JP6732556B2 - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.

JP, 2002-342814, A JP 2006-271462A

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, inside the gaming machine, in order to shoot a medal with a CCD camera, it is necessary to illuminate the medal. However, medals used in gaming machines generally have silver or gold plated surfaces, and are regularly cleaned (polished). The irregular reflection causes irregular reflection, so that in image processing using an image sensor or a camera, it is difficult to capture an accurate image due to the irregular reflection.

An object of the present invention is to suppress irregular reflection by irradiating light in a surrounding shape in order to accurately detect a fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image of a game medium.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first mode according to the present invention is
A slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21),
And a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting the game medium inserted from the slot,
The game medium detecting means,
A passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) forming a passage through which the game medium passes,
Imaging means (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) for imaging a passing object which is an object passing through the passage,
A medium determination unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the imaging unit,
A light guide (for example, light guides 261 to 263) capable of radiating the introduced light in a planar manner,
A light source (for example, LED group 233) for the introduced light,
A drive control unit (for example, an LED drive unit 252) that controls the drive of the light source according to the image capturing timing,
The light guide is
A first light guide body (for example, a light guide body 261) for irradiating the image pickup area of the image pickup means with the introduced light from the front of the passage,
A second light guide body (for example, a light guide body 263) that irradiates the introduced light to the imaging region from behind the passage,
The second light guide is
A first light guide surface (for example, a triangular side surface 263c) that irradiates the imaging region with the introduction light,
A second light guide surface (for example, a triangular side surface 263d) that irradiates the introduced light on the side opposite to the imaging area, and the gaming machine.

According to the first aspect, by controlling the driving of the light source in accordance with the image pickup timing, it is possible to obtain the passing object image data by the image pickup unit using the introduced light as the light source and to smoothly perform the determination process by the medium determination unit. it can. Moreover, since the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged so as to surround the image pickup area, it is possible to uniformly irradiate the introduction light toward the passing game medium, and the edge or contour of the game medium, It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can reliably capture patterns such as markings and colors, and that can perform highly accurate determination processing based on accurate captured data.
In particular, since the irradiation light from the first light guide body and the irradiation light from the first light guide surface can uniformly irradiate the imaging area, reflection of the light source due to reflection of the passing game medium, that is, Accurate imaging data can be obtained from the subject (passing game medium) without causing halation of primary reflection. Further, since the light emitted from the second light guide surface is applied to the passage surface other than the imaging area to cause halation, the shade of reflection at the irradiation position becomes clear, and it can be used for judging the passage of the game medium. You can Therefore, in the present embodiment, halation of the primary reflection is prevented, accurate imaging data is acquired, and highly accurate determination processing of attributes (eg, marking, contour, color, etc.) of the passing game medium can be performed, and It is possible to realize a gaming machine capable of performing accurate passage passage determination processing by utilizing halation by the light guide surface.

In a second aspect according to the present invention, the second light guide has a triangular pyramid shape, the light source is arranged on a bottom surface side of the triangular pyramid, and one side surface of the triangular pyramid is provided with the first light guide. The gaming machine is characterized in that it is a light surface, and a side surface different from the one side surface is the second light guide surface.

According to the second mode, since the irradiation light for the imaging area and the irradiation light for the areas other than the imaging area can be irradiated from the two side surfaces of the triangular pyramid of the second light guide, the attribute determination process of the passing game medium is performed. It is possible to realize a gaming machine in which the passage passage determination processing can be performed with high accuracy and the two types of light irradiation mechanisms are compact and inexpensive with a single light guide.

A third mode according to the present invention is the gaming machine, wherein the light guide body includes a third light guide body that irradiates the imaging light with the introduction light.

According to the third aspect, the irradiation mechanism capable of uniformly irradiating the introduced light in a ring-like shape such as a substantially rectangular shape can be configured by dividing the first to third light guides into three parts. It is possible to realize a gaming machine in which the body can be arranged in a narrow space around the passage and can be compactly and inexpensively configured, and the passage game medium attribute determination processing and the passage passage determination processing can be performed with high accuracy.

According to the present invention, in order to accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine, irregular reflection is suppressed by irradiating light in a surrounding shape. It is possible to provide a game machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image of a game medium.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the function flow in the game machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view showing an example of appearance composition in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing an internal structure in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention, and showing a state in which a middle door is closed. It is a perspective view showing an internal structure in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention, and showing a state in which a middle door is opened. It is an explanatory view showing the inside of the cabinet in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing the back side of the front door in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing a state where a medal selector is assembled in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the medal selector in the gaming machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention from the slanting front of the game machine. It is a perspective view of the select plate of the medal selector in the gaming machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing a course of a medal when a medal selector in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention guides a medal to a hopper device. It is a figure showing a course of a medal when a medal selector in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention guides a medal to a medal shoot. It is an exploded view of a camera unit attached to the medal selector in the gaming machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing a section structure of a camera unit of a medal selector in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention, and a section of a lens holder used for a unit. It is a figure which shows the environmental test result which mixed and shape|molded the glass filler with the compounding ratio in the raw material of the lens holder shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the image data area showing the barrel distortion obtained through the lens used with the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of this invention. It is a flow chart which shows the assembly procedure which assembles the lens holder of the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention on the substrate. It is an appearance perspective view of the 1st light guide and the 2nd light guide which are used with the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of a third light guide body 263 used in the medal selector in the gaming machine of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the attachment member used for each 1st-3rd light guide of the medal selector in the game machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement|positioning relationship of each 1st-3rd light guide of the medal selector in the game machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a light emission wavelength characteristic graph of LED used by the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing a control system in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a main control circuit in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a sub control circuit in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of circuit composition of a medal selector in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of circuit composition of control LSI in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the regular medal used for the game machine of one embodiment of the present invention, A shows one side of a regular medal, B shows the image data of a regular medal, and C is the gradient average of a regular medal. It is a figure which shows image data. It is a figure for explaining a regular medal discrimination processing of a control LSI in a game machine of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of an illegal medal, A shows one side of this illegal medal, and B is a figure showing the image data of this illegal medal. It is a figure which shows the other example of an illegal medal, A shows the one side of this illegal medal, B shows the image data of this illegal medal, C is a figure which shows the gradient average image data of this illegal medal. .. 8 is a flowchart showing offset correction processing for performing offset correction of image data, which is executed by the medal selector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 33 is a graph showing a relationship between an offset value and temperature performed in the offset correction process shown in FIG. 32. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the LED drive part used with the medal selector in the game machine of one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 35 is a specific circuit configuration diagram of the LED driving section shown in FIG. 34. It is a timing chart showing changes in operating voltage and current in driving LEDs of the medal selector in the gaming machine of one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a pachi-slot which is a gaming machine showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 36.

<Function flow>
First, the functional flow of the pachi-slot will be described with reference to FIG.
In the pachi-slot of the present embodiment, medals are used as game media for playing games. As the game medium, coins, game balls, game point data, tokens or the like can be applied in addition to medals.

When a player inserts a medal and operates the start lever, one value (hereinafter, a random number value) is extracted from random numbers in a predetermined numerical value range (for example, 0 to 65535).

The internal lottery means performs lottery based on the extracted random number value and determines an internal winning combination. This internal lottery means is carried out by the main control circuit described later. By the determination of the internal winning combination, the combination of symbols that is allowed to be displayed along the winning determination line described later is determined. The types of symbol combinations include those related to "winning prizes" in which benefits such as payout of medals, operation of replays, operation of bonuses, etc. are given to the player, and those related to other so-called "losses". Is provided.

Further, when the start lever is operated, the plurality of reels are rotated. After that, when the player presses the stop button corresponding to the predetermined reel, the reel stop control means performs control for stopping the rotation of the corresponding reel based on the internal winning combination and the timing when the stop button is pressed. To do. This reel stop control means is carried out by a main control circuit described later.

In the pachi-slot, basically, control is performed to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel within a specified time (190 msec or 75 msec) from when the stop button is pressed. In the present embodiment, the number of symbols that move with the rotation of the reel within this specified time is referred to as the “number of sliding pieces”. When the prescribed period is 190 msec, the maximum number of sliding pieces is set to 4 symbols, and when the prescribed period is 75 msec, the maximum number of sliding pieces is set to 1 symbol.

The reel stop control means, when the internal winning combination permitting the combination display of the symbols relating to the winning is determined, normally, the combination of the symbols is within the specified time of 190 msec (4 symbols), and the winning combination is the winning determination line. Stop the rotation of the reel so that it is displayed along with as much as possible. Further, the reel stop control means defines, for example, one or more reels at the time of the operation of the challenge bonus (CB) and the middle bonus (MB) that continuously operate the CB which is the second type special accessory. Within 75 msec (one frame of the symbol), the rotation of the reel is stopped so that the symbol combination is displayed as much as possible along the winning determination line. Furthermore, the reel stop control means uses various prescribed times corresponding to the gaming state to rotate the reels so that a combination of symbols not allowed to be displayed by the internal winning combination is not displayed along the winning determination line. Stop.

In this way, when the rotation of the plurality of reels is all stopped, the winning determination means determines whether or not the symbol combination displayed along the winning determination line is related to winning. The winning determination means is carried out by the main control circuit described later. When it is determined by the prize determination means that the prize is related to the prize, a bonus such as payout of medals is given to the player. In the pachi-slot, a series of flows as described above is performed as one game.

Further, in the pachi-slot, in the above-mentioned series of flow, the image display performed by the display device such as the liquid crystal display device, the light output performed by various lamps, the sound output performed by the speaker, or a combination thereof is used. Various productions are performed.

When the start lever is operated, a random number value for rendering (hereinafter, a random number value for rendering) is extracted in addition to the random number value used for determining the internal winning combination described above. When the random number value for effect is extracted, the effect content determination means randomly determines, from among a plurality of types of effect content associated with the internal winning combination, the effect content to be executed this time. The sub-control circuit described later plays a role of this effect content determination means.

When the effect content is determined, the effect execution means executes the corresponding effect in association with each trigger such as the start of rotation of the reels, the stop of rotation of each reel, the determination of the presence or absence of a prize. In this way, in the pachi-slot, the player has an opportunity to know or anticipate the determined internal winning combination (in other words, the combination of the symbols to be aimed) by executing the effect contents associated with the internal winning combination. It is provided, and the interest of the player can be improved.

<Pachislot structure>
Next, the structure of the pachi-slot 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

[Appearance structure]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external structure of the pachi-slot 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pachi-slot 1 includes an exterior body 2. The exterior body 2 has a cabinet 2a that accommodates a hopper device 51, a medal auxiliary storage 52, and the like (see FIG. 5) described later, and a front door 2b that is openably and closably attached to the cabinet 2a.
Handles 7 are provided on both sides of the cabinet 2a (only one handle 7 is shown in FIG. 2). The handle 7 is a recess for holding the pachi-slot 1 when carrying it.

Inside the exterior body 2, three reels 3L, 3C, 3R are provided side by side. Hereinafter, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are referred to as the left reel 3L, the middle reel 3C, and the right reel 3R, respectively. Each of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R has a reel body formed in a cylindrical shape, and a translucent sheet material mounted on the peripheral surface of the reel body. On the surface of the sheet material, a plurality of (for example, 20) patterns are drawn at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction.

The front door 2b includes a door body 9, a front panel 10, and a liquid crystal display device 11 showing a specific example of a display device.

The door body 9 is attached to the cabinet 2a using a hinge (not shown), and opens and closes the opening of the cabinet 2a. The hinge is provided at the left end of the door body 9 when the door body 9 is viewed from the front of the pachi-slot 1. The liquid crystal display device 11 is attached to the upper part of the door body 9. The liquid crystal display device 11 includes a display unit (display screen) 11 a, and the liquid crystal display device 11 is used to perform an effect by displaying an image.

The front panel 10 is arranged so as to overlap the display portion 11a side of the liquid crystal display device 11, and is formed in a frame shape having a panel opening 10a that exposes the display portion 11a of the liquid crystal display device 11. A lamp group 18 is provided on the front panel 10. The lamp group 18 includes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and the like, and turns on and off the light in a pattern corresponding to the effect contents.

A pedestal portion 12 is formed at the center of the front door 2b. The pedestal portion 12 is provided with the symbol display area 4 and various devices to be operated by the player.

The symbol display area 4 is arranged on the front side overlapping the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R when viewed from the front, and is provided corresponding to the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R. The symbol display area 4 functions as a display window and is configured to be able to pass through the reels 3L, 3C, 3R provided behind it. Hereinafter, the symbol display area 4 is referred to as a reel display window 4.

When the reels 3L, 3C, 3R provided behind the reel display window 4 are stopped from rotating, the reel display window 4 has, among the plurality of types of symbols of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R, an upper stage, a middle stage and a lower stage in the frame. One pattern is displayed in each area (3 in total). In the present embodiment, a pseudo line formed by combining any one of predetermined three areas including the upper stage, the middle stage, and the lower stage of the reel display window 4 is an object for determining whether or not to win. Is defined as a line (winning determination line).

The reel display window 4 is formed by a frame member 13 provided on the pedestal portion 12. The frame member 13 has a reel display window 4, an information display window 14, and a stop button mounting portion 15.

The information display window 14 is provided continuously to the lower portion of the reel display window 4 and opens upward. That is, the reel display window 4 and the information display window 14 are formed as one continuous opening. The information display window 14 and the reel display window 4 are covered with a transparent window cover 16.

The window cover 16 is arranged on the inner surface side of the frame member 13 and cannot be removed from the front surface side of the front door 2b. Further, the frame member 13 has a sheet mounting portion 17 that faces the opening of the information display window 14 with the window cover 16 interposed therebetween. Then, a sheet member (information sheet) in which information regarding a game is written is arranged between the sheet placing portion 17 and the window cover 16. Therefore, the information sheet is covered with the window cover 16 having a smooth surface without irregularities or gaps.

Since the window cover 16 constituting the mounting portion of the information sheet cannot be removed from the front side of the front door 2b and has a smooth surface without irregularities or gaps, the pachi-slot 1 can be used by using the mounting portion of the information sheet. You can prevent fraudulent activities that access the inside of the.

The stop button mounting portion 15 is provided below the information display window 14 and is formed on a plane facing the front. The stop button mounting portion 15 is provided with a through hole through which the stop buttons 19L, 19C, 19R penetrate. The stop buttons 19L, 19C, 19R are associated with each of the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R, and are provided to stop the rotation of the corresponding reels. Hereinafter, the stop buttons 19L, 19C, and 19R are referred to as the left stop button 19L, the middle stop button 19C, and the right stop button 19R, respectively.

The stop buttons 19L, 19C, and 19R represent examples of various devices that are targets of operations by the player. In addition, the pedestal portion 12 is provided with a medal insertion slot 21, a BET button 22, and a start lever 23, which are various devices to be operated by the player.

The medal insertion slot 21 is provided to receive medals that are dropped from the outside by the player. The number of medals received in the medal insertion slot 21 can be increased up to a prescribed number (for example, 3) set in advance for one game, and the pachi-slot 1 is pachi-slot 1 for the amount exceeding the prescribed number. It has a so-called credit function that makes it possible to deposit it inside the.

The BET button 22 is provided to determine the number of medals deposited in the pachi-slot 1 for one game. The start lever 23 is provided to start rotation of all reels (3L, 3C, 3R).

A 7-segment display 24 including 7-segment LEDs is provided on the left side of the reel display window 4 when the front door 2b is viewed from the front. The 7-segment display 24 digitally displays information such as the number of medals to be paid out to the player (hereinafter, the number of payouts) and the number of medals deposited in the pachi-slot (hereinafter, the number of credits) as a privilege. ..

A settlement button 27 is provided on the left side of the pedestal portion 12 when the front door 2b is viewed from the front. The settlement button 27 is provided for pulling out (discharging) to the outside stored in the pachi-slot 1. A waist panel unit 31 is provided below the pedestal portion 12. The waist panel unit 31 has a decorative panel on which an arbitrary image is drawn, and a light source that emits light for illuminating the decorative panel from the back side.

Below the waist panel unit 31, a medal payout opening 32, speaker holes 33L and 33R, and a medal tray unit 34 are provided. The medal payout port 32 guides the medals discharged from the medal selector 201 described later and the medals discharged by driving the hopper device 51 described later to the outside. The medals discharged from the medal payout opening 32 are stored in the medal tray unit 34. The speaker holes 33L and 33R are provided to output a sound effect or a sound such as music corresponding to the effect contents.

[Internal structure]
3 and 4 are perspective views showing the internal structure of the pachi-slot 1. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the front door 2b is opened and the middle door 41 provided on the back surface side of the front door 2b is closed with respect to the front door 2b. Further, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the front door 2b is opened and the middle door 41 is opened with respect to the front door 2b. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the cabinet 2a. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the back surface side of the front door 2b.

The cabinet 2a has a top plate 20a, a bottom plate 20b, left and right side plates 20c and 20d, and a back plate 20e (see FIG. 5). A cabinet-side speaker 42 is provided on the upper side inside the cabinet 2a. The cabinet-side speaker 42 is attached to the back plate 20e of the cabinet 2a via mounting brackets 43L and 43R. The cabinet side speaker 42 is, for example, a speaker for outputting a sound effect.

A cabinet-side relay board 44 is disposed on the left side of the cabinet-side speaker 42 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front. The cabinet side relay board 44 is attached to the left side plate 20c of the cabinet 2a. The cabinet side relay board 44 includes a main control board 71 (see FIG. 23), which will be described later, attached to the middle door 41 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), a hopper device 51, a medal auxiliary storage switch (not shown), and a medal payout. The wiring for connecting to a count switch (not shown) is relayed.

An amplifier board 45 that controls the output of sound from the cabinet-side speaker 42 is arranged in the center of the cabinet 2a. The amplifier board 45 is attached to a mounting shelf 46 fixed to the left and right side plates 20c and 20d.

Further, when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front, an external concentrated terminal board 47 is arranged on the right side of the amplifier board 45 (see FIG. 5). The external centralized terminal board 47 is attached to the right side surface board 20d of the cabinet 2a. The external centralized terminal board 47 is provided for outputting signals such as a medal insertion signal, a medal payout signal, and a security signal to the outside of the pachi-slot 1.

A sub power supply device 48 is disposed on the left side of the amplifier board 45 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front. The sub power supply device 48 is attached to the left side plate 20c of the cabinet 2a. The sub power supply device 48 supplies electric power of AC voltage 100V to the power supply device 53, which will be described later, and also converts electric power of AC voltage 100V into DC voltage power and supplies it to the amplifier substrate 45.

A medal payout device (hereinafter referred to as a hopper device) 51, a medal auxiliary storage 52, and a power supply device 53 are arranged below the inside of the cabinet 2a.

The hopper device 51 is attached to the central portion of the bottom plate 20b of the cabinet 2a. The hopper device 51 has a structure capable of accommodating a large amount of medals and discharging them one by one. For example, when the settlement button 27 (see FIG. 2) is pressed and the medals stored in the pachi-slot are settled, the hopper device 51 discharges the stored medals by the number of credits. The medals paid out by the hopper device 51 are discharged from the medal payout opening 32 (see FIG. 2).

The medal auxiliary storage 52 stores the medals overflowing from the hopper device 51. The medal auxiliary storage 52 is arranged on the right side of the hopper device 51 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front. The medal auxiliary storage 52 is engaged with the bottom plate 20b of the cabinet 2a and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the bottom plate 20b.

The power supply device 53 is arranged on the left side of the hopper device 51 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front, and is attached to the left side face plate 20c. The power supply device 53 has a power switch 53a and a power board 53b (see FIG. 23). The power supply device 53 converts the power of the AC voltage 100V supplied from the sub power supply device 48 into the power of the DC voltage required by each unit, and supplies the converted power to each unit.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the middle door 41 is arranged in the center of the back surface of the front door 2b, and is configured to open and close the reel display window 4 (see FIG. 4) from the back side. Door stoppers 41a, 41b, 41c are provided on the upper and lower portions of the middle door 41. The door stoppers 41a, 41b, 41c fix (prohibit) the opening operation of the middle door 41 with the reel display window 4 closed from the back side. That is, in order to open the middle door 41, it is necessary to rotate the door stoppers 41a, 41b, 41c to release the fixation of the middle door 41. A main control board case 55 accommodating a main control board 71 (see FIG. 23) and three reels 3L, 3C, 3R are attached to the middle door 41. A stepping motor is connected to the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R via a gear having a predetermined reduction ratio.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main control board case 55 is provided with a setting key type switch 56. The setting key type switch 56 is used when the setting of the pachi-slot 1 is changed or the setting of the pachi-slot 1 is confirmed. In the present embodiment, the main control board case 55 and the main control board 71 (see FIG. 23) housed in the main control board case 55 constitute a main control board unit.

The main control board 71 (see FIG. 23) housed in the main control board case 55 constitutes a main control circuit 91 (see FIG. 24) described later. The main control circuit 91 is a circuit for controlling the main flow of the game in the pachi-slot 1, such as determination of internal winning combination, rotation and stop of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R, and determination of presence or absence of winning. The specific configuration of the main control circuit 91 will be described later.

A sub-control board case 57 that accommodates the sub-control board 72 (see FIG. 23) is provided above the middle door 41, and a center speaker 58 is provided above the sub-control board case 57. .. The sub control board 72 housed in the sub control board case 57 constitutes a sub control circuit 101 (see FIG. 25). The sub-control circuit 101 is a circuit that controls execution of effects such as display of images. The specific configuration of the sub control circuit 101 will be described later.

A sub relay board 61 is disposed on the right side of the sub control board case 57 when the front door 2b is viewed from the back side. The sub relay board 61 relays the wiring that connects the sub control board 72 (see FIG. 23) and the main control board 71 (see FIG. 23), and is arranged around the sub control board 72 and the sub control board 72. It is a board which relays the wiring which connects with the formed board. It should be noted that LED boards 62A, 62B, and 62C (see FIG. 23), which will be described later, can be cited as boards arranged around the sub-control board 72.

The LED boards 62A, 62B, 62C (see FIG. 23) are arranged on both sides of the sub control board case 57 when viewed from the back surface side of the front door 2b. These LED boards 62A, 62B, and 62C cause a plurality of LEDs 85 (see FIG. 23) showing a specific example of a light source to emit light in accordance with effects produced by the control of the sub control circuit 101 (see FIG. 25). Display a blinking pattern. The pachi-slot 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of effect LED boards in addition to the LED boards 62A, 62B and 62C.

Below the sub relay board 61, a 24h door opening/closing monitoring unit 63 is arranged. The 24h door opening/closing monitoring unit 63 stores a history of opening/closing of the middle door 41. When the middle door 41 is opened, a signal for displaying an error on the liquid crystal display device 11 is output to the sub control board 72 (see FIG. 23) (sub control circuit 101 (see FIG. 25)).

A board speaker 64 and lower speakers 65L and 65R are disposed below the middle door 41. The board speaker 64 faces the waist panel unit 31 (see FIG. 2), and the lower speakers 65L and 65R face the speaker holes 33L and 33R (see FIG. 2), respectively.

A medal selector 201, a medal chute 202, and a door opening/closing monitoring switch 67 are arranged above the lower speaker 65L. The medal selector 201 is a device that determines whether or not the material and shape of the medal are proper, and transfers the medal inserted into the medal insertion port 21 to the hopper device 51 (see FIG. 5) via the slope 203. Or guide to the medal shoot 202. The specific configuration of the medal selector 201 will be described later. The medal chute 202 is a substantially Y-shaped tubular member, and guides the medals guided by the medal selector 201 and the medals discharged from the hopper device 51 to the medal payout outlet 32 (see FIG. 2).

The door opening/closing monitoring switch 67 is arranged on the left side of the medal selector 201 when the front door 2b is viewed from the back side. The door opening/closing monitoring switch 67 outputs a security signal for notifying the opening/closing of the front door 2b to the outside of the pachi-slot 1.

Further, a door relay terminal plate 68 is arranged in a region below the reel display window 4 and opened/closed by the middle door 41 (see FIG. 4). The door relay terminal board 68 includes a main control board 71 (see FIG. 23) in the main control board case 55, various buttons and switches, a sub control board 72 (see FIG. 23), a medal selector 201, and a game operation display board. 81 is a substrate that relays the wiring with 81 (see FIG. 23). The various buttons and switches include, for example, the BET button 22, the settlement button 27, the door opening/closing monitoring switch 67, the BET switch 77, the start switch 79, and the like, which will be described later.

<Medal selector configuration>
Next, a specific configuration of the medal selector 201 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the medal selector 201 is assembled.
As shown in FIG. 7, the medal selector 201 includes a base plate portion 204, a sub plate 205, a cancel shooter 206, a select plate 207, a medal solenoid 208 (see FIG. 9), and a camera unit 209. There is. Further, ABS resin or PC resin can be used for the material of each plate or cover member.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the medal selector 201.
As shown in FIG. 8, the base plate portion 204 is a substantially plate-shaped member that constitutes the outer frame housing of the medal selector 201, and the left and right ends of the pachi-slot 1 are bent rearward of the pachi-slot 1. Is molded into. The base plate portion 204 has a rear surface 204b, which is one plane orthogonal to the front-back direction of the pachi-slot 1, and a front surface 204a (see FIG. 9), which is the other plane. On the rear surface 204b, a medal rail 210 is formed in a substantially L shape so as to be recessed toward the front of the pachi-slot 1 and extend downward from above. Plural ridges are formed on the surface of the medal rail 210 along the direction in which the medal rail 210 extends. This reduces friction with the medals passing through the medal rail 210, and prevents the medals from clogging the medal rail 210.

At the upper end of the base plate portion 204, a medal entrance portion 211 is provided which is continuous with the upper end of the medal rail 210 and receives medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 21 (see FIG. 2). The medals inserted into the medal selector 201 from the medal entrance 211 move from the upper side to the lower side along the medal rails 210. A medal outlet portion 204c is provided below the base plate portion 204 and is continuous with the lower end of the medal rail 210. The medals that have moved inside the medal selector 201 are discharged from the medal exit portion 204c and are stored in the hopper device 51 via the slope 203 (see FIG. 6).

A central hole 212 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially intermediate position of the medal rail 210, and an end portion of the medal pressure 213 is exposed from the central hole 212 into the medal rail 210.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the medal selector 201 as seen obliquely from the front of the pachi-slot 1. 9 to 12, the arrow X indicates the horizontal direction of the pachi-slot 1, the arrow Y indicates the front-back direction of the pachi-slot 1, and the arrow Z indicates the vertical direction.
As shown in FIG. 9, the medal pressure 213 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 214 provided on the front surface 204 a of the base plate portion 204. A coil spring 215 is attached to the shaft portion 214, and the end portion of the medal pressure 213 is projected from the central hole 212 into the medal rail 210 (on the rear surface 204b side) by the coil spring 215. Is urged to do so.

On the front surface 204a of the base plate portion 204, a magnet (not shown) for attracting (magnetizing) an illegal medal which is not a proper material among medals moving on the medal rail 210 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, an upper exposure hole 219 that penetrates in the front-rear direction and exposes a rear end portion of an after medal pressure 218, which will be described later, is formed in a substantially central portion of a downstream region of the medal rail 210. In addition, a protrusion 227a of a medal stopper portion 227 (see FIG. 10) of the select plate 207, which will be described later, penetrates through the lower part of the downstream region of the medal rail 210 in the medal rail 210 (on the rear surface 204b side). A lower exposed hole 220 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the after medal pressure 218 is rotatably supported at its front end portion by a shaft portion 218 a provided on the front surface 204 a of the base plate portion 204. The after medal pressure 218 is urged by a coil spring provided on the shaft portion 218a so that the rear end portion does not project from the upper exposed hole 219 (see FIG. 8) into the medal rail 210 (on the rear surface 204b side). There is. When the front end of the after medal pressure 218 is pressed to the rear of the pachi-slot 1 (on the rear surface 204b side) by the medal solenoid 208, the after medal pressure 218 rotates about the shaft 218a, and the rear end of the medal solenoid 218 from the upper exposure hole 219. It is exposed inside the rail 210 (on the rear surface 204b side).

As shown in FIG. 8, the sub plate 205 is a plate-shaped member provided at a position overlapping the medal rail 210. The sub-plate 205 has a flat plate-shaped main body 221, a shaft portion 222 provided on the upper portion of the main body 221, and a mounting member 272 for mounting a first light guide 261 described later. .. A through hole 221a is provided at a substantially central portion of the main body portion 221 at the rear of a position including the central hole 212, the upper exposed hole 219, and the lower exposed hole 220 of the medal rail 210, and penetrates in the front-rear direction. A downstream region is exposed from the through hole 221a from a substantially central portion of the medal rail 210 to form a maximum imageable region of the camera unit 209 described later.

The shaft portion 222 is supported by the base plate portion 204, and the sub-plate 205 is attached to the base plate portion 204 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 222. A coil spring 223 is attached to the shaft portion 222. Normally, the sub-plate 205 is pressed against the base plate portion 204 side by the biasing force of the coil spring 223. At this time, a space through which medals can pass is formed between the sub plate 205 and the upper portion of the medal rail 210 covered by the sub plate 205. That is, the sub plate 205 functions as a guide plate that allows medals to pass through.

The cancel shooter 206 is disposed behind the sub plate 205, and includes a plate-shaped intermediate member 293 that holds the camera unit 209, the wiring board 288, and the like, and a cover member 294 that covers the intermediate member 293. In the cancel shooter 206, a screw 206b is rotatably arranged on a screw mounting portion 206a formed on the intermediate member 293.
As shown in FIG. 7, the cancel shooter 206 is fixed to the base plate portion 204 by screwing a screw 206b into a screw engaging portion of a screw receiving portion 204d of the base plate portion 204. That is, the cancel shooter 206 is detachably fixed to the base plate portion 204 by screwing, and covers the lower portion of the base plate portion 204 from behind with the sub-plate 205 (see FIG. 8) interposed therebetween. The screw 206b does not fall off from the screw mounting portion 206a even if the retaining ring is fitted and the screw 206b is removed from the screw receiving portion 204d.

Here, for example, when a medal jam occurs in the medal selector 201, the screw 206b is removed from the screw receiving portion 204d, the cancel shooter 206 is removed from the base plate portion 204, and the sub plate 205 (see FIG. 8) is exposed. Then, the sub-plate 205 is rotated around the shaft portion 222 (see FIG. 8) against the biasing force of the coil spring 223 to expose the medal rail 210 and remove the jammed medals. The clogging can be cleared.

Returning to FIG. 8, the cover member 294 is disposed behind the intermediate member 293, and with the camera unit 209 and the wiring board 288 disposed on the intermediate member 293 being covered, the cover member 294 can be detached by the screw 294a. It is fixed to the member 293.

The select plate 207 is attached to the base plate portion 204, and is a member that guides medals moving on the medal rail 210 at a position overlapping with the through hole 221a of the sub plate 205.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the select plate 207 of the medal selector 201.
As shown in FIG. 10, the select plate 207 is disposed on the rear surface 204b (see FIG. 8) side of the base plate portion 204, and has a plate main body 224 formed in a substantially trapezoidal plate shape, and the plate main body 224 from the pachi-slot 1 to the pachi-slot 1. A pair of bearing portions 225, each of which has a bearing hole 225a that extends to the front side (the front surface 204a (see FIG. 9) side of the base plate portion 204) and penetrates a shaft portion 228 (see FIG. 9) described later. doing. Further, a flange portion 226 is formed at an upper portion of the plate body 224 and extends toward the front side of the pachi-slot 1 (on the front surface 204a side of the base plate portion 204) and has its end portion bent upward. .. In addition, one of the bearing portions 225 extends downward on the front surface 204a side of the base plate portion 204 in a direction different from the plate body 224 with the bearing hole 225a interposed therebetween, and a medal having a protruding portion 227a formed at an end portion. A stopper portion 227 is formed. The projecting portion 227a can project from the lower exposed hole 220 (see FIG. 8) of the medal rail 210 to the rear surface 204b side of the base plate portion 204.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plate body 224 extends along the medal rail 210 in the portion of the sub-plate 205 where the through hole 221a is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 9, the select plate 207 rotates with respect to the base plate portion 204 by inserting the shaft portion 228 provided on the front surface 204 a of the base plate portion 204 into the bearing holes 225 a of the pair of bearing portions 225. Supported as possible. The select plate 207 is a direction in which the flange portion 226 rotates forward of the pachi-slot 1 around the bearing hole 225a by the coil spring 229 provided on the shaft portion 228, and the protrusion 227a (see FIG. 8) is provided. The medal rail 210 is biased in a direction projecting from the lower exposed hole 220 (see FIG. 8) toward the rear surface 204b side of the base plate portion 204. The flange portion 226 is in contact with one end of the medal solenoid 208. When the medal solenoid 208 is in the ON state, the flange portion 226 is pressed by one end of the medal solenoid 208 and moves to the rear of the pachi-slot 1 against the biasing force of the coil spring 229. The rotation position of the select plate 207 at this time is referred to as a “guide position”. Further, when the medal solenoid 208 is in the OFF state, the flange portion 226 is released from the pressure of the medal solenoid 208 and moves to the front of the pachi-slot 1 by the biasing force of the coil spring 229. The rotation position of the select plate 207 at this time is referred to as a “discharge position”.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a route of medals when the medal selector 201 guides the medals to the hopper device.
In the state shown in FIG. 11, the select plate 207 is arranged at the guide position, and the shortest distance from the lower side 224a of the plate body 224 to the lower side 210a of the medal rail 210 is the minimum dimension. This minimum size is slightly smaller than the allowable minimum diameter of the standard size of the medal. Therefore, if the medal passing between the medal rail 210 and the plate main body 224 has the standard size, the end of the medal is caught by the plate main body 224, guided by the plate main body 224, and the hopper device 51 (FIG. 4). The coins are ejected from the medal exit portion 204c up to the reference point). At this time, the protruding portion 227a (see FIG. 8) of the medal stopper portion 227 does not protrude from the lower exposed hole 220.

On the other hand, when the medal passing between the medal rail 210 and the plate body 224 is smaller than the standard size, the edge of the medal does not get caught in the plate body 224, and is pressed by the medal pressure 213 (see FIG. 8). , Falls away from the medal rail 210 (Y direction in FIG. 11), falls downward before reaching the medal exit portion 204c, and the medal payout port 32 (see FIG. 2) via the medal chute 202 (see FIG. 4). Emitted from.
In the present embodiment, the select plate 207 is normally positioned at the guide position, but under predetermined conditions (for example, when the maximum (50) number of medals can be credited, when an error occurs, at the start of a game, etc.). Can be positioned at the discharge position.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a route of medals when the medal selector 201 guides the medals to the medal shoot.
In the state shown in FIG. 12, the select plate 207 is arranged at the ejection position, the protruding portion 227a of the medal stopper portion 227 protrudes from the lower exposure hole 220, and extends from the lower side 224a of the plate body 224 to the lower side 210a of the medal rail 210. The shortest distance is larger than the minimum dimension shown in FIG. This size at the ejection position is larger than the maximum allowable diameter of the standard size of the medal. Therefore, the medal passing between the medal rail 210 and the plate main body 224 does not have its end caught on the plate main body 224, and therefore is pressed by the medal pressure 213 or protrudes from the lower exposure hole 220. 12 is pushed out by the projecting portion 227a, falls in the direction away from the medal rail 210 (Y direction in FIG. 12), falls downward before reaching the medal exit portion 204c, and pays medals through the medal chute 202 (see FIG. 4). It is discharged from the outlet 32 (see FIG. 2).

<Structure of main part of camera unit>
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the camera unit 209 attached to the medal selector 201. Note that, in FIG. 13, the cancel shooter 206 (see FIG. 8) and a wiring board 288 (see FIG. 14) described later are omitted for easy understanding.
The camera unit 209 is a unit that determines whether or not the object moving on the medal rail 210 is a regular medal.
The camera unit 209 is arranged at a position facing the medal rail 210 in the portion where the through hole 221a of the sub plate 205 is arranged, and is fixed by being screwed to the cancel shooter 206. The acrylic resin mounting unit 296 and the lens A unit 287, a lens protection cover 295, a lens holder 275, an acrylic resin protection cover sheet 297, and a wiring board 288 (see FIG. 14) are provided.

The acrylic resin mounting unit 296 is fixed to the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206 while sandwiching and fixing an acrylic resin plate. The lens unit 287 is equipped with lenses 283 to 285 (see FIG. 14) which will be described later and are arranged such that the optical axis thereof faces the medal rail 210. The lens protection cover 295 is fixed to the acrylic resin mounting unit 296 and is formed in a shape surrounding the lens unit 287. The lens holder 275 is fixed to the lens protection cover 295 and supports the lens unit 287. The acrylic resin protective cover sheet 297 is arranged in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lens unit 287 of the lens holder 275 is supported.

Further, a CMOS image sensor 232 (see FIG. 26), which will be described later, and a control LSI 234 (communicably and controllably connected to the CMOS image sensor 232, which are connected to the wiring board 288 (see FIG. 14) of the camera unit 209 (see FIG. 14). 26) is provided. The CMOS image sensor 232 (see FIG. 26) images a medal moving on the medal rail 210 and outputs image data of the imaged medal to the control LSI 234. The specific configuration of the circuit of the camera unit 209 will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the camera unit is configured by one substrate provided with the CMOS image sensor 232 and the control LSI 234, but the CMOS image sensor 232 and the control LSI 234 are configured by separate substrates to configure the camera unit 209. Good. Further, as the solid-state image sensor of the image sensor, a CCD can be used instead of the CMOS image sensor 232.

The camera unit 209 will be described in detail.
FIG. 14 shows a sectional structure (14A) of a main part of the camera unit 209 and a lens holder 275 (14B) used for the main part of the unit. In the following description using FIG. 14, the top is the direction in which the medal rails 210 (see FIG. 8) are arranged.
On a wiring board 288 of the camera unit 209, electronic components such as a CMOS image sensor 232, a control LSI 234, an LED driving unit 252, and the like, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 26, and a cover glass 289 are mounted. A lens holder 275 is attached to the upper side of the wiring board 288. The wiring board 288 is composed of a glass epoxy board, a ceramic board, or the like, and a wiring pattern (not shown) is formed on the surface of the wiring board 288.

As shown in (14B), the lens holder 275 has a lower portion 277 having a rectangular opening 279 that opens downward, and an upper portion 276 that is narrower than the lower portion 277. A cylindrical through hole 278 into which the lens unit 287 shown in (14A) is mounted is formed in the upper portion 276. A female screw portion 281 is formed on the inner surface of the through hole 278. The through hole 278 is formed with a tapered portion (inclined portion) 282 outwardly above the upper edge 280 of the female screw portion 281. As shown in (14A), the lens holder 275 is fixed to the wiring board 288 with an adhesive 291 so as to cover the cover glass 289. As shown in FIG. 13, the lens holder 275 is supported on an acrylic resin mounting unit 296 and is fixed to the cancel shooter 206 (see FIG. 8) via an acrylic resin protective cover sheet 297 and a lens protective cover 295. .. As shown in (14A), the lens holder 275 has a lens holding structure that holds a plurality of condenser lenses (lenses 283 to 285) in multiple layers in front of the CMOS image sensor 232 (see FIG. 26). Constitutes a means. The lens holding means is not limited to the case of using the lens holder 275, and for example, a lens holding structure in which lenses are arranged and held in multiple layers via spacers can be used. The condensing lens is not limited to a convex lens, and a deformed lens having a semi-cylindrical section can be used.

As the main material of the lens holder 275, various resins such as thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin or thermoplastic resin such as PC resin can be used. In the case of this embodiment, a liquid crystal polymer composite (LiquidCrystalPolymerComposite:LCPC) is used for the lens holder 275. LCPC is a synthetic resin (liquid crystal polymer material) belonging to a thermoplastic resin that exhibits liquid crystal-like properties. Compared to resin materials other than liquid crystal polymer materials, LCPC has less dust and has excellent heat resistance and rigidity. The lens unit 287 is also made of the same material as the lens holder 275.

When the condenser lens (lenses 283 to 285) and the lens holder 275 are slightly distorted and deformed due to a temperature change, the distorted deformation causes a focus (focus) shift of a captured image, which affects the accuracy of marking determination and color determination. Will end up. In the present embodiment, the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287 are made of LCPC, which is a main material, so that the lens thickness, curvature, and refractive index, or the height dimension of the lens holder 275 and the space between the lenses are interposed via a spacer. Even if the thickness of the spacers in the case of stacking is subject to thermal deformation, the prototype is maintained by the characteristics of the LCPC so as to cancel these deformations, so that a lens holder 275 suitable for stable imaging operation can be realized. You can

<Composition structure of lens holder and lens unit>
The constituent material of the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287 has a composition structure in which LCPC and glass filler (Glass Filler: GF) mixed in 30% (weight ratio) to LCPC are mixed. The blending ratio of GF is not limited to 30% and may be any of 10 to 40%. As composition materials other than LCPC and GF, carbon black, an antioxidant, a heat stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorber, an antistatic agent, a flame retardant, etc. for enhancing the light shielding property are slightly mixed in the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287. ing.

FIG. 15 is a test result of performing an environmental test at a temperature higher than room temperature (50° C., 60° C., 70° C.) on the lens holder 275 molded with various GF compounding ratios (6 stages of 0 to 50). Indicates. The environmental test results show that the degree of change in lens thickness, curvature and refractive index caused by temperature rise is ○ (small change), Δ (changes are more remarkable than those that do not affect the imaging operation "○") , × (changes that affect the imaging operation are generated).

As can be seen from the results of the environmental test in FIG. 15, it is preferable to add GF to LCPC in an amount of 10 to 40% (weight ratio). Distortion occurs in each lens of the compound lens due to temperature rise, but structural distortion other than lens distortion (for example, distortion due to pressure action when the lens interferes with the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287) also occurs. In the case of the composition structure with the above-mentioned compounding ratio of 10 to 40%, the structural distortion can be deformed so as to be canceled on the holder material side and canceled and suppressed or suppressed, so that the focus distortion due to the structural distortion occurs. It is possible to perform high-quality image pickup without any need. In particular, some lens distortion due to temperature rise occurs, but since this structural distortion is eliminated, it is only necessary to take measures in the imaging process for lens distortion that can be analyzed in advance, without adding structural distortion countermeasure parts. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the lens holding mechanism (camera unit 209 and lens unit 287) can be reduced without incurring unnecessary cost increase, which contributes to cost reduction of the gaming machine.

As shown in (14A), the lens unit 287 has a tubular shape having a two-step structure of a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion as a whole, and three condenser lenses (lenses 283 to 285) are mounted inside the barrel. It is a lens housing part of the housed compound lens system unit. The large-diameter lens 283 is mounted on the intermediate lens 284 on the large-diameter portion through an antireflection diaphragm component 283a. The upper periphery of the lens 283 is pressed and fixed by the stopper member 283b. A cover sheet 283c is attached to the upper side of the lens 283. A lens 284 and a lens 285 are provided in the small-diameter cylindrical portion of the lens unit 287. The lens 284 and the lens 285 are stacked via the spacer 284a. The lens 285 is separated into two lenses 285a and 285b via an antireflection diaphragm component 285c. The antireflection diaphragm components 283a and 285c are diaphragm components for determining the F value (index indicating the brightness of the lens) of the lens. On the outer periphery of the small diameter portion of the lens unit 287, a female screw portion 281 and a male screw portion 286 that can be screwed are formed. The through hole 278 faces the cover glass 289 when the lens holder 275 is fixed on the wiring board 288.

As the condenser lenses of the lenses 283 to 285, lenses that cause barrel distortion are used. The image formation by the condenser lens is generally accompanied by a distortion aberration that is distorted into a barrel shape or a pincushion shape. When a pincushion lens is used, pincushion distortion occurs, so that the central region without distortion becomes small and it is difficult to obtain a high quality image in a wide range. In the present embodiment, by using a lens in which barrel distortion occurs, a wide range of images can be obtained, and distortion correction processing of image data in consideration of distortion aberration of the lens in which barrel distortion occurs is performed. Is going. The distortion correction process of the image data is executed before being executed in the marking judgment process and the color judgment process which will be described later.

FIG. 16 shows an image data area obtained through a lens in which barrel distortion occurs.
The image data area shows a barrel-shaped entire area 16a including distortion as a whole, and the central area 16b is an area without distortion. The marking determination processing means (first determination means) by the image recognition DSP circuit 242 (see FIG. 27) and the color determination processing means (second determination means) by the color recognition circuit 247 (see FIG. 27) described later are distorted. This can be executed based on the corrected image data obtained by correcting the distorted area of the entire area 16a excluding the central area 16b without distortion to the image data without distortion by the distortion correction processing.
Since the color determination processing means (second determination means) by the color recognition circuit 247 (see FIG. 27) described later requires less accuracy than the marking determination processing, the image data of the central area 16b is converted from the image data of the entire area 16a. It can be executed based on the excluded image data.

By the distortion correction processing of the image data described above, it is possible to execute the medal marking determination processing and the color determination processing with high accuracy based on the corrected image data without distortion. Moreover, since it is possible to correct and execute the image data of the area including the distortion captured in the wide-angle range by the lens that causes the barrel distortion, it is possible to perform multiple functions by a plurality of determination processes and to improve the medal determination accuracy as a whole. It is possible to improve.

In the lens unit 287, as shown in (14A), the male screw portion 286 is screwed to the female screw portion 281 at a position where the uppermost lens 283 is substantially flush with the upper end of the lens holder 275, and the lens holder 275 is attached. It is fixed. The lens unit 287 is fixed to the lens holder 275 after adjusting the lens position. This fixing is performed by injecting and solidifying the adhesive 292 into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the positioned small diameter portion of the lens unit 287 and the tapered portion 282 of the lens holder 275.

<Camera unit assembly method>
FIG. 17 shows an assembly procedure for assembling the lens holder 275 on the substrate.
This assembling method is executed as a part of the game machine manufacturing method. First, the position of the lens unit 287 is adjusted in a state where the lens body before being fixed in which the three lenses 283 to 285 are mounted inside the cylinder is assembled and the lens body is screwed into the through hole 278 of the lens holder 275. (Step S1).

Next, an adhesive 292 is applied and injected into a gap formed between the outer circumference of the small diameter portion of the lens unit 287 and the tapered portion 282 of the lens holder 275 to temporarily fix (temporarily adhere) the lens body (step). S2).

As the adhesive 292, a thermosetting resin adhesive or an ultraviolet (UV) curable resin adhesive can be used. It is preferable to use an ultraviolet curable resin adhesive such as an ultraviolet curable epoxy resin adhesive. The UV-curable resin adhesive has the advantages that the curing speed is fast, the work time is relatively short, and that it does not cure without UV irradiation, so there are few restrictions on the coating process and it can be cured at low temperatures.

In the present embodiment, with the position of the lens unit 287 adjusted, temporary bonding is performed using an ultraviolet curing epoxy resin adhesive (step S2). After that, the adhesive is baked by irradiating with ultraviolet rays of 280 to 450 nm for several minutes (step S3). The atmosphere temperature during firing is preferably 80 to 100° C. where the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287 are not deformed, and the UV irradiation time is preferably 20 to 40 seconds so that the materials of the lens holder 275 and the lens unit 287 are not deteriorated. ..

According to the present embodiment, since the taper portion 282 is formed outwardly above the upper end edge 280 of the female screw portion 281, between the outer circumference of the small diameter portion of the lens unit 287 and the taper portion 282 of the lens holder 275. It is possible to sufficiently infiltrate the adhesive into the gap formed in the above, and to sufficiently fill and apply even below the gap, and to firmly fix by UV irradiation and reduce the assembly and manufacturing cost by a simple work process.

After fixing the lens unit 287 to the lens holder 275, the lens holder 275 is placed on the wiring board 288, and the lens holder 275 and the wiring board 288 are bonded by the adhesive 291 (step S4). After that, other parts are attached and the camera unit 209 is completed.

When assembling the lens system of the lens unit 287, by simply adhering the holder part of the lens holder 275 and the lens accommodating part of the lens unit 287 to each other, misalignment at the time of assembly or sticking of adhesive to the lens may occur. May occur. Such misalignment and the like cause variations in captured images, but in the present embodiment, the lens unit 287, which is the lens accommodating portion mounted in the through hole 278, and the taper, which is the inclined portion that is open outward on the outer peripheral portion. The lens unit 287 and the lens holder 275 are bonded to each other by injecting an adhesive 292 that is a bonding means between the area formed by the portion 282 and the area. As a result, the lens attachment structure of the camera unit 209 is strengthened, so that the CMOS image sensor 232 (see FIG. 26) and the condenser lens are not misaligned during assembly, or the adhesive does not protrude into the lens. It is possible to perform highly accurate marking and color determination processing based on a high quality captured image.

Moreover, the UV-curable resin adhesive used for the adhesive has a faster curing speed than adhesives such as thermosetting resin adhesives, and is polymerized and cured in a short time by UV irradiation to control the adhesive process. Since it has easy characteristics, in the manufacturing stage before the holder part and the lens accommodating part are fixed, they can be temporarily bonded immediately by application after positioning and can be quickly solidified by irradiation of ultraviolet rays. The assembly work time can be shortened, the assembly process can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The camera unit 209 according to the above assembly is mounted so that the uppermost lens 283 of the compound lens system faces the passage of the medal rail 210 (see FIG. 13 and the like). The camera unit 209 has a CMOS image sensor 232 (see FIG. 26) that performs imaging using LED light as a light source, and a compound lens (condensing lens of lenses 283 to 285) provided in front of the CMOS image sensor 232. As shown in (14A) of FIG. 14, in the camera unit 209, the condensing lens of the lenses 283 to 285 can directly guide the LED light by the light irradiation mechanism described later to the CMOS image sensor 232. That is, it has an LED light attracting mechanism in which a space without an inclusion is provided between the condenser lens and the image sensor.

A solid-state image pickup element in an image sensor mounted on a mobile phone, a digital camera, or the like uses a silicon photodiode having sensitivity to near infrared rays in its light receiving portion. Therefore, when the room illumination light or natural light is used as the light source, it is necessary to correct the luminosity, and a glass IR having a thickness of about 1 mm is provided between the condenser lens (the lens at the bottom of the compound lens) and the image sensor. A cut filter is installed. However, when the IR cut filter is used, the distance (optical length) from the lower end surface of the lens 285 in the lowermost layer to the image sensor surface becomes long, and the mounting cost of extra mounting parts for mounting the IR cut filter and the IR cut filter is increased. It causes a problem. In particular, thermal deformation strain is generated in the bonding portion of the IR cut filter to generate a noise component at the interface, and it is necessary to remove it, and this work is one of the factors that increase the manufacturing cost.

In the present embodiment, focusing on the point of using LED light (see FIG. 20) that does not include an IR component as a light source, the camera unit 209 has a space without inclusions between the condenser lens and the image sensor. Since an LED light attracting mechanism is provided to hold the condenser lens so that an image can be formed on the image sensor, the LED light generated in the passage can be directly attracted to the image sensor, and the optical length required for the image formation is maintained. Can be shortened to the shortest distance by at least the thickness of the IR cut filter. In the case of the present embodiment, the height H from the cover sheet 283c to the surface of the wiring board 288 is a minute height of about 11 to 12 mm. By such shortening, the unit structure can be made smaller and compact, and the IR The number of filter parts can be reduced, the installation cost is unnecessary, and the cost can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, noise components do not occur at the interface when an IR filter is used, and effective use of imaging data in the visible light region. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the medal color and marking determination.

<Structure of light irradiation mechanism of medal rail included in pachi-slot>
Next, the structure of the light irradiation mechanism of the medal rail 210 will be described.
The light irradiation mechanism is a mechanism that irradiates the medal rail 210 with light, and as shown in FIG. 13, the first light guide 261 attached to the sub-plate 205 via the attachment member 272 and the camera unit 209. And is attached to the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206 via the second light guide 262 and the attachment member 274 which are attached via the attachment member 273. Third light guide 263, LED 233La provided near the first light guide 261, LED 233Lb provided near the second light guide 262, and near the third light guide 263 The LED 233Lc provided in the. The LEDs 233La, 233Lb, and 233Lc supply LED light to the first light guide 261, the second light guide 262, and the third light guide 263, respectively.

In FIG. 11, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the position of the lens unit 287 of the camera unit 209, and the alternate long and two short dashes line indicates the first light guide body 261, the second light guide body 262, and the third light guide body 263. The position of LED233La, LED233Lb, and LED233Lc is shown.
As shown in FIG. 11, the first light guide body 261, the second light guide body 262, and the third light guide body 263 are arranged so as to surround the imageable range of the camera unit 209.

18A shows the outer shape of the first light guide body 261 and FIG. 18B shows the outer shape of the second light guide body 262. In FIG. 18, the centers of the locations where the reflection grooves 267 and 270 are formed are indicated by broken lines. FIG. 19 shows the external shape of the third light guide body 263.

As shown in (18A), the first light guide body 261 is composed of a linear portion 264 and a curved portion 265, has a substantially L shape as a whole, and has a rectangular cross section. On the bottom surface of the first light guide body 261, the introduced light of the LED 233La (see FIG. 11) from the end portion 265a on the curved portion 265 side is guided to the end portion 266 on the linear portion 264 side so as to uniformly emit surface light over the entire length. Reflecting grooves 267 for efficiently propagating the light are formed in a plurality of positions in a transverse shape with respect to the longitudinal direction of the light guide. The formation interval of the reflection groove 267 is gradually shortened toward the end portion 266. When the first light guide 261 is attached to the medal selector 201 (see FIG. 13 ), the substantially L-shaped outer surface 261 a that is the inner side surface of the first light guide 261 faces the medal rail 210. It is used as a surface emitting light source for irradiation.

As shown in (18B), the second light guide 262 has a linear shape with a rectangular cross section. On the bottom surface of the second light guide 262, the introduced light of the LED 233Lb (see FIG. 11) from one end 268 is efficiently propagated to the other end 269 so that the surface light is uniformly emitted over the entire length. Reflecting grooves 270 are formed at a plurality of positions so as to cross the light guide longitudinal direction. The formation interval of the reflection groove 270 is gradually shortened toward the end portion 269. When the second light guide 262 is attached to the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206, a rectangular outer surface that is an inner side surface of the second light guide 262 that is directed obliquely downward. 262a is used as a surface emitting light source that irradiates the medal rail 210.

As shown in FIG. 19, the third light guide 263 includes a flat portion 263a having a substantially right triangle shape and a light guide portion 263b having a substantially triangular pyramid shape. The end surface 263h of the light guide portion 263b shown by the diagonal lines has an isosceles triangular shape. The three-dimensional side surface of the light guide portion 263b has a triangular side surface 263c on the long side of the isosceles triangle of the end surface 263h, a triangular side surface 263d on the short side, a distal triangular surface 263e with the tip portion obliquely cut, and a flat portion 263a. Along the edge 263i between the triangular side surface 263c and the distal triangular surface 263e, and along the edge 263j of the flat portion 263a between the triangular side surface 263d and the distal triangular surface 263e. It is configured by the hem side surface 263g. When the third light guide 263 is attached to the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206, the triangular side surface 263c of the third light guide 263 serves as the first light guide surface as the medal rail 210. It is used as a surface-emitting light source that irradiates toward. The triangular side surface 263d is used as a second light guide surface for a light source for halation that emits surface light emission in a direction opposite to the triangular side surface 263c.

The bottom surface of the flat portion 263a is provided with a plurality of reflection grooves 271 for efficiently propagating the light introduced from the end face 263h in the light guide portion 263b so that the surface light is uniformly emitted over the entire side surface of the light guide portion 263b. Is engraved in parallel with the bottom surface. The reflection grooves 270 are formed at substantially equal intervals.
The first light guide body 261, the second light guide body 262, and the third light guide body 263 are formed of an acrylic resin capable of emitting the introduced light from the side surface. As the molding material, in addition to the acrylic resin, a light transmissive material capable of emitting side light, for example, Teflon (registered trademark) or an optical fiber material can be used.

20(20B), (20A), and (20C) are for attaching the first light guide 261, the second light guide 262, and the third light guide 263 to the medal selector 201, respectively. It is a figure explaining the attachment members 272, 273, and 274 of FIG.
As shown in (20B), the first light guide body 261 is internally housed in a substantially L-shaped interior groove provided in the mounting member 272 so that the outer surface 261a is exposed. By fixing the mounting member 272 to the sub-plate 205 (see FIG. 13) with screws, the first light guide 261 is exposed to the outside surface 261a from the mounting member 272 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Is arranged in the direction of the medal rail 210, and surface emission light emitted from the outer side surface 261a can be applied obliquely and upward to a medal passing through the medal rail 210.

As shown in (20A), the second light guide body 262 is inserted and held in the mounting member 273 so that the outer side surface 262a is exposed to the front. As shown in FIG. 13, the second light guide 262 is fixed by fixing the mounting member 273 to the inside of the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206 via the acrylic resin mounting plate 298 with screws. As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 11, the outer surface 262a exposed from the mounting member 273 is arranged in a slanting shape that is lowered toward the curved portion 265 along the medal passing direction. It is possible to irradiate the surface-emitting emission light of the above onto a medal passing through the medal rail 210 from below.

The step portion on the back side of the flat portion 263a of the third light guide body 263 shown in FIG. 19 is engaged in the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 274 shown in (20C) to expose the light guide portion 263b. The back surface of 263a is brought into contact with the mounting member 274, and the mounting member 274 is fixed to the inner side of the intermediate member 293 (see FIG. 8) of the cancel shooter 206 by means of screws, so that the two-dot chain line in FIG. The light emitted from the light guide portion 263b of the third light guide body 263 can be emitted to the front of the medal passing through the medal rail 210.

As shown in FIG. 11, the medal rail 210 is composed of an upstream region extending vertically from the medal entrance portion 211 and a downstream region gently inclined from the end of the upstream region toward the medal exit portion 204c. An imaging area RLa (see FIG. 21) by the camera unit 209 is provided in the inclined passage in the downstream area. The three 1st-3rd light guides of the said structure are arrange|positioned so that the imaging region RLa may be enclosed by a substantially elliptical ring shape.

FIG. 21 shows an arrangement relationship between the first light guide body 261, the second light guide body 262, and the third light guide body 263.
The first light guide 261 is arranged on the front side of the inclined passage of the medal rail 210 (on the medal entrance side) and above the upper edge of the passage. An image pickup region RLa capable of receiving light in the camera unit 209 (see FIG. 13) is provided above the curved portion 265 of the first light guide 261 to below the straight portion 264 and above the lower end of the passage. The second light guide 262 is arranged at a position where the inclined passage can be irradiated from below the passage lower end edge of the medal rail 210. The third light guide 263 is arranged on the passage terminal side of the medal rail 210 so that the edge 263i extends along the transverse direction of the passage on the inner side of the end 266 of the first light guide 261.

Since the first light guide body 261, the second light guide body 262, and the third light guide body 263 are arranged so as to surround the inclined passage of the medal rail 210 in a substantially elliptical shape, the first guide body Due to the surface emission from the outer side surface 261a of the light body 261, the outer side surface 262a of the second light guide body 262, and the triangular side surface 263c of the third light guide body 263, at least the central region RLb of the imaging region RLa has uniform illuminance. It has become an area. A medal marking determination unit RLc is provided near the end of the passage from the end of the imaging region RLa. The third light guide body 263 is disposed on the back side of the cancel shooter 206, and can perform light irradiation for halation in the imaging region. That is, a region from the end of the imaging region RLa to the end of the passage with the marking determination unit RLc substantially at the center is a halation region RLd capable of receiving surface light emission from the triangular side surface 263d of the third light guide 263. The marking determination based on the image data is performed at the timing when the passing medal reaches the marking determination unit RLc. In the halation region RLd, the medal passage determination process can be performed with high accuracy by utilizing the halation by the light emitted on the passage surface.

In the LED light irradiation mechanism of the light guide body, the LED light can be uniformly irradiated so as to surround the image pickup area in a ring-like shape such as a substantially elliptical shape, so that the edges, contours, markings, etc. of the game medium, colors, etc. It is possible to realize a gaming machine capable of reliably capturing images and performing high-precision determination processing based on accurate captured data. Since uniform LED light can be emitted like a ring, accurate imaging data can be obtained from a subject (passing game medium) without causing reflection of the light source due to reflection of the passing game medium, that is, halation of primary reflection. Therefore, it is possible to perform highly accurate determination processing, particularly determination processing for marking or contouring the game medium.

Since the LED light from the second light guide surface (triangular side surface 263d) is irradiated to the passage surface other than the imaging area to cause halation, the density of reflection at the irradiation position becomes clear, and the passage determination of the game medium is made. Can be used for In other words, since halation occurs on the discharge passage surface to the hopper side, the difference in the amount of reflected light when there is a medal passage and when there is no medal passage becomes clear. Can be judged with high accuracy. Further, since halation does not occur even when the medal is paid out or the medal cannot be inserted, it is possible to determine whether or not the medal is returned to the lower plate by confirming that the halation does not occur.

Since the LED light for the imaging area and the LED light for the passage surface other than the imaging area can be emitted from the two side surfaces (triangular side surfaces 263c and 263d) of the triangular pyramid of the second light guide, a single light guide is provided. The two types of LED light irradiation mechanisms can be made compact and inexpensive by the body. Since the irradiation mechanism capable of uniformly radiating the LED light in a ring shape such as a substantially rectangular shape can be configured by dividing the first to third light guide bodies 261 to 263 into three parts, each light guide body is provided around the passage. It is possible to disperse and arrange in a narrow space, and to make it compact and inexpensive. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the LEDs 233La to 233Lc are arranged on the first to third light guide bodies 261 to 263 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the brightness of the medal rail 210 is insufficient and the light to be irradiated is not limited. If the values are not uniform, a plurality (for example, two) LEDs may be arranged in each of the first to third light guides 261 to 263.

FIG. 22 shows an emission wavelength characteristic graph of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc used in this embodiment. The vertical axis of the figure shows the relative emission intensity, and the horizontal axis shows the wavelength. As can be seen from this graph, the LEDs 233La to 233Lc emit light in the wavelength region of 440 nm to 460 nm based on blue, which is a peak of steep emission intensity near the wavelength of 450 nm, and thus IR (infrared radiation) is emitted. It has an emission wavelength characteristic that does not include the emission component (IR component) in the Infrared Radiation region and the emission component (UR component) in the UR (Ultraviolet Radiation) region that is ultraviolet radiation.

<Circuit structure of pachi-slot>
Next, the configuration of the circuit included in the pachi-slot 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, an overview of the entire circuit of the pachi-slot 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a block configuration diagram of the entire circuit included in the pachi-slot 1.

The pachi-slot 1 has a main control board 71 arranged on the middle door 41 and a sub-control board 72 arranged on the front door 2b. On the main control board 71, there are a reel relay terminal board 74, a setting key type switch 56, an external centralized terminal board 47, a hopper device 51, a medal auxiliary storage switch 75, and a power supply board 53b of the power supply device 53. It is connected. The setting key type switch 56, the external centralized terminal board 47, the hopper device 51, and the medal auxiliary storage switch 75 are connected to the main control board 71 via the cabinet side relay board 44. Since the external centralized terminal board 47 and the hopper device 51 have been described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

The reel relay terminal board 74 is arranged inside the reel body of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R. The reel relay terminal plate 74 is electrically connected to a stepping motor (not shown) of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R and relays a signal output from the main control board 71 to the stepping motor.

The medal auxiliary storage case switch 75 penetrates a switch through hole (not shown) of the medal auxiliary storage case 52. The medal auxiliary storage switch 75 detects whether or not the medal auxiliary storage 52 is full of medals.

A power switch 53a is connected to a power board 53b of the power supply device 53. The power switch 53a is turned on when the pachi-slot 1 is supplied with necessary power.

Further, on the main control board 71, via the door relay terminal board 68, a medal selector 201, a door opening/closing monitor switch 67, a BET switch 77, a settlement switch 78, a start switch 79, a stop switch board 80, a game operation display board 81. And the sub relay board 61 is connected. The door open/close monitor switch 67 and the sub relay board 61 have been described above, and thus description thereof will be omitted. The circuit configuration of the medal selector 201 will be described later.

The BET switch 77 detects that the BET button 22 has been pressed by the player. The settlement switch 78 detects that the settlement button 27 is pressed by the player. The start switch 79 detects that the player has operated the start lever 23 (start operation).

The stop switch board 80 is a board that constitutes a circuit for stopping the reel that is rotating and a circuit for displaying the reel that can be stopped by LEDs or the like. The stop switch board 80 is provided with a stop switch. The stop switch detects that the stop buttons 19L, 19C, 19R have been pressed by the player (stop operation).

The game operation display board 81 displays the number of inserted medals on the 7-segment display 24 when accepting the insertion of medals, when the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotatable and when replaying. It is a substrate for making. The 7-segment display 24 and the LED 82 are connected to the game operation display board 81. The LED 82 lights, for example, a mark indicating the start of a game, a mark for performing a replay, or the like.

The sub control board 72 is connected to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal board 68 and the sub relay board 61. A sound I/O board 84, LED boards 62A, 62B, 62C, and a 24h door opening/closing monitoring unit 63 are connected to the sub control board 72 via a sub relay board 61. The LED boards 62A, 62B, 62C and the 24h door opening/closing monitoring unit 63 have been described above, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The sound I/O board 84 outputs sound to a center speaker 58, a board speaker 64, lower speakers 65L and 65R, and a speaker (not shown) provided on the front door 2b.

A ROM cartridge substrate 86 and a liquid crystal relay substrate 87 are connected to the sub control substrate 72. The ROM cartridge substrate 86 and the liquid crystal relay substrate 87 are housed in the sub control substrate case 57 together with the sub control substrate 72. The ROM cartridge board 86 is a board for managing images (video) for presentation, sound, LED boards 62A and 62B, other LED boards (not shown), and communication data. The liquid crystal relay board 87 is a board that relays the wiring that connects the sub-control board 72 and the liquid crystal display device 11.

<Main control circuit>
Next, the main control circuit 91 configured by the main control board 71 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the main control circuit 91 of the pachi-slot 1.

The main control circuit 91 has a microcomputer 92 installed on the main control board 71 as a main component. The microcomputer 92 includes a main CPU 93, a main ROM 94 and a main RAM 95. The main CPU 93 and the above-mentioned hopper device 51 constitute the game medium payout device of the present invention.

In the main ROM 94, a control program executed by the main CPU 93 (for example, a program for executing the above-mentioned internal lottery process), a data table, and various control commands (commands) to the sub-control circuit 101 are transmitted. Data and the like are stored. The main RAM 95 is provided with a storage area for storing various data such as an internal winning combination determined by executing the control program.

A clock pulse generation circuit 96, a frequency divider 97, a random number generator 98, and a sampling circuit 99 are connected to the main CPU 93. The clock pulse generation circuit 96 and the frequency divider 97 generate clock pulses. The main CPU 93 executes the control program based on the generated clock pulse. The random number generator 98 generates a random number within a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 65535). The sampling circuit 99 extracts one value from the generated random numbers.

The main CPU 93 counts the number of times a pulse is output to the stepping motor of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R after detecting the reel index. As a result, the main CPU 93 manages the rotation angle of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R (mainly, how many symbols the reel has rotated).
The reel index is information indicating that the reel has made one rotation. This reel index is provided, for example, with an optical sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and is provided at a predetermined position of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R, and the light emitting part and the light receiving part are rotated by the rotation of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R. It is detected by a reel position detection unit (not shown) having a detection piece interposed therebetween.

Here, the management of the rotation angle of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R will be specifically described. The number of pulses output to the stepping motor is counted by a pulse counter provided in the main RAM 95. Then, each time the pulse counter counts the output of a predetermined number of pulses (for example, 16 times) required for rotating one symbol, the symbol counter provided in the main RAM 95 is incremented by one. The symbol counter is provided for each reel 3L, 3C, 3R. The value of the symbol counter is cleared when the reel index is detected by the reel position detector (not shown).

That is, in the present embodiment, by managing the symbol counter, the number of symbols rotated after the reel index is detected is managed. Therefore, the position of each symbol on each reel 3L, 3C, 3R is detected with reference to the position at which the reel index is detected.

As described above, when the maximum number of sliding pieces is set to 4 symbols, the symbol of the left reel 3L in the middle stage of the reel display window 4 when the left stop button 19L is pressed, and its 4 symbols Each symbol within the range up to the previous symbol is a symbol that can be stopped in the middle stage of the reel display window 4.

<Sub control circuit>
Next, the sub control circuit 101 configured by the sub control board 72 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the sub control circuit 101 of the pachi-slot 1.

The sub control circuit 101 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 91, and performs processing such as determination and execution of effect contents based on a command transmitted from the main control circuit 91. The sub control circuit 101 basically includes a sub CPU 102, a sub RAM 103, a rendering processor 104, a drawing RAM 105, and a driver 106.

The sub CPU 102 controls the output of video, sound, and light according to the control program stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 in response to the command transmitted from the main control circuit 91. The ROM cartridge board 86 basically includes a program storage area and a data storage area.

A control program executed by the sub CPU 102 is stored in the program storage area. For example, in the control program, a main board communication task for controlling communication with the main control circuit 91, and an effect registration task for extracting effect random number values and determining and registering effect contents (effect data). Is included. In addition, a drawing control task that controls the display of an image by the liquid crystal display device 11 based on the determined effect contents, a lamp control task that controls the output of light by a light source such as the LED 85, and speakers such as speakers 58, 64, 65L, and 65R. A voice control task and the like for controlling the output of the sound by is included.

The data storage area includes a storage area for storing various data tables, a storage area for storing effect data forming each effect content, and a storage area for storing animation data related to image creation. Further, a storage area for storing sound data regarding BGM and sound effects, a storage area for storing lamp data regarding a pattern of turning on/off light, and the like are included.

The sub RAM 103 is provided with a storage area for registering the determined effect contents and effect data, and a storage area for storing various data such as an internal winning combination transmitted from the main control circuit 91.

The sub CPU 102, the rendering processor 104, the drawing RAM (including a frame buffer) 105, and the driver 106 create a video according to the animation data specified by the effect contents, and display the created video on the liquid crystal display device 11.

Further, the sub CPU 102 causes the speakers such as the speakers 58, 64, 65L, and 65R to output sounds such as BGM according to the sound data specified by the effect contents. In addition, the sub CPU 102 controls the turning on and off of the light source such as the LED 85 according to the lamp data specified by the effect contents.

<Circuit configuration of medal selector>
Next, the circuit configuration of the medal selector 201 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the medal selector 201. The medal selector 201 includes a camera unit 209 and a medal solenoid 208. Further, the medal selector 201 is connected to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal plate 68. That is, the medal selector 201 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 91 so that they can communicate with each other. Therefore, the main control circuit 91 can set the medal solenoid 208 of the medal selector 201 to the ON state or the OFF state.

The camera unit 209 includes a control LSI 234, a CMOS image sensor 232, and an LED drive unit 252. The control LSI 234 of the camera unit 209 is composed of an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and is electrically connected to the CMOS image sensor 232 and the LED group 233. The LED group 233 is composed of three LEDs 233La to 233Lc (see FIG. 13). The control LSI 234 controls the light emission of the LED group 233 via the LED drive unit 252. Further, the control LSI 234 determines whether or not the insertion is a regular medal based on the image data output from the CMOS image sensor 232, and outputs the determination result to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal board 68. .. The CMOS image sensor 232 used in this embodiment is a CMOS image sensor having a resolution of 648×488 pixels and a frame rate of 240 fps (Frames Per Second).

<Circuit configuration of control LSI>
Next, the circuit configuration of the control LSI 234 will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28.
FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the control LSI 234. FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining a regular medal, where A is one side of the regular medal, B is the image data of the regular medal, and C is a diagram showing the gradient average image data of the regular medal, which will be described later. is there.

The control LSI 234 includes a host controller 241, which has a built-in CPU, an image recognition DSP (digital signal processor) circuit 242, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 243, a flash memory 244, an ISP (Image Signal Processing) circuit 245, and a medal counting circuit 246. Further, the control LSI 234 includes a color recognition circuit 247, a fisheye correction scaler circuit 248, an image recognition accelerator circuit 249, and a GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) 250. The devices constituting the control LSI 234 are connected to each other via a bus, and the control LSI 234 of the present embodiment adopts AXI (Advanced eXtensible Interface) as a bus protocol.

The control LSI 234 also includes an ISI (Image Sensor Interface) circuit 251. The ISI circuit 251 is electrically connected to the CMOS image sensor 232 and the ISP circuit. The ISI circuit 251 converts the image data output from the CMOS image sensor 232 by the LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling) method into an RGB Bayer image and outputs the RGB Bayer image to the ISP circuit 245.

Upon receiving the RGB Bayer image from the ISI circuit 251, the ISP circuit 245 outputs a VSYNC (Vertical Synchronization) interrupt signal to the host controller 241.
The ISP circuit 245 also performs conversion processing for converting the RGB Bayer image output from the ISI circuit 251 into various formats. In the conversion process, the ISP circuit 245 converts the RGB Bayer image into Y (luminance of each pixel) and stores the converted image data in the SRAM 243. Further, the ISP circuit 245 converts the RGB Bayer image into image data (YUV image data) corresponding to the YUV color space, and outputs the data relating to the luminance (Y) in this YUV image data to the medal count circuit 246. Further, the ISP circuit 245 converts the RGB Bayer image into image data (HSV image data) corresponding to the HSV color space, and color-recognizes the data relating to the hue (H) and the saturation (S) in this HSV image data. Output to the circuit 247.

The medal counting circuit 246 performs a counting process based on the brightness-related data output from the ISP circuit 245. In the counting process, the medal counting circuit 246 compares the data relating to the brightness of the count area, which is a predetermined area in the image, with the count threshold value, and determines whether or not the medal has passed by the background difference method. The count threshold value is a threshold value that is predetermined based on the data relating to the luminance of the count area in the image of the regular medal. The medal counting circuit 246 determines that the medal has passed if the difference is small, and determines that the medal has not passed (if something other than the medal has passed) if the difference is large. Then, the medal counting circuit 246 stores the determination result in the SRAM 243.

The count area can be arbitrarily set according to the medal used by the pachi-slot 1 as a regular medal, but it is preferable to set it in an area in which the rotation angle of the medal does not significantly affect the difference in brightness. For example, when a regular medal having the same marking (pattern) on both sides shown in FIG. 28A is used, in the image data of this regular medal (see FIG. 28B), the regular medal is applied to one side of the regular medal in the area. The engraving (pattern) does not change depending on the rotation angle of the medal, that is, the place (the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 28B) is set as the count area so that the rotation angle of the medal does not significantly affect the difference in brightness. Is preferred. Also, the narrower the range of the count area, the faster the counting process.

The color recognition circuit 247 performs color determination processing based on the hue and saturation data output from the ISP circuit 245. In the color determination processing, the color recognition circuit 247 first expresses the integrated value of the data relating to the hue and saturation near the center of the image data as a vector (vector conversion) and calculates the angle of the vector in the three-dimensional space. To do. Next, the color recognition circuit 247 compares the calculated angle of the vector with a predetermined color threshold to determine whether or not the color matches the color of the regular medal. The predetermined threshold value is a predetermined threshold value based on the angle of the vector calculated by the same method as the above-described process for the image data of the regular medal (for example, in the three-dimensional space of the regular medal to be compared). Within ±10 degrees of each coordinate (XYZ) of the vector). Then, the color recognition circuit 247 stores the determination result in the SRAM 243.

The fisheye correction scaler circuit 248 acquires image data obtained by Y (luminance of each pixel) conversion of the RGB Bayer image from the SRAM 243 and performs fisheye correction processing. In the fisheye correction process, the fisheye correction scaler circuit 248 performs fisheye correction on the acquired image data and creates reduced image data reduced to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8. Then, the fish-eye correction scaler circuit 248 stores the created reduced image data in the SRAM 243.

The image recognition DSP circuit 242 acquires reduced image data (in the present embodiment, reduced image data reduced to 1/4) from the SRAM 243 and performs preprocessing. In the preprocessing, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 converts the acquired reduced image data into edge image data through a non-linear diffusion filter and stores the edge image data in the SRAM 243.

The image recognition accelerator circuit 249 performs rotation integration processing for creating gradient average image data. In the rotation integration processing, the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 acquires the edge image data from the SRAM 243, and integrates the image data for 360 degrees created by rotating the acquired edge image data in units of 1 degree (superimposing them). ) Create gradient average image data. As an example of the gradient average image data, FIG. 28C shows the gradient average image data of the regular medal shown in FIG. 28A.

Further, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 performs marking determination processing for determining whether the marking (pattern) of the medal matches the marking of the regular medal. In the marking determination process, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 acquires from the SRAM 243 the gradient average image data created by the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 in the rotation integration process. Next, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 calculates the difference between the acquired gradient average image data and the template data for marking determination processing (gradient average image data of regular medals prepared in advance). Then, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 determines whether the marking of the medal matches the marking of the regular medal based on the calculated difference value and the threshold value for marking determination, and stores the determination result in the SRAM 243. For example, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 compares the brightness of each pixel of the acquired gradient average image data and the template data, and determines whether they match (in the case of multi-tone, the difference is within a predetermined range). , If the number of matching pixels (the difference is within a predetermined range) is more than a certain number, it is determined that the marking (pattern) of the medal matches the marking of the regular medal, and if the number of matching pixels is less than a certain number, the medal marking It is determined that the (pattern) does not match the marking of the regular medal.

The host controller 241 controls each device, that is, the medal count circuit 246, the color recognition circuit 247, the fisheye correction scaler circuit 248, the image recognition DSP circuit 242, the image recognition accelerator circuit 249, and the GPIO 250.
Further, the host controller 241 outputs a signal related to a lighting instruction or a light extinguishing instruction to the LED group 233 via the GPIO 250. Further, the host controller 241 outputs the determination result regarding the count process, the determination result regarding the color determination process, and the determination result regarding the marking determination process stored in the SRAM 243 via the GPIO 250.

The flash memory 244 stores parameters and data (including the template data described above) used by the host controller 241, the image recognition DSP circuit 242, the fisheye correction scaler circuit 248, and the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 for various processes.

Next, referring to FIG. 29, a process performed by the control LSI 234 for determining whether or not the object moving on the medal rail 210 (see FIG. 11) is a regular medal (hereinafter referred to as “regular medal discrimination process”). (May be referred to)) will be described.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining the regular medal discrimination process of the control LSI 234. FIG. 29 shows a time-series relationship of processing in each device that constitutes the control LSI 234. A relatively thick line portion in a line extending below each device name indicates the various processing described by the device. It shows that it is in the state of performing. Further, a dashed arrow extending from a line corresponding to each device toward a line extending below “IN” in the host controller indicates an interrupt signal output from each device to the host controller 241. In addition, a dashed arrow extending from a line extending below "OUT" in the host controller toward a line corresponding to each device indicates a signal output from the host controller 241 to each device. The solid arrow between the line extending below “IN” and the line extending below “OUT” in the host controller is output from the interrupt signal detected by the host controller 241 and the host controller 241. The corresponding relationship with the signal is shown. It should be noted that FIG. 29 shows a regular medal determination process when six medals are continuously inserted into the medal insertion slot 21. In addition, in order to clarify the number of medals associated with the signal, a number indicating the number of medals is attached to the head of the reference numeral attached to each signal. For example, a VSYNC interrupt signal output from the ISP circuit 245 to be described later for the first medal to the host controller 241 is attached with a symbol "1IH", and a similar VSYNC interrupt for the second medal is added. The signal is labeled with "2IH".

First, when the CMOS image sensor 232 images an object (the first medal in this example) moving on the medal rail 210 (see FIG. 11) and outputs the image data to the control LSI 234, the ISP circuit 245 causes the ISI circuit to operate. Image data is acquired (received) via 251 and a VSYNC (Vertical Synchronization) interrupt signal is output to the host controller 241 (1IH). The ISP circuit 245 also performs conversion processing for converting the RGB Bayer image into various formats. Then, the converted image data and the hue, saturation, and luminance data related to the image data are output to the SRAM 243, the medal count circuit 246, and the color recognition circuit 247. The detailed description of the conversion process is omitted because it has been described above.

Upon receiving the data from the ISP circuit 245, the color recognition circuit 247 performs color determination processing, stores the determination result in the SRAM 243, and outputs a color determination interrupt signal to the host controller 241 (1CH). The detailed description of the color determination process has been described above, and will be omitted.

Upon receiving the data from the ISP circuit 245, the medal count circuit 246 performs a count process, stores the determination result in the SRAM 243, and outputs a medal count interrupt signal to the host controller 241 (1 MH). The detailed description of the counting process has been described above, and will be omitted.

Upon detecting the color determination interrupt signal, the host controller 241 acquires the determination result of the color determination processing from the SRAM 243 and outputs it to the allocation PORT of the GPIO 250 (1HG1). That is, the host controller 241 outputs the determination result of the color determination process to the main control board 71 (main control circuit 91) via the GPIO 250.

When the host controller 241 detects the count interrupt signal, the host controller 241 acquires the determination result of the count processing from the SRAM 243 and outputs it to the allocation PORT of the GPIO 250 (1HG2). That is, the host controller 241 outputs the determination result of the count process to the main control board 71 (main control circuit 91) via the GPIO 250. When the determination result of the counting process is “a medal has passed”, the main control circuit 91 sets the value of the inserted number counter, which is a counter provided for the main CPU 93 to count the number of inserted medals. Add one. In addition, when the value of the inserted number counter is the maximum value (for example, 3), 1 is added to the value of the credit counter which is a counter provided for the main CPU 93 to count the number of credited medals. When the credit counter has the maximum value (for example, 50), the main control circuit 91 sets the medal solenoid 208 of the medal selector 201 to the OFF state. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the select plate 207 is positioned at the “discharging position” and the medals inserted after the credit counter reaches the maximum value are guided to the medal chute 202 (see FIG. 4). The coins are discharged from the payout opening 32 (see FIG. 2) to the medal tray unit 34 (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, when the start lever is operated when the value of the thrown-in number counter is a specified value (for example, 2 or 3), the main CPU 93 performs the above-mentioned internal lottery process.

Returning to FIG. 29, the fisheye correction scaler circuit 248 performs a fisheye correction process when the image data converted by the ISP circuit 245 is stored in the SRAM 243, stores the reduced image data created in the SRAM 243, and stores it in the host 243. A reduction end interrupt signal is transmitted to the controller 241 (1SH). The detailed description of the fisheye correction process is omitted because it has been described above.

Between the output of the determination result of the count processing by the host controller 241 to the GPIO 250 (1HG2) and the transmission of the reduction end interrupt signal by the fisheye correction scaler circuit 248 (1SH), the second image by the ISP circuit 245 is sent. The VSYNC interrupt signal output (2IH) related to the medal is generated. However, since the storage areas of the SRAM 243 are individually set to store the determination results of various processes (count process, color determination process, marking determination process, etc.) related to each medal, data overwriting does not occur.

Upon detecting the reduction end signal, the host controller 241 refers to the SRAM 243, the determination result of the count processing is “a medal has passed”, and the determination result of the color determination processing is “matches with the color of the regular medal”. The image recognition DSP circuit 242 preprocesses the image recognition DSP circuit 242 according to an instruction from the host controller 241, stores the edge image data in the SRAM 243, and causes the host controller 241 to perform the preprocessing. The end interrupt signal is output (1DH1). The detailed description of the preprocessing is omitted because it has been described above.

When detecting the preprocessing completion interrupt signal, the host controller 241 instructs the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 to start the rotation integration processing (1HA).

The image recognition accelerator circuit 249 performs rotation integration processing in response to an instruction from the host controller 241, stores the gradient average image data in the SRAM 243, and outputs an integration end interrupt signal to the image recognition DSP circuit 242 (1AD). Note that the detailed description of the rotation integration process is omitted because it has been described above.

When the image recognition DSP circuit 242 detects the integration end interrupt signal, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 acquires the gradient average image data stored in the SRAM 243, performs marking determination processing, and stores the determination result in the SRAM 243. Then, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 outputs a marking determination end interrupt signal to the host controller 241 (1DH2).

When the host controller 241 detects the marking determination end interrupt signal, the host controller 241 acquires the determination result of the marking determination processing stored in the SRAM 243 and outputs it to the allocation port of GPIO (1HG3). That is, the host controller 241 outputs the determination result of the marking determination process to the main control board 71 (main control circuit 91) via the GPIO 250.

As shown in FIG. 29, in the present embodiment, the preprocessing and marking determination processing by the image recognition DSP circuit 242 and the rotation integration processing by the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 take a relatively long time. Therefore, when the medals are continuously inserted, when the host controller 241 detects the reduction end signal, the host controller 241 confirms whether the image recognition DSP circuit 242 or the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 is processing (busy state), If neither is being processed, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 gives an instruction to start preprocessing and marking determination processing, and the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 to start rotation integration processing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the host controller 241 detects the reduction end signals (2SH and 3SH) for the second and third medals, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 or the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 is processing ( Since it is in the busy state), the host controller 241 does not give the start instruction. Therefore, for the second and third medals, the count process and the color determination process are performed, but the marking determination process is not performed. On the other hand, when the host controller 241 detects the reduced signal (4SH) for the fourth medal, the image recognition DSP circuit 242 and the image recognition accelerator circuit 249 are not in process (busy state). Therefore, the count process, the color determination process, and the marking determination process are performed on the fourth medal.
It should be noted that by speeding up the preprocessing and the marking determination processing by the image recognition DSP circuit 242 and the rotation integration processing by the image recognition accelerator circuit 249, the count processing, the color determination processing, and the marking determination processing can be performed for all the inserted medals. It may be performed.

Various signals relating to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth medals shown in FIG. 29 (the reference numerals are "2", "3", "4", "5", The respective signals "6") are the same as the above-mentioned various signals (the reference numeral is "1") related to the first medal, which differ only in the number at the beginning, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

<Action>
In the pachi-slot 1 of the present embodiment, the control LSI 234 of the medal selector 201 performs regular medal discrimination processing including color determination processing, counting processing, and marking determination processing. When an unauthorized device that is not a medal moves on the medal rail 210, it is determined that the color does not match the color of the regular medal in the color determination process, and that the medal has not passed in the counting process. Therefore, it is possible to misidentify that a regular medal is used for the pachi-slot 1 and detect an illegal act of playing a game.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of an illegal medal, A is one side of the illegal medal, and B is a diagram showing image data of the illegal medal. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another example of an illegal medal. A shows one side of the illegal medal, B shows image data of the illegal medal, and C shows gradient average image data of the illegal medal. FIG.
When an illegal medal on the medal rail 210 having the same diameter and the same color as the regular medal (see FIG. 28A) but different only in the marking (pattern) provided on the surface of the medal moves, in the color determination processing, “a regular medal Matches color”. However, in the counting process, the stamp (pattern) in the count area (the area surrounded by the dotted line) of the image data of the illegal medal shown in FIG. 30B and the count area of the image data of the regular medal (the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 28B). Since the engraved mark (pattern) in the area where the medals are present is significantly different, it is determined that “the medal has not passed”. Therefore, it is possible to misidentify that a regular medal is used for the pachi-slot 1 and detect an illegal act of playing a game.

Further, when another illegal medal having the same diameter and the same color as the regular medal (see FIG. 28A) but different in marking (pattern) provided on the surface of the medal moves on the medal rail 210, in the color determination process, It is determined that the color matches the color of the regular medal. In the counting process, the marking (pattern) in the count area (the area surrounded by the dotted line) of the image data of the illegal medal shown in FIG. 31B and the count area of the image data of the regular medal (the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 28B). It is determined that the "medal has passed" because the difference with the engraved mark (pattern) in the area where the medals have passed is small. However, in the marking determination process, the gradient average image data of the illegal medals shown in FIG. 30C and the gradient average image data of the regular medals (see FIG. 28C) are significantly different from each other. It does not match.” Therefore, it is possible to misidentify that a regular medal is used for the pachi-slot 1 and detect an illegal act of playing a game.

Also, on the medal rail 210, when a regular medal (see FIG. 28A), a different diameter (a diameter slightly smaller or larger than the regular medal diameter, and a diameter that can be guided by the select plate 207) and a medal of the same color are moved. In the color determination process, it is determined that the color matches the color of the regular medal. However, in the image data of this medal, if this medal is slightly smaller than the diameter of the regular medal and there is a boundary between the outer edge of the medal and the background in the count area, "the medal has not passed" in the counting process. Is determined. Even if it is determined in the counting process that the medal has passed, the gradient average image data of this medal and the gradient average image data of the regular medal are obtained from the difference in diameter between this medal and the regular medal (see FIG. 28C). Will be very different from. Therefore, in the marking determination process, it is determined that the marking (pattern) of the medal does not match the marking of the regular medal. Therefore, it is possible to misidentify that a regular medal is used for the pachi-slot 1 and detect an illegal act of playing a game.

Further, when a medal having the same diameter as the regular medal (see FIG. 28A) moves on the medal rail 210 but has a different color, it is determined in the color determination process that the color does not match the regular medal. Therefore, it is possible to misidentify that a regular medal is used for the pachi-slot 1 and detect an illegal act of playing a game.

Further, the control LSI 234 outputs the determination results of the color determination processing, the count processing, and the marking determination processing to the main control circuit 91 composed of the main control board 71 via GPIO. Therefore, it is possible to cause the main control circuit 91 to perform various kinds of processing when there is an illegal act. Here, the various processes in the case of the illegal act include, for example, the main control circuit 91 forcibly interrupting the game, and the sub-control circuit 101 notifies that there is the illegal act (for example, , A process of displaying on the liquid crystal display device 11 that an illegal act has occurred).

Further, when the misconduct is detected by the judgment result of the color judgment process and the count process, the main control circuit 91 may set the medal solenoid 208 of the medal selector 201 to the OFF state. As a result, since the select plate 207 is positioned at the “discharging position”, this illegal medal can be guided to the medal chute 202 and ejected from the medal payout outlet 32. The main control circuit 91 sets the medal solenoid 208, which has been set to the OFF state by the detection of the misconduct by the color determination process and the count process, to the ON state after guiding the illegal medal related to the misconduct to the medal chute 202. May be.

Further, even when an improper act is detected by the marking determination process, the main control circuit 91 may set the medal solenoid 208 of the medal selector 201 to the OFF state. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, after the VSYNC interrupt signal (4IH) for the fourth medal is output from the ISP circuit 245 to the main control circuit 91, the VSYNC interrupt for the fifth medal is output. The determination result of the marking determination process for the first medal is output to the main control circuit until the signal (5IH) is output (1HG3). Therefore, when illegal medals are continuously inserted, the illegal medals inserted after the fifth coin can be guided to the medal chute 202 and ejected from the medal payout opening 32. As a result, it is possible to suppress the spread of damage due to fraudulent acts. By increasing the speed of the marking determination process, it is possible to detect fraud by the marking determination process before the medal imaged by the camera unit 209 passes over the after-medal pressure 218 or the medal stopper 227. Since the main control circuit 91 immediately sets the medal solenoid 208 to the OFF state, it is possible to prevent the damage caused by the fraudulent act.
Further, the main control circuit 91 sets the medal solenoid 208, which has been set to the OFF state by detecting the fraudulent activity by the marking determination processing, to the next determination result of the marking determination processing as “the marking of the medal (pattern) matches the marking of the regular medal”. If “Yes”, it may be set to the ON state. As a result, since the illegal medals were accidentally mixed in, when the player unintentionally inserts the illegal medals and the medal solenoid 208 is set to the OFF state and becomes unplayable, the player is authorized If you insert a medal, you can restart the game.

<Offset correction processing>
A temperature sensor 232a is provided inside the CMOS image sensor 232. The temperature sensor 232a is composed of a PN junction (diode) formed on the silicon substrate of the image sensor. The PN junction has a temperature coefficient of about 2 mV/° C., and when a predetermined constant current flows, the terminal voltage change of the PN junction follows the substrate temperature. The temperature change of the image sensor can be monitored from the detection output of the terminal voltage change by the temperature sensor 232a.

The detection output of the temperature sensor 232a is given to the control LSI 234. The control LSI 234 determines whether or not the temperature inside the CMOS image sensor 232 exceeds the threshold temperature based on the detection output of the temperature sensor 232a, and when the temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, executes the offset processing of the reference black level.
The dark current of the CMOS image sensor rapidly rises as the temperature rises, and the black level fluctuates. When the reference black level is deviated, there arises a problem that the color reproducibility is deteriorated and the image quality is deteriorated. In the present embodiment, in order to eliminate such a problem, the following offset processing can be performed to properly maintain the reference black level.

FIG. 32 shows an offset process executed by the control LSI 234. FIG. 33 is a temperature change diagram of the offset value showing the details of the offset processing.
The offset process can be executed by the host controller 241 of the control LSI 234 described above at a predetermined interrupt timing. When the detection output of the temperature sensor 232a is received, it is determined based on the temperature data of the detection output whether or not the threshold temperature is exceeded (steps S10 and S11). The threshold temperature data is stored and set in advance in a flash memory 244 of the control LSI 234, which will be described later. The threshold temperature can be set in a temperature range equal to or higher than room temperature, and is set to 45° C. in this embodiment.

If the temperature data indicates that the temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the image data received from the CMOS image sensor 232 is corrected for the offset value based on the reference black level (step S12). The initial value of the offset value is set in the flash memory 244 at a low temperature (for example, room temperature of 25° C.) measured at the manufacturing stage of the image sensor. The offset correction is performed by correcting the linear interpolation value to the reference black level with respect to the offset value of the received image data. The offset value of the CMOS image sensor 232 is set to a value at room temperature in advance at the manufacturing stage for each of the odd pixel columns 33a and the even pixel columns 33b. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 232a exceeds the threshold temperature, the offset of the linear interpolation value is corrected based on the temperature gradient 33c which is experimentally obtained in advance. The coefficient value of the temperature gradient 33c used in this embodiment is 1.11. For example, as can be seen from the correction line 33d after 45° C. of the odd-numbered pixel column 33a, the offset value gradually rises when it exceeds 45° C. For example, when the temperature is about 54° C., the difference 33e from the initial value is 1.55. The corrected offset value is updated and stored in the flash memory 244. The image data based on the updated offset value is used for various signal processing in the control LSI 234. As described above, by using the game machine equipped with the image sensor, the offset correction processing is executed and updated at any time according to the operating status.

When an image pickup means (for example, a camera using a CMOS sensor) is mounted on a game machine, the camera is always placed in an environment where it is exposed to high temperature for a long time. Further, if the door of the game machine is opened/closed during maintenance such as medal supply, a situation in which the ambient temperature of the camera fluctuates greatly occurs. On the other hand, the dark current of the CMOS sensor rapidly rises as the temperature rises, so that the reference black level of the picked-up image is deviated, causing a problem such as deterioration of color reproducibility and deterioration of image quality. In the present embodiment, in view of such a problem, the temperature sensor 232a detects and monitors the threshold temperature of the image sensor, and the offset correction unit (step S12) performs the offset correction of the image sensor when the threshold temperature is exceeded. Therefore, even if the ambient temperature changes suddenly, the reference black level can be properly held and high-quality image data can be acquired, and the determination process can be performed with high accuracy regardless of the variation in the ambient temperature. .. In particular, by performing offset correction on the reference black level using a linear interpolation value, it is possible to obtain stable passing object image data at all times without being affected by temperature changes. Can be done with precision.

The LED group 233 is composed of three LEDs, LED 233La to 233Lc (see FIG. 35), emits surface light around the CMOS image sensor 232, and illuminates a medal moving on the medal rail 210 with light.

<Circuit configuration of LED drive unit>
The circuit configuration of the LED drive unit 252 will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35.
FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the LED drive unit 252, and FIG. 35 shows a specific circuit configuration of the LED drive unit 252.

The LED drive unit 252 includes an LED power supply unit 253 with an overcurrent prevention function, a power supply setting unit ON/OFF control unit 254, and an LED constant current drive circuit 255.

The LED power supply unit 253 with an overcurrent prevention function (hereinafter, referred to as power supply unit 253) can be supplied with current from a power supply 256 having a power supply voltage of DC 12V. The power supply unit 253 includes a capacitor C1, transistors T1 and T2, and a transistor T3. A bias mirror is connected between the base and collector of the transistor T6, and the bases are commonly connected to form a current mirror circuit. The transistor T3 is provided on the output stage side of the current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit constitutes a constant current circuit capable of outputting a constant current (40 mA) through the transistor T3 on the output stage side. One end of the capacitor C1 is connected to the power supply 256 via the resistor R1 and the other end is grounded. The capacitor C1 and the resistor R1 form a low pass filter for removing unnecessary high frequency components. The emitters of the transistors T1 and T2 are connected to one end of a capacitor C1 via resistors R1 and R2. The collectors of the transistors T1 and T2 are grounded via resistors R4 and R5. The base of the transistor T3 is commonly connected to the bases of the transistors T1 and T2. The collector side of the transistor T3 is branched and connected to the ground side which is grounded via the resistor R5 and the current supply system on the anode side of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc. The power supply 256 can be supplied from the power supply board 53b shown in FIG. When the current is output through the transistor T3 of the output stage, the power supply unit 253 outputs a current that does not flow beyond the constant current of 40 mA based on the charging voltage of the capacitor C1 and the current mirror circuit (transistors T1 and T2). It constitutes a limiting circuit. The capacitor C1 is set to have a storage capacity that is charged by a predetermined constant current (for example, 180 mA) flowing for a predetermined time (for example, 250 μs). Therefore, the predetermined constant current flows over the predetermined time. In this case, the current mirror circuit (transistors T1 and T2) reduces the output current to the rated current to protect the transistors T7 to T9.

The power setting section ON/OFF control section 254 includes an ON/OFF control section 254a and a power setting section 254b. The ON/OFF control unit 254a and the power supply setting unit 254b are provided on the anode side of the LEDs 233La to Lc.

The ON/OFF control unit 254a has a transistor T4 whose base is connected to the constant current source 260 via the resistor R9, and a transistor T5 whose base is connected to the collector side of the transistor T4 and the resistors R7 and R8. .. The constant current source 260 is a current switch capable of switching between supplying and stopping a current by an LED_EN 258 which is an on/off signal corresponding to an exposure timing (that is, a VSYNC interrupt signal which is an imaging timing) from the CMOS image sensor 232. The emitter and the base of the transistor T5 are short-circuited via the resistor R8. The emitter side of the transistor T5 is connected to the anode sides of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc. A 5V power supply 257 is added between the emitter of the transistor T5 and the anodes of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc. The power supply 257 can be supplied from the power supply board 53b shown in FIG.

The power supply setting unit 254b has a transistor T6 whose collector is connected to the anode side of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc via the transistor T5. The collector of the transistor T5 and the collector of the transistor T6 are connected via a parallel circuit of resistors R10 and R11. The parallel circuit is branched to the collector side of the transistor T6 and the ground side via the resistor R12. The emitter side of the transistor T6 is branched via the resistors R13 and R14 and is grounded.

The LED constant current drive circuit 255 has transistors T7 to T9 provided in the LEDs 233La to 233Lc. The collector of the transistor T7 is connected to the cathode of the LED 233La via the resistor R18. The collector of the transistor T8 is connected to the cathode of the LED 233Lb via the resistor R19. The collector of the transistor T9 is connected to the cathode of the LED 233Lc via the resistor R20. The emitters of the transistors T7 to T9 are connected to the ground line of the resistor R13 via the resistors R18 to 20. The bases of the transistors T7 to T9 are commonly connected to the transistor T6 and are connected in parallel with each other. A bias connection is made between the base and collector of the transistor T6 and constitutes a current mirror circuit with each of the transistors T7 to T9. The thermal coupling 259 according to the present invention is composed of a bias connection element in each current mirror circuit and a base common connection element. The anode sides of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc are grounded via a capacitor C2. The capacitor C2 is discharged (for example, 180 mA) when the LED drive current is supplied (LED_EN268 is in the ON state), and can be charged when the supply of the LED drive current is stopped (LED_EN268 is in the OFF state). As the capacitor C2, a capacitor having a storage capacity that cannot discharge the surge current for 250 μs or more is arranged. Therefore, even if the ON state of the LED_EN 268 continues for 250 μs or more, the predetermined constant current of 180 mA or more does not flow to the anode side of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc due to the storage capacity of the capacitor C2.

The following LED on/off operation can be performed in the LED drive unit 252 having the above configuration.
First, in the power supply unit 253, a constant current of 40 mA is generated by the current mirror circuit configured by the transistors T1 and T2, and can be supplied to the anode side of the LEDs 233La to 233Lc via the transistor T3. When an ON signal is input by the LED_EN 258 corresponding to the image pickup timing from the CMOS image sensor 232 and the current is supplied by the constant current source 260, the transistor T4 provided in the front side of the ON/OFF control unit 254a becomes conductive. (Hereinafter, the conductive state is simply referred to as "on state".). When the transistor T4 is turned on, a current flows through the base of the transistor T5 and the transistor T5 is turned on. When the transistor T5 is turned on, a current flows through the collector side of the transistor T6 and the transistor T6 is turned on. Since the transistors T7 to T9 are connected to the current mirror circuit with respect to the transistor T6, when the transistor T6 is turned on, the transistors T7 to T9 are simultaneously turned on. When the transistors T7 to T9 are turned on, each LED can be energized with the constant current supply path from the power supply unit 253, and the LED driving current charged in the capacitor C2 is discharged to emit the LED.

FIG. 36 is a timing chart showing changes in various operations in the respective parts of the LED driving section 252. The abscissa of the figure is the time change, the ordinate of (36A) shows the change of the exposure time, the ordinates of (36B) to (36E) show the change of the voltage value, and the ordinate of (36E) is the ordinate. The change in current value is shown.
36A and 36B show the exposure time of the CMOS image sensor 232 and the imaging timing of the exposure time, respectively. The pulse of (36B) shows the on-time (250 μs). This pulse has a wave height of 3.3 V and is output from the CMOS image sensor 232 at a period of 4 ms (VSYNC interrupt signal). The on-time may be 1 m or less, preferably 80 to 250 μs.

(36C) shows the drive voltage VDD potential of the LED drive section, and (36D) and (36E) show the collector potential and the emitter potential of the LED drive transistors (transistors T7 to T9), respectively. (36F) shows the pulse waveform of the LED drive current. The LED drive current has a rated current value of 40 mA and a rated maximum current value of 180 mA during constant lighting (normal).

When the pulse is on, as shown in (36C), the DVV potential of the LED causes a voltage drop 36a due to the current limiting circuit of the power supply unit 253. Therefore, the current limiting function of the power supply unit 253 causes an overload of the LED. Can be prevented. The collector potential of the LED driving transistor drops with a difference of the Vf potential of the LED with respect to the DVV potential. When the voltage drop 36a disappears, the collector potential of the LED driving transistor returns to the potential determined by the leak current of the LED and the LED driving transistor. Since the emitter potential slightly rises during pulse-on, even if the ground potential (GND potential) fluctuates or fluctuates due to fluctuations in Vf of the LED parts, there is a margin in the potential difference between the collector potential and the emitter potential. By providing, the fluctuation of the GND potential can be absorbed.
In the present embodiment, since the imageable time of the image pickup cycle (the above-mentioned on-time: 250 μs) is at least 1 msec or less, a current is momentarily applied to the LED group 233 and the rated current value of 40 mA during constant lighting (normal) is set. Since the LED group 233 is driven by being able to supply a current value of 180 mA, which is a higher surge current level, a higher drive current than that at the time of constant lighting is applied to the LEDs to achieve high brightness (LED brightness is approximately equal to the current value). It is possible to obtain a high-quality image data by LED light irradiation with high brightness, and it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform various determination processes relating to medals with high accuracy. The capacitor C2 provided on the anode side of the LED is charged when the LED drive current is supplied and can be discharged when the supply is stopped.

Since the transistors T7 to T9 of the LED constant current drive circuit 255 are current-mirror connected to the transistor T6 of the power supply setting unit 254b, it is possible to supply a mirror current (LED drive current) to each LED to drive light emission. it can. By thermally coupling the transistor T6 on the reference current source side and the transistors T7 to T9 on the LED drive current supply side to each other in a mirror connection, a difference occurs in the temperature coefficient between the transistor T6 and each of the transistors T7 to T9, The output current (mirror current) from the transistors T7 to T9 can be supplied to each LED unbalanced with the reference current source side, and the temperature characteristic of the output current from the LED constant current drive circuit 255 is positive. ..

As a general characteristic of the LED element, the forward voltage Vf changes depending on the applied current and the temperature, and particularly has a negative temperature characteristic with respect to the temperature rise. In addition, at present, there are variations in individual characteristics among LED components. In particular, due to the negative temperature characteristic, the LED emission intensity decreases as the temperature increases, that is, the LED emission brightness decreases at high temperatures. In this embodiment, since the temperature characteristic of the output current is positive, it is possible to cancel the decrease in the emission intensity due to the negative temperature characteristic of the LED element. In the case of the present embodiment, the variation range of the emission intensity in the temperature range of 0 to 100° C. is within 1% by configuring the luminance stabilizing means by the current mirror connection of the transistor T6 and each of the transistors T7 to T9. .. Since the brightness stabilizing means by the current mirror connection can be configured easily and inexpensively, for example, the temperature sensor for each circuit for program control and the circuit for current control are not required, and the cost reduction by reducing the number of parts is unnecessary. It is possible to eliminate the generation of unnecessary bugs caused by not installing such a program, which can contribute to high functionality and low price of the gaming machine.
Although a bipolar transistor is used as an active element in the above specific circuit configuration, a MOS transistor which is a small signal active element may be used.

<Modification>
The gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, including its function and effect. However, the game machine of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

For example, in the above description, an example in which medals having the same marking (pattern) on both sides are used as the game medium has been described, but instead of this, different markings may be provided on one side and the other side of the medal. You may use the medal given. In this case, data relating to each side of the medal may be prepared in advance as data relating to the thresholds in the counting process, the color determining process, and the marking determining process.

Further, as a method of setting the data related to the threshold, a fixed unit game period (for example, 100 games) is set as a collection period of the data related to the threshold, and the image of the medal imaged by the camera unit 209 during this unit game period. A method of setting based on data may be adopted.

[Appendix 1]
The gaming machine in Appendix 1 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-342814 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used in a gaming machine. Providing a gaming machine.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration.

A slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21 described later), a game medium detecting unit for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot (for example, a medal selector 201 described later), and the game medium detection. Based on the start operation detecting means (for example, a start switch 79 described later) that detects a start operation by the player based on the detection of the game medium by the means, and the start operation detecting means detects the start operation. An internal winning combination determining means (for example, a main control circuit 91 that performs an internal lottery process described later) that determines an internal winning combination with probability and a plurality of display columns, and is based on the detection of the start operation by the start operation detecting means. Then, a variable display means (for example, three reels 3L, 3C, 3R and a stepping motor which will be described later) for variably displaying the symbols necessary for the game, and a stop operation detecting means for detecting a stop operation by the player (for example, a later mentioned Stop switch), stop control means for stopping the variable display of the symbols based on the determination result of the internal winning combination determination means and the detection of the stop operation by the stop operation detection means (for example, reel stop control described later). Due to the main control circuit 91 which performs processing and the stop of the variable display in the plurality of display columns, a predetermined privilege based on the symbol combination displayed along the winning determination line extending over the plurality of display columns ( For example, the game medium detecting means includes a privilege giving means (for example, a main control circuit 91 described later) for giving a payout of medals described later), and the game medium detecting means forms a passage forming part that forms a passage through which the game medium passes ( For example, a medal rail 210) described below, an image pickup unit (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232 described below) for picking up a passing object that is an object passing through the passage, and image data of the passing object picked up by the image pickup unit. On the basis of the passing object image data, a passage determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234 that executes a counting process described later) that determines whether or not the game medium has passed through the passage based on certain passing object image data, Based on the passing object image data, a color tone determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234 that executes a color determining process described later) that determines whether the color tone of the passing object is a predetermined game medium color tone, and the passing object A pattern determining means for performing a pattern determining process for determining whether or not the pattern of the object is the pattern of the predetermined game medium (for example, a control LSI 234 for executing a marking determining process, which will be described later). A gaming machine to do.

Further, in the gaming machine having the above structure, the game medium detecting means stores template data obtained by integrating a plurality of rotation image data created by rotating image data of the predetermined game medium captured in advance at a plurality of angles. A storage unit (for example, a flash memory 244 described later) is provided, and the pattern determination unit generates a plurality of rotation passage game medium image data created by rotating the passage object image data at a plurality of angles in the pattern determination processing. The integrated comparison target data is created, the comparison target data and the template data are compared, and if the comparison result is within the range of a predetermined threshold value, the pattern of the passing object is the pattern of the predetermined game medium. It may be determined that the pattern of the passing object is not the pattern of the predetermined game medium if it is outside the range of the predetermined threshold.

Further, in the gaming machine having the above structure, the game medium detecting means processes the passing object image data into image data corresponding to the determination made by each of the passage determining means, the color tone determining means and the pattern determining means Data processing means (for example, an ISP circuit 245 described later) may be provided.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to misidentify that a legitimate game medium is used in a gaming machine and detect a fraudulent act of playing a game.

[Appendix 2]
The gaming machine in Appendix 2 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, medals used in gaming machines generally have silver or gold plated surfaces, and are regularly cleaned (polished). The irregular reflection causes irregular reflection, so that in image processing using an image sensor or a camera, it is difficult to capture an accurate image due to the irregular reflection.

An object of the present invention is to prevent irregular reflection by irradiating light in a surrounding shape in order to accurately detect fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image of a game medium.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. Light bodies (for example, light guides 261 to 263), light sources for the introduced light (for example, LED group 233), and drive control means (for example, LED drive unit) for controlling the drive of the light sources according to the image pickup timing. 252), and the light guide has at least one open end (for example, an end surface 265a) and an irradiation surface (for example, an outer surface 261a) that surrounds an imaging region of the imaging unit. The game machine is characterized in that the light source is arranged at the open end.

According to the first aspect, by controlling the driving of the light source in accordance with the image pickup timing, the passing object image data can be acquired by the image pickup unit by the irradiation light of the introduction light, and the determination processing by the medium determination unit can be smoothly performed. You can Moreover, the light guide has at least one open end and an irradiation surface surrounding the image pickup area by the image pickup means, and the light source is arranged at the open end, so that the image pickup area is formed into a ring-like shape such as an ellipse. It is possible to uniformly irradiate the introduced light so that it is surrounded by. Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can reliably capture the edges and contours of a game medium, patterns such as markings, colors, and the like, and that can perform highly accurate determination processing based on accurate captured data. That is, since it becomes possible to irradiate the ring-like uniform irradiation light, accurate imaging data is obtained from the subject (passing game medium) without causing reflection of the light source due to reflection of the passing game medium, that is, halation of primary reflection. Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform highly accurate determination processing, particularly, determination processing of marking or contour of a game medium.

In a second aspect according to the present invention, the light guide body is composed of a plurality of light guide bodies each having an open end portion, and the light source is arranged at each open end portion of the plurality of light guide bodies. It is a game machine characterized by that.

According to the second aspect, the light guide body is formed of a plurality of light guide bodies each having an open end portion, and the light source is arranged at each open end portion. Also, it is possible to provide a gaming machine in which an imaging irradiation mechanism capable of uniformly irradiating the introduction light like a ring is compactly mounted.

A third mode of the present invention is the gaming machine, wherein each irradiation surface of the plurality of light guides is arranged in a substantially oval shape or a substantially rectangular shape so as to surround the imaging region.

According to the third aspect, by arranging the irradiation surfaces of the plurality of light guides so as to surround the imaging region in a substantially oval shape or a substantially rectangular shape, the introduced light is uniformly irradiated in a ring-like manner. It is possible to provide a gaming machine in which the obtained imaging irradiation mechanism is compactly mounted.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, in order to detect a fraudulent activity in which a game is mistakenly recognized as being used as a legitimate game medium with a high degree of accuracy, a diffused reflection is suppressed by irradiating light in a surrounding shape to prevent the irregularity of the game medium. A gaming machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image can be provided.

[Appendix 3]
The gaming machine of Appendix 3 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, inside the gaming machine, in order to shoot a medal with a CCD camera, it is necessary to illuminate the medal. However, medals used in gaming machines generally have silver or gold plated surfaces, and are regularly cleaned (polished). The irregular reflection causes irregular reflection, so that in image processing using an image sensor or a camera, it is difficult to capture an accurate image due to the irregular reflection.

An object of the present invention is to prevent irregular reflection by irradiating light in a surrounding shape in order to accurately detect fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image of a game medium.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. Light bodies (for example, light guides 261 to 263), light sources for the introduced light (for example, LED group 233), and drive control means (for example, LED drive unit) for controlling the drive of the light sources according to the image pickup timing. 252), and the light guide body includes a first light guide body (for example, a light guide body 261) that irradiates the imaging area of the imaging unit with light from the front side of the passage, and the rear side of the passage. To a second light guide body (for example, a light guide body 263) for irradiating the image pickup area with the introduced light, the second light guide body irradiates the image pickup area with the introduced light. It is characterized by having a first light guide surface (for example, a triangular side surface 263c) and a second light guide surface (for example, a triangular side surface 263d) that irradiates the introduction light on the side opposite to the imaging region. It is a game machine.

According to the first aspect, by controlling the driving of the light source in accordance with the image pickup timing, it is possible to obtain the passing object image data by the image pickup unit using the introduced light as the light source and to smoothly perform the determination process by the medium determination unit. it can. Moreover, since the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged so as to surround the image pickup area, it is possible to uniformly irradiate the introduction light toward the passing game medium, and the edge or contour of the game medium, It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can reliably capture patterns such as markings and colors, and that can perform highly accurate determination processing based on accurate captured data.
In particular, since the irradiation light from the first light guide body and the irradiation light from the first light guide surface can uniformly irradiate the imaging area, reflection of the light source due to reflection of the passing game medium, that is, Accurate imaging data can be obtained from the subject (passing game medium) without causing halation of primary reflection. Further, since the light emitted from the second light guide surface is applied to the passage surface other than the imaging area to cause halation, the shade of reflection at the irradiation position becomes clear, and it can be used for judging the passage of the game medium. You can Therefore, in the present embodiment, halation of the primary reflection is prevented, accurate imaging data is acquired, and highly accurate determination processing of attributes (eg, marking, contour, color, etc.) of the passing game medium can be performed, and It is possible to realize a gaming machine capable of performing accurate passage passage determination processing by utilizing halation by the light guide surface.

In a second aspect according to the present invention, the second light guide has a triangular pyramid shape, the light source is arranged on a bottom surface side of the triangular pyramid, and one side surface of the triangular pyramid is provided with the first light guide. The gaming machine is characterized in that it is a light surface, and a side surface different from the one side surface is the second light guide surface.

According to the second mode, since the irradiation light for the imaging area and the irradiation light for the areas other than the imaging area can be irradiated from the two side surfaces of the triangular pyramid of the second light guide, the attribute determination process of the passing game medium is performed. It is possible to realize a gaming machine in which the passage passage determination processing can be performed with high accuracy and the two types of light irradiation mechanisms are compact and inexpensive with a single light guide.

A third mode according to the present invention is the gaming machine, wherein the light guide body includes a third light guide body that irradiates the imaging light with the introduction light.

According to the third aspect, since the irradiation mechanism capable of uniformly irradiating the introduced light like a ring having a substantially rectangular shape can be configured by dividing the first to third light guides into three parts, each light guide can be provided. It is possible to realize a gaming machine in which the body can be arranged in a narrow space around a passage and can be compactly and inexpensively configured, and the passage game medium attribute determination processing and the passage passage determination processing can be performed with high accuracy.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, in order to accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine, irregular reflection is suppressed by irradiating light in a surrounding shape. It is possible to provide a game machine that can provide a light source for capturing a highly accurate image of a game medium.

[Appendix 4]
The gaming machine of Appendix 4 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, the main control unit that controls the game determines whether or not the medal is an illegal medal from the photographed image of the medal photographed by the CCD camera. However, the main controller of the gaming machine has a limited processing capacity. On the other hand, the process of determining whether or not the photographed image is an illegal medal is an image process, which causes a large load on the control unit. Therefore, if the main control unit with limited processing capability performs processing to determine whether the medal is an illegal medal from the captured image, the processing capability of the main control unit will be exceeded, and it will be appropriate to determine whether the medal is an illegal medal. Not only will it not be possible to make a determination, but there is also the danger that control of the game will be hindered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of appropriately processing image data for highly accurately detecting a fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular gaming medium is used in the gaming machine. To do.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and the insertion of the game medium through the passage. And a receiving means (for example, the main control circuit 91 and the medal solenoid 208) that is received in the machine, and the receiving means disables the insertion of the game medium when the determination result by the medium determining means is not normal. A gaming machine including an unacceptable means (for example, a medal solenoid 208).

According to the first aspect, the medium determining unit determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, so that the appropriate determining process can be performed with high accuracy. Moreover, since it is possible to insert and receive the game medium based on the highly accurate determination result, and if the determination result is not normal, it is possible to disable the insertion and reception of the game medium, it is said that the regular game medium is used. It is possible to provide a gaming machine that can prevent fraudulently performing a game by misidentifying it in advance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the receiving means includes a switching means (for example, a meselect plate 207, an after-medal pressure 218) for switching the passage to the receiving side or the returning side of the game medium, and the medium determination When the determination result by the means is not normal, the game machine is characterized by switching to the return side by the switching means to make it impossible to accept the insertion of the game medium.

According to the second aspect, when the determination result by the passage determination means is not normal, the switching means can switch to the return side to make it impossible to accept the insertion of the game medium, so that the regular game medium is used. It is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of preventing fraudulently playing a game by misidentifying it in advance.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine capable of appropriately processing image data for highly accurately detecting fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular gaming medium is used in the gaming machine. can do.

[Appendix 5]
The gaming machine of Appendix 5 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, when an image is captured using an image sensor or camera to perform image processing, a light source is required for image capture by the image sensor or camera. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to always turn on the light, and since it is necessary to turn on the light with a sufficient amount of light for shooting, the life and power consumption of the LED or the like used as the light source becomes a problem.

The object of the present invention is to properly control the LED of the light source for photographing of the image sensor used for detecting the fraudulent activity of playing the game by misidentifying that the regular game medium is used in the gaming machine. It is to provide a gaming machine that can emit light.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. Optical bodies (for example, light guides 261 to 263), LEDs (for example, LED group 233) that are the light sources of the introduced light, and drive control means (for example, LED drive) for controlling the driving of the LEDs according to the imaging timing. 252), and the image pickup means picks up an image at a predetermined image pickup cycle, and the drive control means can perform drive control according to the image pickup cycle, and supplies a drive current to the LED at the time of image pickup. The gaming machine is characterized in that the drive current is not supplied during non-imaging.

According to the first aspect, by using the LED light as the light source, the drive control unit drives and controls the LED in accordance with the image pickup timing, the passing object image data can be acquired by the image pickup unit, and the determination processing by the passage determination unit can be performed. The image pickup means performs image pickup at a predetermined image pickup cycle, and the drive control means can perform drive control according to the image pickup cycle. The drive current is supplied to the LED at the time of image pickup and the drive current is supplied at the time of non-image pickup. By not performing it, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can acquire image pickup data and perform the determination process with high accuracy without causing a shift in image pickup timing, that is, exposure timing. In particular, in the present embodiment, the program for performing the correction processing when the exposure timing shift occurs is not necessary, and the supply of the LED drive current according to the imaging cycle is turned on/off, which reduces the power consumption of the LED. It is possible to extend the life of the game machine and add a determination processing function at low cost to the game machine.

A second embodiment according to the present invention has a light guide body that can irradiate the introduced light linearly or in a plane shape, and arranges the LED at an end portion of the light guide body to emit LED light from the light guide body. The gaming machine is characterized by irradiating the passing object through the game machine.

According to the 2nd form, it has a light guide which can irradiate the introduction light linearly or in the shape of a plane, arrange|positions LED at the edge part of this light guide, and passes said LED light emission through a light guide. Since the object is irradiated, the number of LED parts is used to a minimum, the LED light necessary for imaging is driven to blink according to the imaging timing, and the imaging data, that is, the exposure timing is not generated, and the imaging data is acquired. It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can acquire and perform the determination processing with high accuracy.

In a third aspect according to the present invention, the drive control unit includes a storage unit that stores a drive current of the LED during non-imaging, and the drive current supplied to the LED during image capturing by the drive control unit is the storage unit. It is a game machine characterized in that it is a drive current stored in.

According to the third aspect, by supplying the drive current accumulated in the accumulator during non-imaging to the LED during image capturing, a drive current larger than that during continuous lighting is supplied to the LED at a surge current level to achieve high brightness. Since it is possible to obtain high-quality image data by irradiating the LED light with the game machine, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform the determination process with high accuracy.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, an LED of a light source for photographing of an image sensor used for detecting a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used is caused to emit light by appropriate control. A gaming machine capable of playing can be provided.

[Appendix 6]
The gaming machine of Appendix 6 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, when an image of an object is captured using an image sensor or a camera to perform image processing, a light source is required for capturing the image sensor or the camera, but an LED is used as the light source to secure a sufficient amount of light. As a method, a general method is to pass a large amount of current, but there is a concern that the LED may be destroyed if a large amount of current is passed.

An object of the present invention is to prevent destruction of an LED of a light source for photographing of an image sensor used for stably detecting a fraudulent act of playing a game by erroneously recognizing that a legitimate game medium is used in a game machine. It is to provide a game machine capable of playing.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. Optical bodies (for example, light guides 261 to 263), LEDs (for example, LED group 233) that are the light sources of the introduced light, and drive control means (for example, LED drive) for controlling the driving of the LEDs according to the imaging timing. And a constant current circuit (for example, a current mirror circuit composed of transistors T1 and T2) that generates a predetermined constant current, and the constant current to the LED drive current. A drive current supply circuit (for example, an LED constant current drive circuit 255) that is converted and supplied to the LED, and a protection circuit that lowers the rated current when the constant current is generated over a specified time (for example, an LED power supply unit). And a capacitor C1) provided in 253, and a gaming machine.

According to the first aspect, the LED drive current is supplied to the LED via the constant current circuit and the drive current supply circuit in accordance with the image capturing timing, so that the passing object image data can be acquired by the image capturing unit and the medium determining unit. It is possible to smoothly perform the determination process by. Moreover, when a constant current is generated by the constant current circuit for longer than the specified time, the protection circuit reduces the current to the rated current. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the LED from being destroyed from the surge current that exceeds the specified time. It is possible to hold the current and perform the stable determination process. Furthermore, since the protection circuit is provided in the constant current circuit, it is not necessary to enlarge the circuit components and the board space which are not required to be externally attached, so that the determination process can be stabilized at low cost.

A second form according to the present invention is the game machine characterized in that the constant current circuit is constituted by a current mirror circuit for generating the constant current from a predetermined current source.

According to the second aspect, the constant current circuit configured by the current mirror circuit that generates the constant current from the predetermined current source ensures stable supply of the LED drive current to the LED and provides a stable detection function of fraudulent activity. It is possible to realize the equipped gaming machine.

A third form according to the present invention is a game machine characterized in that the specified time is at least 1 msec or less.

According to the third mode, since the specified time is at least 1 msec or less, it is possible to reliably prevent a surge current from flowing to the LED, and it is possible to realize a gaming machine having a stable fraud detection function. ..
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage to the LED of the light source for photographing of the image sensor used for stably detecting fraudulent activity in which a game is misidentified as being used as a regular game medium. Machine can be provided.

[Appendix 7]
The gaming machines in Appendix 7 are as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, when an image of an object is captured using an image sensor or a camera and image processing is performed, even if the same object is obtained, the imaging element used in the image sensor is affected by heat. There is a concern that the object will be judged to be different when it is photographed and image processed due to the influence of temperature.

An object of the present invention is to take a stable image even if the image sensor has a temperature change, in order to detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by erroneously recognizing that a legitimate game medium is used in a game machine. It is to provide a game machine that can be played.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a light guide that irradiates the introduction light in a planar manner. A body (for example, light guides 261 to 263), an LED (for example, an LED group 233) that is a light source of the introduced light, and drive control means (for example, an LED drive unit) that controls the drive of the LEDs according to the image capturing timing. 252), and the image pickup means includes an image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) that images the passing object, a temperature sensor (for example, a temperature sensor 232a) that detects the temperature of the image sensor, An offset correction unit (for example, an LED control LSI 234) that performs offset correction of the image sensor when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and the gaming machine. ..

According to the first aspect, by supplying the LED drive current to the LED in accordance with the image capturing timing, the image data of the passing object can be acquired by the image capturing unit by using the LED light as the light source, and the determination process by the medium determining unit can be smoothly performed. Can be done.
When an image pickup means (for example, a camera using a CMOS image sensor) is mounted on a gaming machine, the camera is always placed in an environment exposed to high temperature for a long time. Further, if the door of the game machine is opened/closed during maintenance such as medal supply, a situation in which the ambient temperature of the camera fluctuates greatly occurs. On the other hand, the dark current of the CMOS image sensor rises rapidly as the temperature rises, so that the reference black level of the picked-up image shifts, causing a problem such as deterioration of color reproducibility and deterioration of image quality. In the present embodiment, in view of such a problem, the temperature of the image sensor is detected and monitored by the temperature sensor, and the offset correction unit detects the temperature of the image sensor when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature. Since offset correction is performed, even if the ambient temperature changes suddenly, the reference black level can be held properly and high-quality image data can be acquired, and the determination process can be performed with high accuracy regardless of changes in the ambient temperature. It can be carried out.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the offset correction means performs the offset correction by a linear interpolation value of a reference black level.

According to the second aspect, by reliably performing the offset correction with the linear interpolation value on the reference black level, it is possible to always obtain stable passing object image data without being affected by the temperature change. The determination process can be performed with high accuracy.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to capture a stable image even if there is a temperature change in the image sensor in order to accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used. It is possible to provide a gaming machine that can.

[Appendix 8]
The gaming machine of Appendix 8 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, when a CCD camera or the like is installed in the housing of the gaming machine, there is a problem that the cost of the gaming machine is significantly increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide an LED that reduces the cost of an optical system for an image sensor for highly accurately detecting a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used in a gaming machine. It is to provide a game machine capable of playing.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. Optical bodies (for example, light guides 261 to 263), LEDs (for example, LED group 233) that are the light sources of the introduced light, and drive control means (for example, LED drive) for controlling the driving of the LEDs according to the imaging timing. And an image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) that images the passing object with the light from the light source, and a condenser lens disposed in front of the image sensor. (For example, a lens 285), the LED emits light in a specific wavelength range (for example, a wavelength of 440 nm to 460 nm), and there is no space between the condenser lens and the image sensor. And the image capturing means captures an image of the passing object illuminated by light in the range of the specific wavelength.

According to the first aspect, it is possible to perform the determination process by the medium determination unit by making it possible to acquire the image data of the passing object by the imaging unit using the introduced light as the light source. Moreover, paying attention to the fact that LED light that does not contain an IR component can be used as a light source, a space without inclusions is provided between the condenser lens and the image sensor, and the condenser lens can be imaged on the image sensor. Therefore, the irradiation light can be directly attracted to the image sensor, the optical length required for the image formation can be shortened to the shortest distance, the imaging unit structure can be downsized and compacted, and the accuracy of the determination process can be improved. A game machine that can be achieved can be realized.

The second aspect of the present invention is
The LED is a game machine characterized in that it does not include a light emitting component in an infrared radiation region.

According to the second mode, since the LED, which is the light source, does not include the light emitting component in the infrared radiation region, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the IR filter, eliminate the mounting cost, and realize a significant cost reduction. In addition, noise components do not occur at the interface when an IR filter is used, and the image data in the visible light region can be effectively used. With a compact structure and a small image capturing means, highly accurate passage game medium determination processing can be performed. It is possible to realize a gaming machine capable of playing.

The third mode according to the present invention is
The LED is a gaming machine characterized in that it does not include a light emitting component in the ultraviolet radiation region.

According to the third mode, since the LED, which is the light source, does not include the light emission component in the ultraviolet radiation region, the number of parts of the UV filter can be reduced, the mounting cost thereof can be eliminated, and a significant cost reduction can be realized. Furthermore, fading due to light emission in the ultraviolet radiation region is reduced, effective use of imaging data in the visible light region is possible, and a gaming machine that can perform highly accurate passage game medium determination processing with a compact configuration and small imaging means. Can be realized.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an LED that reduces the cost of an optical system for an image sensor for highly accurately detecting a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used. Machine can be provided.

[Appendix 9]
The gaming machine of Appendix 9 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, in order to photograph a medal flowing on the medal passage, it is necessary to photograph a certain range, and if a high-performance system is introduced, it will cause an excessive increase in the cost of the gaming machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shooting lens capable of shooting at a low cost in a shooting range necessary to accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by erroneously recognizing that a legitimate game medium is used in a gaming machine. Is to provide a game machine equipped with.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. It has a light body (for example, light guides 261 to 263) and a light source (for example, LED group 233) for the introduced light, and the imaging means uses the introduced light as a light source to detect the passing object. An image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) for capturing an image and a condenser lens (for example, a lens 285) arranged in front of the image sensor facing the passage are included, and the condenser lens is a barrel. It is a game machine characterized by being a lens that produces an image forming action accompanied by distortion aberration that distorts in a mold.

According to the first aspect, the image data of the passing object can be acquired by the imaging unit using the introduced light as a light source, and the determination process by the medium determination unit can be smoothly performed. In particular, a condenser lens without distortion narrows the image acquisition range and lowers the determination accuracy.However, in the present embodiment, barrel distortion that causes an imaging action with distortion that distorts passing object image data in a barrel shape occurs. It is possible to obtain a wide range of image data through the lens, and it is possible to realize a gaming machine equipped with a low-cost image sensor lens capable of performing the highly accurate determination processing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the medium determining unit includes the barrel-shaped distortion distortion other than the image data of the central region in the entire data region of the passing object image data obtained via the condenser lens. A gaming machine characterized by correcting image data that has been aberrated.

According to the second mode, a wide range of image data is acquired through a lens in which barrel distortion is generated, and the medium determination unit corrects the barrel-distorted image data other than the image data of the central region. Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform the highly accurate determination process.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, a shooting lens is mounted which enables shooting at a low cost in a shooting range necessary to accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used. A gaming machine can be provided.

[Appendix 10]
The gaming machine of Appendix 10 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, in order to mount an image sensor and a camera in a game machine, which is a limited space, it is necessary to specially design an optical system for mounting in the game machine. Furthermore, in a high temperature environment, the lens may be distorted, and a situation in which an intended image cannot be captured may occur.

An object of the present invention is to mount a photographic lens that is less likely to be distorted by heat to highly accurately detect a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a gaming machine. It is to provide a possible game machine.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. It has a light body (for example, light guides 261 to 263) and a light source (for example, LED group 233) for the introduced light, and the imaging means uses the introduced light as a light source to detect the passing object. An image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) for capturing an image, a condenser lens (for example, a lens 285) arranged in front of the image sensor so as to face the passage, and the condenser lens in front of the image sensor. And a lens holding means (for example, a lens holder 275 and a lens unit 287) for holding the lens component in the lens holding means, the lens holding means includes at least a resin component and a predetermined mixing ratio (for example, GF is 30%) with respect to the resin component. And a glass filler mixed in (1), and the mixing ratio is the first mixing ratio or the second mixing ratio (for example, GF is 10 to 40%).

According to the first aspect, the image data of the passing object can be acquired by the imaging unit using the introduced light as a light source, and the determination process by the medium determination unit can be smoothly performed. In particular, since the lens holding means is formed of at least a resin component and a glass filler mixed with the resin component in a compounding ratio of 10 to 40%, structural distortion due to temperature rise, for example, a condenser lens is used as a lens. The distortion due to the pressure effect when it interferes with the holding means can be deformed so as to be canceled on the lens holding means side, and can be canceled and suppressed or suppressed, so that high-quality imaging can be performed without causing focus shift due to structural distortion. It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform the determination processing with high accuracy. In particular, some lens distortion due to temperature rise occurs, but since the structural distortion is eliminated, it is only necessary to take measures in the imaging process for lens distortion that can be analyzed beforehand, without adding structural distortion countermeasure parts. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the lens holding mechanism without causing unnecessary cost increase and contribute to the cost reduction of the gaming machine.

A second form according to the present invention is the game machine characterized in that the lens holding means has a lens holding structure for holding a plurality of condenser lenses in a multilayer form in front of the image sensor.

According to the second aspect, even if the lens holding means has a lens holding structure for holding a plurality of condenser lenses in a multi-layered shape in front of the image sensor, it is possible to prevent structural distortion with each condenser lens. Then, at least the resin component and the glass filler mixed at a compounding ratio of 10 to 40% with respect to the resin component are deformed so as to cancel on the side of the lens holding means, and cancel and suppress or suppress. Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform high-accuracy determination processing by performing high-quality image pickup without causing focus shift due to structural distortion.

A third form according to the present invention is a game machine characterized in that the resin component is a liquid crystal polymer material.

According to the third aspect, since the resin component is a liquid crystal polymer material rich in heat resistance and rigidity, thermal deformation due to temperature rise does not occur, high-quality image acquisition can be performed, and highly accurate determination processing can be performed. It is possible to realize a gaming machine capable of playing.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to mount a photographing lens that is less likely to be distorted by heat for highly accurately detecting fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used. A game machine can be provided.

[Appendix 11]
The gaming machine of Appendix 11 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, in the case of performing fixed-point imaging without a focus function, if the deviation from the imaging distance assumed at the time of designing is large, it becomes difficult to secure the assumed focus accuracy, and the accuracy of the imaging decreases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of ensuring a focus accuracy of a certain level or higher with a shooting lens for highly accurately detecting fraudulent activity of playing a game by erroneously recognizing that a regular gaming medium is used in the gaming machine. And to provide a method for manufacturing the gaming machine.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and the passing object is arranged so as to be irradiated. A light source (for example, an LED group 233), and the image pickup unit faces the passage with an image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor 232) that captures the passing object with irradiation light from the light source. A condensing lens (for example, a lens 285) arranged in front of the image sensor, and a lens holding unit (for example, a lens holder 275) that holds the condensing lens so that an image can be formed on the image sensor. The lens holding unit houses a lens housing portion (for example, a lens unit 287) that houses the condenser lens, and an inclined portion (for example, a taper portion 282) that is outwardly open to the outer periphery where the lens housing portion is mounted. ) Is formed in a holder portion (for example, a lens holder 275) having a through hole (for example, a through hole 278), and a region formed by the lens accommodating portion and the inclined portion mounted in the through hole. The game machine is characterized in that it has an adhesive means (for example, an adhesive 292) for adhering the lens accommodating portion and the holder portion by being injected between them.

According to the first aspect, it is possible to obtain the image data of the passing object by the image pickup unit with the irradiation light from the light source, and the determination process by the medium determination unit can be smoothly performed. In particular, when assembling the lens system of the image pickup means, if the holder part and the lens housing part are simply adhered, a positional deviation at the time of assembly occurs, which causes a variation in focus accuracy. Since the lens accommodating portion and the holder portion are adhered to each other by the adhering means that is injected between the region formed by the lens accommodating portion and the inclined portion mounted on the lens, the positional deviation during the assembly of the image sensor and the condenser lens Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can secure a focus accuracy of a certain level or higher with a shooting lens and can perform the highly accurate determination process.

A second form according to the present invention is the game machine characterized in that the adhering means is an adhesive that fills a gap between the inclined portion and the lens accommodating portion.

According to the second aspect, in the present aspect, the lens accommodating portion is attached to the through hole of the holder portion, and is bonded to the gap between the lens accommodating portion and the inclined portion that is open outward on the outer peripheral portion of the through hole. Since the holder part and the lens accommodating part are fixed by being filled with the agent, the lens attaching structure of the image pickup means is strengthened, and the adhesive does not stick out into the lens. It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can secure the focus accuracy and can perform the highly accurate determination process.

A third aspect of the present invention is the game machine, wherein the adhesive is an ultraviolet curable resin adhesive.

Since dimensional tolerances are likely to occur in the lens system parts at the manufacturing stage, it is necessary to perform alignment adjustment in order to attach the condenser lens to an appropriate position. For this reason, the adhesive used for the lens system is preferably one having a property of being easily controlled until the adhesive is solidified. Among various adhesives, UV-curable resin adhesives have a faster curing speed than adhesives such as thermosetting resin adhesives, and can be polymerized and cured in a short time by UV irradiation to control the adhesive process. Has easy characteristics.
According to the third aspect, since the lens attachment structure is one in which the holder portion and the lens accommodating portion are fixed to each other by using the ultraviolet curable resin adhesive, it is possible to perform the manufacturing step before fixing the holder portion and the lens accommodating portion. ,, after alignment, it can be applied for temporary adhesion immediately, can be quickly solidified by UV irradiation, can shorten the assembly work time of the lens attachment structure, and can also simplify the assembly process, reducing the manufacturing cost. It is possible to realize a gaming machine that can be priced and can perform the determination processing with high accuracy.

A fourth mode according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a gaming machine according to the second mode or the third mode, wherein the lens position of the condenser lens is adjusted in a state where the lens housing section is mounted in the through hole. A lens position adjusting step to perform, a temporary fixing step of filling the gap between the inclined portion and the lens accommodating portion with an adhesive and temporarily fixing, and a baking step of baking the adhesive in a temporarily fixed state. A method for manufacturing a gaming machine characterized by having.

According to the fourth aspect, the lens position adjustment step adjusts the lens position of the condenser lens in a state where the lens housing portion is mounted in the through hole, and the temporary fixing step adjusts the position between the inclined portion and the lens housing portion. After the adjusted lens is temporarily fixed by filling the gap with the adhesive, the adhesive is baked in the temporary fixing state in the baking process. It is possible to obtain a gaming machine capable of performing the determination processing with high accuracy based on a high-quality captured image without protruding to the outside.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, a gaming machine capable of ensuring a focus accuracy of a certain level or higher with a photographing lens for highly accurately detecting fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used, and the game. A method for manufacturing a machine can be provided.

[Appendix 12]
The gaming machine of Appendix 12 is as follows.
[Background Art]

Conventionally, a game called a pachi-slot provided with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on their respective surfaces, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (hereinafter also referred to as "start operation") after a game medium such as a medal has been inserted into the game machine, and starts the rotation of all reels. Output the requested signal. The stop switch detects that a stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. To do. The stepping motor transmits the driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using a random number on the program (hereinafter referred to as “internal lottery process”) is performed, and a result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”). That is) and the rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all reels is stopped and the symbol combination relating to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the privilege corresponding to the symbol combination is given to the player.

In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted at the tip of the medal insertion slot. Also, for this medal selector, you can insert a medal (illegal medal) that is not a proper medal (regular medal) into the medal insertion slot, or insert a device into the medal insertion slot, and the regular medal will be displayed on the gaming machine. Measures have been taken against fraudulent acts in which a game is played by misidentifying that it has been thrown.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two proximity sensors for detecting medals are provided in the medal passage, and it is determined whether or not a gaming medal has passed through the medal passage based on the output of each proximity sensor. A slot machine for detecting fraudulent activity in which a device such as a shape is used is described.
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-342814 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2006-271462 [Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the slot machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect an illegal act performed using an illegal medal without using an instrument such as a plate-shaped body. For example, if a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen and a medal of 5 yen each with the same diameter are lent in the hall where this slot machine is installed and have different colors and markings (patterns), the slot machine Cannot be determined. Therefore, in a gaming machine that handles a medal with a loan unit price of 20 yen as a regular medal, it is not possible to detect an illegal act of playing a game using a medal with a loan unit price of 5 yen (illegal medal). ..

In addition, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lent in a hall in which a gaming machine is installed, a medal lent in another hall, and a gaming machine purchased at a used machine store are attached. When a medal that is present or a counterfeit medal (including a device that looks like a medal) has the same diameter but only the color and the marking (pattern), these cannot be distinguished. Therefore, it is difficult to detect (detect) an illegal act of playing a game using a medal (illegal medal) other than the regular medal.
Further, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2, a CCD camera is used to determine the inserted illegal medals. However, when shooting a shooting target with an image sensor or a camera, it is necessary to secure stable and sufficient brightness, but since there is no light source inside the gaming machine, it is necessary to shoot a medal. It is necessary to install a dedicated light source.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light source with stable brightness to an image sensor for stably detecting fraudulent activity of playing a game by misidentifying that a regular game medium is used in a game machine. It is to provide a game machine.
[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine having the following configuration. Elements corresponding to the respective embodiments are described in parentheses, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto.

A first mode according to the present invention is a slot for inserting a game medium (for example, a medal slot 21), and a game medium detecting means (for example, a medal selector 201) for detecting a game medium inserted from the slot. And the game medium detecting means includes a passage forming portion (for example, a medal rail 210) that forms a passage through which the game medium passes, and an imaging means (for example, for capturing a passing object that is an object passing through the passage). , A CMOS image sensor 232), a medium determining unit (for example, a control LSI 234) that determines the game medium based on the image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing unit, and a guide that can irradiate the introduced light in a planar manner. An optical body, an LED (for example, an LED group 233) that is a light source of the introduced light, and a drive control unit (for example, an LED drive unit 252) that drives and controls the LED according to an imaging timing; The drive control means includes a constant current circuit that generates a predetermined constant current (for example, a current mirror circuit including transistors T1 and T2), and a drive current that converts the constant current into an LED drive current and supplies the LED drive current. A luminance stabilizing means (for example, a transistor T6 connected in a current mirror) that stabilizes the LED luminance by thermally coupling the supply circuit (for example, the LED constant current drive circuit 255) and the constant current circuit and the drive current supply circuit. And T7), and a gaming machine.

According to the first aspect, by supplying the LED drive current to the LED in accordance with the image capturing timing, the image data of the passing object can be acquired by the image capturing unit by using the LED light as the light source, and the determination process by the medium determining unit can be smoothly performed. Can be done. Moreover, the brightness stabilizing means thermally couples the constant current circuit and the drive current supply circuit to stabilize the LED brightness so that the temperature characteristic of the output current of the drive current supply circuit becomes positive, so that the LED has Even if the LED emission intensity decreases due to the temperature increase due to the negative temperature characteristic, the decrease in emission intensity is offset, and stable determination processing can be executed without the LED emission brightness decreasing at high temperatures. .. Furthermore, since the thermal coupling of the brightness stabilizing means can be configured easily and inexpensively, for example, a temperature sensor for each circuit for program control and a circuit for current control are not required, and cost reduction by reducing the number of parts is unnecessary. It is possible to eliminate the generation of unnecessary bugs caused by not installing such a program, which can contribute to high functionality and low price of the gaming machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the temperature coefficient of the transistor element provided on the output side of the constant current circuit and that of the input side transistor element provided on the drive current supply circuit are different from each other so that they are thermally coupled to each other, and the temperature coefficient is increased. The game machine is characterized in that the supply current by the drive current supply circuit can be increased.

According to the second mode, the temperature coefficient of the transistor element provided on the constant current circuit side and the temperature coefficient of the transistor element provided on the drive current supply circuit side are thermally coupled so as to cause a difference, and driven according to the temperature rise. By making it possible to increase the supply current by the current supply circuit, it is possible to constantly obtain stable passing object image data without being affected by temperature changes, so that the determination processing can be performed with high accuracy. ..

A third form according to the present invention is the game machine wherein the brightness stabilizing means is constituted by a current mirror circuit that converts the constant current from the constant current circuit into the LED drive current.

According to the third aspect, by configuring the brightness stabilizing means with a current mirror circuit that converts a constant current from the constant current circuit into an LED drive current, thermal coupling can be formed with a simple and inexpensive structure. Therefore, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can perform stable and highly accurate determination processing.
[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine capable of supplying a light source having a stable brightness to an image sensor for stably detecting a fraudulent act of playing a game by misidentifying that a legitimate game medium is used. Can be provided.

1... Pachi-slot, 3L... Left reel, 3C... Middle reel, 3R... Right reel, 4... Reel display window, 21... Medal insertion slot, 23... Start lever, 32... Medal payout slot, 51... Hopper device, 71... Main Control board, 72... Sub control board, 79... Start switch, 80... Stop switch board, 91... Main control circuit, 101... Sub control circuit, 140... Cancel shooter, 201... Medal selector, 202... Medal shoot, 203... Slope , 204... Base plate part, 205... Sub plate, 206... Cancel shooter, 207... Select plate, 208... Medal solenoid, 209... Camera unit, 210... Medal rail, 211... Medal entrance part, 212... Central hole, 213... Medal pressure, 217... Magnet, 218... After medal pressure, 227... Medal stopper section, 232... CMOS image sensor, 232a... Temperature sensor, 233... LED group, 234... Control LSI, 235... Leg section, 241... Host controller, 242... Image recognition DSP circuit, 243... SRAM, 244... Flash memory, 245... ISP circuit, 246... Medal counting circuit, 247... Color recognition circuit, 248... Fisheye correction scaler circuit, 249... Image recognition accelerator circuit, 250... GPIO, 251... ISI circuit, 254b... Power setting unit, 255... LED constant current drive circuit, 261... Light guide, 262... Light guide, 263... Light guide, 283... Lens, 284... Lens, 285... Lens , T6 to T9... Transistors

Claims (3)

An input port for inputting game media,
And a game medium detecting means for detecting the game medium input from the input port,
The game medium detecting means,
A passage forming portion forming a passage through which the game medium passes,
Imaging means for imaging a passing object that is an object passing through the passage,
Medium determining means for determining the game medium based on image data of the passing object captured by the image capturing means,
A light guide that can illuminate the introduced light in a plane,
A light source for the introduced light,
Drive control means for controlling the drive of the light source according to imaging timing;
Have
The light guide is
A first light guide body that irradiates the image pickup area of the image pickup means with the introduced light from the front of the passage;
A second light guide for irradiating the introduced light to the imaging region from behind the passage;
Including at least
The second light guide is
A first light guide surface for irradiating the imaging light with the introduction light;
A second light guide surface for irradiating the introduction light on the side opposite to the imaging region;
A gaming machine characterized by having. The second light guide has a triangular pyramid shape, the light source is arranged on the bottom surface side of the triangular pyramid, and one side surface of the triangular pyramid is the first light guide surface, which is different from the one side surface. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a side surface is the second light guide surface. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light guide includes a third light guide that irradiates the image pickup area with the introduced light.