indicate a phrase number NUM (000H to 1FFFH). In this embodiment, as described above, the volume transition operation is executed only for the secondary volume Vs.

  In the upper 4 bits (Bit23 to Bit20) of the third byte, the phrase reproduction channel CHn whose volume is to be changed is CH0 to CH1 of BGM sound, CH2 to CH7 of effect sound SE1, or CH8 of effect sound SE2. ~ CH23, CH2 to CH23 of all SEs, or a phrase reproduction channel CHn reproducing a unit effect of a predetermined phrase number NUM. As described above, the phrase number NUM is specified by 13 bits of Bit 15 to Bit 3 of the sound control data.

  Next, the fourth byte (Bit31 to Bit24) of the sound control data indicates the control type for changing the volume. Specifically, the fade operation for changing the secondary volume value Vs or the secondary volume value at once. It is used as information such as an instantaneous operation for transition or how much the primary volume value V1 is set.

  Regarding the sound control data, the sub-scenario table Sk (= 001) in FIG. 12B will be described. At the start time zero, the volume target value of the secondary volume Vs is set to 0x20 (V20) for the BGM sound (BG_T). ) Is defined to be executed in 0.5 seconds (S05). The registered data in the SE1 column indicates that “the unit effect of the phrase number NUM = 0001 is to be reproduced in stereo at the level of the secondary volume Vs = 0x80”. The unit effect of the phrase number NUM = 0001 is started at the maximum volume while suppressing the BGM sound quickly (see FIG. 12D).

  Thereafter, the unit effect of the phrase number NUM = 0002 is started, but at the timing of the start time 5000 * 16 mS, a fade operation (with a volume target value of the secondary volume Vs of 0x80 (V80)) for the BGM sound (BG_T) ( SF) is executed for 2 seconds (S20) (see FIG. 12D).

  On the other hand, in the sub-scenario table Sk (= 002) of FIG. 12C, the primary volume V1 of the BGM sound (BG_T) is instantaneously changed to 0x00 (SV00) at the timing of the start time zero, and the phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH2 are used. It is defined that the primary volume V1 of CH7 (YK1_T) is instantaneously changed to 0x00 (SV00). The registered data in the SE2 column indicates that “the unit effect of the phrase number NUM = 0010 is to be played in stereo at the level of the secondary volume Vs = 0x80”. The production effect SE1 and the BGM sound are quickly suppressed, and the unit production of the phrase number NUM = 0010 is started at the maximum volume (see FIG. 12 (e)).

  Thereafter, the primary volume V1 is instantaneously changed to 0x80 (V80) for the BGM sound (BG_T) and the phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH7 (YK1_T) at the start time of 5000 * 16 mS (FIG. 12 (e)). )reference). In this embodiment, the fade operation is not executed for the primary volume, but it is not particularly limited.

  In any case, in order to execute the fade operation as illustrated in FIG. 12D, it is necessary to transmit time-sequentially voice commands in which the setting value Vs of the secondary volume is changed step by step. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fade control table FDTBL shown in FIG. 13A, the update cycle table shown in FIG. 13B, and the management table of the volume variable VOL shown in FIG. 13C are provided. . Note that the fade control table FDTBL and the update cycle table are fixedly stored in the ROM, and the volume variable VOL management table (FIG. 13C) is rewritable in the RAM.

  The volume variable VOL management table VL_TBL (FIG. 13C) is a volume that stores the value of the secondary volume Vs set by the voice command for all the phrase playback channels CH0 to CH29 of the voice processor 42 used in this embodiment. This is a management table, and is initially set in correspondence with step ST57 in the voice command output process (ST53) and the transmission process in step 60. In addition, in the registration field of the update cycle WD of the volume management table VL_TBL, when performing a fade operation, a predetermined value including the increase / decrease direction of volume transition is set, but zero is set when the fade operation is not performed. Has been.

  The fade control table FDTBL in FIG. 13A is based on the premise that the difference value is filled in 10 command transmission processes for 128 different difference values between the current secondary volume value VOL and the target value. It defines the amount of volume shift in each command transmission process. For example, when the difference value is 128, the target value is reached by filling the difference 128 with the target value in 10 processes of 12 + 13 +... + 13 + 13. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 13A shows a linear change, but it is possible to realize a non-linear desired volume transition operation by changing the registration data of the fade control table FDTBL. Of course.

  The update cycle table shown in FIG. 13B defines the relationship between the transition time and the update cycle. For example, the lower 3 bits of the sound control data are 001 (S05), and the transition time is 0.5 seconds. In this case, the voice command SND in which the secondary volume value Vs is changed should be transmitted once every three times, that is, every 16 * 3 mS in terms of a time unit of 16 mS. Then, the transition of the secondary volume value Vs is repeated 10 times in the increasing or decreasing direction in the direction of the horizontal axis in FIG. 13A (see FIG. 13A), and after 16 * 3 * 10 mS. The target volume is reached at (≈0.5 seconds).

  Based on the above, the sound control process (ST62) will be described. This sound control process is divided into a non-fade process shown in FIG. 11B and a fade initial setting process shown in FIG. Here, the non-fading process is an instantaneous setting process without fading operation, and the set values SVOL, SVO8, SVO0, SVO2, SVO4, SVO8E, SVO0E, etc. in the sound control data in FIG. It is a process to do.

  If the fourth byte data in the sound control column in the sub-scenario table Sk (see FIG. 12A) is the set value SVOL, SVO8, SVO0, SVO2, SVO4, SVO8E, SVO0E, etc., the sound control Based on the upper byte data of the third byte of the column, the volume control target (BG_T, YK1_T, YK2_T, YKA_T, FRZ) is specified, the phrase playback channel CHn whose volume is to be changed, and the voice command SND specifying the volume value Is transmitted to the audio processor 2 (ST80).

  On the other hand, the fade operation includes a fade initial setting process (FIG. 11C) included in the sound control process (ST62 in FIG. 10B), and a fade process (ST18) shown in FIGS. 18 and 11D. It is realized with. First, in the fade initial setting process (FIG. 11C), the current volume value VOL is shown in FIG. 13C for the phrase playback channel CHn specified by the control data in the sound control column of the sub-scenario table Sk. Obtained from the volume management table VL_TBL (ST81).

  Next, the difference between the volume target value (Bit19-Bit16) specified by the sound control data in the sub-scenario table Sk and the current volume value VOL is calculated (ST82). It should be noted that the reference row i of the fade control table FDTBL (FIG. 13A) is specified by the difference value calculated in the process of step ST82, and whether the volume transition is increasing or decreasing is specified. Become. These data are stored in the corresponding columns of the volume management table VL_TBL in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the variable i is a row pointer of the fade control table FDTBL.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, not only the volume target value is specified, but also the volume target value and the current volume value are compared to specify the volume shift direction (±). Smooth volume transition from can be realized.

  In other words, in a configuration in which only the target value is set without causing the current volume value VOL to be a problem, a unidirectional transition operation from a predetermined reference value (MIN value or MAX value) to the target value is performed. For example, when the current value is the MIN value and the reference value is the MAX value, there is a disadvantage that an instantaneous shift of MIN → MAX from zero to the maximum volume occurs. On the other hand, when the current value is the MAX value and the reference value is the MIN value, there is an unnatural in which the volume shift starts after an instantaneous mute that changes from MAX to MIN occurs. Inconvenience does not occur.

  When the process of step ST82 having the above significance is completed, the update cycle table of FIG. 13B is referred to based on the transition time (Bit2-Bit0) designated by the sound control data of the sub-scenario table Sk. Then, the update cycle WD is specified, and is described in the corresponding column of the volume management table VL_TBL in FIG. 13C together with the volume transition direction (ST83). Further, the column pointer j of the fade control table FDTBL is initialized to zero, and the control variable B is initialized to the value of the update cycle WD (ST83). Note that the column pointer j and the control variable B that are initially set are also stored in the corresponding column of the volume management table VL_TBL (ST83).

  As shown in the update cycle table of FIG. 13B, in the case of the present embodiment, the initial value of the control variable B is any one of 3, 6, 9, and 12 that is the update cycle WD. Then, since the storage column of the update cycle WD of the volume management table VL_TBL in FIG. 13C is set to a significant value other than zero, execution of the subsequent fade process is instructed.

  The actual fade process is as shown in FIG. 11 (d), and the update cycle WD is not zero for all the phrase playback channels CHn managed in the volume management table VL_TBL of FIG. 13 (c). It is executed (ST90).

  That is, if the update cycle WD> 0, the control variable B that is initially set in the update cycle WD is decremented (ST91), and it is determined whether or not the control variable B becomes zero (ST92). Here, if the control variable B = 0, it means that the update timing has been reached, so the column pointer j is updated, and the deviation amount Δ of row i and column j of the fade control table FDTBL is acquired (ST93). In principle, a plurality of control variables B, row pointers i, and column pointers j are required (up to 30) corresponding to the phrase playback channel CHn. Since an independent fade operation is not executed for each reproduction channel CHn, the number is not so large.

  Next, the volume value VOL is changed (VOL ← VOL ± Δ), and the voice command SND designating the updated volume value VOL is transmitted to the voice processor 42 (ST95). Then, it is determined whether or not the volume value VOL has reached the target value (ST96). If the column pointer j indicates the last column of the fade control table FDTBL, the update cycle WD of the volume management table VL_TBL is determined. Is set to zero (ST97). As a result, thereafter, the volume transition process for the phrase reproduction channel CHn is not executed.

  On the other hand, if the volume value VOL has not reached the target value, the control variable B is initialized to the value of the update cycle WD in order to detect the next update timing (ST98). Then, the processes of steps ST90 to ST98 are executed for all phrase playback channels CH0 to CH29 in the volume management table VL_TBL of FIG. 13C (ST99).

  In the present embodiment, it is also possible to specify a fade operation for a specific unit effect as shown in the control object FRZ in the third byte higher in the sound control data of FIG. The specific unit effect is specified by a 13-bit long phrase number NUM, but when a fade operation of a specific unit effect is designated, in this embodiment, a predetermined inquiry command SND is sent to the voice processor 42. By transmitting, the phrase reproduction channel which reproduces the unit effect is specified.

  The inquiry command is transmitted by the write operation of the voice command SND specifying the phrase reproduction channel CHn (see FIG. 5B), and thereafter the voice command SND receiving process specifying the predetermined voice control register RGi. By executing (read data processing in FIG. 5C), the phrase reproduction channel reproducing the unit effect in question is specified.

  However, in this embodiment, the phrase playback channel CHn is specified and the phrase number NUM is transmitted (see ST57 and ST60 in FIG. 10). At this timing, the relationship between the phrase playback channel CHn and the phrase number NUM is determined. It is also possible to take a method of storing, and in this case, it is not necessary to send an inquiry command.

  Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the specific description does not particularly limit the present invention. For example, although the reproduction completion interrupt process is provided in the embodiment (FIG. 8C), it is also preferable to omit this in consideration of the control burden.

  In this case, at the beginning of the scenario update process (ST17), as shown in the reception process (read data process) in FIG. 5C, the voice processor 42 is accessed, and a predetermined status flag is referred to. The used CH management table PlayNow_TBL may be updated to the latest value. In this modified example, during one processing unit time (16 mS), the audio processor 42 is subsequently accessed and the predetermined status flag is not checked. Therefore, the phrase playback channel that has changed from “playing” to “stopped” during one processing unit time cannot be used thereafter, but there is an advantage that no interrupt processing program is required.

GM gaming machine CHn playback channel 42 voice synthesis means RGi control register 22 effect control means Mj, Sk scenario storage means
VOL_TBL Volume management means

Claims (1)

Based on a group of original sound data, a voice synthesizing means provided with a plurality of reproduction channels for reproducing a predetermined unit effect by voice so that they can be operated in parallel;
Corresponding to the start and progress of a series of sound effects composed of one or a plurality of unit effects, setting a new unit effect and an operation parameter for defining the playback volume in a predetermined control register of the speech synthesis means In the gaming machine provided with the production control means for realizing the parallel operation of a plurality of playback channels,
The production control means includes
Scenario storage means for storing predetermined presentation information for realizing a series of voice effects, and volume management means for storing management data for managing playback volume for the playback channel of the voice synthesis means are provided,
When the playback volume of one or a plurality of unit effects is changed stepwise, the volume control means is referred to every predetermined time, and the operation parameters generated based on the management data are stored in a predetermined control register. Configured to set to
Wherein the volume management means, a game machine, wherein Rukoto identifiable management data increases and decreases direction of the sound volume is not stored.

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