JP6674319B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine that rotates a reel upon an operation of a start switch and stops rotation of a reel upon an operation of a stop switch.

  The slot machine is provided with a reel having a plurality of symbols attached along the outer peripheral surface, the reel is rotated by an operation of a start switch, and stopped by an operation of a stop switch to stop the reel. A symbol corresponding to the stop position is displayed to the player. Specifically, the reel is driven by a stepping motor, and when the stop switch is operated, the stop position of the reel is determined, and the stepping motor is controlled so as to stop the reel at the stop position. Basically, the stop position of the reel is not determined only by the operation timing of the stop switch, but is configured to fluctuate according to the result of the lottery result, the operation order of the stop switch, and the like. However, if the time from the operation of the stop switch to the stop of the reel becomes long, it is difficult for the player to realize that the reel has been stopped by the operation of the stop switch. (Within) stop the reel.

  Here, there is known a conventional slot machine provided with a special stop control for starting the reel deceleration earlier than the normal stop control. In such a configuration, the reel is stopped by the special stop control according to the internal state of the slot machine, thereby suggesting or notifying the player of the internal state of the slot machine.

Japanese Patent No. 5667460

  In the special stop control according to Patent Document 1, the start of deceleration of the reel is only faster than usual, and the difference from the normal stop control is not clear. In many cases, even when the player feels an abnormality in the stop mode, it is often difficult to be certain that the special stop control is performed. For this reason, the special stop control of the conventional configuration does not have a sufficient effect.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine having a new special stop control with a high effect.

The present invention relates to a slot machine that rotates a reel upon the operation of a start switch and stops the rotation of the reel upon the operation of a stop switch. By switching the excitation pattern, reel control means for controlling the rotation of the reel, and stop position determination means for determining the stop position of the reel in response to the operation of the stop switch, the reel control means, By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, the stepping motor is rotated in one direction, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor is controlled by a switching interval of the excitation pattern. After the switch is operated, the stop position Executing stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position determined by the determination means, wherein the stop control includes a normal stop control and a special stop control, and the normal stop control and the special stop control By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order, a pre-braking step of rotating the reel to a braking start position set before the stop position, and the reel reaching the braking start position And a braking step of fixing the stepping motor to a prescribed excitation pattern at least until the rotation of the stepping motor stops.The pre-braking step of the normal stop control includes accelerating the reel. And the reel is rotated to the braking start position, and the special stop The pre-braking step includes a temporary deceleration step of decelerating the reel, and a re-acceleration step of accelerating the reel after the temporary deceleration step, wherein the normal stop control and the special stop control are performed. For the stop position determined by the stop position determining means, the braking start position and the braking step are common, and the pre-braking step of the normal stop control and the special stop control is performed at the braking start position. Immediately before the reel arrives, the common control content includes switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order at a predetermined common switching interval before braking. The stop control is executed at least after the end of the re-acceleration step, and the reel control unit operates after the start switch is operated. Performing acceleration control for accelerating the reel to a predetermined rotation speed, comprising: an excitation pattern switching table for acceleration in which a switching interval of an excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is defined; Then, at a switching interval specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order, and in the re-acceleration step, at least a part of the acceleration excitation pattern switching table. at defined switching interval is the excitation pattern of the stepping motor a slot machine, wherein switching Rukoto at the predetermined excitation sequence.

  In the special stop control according to the present invention, the reel is once decelerated after the operation of the stop switch, then is re-accelerated and then stops at the stop position. Perceived as if caught. As described above, in the special stop control, the reels stop in an extremely unnatural manner as compared with the conventional special stop control in which the deceleration is started earlier than usual, so that even a distracted player cannot miss the reels. And the player can clearly identify the normal stop control. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the effect of the special stop control as compared to the related art.

Further, in such a configuration, in the normal stop control and the special stop control, by executing common control contents immediately before reaching the braking start position, the behavior of the reel at the time of reaching the braking start position is normally The same applies to stop control and special stop control. Therefore, in such a configuration, the reels can be stopped at the same stop position by starting the common braking step from the common braking start position in the normal stop control and the special stop control. As described above, according to the present invention, since the common braking start position is used for the normal stop control and the special stop control, the braking start position is determined according to various conditions such as the inertia of the reel when designing the slot machine. Time can be reduced. Further, in the present invention, if the control content and the braking step immediately before the braking start position are shared between the normal stop control and the special stop control, the control data relating to the stop control can be simplified.
Further, in such a configuration, since a table defining the switching interval of the excitation pattern in the re-acceleration step is not required, control data required for the special stop control can be reduced.

  In the present invention, it is proposed that the common control content includes a stable drive in which the unit drive for rotating the stepping motor by a basic step angle is executed in the same time as the immediately preceding unit drive.

  In such a configuration, in the common control content, since the behavior of the reel at the start of the braking step becomes more stable by stably driving the stepping motor, the stop position in the normal stop control and the special stop control is controlled. Can be reduced.

  Also, in the present invention, the re-acceleration step includes: a unit drive for rotating the stepping motor by a basic step angle in a shorter time than the immediately preceding unit drive; It is proposed to have a stable drive that runs in the same time as the drive.

  In such a configuration, the behavior of the reel in the re-acceleration step can be stabilized by executing stable driving in the re-acceleration step.

  Further, in the present invention, the stop control includes a plurality of types of the special stop control in which the degree of deceleration of the reel is different, and the reel control means determines a rotation position of the reel at the time of operation of the stop switch. It is proposed that the special stop control in which the degree of deceleration of the reel is greater as the distance to the stop position is shorter. Here, the “reel deceleration degree” refers to the magnitude of the difference between the special stop control and the normal stop control in the time from when the stop switch is operated until the reel reaches the braking start position. The larger the speed of the reel in the temporary deceleration step and the longer the time for keeping the reel at a low speed, the greater the degree of the deceleration.

  In the special stop control, as the degree of reel deceleration is increased, the difference in the stop mode from the normal stop control becomes clear and a large effect is obtained.On the other hand, if the degree of reel deceleration is too large, It is not preferable because the time from the operation of the stop switch to the stop of the reel is excessively long. In such a configuration, as the distance to the stop position is shorter, the degree of deceleration of the reel in the special stop control is increased, so that the effect of the special stop control is prevented while preventing the time until the reel stop from becoming excessively long. Can be increased as much as possible.

Further, as another aspect of the present invention, the reel control unit switches the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, thereby rotating the stepping motor in one direction, and changing a switching interval of the excitation pattern. Controlling the rotation speed of the stepping motor, and performing a stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position determined by the stop position determining means after operating the stop switch; Includes a normal stop control and a special stop control, wherein the normal stop control and the special stop control switch the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order, so that the braking set before the stop position is performed. A pre-braking step of rotating the reel to a start position; and A braking step of fixing the stepping motor to a prescribed excitation pattern at least until the rotation of the stepping motor stops after reaching the braking start position, and the braking step before the normal stop control. Is to rotate the reel to the braking start position without accelerating the reel, wherein the pre-braking step of the special stop control includes a temporary deceleration step of decelerating the reel, and a step of the temporary deceleration step. And a re-acceleration step of accelerating the reel, wherein the normal stop control and the special stop control are performed with respect to a stop position determined by the stop position determining means. Is common, the step before braking of the normal stop control and the special stop control, the All SANYO which Lumpur to said respective control the rotational speed of the stepping motor so as to reach the braking start position at a predetermined braking before the speed, the reel control means, after the operation of the start switch, a predetermined said reel An acceleration control for accelerating to a rotation speed is performed, and an acceleration excitation pattern switching table in which a switching interval of an excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is provided. At a switching interval specified in the excitation pattern switching table, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order. In the re-acceleration step, a switching interval specified in at least a part of the acceleration excitation pattern switching table is used. in the switching Rukoto the excitation pattern of the stepping motor at the predetermined excitation sequence A featured slot machine is proposed.

  In such a configuration, in either case of the normal stop control or the special stop control, the reel reaches the braking start position at a common pre-braking speed. By starting the common braking step, the reel can be stopped at the target stop position. Therefore, even with such a configuration, the control data relating to the stop control can be simplified while the effect of the special stop control is improved as compared with the related art.

Further, as another aspect of the present invention, the reel control unit switches the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, thereby rotating the stepping motor in one direction, and changing a switching interval of the excitation pattern. Controlling the rotation speed of the stepping motor, after the start switch operation, acceleration control to accelerate the reel to a predetermined rotation speed, after the acceleration control, until the stop switch is operated, a constant speed control for rotating the reel at the predetermined rotational speed, after the operation of the stop switch, which executes a stop control for stopping the reel to the stop position where the stop position determining means has determined, the Stop control is performed without accelerating the reel after operating the stop switch. A normal stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position, a temporary deceleration step for decelerating the reel after operating the stop switch, and after the temporary deceleration step, increasing the rotation speed of the reel to the predetermined rotation speed a reacceleration step, viewed contains a special stop control executed before stopping the reel at the stop position, the reel control means switching interval of the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is defined An acceleration excitation pattern switching table is provided, and in the acceleration control, at a switching interval specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order, and in the re-acceleration step, Switching interval defined in at least a part of the acceleration excitation pattern switching table , Slot machine and switches the excitation pattern of the stepping motor at the predetermined excitation order is proposed.

  In such a configuration, in the re-acceleration step, by accelerating to the same predetermined rotation speed as in the constant speed control, while preventing the time until the reel is stopped from becoming excessively long, the special stop control is performed. By giving a sharp change to the rotation speed of the reel, it is possible to further clarify the difference in the stop mode from the normal stop control.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the slot machine 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reel unit 10. It is a right view of the left reel device 11a. It is a development view of reel seals 21a, 21b, and 21c. It is a block diagram showing a control circuit concerning control of reels 9a-9c. 5 is a chart showing an excitation order table. 9 is a table showing an acceleration excitation pattern switching table. 9 is a table showing a constant-speed excitation pattern switching table. 9 is a table showing a special stop excitation pattern switching table. 4 is a chart showing changes in rotation speed in acceleration control and constant speed control. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating changes in rotation speed in constant speed control and stop control, in which FIG. 5A illustrates a case of normal stop control, and FIG. 5B illustrates a case of special stop control. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a left reel control process. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a standby process. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the process during rotation. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a control state switching process. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a stop position determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the process during braking. 9 is a table showing a second special stop excitation pattern switching table according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents of special stop control according to the third embodiment. 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating a change in the rotation speed in the constant speed control and the stop control according to the fourth embodiment, in which FIG. 14A illustrates a case of a normal stop control, and FIG.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described according to the following examples.
In the following embodiment, the reel control means and the stop position determining means according to the present invention correspond to the main microcomputer 30. The switching interval of the excitation pattern according to the present invention corresponds to the update interval of the excitation pointer. The pre-braking speed according to the present invention corresponds to the maximum speed in the first to third embodiments, and corresponds to the pre-braking speed in the fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine 1 of the embodiment. The slot machine 1 includes a housing 2 that is opened forward, and a front door 3 that covers the housing 2 from the front. The front door 3 is pivotally supported on one side edge of the housing 2. Inside the housing 2, three reels, a left reel 9a, a middle reel 9b, and a right reel 9c are arranged side by side. A symbol 12 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 9a to 9c, and a display window 4 is provided at the center of the front surface of the housing 2 so that the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 9a to 9c can be visually recognized. Further, on the front side of the front door 3, various switches such as a bet switch 5, a start switch 6, stop switches 7a to 7c, a settlement switch 8 and the like used for a game operation are provided below the display window 4.

  In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, a game in which the reels 9a to 9c are rotated to display the symbols in a variable manner, and then the reels 9a to 9c are stopped and the symbols are stopped and displayed on the display window 4 is repeatedly executed. Specifically, one game includes (1) inserting the number of medals required for starting the game, (2) operating the start switch 6, (3) rotating the reel 9c, and (4) stopping the stop switches 7a to 7c. An operation, (5) stop of the reels 9a to 9c, and (6) a winning process based on the stopped and displayed symbols are performed in this order.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reel unit 10 fixed inside the housing 2. The reel unit 10 integrates a left reel device 11a for rotating the left reel 9a, a middle reel device 11b for rotating the middle reel 9b, and a right reel device 11c for rotating the right reel 9c.

  FIG. 3 is a right side view of the left reel device 11a. The left reel device 11a includes a left reel 9a, a base member 13 fixedly disposed on the reel unit 10, and a stepping motor 14 fixed to the base member 13 and driving the left reel 9a to rotate. The configurations of the center reel device 11b and the right reel device 11c are the same as those of the left reel device 11a.

  The stepping motor 14 is a hybrid type four-phase motor, and has a basic step angle of about 1.4 ° (360 ° / 252 steps). The stepping motor 14 drives the left reel 9a to rotate in one direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3) so that the symbol 12 of the reel 9a is moved and displayed on the display window 4 from top to bottom. Since the structure of the stepping motor 14 is the same as that used for rotating the reels in the existing slot machine, a detailed description is omitted.

  Further, the left reel device 11a includes a reference position detecting means for detecting a predetermined reference rotation position of the left reel 9a. The reference position detection means optically detects the ON position of the reference position index unit 16 in the form of a protruding piece that rotates together with the left reel 9a and the reference position index unit 16 when the left reel 9a is at a predetermined reference rotation position. And a reference position sensor 17 that outputs the same.

  Although not shown in FIG. 2, reel seals 21a to 21c shown in FIG. 4 are attached to the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 9a to 9c over the entire circumference. The reel seals 21a to 21c are band-shaped seals in which 21 frames of symbols are printed in a line. By attaching a separate reel seal 21a to 21c to each reel 9a to 9c one by one, the symbols of 21 frames are formed. It is provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 9a to 9c. The arrangement of the symbols 12 of the reel seals 21a to 21c is different for each of the reels 9a to 9c to be attached. Here, the reels 9a to 9c are provided in advance with marks (not shown) indicating the positions where the reel seals 21a to 21c are stuck, and the reel seals 21a to 21c are stuck so that the ends thereof match the marks. By doing so, when the reels 9a to 9c are stopped at predetermined rotation positions, a predetermined symbol 12 is displayed on the display window 4.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control circuit for controlling the reels 9a to 9c. The main control board 20 mainly controls the progress of the game of the slot machine 1, and controls the reels 9 a to 9 c by the main control board 20. The main control board 20 is configured by a printed board on which a main microcomputer 30 and the like are arranged, and is arranged inside the housing 2 while being housed in a board case. The main microcomputer 30 includes a CPU 30a, a timer 30b, a ROM 30c, a RAM 30d, an input / output port 30e, and the like. The timer 30b outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 30a at regular time intervals. The RAM 30d temporarily stores and holds various data, and includes a work area, a storage area for temporarily storing signals from various switches and sensors, a register area constituting a counter and the like, and a backup storage area. Etc. The ROM 30c stores a control program executed by the CPU 30a and fixed data such as a table used for lottery.

  The start switch 6 is used for an operation (start operation) for starting rotation of the reels 9a to 9c. In this embodiment, a lever-type switch is used, and the three reels 9a to 9c start rotating by tilting the lever.

  The stop switches 7a to 7c are used for an operation (stop operation) for stopping the rotation of the reels 9a to 9c. The three stop switches 7a to 7c are individually associated with the respective reels 9a to 9c. That is, when the left stop switch 7a on the left is operated, the rotation of the left reel 9a is stopped, when the middle stop switch 7b is operated, the rotation of the middle reel 9b is stopped, and when the right stop switch 7c on the right is operated, the right reel 9c is operated. Is configured to stop rotating.

  The stepping motor 14 and the reference position sensor 17 provided in each of the reel devices 11a to 11c are connected to the main microcomputer 30. The stepping motor 14 includes four-phase coils A, B, / A, and / B, and four input units for individually exciting each coil. Each input unit is connected to the main microcomputer 30. When the input signal from the main microcomputer 30 is "1", the coil corresponding to the input unit is in the excited state, and the input signal is "0". ", The coil corresponding to the input unit is configured to be in a non-excited state.

Hereinafter, control of the reels 9a to 9c will be described. Since the control of the three reels 9a to 9c is common, only the control of the left reel 9a will be described below, and the description of the control of the center reel 9b and the right reel 9c will be omitted.
As described above, the left reel 9a rotates upon the operation of the start switch 6 and stops upon the operation of the left stop switch 7a to stop and display the symbol 12 on the display window 4. The rotation / stop of the left reel 9a is realized by the main microcomputer 30 controlling the stepping motor 14. The control state of the stepping motor 14 by the main microcomputer 30 is roughly divided into three states: a standby state, a rotation state, and a braking state.

  The standby state is a state where the stepping motor 14 is stopped. In the standby state, the main microcomputer 30 continues to output “0” to all the input units of the stepping motor 14. For this reason, in the standby state, the stepping motor 14 is in a non-excitation state in which all of the four-phase coils are non-excitation, and the left reel 9a is kept stationary by the braking torque in the non-excitation state. In the standby state, the stepping motor 14 may not be in the non-excitation state, and the excitation state of each phase coil may be maintained.

  The rotation state is a state in which the excitation pattern of the stepping motor 14 is switched in a predetermined order to rotate the left reel 9a. Specifically, the ROM 30c of the main microcomputer 30 stores an excitation order table that stores the switching order of the excitation pattern of the stepping motor 14, as shown in FIG. The excitation order table stores excitation data indicating eight types of excitation patterns, ordered by the value of an excitation pointer.

  The excitation data is 4-bit data that is input one bit at a time to each input unit of the stepping motor 14, and the excitation pattern of the four-phase coil is determined by the value of each bit of the excitation data. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the excitation pointer is "0", "1" is input only to the A phase, so that the A phase coil is in the excited state, and the B phase, / A phase, / B The three coils of the phase are de-energized. The excitation pointer is a circulating counter that takes a value from “0” to “7”. In a rotating state, the main microcomputer 30 outputs excitation data indicated by the value of the excitation pointer to the input unit of the stepping motor 14. At the same time, the exciting pointers are updated in ascending order (0 → 1 → 2 →... → 7 → 0 → 1...) At a required timing, and the exciting data indicated by the value of the next exciting pointer is output. Rotates one step.

  Here, in the excitation order table, eight excitation patterns for half-step driving the stepping motor 14 are stored in order. Half-step driving is a driving method in which a one-phase excitation state of exciting one phase and a two-phase excitation state of exciting two phases are alternately repeated among four-phase coils. Excitation data in the one-phase excitation state is defined for the excitation pointer, and excitation data in the two-phase excitation state is defined for the odd excitation pointer. Here, since one step of the half-step driving is half of the basic step angle, when the stepping motor 14 is rotated 504 steps in the rotating state, the left reel 9a makes one rotation. In addition, since the symbols 12 are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the left reel 9a, the left reel 9a rotates by one frame in 24 steps in the rotating state.

  The braking state is a state in which the excitation of the stepping motor 14 is fixed to generate a braking torque and stop the rotation of the left reel 9a. In this braking state, the main microcomputer 30 continues to output “1” to all the input units of the stepping motor 14. Therefore, in the braking state, the stepping motor 14 is fixed to the all-phase excitation state in which all the four-phase coils are excited, and the left reel 9a is decelerated and stopped by the braking torque in the all-phase excitation state. . When the excitation pattern is fixed in the all-phase excitation state in this manner, the fluctuation of the braking torque in the braking state is smaller than in the case where some coils are fixed in the excitation state. Without stopping, it can be stopped smoothly.

  As described above, the stepping motor 14 rotates by one step each time the main microcomputer 30 updates the excitation pointer. Therefore, in the rotating state, the shorter the update interval of the excitation pointer, the faster the left reel 9a. The left reel 9a rotates more slowly as the rotation interval of the excitation pointer is longer. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the ROM 30c of the main microcomputer 30 stores an excitation pattern switching table that defines the update interval of the excitation pointer. The excitation pointer is updated at an update interval specified in the switching table. The excitation pattern switching table stores three types, one for acceleration, one for constant speed, and one for special stop, and the main microcomputer 30 selects a table to be used from the three types according to the situation.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the excitation pattern switching table stores timer values defining the update interval of the excitation pointer, ordered by the value of the timer reference pointer. The timer reference pointer is a cyclic counter having a value from "0" to "23", and the excitation pointer is sequentially updated at intervals of the timer value indicated by the timer reference pointer. Specifically, in the case of the acceleration excitation pattern switching table of FIG. 7, the excitation pointer is first updated at intervals of the timer value “1” indicated by the timer reference pointer “0”, and then the timer pointer “ It is updated at intervals of the timer value “41” indicated by “1”. Then, similarly, the excitation pointer is updated at intervals of the timer value (“1” → “6” → “1” → “4” →...) Indicated by the timer reference pointer. Here, the timer value specified in the excitation pattern switching table is a value that is set in a timer (excitation data switching timer) that is updated every 1.5-millisecond interval interrupt processing. In the case of "4", the measurement of the excitation data switching timer expires after elapse of 6 milliseconds (4.times.1.5 milliseconds), and the excitation pointer is updated. That is, in the rotating state, the main microcomputer 30 rotates the stepping motor 14 one step at a time at intervals indicated by the timer value of the active excitation pattern switching table.

Hereinafter, control of the rotation speed of the left reel 9a will be described.
In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the stepping motor 14 is controlled in units of two steps (units of a basic step angle). Specifically, the unit drive is performed from the one-phase excitation state to two-step rotation to the next one-phase excitation state. Then, the rotation speed of the left reel 9a is controlled by varying the length of the unit drive time with the time for unit drive of the stepping motor 14 as the unit drive time. As described above, in the half-step driving, the stepping motor 14 is switched between the one-phase excitation state and the two-phase excitation state every step, so that the unit driving time is equal to the switching interval from the one-phase excitation state to the two-phase excitation state. , And the switching interval immediately after that from the two-phase excitation state to the one-phase excitation state. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the excitation pattern switching table, the timer value when the timer reference pointer is an even number indicates the switching interval from the one-phase excitation state to the two-phase excitation state, and when the timer reference pointer is an odd number. The timer value indicates the switching interval from the two-phase excitation state to the one-phase excitation state. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the unit drive time is represented by the sum of the timer values indicated by two consecutive values of the timer reference pointer. Specifically, in the excitation pattern switching table in FIG. 7, the timer values when the timer reference pointer is “0” and “1” are “1” and “41”, so that the unit drive time is 63 milliseconds. (42 × 1.5 milliseconds), and the timer values when the timer reference pointers are “22” and “23” are both “1”. Therefore, the unit drive time is 3 milliseconds (2 × 1.5 milliseconds). Seconds).

  In this embodiment, the length of the unit driving time is controlled by changing only the switching interval when the stepping motor 14 is switched from the two-phase excitation state to the one-phase excitation state. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the excitation pattern switching table, the timer value (the switching interval from the one-phase excitation state to the two-phase excitation state) when the timer reference pointer is an even number is always the minimum value. It is fixed to “1 (1.5 milliseconds)”, and the unit drive time is varied according to the timer value (switching interval from the two-phase excitation state to the one-phase excitation state) when the timer reference pointer is an odd number. Have been. As described above, if the unit drive time is controlled only by the switching interval from the two-phase excitation state to the one-phase excitation state, it is not necessary to adjust the switching interval from the one-phase excitation state to the two-phase excitation state. Can be simplified.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the unit drive specified by the excitation pattern switching table includes a shortened drive in which the unit drive time is shorter than the immediately preceding unit drive, an extended drive in which the unit drive time is longer than the immediately preceding unit drive, and Stable driving, which is the same as the unit driving. In the shortened drive, the time during which the stepping motor 14 rotates by the basic step angle is shorter than the immediately preceding unit drive, so that the left reel 9a is accelerated. In the extended drive, the time during which the stepping motor 14 rotates by the basic step angle becomes longer than the immediately preceding unit drive, so that the left reel 9a is decelerated. In the stable drive, the time during which the stepping motor 14 rotates by the basic step angle is the same as that of the immediately preceding unit drive, so that the left reel 9a rotates at a constant speed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the acceleration / deceleration and the constant speed rotation of the reel 9a are realized by adjusting the unit driving time of the stepping motor 14.

  As described above, the left reel 9a starts rotating upon a valid operation of the start switch 6 (hereinafter, also referred to as a start operation), and a valid operation of the left stop switch 7a (hereinafter, also referred to as a left stop operation). )) To stop. The control from the rotation of the left reel 9a to the stop is performed after the start operation, the acceleration control for accelerating the left reel 9a to the maximum speed, and the left reel 9a at the maximum speed until the stop operation is performed after the acceleration control. The control includes a constant speed control for rotating at high speed and a stop control for stopping the reel 9a after the left stop operation. Here, the “maximum speed” is the maximum rotation speed controlled by the main microcomputer 30 and is the rotation speed when the unit drive time is “3 milliseconds”.

  The main microcomputer 30 realizes the acceleration control by updating the excitation pointer at intervals of the timer value specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table, and implements the timer value specified in the constant speed excitation pattern switching table. The constant speed control is realized by updating the excitation pointer at intervals of.

  The modes of the acceleration control and the constant speed control will be specifically described based on the execution example of FIG. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the rotation position of the left reel 9a is referred to as a reference rotation position of “0 step”, and a rotation position obtained by rotating the stepping motor 14 by n steps from the reference rotation position is referred to as “n step”. , The rotational position of the left reel 9a is represented by 0 to 503 steps.

FIG. 10 is an execution example in the case where the left reel 9a is started from the rotation position of six steps.
In this execution example, first, a start operation is performed in a state where the left reel 9a is stationary at the rotation position of six steps. In response to the start operation, the main microcomputer 30 switches the stepping motor 14 from the standby state to the rotating state, updates the excitation pointer at intervals specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table, and rotates the stepping motor 14. Let it.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of times of shortening drive are defined in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table. For this reason, in the execution example of FIG. 10, the left reel 9a is accelerated from 6 steps to the rotational position of 26 steps, and reaches the maximum speed when 26 steps are reached.

  When the main microcomputer 30 updates the excitation pointer once at intervals specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table and accelerates the left reel 9a to the maximum speed, the main microcomputer 30 executes a constant speed control to control the left reel 9a. Rotate at the maximum speed. Specifically, the main microcomputer 30 switches the excitation pattern switching table for constant speed, and updates the excitation pointer at intervals specified in the constant speed excitation pattern switching table. As shown in FIG. 8, in the constant-speed excitation pattern switching table, stable driving at the maximum speed (unit driving time: 3 milliseconds) is repeatedly defined, and the main microcomputer 30 performs stop control described later. Until the start, the left reel 9a is rotated at the maximum speed by repeatedly using the constant speed excitation pattern switching table. When the first ON signal is input from the reference position sensor 17 after the start of the constant speed control, the main microcomputer 30 enables the operation of the left stop switch 7a and the current position of the left reel 9a. Start measuring.

  The main microcomputer 30 includes a rotation counter for measuring the current position of the left reel 9a during rotation control. The rotation amount counter counts the rotation angle of the left reel 9a from the reference rotation position of the stepping motor 14 in units of one step, and is reset by an ON signal input from the reference position sensor 17 and corresponds to 504 corresponding to one rotation. It is configured to return to the original value when the step is counted. The main microcomputer 30 specifies the current position of the left reel 9a based on the count value of the rotation amount counter, and uses the current position for stop control described later.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the rotation amount counter includes two counters, an upper counter and a lower counter. The upper counter is a counter that takes 21 values from “0” to “20”, and the lower counter is a cyclic counter that takes 24 values from “0” to “23”. The upper counter and the lower counter are reset to “0” when an ON signal is input from the reference position sensor 17. The lower counter is updated each time the main microcomputer 30 updates the excitation pointer, and the upper counter is updated each time the lower counter changes from "23" to "0". That is, the lower counter is updated each time the left reel 9a rotates one step from the reference rotation position, and the upper counter is updated each time the left reel 9a rotates one symbol (24 steps) from the reference rotation position. . As will be described later, since the stop control of the left reel 9a is performed in units of one symbol, if an upper counter updated for each symbol is provided as in this configuration, the stop control of the left reel 9a in the stop control is provided. It is easy to specify the current position.

Next, stop control of the left reel 9a will be described.
When the left stop operation is performed during the constant speed control, the main microcomputer 30 determines the stop position of the left reel 9a and executes the stop control to stop the left reel 9a at the stop position. I do.

  On the left reel 9a, 21 stoppable positions are set in advance. These stop positions are positions where any one of the central portions of the symbols 12 of 21 frames overlaps with the center line 4a (see FIG. 1) traversing the display window 4, and is set at intervals of one symbol (24 steps). Have been. The main microcomputer 30 selects a stop position from these 21 stoppable positions, triggered by the left stop operation. Specifically, the main microcomputer 30 sets the closest stoppable position from the position where the left stop operation is performed (hereinafter, referred to as a left stop operation position) to “frame 0” and “0 frame”. , The n-th stoppable position is counted as the “nth frame”, and at the time of the left stop operation, it is determined which stoppable position is the stop position (so-called number of slip frames). Here, if it takes too much time from the left stop operation to the stop of the left reel 9a, it is difficult for the player to realize that the left reel 9a is stopped by the left stop operation. The stop position of the left reel 9a is determined from the stop position of the frame. Which stop position of the 0th to 4th frames is determined as the stop position is determined based on the left stop operation position, the result of the winning lottery, the operation order of the stop switches 7a to 7c, and the like.

  When determining the stop position, the main microcomputer 30 switches the control state of the reels 9a to 9c from the constant speed control to the stop control. The stop control includes a pre-braking step and a braking step. The braking step is a step of setting the stepping motor 14 to a braking state (all-phase excitation state) and stopping the left reel 9a at the stop position. The pre-braking step is a step in which the excitation pattern of the stepping motor 14 is switched according to the rotation state to rotate the left reel 9a from the left stop operation position to the start of the braking step.

  In this embodiment, the braking step is started while the left reel 9a is rotating at the maximum speed. Here, the left reel 9a does not stop immediately after the braking step is started, but stops after rotating six steps due to inertia. For this reason, in this embodiment, the rotation position six steps before the stop position is set as the braking start position, the pre-braking step is executed until the left reel 9a reaches the braking start position, and the left reel 9a is moved to the braking start position. At that point, the braking step is started. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the stoppable position of the left reel 9a is set at intervals of one symbol (24 steps) from the reference rotation position to 6, 30, 54, 78,... For example, when the rotation position of six steps is determined as the stop position, the rotation position of zero step is set as the braking start position. The execution time of the braking step is set to a time (here, 210 milliseconds) sufficient to stop the left reel 9a at the highest speed. After the execution time elapses, the main microcomputer 30 sets the stepping motor 14 is controlled to a standby state.

  In this embodiment, two types of stop control, that is, normal stop control and special stop control, are provided. The normal stop control and the special stop control start a common braking step from a common braking start position with respect to the determined stop position, but differ in the control content of a pre-braking step. Specifically, in the pre-braking step of the normal stop control, the left reel 9a is rotated at a constant speed at the maximum speed from the left stop operation position to the braking start position, whereas the pre-brake step of the special stop control is performed by the left reel. After executing a temporary deceleration step of temporarily decelerating 9a and a re-acceleration step of re-accelerating the left reel 9a to the maximum speed after the temporary deceleration step, the left reel 9a reaches the braking start position at the maximum speed. Let it.

  In the pre-braking step of the normal stop control, only the left reel 9a is rotated at a constant speed at the maximum speed similarly to the constant speed control. Therefore, the main microcomputer 30 uses the same constant speed excitation pattern switching table as the constant speed control. (See FIG. 8) to rotate the left reel 9a to the braking start position. On the other hand, in the special stop control, the main microcomputer 30 sets the step 24 steps before the braking start position as the special control start position, and sets the constant speed excitation pattern switching table from the left stop operation position to the special control start position. To rotate the left reel 9a at the maximum speed in the same manner as in the normal stop control. Then, when reaching the special control start position, the left reel 9a is rotated to the braking start position using the special stop excitation pattern switching table shown in FIG.

  The special stop excitation pattern switching table defines an update interval of the excitation pointer for 24 steps from the special control start position to the braking start position in the special stop control. As shown in FIG. 9, in the excitation pattern switching table for special stop, the extended drive is repeatedly defined for the timer reference pointers 0 to 9, whereby, from 24 steps before the braking start position to 15 steps before. , A temporary deceleration step is executed. The shortening drive is repeatedly defined for the timer reference pointers 10 to 15, whereby the re-acceleration step is realized from 14 steps before to 9 steps before the braking start position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the stable drive in a unit drive time of 3 milliseconds is repeatedly defined in the timer reference pointers 16 to 23 of the special stop excitation pattern switching table, whereby the braking is started. The constant rotation of the left reel 9a at the maximum speed is realized from eight steps before the position to the braking start position. Here, the timer values specified in the timer reference pointers 16 to 23 are the same as the timer values specified in the timer reference pointers 16 to 23 in the constant-speed excitation pattern switching table (see FIG. 8). In the embodiment, the excitation pointer is updated at the same interval by the normal stop control and the special stop control from eight steps before the braking start position to the braking start position. That is, a series of timer values defined by the timer reference pointers 16 to 23 in the excitation pattern switching table for constant speed and special stop correspond to the pre-brake switching interval according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, at the time of the start operation, the main microcomputer 30 executes a lottery for determining whether or not to stop the left reel 9a by the special stop control. 9a is stopped by the special stop control. As described above, in order to execute the special stop control, it is necessary to set the special control start position 24 steps before the braking start position. When the (0th frame) is determined as the stop position, the left reel 9a is stopped by the normal stop control regardless of the result of the lottery. Here, in the present embodiment, when the specific internal state is advantageous to the player, the winning probability of the lottery is increased, and the special stop control is frequently executed during the specific internal state. The specific internal state is configured to be suggested to the player by the special stop control. As the specific internal state, (a) a state in which a predetermined role is won in the role lottery, (b) a state in which a winning state such as a bonus role is carried over, (c) a role lottery advantageous to a player is executed. (D) a state in which transition to a gaming state (AT, etc.) that is advantageous to the player is determined. Note that, in place of the configuration of the present embodiment, the special stop control is executed only in the case of a specific internal state that is advantageous to the player, so that the player is notified of the specific internal state by the special stop control. You may make it.

The control contents of the normal stop control and the special stop control will be specifically described based on an execution example of FIG.
In the execution examples of FIGS. 11A and 11B, the left stop operation is performed at the rotation position of 448 steps, and at the time of the left stop operation, the main microcomputer 30 stops the second frame (6 steps). The position is determined, and six steps before the stop position (step 0) is set as the braking start position. Then, the main microcomputer 30 executes the pre-braking step of rotating the left reel 9a from the left stop operation position (step 448) to the braking start position (step 0), and executes the braking step when the braking start position is reached. After starting, the left reel 9a is stopped at the stop position (6 steps).

  Here, in the pre-braking step of the normal stop control, the left reel 9a is rotated at a constant speed to the braking start position at the maximum speed, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the pre-braking step of the special stop control, as shown in FIG. 11B, the left reel 9a is rotated at the maximum speed from the left stop operation position to the special control start position (480 step). , 480 to 490, a temporary deceleration step is executed to decelerate the left reel 9a. In steps 490 to 496, a re-acceleration step is executed to accelerate the left reel 9a to the maximum speed. Then, from step 496 to the braking start position, the left reel 9a is rotated at a constant speed at the maximum speed, similarly to the normal stop control.

  As described above, in the special stop control, the left reel 9a is temporarily decelerated after the left stop operation, and stopped at the stop position after being re-accelerated. Perceived as if caught on As described above, in the special stop control, since the left reel 9a stops in an extremely unnatural manner as compared with the normal stop control, it is difficult for a player who is distracted to overlook the left reel 9a. Can be clearly identified. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the internal state is suggested using the special stop control, so that a higher effect can be obtained as compared with the case where the internal state is suggested by the stop control of the conventional configuration.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the normal stop control and the special stop control share the control contents from eight steps before the braking start position to the time when the braking start position is reached, so that the reel when the braking start position is reached. Since the rotation speeds 9a are equal, the common braking step can be executed from the common braking start position and stopped at the target stop position by the normal stop control and the special stop control. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the common braking start position is used for the normal stop control and the special stop control, the braking start position is set according to various conditions such as the inertia of the left reel 9a when designing the slot machine 1. The trouble of deciding can be reduced. Further, in this embodiment, since the braking step is shared between the normal stop control and the special stop control, there is an advantage that the braking step can be realized with a small amount of control data.

  In addition, in the normal stop control and the special stop control, the behavior of the left reel 9a at the start of the braking step is changed in order to rotate the left reel 9a at a constant speed by repeating stable driving from eight steps before the braking start position to the braking start position. As an even more stable one, there is an advantage that errors in the stop position in the normal stop control and the special stop control can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the re-acceleration step of the special stop control, the rotation speed of the left reel 9a is accelerated to the same maximum speed as the constant speed control, so that the time until the left reel 9a is stopped becomes excessively long. In addition, there is an advantage that the change of the rotation speed of the left reel 9a in the special stop control is sharpened while preventing the difference between the normal stop control and the normal stop control.

  FIG. 12 shows the control content of the left reel control processing related to the drive control of the left reel 9a, which is executed by the main microcomputer 30. This left reel control processing is executed by the main microcomputer 30 at 1.5 millisecond intervals by a timer interrupt. Note that the control processing related to the drive control of the center reel 9b and the right reel 9c is executed at 1.5 millisecond intervals in parallel with the left reel control processing. Omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the left reel control processing, first, the main microcomputer 30 determines whether or not the control state counter is "1" (S101). The control state counter is a counter indicating the control state of the left reel 9a, which is "1" in the standby state, "2" in the acceleration control, "3" in the constant speed control, and in the step before braking of the stop control. It becomes "4" and becomes "5" in the braking step of the stop control.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the control state counter is "1" (standby state), a standby process (S102) related to the standby state is executed, and the set excitation data is output to the stepping motor 14. (S108), the left reel control process ends. If it is determined in step S101 that the control state counter is not "1", it is determined whether the control state counter is "5" (during a braking step) (S103), and if the control state counter is "5". If it is determined that there is, the in-braking process related to the braking state is executed (S107), the set excitation data is output to the stepping motor 14 (S108), and the left reel control process ends. Details of the standby process and the braking process will be described later.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the control state counter is not “5”, the in-rotation process (S104) related to the rotation state is executed. Then, it is determined whether or not the reference position sensor is ON (S105). If it is ON, the upper counter and lower counter of the rotation amount counter are reset to "0" (S106). The set excitation data is output to the stepping motor 14 (S108), and the left reel control process ends. Details of the processing during rotation will be described later.

FIG. 13 shows the contents of the control processing of the standby processing (FIG. 12: S102).
In the standby process, first, the main microcomputer 30 determines whether a valid operation of the start switch 6 has been performed (S201). If it is determined that a valid operation has not been performed, the non-excitation state is excited. Data (all "0") is set as output data (S208), and the standby process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the valid operation of the start switch 6 has been performed, the control state counter is changed to "2" (S202), and the acceleration excitation pattern switching table is selected (S203). Then, the timer reference pointer is reset to "0" (S204), and the timer value indicated by the timer reference pointer in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table is set in the excitation data switching timer (S205). The excitation data switching timer is a timer for measuring the update interval of the excitation pointer. Thereafter, the main microcomputer 30 sets the excitation pointer to an initial value (here, "6") (S206), sets the excitation data indicated by the excitation pointer as output data (S207), and ends the standby processing. .

FIG. 14 shows the control processing contents of the above-described processing during rotation (FIG. 12: S104).
In the processing during rotation, first, the main microcomputer 30 updates the excitation data switching timer (S301), and determines whether or not the measurement of the timer value for which the excitation data switching timer has been set has been completed (S302). When it is determined that the measurement of the timer value has not been completed, the excitation data indicated by the excitation pointer is set as output data (S309), and the process proceeds to step S310. On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer value measurement has been completed, the timer reference pointer is updated (S303), and the timer value indicated by the timer reference pointer in the excitation pattern switching table is set in the excitation data switching timer (S304). Further, the excitation pointer and the rotation amount counter are updated (S305, S306), the excitation data indicated by the excitation pointer is set as output data (S307), and the control state switching process for switching the control state is executed ( S308), and proceeds to step S310. In step S310, a stop position determination process relating to the determination of the stop position of the reel 9a is executed, and then the rotating process ends. Details of the control state switching process and the rotating process will be described later.

FIG. 15 shows the control processing contents of the control state switching processing (FIG. 14: S308).
In the control state switching process, first, the main microcomputer 30 determines whether or not the control state counter is “2” (S401), and determines that the control state counter is “2” (acceleration control). In this case, it is determined whether or not the timer reference pointer is “23” (S402). When it is determined that the timer reference pointer is not “23”, the control state switching process is terminated as it is to maintain the acceleration control state. On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer reference pointer is "23", the control state counter is changed to "3" (constant speed control) (S403), and the constant speed excitation pattern switching table is selected (S404). ), The control state switching process ends.

  If it is determined in step S401 that the control state counter is not "2", it is determined whether the control state counter is "4" (step before braking) (S405), and the control state counter is not "4". When it is determined, the control state switching process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the control state counter is "4", it is determined whether or not the reel 9a has reached the set special control start position based on the value of the rotation amount counter (S406). If it is determined that the special control start position has been reached, a special stop excitation pattern switching table is selected (S407), and the timer reference pointer is set to "0" (S408). Then, after setting the timer value indicated by the timer reference pointer in the excitation data switching timer in the special stop excitation pattern switching table (S409), the control state switching process ends.

  If it is determined in step S406 that the left reel 9a has not reached the special control start position, or if it is determined that the special control start position has not been set (in the case of the normal stop control), the rotation amount counter It is determined whether or not the left reel 9a has reached the set braking start position based on the value of (S410). If it is determined that the left reel 9a has not reached the braking start position, the control state switching process is terminated as it is. I do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the braking start position has been reached, the control state counter is changed to "5" (braking step) (S411), and the braking time measurement timer is set to "140" (S412). After setting the excitation data in the all-phase excitation state (all "1") as output data (S413), the control state switching process ends. The braking time measurement timer is a timer for measuring the execution time of the braking step.

FIG. 16 shows the control processing of the stop position determination processing (FIG. 14: S310).
In the stop position determination process, first, the main microcomputer 30 determines whether or not the control state counter is “3” (constant speed control) and whether or not an effective operation of the left stop switch 7a has been performed ( If it is determined that the control state counter is not “3” or that the left stop switch 7a has not been operated effectively, the stop position determination processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the control state counter is "3" and it is determined that the left stop switch 7a has been effectively operated, the stop position of the reel 9a is determined (S503). Specifically, the current position of the left reel 9a is specified based on the value of the upper counter of the rotation amount counter, and based on the specified current position, the result of the lottery, the operation order of the stop switches 7a to 7c, and the like. One of the stoppable positions of the 0th to 4th frames is determined as the stop position.

  In a succeeding step S504, a braking start position corresponding to the determined stop position is set. Specifically, when the value of the upper counter of the rotation amount counter is “n” at the left stop operation position and the 0th frame is determined as the stop position, the position where the upper counter is updated to “n + 1” is braked. If it is set as the start position and the fourth frame is determined as the stop position, the position at which the upper counter is updated to “n + 5” is set as the braking start position. After setting the braking start position, the control state counter is changed to "4" (step before braking) (S505), and the process proceeds to step S506. In step S506, it is determined whether or not the execution condition of the special stop control is satisfied. If it is determined that the execution condition is not satisfied, the stop position determination process is terminated, and the execution condition is satisfied. If it is determined that the pattern is one frame before the braking start position (24 steps before) as the special control start position (S507), the stop position determination process ends. Since the special control start position is one frame before the symbol of the braking start position, for example, when the position where the upper counter is updated to “n + 5” is set as the braking start position, the upper counter becomes “n + 4”. The updated position is set as the special control start position.

FIG. 17 shows the contents of the control processing of the above-described processing during braking (FIG. 12: S107).
In the braking process, first, the main microcomputer 30 sets the excitation data in the all-phase excitation state (all “1”) as output data (S601). Next, the braking time measurement timer is updated (S602), and it is determined whether the measurement of the set execution time of the braking time measurement timer has been completed (S603). When it is determined that the measurement has not been completed, the braking process is terminated as it is, and when it is determined that the measurement has been completed, the control state counter is changed to “1” (standby state) (S604). The braking process ends.

  In the above control processing, the reel control means according to the present invention is mainly realized by the left reel control processing for the left reel 9a. Further, the stop position determining means according to the present invention is mainly realized by step S503 in FIG. 16 for the left reel 9a. Further, the acceleration control, the constant speed control, and the step before braking according to the present invention are mainly realized by processing during rotation, and the braking step according to the present invention is mainly realized by processing during braking.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the content of the stop control. Except for the stop control, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the common components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the text and detailed description is omitted.
In this embodiment, three types of stop control, that is, normal stop control, first special stop control, and second special stop control, are provided. The normal stop control is the same as the normal stop control of the first embodiment. The first special stop control is the same as the special stop control of the first embodiment, and uses the special stop excitation pattern switching table shown in FIG. 9 from the special control start position 24 steps before the braking start position. Is realized.

  The second special stop control is specific to the present embodiment, and is realized by using the second special stop excitation pattern switching table shown in FIG. 18 from the special control start position 24 steps before the braking start position. Is done. This is realized by using the second special stop excitation pattern switching table. The extended driving is repeatedly defined for the timer reference pointers 0 to 5, whereby the temporary deceleration step is executed from 24 steps to 19 steps before the braking start position. Here, in the temporary deceleration step (see FIG. 9) of the first special stop control, the unit drive time is reduced from the maximum speed of “3 milliseconds” to “13.5 milliseconds”, whereas In the temporary deceleration step of the special stop control, the unit drive time is reduced to “90 milliseconds”. In this way, in the second special stop control, the reel 9a is greatly decelerated compared to the first special stop control, so that the reel 9a is visually recognized as if temporarily stopped, and the reel 9a is moved to the braking start position. Is significantly longer than that of the normal stop control, so that a large effect can be obtained as compared with the first special stop control.

  Further, in the second special stop excitation pattern switching table, a plurality of shortening drives are defined for the timer reference pointers 6 to 17, whereby re-acceleration is performed from 18 steps to 7 steps before the braking start position. The step is performed. Here, in the re-acceleration step of the first special stop control (see FIG. 9), only the shortened drive is repeatedly executed, whereas in the re-acceleration step of the second special stop control, the time between the shortened drive and the shortened drive is changed. Execute stable driving. As described above, if the stable driving is appropriately performed without repeating only the shortening drive in the reacceleration step, the behavior of the left reel 9a in the reacceleration step can be stabilized as compared with the reacceleration step in which only the shortening drive is performed. There is an advantage.

  In this embodiment, one of the first special stop control and the second special stop control is selected according to the stop position of the left reel 9a. Specifically, in this embodiment, when the execution condition of the special stop control is satisfied, if the stop position is the first frame from the left stop operation position, the second special stop control is selected, and the stop position is selected. Is the second to fourth frames from the left stop operation position, the first special stop control is selected.

  Since the degree of deceleration of the left reel 9a is greater in the second special stop control than in the first special stop control, the difference in the stop mode from the normal stop control is more clear than in the first special stop control. The effect is obtained. However, when the distance from the left stop operation position to the stop position is long, if the left reel 9a is greatly decelerated as in the second special stop control, the time required to stop the left reel 9a becomes excessively long. Is not preferred. Therefore, when the distance from the left stop operation position to the stop position is short as in the present embodiment, the second special stop control with a large degree of deceleration is executed, and the distance from the left stop operation position to the stop position is reduced. In the case of a long time, if the first special stop control with a small degree of deceleration is executed, it is possible to prevent the time required to stop the left reel 9a from becoming excessively long and to enhance the effect by the second special stop control. Can be.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the content of the special stop control. Except for the special stop control, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, common components are denoted by common reference numerals in the text and detailed description is omitted.
The special stop control according to the present embodiment is realized by using the special stop excitation pattern switching table from the special control start position 24 steps before the braking start position, similarly to the special stop control of the first embodiment. .

  Here, in this embodiment, the special stop excitation pattern switching table shown in FIG. 19 is used from the special control start position. In the special stop excitation pattern switching table, the timer value is specified only for the timer reference pointers 0 to 9, and as shown in FIG. After updating the excitation pointer at intervals of the specified timer value, switching to the excitation excitation pattern switching table is performed, and excitation is performed at intervals of the timer values specified by the timer reference pointers 10 to 23 in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table. By updating the pointer, the left reel 9a is rotated to the braking start position.

  That is, in the present embodiment, only the temporary deceleration step of the special stop control is realized by the timer value specified in the special stop excitation pattern switching table, and the reacceleration step and the control contents after the reacceleration step are performed. Is realized by the timer value specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for the re-acceleration step and the control content after that, the data in the special stop excitation pattern switching table is omitted, and the control data necessary for the special stop control can be reduced.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the content of the stop control. Except for the stop control, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the common components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the text and detailed description is omitted.
In the normal stop control of the first embodiment, the reel 9a is rotated at a constant speed to the braking start position at the maximum speed in the pre-braking step. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. In the pre-braking step, after executing a deceleration step of decelerating the left reel 9a from the maximum speed to a predetermined pre-braking speed in the pre-braking step, the left reel 9a is rotated at a pre-braking speed to the braking start position at a constant speed. As described above, in the present embodiment, in the normal stop control, the reel 9a reaches the braking start position at the pre-braking speed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Then, the left reel 9a is accelerated only to the pre-braking speed, and the left reel 9a reaches the braking start position at the same pre-braking speed as the normal stop control.

  As described above, the pre-braking step of the normal stop control according to the present invention is not limited to rotating the reel at a constant speed to the braking start position, and may be configured to decelerate the reel and then reach the braking start position. Good.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the slot machine of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the stepping motor 14 is rotated by the half step driving method, but the stepping motor 14 may be rotated by the full step driving method or the micro step driving method. Further, a three-phase or five-phase motor can be employed in the stepping motor according to the present invention.

  Further, in the braking step of the above embodiment, the excitation pattern 14 of the stepping motor 14 is fixed to the all-phase excitation state. However, instead of the all-phase excitation state, the two-phase excitation state or the one-phase excitation state is maintained until the reel stops. May be fixed.

  In the above embodiment, the current positions of the reels 9a to 9c in the rotating state are specified by the number of steps driven from the reference rotation position, but the current positions of the reels may be specified by using a rotary encoder or the like. .

  Further, in the above embodiment, in the normal stop control and the special stop control, when it is determined that the braking start position has been reached based on the value of the rotation amount counter, the braking step is started, but in the special stop control, When the timer reference pointer reaches "23" while the special stop excitation pattern switching table is being used, the left reel 9a should have reached the braking start position. , The braking step may be started.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the main microcomputer 30 directly controls the drive of the stepping motor 14, but the drive control may be performed via a driver or a controller.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the special stop control can be executed for all three reels 9a to 9c. However, the present invention may be such that only the special stop control is executed for one reel. The present invention also includes a configuration provided with a third stop control other than the normal stop control and the special stop control.

  Further, in the special stop control of the above embodiment, the re-acceleration step is started immediately after the temporary deceleration step. You may. In the special stop control according to the present invention, the temporary deceleration step and the re-acceleration step may be repeated a plurality of times.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the “common control content” until reaching the braking start position is a constant speed rotation, but the common control content according to the present invention is to decelerate the reel by shortening drive. There may be.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the “common control contents” are executed in the normal stop control and the special stop control until the control start position is reached using different excitation pattern switching tables. "Contents" may be executed using a common excitation pattern switching table for the normal stop control and the special stop control. With such a configuration, it is possible to further reduce the control data relating to the stop control.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 slot machine 2 housing 3 front door 4 display window 5 bet switch 6 start switch 7 stop switch 8 payment switch 9 a to 9 c reel 10 reel unit 11 a to 11 c reel device 12 design 13 base member 14 stepping motor 16 reference position indicator 17 Reference position sensor 20 Main control board 21a to 21c Reel seal 30 Main microcomputer

Claims (3)

In a slot machine that rotates a reel triggered by operation of a start switch and stops rotation of the reel triggered by operation of a stop switch,
A stepping motor that rotationally drives the reel;
Reel control means for controlling the rotation of the reel by switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor;
Stop position determination means for determining a stop position of the reel, triggered by the operation of the stop switch,
The reel control means,
By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, the stepping motor is rotated in one direction, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor is controlled by a switching interval of the excitation pattern,
After the stop switch is operated, stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position determined by the stop position determining means is performed,
The stop control includes a normal stop control and a special stop control,
The normal stop control and the special stop control,
By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order, a pre-braking step of rotating the reel to a braking start position set before the stop position,
A braking step of fixing the stepping motor to a prescribed excitation pattern until the reel reaches the braking start position and at least until the rotation of the stepping motor stops.
The pre-braking step of the normal stop control is to rotate the reel to the braking start position without accelerating the reel,
The pre-braking step of the special stop control includes a temporary deceleration step of decelerating the reel, and a re-acceleration step of accelerating the reel after the temporary deceleration step.
The normal stop control and the special stop control, the stop position determined by the stop position determination means, the braking start position and the braking step are common,
The pre-braking step of the normal stop control and the special stop control includes, before the reel reaches the braking start position, changing the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order to a predetermined common braking. Includes common control content that switches at the previous switching interval,
The common control content is executed at least after the end of the re-acceleration step in the special stop control ,
The reel control means,
After the start switch is operated, acceleration control for accelerating the reel to a predetermined rotation speed is performed,
An acceleration excitation pattern switching table in which a switching interval of the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is provided,
In the acceleration control, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order at a switching interval specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table,
And in the re-acceleration step, the at accelerating at least a portion defined switching interval of the excitation pattern switching table, slot machine to switch Rukoto characterized in excitation pattern of the stepping motor the predetermined excitation sequence. In a slot machine that rotates a reel triggered by operation of a start switch and stops rotation of the reel triggered by operation of a stop switch,
A stepping motor that rotationally drives the reel;
Reel control means for controlling the rotation of the reel by switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor;
Stop position determination means for determining a stop position of the reel, triggered by the operation of the stop switch,
The reel control means,
By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, the stepping motor is rotated in one direction, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor is controlled by a switching interval of the excitation pattern,
After the stop switch is operated, stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position determined by the stop position determining means is performed,
The stop control includes a normal stop control and a special stop control,
The normal stop control and the special stop control,
By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the predetermined excitation order, a pre-braking step of rotating the reel to a braking start position set before the stop position,
A braking step of fixing the stepping motor to a prescribed excitation pattern until the reel reaches the braking start position and at least until the rotation of the stepping motor stops.
The pre-braking step of the normal stop control is to rotate the reel to the braking start position without accelerating the reel,
The pre-braking step of the special stop control includes a temporary deceleration step of decelerating the reel, and a re-acceleration step of accelerating the reel after the temporary deceleration step.
The normal stop control and the special stop control, the stop position determined by the stop position determination means, the braking start position and the braking step are common,
Wherein said braking previous step of the normal stop control and the special stop control state, and are not the reel is said respective controlling the rotational speed of the stepping motor so as to reach the braking start position at a predetermined braking front speed,
The reel control means,
After the start switch is operated, acceleration control for accelerating the reel to a predetermined rotation speed is performed,
An acceleration excitation pattern switching table in which a switching interval of the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is provided,
In the acceleration control, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order at a switching interval specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table,
And in the re-acceleration step, the at accelerating at least a portion defined switching interval of the excitation pattern switching table, slot machine to switch Rukoto characterized in excitation pattern of the stepping motor the predetermined excitation sequence. In a slot machine that rotates a reel triggered by operation of a start switch and stops rotation of the reel triggered by operation of a stop switch,
A stepping motor that rotationally drives the reel;
Reel control means for controlling the rotation of the reel by switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor;
Stop position determination means for determining a stop position of the reel, triggered by the operation of the stop switch,
The reel control means,
By switching the excitation pattern of the stepping motor in a predetermined excitation order, the stepping motor is rotated in one direction, and the rotation speed of the stepping motor is controlled by a switching interval of the excitation pattern,
After operating the start switch, acceleration control for accelerating the reel to a predetermined rotation speed,
After the acceleration control, until the stop switch is operated, a constant speed control to rotate the reel at the predetermined rotation speed,
After the operation of the stop switch, which executes a stop control for stopping the reel to the stop position the stop position determining means has determined,
The stop control includes:
A normal stop control for stopping the reel at the stop position without operating the reel after operating the stop switch;
A temporary deceleration step of decelerating the reel after the operation of the stop switch, and a re-acceleration step of accelerating the rotation speed of the reel to the predetermined rotation speed after the temporary deceleration step, stopping the reel at the stop position. only contains a special stop control to be performed prior to,
The reel control means,
An acceleration excitation pattern switching table in which the excitation pattern switching interval of the stepping motor in the acceleration control is defined,
In the acceleration control, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order at a switching interval specified in the acceleration excitation pattern switching table,
In the re-acceleration step, the excitation pattern of the stepping motor is switched in the predetermined excitation order at a switching interval specified in at least a part of the excitation pattern switching table for acceleration .

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